SANCAP CHAMBER
\nPanelists addressed a full house interested in the status of the local workforce at the SanCap Chamber, Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce and Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association’s joint business luncheon on July 15 in Fort Myers.<\/p>\n
A panel of local education leaders brought the SanCap Chamber, Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce (GFMCC) and Florida Restaurant & Lodging Association (FRLA) up to date on what their are accomplishing in the field of workforce development and what event attendees could do to help.<\/p>\n
They spoke at the joint, monthly business luncheon on July 15 at the Marriott Sanibel Harbour Resort & Spa in Fort Myers, with the program moderated by Lee County Economic Development Office (EDO) Senior Business Developer Tatum Walker.<\/p>\n
The panelists included: The Heights Foundation founder, President and Chief Executive Officer Kathryn Kelly, which is opening The Heights CareerTech Institute in Fort Myers; Florida SouthWestern State College Entrepreneurship and Innovation Director Peter Ocsody; Fort Myers Technical College Director John Roszell; and Florida Gulf Coast University Micro-Credential & Workforce Programs, Continuing Education & Skills Academy Coordinator Kelly Thawley.<\/p>\n
Questions and answers addressed pressing workforce needs, trades training, keeping workers, needed legislative support, meeting the needs of a fast-changing world, and partnerships with the business community and high schools.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe know that Hurricane Ian shined a spotlight on the lack of the trades that were available to us today,\u201d Kelly said. \u201cIt\u2019s not just practical skills, even though that\u2019s in part my work, but learning customer service and the culture of a company. That\u2019s why learning the soft skills, as we call them, or the wraparounds, those are so important, too. We know that when someone goes to apply for a job, you want to know that they can actually do the job, but how do they fit in with your company?\u201d<\/p>\n
Ocsody hit hard on the importance of artificial intelligence (AI) and technical skills.<\/p>\n
\u201cI cannot over-emphasize how important AI is for every one of you,\u201d he said. \u201cEvery one of you should pay significantly more attention to this, unless you are already paying that attention to it. It\u2019s like electricity that everything gets plugged into.\u201d<\/p>\n
Ocsody also likened AI to a puzzle pieces one must figure out how to fit together.<\/p>\n
Roszell called it \u201ca co-pilot for a career\u2026 how to get where you\u2019re going.\u201d<\/p>\n
Thawley pointed out the importance of teaching how to use AI ethically and as an enhancement to a career.<\/p>\n
However, the panelists emphasized that skills come first and demonstrated programs their institutions have developed for making training more accessible, including \u201cearn while you learn\u201d curricula, job shadowing, internships, having a presence in high school classrooms and short-term options, such as micro-credentials.<\/p>\n
They said learning and \u201cstacking\u201d niche workplace skills can improve hire-ability, build a career and possibly provide a pipeline to college education. Many of these programs depend upon industry partners\u2019 participation.<\/p>\n
Besides healthcare and automotive mechanics, the panel mentioned manufacturing, construction and marine mechanics as high skill priorities.<\/p>\n
Roszell said attracting and keeping workers in Southwest Florida is a community effort. It\u2019s not just about starting a career; it\u2019s about starting a life here.<\/p>\n
\u201cThanks to our speakers for demonstrating that strengthening the local workforce goes beyond the doors of our fine learning institutions,\u201d chambers and FRLA President and Chief Executive Officer John Lai said. \u201cThey are doing so much to keep up with today\u2019s demand, but they need the support of the entire business community. We can all work together to create an ecosystem that welcomes and nurtures workers and their families.\u201d<\/p>\n
The meeting was supported by annual luncheon sponsor HBKS, along with Quantum Fiber and Trailways Camps.<\/p>\n