Thank You! - smokymtnjobs.org

WIA Services Relocate in Greene, Claiborne and Jefferson Counties
Career Centers Consolidate, but Employer, Job-Seeker Services Still Available
Workforce Investment Act Services and the career center
staff providing those services have relocated to new facilities in Claiborne, Greene and Jefferson counties.
The move comes as a result of the Tennessee Department
of Labor and Workforce Development’s consolidation of
its services. While Department of Labor representatives
will be located in the regional career center in Talbott,
Workforce Investment Act services will still be available
locally.
In Claiborne County, David Bunch is now at the Walters
State Claiborne County Center for Higher Education at
907 Main Street in New Tazewell. He now works out of
the Center for Workforce Development, Tazewell office.
Bunch continues to spend Wednesday afternoons at the
Tennessee Career Center at Maynardville each week. This
move was effective June 30.
In Jefferson County, the Tennessee Career Center at Dandridge has closed. Fran Valentine will now be at the Tennessee Career Center in Newport full-time. She had previously split her time between the two locations. Jefferson
County businesses can choose to call or visit the Tennessee
Career Center at Talbott or the Tennessee Career Center at
Newport. This also became effective June 30.
In Greene County, Debbie Johnson will be moving to the
Walters State Greeneville/Greene
County Center for Higher Education
at 215 N. College Street. This move is
not effective until Aug. 30. She will be
working out of the Center for Workforce
Development, Greeneville Office.
“Many services remain available to
both employers and job seekers under
this arrangement. We have worked closely with career center partners to make
the changes as smooth as possibe,” said
Dr. Nancy Brown, dean of workforce
development at Walters State. The college serves as the administrative entity
for WIA services.
While employers will not be able to
post jobs through the Tazewell or Greeneville offices, many other services will
still be available. These include
customized training, on-the-job training and applicant assessments.The new
locations also have complete resource
labs for job-seekers. These labs include
computers, printers and fax machines
that are free for use in a job search.
Development Forum
Think you’ll be flooded with unqualified applicants? Not
true. Job-seekers referred by the Department of Labor or
by career center staff have been screened to match the
needs of each vacancy. The department will also only
refer the number of applicants you want to consider. The
services are free.
Think it’s a lot of paperwork? Paperwork, and the time it
takes from your schedule, is kept to an absolute minimum.
Here’s how to list jobs:
by Dr. Nancy Benziger Brown
As a teenager, I was a big fan of Bob Dylan. One
refrain that’s stuck with me through the years is “the
times, they are a’changin.” While change can be challenging, it can also provide new opportunities. That
has been the case this year.
Bunch
Valentine
Johnson
Need to Fill a Job? Here’s How to Post Openings at Career Centers
Employers who don’t list job openings with the Department of Labor and Workforce Development are missing
out on an important pool of applicants.
Changes Bring New Opportunities, New
Challenges and New Tools for Employers
3. By Fax
Visit http://www.state.tn.us/labor-wfd/LB0610.pdf and
download the job order fax transmittal form. Fax it to
the nearest career center. These cannot be accepted at the
Center for Workforce Development office in New Tazewell (or Greeneville after Aug. 30.).
5. Information You’ll Need
Your job listing should include the following: the contact
person; job title; educational requirements and/or minimum years of experience needed; list of duties; and work
schedule if available.
1. By Web
Simply access the Tennessee employer eCMATS site, register or log in and submit your job openings via https://ecmats.state.tn.us/eCMATS/.
Providing the salary schedule may help applicants decide
if the job is right. Job seekers will likely need to know if
the job is temporary or permanent. The job order should
also include interviewing instructions. For example, are
interviews done by appointment only or should applicants
drop in during a specific time period?
2. By Phone
Call the nearest career center (listed on the back) with a
description of the job you need filled. Staff members can
even help you prepare the descriptions.
With this information, staff members will identify and interview qualified applicants. Those applicants will follow
your contact method. Each applicant brings a referral letter/card. Please complete this card and drop it in the mail.
An ad-hoc Marketing Task Force was established
by the board last year with the objective of finding
new and better ways to let everyone know about our
services. The task force has made several recommendations to the board and, as a result, our name is
changing. The Local Area 2 board is now the Smoky
Mountains Area Workforce Board. This designation identifies the workforce area
to many more people. We found that we were one of the few local areas across
the United States that did not have some sort of geographic reference in the name
of the workforce board. We feel that the new name will be a plus in marketing
our services. Next the Marketing Task Force will recommend a new logo to the
workforce board. The preliminary drawings look great, and we hope to have the
new logo ready for our next edition of Workforce Focus.
