Eastern Indiana Regional Workforce Board

Wednesday, December 17, 2008

Eastern IndianaRegional Workforce Board

Celebrates the Past, Present and Future of Economic Growth Region 6

at Annual Meeting

December 11, 2008

Eastern Indiana Regional Workforce Board's Annual Meeting on Thursday, December 11, 2008, was well-attended with over 130 guests. The Ball State University Alumni Center, located in Muncie, IN provided an elegant venue for the event.

Guests entering Assembly Hall were reminded of an old fashioned Christmas setting which complimented the theme for the evening, Charles Dicken's A Christmas Carol, in which the Eastern Indiana Regional Workforce Board (EIRWB) presented their past, present and future transformation as an organization and how those are mirrored with those of Ebenezer Scrooge. Tables were set with alternating red and green place settings with fresh cut greenery in the middle of the tables surrounding vintage hurricane-style lanterns with glowing candles. The Ball State University Catering service provided a delicious meal to all of those who were in attendance.

After the presentation, Barbara Street, Regional Operator for the Eastern Indiana Regional Workforce Board, quoted an old Chinese Proverb, "If you want one year of prosperity, grown grain. If you want ten years of prosperity, grow trees. If you want one hundred years of prosperity, grow people. "

Mrs. Street continued on to tell the attendees, which included local, regional and state elected officials and a host of entrepreneurs, WorkOne Alumni, employers, WorkOne staff and Alumni, that in Region 6 we want it all. We are committed to growing our Agri-business, which means growing everything from grain, to specialty products such as fish on aqua farms, as well as trees. The goal of our region is to have at least 100 years of prosperity. We have chosen to do that in a way that is responsive to the needs of our employers and economic strengths of our region. One of those priorities is based upon what skills, education and training employers need for their workforce. What companies are seeking when locating their business and what will support the aging population or our region.

The event was an opportunity to showcase successful WorkOne Alumni; Megan Fields, Raquel Doss, Claudette Priest and Bridget Reidy.

Indiana University East Entrepreneurship Center was given special recognition for their part in the design and implementation of the B.O.S.S. (Business Opportunities for Self Starters) High School Business Plan Project. Devon Millholland, a high school student and B.O.S.S. business plan winner, was given a certificate in congratulations for his demonstration and valued traits of entrepreneurship.

Three entrepreneurial companies throughout Economic Growth Region 6 (EGR 6) were given special recognitions for their success in bringing new business, new jobs and new industries to our region. They are SolarTech/SerTech in Jay County, Xennovate of Wayne County and POET Biorefining-Portland.

New Castle Area Career Programs, who is a WorkOne educational provider, was recognized for using and seeing the power of the WorkKeys program along with three other exceptional Eastern Indiana Regional Workforce Board subcontractors:

• East Central Opportunities, Inc.
• Nexpointe Strategies LLC
• Ball State University Center for Entrpreneurship

The Star Press received an Outstanding Partnership award for their partnership with WorkOne Eastern Indiana in the publication of the WorkOne Career Connect magazine.

Henry County Commissioner Philip J. Estridge was recognized by the Eastern Indiana Regional Workforce Board and Eastern Indiana Regional Elected Officials for his unselfish devotion and distinguished leadership as Chairman and Regional Chief Elected Official.

Jim Riggle, Community Relations Manager for Indiana Michigan Power and Chair fo the Regional Workforce Board, was presented a Chairman's plaque on behalf of both the Regional Elected Officials and Regional Workforce Board for his years involved in and providing leadership to workforce development, not only to Region 6, but at the state level as well.

"We would be remiss in our celebration of the success of our region if we did not recognize the staff who have made it happen. Now, officially it is the WorkOne staff, but I need to let you in on a little secret - there is no actual WorkOne entity, rather it is the public face of the Regional Workforce Board and the umbrella under which many organizations come together to do our work in a way that is customer friendly for those we serve," said Denny Burns, EIRWB Chair.

Mr. Burns recognized the many staff from many different organizations each who work together tirelessly to serve our customers, businesses and partners. Recognitions continued with the WorkOne Eastern Indiana staff along with a special "Change Agent Award" given to Mellisa Leaming, Director of Operations for WorkOne Eastern Indiana.

The Eastern Indiana Regional Workforce Board wishes to thank everyone who attended the event for their hard work and dedication to the "Good of the Cause."

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Eastern Indiana Regional Workforce Board is provided funding from the Indiana Department of Workforce Development to manage the workforce and economic development services for Economic Growth Region 6 (EGR 6). Customer services are provided through eight WorkOne Centers throughout EGR 6 which consists of Blackford, Delaware, Fayette, Henry, Jay, Randolph, Rush, Union, and Wayne counties. These customer services are provided by various partnership agencies which make up the WorkOne system. Indiana Department of Workforce Development is the cognizant state agency for the WorkOne system in the state of Indiana.

For additional information on Eastern Indiana Regional Workforce Board call the administrative office in Muncie at 765-282-6400 or visit the web site at http://www.eiegr.org/.

Contact: Tracy Dishman, Marketing Director

Alliancefor Strategic Growth, Inc.

(765) 282-6400 ext. 113