Our mission is to develop and advance the workforce of Southeast Minnesota.
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Workforce Development, Inc. Award Recipients Announced
2018 Employee of the Year and Team of the Year
Throughout the year at Workforce Development, Inc. (WDI), employees are recognized for their hard work and achievements. A couple of highlights at the December All Staff event were the announcements of the Employee of the Year and Team of the Year.
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The person who receives the Employee of the Year award is nominated by other staff members and ultimately selected by a group of their peers. This year’s presentation took an interesting twist as the recipient was at a training in Chicago, and for the first time ever, the award was presented over Skype! Without further ado, the 2018 Employee of the Year is Alison Sabinish, who works with WDI’s youth in Austin and Albert Lea. Alison’s nominator wrote that she “always takes on new projects with a positive attitude, with drive and motivation and with a committed work ethic. She has a great balance between getting the numbers needed and paperwork completed as necessary for our programs and also having a compassionate, strengths-focused approach for working with youth and young adults.” The nominator went on to say “Not only do I appreciate the great work that Alison has done over the past year, I know the youth and young adults of her region, the schools and community partners, and the other youth staff in our agency, have all appreciated her work and commitment to our youth programs. I have received compliments from others in the community regarding her work, and her success stories tell a story of making a difference in the lives of our participants.”
Congratulations, Alison!
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We are proud to announce the Caledonia office as the 2018 WDI Team of the Year! The award is based on data gathered around placements and training completion, and our WDI Caledonia office is clearly small but MIGHTY!
Congratulations Caledonia Team!
Pictured
: Anita Hahn, Wanda Jensen, and Dee Slinde.
Not Pictured:
Tami Sheff
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More 2018 All-Staff Meeting Highlights
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Jody Schaber
(25 Year Longevity Award)
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Gloria Olson
(20 Year Longevity Award)
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Shelly Meyer
(20 Year Longevity Award)
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Beth Christensen
(5 Year Longevity Award)
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Debbie Zamora
(5 Year Longevity Award)
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Data Specialist
Journey Workers,
Michelle Breamer
Shelly Meyer
Martha Castaneda
(Graduates of WDI's Data Specialist Registered Apprenticeship)
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Southeast Minnesota Regional "State of the Workforce" Forum
Heintz Center, Rochester Community and Technical College
January 11, 2019
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On January 11th, community leaders, private and public businesses, legislators, along with our elected officials came together to gain a better understanding of and to develop our regional workforce.
Ron Wirtz of the Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis provided data and projections of trends, while Ryan Allen from the University of Minnesota Humphrey School of Public Affairs presented on immigration reform.
A key topic discussed was focusing on getting more people to the area and more underrepresented groups into the workforce. The speakers' perspectives helped to re-enforce the demographics that we have a shrinking traditional labor supply and that the economics surrounding common sense immigrational reform compel us to fully engage people from other cultures in order to sustain and grow our economy.
The Forum concluded with 20-round table discussions, showcasing some of the career pathways initiatives we are working on to meet regional workforce challenges.
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Meet Jim Root
Vice President, Human Resources
Saint Elizabeth's Medical Center
Wabasha, Minnesota
SE MN Workforce Development Board (WDB) Member since 2007
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Why did you decide on a career at a healthcare facility and who/what influenced you to decide on this career choice?
My father was the most influential person in directing me towards a Business Degree. I applied for an opening at St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center in Material Management. I quickly learned that serving others was my calling. Working in healthcare, even in a non-clinical role, is extremely rewarding. I have the great fortune of caring for the people who care for our patients.
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Healthcare Employment and WDI
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Cheyenne:
A Healthcare Success Story
Gaining Motivation to Do Well...
