(DENVER) – During a three-day event in Denver called Sectors Summit II: Growing the Talent Pipeline, hundreds of industry and community leaders will join workforce, education and economic development professionals to continue the work that began last year at Colorado’s first Sectors Summit. Hosted by the Colorado Workforce Development Council, this second summit will be held May 19 – 21 at the Denver Marriott Tech Center.
America has hammered together a lot of workforce development and education initiatives over the years and while stakeholders worked together in a spirit of cooperation, the reality is that what was created and what has been in place for a long time has simply been a collection of programs.
Historic work to change that approach got underway with Governor Hickenlooper’s Bottom Up Economic Development Plan. From that examination of what was working best regionally, a statewide strategy called the Colorado Blueprint was developed.
Then, at the first Sectors Summit event in 2013 and in subsequent industry led regional meetings across the state, business and community leaders, as well as workforce, education and economic development professionals, came together to take the important next steps to cross the boundaries that have traditionally existed and address skill gaps and other obstacles to better meet the needs of business and workers.
The basic idea is to provide industry leaders a place to solve major talent issues; address other issues related to their shared competitiveness; a single table at which to work with public entities; an opportunity to share costs related to needed solutions; a venue for faster understanding of changing industry needs to strategically focus time; and resources toward high impact solutions for industry and workers. Additionally, the aim is to collect this work across the state to leverage and share solutions to address challenges at a statewide level, with an ultimate goal of strengthened competitiveness and quality job opportunities.
“I think it’s vitally important to participate in the sector effort in Colorado,” says Yvonne Myers, Director of Columbine Health Systems. “It’s the single way I’ve been able to come together with my competition to find the things keeping all of us from moving forward, things we can’t fix by ourselves but we can as a group. As a collective, we have the attention of government, workforce development, higher education and, in partnership, we find solutions.”
Colorado has long depended on attracting workers from other states, a strategy that seems unlikely to work in the long-run. Today, thanks to the groundbreaking work of the Sectors Summits, Colorado is on the forefront of creating an economic development eco-system that will help ensure that the state’s businesses have what they need to be competitive, including a well-educated and talented workforce.
During the Sectors Summit II, participants will learn how partnerships will continue to grow and expand across Colorado, how industry-driven career pathways can be built, and the roles economic development organizations, workforce centers, trade associations and educators will play in the work ahead. Attendees will walk away with real connections with industry leaders, fresh ideas and innovative tools that can be put in place today.
“Employers tell us that they can’t find workers with the skills they need,” says Lt. Governor Joe Garcia. “Sectors Summit II will bring people together to share information so we can make sure we’re producing the kinds of workers who will fuel Colorado’s economy in the years ahead.”
Ellen Golombek, Executive Director of the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment, adds that as Colorado’s economy continues to improve, the time is right to begin planning for Colorado’s economic future. “The best response to any future economic challenges we may face is to create a workforce system that spreads opportunity,” she says. “Positioning ourselves for the future cannot wait.”
For more information about Colorado’s Sectors Summit II: Growing the Talent Pipeline, go to www.sectorssummit.com.
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About The Colorado Workforce Development Council
The Workforce Development Counil was established to create and sustain a business-led Colorado talent system that appropriately integrates the work of economic development, education, training and workforce development to meet the needs of businesses, students and job-seekers. To learn more about its work, go to www.colorado.gov/cdle/cwdc.