OSHA Training and Trends in 2023-2024
Staying on top of safety practices in an ever-evolving workplace environment cannot be overstated. With OSHA’s latest regulatory updates, there’s a fresh emphasis on creating safer workspaces that safeguard the well-being of employees across all sectors. We’ll unpack these significant changes, from the nuanced adjustments in penalty structures to introducing new guidelines for critical areas such as hazard communication and personal protective equipment. These updates reflect a deepening commitment [...]
Formal Conversations Offering Feedback
Effective communication is foundational to success in today's ever-changing business landscape. With the rise of remote and hybrid work models, companies must ensure that their employees can communicate seamlessly and effectively, regardless of their work environment. As of 2023, research shows that 12.7% of full-time employees work from home, while 28.2% have adopted a hybrid work model, allowing them to work remotely and in the office. This trend is [...]
Pre-Employment and DOT Physicals in the Workplace
Prioritizing Health and Safety: The Role of Pre-Employment and DOT Physicals in the Workplace The foundation of any organization lies within its workforce. As an employer, you can ensure you prioritize health and safety for candidates by implementing pre-employment and Department of Transportation (DOT) physicals. In this comprehensive blog, we will explore the significance of these examinations, their role in job-specific positions, their contribution to safe commercial vehicle operation, [...]
What You Need to Know About Employee Drug and Alcohol Testing
Have you ever considered the impact of drug and alcohol use on your workplace? As an employer, understanding the impact of drugs and alcohol on the workplace, the different types of testing available, legal considerations, and the implementation process is crucial for your employees' well-being and business success. In this article, we will explore the challenges of employee drug and alcohol misuse, how drug and alcohol testing can create [...]
January 19th | Workforce Essentials Offices Closed
Offices Closed Due to Weather (01/19/24) Due to inclement weather and hazardous driving conditions, Workforce Essentials and the American Job Centers offices will be closed on Friday, January 19, 2024. However, virtual American Job Center services may be accessed at www.tnvirtualajc.com.
January 17th | Workforce Essentials Offices Closed
Offices Closed Due to Weather (01/17/24) Due to inclement weather, the offices of Workforce Essentials and the American Job Centers will be closed on Wednesday, January 17, 2024. However, virtual American Job Center services may be accessed at www.tnvirtualajc.com.
January 16th | Workforce Essentials Offices Closed
Offices Closed Due to Weather (01/16/24) Due to inclement weather, the offices of Workforce Essentials and the American Job Centers will be closed on Tuesday, January 16, 2024. However, virtual American Job Center services may be accessed at www.tnvirtualajc.com.
Creating a Safe Workplace: The Importance of Tailored Sexual Harassment Training
Building a safe and secure workplace is necessary and a critical aspect of organizational culture in today's ever-changing work environment. Sexual harassment remains a prevalent concern in any workplace, urging businesses to take proactive steps toward prevention and education. This blog explores sexual harassment in the workplace, the role of tailored sexual harassment training, and creating a safe working environment for everyone. Sexual Harassment in the Workplace Did you [...]
Adult Education in Tennessee
Have you considered furthering your education as an adult but don't know where to start? With so many options available, figuring out which path is right for you can be overwhelming. Many educational opportunities are available in Tennessee, whether you never graduated high school, want to change your career path, or want to learn a new skill or hobby. In this guide, we'll explore the various options in detail, [...]
How Great Leadership Will Benefit Your Business
Business leadership is essential for the success and growth of any organization. But what defines great leadership? In this blog, we will explore what business leadership entails, the benefits of leadership for your business, the qualities of great leaders, the consequences of bad leadership, and ways a great leader is different now than with past generations. Leadership In Business What is great leadership? While this question may [...]
The Benefits of an HVAC Technician Career
If you are searching for a career path that makes a difference, offers stability, great pay, growth opportunities, and doesn't require a college degree, look no further than the world of HVAC technicians. HVAC stands for something that affects our daily lives in more ways than we may realize – Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning. These systems are what keep our homes, offices, and public spaces comfortable and livable [...]
