Workforce Therapy Files
File 29: In today’s file, the team discusses talent pipelines, workforce development and the real drivers behind economic growth in Kentucky. We welcome Emily Sayers, Kentucky’s Executive Director of Workforce Solutions at the Kentucky Community and Technical College System. Meet Emily Sayers Emily serves as the Executive Director in the Cabinet for Workforce and Economic Development, at KCTCS. She may have the longest title for anyone we’ve interviewed on the podcast. There are 16 workforce solutions divisions across Kentucky. This aligns with the 16...
info_outlineWorkforce Therapy Files
File 28: In today’s file, the team addresses a serious topic. Active aggressor or active shooter situations are becoming more common that we’d like to admit. There are steps you can take to prepare yourself and your organization for this type emergency. We welcome the Eric Culver and Dale Massey, founders of STAT, a company focused on providing active aggressor training. They’ll share advice and insights on preparing for this dangerous situation. Editor’s Note: This file may not be suitable for all audiences, given the subject matter that will be...
info_outlineWorkforce Therapy Files
File 27: In today’s file, the team explores the benefits of vision boards and life boards. They each talk about how they approach these tools in their own lives. This conversation springs from a new experience Jamie is working through that took an unexpected turn, at the outset. The team welcomes their podcast producer, Jim Ray, to participate with them in the discussion. The Executive Coaching Experience Jamie shares that she’s recently begun working with an executive coach at . One way the coach has challenged her is to be more intentional about herself. ...
info_outlineWorkforce Therapy Files
File 26: In today’s file, the team is going to lighten-up the conversation with some funny HR stories they’ve either experienced or heard about. Before we begin, we’d like to encourage you to send us your funny HR stories, via the . We might read them on an upcoming file. Sleeping on the Job Stories Story 1 Molley begins with a personal example from her “first real job.” She wanted to talk with one of the leaders. She knew he was in the office. She knocked on his office door repeatedly. Finally, the door opened. She was shocked. ...
info_outlineWorkforce Therapy Files
File 25: In today’s file, the team wraps up a 2-part discussion on the job market. In this episode, they’ll focus on “lay-ups”. These are the positive ways an organization can assist exiting employees to land on their feet, after a separation. At the same time, this segment will also help area employers to take advantage of the availability of new candidates becoming available, especially if a large layoff has occurred. Click here to listen , Layoffs and Lay-Ups (Part 1). In File 11 (), the team discussed the topic of separating with dignity. This might...
info_outlineWorkforce Therapy Files
File 24: In today’s file, the team begins a 2-part discussion on the job market. In this episode, they’ll focus on layoffs. Several clients have reached out to Jamie and Molley to plan for potential layoffs and the specific steps companies are required to take. In File 11 (), the team discussed the topic of separating with dignity. This might be a good reference point. Legal Considerations Involving a Layoff To begin, it’s important to note none of this should be considered legal advice, as the members of the WTF Podcast team are not lawyers. ...
info_outlineWorkforce Therapy Files
File 23: In today’s file, the team welcomes Summer Dixon Goldman of Dixon Strategies. She offers fractional Chief Operating Officer services for owners, founders and CEOs. Dixon Strategies brings order to chaos. Meet Summer Goldman Summer had a 20-year, corporate career. She has a background in agriculture and lending. The majority of her corporate experience was in leadership roles related to sales and operations teams. She eventually made the decision to start her own company. Summer begins by explaining fractional chief operating officer services...
info_outlineWorkforce Therapy Files
File 22: In today’s file, the team welcomes Amy Rudy, the Founder of Impact Sales Systems, to discuss the challenge of staying relevant in your industry or field and growing your knowledge, skills and abilities. It’s also going to require a level of resilience to remain agile in the future of work. In case you missed them, the previous 2 episodes focused on The Future of Work. Click the below links to listen: · · Meet Amy Rudy Amy is a sales and sales management coach. She works with business...
