Quarterly Report to the Ohio Development Services Agency

Transcription

1 Quarterly Report to the Ohio Development Services Agency Q / 3 0 /

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3 Table of Contents Letter from the Vice President, Digital Works... 3 Ohio s Workforce Landscape... 5 Digital Works Introduction... 6 The Benefits:... 6 Core elements:... 6 Why it works:... 7 Who it benefits:... 7 Digital Works Impact... 9 Digital Works Ohio locations... 9 Carrollton Columbus Gallipolis Lima Logan Lynchburg Middleport Norwalk Portsmouth West Union Woodsfield Zanesville Operations New Direction Expansion Partnership Communications: Think Tank Blogs Press Releases E-Newsletter Social Media Opportunity: Conclusion Page

4 Appendix 1: Success Stories Appendix 2: Blogs Appendix 3: Press Releases Appendix 4: Newsletters Appendix 5: What the Industry is Saying Page

5 Letter from the Vice President, Digital Works April 30, 2015 Director Goodman, I am pleased to report Digital Work s progress for the first quarter of 2015 to the Ohio Development Services Agency (DSA). We endeavor to maintain transparent communication with DSA, and other key stakeholders, to ensure that these comprehensive quarterly reports address our deliverables and foster enhanced partnership. Digital Works is a unique and sustainable job creation strategy bringing high-demand technology based jobs to local communities within vulnerable demographic and geographic populations. It connects 21 st century workforce opportunities to people who are seeking employment by addressing skill gaps and leveraging broadband technology for customer relationship management outsourcing and advanced remote IT positions. U.S. and global companies are seeking distributed workers rather than in-house employees that require the added expense of bricks and mortar. According to TeleworkResearchNetwork.com, telecommuting grew by 73% from , compared to only 4.3% growth in the overall workforce. With many work functions moving to the cloud, there is a fast growing need for cost effective, dedicated, and skilled workers who can be employed remotely. While the first quarter of our work with the Ohio Development Services Agency demonstrates visible, positive results in delivering non-redundant, employer designed, and outcome based high-demand job creation, there remains a tremendous opportunity to expand the Digital Works program. As further detailed in this report, this quarter Digital Works: Boasted an 85% graduation rate, creating 56 new in-demand jobs in Ohio communities. Initiated pilot programs with Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities and Reentry with Gallia County Ohio Means Jobs and Economic Development. Launched advanced technology curriculum through Udacity and ATT partnerships. Secured a sublease agreement with the City of Columbus to open a Digital Works Center at the Reeb Avenue Center as part of the Southside Project. We welcome your involvement as we work together to strengthen our communities and solidify Ohio s competitiveness in the twenty-first century through enhanced economic and workforce development. Respectfully submitted, Stu Johnson Vice President, Digital Works 3 Page

6 The Information Age is quickly becoming the talent age where the states that offer the best workers will win. Securing a highly skilled workforce is one of the biggest challenges facing today s expanding companies. Emerging technologies are creating jobs that require new skills. Jobs Ohio, Annual Report Page

7 Ohio s Workforce Landscape Goal: To create a unified workforce system that helps employers find the workers they need to succeed and grow and helps workers access the skill training and resources they need to compete for in- demand jobs Ohio s Workforce System Plan to Reform, Governor s Office of Workforce Transformation The Digital Works program works hard to follow the standards on the Governor s Office of Workforce Transformation by identifying business skill needs, job training and education alignment, and focusing on state provided employer services. Ohio has proven that it can decrease the state s overall unemployment rate - going from 6% in March of 2014 to 5% in The Digital Works program is providing training, mentorship, and job placement in order to ensure the unemployment rate in Ohio continues to drop. Toward that effort, Digital Works has trained and placed over 350 Ohioans with jobs to date. Digital Works aims to locate where need is greatest by selecting communities with the highest unemployment rate and the greatest gap in workforce skills and available opportunities. Among the facilities in which Digital Works operates, locations in the following counties have been opened: Gallia, Adams, Scioto, and Huron counties with unemployment rates at 7.7%, 9.9%, 8.9%, and 9.3% respectively. Through the Digital Works training model, we have worked to not only place students into jobs but also aim to keep them employed with mentorship and coaching retention strategies. Connected Nation conducted surveys across eight states (including Ohio) between October 30, 2013 and January 3, 2014, this 2013 Residential Technology Assessment found nearly-one third of teleworkers (32%) work from home every day instead of commuting, while an additional 31% telework at least once per week. Respondents indicated that typically, they telework an average of 1.97 days per week. Connected Nation also found that approximately one-third of businesses surveyed, in 2014, (34%) say they allow employees to telework. 5 Page