Why Paternity Testing is Important in Tennessee
Why Paternity Testing is Important in Tennessee What is a Paternity Test? Using DNA samples, a paternity test establishes a biological relationship between a father and child. In other words, a paternity test tells you who someone's father is. This DNA test requires a sample from both the father and child. Samples can come from a buccal swab, also known as a cheek swab, that collects saliva from inside [...]
Career Benefits of Being Bilingual
Ever wanted to learn English as a second language? There are many job and career benefits to speaking English proficiently in addition to your native language. Only about 20% of people in the US speak a second language fluently. So by learning English, you automatically put yourself ahead of the 80% of people in the US who don’t speak a second language. No matter your native language, you can learn English [...]
Workforce Essentials Operating on a Two-Hour Delay (02/01/23)
Workforce Essentials Operating on a Two-Hour Delay (02/01/23) Due to inclement weather conditions, Workforce Essentials in Clarksville is on a two-hour delay. The office will open at 10:00 am on Wednesday, February 1, 2023.
HiSET vs. GED: Which is Best for Your Career?
It is a tough job market these days. It is possible to have a great career without a high school diploma. Still, you no doubt have a higher chance of advancing in the employment market if you have a high school diploma or a high school equivalency certificate. A high school equivalency certificate also allows those that didn’t complete high school the chance to continue their education and attend [...]
The Importance of Employee Background Checks For Your Business
If you own a business, you have probably wondered if you really need to go through the process of performing a background screening on potential employers. Many businesses, such as those that work with children, the elderly, and many government agencies, such as banks, are required by law to check the backgrounds of potential employees. But for most employers, it's a choice. Businesses of all types and sizes benefit [...]
Job Search Strategies That Work in 2022
If you've spent hours scouring job sites and sent out what feels like hundreds of resumes only to get a handful of replies that turn up dry– you aren't alone. Tens of millions of people are looking for jobs in 2022 and coming up empty-handed despite more job openings than job applicants. You probably feel discouraged and defeated if your job search is going nowhere. You might even wonder [...]
Smyrna Adult Education has a new location!
Our Smyrna Adult Education location has changed addresses! You will now find them at 663 Ken Pilkerton Drive in the TCAT building.
Workforce Essentials Operating on a Two-Hour Delay (02/04/22)
Workforce Essentials Operating on a Two-Hour Delay (02/04/22) Due to inclement weather conditions, Workforce Essentials in Clarksville is on a two-hour delay. The office will open at 10:00 am on Friday, February 4, 2022.
Workforce Essentials Operating on a Two-Hour Delay (01/20/22)
Workforce Essentials in Clarksville is on a two-hour delay. The office will open at 10:00 am on Thursday, January 20, 2022.
Did you know that you do not “get a GED?”
Has someone asked you if you have your GED? Or if you want to get your GED? While these are common questions, they are the wrong questions to ask. So, why are those questions wrong? A GED can be crucial for employment opportunities, but there are common misconceptions about what a GED actually is. Why Do Employers Ask for a GED? What is a GED, and why does it [...]
January 6th | Workforce Essentials Offices Closed
Offices Closed Due to Weather (01/06/22) Due to inclement weather, the offices of Workforce Essentials and the American Job Centers will be closed on Thursday, January 6, 2022. However, virtual American Job Center services may be accessed at www.tnvirtualajc.com. All testing services are canceled on Thursday, including drug & alcohol and HiSet.
January 7th | Offices Closed Due to Weather
Offices Closed Due to Weather (01/07/22) Due to inclement weather, Workforce Essentials offices and the American Job Centers will be closed on Friday, January 7, 2022., Virtual American Job Center services may still be accessed at www.tnvirtualajc.com. All testing services are canceled on Friday, including drug & alcohol testing and HiSet. We hope everyone has a happy and safe snow day!
Essential Skills That Tennessee Employers Look For
In the Tennessee job market, more and more “help wanted” signs are going up. Earlier this month alone, there were over 450,000 jobs in Tennessee posted on Jobs4TN.gov, and unemployment estimates have dipped to 4.6%. The problem that many employers face is getting enough job candidates through the door during their hiring process. Surprisingly, in this day and age, many employers are more willing to consider candidates who do not [...]
