Do you sometimes worry that if your people become too marketable they will leave your company? Conventional wisdom suggests that you should only invest enough in your people to meet your business needs. This is misguided thinking. The reality is that failing to help your people become more marketable is more likely to drive them away.

In this insightful look at how developing more marketable people impacts corporate culture, reputation and the bottom line, Kolar gives every employer something to think about.
Download the pdf to read more.

WorkforceChicago Unveils Its New Look Thanks To a Taproot Service Grant!

WorkforceChicago has a new look thanks to a service grant awarded by The Taproot Foundation last February. Taproot awarded WorkforceChicago professional expertise in the fields of marketing, analytics, strategy development and graphic design worth approximately $25,000. The result of this dynamic team effort is a new brochure which enables WorkforceChicago to best represent its vision to Chicago area employers. Take a look at the new brochure.

WorkforceChicago is also pleased to announce that the Taproot Foundation has awarded a second grant for assistance in developing a new look for the WorkforceChicago website. Watch for the new website to be unveiled in mid 2008!

The Taproot Foundation is the largest non-profit consulting firm in the country. It operates by leveraging the talents of the local business community to provide pro bono services to nonprofit organizations like WorkforceChicago2.0. Based in San Francisco, Taproot now has programs in Chicago, Boston, New York, and Seattle.

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WorkforceChicago Annual Business Leadership Group Meeting 2007: Meeting Highlights

The WorkforceChicago Business Leadership Group (BLG) gathered for its Annual Meeting on October 30, 2007. Members of the group convened to engage in a discussion centered around the vision of WorkforceChicago, which is to position the region as a leading talent pool in the nation through promoting investments in employee learning and development as a key business strategy. The meeting began with a welcome of new BLG members.

The group reviewed its goals and work plan for 2008. Michelle Sanford, Director of WorkforceChicago, outlined strategic goals to develop resources and better position WorkforceChicago regionally. The work plan discussion also included the research agenda for a project being conducted in conjunction with the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago related to maturing workforce employer issues. Events and marketing for 2008 were covered and Pamela Tate, President & CEO of the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL), provided updates on Key CAEL Initiatives. She informed the group of current activity for the CAEL sponsored Federal Lifelong Learning Accounts (LiLAs) legislation. She asked each BLG member to endorse the legislation by signing a letter of support.

Members of the BLG also discussed what WorkforceChicago can do to help executives make wise investments in employee development. Responses ranged from the desire to see more events for human resources leaders and peer-to-peer forums for CEOs to advising companies on the best practices of WorkforceChicago’s winning workplaces. Further, the group agreed to maintain the focus of the initiative on the development of the existing workforce of area companies.

This meeting of the Business Leadership Group allowed for continued engagement of some of Chicago’s leaders who are truly committed to making investment in employee development a vital component of doing business. As this group implements its 2008 work plan, it will expand even further to create a more vibrant and engaged workforce.

DePaul Forum

DePaul University's Center to Advance Education for Adults (CAEA) will host a forum of one hundred leaders from business, community organizations, government, healthcare and higher education on April 25, 2008. Topics that will be discussed include, new competencies for global citizenship, preparing adults for an increasingly complex society, workplace and world and building better collaborative relationships.

Elliott Masie will serve as keynote speaker. He’s known as a conversation-starter, an internationally recognized futurist, analyst, researcher and organizer on the critical topics of learning, technology, business and workplace productivity.

Request an invitation early as space is limited.
Click here to find out more.

Lifelong Learning Accounts (LiLA) Federal Legislation Update

CAEL has engaged in a number of national constituency building activities. On July 17, 2007, CAEL and the Council on Competitiveness (COC) co-hosted a breakfast briefing on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. called “Keeping America’s Workforce Competitive through Lifelong Learning”.  This briefing brought together a panel of experts to discuss the growing skills gap in America and the potential role of LiLA. U.S. Representative Tom Allen (D-ME) provided opening remarks in support of LiLA, and other members of the panel included John Dorrer of the Maine Department of Labor, Amy Sherman, Associate Vice President for Policy and Strategic Alliances at CAEL, and Jennifer Hermann from the University of California at San Francisco. In attendance were more than 20 congressional staffers and members of the press. As a direct result of this briefing, representatives from two industry associations have contacted CAEL to offer assistance in supporting the federal LiLA bills. LiLA supporters from across the country also are contacting their legislators to encourage them to support the pending legislation. CAEL shared a pre-release copy of a new LiLA policy brief with the attendees. Learn more about LiLAs.

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