info_outlineWorkforce Therapy Files
File 21: In today’s file, the team continues the discussion on the future of work, namely the changes to where and how we’ll work, in the not too distant future. Remember, we let AI draft the outline for this file. Jason and Molley haven’t seen the outline. We’ll see where the machine takes us! If you missed Part 1, you can listen to it here: The Gig Economy Is Booming Will this continue to grow? Will contract-work increase? Jason points out that not everyone is wired to be a business owner. It’s a big step and can be more complicated...
info_outlineWorkforce Therapy Files
File 20: In today’s file, the team will discuss the future of work, namely the changes to where and how we’ll work, in the not too distant future. In an effort to lighten up the topic, we let AI draft the outline for this file. Jason and Molley haven’t seen the outline. We’ll see where the machine takes us! Companies Will Adapt to Remote Work to Survive? There’s been a lot of chatter about the return-to-office trend. How will this affect the workforce? Molley suggests that top talent may decide to seek other companies allowing its teams at least...
info_outlineFile 29: In today’s file, the team discusses talent pipelines, workforce development and the real drivers behind economic growth in Kentucky. We welcome Emily Sayers, Kentucky’s Executive Director of Workforce Solutions at the Kentucky Community and Technical College System.
Meet Emily Sayers
Emily serves as the Executive Director in the Cabinet for Workforce and Economic Development, at KCTCS. She may have the longest title for anyone we’ve interviewed on the podcast. There are 16 workforce solutions divisions across Kentucky. This aligns with the 16 colleges within KCTCS. The focus is on business engagement, as well as the upskilling and reskilling of Kentucky’s workforce.
Emily originally worked at the Gateway Community and Technical College in northern Kentucky. She viewed her role there as being a community resource for employers, beyond workforce. She often connected employers with any number of others who could play a part in helping them to address specific issues they were facing.
Emily and here team could design and deliver customized training to assist employers. It could range from typical skills, such as MIG welding, to more adapted solutions including the welding, but in combination with a range of other company-specific needs, including managerial training. The training could be delivered onsite or at a campus and during times that worked best for the employer, including 3rd shift time slots. It would be a completely customized experienced.
The goal for KCTCS is to move at the speed of business. They want to be the incubator for new programming, technologies and more.
Timeline for New Orientation Programs and Other Programs
Jamie asks Emily about the timeline involved in delivering programs for businesses. Orientation upskilling is a common type of program KCTCS develops for employers, including manufacturing sites, ranging from highly technical processes to basic information regarding two-step verification.
If the curriculum already exists, KCTCS could deliver the new program in a week, assuming a subject matter expert can be identified and engaged. This comes back to the focus on moving at the speed of business.
Other types of programs that are purely conceptual, at the outset, would require more time. It usually comes down to how prepared the employer is and what their timeline requirements are.
Emily mentions there’s no real standard. This manifests in KCTCS working in the gray, as the development of a new program evolves.
Customized Programs for the Community
Jason comments how KCTCS can customize programs based on needs of a community. For instance, training heavy equipment operators. Once a successful program is developed, it may be possible for KCTCS to leverage parts or all of the training for other situations/locations.
Are KCTCS Resources Available to Companies outside of Kentucky?
Jason asks Emily if employers in other states can leverage the capabilities of KCTCS? While other states may offer similar services, actually, KCTCS does a lot of work in Tennessee, Indiana, Ohio, Virginia and other border states.
Those non-Kentucky states may not have access to state incentives, but there are still opportunities for agile training and program development. KCTCS may be able to partner with other non-profits to assist in opportunities with those employers.
How Does KCTCS Approach the Sustainability of the Programs It Develops?
It depends on the situation. Some programs may move to the academic-side of Kentucky Community and Technical College System. They would be supported through that area. However, on the workforce development-side of the System, if there is an ongoing need by the employer, KCTCS can arrange to maintain that program. If the needs have moved beyond the initial program, the original program may sunset as resources are focused on developing more up-to-date programs.