Offices Closed Due to Weather (02/19/21)
Governor Lee just announced the closure of state offices in middle and west Tennessee again tomorrow. The American Job Centers and Workforce Essentials will be closed to in-person services on Friday, February 19, 2021. However, our American Job Centers will be operating virtually to support your workforce needs. Click here to access AJC virtual services at or call your local center at one of the numbers listed here. All employees will be [...]
Offices Closed Due to Weather (02/16/21)
Due to inclement weather, the offices of Workforce Essentials and the American Job Centers will be closed on Tuesday, February 16, 2021. However, virtual American Job Center services may be accessed at www.tnvirtualajc.com. All testing services are canceled on Tuesday, including drug & alcohol and HiSet.
OSHA COVID Citations Class Rescheduled
Due to inclement weather, the OSHA COVID Citations class scheduled for this afternoon (2/11/21) is rescheduled for February 23. Please check your email for more details.
Opening on Thursday (02/11/21)
Workforce Essentials will open at 8:00 am.
D.O.T Post Accident Flow Chart
D.O.T Commercial Motor Vehicle Company Drug & Alcohol Test Requirements
Workforce Essentials Wins 2018 Top Workplaces Award
Workforce Essentials, Inc. has been awarded a 2018 Top Workplaces honor by The Tennessean. The list is based solely on employee feedback gathered through a third-party survey administered by research partner Energage, LLC (formerly WorkplaceDynamics), a leading provider of technology-based employee engagement tools. The anonymous survey measures several aspects of workplace culture, including alignment, execution, and connection, just to name a few. “Top Workplaces is more than just recognition,” said [...]
Governor Haslem Signs realignment of Workforce Areas
On May 24th, 2018, Governor Haslem signed off on the recommendation of the State Workforce Board to realign the existing Local Workforce Development Areas (LWDA). This game-changing movement marks the first time the local areas have been realigned since the late 1990s. The State Board began reviewing the structure of the areas in February when Grundy County requested to move to LWDA 5 to align with the economically thriving Chattanooga [...]
WIOA/ TAA Services to Employers Conference 2018
Andrea Dillard and I were asked to present at the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development WIOA/ TAA Conference held in Nashville this week. On Wednesday, we presented a total of five sessions. Over 200 workforce development professionals across Tennessee, as well as representatives from Alabama, North Carolina, and South Carolina, were on hand to learn more about the Trade Adjustment Assistance Program. Andrea and I had the [...]
WE are Family!
It is hard to believe that we are two months into 2018 already! With the implementation of two new contracts and multiple changes occurring in the WIOA Title 1 program, I created the slogan, #WEPositive2018 to emphasize an optimistic attitude and approach toward our work. It seemed only fitting with the numerous challenges that we are facing, that we tackle our tasks with enthusiasm and a “can do” positive attitude [...]
U.S. Army Recognizes Montgomery County with Partnership Award
I recently had the very distinct honor of traveling to Washington, DC on behalf of the American Job Center and other Montgomery County dignitaries as well as the Fort Campbell Garrison Command. The article from the Leaf Chronicle is below: “Fort Campbell and Montgomery County, Tennessee live side-by-side as neighbors and partners. On December 4, Montgomery County was of only seven Army communities worldwide to be recognized in Washington, D.C. [...]
Performance and hard work pays off!
The Tennessee Department of Human services recently selected Workforce Essentials’ proposal to deliver Families First services in Middle and West Tennessee. The procurement process saw competition from local and national workforce agencies. Congratulations to Natalie McLimore and the entire WorkFirst Team! Natalie’s outstanding leadership as well as her awesome grant writing skills garnered high scores from the review team. We also know that none of this would be possible without the [...]
The American Job Center partners to assist transitioning soldiers to obtain careers in advanced manufacturing
FT. CAMPBELL, Kent. – LIFT - Lightweight Innovations for Tomorrow, a Manufacturing USA national innovation institute — in partnership with the National Institute for Metalworking Skills (NIMS), Amatrol, Gene Haas Foundation and the American Job Center in Clarksville — today announced the launch of “Operation Next” - a new model for equipping separating military personnel with the skills and credentials needed for the most in-demand advanced manufacturing civilian careers in [...]
