Tuesday, May 04, 2004
Mobile Works President Sydney G. Raine, along with Gia Dinges, Director of Marketing for Mobile Works, and William Parker of the Alabama Career Center gathered with several members of the Mobile Works Board of Directors, including Robert A. Greer, Chairman of the Board; Larry Merrihew; Ralph Buffkin; Stan Chavis; Kelly Grady; Bob Williams; Rose Johnson; Virginia Guy; Mark Nix and Cynthia Phillips; at the Trade Club to hear the remarks of Dr. Tim Alford, the newly appointed Director of the Office of Workforce Development in the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs.
Dr. Alford discussed his background on workforce development and the workforce development issues and challenges within the state of Alabama. He also presented drafts of the 2004 workforce management plan and the workforce development system overview for the state. Dr. Alford also discussed the ten regional advisory councils that are being implemented in the 65 county area that serves as the third workforce investment area for Alabama, in addition to Mobile and Jefferson counties.
The ten regional advisory councils will ease the administrative burden of managing so large an area and ensure that each council area has a local voice within the third workforce investment area. Regional Advisory Council 9, including Washington, Baldwin, Escambia, Clarke, Monroe and Conecuh counties, will work closely with Mobile Works to ensure regional workforce development goals are in sync.
Wednesday, April 14, 2004
Mobile Works President Sydney G. Raine and Gia Dinges, Director of Marketing, attended a Workforce Investment Act Roundtable meeting to discuss state workforce development issues with workforce partners from around the state in Montgomery, Alabama on Wednesday April 14, 2004. The meeting was chaired by Stephen Walkley, Division Director of the Workforce Development Division for the Office of Workforce Development, in the Alabama Department of Economic and Community Affairs. Also that day, the two attended a planning committee meeting for the 2004 Workforce Development Conference to be held November 3-5, 2004.
Sunday, April 04, 2004 - Wednesday, April 07, 2004
Mobile Works President Sydney G. Raine joined Robert A. Greer, Chairman of the Board and other board members Russell Steiner and Stan Chavis to attend the Southeastern Employment and Training Association (SETA) Spring Conference 2004 on Sunday April 4 through Wednesday April 7, 2004 in Asheville, North Carolina. In addition to being a member of the Mobile Works Board of Directors, Stan Chavis serves on the Executive Board of SETA. They were joined by Cindy Nelms, Vice President of Planning and Contracts and Milton Joiner, Administrative Monitor.
SETA is a professional organization promoting workforce development excellence and professionalism for an eight-state region, including Alabama, Mississippi, Tennessee, Kentucky, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida and Puerto Rico. Over 800 people attended the semi-annual conference to participate in workshops and hear speakers discuss issues on employment, training and workforce development, as well as network with other workforce development professionals.