8 Digital Works Introduction Digital Works in Ohio began as an extension of Connect Ohio s Every Citizen Online digital literacy training program. Using the digital learning model, the Digital Works program trains, places, and mentors high-quality candidates and locates co-working centers in rural America settings where job demand is high, few employers exist, and the cost of living is low. At the end of training, workers are provided opportunities that match their skills and career goals. Digital Works merged with a successful working model in Tennessee that supported national companies and put hundreds to work in the most economically challenged areas. This working model helped to transform rural communities and developed a pipeline of qualified, loyal candidates with superior retention rates. The Benefits: Economic Development: In harsh economic times this program is providing an avenue for vacant centers to become job incubators, retaining workers in the community and attracting corporate jobs. Technical Skills Training: The Digital Works program provides a pathway for improving a worker s competitive advantage in the 21 st century workforce with specified coursework and training in high-demand customer service and IT skill sets. Mentoring: Training locations create an atmosphere for networking, creative development, mentoring, and supportive business services. Job Creation: At the conclusion of his or her training, the worker is provided with expert job placement assistance that leads to the acquisition of a position matching the candidate s skills and interests. Digital Works also offers options that allow participants to work from home, from client and partner facilities, and even within the Digital Works training centers. Core elements: Program training consists of five gates for all career paths and levels: Recruitment Screening Training Placement Mentoring, Development, and Retention Community partnerships and the establishment of local Digital Works training facilities are critical. Local community partnerships raise 6 Page

9 program awareness and credibility while leveraging existing local resources. A local, physical presence greatly increases the success rate of program participants catalyzing peer and leadership networking and support. Development of relationships with corporate entities seeking well-trained applicants is vital. Digital Works currently has relationships with 19 employers ranging from community based bricks and mortar to Silicon Valley fortune 500 companies via the digital highway. Three of these partner companies (TeleTech, Convergys, Sutherland Global Services) were featured in a recent Forbes magazine article, Top 100 Companies Offering Telecommuting Jobs in Why it works: The Digital Works program ensures development of high-quality employees through its screening, intake, and training processes including: online application submission, in-depth interview, skills and intake assessment, nationally accredited job readiness certificate, and background and credit check qualification. Customizable, high-skilled training programs are designed to meet the individual needs of each corporation and community. Training pathways and curriculum are employer driven in an effort to address common job seeker skills gaps. Scalability; A modest 50 workers-per-center goal annually would create the direct job & wage equivalent of a large-scale industrial employer - with far less acquisition costs, environmental impact, and single employer dependence. Who it benefits: Workers - Success is gauged by how many Digital Works participants find jobs and how well they are progressing in their careers. The model seeks to not only create jobs, but to create positive outcomes for participants and corporate partners alike. Ongoing mentoring, training, and employer engagement are leading to upward mobility in skills and benefits. With tremendous global employment opportunities, the value of this program on workers grows as the number of communities and participating workers increases. Local, State, & Federal Governments - A statewide Digital Works program is a powerful tool for attracting new businesses to any region, and acts as an easily mobilized economic development model. Workforce capacity is increased through the linking of skilled workers within a short commute to various Digital Works locations. The Digital Works program is allowing new forms of work to be introduced in hard to serve areas, taking advantage of a value-priced, high-tech workforce. Companies & Corporate Partners - U.S. companies are embracing 21 st century models of work and employment. Many are seeking telecommuters rather than in-house employees who require the added expense of bricks and mortar. According to TeleworkResearchNetwork.com, telecommuting grew by 73% between 2005 and 2011 compared to only 4.3% growth of the overall workforce. Many work functions are being moved to the cloud. This creates a fast-growing need for costeffective and skilled workers. Digital Works is creating dedicated, reliable workers. By utilizing this 7 Page

10 flexible American workforce, corporations are further able to leverage this program for positive image and advertisement branding. Communities - The placement of a Digital Works center in a community creates a visible sign of 21 st century economic life. Leaders and stakeholders are being provided rapid lessons in the inner workings of the global economy and a gateway to job development utilizing new technological skills. As local capacity continues to build, communities will be able to better leverage the workforce to recruit tech companies, not just traditional manufacturing facilities. More jobs becoming available to underemployed and displaced workers is creating a shift - leading to younger workers having an opportunity to earn a good living as part of a skilled workforce in their hometowns. 8 Page