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Cheyenne is a 19-year-old, single mother of two who comes from generational poverty. She had been working with her WDI Career Planner, Gloria, off and on through Minnesota Family Investment Program (MFIP) since she was 16-years-old and had her first child. Cheyenne has always pushed through barriers, even working while she completed high school and earning her Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) certification. Gloria encouraged Cheyenne to go on to more schooling in the healthcare field, but school was put on hold when Cheyenne found out she was pregnant with her second child. Through Gloria’s continued encouragement, Cheyenne started some pre-requisite classes for Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) last fall. She will continue to take pre-requisites this spring and summer, with the goal of being accepted by Riverland Community College to start her LPN classes in Fall 2019. Cheyenne is currently enrolled in both Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Adult and Youth programs. She has recently accepted a CNA position with a local nursing home, where she will work every other weekend while going to school. Cheyenne has great potential and drive to do well in both her education and her career.
Submitted by: Alison Sabinish, Career Planner, WDI
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January Business Highlight
St. Mark's Living
Austin, Minnesota
St. Mark’s Living is a senior living and healthcare campus that has been providing skilled nursing in the areas of long term care, rehabilitation, and assisted living in Austin since 1963.
Austin Workforce Development, Inc. staff recently had a chance to sit down with Cheryl Corey, Human Resource Director, and Britta Ehlers, Staff Development Manager, to discuss an exciting new program that St. Mark’s has implemented to address the ever-growing need to fill nursing assistant positions on their campus.
St. Mark’s currently offers a flexible, three month, temporary paid position as a Unit Assistant. This position was designed to provide potential nursing assistants some experience in the career field without long-term commitment and use of financial resources, if they should decide the job isn’t for them. During this three month time frame, those in this position who wish to pursue their nursing assistant certification can begin the On-Track Nursing Assistant Program. The On-Track Program costs are covered by St. Mark’s Living and require 33 hours of online coursework, which is then followed up with labs and clinicals that are overseen by Britta on St. Mark’s campus.
Implementation of this program has allowed St. Mark’s to train those interested in becoming a Nursing Assistant on-demand and at a lower cost; moving the individual into a rewarding career as a Nursing Assistant as soon as possible, while addressing the facility's own employment needs.
Submitted by: Jackie Larson, Career Planner, WDI
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Meet Senait Wubneh
CNA, Adams Healthcare Facility,
Adams, Minnesota
Nursing Student, Riverland Community College,
Austin, Minnesota
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The most important factor in deciding on a career in the Healthcare Sector was that I wanted to help people in some sort of way and also give back to society. When I lived in Kenya, my grandfather was bedridden for a few months. Seeing all of his needs and attending to him pushed me towards a career in healthcare.
Submitted by: Rachel Sippel, Career Planner, WDI
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Community Partner Spotlight
Albert Lea Adult Basic Education (ABE)
Workforce Development, Inc. (WDI) wouldn’t be as successful in supporting our communities without the help of community partners. These partnerships look different in every area and range from business and industry, to education, to other community agencies and beyond. Throughout the 2019, our newsletter will be highlighting some of the key partnerships throughout our region, starting with the Albert Lea office.
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In the News
Congratulations to the Red Wing Workforce Development, Inc. Office
for being nominated by members of the Red Wing Area Chamber of Commerce as one of 2018’s Top Businesses in the Red Wing Area!
Chamber members will vote on January 14th for their top choice in each category and the winners will be announced at "Alice in 400Land," the Chamber’s Annual Meeting and Awards Dinner on January 28th at Treasure Island Resort and Casino.
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Upcoming Event Dates
January 21 :
Workforce Development, Inc. Offices Closed
January 22:
Construction: Heavy Equipment Operators Training Program Begins,
Workforce Development, Inc. - Rochester office
February 27:
MaxAbility Series - Disability Friendly Culture and Etiquette,
Wood Lake Meeting Center, Rochester
March 19:
Equity Logic Series - Intercultural Dynamics and Workplace Climate; Reframing Accommodations
8am-10am, Wood Lake Meeting Center, Rochester; Individual Sessions: $40. Package of 3 Sessions: $100.
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SE Minnesota Employment Trends
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Learn more about
Food Manufacturing & Processing
in the upcoming
February 2019
issue!
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Workforce Development, Inc. is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Program Provider and a proud partner of the American Job Center Network.
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Connect with your local WDI office on Facebook:
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