Jason notes how the community college system can be much more flexible and adaptive, when compared to traditional 4-year universities.
Partnerships Across Kentucky
Emily describes some of the partnerships they maintain across the state. One is the with the Strategic Workforce and Talent Team (SWATT). It’s comprised of many different entities. This include (but are not limited to) KCTCS, Department for Education and Labor, Cabinet for Economic Development, the Kentucky Chamber, and others. The goal of the partnership is ease of use for the employer. It brings all of Kentucky’s incentives and resources for employers in a clear format. It helps to streamline the conversation between employers and the available providers, while reducing confusion and redundancy.
SWATT is still in its early days. There’s an identified effort to educate employers on how to access these program resources.
How Do Employers Pay for KCTCS Services?
Emily highlights KCTCS-TRAINS funding. This is an allocation of funds specifically for the 16 colleges in the system. It is used to offset the cost to employers related to upskilling and reskilling the incumbent workforce. It can cover up to 75% of the cost for an employer to have its customized training program.
Partner organizations and other groups may be able to be identified to cover the remaining 25% of the cost.
A 10% administration fee is also charged, for KCTCS to maintain the program.
These funding mechanisms can ensure employers can engage in workforce development activities, including customize programs, rather than pre-packaged programs that are offered by other vendors.
How Many Employees Must Be Kentucky-Based for the Employer to Access the Incentives?
Surprisingly, there is no minimum requirement. If the business is operating in Kentucky, it can have access to the programs, including the KCTCS-TRAINS funding.
Emily explains there are other parameters including training a certain number of people and spending a certain amount of money. Nevertheless, this is an extremely valuable resource for employers.
One of the objectives is to make this easy for employers to understand and participate. Partnering with KCTCS can make the development of the new program and achieving the results much less complicated that one would imagine. Combine that with the financial incentives and it’s clear most of the traditional roadblocks have been eliminated.
Are there Commonly Overlooked Services Available from KCTCS?
Jamie asks if there are services Emily wishes more employers would ask about or take advantage of? The number one service is TRAINS funding. The next, even for out-of-state employers is the customized training available from KCTCS, whether the training takes place at one of their locations or at the employer’s location. The agile and flexible ability of the services is a tremendous benefit. KCTCS will come to you, which is extremely advantageous for employers in remote or rural locations.
The Education First Employers Initiative is another important service. Emily explains this is a partnership between KCTCS colleges and Kentucky businesses. Participating businesses offer flexible scheduling, tuition assistance, and a commitment to meet or exceed a living wage.
Can KCTCS Support Remote or Hybrid-Work Arrangements?
Yes. By leveraging the Owensboro Community and Technical College infrastructure, KCTCS offer FlexTrain. This is an LMS for employers involving customized training to support remote or hybrid staff needs.
Virtual reality learning is another capability offered by KCTCS.
Interested in Contacting Emily Sayers to Learn More?
Website: https://kctcs.edu/
Phone: (877) 528-2748
Before We Leave
We wanted to let you know the WTF Podcast is going to have a booth at the upcoming 2025 KYSHRM Conference, August 26-28, at the Central Bank Center in Lexington, KY. Come visit us at Booth 113. Be a guest for one our podcast mini-interviews!
That’s where we’ll leave the conversation for today. Before we close the file, we invite you to reach out to us with questions, suggestions or other comments. We’d love to hear from you.
Did You Enjoy Today’s Conversation?
Visit www.WorkforceTherapyFiles.com to listen to additional WTF files or to let us know you’d like to be a guest on an upcoming file.
Need Help Supporting Your Company’s Recruiting and Staffing Goals?
We’re here to help. You can contact us via our individual websites, depending on your specific needs or questions:
· Jamie Swaim, SPHR – www.ParcelKnows.com
· Molley Ricketts – www.IncipioWorks.com
· Jason Heflin – www.CrowdSouth.com
We hope you found this file insightful and helpful. Thank you for listening!