Workforce Builders Awards Recognize Organizations For Developing Future Workforce

Melville, N.Y., November 16, 2006 - Cathy Healy, Director of Workforce and Education Programs, U.S. Chamber’s Institute for a Competitive Workforce, urged Long Islanders to support the Long Island Works Coalition (LI Works), “It (LI Works) is the 21st century business education model that is bridging the business community with the education community,” said Healy.

Healy delivered staggering workforce statistics and recognized LI Works efforts to combat these alarming trends on a local level.  “In 2005, only four U.S. companies ranked among the top 10 corporate recipients of U.S. patents,” stated Healy.  Countries are bypassing the U.S. in awarding undergraduate degrees in natural sciences or engineering, including:  South Korea-38%; France-47%; China-50%; Singapore-67%; U.S.-15%,” Healy continued.

Healy cited three major trends impacting our future workforce:  globalization, the challenge of maintaining a skilled workforce and the ‘demographic avalanche.’  Healy provided numerous examples of these trends and their impact on America’s companies.  Due to an aging workforce, “Kansas City Power & Light is losing one-half of their workforce in the next five years and two-thirds five years after that,” Healy stated.    

Healy’s organization finds solutions to preserve the American workforce as this country’s greatest business asset and its strongest future resource.  On a regional level, since it’s inception in 1999 by the Long Island Association, LI Works has served as a model solution to this national problem. 

The Long Island Works Coalition (LI Works), along with hundreds of business leaders and educational and government professionals, gathered to hear the U.S Chamber’s workforce perspective from Healy and to celebrate Long Island’s local initiatives.  Thirteen organizations were honored at the fourth annual Workforce Builders Awards Luncheon, held on November 13, 2006 at the Melville Marriott.

The following thirteen companies were acknowledged for their workforce initiatives:

*CA – Digital Schoolhouse Foundation
*Commerce Bank
*Dowling College
*Family Time Party Rentals
*Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center
*LIRACHE (Long Island Regional Advisory Council on Higher Education)
*Monte Scott Leeper, Architect
*Northrop Grumman
*Portnoy Messinger Pearl & Associates
*South Nassau Communities Hospital
*Suffolk County Council of Boy Scouts of America – Learning for Life
*Suffolk Federal Credit Union
*Symbol Technologies
 

Presented by LI Works, the Workforce Builders Honor Roll and Workforce Builders Awards were designed to recognize organizations engaged in efforts to promote a strong Long Island economy, and a skilled and educated workforce, through school-to-work initiatives.  
 
“Event Co-Chairs, Linda Amper, VP, OSI Pharmaceuticals and Carl Bonuso, Superintendent, Wantagh Central School District exemplify the strategic relationships developed through the Long Island Works Coalition,” said Ed Travaglianti, LI Works Board Chairman.  “I have seen phenomenal growth in the outreach and connections this organization (LI Works) has made between business and academia,” he continued.

Several successful programs developed by LI Works were highlighted.  “The President/Superintendents Partnership is a unique and unprecedented collaboration…20 colleges and universities working with Long Island’s 15 school districts address many common issues and challenges,” noted award presenter and President of Dowling College, Dr. Sean Fanelli.
 
Young professionals delivered Workforce Builders success stories.  “Having the experience of my internship, I was able to collaborate and connect with my colleagues from the very start; I felt comfortable in my position and the office environment.  Coming full circle, I have become an active business member on the East Islip/Dowling Advisory Board giving back the support and advice that I received,” said JT Sheriff, Senior Accountant, BDO Seidman, LLP.

“We celebrate these proactive companies who understand the benefits of investing in today’s youth as a future resource,” said Cheryl Davidson, Executive Director of the Long Island Works Coalition.    “LI Works has served as a model organization bringing the workforce shortage issue to the forefront of our region since 1999.  Efforts to train a skilled and educated workforce that will support the future needs of our local industries and businesses is crucial to our future economic stability.  We need to collaborate and strategically plan for the future,” Davidson continued.

LI Works is a non-profit, regional effort to promote a strong economy and workforce through business/education collaborations.  The organization helps to prepare today’s student for tomorrow’s workforce through its programs and initiatives.  To learn how to get involved with LI Works, or for more information on the Workforce Builders Awards program or Cathy Healy’s speech, call (631) 843-4010 or e-mail info@liworks.org.