WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation announced today the second cohort of participants in its Talent Pipeline Management Academy, a program supported by a $2.5 million grant from USA Funds. Talent Pipeline Management (TPM), the U.S. Chamber Foundation’s signature workforce development initiative, is a new way of addressing the nation’s skills gap by positioning employers in a more central role as key customers of postsecondary education and training providers.
The TPM Academy consists of workshops led by the U.S. Chamber Foundation for business professionals to receive instruction on talent pipeline strategies and guidance for implementation. The Academy will provide participants with a curriculum, technical assistance, and a peer-to-peer learning network. Plus, a next generation of software tools and applications will be developed over the course of the Academy in order to support ongoing implementation of signature TPM strategies.
“In today’s rapidly changing economy, employer leadership in education and workforce training is vital,” said Cheryl Oldham, senior vice president of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s Center for Education and Workforce. “The business community simply can’t rely on an outdated education system to prepare students for the jobs of the 21st century. To close the skills gap, business must lead. This is why we developed the TPM Academy—to give business leaders the practical training, tools, and resources necessary so they can take what they’ve learned and implement it in their local communities.”
The participants in the second cohort are:
- Rebekah Adair, Colorado Springs Regional Business Alliance, Colorado
- Kathy Anderson, Iowa Association of Business and Industry, Iowa
- Alex Beck, Brattleboro Development Credit Corporation, Vermont
- Alicia Berhow, Orange County Business Council, California
- Ian Davis, Vermont Department of Economic Development, Vermont
- Beth Davisson, Kentucky Chamber of Commerce, Kentucky
- Patricia Day, Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce, Pennsylvania
- Ryan Gensler, CareerWise Colorado, Colorado
- Susan Koehn, Milwaukee 7, Wisconsin
- Sarah Krisch, Allegion, Illinois
- Amy Lancaster, Metro Atlanta Chamber, Georgia
- Kathy Lavoie, Franklin Grand Isle Workforce Investment Board, Vermont
- Robert Medler, Tucson Metro Chamber, Arizona
- Sharon Miller, Consumers Energy, Michigan
- Maria Nieto, Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce, California
- David Palmer, Workforce Intelligence Network, Michigan
- Kelly Peaton, San Jose Silicon Valley Chamber of Commerce, California
- Tyler Reeb, Center for International Trade and Transportation, California
- Holli Riebel, Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce, Colorado
- Mary Anne Sheahan, Lake Champlain Regional Chamber of Commerce, Vermont
- Laura Smith, Buffalo Niagara Partnership, New York
- Carsa Spaude, Danfoss Corporation, Kentucky
- Tiffany Stovall, Mid-America Manufacturing Technology Center, Kansas
- Lisa Ventriss, Vermont Business Roundtable, Vermont
The TPM Academy is designed to develop and certify talent supply chain skills and practices in communities that are ready and willing to take action in closing the skills gap. Participants will meet in person twice and have technical support and webinars in between the meetings. The curriculum and software tools will be made available to the public at no cost upon completion of the pilot.
“As we face a growing skills gap in our country, it’s important for employers to guide solutions to our workforce challenges,” said William Hansen, president and CEO of USA Funds. “This second cohort of participants really sees the value in the TPM approach and will provide much-needed business leadership at the local level to put more people to work and grow their local economy.”
The TPM model is designed to address the mismatch between outcomes of the current education and training system, which has resulted in employers nationwide trying to find qualified candidates for nearly 6 million unfilled jobs.
With an initial $2 million grant from USA Funds, the U.S. Chamber Foundation tested the TPM model in seven communities. The TPM Academy will support dissemination of the model to up to 40 communities, involving some 1,000 employers.
For more information about the TPM model, visit www.TheTalentSupplyChain.org.
USA Funds is a nonprofit corporation that supports Completion With a Purpose, building a more purposeful path for America’s students to and through college and on to rewarding careers and successful lives. USA Funds pursues its nonprofit mission through philanthropic activities and partnerships, policy research, and programs and services that enhance preparation for, access to and success in higher education. Learn more at www.usafunds.org.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation is dedicated to strengthening America’s long-term competitiveness. We educate the public on the conditions necessary for business and communities to thrive, how business positively impacts communities, and emerging issues and creative solutions that will shape the future.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce is the world’s largest business federation representing the interests of more than 3 million businesses of all sizes, sectors, and regions, as well as state and local chambers and industry associations.
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