LHU hosts Workforce Roundtable Discussion

October 16, 2012

A Workforce Development Roundtable Discussion was hosted by LHU on October 4th, 2012. Shannon Tyson, Manager of Workforce Development, invited central region businesses to participate in a facilitated discussion to explore our communities’ workforce needs, training demands, and identify employee skill gaps. Central region employers that attended the event include: Woolrich, Inc., Trican Well Services, Ltd., Lock Haven University, Appreciative Strategies, LLC, Lewistown Hospital, Glenn O. Hawbaker, Inc., APC International, Ltd., Lock Haven Hospital, Hilex Poly Company, LLC. The Tri-M Group, LLC, and Jersey Shore Hospital.

Ms. Kate Fairweather, Regional Director, Governor’s Action Team (GAT), addressed the group on ways that GAT can help businesses create and retain jobs in Pennsylvania. For more information on GAT and their programs, please visit: http://www.newpa.com

Workforce Development Manager, Shannon Tyson, updated the participants on the status of WEDnet GFT grant funding for the current fiscal year and explained the grant program. “The keystone of the GFT program is its ability to be responsive to the needs of Pennsylvania's business community through a flexible and easy-to-use system,” says Tyson.  Lock Haven University is one of 30 certified partners across the commonwealth administering the grant.  Awards are made each fiscal year to eligible companies, with a combined award of up to $125k for basic skills training and information technology training.

Mr. Dennis Gilbert, Appreciative Strategies, and Tyson led the facilitated discussion. The group was presented with questions regarding their incumbent workforce, such as, “Describe your perfect workforce, what does it look like?” Several training commonalities were identified across the diverse group of businesses. “The information that was captured throughout the discussion will enable us to offer relevant, interesting, and useful courses to our regional employers. We want to offer the kinds of professional training and development that are relevant to the workforce needs of our community,” added Tyson.

For more information on the office of Workforce Development and the WED net grant program, please visit:   http://www.lhup.edu/workforce or contact Shannon Tyson at 570-484-3131 or  styson@lhup.edu

Lock Haven University is a member of the Pennsylvania State System of Higher Education (PASSHE), the largest provider of higher education in the commonwealth. Its 14 universities offer more than 250 degree and certificate programs in more than 120 areas of study. Nearly 405,000 system alumni live and work in Pennsylvania.