Building Oklahoma’s Future Workforce | www.oklahomaworks.gov | @OklaWorks 1

Sarah Ashmore, Oklahoma Works CoordinatorJimmy Stallings, Northwest KEN ChampionAmber Riley, High Plains Technology Center

Oklahoma Works:Building Oklahoma’s Future Workforce

Building Oklahoma’s Future Workforce | www.oklahomaworks.gov | @OklaWorks

Goals & Strategies

Building Oklahoma’s Future Workforce | www.oklahomaworks.gov | @OklaWorks

Key Economic Networks (KENs)

• Regional networks made up of business leaders, educators, economic developers, agencies, others

• Better align education and training with regional business/industry needs

• Tasked with identifying local workforce problems and generating regional solutions

• Goals:– Lead discussions about workforce and training needs, gaps,

solutions– Ensure policies and curriculum are responsive to workforce needs– Improve employment and growth opportunities– Investment in community

Building Oklahoma’s Future Workforce | www.oklahomaworks.gov | @OklaWorks

Building Oklahoma’s Future Workforce | www.oklahomaworks.gov | @OklaWorks

NORTHWEST REGION

Jimmy StallingsEnvirotech Engineering

and Consulting, Inc. President Enid GarfieldSOUTHWEST REGION

Jeff Greenlee NBC Oklahoma President Altus JacksonCENTRAL REGION

Nathaniel Harding Antioch Engery Founder and President OKC Oklahoma SOUTH CENTRAL REGION

Ryan Posey HSI Sensing, Inc. President Chickasha GradyEASTERN REGION

John Barton BancFirst President Muskogee Muskogee

EAST CENTRAL REGIONChuck Mills Mills Machine Company President Shawnee Pottawatomie

NORTHEAST REGIONMike Fuller American Castings General Manager Pryor Mayes

TULSA AREA REGIONStuart Solomon PSO President & CEO Tulsa Tulsa

SOUTHERN REGION

Lundy Kiger AES Shady PointVice President and Director of

Government Relations Poteau Le Flore

KEN Business Champions

KEN Champion Company Title Headquarter City

HeadquarterCounty

Building Oklahoma’s Future Workforce | www.oklahomaworks.gov | @OklaWorks

Key Economic Network Priorities

Building Oklahoma’s Future Workforce | www.oklahomaworks.gov | @OklaWorks

KEN Progress

• Each KEN looks different in scope and strategy• Collaborating with regional economic development

organizations to identify workforce needs and promote associated education/training available

• Collaborating with Chambers of Commerce to expand internship programs and build career pathways

• Aligning training programs to regional workforce needs• Building relationships between K-12 educators and

superintendents, CareerTech, regional colleges/universities, and business/industry leaders

• Exposing educators to regional industry via externship programs and workshops

Building Oklahoma’s Future Workforce | www.oklahomaworks.gov | @OklaWorks

Key Economic Networks (KENs)

Jimmy Stallings, PresidentEnvirotech Engineering & Consulting

Northwest KEN Champion

Building Oklahoma’s Future Workforce | www.oklahomaworks.gov | @OklaWorks

Northwest KEN Overview

• Key Strategies– Leverage Existing Organizations and Regional Partners

• Chamber of Commerce• Economic Development Groups• Educational Institutions – Career Tech Centers

• What are your target sectors and how did you identify them?

• What are your goals?

Building Oklahoma’s Future Workforce | www.oklahomaworks.gov | @OklaWorks

Northwest Key Strategy

Organize Existing Efforts

Identify Focus Area

Create a Plan

Engage Business

Building Oklahoma’s Future Workforce | www.oklahomaworks.gov | @OklaWorks

Building Oklahoma’s Future Workforce | www.oklahomaworks.gov | @OklaWorks

Helping

Individuals

Reach

Employment

Success

Building Oklahoma’s Future Workforce | www.oklahomaworks.gov | @OklaWorks

GOALS

Change the Definition of Success

Inform Educators on Local Business Needs

Provide Career Pathways for Students

Building Oklahoma’s Future Workforce | www.oklahomaworks.gov | @OklaWorks

Next StepsNWConnectED

Website

Business Outreach

Advocacy

Building Oklahoma’s Future Workforce | www.oklahomaworks.gov | @OklaWorks

For More Information:

sarah.ashmore@okstate.eduoklaworks@osuokc.edu

www.oklahomaworks.gov

Follow us on social media:@OklaWorks@OklaWorks