Workforce Essentials visits Jacksonville for SETA Conference
Board members and staff of Workforce Essentials recently attended the Southeastern Employment & Training Association (SETA) Spring Conference in Jacksonville, Florida. The conference highlighted innovative and best practices associated with the delivery and administration of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. Highlighting the four-day conference was John Clement and Charlie Koon, as they presented on the “101 Jobs for the 101st” program. They engaged audience members with an on-line polling [...]
Clarksville AJC featured on Workforce GPS
Training and technical assistance is vitally important as we implement the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. The U.S. Department of Labor, Employment and Training Administration has development a portal of resources available for state and local workforce agencies to utilize called WorkforceGPS. (www.workforceGPS.org) An innovative approach to training, Workforce GPS features WIOA Wednesday which is an interactive webinar that features a specific WIOA topic. The Clarksville American Job Center (AJC) [...]
First Adult Education Graduation Held for Davidson County
I’m not sure how you spent your evening this past Friday, but I must share that mine was simply incredible! My evening was exceptional because I was afforded the opportunity to witness the first graduating adult education class from Davidson County! This was the first official graduation since becoming a contractor with the State. The ceremony, entitled ‘The Best is Yet to Come’, was held at Trevecca Nazarene University located [...]
Governor’s Conference Celebrates Team Tennessee!
EVERY TEAM NEEDS A GAME PLAN! #TeamTN Gov. Bill Haslam and TNECD Commissioner Randy Boyd, along with state and local officials, business executives, and economic & workforce development professionals convened last week in Nashville to learn more about Team Tennessee’s innovative game plan and strategy to make Tennessee the number 1 state in the southeast in new job development. The two-day agenda was packed with valuable information on recruitment of [...]
Workforce Essentials celebrates success by challenging staff to TRY DIFFERENT, NOT HARDER!
Workforce Essentials held its annual staff development and training at Old Glory in Clarksville. The event, organized to celebrate employee successes in 2015-2016, encompassed a theme to Try Different, Not Harder. A great time was had by all, as we welcomed our new Adult Education District Staff and paraprofessionals to the event for the first time. The theme represented embracing change within the organization. Karl Schoemer said it best in [...]
101 Jobs for the 101st!
Fort Campbell Soldier Transition Program Highlighted in Washington Staff members John Clement, CW3 (R) and Charlie Koon were asked to present at the National Association of State Workforce Agencies (NASWA) Veterans conference last week in Washington, DC. The conference theme was “Serving Those Who Served,” which reflects the commitment and dedication to honoring the men and women who have defended our country, along with supporting their families. l-r : John [...]
I am an Adult Education Success Story
My name is Diana, and I am 26 years old. I am an Adult Education success story. The day I earned my diploma was the best day of my life because once upon a time, I was just another statistic. I was another black sheep who strayed from the flock and was labeled as a failure. I was an outsider looking in who wanted the things that others had, but [...]
Workforce Essentials Named Top Workplace in Tennessee!
The Tennessean has recognized 70 Companies and Organizations in Tennessee as Top Workplaces 2016. Top Workplaces are not only better places to work but are more likely to be successful than peer organizations. I am delighted to let you know that Workforce Essentials has been named to the list! The evaluation for the Top Workplaces program is based upon feedback from an employee survey that many of you completed several [...]
Natalie McLimore Presents at Regional Conference
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services-Administration for Children and Families (ACF), the U.S. Department of Labor-Employment and Training Administration (ETA), and the Food and Nutrition Services (FNS-SNAP) held an Inter-Agency Regional Meeting this week in Atlanta, Georgia. The meeting was designed to bring together leadership and program staff from the state agencies operating TANF, Child Support, Child Welfare, Runaway and Homeless Youth, Workforce and SNAP programs across the [...]
