The Road to Regionalization - National Association of Workforce Boards

The Road to Regionalization Key Recommendations for a Creating a  Regional Workforce  Board

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Panel • Dave Smith, Board Chair, CEO & President,  The Employers’ Association (TEA)  • Jim Fisher, Board Vice Chair, Director,  PADNOS (regional employer) • Rob Sarro, County Administrator,  Allegan County • Jacob Maas, CEO, West Michigan Works! 

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The Road to Regionalization • Background: The factors that provided the  impetus for regionalization • Mission‐Driven, Data‐Directed: The data that  supported the decision to regionalize • Good Governance: Creating a solid and  equitable foundation for a regionalized entity • Culture of Inclusion: Intentional efforts to  create ownership and acceptance 3

About West Michigan (Region 4b) • 7‐county region • Population 1,363,009 • 6 ISDs, 3 Community  Colleges, 11 Colleges &  Universities • 5 Economic  Development  Agencies • Manufacturing,  Healthcare, IT &  Construction

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Perception vs. Reality

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Background

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! Regionalization could not have happened  unless and until we made the transition  to an EMPLOYER‐FOCUSED mission.

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Benefits of Regionalization 1. United Focus & Direction 2. Cost Savings & Greater Financial Flexibility 3. Consistent Service Delivery 4. More Impactful Workforce Investment  Board

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Risk Factors 1. Effect on Performance  2. Differences in Governance and  Service Delivery Structure 3. Increased Liability

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Workforce Agencies

16…

to 

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Regional Prosperity Initiative Empowering Local Private, Public and  Non‐Profit Partners to Drive  Economic Prosperity

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Timeline Gov unveils vision for  regionalization 3/11/2013

MWAs in West Michigan meet to  discuss  benefits and risks  8/1/2013 RFP for consultant  9/1/2013

Mar

MAR 2013

Jul

Nov

Mar

2014

Jul

Formal  conversations  begin 8/1/2014

State response  to initial plan 1/1/2015

Nov

Committees  formed 3/1/2015 Mar

2015

New  entity:  West  Michigan  Works 10/1/2015

Jul

OCT 2015

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Mission‐Driven, Data‐Directed

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Commuting Patterns % In-County

% Region 4b

% Region 4A

% Outside of Region

100% 90%

15% 1%

80%

10%

16%

13% 1%

23% 31%

4%

31% 38%

1%

70% 30%

0%

39%

0% 2%

60% 42% 50% 40%

38%

42% 33%

74%

30% 50% 20%

47% 34%

31%

27%

26%

Allegan

Montcalm

10% 0% Kent

Muskegon

Ottawa

Ionia

Barry

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Regional Employers

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Good Governance

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Building a Team Environment

Figure 1. DiSC Profiles. Retrieved from https://www.intesiresources.com/25‐disc‐profile‐facts.html. Figure 2: Lencioni, Patrick and Wiley Workplace Learning Solutions. Retrieved from http://www.fivehehaviors.com. 

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Key Issues

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Representation Structure

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Culture of Inclusion

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Organizational Structure‐ ACSET History of ACSET’s Interlocal Agreement 1985  Grand Rapids Area Employment and Training (GRAETC)and Kent Grand Rapids CAP merge with  approval from the State of Michigan to become Area Community Services Employment and  Training (ACSET) Council.  1996  Allegan County joins the service delivery area and is added to the Interlocal Agreement to form  Michigan Works! Kent & Allegan Counties.  2000 The interlocal agreement was amended to reflect Workforce Investment Act changes. 2014 Barry County joins the service delivery area and is added to the Interlocal Agreement to form  Michigan Works! Kent, Allegan and Barry Counties. 

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Merger 

vs

Acquisition

Mutual decision

One entity takes  ownership of another

Integration in order to  expand operations

Can be difficult and/or  hostile environment

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CEO Legal  Dept

Marketing/Comm Depart

HR Dept

CFO Fiscal Dept

Chief Operating Officer

Reg’l Service  Center Director

Policy  Dept Performance/ Quality Dept

Facilities Dept

Service Center Manager

Service Center Manager

Service Center Manager

Service Center Manager

IT Dept

Business Solutions  Dept

Service Center Manager

Michigan Works! Kent Allegan

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Creating a Culture of Inclusion • Requested approval from GB to revise some pay  ranges and added new ones based on  compensation studies. (June 2015)  • Union changes, seniority, no probation • Did not have to apply for positions‐ direct hire • Logo • Intranet • Met with incoming staff individually 

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Communicate Early and Often • Transition teams, marketing, WIOA, legal • Met regularly • Service center meetings with proposed org  charts with new names and titles • All staff meeting in October 2015 • Regular updates with boards

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CEO CAA Assoc Director

Staff  Attorney

CAA Progr Manager

Staff  Attorney

Marketing/Comm Director

Chief Financial  Officer

HR  Director

Accounting Manager

Accounting Supervisor

Chief Operating Officer

Reg’l Service  Center Director

WIOA/WP  Policy Manager PATH Policy  Manager TAA Policy  Manager

Facilities Manager

Service Center Manager

Service Center Manager

Service Center Manager

Service Center Manager

IT Manager

Reg’l Business  Solutions Director

Business Solutions  Manager

Service Center Manager

Youth Policy  Manager

WM-Reg 4B WMA

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The West Michigan Works!  Workforce Development Board • Board structure • 35 members • Mirror demographics of industries  and communities • Merging 4 boards: from 70 to 35

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Keys to a Successful Merger • Perception vs. Reality • Seek Outside Counsel  • Mission‐Driven, Data‐Directed  • Establish Good Governance • Challenge Yourself to Think Differently  • Communicate Early and Often 32

Resources • US Chamber of Commerce:   Managing the Talent Pipeline • US Census: On the Map

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Contact Information • Dave Smith, Board Chair [email protected] • Jim Fisher, Board Vice Chair [email protected] • Rob Sarro, Allegan County  [email protected] • Jacob Maas, West Michigan Works!  [email protected]

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