Our mission at the Workforce Development Board is to insure that every citizen has the opportunity and skills necessary to engage in meaningful employment throughout Okaloosa and Walton Counties, and that every business has access to educated, trained and prepared employees. Through “Workforce Developments” we endeavor to keep you up to date on some of the many ways we are working to fulfill our mission.

You will note in this quarter’s newsletter an announcement of an event called "Breakfast of Champions".  The High Skills/High Wages Committee and the Communications & Outreach Committee in partnership with the Economic Development Councils of both Okaloosa and Walton Counties have been working for months to set this event up, and I believe it will be one of the highlights of the year for Region 2 Workforce Development Board. The Breakfast of Champions is being organized to recognize those businesses that are considered a "Great Place to Work". The criteria to be used to judge these businesses are being formulated now, and will be unveiled shortly. The breakfast itself will be held on September 22 at the Emerald Coast Conference Center, and will truly be a grand affair. If you feel that your place of work is truly a "Great Place to Work" then I encourage you to fill out the necessary paperwork for nomination and get it in to our judges as soon as it is available. Awards will be given to small, medium, and large companies including both non-profit and for profit businesses and organizations. It is hoped we can make this a truly memorable event.

In March, members of the local WDB attended the National Association of Workforce Boards annual convention in Washington D.C. This convention always provides an opportunity for WDB members to learn about other ways that local boards operate under different circumstances. Even though we all operate under the same rules, different locations in the country have different workforce problems, and we can all learn from each other in how to deal with these problems. Also, it is a great time to hear what is going on with our congressional leaders in D.C., and to provide input to them in regard to workforce issues and the reauthorization of the Workforce Investment Act. It was a great convention, and I encourage others to work toward an opportunity to attend this convention and learn as much as they can on how to improve our board and our region.

These are just two of the many ways we are working to serve our community and meet its workforce needs. I hope you will have time to read about some of our other efforts as well.

I welcome your feedback on information pertinent to business issues, your needs and your concerns.

Robert Dobson

Chairman, Workforce Development Board