Charlie Koon Recognized as Middle TN Employee of the Year
Charlie Koon, regional workforce development coordinator for Clarksville-based Workforce Essentials Inc., has received the state's Outstanding Workforce Services Employee Award for Middle Tennessee. Each year the Tennessee Department of Labor & Workforce Development/Division of Workforce Services and the State Workforce Development Board recognize three "Outstanding Workforce Services Employees" representing West, Middle and East Tennessee for the program year from July 1 to June 30. The award is given to an [...]
Workforce Essentials Recognizes Employees
The Discovery Park of American was host for Workforce Essentials annual Employee Training and Recognition Program this year. Focusing on the discovery of excellence, Board Chairman Roy Apple and the management team recognized employees that went above and beyond the call of duty to provide outstanding services to our customers. While it is a difficult task to select just one winner per category, this year’s outstanding employees are listed below: [...]
Workforce Essentials Awarded Grant to Assist Transitioning Soldiers!
The Tennessee Department of Labor has awarded Workforce Essentials a $245,000 grant to recruit and train transitioning soldiers to fill employment opportunities in Clarksville and Middle Tennessee! The grant is focused on separating soldiers that transition out of the service from Fort Campbell. Approximately 450 to as many as 600 soldiers transition out of the service each month. These soldiers serve as a vital labor supply to the energized regional [...]
New Members Appointed to the NTWB
As you are aware, the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act began on July 1, 2015. As part of the implementation process, our local County Mayors and Executives in LWDA 8 were required to appointment members to the Workforce Board to provide guidance and oversight. The purpose of WIOA is to better align the workforce system with education and economic development in an effort to create a collective response to economic [...]
Workforce Essentials’ Board Member Needs Your Support
A member of Workforce Essentials’ Board of Directors since 2010, David McCullough has been diagnosed with Stage 4 Colon Cancer. The Cheatham County mayor has been an avid supporter of Workforce Essentials and is an outstanding leader in Cheatham County. His chemotherapy treatments are scheduled to start this week. David stated in a local newspaper report, "The outpouring of love and concern has been a great source of strength. I [...]
Inside Workforce Development
Inside Workforce Development, a statewide summit hosted by the Tennessee Department of Labor was held on May 13-15 in Nashville. Commissioner Burns Phillips and Governor Haslam kicked the event off on Wednesday afternoon challenging summit participants to align partner programs and agencies toward the mission of integrating workforce development in Tennessee. Leading by example, the Governor's Workforce Sub-Cabinet, including Commissioner Randy Boyd (ECD), Commissioner Candice McQueen (Education), Chancellor John Morgan [...]
Delegation attends NAWB Conference
A delegation from the North Tennessee Workforce Board and Workforce Essentials attended the 2015 National Association of Workforce Board’s Annual Forum in Washington DC on March 28-31st. The Forum, entitled Advancing Workforce Innovation, focused on the impending implementation of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. Several issue sessions were held to dive into deep discussion and direction on: 1) Developing career pathways; 2) Creating unified and combined strategic plans; 3) [...]
North Tennessee Workforce Board Meets in Springfield
The North Tennessee Workforce Board conducted their first meeting of 2015 last week at Highland Crest College in Springfield, Tennessee. The event was highlighted by Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development Commissioner, Burns Phillips who served as guest speaker. Commissioner Phillips began by stating, “What a great story I have to tell”. His story revolved around the efficiencies and effectiveness that have been created in the department over the [...]
2015 Starts with an Honor!
2015 Starts with an Honor! Last Monday, U.S. Secretary of Labor Thomas E. Perez announced 17 public members who will serve on the new Advisory Committee on Increasing Competitive Integrated Employment for Individuals with Disabilities, a key provision of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. Congratulations to Workforce Essentials’ own, Sharyn Hancock for being selected from hundreds of nominations. Sharyn is the Director of the Disability Employment Initiative and the [...]
2014 Ends with an Honor
Wow….Can you believe that 2014 is coming to a close? I blinked once, and the year has gone. Reflecting back over the last 12 months, it has been one of anticipation, excitement, and change for Workforce Essentials. I commemorate the successful year by highlighting some of the memorable events: LWIA 8 was honored again as one of the highest performing Workforce Areas by earning the most incentive dollars in the State. [...]
