Minutes of Meeting
Of the Regional Workforce Board
For Indiana Region 9

Belterra Casino Resort & Spa
Belterra, IN
April 18, 2008

I. Welcome and Introductions

The meeting was called to order at 10:05 am by Chairman Timms.

Board Members present: Board Members absent:
Beth Blasdel Patti Yount
Don Heiderman
Jackie Hill
John Burnett Board Staff Present
Rick Bryant Angela Black
Ron Timms Barbara Kemp
Carla Enzinger Bebe Kinnett
Jeanie Scofield Connie Berry
Bob Tedesco Kirk Kuhn
Rene Stivers Doug Jones
Mike Rowland Carla Crowe
Jim Battin
Quorum Present

After calling the meeting to order, Chairman Ron Timms welcomed and introduced the guests to the meeting which included Theresa Voors DWD Commissioner, Dale Wengler DWD Assistant Commissioner, Lissa Griffin, Molly Dodge, Margo Olson of RVR; Jim Buchanan, Amy Lay, Gary Leavell, Nancy Davisson of DWD; Mayor Fledderman of Batesville; Peg Dickson Ohio County Community Foundation; Denise Knueven Purdue TAP; Mark Bryson, Dean Frasier, Bart Brown with Reach.

II. Discussion/Approval of Prior Meeting’s Minutes

The minutes from the March 14, 2008 meeting were reviewed. Upon review there were no request for changes. Jeanie Scofield motioned to accept the minutes as written, Don Heiderman seconded the motion. The minutes were approved unanimously.

III. Additional Activities of Board Leadership

Regional Operator
Jeanie Scofield stated as a member of the Review Committee she would like to make the recommendation to the Board accept the proposal and enter into a contract with Reach, Inc. as the new Regional Operator beginning next fiscal period. Beth Blasdel explained that Patti Yount was called to a meeting but speaking on her behalf it is important to state that Ms. Yount supports the hiring of Reach Incorporated as the new Regional Operator. John Burnett made a motion to move forward with a contract with Reach, Inc., Jackie Hill second the motion. Motion Passed.

Service Provider
Chairman Timms stated that the RFP for Service Provider is still in process. There was a Bidders Conference March 21, 2008 and should have the proposals for review by April 25, 2008.

IV. Theresa Voors, DWD Commissioner

Theresa Voors Commissioner of DWD and Dale Wengler Deputy Commissioner for Policy and Field Operations gave a brief presentation on the status of Workforce growth in Indiana. The main goal is to assist individuals to the career path.
Ms. Voors discussed the current Integration model. We will be turning WorkOne on its head and providing a much smoother customer service. This may also require relocating or removing walls, changing cubes to pods and providing a more library feel.
The State of Indiana has provided to smaller companies, free of charge, a website area to post their jobs. All future employees in the state of Indiana will be able to use this site to post resumes and look for jobs. This will be a career choice tool.
Don Heiderman asked if there were any follow up to SSI. Ms. Voors stated that we are hoping to add some of the SSI initiatives to the web best practices website.
JAG is for students with low income or families who have never been to college before.

V. Doug Jones, Financial Report

Carla Crowe handed out the financial report as of March 31, 2008. Mr. Jones explained we have $139,000 rescission of funds from the State. But believes this will be reduced by the time the final decision is made. We have been informed of our State allocation for next year. We are anticipating presenting a 2009 budget at the next Board meeting. $180,000 will be allocated to Dream It Do It and has been approved by the Finance Committee. Doug Jones, Jim Battin and Jack Hess are working on an entrepenurialship grant and are asking for up to $30,000 matching funds. RVR is asking for more training funds, we need to need to know where the $180,000 went prior to approving these funds. We are asking RVR to give a breakout by May 5, 2008. RVR has also asked for $5,000 for the Jennings County WorkOne for blinds and a maintenance agreement for all the sites. Chairman Timms ask for motions approving the above. For the DIDI allocation Mike Rowland made a motion to accept Jeanie Scofield second, motion carried. For the (up to) $30,000 OCRA grant cash match for entrepenurialship John Burnett made a motion to accept Rick Bryant seconded, motion carried. For Doug Jones to work with RVR on the $180,000 spent on training John Burnett motioned to accept Jeanie Scofield seconded, motion carried. And the $5,000 for blinds and maintenance agreement for RVR Rene Stivers motioned to accept Mike Rowland seconded, motion carried. Chairman Timms request a motion to accept the financial, John Burnett motion to accept the financial report as presented. Mike Rowland seconded the motion. Motion carried.

VI. John Burnett/EcO15

John Burnett gave a presentation on Eco15 as it is today. So far every county is working on developing a plan. By October of this year every county will have an initiative on how to integrate the $600,000 in Advanced Manufacturing programs. It is important to mention that every county needs a Board member on the 4 person team. Each 4 person team will make up the EcO15 Council. Our first advisory meeting will be May 28, 2008 at the Batesville County Club. Jefferson County has hired a coordinator, Kathy Huffman. The search for a management team is underway. Mr. Burnett really appreciates the Boards work on how to leverage this grant with workforce funds.

VII. Jim Battin/DIDI

Mr. Battin passed out information for the Boards review. Mr. Battin stated there was a 28% improvement since March 2007. With Tomorrows Manufacturing Workforce grant we will see an additional increase by fall. And by 2009 the EcO15 project begins with Project Lead the Way. This is a positive picture and we are poised to continue that trend. With the job matching system coming we will be seeing what the employer demands are and we will be able to pinpoint our future investments.

VIII. Bebe Kinnett

Ms. Kinnett explained that in the Board packets are copies of the integration policy manual which is a step by step process of how the welcome team handles what happens in a WorkOne. This policy has to be into DWD by the end of the month and is asking the Board to review and notify her of any changes necessary. We will be having a “Dry Run” on our integration process soon and Ms. Kinnett will inform the Board of its outcome.

State monitoring will be in Lawrenceburg on May 19, 2008 for that week.

WorkOne in Seymour will be moved on April 24-25, 2008.

Ms. Kinnett informed the board that the Staff has provided their information in the Board packets. Due to the lengthy meeting they will not be discussing their activities of the last month.

IX. Lissa Griffin/RVR

Ms. Griffin gave a brief presentation on the activities of RVR over the last month. It appears to be moving smoothly and along budget.

X. Other Business

Chairman Timms asked Mayor Fledderman if he had any questions. Mayor Fledderman stated not really but can but will have information in the future to talk about.

Chairman Timms stated that the Regional Operator office lease was extended for another year and will continue to work out of the Lawrenceburg office until 2009.

Next meeting will be in Greensburg on May 16, 2008 at the Greensburg City Hall.

The June 20, 2008 meeting will be in Lawrenceburg.

Chairman Timms requested a resolution to approve all actions of the Board and its members that have occurred since the last meeting. John Burnett made a motion to accept the actions. Jeanie Scofield seconded the motion. Motion carried.

Meeting adjourned 11:21