The other change is one that is difficult for many of us. With declining resources,
the state was forced to make a decision about closing some of the area’s career
centers. As of June 30, the career centers at Dandridge and Tazewell will close.
As of Aug. 30, the career center at Greeneville will close. The staff in these
centers will be moving to the regional career center at Talbott. Unemployment
Insurance (UI) staff have already relocated to area call centers.
When the career centers close, the Center for Workforce Development staff will
also move to new locations. The Career Center at Newport will have a full-time
staff person as of July 1. Our Tazewell staff will be located in Walters State’s
Claiborne County Center for Higher Education at 907 Main Street in New
Tazewell. After the career center in Greeneville closes, our staff will move to the
Greeneville/Greene County Center for Higher Education in Greeneville at 215
North College Street. Phone numbers will remain the same.
Workforce Investment Act funding has also been severely cut as a result of a
rescission that affected three years of allocations. We’re now looking at even
more ways to stretch our funding. Some changes in our operations have resulted.
The changes we implement have been chosen because of the minimal impact on
those we serve. Services for out-of-school youth in Sevier County will now be
handled by the CWD career center staff person in Gatlinburg. This previously
was handled by Goodwill Industries. Goodwill Industries has always been a great
partner and we appreciate their assistance in making this transition a smooth one.
Despite the cutbacks, WIA Youth Services was once again able to host its annual
Summer Career Camp. The camp brings together students from all 10 counties
for a week of career and college exploration. Several area businesses hosted tours
for the young campers and we are grateful for the experience shared. Those attending the camp leave with a more realistic plan for their futures.
Please contact us if you have any questions, or are interested in any of our services. We look forward to hearing from you.
Dr. Nancy Benziger Brown is dean of workforce development at Walters State.
Thank You!
The Local Workforce Investment Act and
Walters State’s Center for Workforce Development could not operate without the support of a
dedicated board and consortium of local county
mayors. Thank you to the following board and
consortium members for giving their time and
talents to support workforce development.
Chair: David Popiel, Cocke County
Vice Chair: Noah Roark, Greene County
Chair, Consortium of Elected Officials:
Mayor Crockett Lee, Hawkins County
Claiborne County
Roger Ball
Mayor Joe Tyler Duncan
Powell Trusler
Cocke County
Dan Ford
Mayor Iliff McMahan
Hilda Lovell
Grainger County
James Compton, Jr.
Jerry Sexton
Ray McElhaney
Mayor Mark Hipshire.
Greene County
Mayor Alan Broyles
Ann Williams
Hamblen County
Ann Bowen
George Haggard, Jr.
Anna James
Marilyn Medley
Hancock County
T.J. Harrison IV
Mayor Greg Marion
Hawkins County
Nancy Barker
Glenn D. Hutchens, Jr.
Jefferson County
Matthew Evon
Mayor Alan Palmieri
Sevier County
Charles Bradley
Mayor Larry Waters
Union County
Will Bunch
Kyle Richardson
R. Michael Fishman
Carole Harwood
Mayor David Purkey
Robert Sliger
Ray Houser
Lynn Lawson
Mechelle Robinson
Mike Ryan
Johnny Hill
Ray Ogle
Mayor Larry Lay
Other Members
Lynn Elkins, Director,
Tennessee Technology Center at Morristown
Dr. Wade McCamey, President
Walters State Community College
Danny Meredith, Area Manager
Department of Human Services
Adrian Rucker, Chair
Youth Council
Harold G. Woods, Knoxville-Oak Ridge
Labor Council
Glenda Stamey, Program Coordinator
Senior Services
500 South Davy Crockett Parkway
Morristown, TN 37813
Non-Profit Organization
U.S. Postage Paid
Permit 309
Knoxville, TN
The Career Readiness Certificate: A New
Assessment Measures Workplace Skills
Our Career
Center Partners
•Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development
•Tennessee Department of Human Services,
Division of Vocational Rehabilitation
•Adult Education
•Vocational Rehabilitation
•Meritan Older Workers Program
Summer 2008
6057 West Andrew Johnson Highway
Talbott, TN 37877
(423) 317-1060
Tennessee Career Center at Gatlinburg
Shilling Center, 405 Reagan Drive, Suite 1
Gatlinburg, TN 37738
(865) 436-4381
Tennessee Career Center at Greeneville
214 North College Street, Suite 100
Greeneville, TN 37744
(423) 798-0906
Tennessee Career Center at Newport
440 Eastern Plaza Way
Newport, TN 37821
(423) 623-1108
Tennessee Career Center at Morristown
Walters State Community College
500 South Davy Crockett Parkway
Morristown, TN 37813
(423) 318-2340
T
ennessee is unveiling a new assessment
tool this year designed to make workforce
skills easier to determine prior to employment. The Career Readiness Certificate benefits
both the employer and the job seeker by providing
a standardized credential that will eventually be
recognized nationally.