Out with WIA – In with WOIA!
After 10 years of continuing resolutions on the Workforce Investment Act, it finally looks like reauthorization is going to happen! They said that the devil is in the details–Well, the full text of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) is 811 pages worth of details! I’m just excited to see that a focus has been placed on workforce development in Washington. The bipartisan, bicameral deal should be voted on [...]
Tennessee Department of Labor & Workforce Development Recognizes Locals
On February 13th, Pat Bleecker from the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development attended the North Tennessee Workforce Board meeting to make two very special presentations. First on the agenda was the Jim Alford Award. Named in honor of former TDOL employee who managed employer grants, the Award is presented annually to an employer who has demonstrated the highest level of effectiveness and commitment in the Incumbent Worker Training [...]
A New Year & A New Building!
Year 2014 is going to be one of excitement and change for Workforce Essentials. The highlight will be moving into our new administrative headquarters and Career Center in the early summer timeframe. Many thanks are offered to the Board of Director’s of Workforce Essentials, who have invested heavily into the future of the company by providing the funding for this state of the art facility. The building is progressing nicely. [...]
Ringing in a New Year
Out with 2013 and in with 2014; it is time to wipe the slate clean and set priorities for the New Year! Two goals immediately rise to the top for me... Company Growth and Employee Satisfaction. Growth is important for the long term sustainability of the company. With the uncertainty in DC regarding WIA funding and volatility within the State Department of Human Services, it is time to start looking [...]
Annual Customer and Employer Appreciation Events Conclude
October ended with a hectic two weeks of activity including nine customer and employer appreciation events in nine days! What a great turnout we had! Over 550 customers, employers and staff attended the festivities. The support from our Board, County Mayors & Executives, and the community was phenomenal. The newspaper in Clarksville and Dover has already run fabulous stories on the winners. Please be on the lookout for you [...]
Workforce Essentials recognizes Employees at Annual Event
Once a year, the offices of Workforce Essentials, Inc. close in order to recognize the outstanding achievements of our wonderful staff. On September 13th, we were able to come together at Paris Landing State Park to network, learn, and rejuvenate through a full day of events focused on teamwork. This year, we were able to kick back and enjoy the “team” atmosphere while wearing our favorite team attire. The camaraderie really [...]
Governor Haslam Announces New Program
Drive to 55 Mission: Workforce Ready On September 4th, Governor Haslam challenged our state with a critical new mission: the Drive to 55. No….It is not a driving program for mature workers. Statistics indicated that by 2025, 55% of the jobs in Tennessee will require a credential or degree beyond the high school level. Currently only 32% of Tennesseans have achieved this academic success. We lag behind the national averages [...]
Programmatic and Fiscal Review
Have you ever felt like you are under a microscope? Well, Workforce Essentials lives under one. Compliance is a primary component of operating state and federal grants, which brings me to the point of the recent WIA monitoring conducted by the Program Accountability Review (PAR) team of the Tennessee Department of Labor. The PAR unit was on-site in Clarksville for a week to review 16 contracts and over $9.9 million dollars in [...]
State Workforce Board Ppproves Plan
The State Workforce Board met on June 13 & 14 to review WIA plans for 2013-2014. I'm happy to report that LWIA 8's plan was approved unanimously. The approval comes two weeks after the State Board Planning Committee heard every local area present their plan of action for the upcoming year. I had the opportunity to present the plan for Area 8. During the plan presentation, I highlighted the upcoming [...]
Workforce Essentials Prepares For Funding Cuts
It seems that everything is happening at one time. The last quarter has not been particularly pleasing for Workforce Essentials. It started with the Department of Education’s notification that they were eliminating their share of funding for the JTG program next year. It has continued to go downhill from there. USDOL issued draft allocations in March indicating that our WIA allocations may see as much as a $350,000 decrease. The [...]
Movement on WIA Reauthorization?
We finally saw some movement on WIA Reauthorization from Congress. The House Committee on Education and the Workforce marked up and passed The Supporting Knowledge and Investing in Lifelong Skills (SKILLS) Act (H.R. 803). This is commonly referred to as the Fox Bill because a similar bill was introduced by North Carolina Representative, Virginia Foxx last year. The mark-up was not without controversy. In an act of protest over the [...]
