Last week, Public Works Partners and WPTILast week, Public Works Partners and WPTI—the Workforce Professionals Training Institute—convened our first workforce development leadership roundtable. Senior leaders from the de Blasio administration participated in an informative panel discussion that included Katy Gaul-Stigge of the newly created Office of Workforce Development (WKDEV), Matthew Brune of HRA, Jackie Mallon of SBS, and Alan Cheng of DYCD. The full house brought leaders from throughout the workforce community who were eager to learn more about how to prepare their organizations and focus their services to achieve the City’s goals. The goals of the administration’s recently launched Jobs for New Yorkers task force were discussed. Proposed policy changes to enable more skill development generated a healthy conversation about jobseeker and employer needs. And ideas on how to encourage more collaboration among City agencies and providers were also generated. The panel was introduced by Sharon Sewell-Fairman, Executive Director of WPTI and moderated by Scott Zucker of Public Works. I facilitated a number of productive breakout groups.

The Leadership Roundtable Series was developed in order to bring workforce development leaders together to learn and build the field. The next roundtable will be in July and will cover capacity building issues. Public Works and WPTI hope to see you there.

Panelists with Scott Zucker