Tennessee Career Center at Talbott
Tennessee Career Center at Rogersville
955 East McKinney Avenue
Rogersville, TN 37857
(423) 272-2661
Center for Workforce Development,
Tazewell Office
207 Main Street
New Tazewell, TN 37879
(423) 526-2816
Tennessee Career Center at Maynardville
115 Wilson Lane
Maynardville, TN 37807
(865) 992-0805
This project is funded under an agreement with the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development.
El Centro Para El Desarrollo De Fuerza De Trabajo en Walter State Indica el Colegio es la entridad administraiva para el progama de WIA, que
es financiado bajo un acuerdo con El Departamento de Trabajo de Tennesse y Desarrollo de la Fuerza Laboral. Walter State es un Empleador de la
Oportinidad Iguales y Proveedor de Empleo y Entrenamiento. El Colegio No Discrimina por la Carrea, El Color, La Religion, el Origen Nacional,
El Sexo, La Incapacidad, Se Envejece la Afiliacion Politica, o la Creencia. Auxiliara ayuada a atiende estan disponible sobre el pedido a individuos
con incapacidades.
Walters State Community College is a component of the State University and Community College System of Tennessee governed by the Tennessee
Board of Regents.
Walters State Community College is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools ( 1866
Southern Lane, Decatur, Georgia 30033-4097: telephone number 404-679-4501) to award Associate of Arts, Associate of Science and Associate of
Applied Science degrees.
Walters State Community College does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex, color, religion, national origin, age, disability or veteran status in
provision of educational programs and services or employment opportunities and benefits. This policy extends to both employment by and admission to the college. Walters State does not discriminate on the basis of race, sex or disability in its education programs and activities pursuant to the
requirements of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of
1973, and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 19990. Inquiries and charges of violation concerning Title VI, Title IX, Section 504, ADA
or the Age Discrimination in Employment Act (ADEA) or any of the other above referenced policies should be directed to the Human Resources
Office at Walters State, 500 S. Davy Crockett Pkwy., Morristown, TN 37813-6899. Requests for accommodation of a disability should be directed
to teh ADA Coordinator at the Office of Services for Individuals with Disabilities at Walters State, 500 S. Davy Crockett Pkwy., Morristown, TN
37813-6899
WSCC 31931-P-5-36000 Rev. 6/08, Printed by Acme Printing, 5,000 copies printed
Walters State
“The biggest advantage for using this certificate
is that employers can request specific skills and
skill levels,” said Donna Stansberry, director of
Workforce Investment Act Services.
Community College
“In the past, job postings might say a certain level
of education or a certain degree was needed. With
the CRC, you know an applicant has the skills
needed to do the job.”
Have H.R. Questions?
Call Us At:
(423) 587-7034
The CRC tests three workplace skills: applied
math, reading for information and locating information. Based on the results, a bronze, silver or
gold certificate is earned. Each level represents
different job capabilities, with bronze being the
lowest and gold being the highest.
www.fiveriverscareercenters.org
www.ws.edu
The test is different for each job. Over 600 profiles are now on file. These profiles are available
for any business to use for free. Profiles can also
be customized to fit the needs of local employers. When the test is completely implemented,
employers will pay a fee to have a customized
job profile completed. Now, the career center is
offering a limited number of free profiles on a
first-come, first-serve basis.
Job profiles range from child care workers to
welders and include jobs in virtually every field.
“Even if the employer has never heard of the
CRC, he or she can just flip over the certificate
Sandra Hook, left, and Connie O’Vercum will be
helping employers and job seekers as the new Career
Readiness Certificate is implemented.
and see the skills listed,” Stansberry added. The
test is currently being used in 46 states. Eight
CRCs have been awarded in this area since the
test became available last month.
For job seekers, the CRC not only provides evidence of their skills but also a method to improve
those skills. Those taking the test first take a
pre-test. If they want to bring up their score, free
training is available from KeyTrain and can be
accessed through any Internet connection. Workers without a connection can take the training at a
career center.
Stansberry said the CRC will provide better
quality applicants, reduce hiring expenses and
retention.
For information on using the CRC in making
hiring decisions, contact Stansberry at (423) 3171062 or Donna.Stansberry@ws.edu.