Promising Practices Conference 2013
The Tennessee Department of Labor & Workforce Development recently hosted a conference which promoted the new concept of functional alignment in the workforce development system. The event, which was held at the Opryland Hotel, was designed to bring statewide job service and workforce development professionals together to learn about and discuss workforce innovation and promising practices. The concept of functional alignment was introduced in December when the Tennessee Department of Labor [...]
Adult Education to Restructure
The Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development’s Division of Adult Education has decided to restructure the delivery of adult basic education across the state of Tennessee. On January 10th an RFP was released to “move Adult Education forward” in the State by operating in a more efficient manner. Currently the Department awards 87 contracts for AE services across the state. Under the new RFP, only 46 contracts will be [...]
Workforce Essentials’ Board Approves New Building!
The Workforce Essentials Board of Directors met by conference call last Wednesday afternoon to discuss the Madison Street Church of Christ property which they purchased earlier this year. The original plan was to renovate the property and co-locate the Tennessee Career Center and Workforce Essentials’ Administrative office on the site. However, after hiring an architectural firm and obtaining estimates on the renovation work, the Board began contemplating if remodeling was [...]
Workforce Essentials Has a New Powerful Tool in its Arsenal
Workforce Essentials has a new powerful tool in its arsenal. It is called EMSI which stands for Economic Modeling Specialist Intl. EMSI has been around since 2000 providing high-quality employment data and economic analysis via web tools and custom reports. Have you ever been lost in the “data maze” trying to locate a specific piece of demographic information? Census data, Bureau of Economic Analysis, Bureau of Labor Statistics, and Wage [...]
Mission Possible 2012
Workforce Essentials had another successful Employee Awards program and retreat on August 9th at Montgomery Bell State Park. Focusing on professionalism and customer service, I believe everyone learned something that will make them a better person and employee. I know that I did. Hats off to our speakers, Emily Ellis and Linda Henley-Smith. They both had positive messages that reinforced the work that we do every day. I hope that [...]
20 Year Celebration with Major Announcement
On July 11, Workforce Essentials celebrated its 20th Anniversary with a lunch at the Nashville City Club. In recognition of the seven individuals that have been with the company throughout its history, Board Chairman, Roy Apple praised the work that has been accomplished over the years. For 20 years of service Chairman Apple and Mayor Holt presented the honorees with a Seiko watch. Congratulations to: Jane Bagwell Phyllis Copenhaver Andrea [...]
Workforce Issues Happening on the Hill in Nashville
Have you heard that welfare recipients will have to be drug tested to keep their benefits in Tennessee? Well that’s not the case yet, but a modified bill is being sponsored by Senator Stacey Campfield of Knoxville. Originally the proposal called for welfare applicants that had been convicted of using drugs within five years to be tested. However, the attorney general ruled that it was constitutionally suspect. Under the amended version, [...]
Veteran’s Town Hall Meeting
U.S. Representative Blackburn and U.S. Representative Roe held a Veteran’s Town Hall Meeting to highlight organization and agencies that support our former military personnel last Friday. Workforce Essentials' President Marla Rye was selected to give a brief overview of the Clarksville/Montgomery County Career Center. Others that participated with the Congressmen were: Kim McMillan, Mayor, City of Clarksville Carolyn Bowers, Mayor, Montgomery County Brigadier General Jeffrey N. Colt, Deputy Commanding General [...]
Jobs for Tennessee’s Graduates holds Regional Competition
As the buses from ten area high schools rolled into the Renaissance Center in Dickson on Friday morning, the noise level in the rotunda escalated with excitement. It was time for the JTG regional competition! It is always a pleasure to see the young students as they eagerly await the day’s events. It was especially exciting this year as eight members of the North Tennessee Workforce Board had volunteered to [...]