11 Digital Works Impact Digital Works Ohio locations Digital Works currently has 12 locations across Ohio, 8 operating and 4 on-demand satellite locations. Statewide, to date since inception, the program has had 2,049 applicants express interest in the program, 1,252 of which have attended an informational orientation and 545 have proceeded to enrollment. Over 350 new positions have been secured, with many candidates still actively in training. Nearly 80 participants have shared wage data from their positions with the Digital Works program. Wage data indicates an average of $8.55 an hour working, on average, part-time shifts with tremendous opportunity for incentives and increased hours and earnings. In the first quarter of 2015, the statewide program had 55 jobs secured, in total, including advancement. 9 Page

12 Carrollton The Carrollton facility launched operations in January To date, Carrollton has had 53 participants enroll, creating 31 new jobs in the community. In the first quarter of 2015, Carrollton had 12 training enrollees, 6 of which have already received offers of employment. The remaining 6 are completing their coursework. Through a partnership with the Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities Agency s Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation, in Tuscarawas County, a pilot program was launched with four candidates. Outcomes for this pilot are customized to the individual need based on intake assessments and goals; however, one candidate is already working. Progress will continue to be monitored and reported on by milestone. Columbus A Columbus facility is scheduled to launch mid In partnership with Habitat for Humanity, a pilot program was conducted beginning in October 2014 to gauge the program in an urban environment. The pilot had 5 enrollees, 3 of which have already graduated and secured work. Demand for additional classes was immediate with 25 candidates on a waiting list. The interested candidates are a result of word of mouth as Connect Ohio has not begun any awareness activities for this location. Recent activity includes securing a sublease agreement with the City of Columbus to open a Digital Works Center at the Reeb Avenue Center as part of the Southside Project. A tour of the facility renovation progress is scheduled for April 2015, with an anticipated opening in August Collaboration is ongoing with Dawson, a Columbus based recruiting and employment agency; Franklin County Economic Development and Planning; Jewish Family Services; and Greater Linden Development Corporation. 10 Page

13 Gallipolis The Gallipolis facility launched operations in November To date, Gallipolis has enrolled 95 candidates in training, creating 76 jobs in the community. In the first quarter of 2015, Gallipolis had 18 enrollees, 6 of which are already working. Eleven participants are in the process of finishing coursework. In January, Digital Works expanded the Gallipolis operations to two facilities in order to accommodate the local demand. Applications, enrollment, and resulting employment metrics are on average double in this rural community compared to all others. The Digital Works program offers a great opportunity for Gallia County citizens to take advantage of the ever-growing Internet based employment opportunities, said State Representative Ryan Smith (R-93rd District). This training is very forward thinking in attempting to accommodate the demand in the quickly evolving technology marketplace. This program is a direct result of the creativity of our local team at Department of Jobs and Family Services and Melissa Clark in the county s Economic Development Department and its ability to think outside the box to find ways to put people to work In March, the Gallipolis location collaborated with Gallia County OhioMeansJobs and Gallia County Economic Development to launch a re-entry pilot program with 10 participants. The pilot shows great promise with 6 participants completing training ahead of schedule, 1 already working. Lima The Lima facility is currently operating as an on-demand satellite location. The program launched operations in December 2013 in partnership, and shared space, with Allen County OhioMeansJobs. Activity at this location has been limited due to low demand, as indicated by only 3 applications of interest in the last quarter. Local interest is likely impacted by limited awareness and outreach as we seek to fill vacant Facilitator positions. Logan The Logan facility launched operations in September To date, Logan has had 74 candidates proceed to enrollment - creating 54 local jobs. Two candidates regularly provide wage data illustrating an average of $14 an hour. In the first quarter of 2015, Logan had 9 enrollees, 3 of which have already secured work, while 5 continue to complete coursework. 11 Page

