The San Diego Workforce Partnership’s Workforce Summit 2008 will convene regional leaders from the business, education, and workforce development communities for a dynamic program that will confront the workforce equivalent of global warming - an impending set of threats we must face today to secure San Diego County's current and future workforce readiness and prosperity.

LUNCHEON KEYNOTE & FEATURED SPEAKER

Chip Heath, Stanford Professor and Author

Let's face it. No one can bring change unless the message is memorable. Keynote speaker Chip Heath, co-author of the best seller "Made to Stick, Why Some Ideas Survive and Others Die", will enlighten all with his insight on how to transform the way we communicate ideas so that our messages are understood - and sure to stick. “Made to Stick” is 26th on the Amazon Customer Favorites: Top 100 Books of 2007.

OPENING ADDRESS & PANEL DISCUSSION

Emily DeRocco, Former U.S. Assistant Secretary of Labor

U.S. Assistant Secretary of Labor for Employment and Training from 2001 to 2007, Ms. DeRocco has sought to transform the workforce investment system to meet the challenges of the 21st century global economy. Under her leadership the Labor Department has introduced a number of initiatives to engage business, education and the workforce system in developing the talent of America’s workers. Ms. DeRocco will discuss the need to integrate and leverage resources from the workforce system, education, and industry in order to prepare our workforce to be globally competitive in the 21st century. Following Ms. DeRocco’s address, a panel of regional leaders will discuss the local implications of her ideas.

EVENT EMCEE

George Chamberlin, Business Editor & Commentator

The Workforce Partnership welcomes back George Chamberlin, a top local journalist and popular emcee. George is the Executive Editor of the Daily Transcript, the Business Editor and host of "Money in the Morning" on KOGO AM 600 radio, and Money Advisor for NBC 7/39. Rightly called "Southern California's hardest-working financial journalist," George also writes two columns each week for the North County Times, a weekly financial commentary for the San Diego Daily Transcript, and a national educational newsletter, Investing for Rookies.

CONCURRENT BREAKOUT SESSIONS

• Session 1: “Education and the Future Workforce: Does it Add Up?”

Moderated by Steve Gunderson, President and Chief Executive Officer, Council on Foundations

Our education system is the engine of our economic growth and future prosperity. To remain competitive as a region and as a nation, we must develop an educational process responsive to the competitive pressures of the global economy. A continuing cry from employers in such emerging industries as the life sciences, pharmaceuticals, medical devices, wireless technologies clusters, and others, is that math and science education are inadequate and under valued by students. Recent reports such as Tough Choices or Tough Times call for a major overhaul in how education is funded, regulated and delivered.  Panelists will react to the policy recommendations spelled out in this report and offer their own prescriptions for our future.

• Session 2: “The Healthcare Crisis: Insuring People and Ensuring a Workforce.”

Moderated by Bob Yarris, MBA, MA, Program Director, Regional Health Occupations Resource Center (Retired)

While the nation is focused on the healthcare crisis of diminishing insurance coverage, there is another, equally serious crisis threatening to limit Americans’ access to quality healthcare. In this session, a panel of regional leaders will examine the crisis behind the healthcare crisis – the acute shortage of healthcare workers of almost every type, from nurses, to physical therapists, to radiologic technologists and lab technicians – and share some solutions that might address this crisis. Can education programs ramp quickly enough and pay healthcare educators enough to supply these workers? Are employer-provided training opportunities a viable solution?

• Session 3: “The Workforce Pipeline: Age has its Advantages – and Challenges.”

Moderated by Pam Smith, Director Aging and Independent Services, County of San Diego

About 76 million mature workers, “baby boomers”, form the backbone of the American workforce. With many set to retire, others unable to retire, and still others choosing not to retire, many challenges are presented. Should employers recruit “keepers” nearing retirement? Should they pay more attention to making sure institutional knowledge is transferred to the incoming generation? Are they doing enough to create cultures attractive to mature workers? What are the human-resource implications of a cross-generational workforce?

For more information or to register  click here.

Speakers and topics are subject to change without prior notice.