Job Hunting Requires a Good Resume and Interview Skills
CLARKSVILLE, TENN. — A successful job search, especially in this economy, begins with a neatly prepared resume and polished interviewing skills. With the local unemployment rate still hovering near 9 percent, you want to be at the top of your competitive game in this labor market. Deniece Thomas with the Clarksville-Montgomery County Career Center says that, first and foremost, you should be truthful when writing a resume. Stretching the truth [...]
Balancing the Budget
The Workfirst TN program has been an exciting and challenging program for the last 4 ½ years. It began with the uncertainty and fear revolving around the new performance-based contracting methodology. As expected, the Workforce Essentials staff rose to the expectations and quickly adapted to the new methodology. It wasn’t long before we moved up the WPR charts and were in the elite ranks! All aspects of the company grew [...]
Breaking the Mold!
Breaking the Mold! If you always do what you always did, you will always get what you always got! Breaking the mold is something that Workforce Essentials has always been willing to do and this time it's no different. Treva announced last week that an exploratory committee has been formed to investigate the concept of cross training between WIA, Families First, and Business Services. In an effort to maximize efficiency [...]
2012…Back to the Basics after 20 years!
As 2012 gets underway, I am sure many of us have looked back on 2011 as one of challenging times for our company and the public workforce system as a whole. The lingering effects of the recession have continued to impact so many that we know and see in the career centers every day. In spite of this, we have persevered and continued to deliver quality services. So what does 2012 [...]
Career Centers in LWIA 8 Host Employers and Partners!
Over the last 30 days a world wind of activity has taken place in LWIA 8! The staff in Career Centers has hosted Employer and Partner Appreciation Luncheons to recognize outstanding achievement and show support for business, industry, and our community partners. Starting on October 25, the Montgomery County Career Center kicked the event off at the Riverview Inn. Approximately eighty people attended, including Mayor Bowers and Mayor McMillian. It [...]
American Jobs Act – How Would it Affect Us?
Were you able to catch the President’s speech when he revealed his American Jobs Act? Well if you didn’t, the $447 billion plan is designed to create jobs by helping small business entrepreneurs, by investing in education, and by simply putting more people back to work and more money in the pockets of working Americans. Without getting into the merits, skepticism, or politics of the plan, I think it is [...]
Department of Labor Begins Top-to-Bottom Review
Governor Haslam has asked the Department of Labor and Workforce Development, along with all other state agencies to conduct a top-to-bottom review of their operations as a first step toward creating a leaner and more efficient, effective, and accountable government. The ultimate goal of the review is to identify opportunities within the Agency to be more effective, efficient, and flexible across individual functional areas including organizational structures, business processes, and [...]
Coordinating Education with Employer Needs
By: Treva Richardson, Human Resources Director In a recent article by Kathy Gurchiek and posted on the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) website, the topic of discussion was the mismatch between the types of skills employers are looking for and the types of candidates that the educational system is producing. Hilda Solis, U.S. Labor Secretary, said that this is one reason that unemployment is so high even as employers [...]
NAWB’s Response to Critics: Time to Ax Federal Jobs Programs
There are four job seekers to every job vacancy and over 13.9 million unemployed in the worst recession that the U.S. has seen in generations; yet, recent critics have expressed strong opinions about axing federal employment and training programs. Why? In summary, these critics contend that 1) programs are wasteful and don't fill any critical need that private markets can't fill in the modern economy; 2) in spite of high [...]
WIA Reauthorization
Hold your horses……There has finally been some movement on WIA reauthorization! The Senate HELP (Health, Education, Labor and Pensions) Committee recently released a draft version of the reauthorization bill. The bipartisan effort focuses on updating and improving the Workforce Investment Act (WIA) at a crucial time for America’s workforce. I commend the Senate’s effort to address the needs of our workforce especially in emerging careers in high-demand and high-growth industries. [...]
Advancing Robertson County
Great things are happening in Robertson County! With a 21% growth rate over the last ten years, the 66,000+ people in Robertson County know it’s a great place to live and work. One of the most exciting ventures is the opportunity for citizens to pursue higher education in Springfield! This fall, both Volunteer State Community College and Austin Peay State University will offer classes and degree programs at the new [...]
Join 10,000+ Tennesseans
Enjoying Successful Workplace Training and Placement Assistance