Talent & Workforce
Our best intel comes from existing businesses
Our best intel comes from existing businesses Identifying business trends can be deceptively tricky. Who can provide the best insight? Who has the most reliable information? In its economic development work, Chamber staff decided to go to the source: CEOs and top business executives who spend each work day creating new possibilities, analyzing the bottom…
Read MoreHow The Network gives young professionals an edge
How The Network gives young professionals an edge Workforce issues continue to dominate our business community’s conversations and while much attention is paid to growing talent through the public school system and attracting experienced professionals to the region, there is a third way. In its work to meet workforce needs, the Chamber is also focusing…
Read MoreBusinesses open for career exploration
Businesses open for career exploration True workforce development starts early. On graduation day, those students who have had the chance to explore career options as high school juniors and seniors are more likely to succeed as they embark on next steps. Launched just this year, GO CAPS (Greater Ozarks Centers for Advanced Professional Studies) gives…
Read MoreGO CAPS students kick off the school year
GO CAPS students kick off the school year More than 250 students, parents and business partners flooded rooms at CoxHealth, the eFactory and Springfield Remanufacturing Corporation for the orientation and launch of the Greater Ozarks Centers for Advanced Professional Studies last week. “We’re working to prepare you for jobs that don’t even exist yet—jobs that…
Read MoreBusiness and higher ed talks lead to new course at Ozarks Technical Community College
Business and higher ed talks lead to new course at Ozarks Technical Community College Businesses asked, and the education community has answered. Beginning this fall, the Center for Workforce Development at Ozarks Technical Community College will offer a new course designed with a particular local industry in mind. The pilot course will focus on stainless steel fabrication…
Read MoreTeachers learn a thing or two from area businesses
Teachers learn a thing or two from area businesses Four days. Three industries. 11 school districts. 23 businesses. 31 teachers. The impact on our workforce—exponential. Beginning next week, the Greater Ozarks Centers for Advanced Professional Studies will send teachers from across the Springfield region into area businesses to find out first-hand what skills are needed…
Read MoreGO CAPS announces program offerings for 2015-2016
GO CAPS announces program offerings for 2015-2016 The Greater Ozarks Centers for Advanced Professional Studies began enrolling students for its first two course strands, Engineering and Manufacturing and Medicine and Health Care. The program will immerse high school juniors and seniors in an environment that combines hands-on career experiences and classroom learning by partnering students…
Read MoreChamber to manage launch of innovative career readiness initiative
Chamber to manage launch of innovative career readiness initiative The Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce announced today it will contract with Springfield Public Schools and 10 other area school districts to launch a new career readiness initiative that will focus public education resources on confronting the number one challenge facing businesses and employers today: talent…
Read MoreWhy so much hype about workforce? Find out
Why so much hype about workforce? Find out Workforce isn’t just a buzz word–it’s part of an emerging reality facing communities across the nation. The problem stems from the fact that growing economies like ours are literally going to run out of people to hire. As the baby boomer generation leaves the workforce, there aren’t going to…
Read MoreWhy Springfield? Watch the video to find out
Why Springfield? Watch the video to find out It’s the question every human resources department has to answer when hiring outside the community–and because there are so many reasons to choose Springfield, it’s not always an easy question to answer. Until now. This morning, Springfield’s first talent attraction video made its public debut during the Chamber’s…
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