14 The Digital Works program and Ohio s results have gained international attention. Last fall, a delegation of Malaysian government officials toured the Logan Digital Works location to see firsthand how the training and employment center is aiding in economic development. I think Connected Nation s programs are very good and we are very impressed, said Malaysia Multimedia Development Corporation General Manager Sharon Leong during the tour of the Digital Works facility. Our goal is very similar to what is going on here which is using the digital technologies to improve the lives of our citizens. collaboration. It is amazing how you put it all together; I think this whole thing is absolutely incredible, said Malaysia Multimedia Development Corporation Director Darzy Norhalim, referring to the outpouring of community The Digital Works program receives inquiries from across the nation regularly, and maintains contact with international collaborations as well. Lynchburg Lynchburg s facility launched operations in November To date, Lynchburg has had the most immediate community demand for the program with nearly 200 applications of interest being received in the first 24 hours! Fifty-four candidates proceeded to enrollment creating 32 new jobs in the community. In the first quarter of 2015, a former program graduate, Linda Rice, was hired to fill the new Facilitator position. Rice is expected to start April 16. Another Lynchburg graduate, Heather Davis, advanced to join the Digital Works team as an Outreach Coordinator. In the coming quarter, Davis is expected to lead the launch of a blended virtual training pilot serving candidates outside of Digital Works current physical locations. 12 Page

15 Middleport Digital Works Middleport is Ohio s newest location, launching operations in December In the first quarter of 2015, Middleport had 7 enrollees, already creating 5 new jobs in the community. Activity began this quarter to secure a dedicated full-time Facilitator with an anticipated start date of May 1. A Grand Opening event is currently planned for April 29 at 1 p.m. The event will feature presentations from Digital Works Vice President, Stu Johnson, Meigs County Commissioners, and Meigs County Economic Development among others. Presentations will be followed by a facility open house, tour, and light refreshments. Students currently in training and working graduates will be available onsite to network, interview, and answer any questions. Norwalk The Norwalk facility is currently operating as an on-demand satellite location. The program launched operations in October 2013 in partnership, and shared space, with Huron County OhioMeansJobs. To date, Norwalk has had 40 enrollees creating 29 new local jobs. As shared space is no longer available, activity this quarter has been focused on securing alternate space for offering the Digital Works program. Portsmouth Portsmouth s Digital Works facility launched operations in October 2013 in partnership, and shared space, with the Community Action Organization of Scioto County. To date, Portsmouth has had 66 candidates enroll creating 40 jobs in the community. Three graduates regularly share wage data that indicates an average of $11an hour. In the first quarter of 2015, Portsmouth activity has focused on securing additional space to meet increasing community demand. A potential local partnership with Shawnee State Community College may accommodate space needs as well as aid program candidate referrals and advanced curriculum development. West Union The West Union facility launched operations in April To date, West Union has had 49 candidates enroll, creating 31 new local jobs. The West Union facility has recently undergone renovations to add work center space in an effort to accommodate the increasing number of working program graduates. Renovations and furniture were 13 Page

16 provided by Adams Brown Community Action Partnership and Adams County Commissioners. In the first quarter of 2015, West Union began operating under new leadership with the hiring of Facilitator, and former program graduate, Tracy Dwyer. Woodsfield Digital Works Woodsfield launched operations in November 2013 in an effort to offer programming to dislocated workers resulting from the Ormet Corporation closure that began in October To date, Woodsfield has had 44 candidates proceed to enrollment, creating 22 local jobs. Monroe County OhioMeansJobs collaborated in 2014 to offer Digital Works training to Food Assistance Employment and Training (FAET) candidates with limited community response. Program participation has been impacted by the recent area boom in oil and gas, as well as shale, development and opportunity. In the first quarter of 2015, staff determined it necessary to transition the Woodsfield facility to a satellite on-demand model. This transition is expected to occur in April Zanesville Zanesville, Ohio was the first Digital Works location, launching operations in June To date, Zanesville has created 29 new jobs in the community. Being the first Ohio location, many best practices and program growth developed from Zanesville activity. Digital Works Zanesville s early program funding model did not support the activity level observed and increasing expenses as committed community resources expired. In the first quarter of 2014, it was determined to transition the Zanesville facility to a satellite on-demand model. Since that time, interested candidates have been assisted virtually while community resources are explored for partnership and shared space. 14 Page

17 Operations New Direction The Digital Works program is operating under a new enterprise organizational structure, including the recent appointment of Stu Johnson to Vice President Digital Works, as of March In his new role, Johnson provides comprehensive strategy and management of the Digital Works program including implementation and development on a national level, identification and achievement of programmatic goals, and revenue management of the program. Johnson also serves as the primary spokesperson to media nationwide. Expansion In January 2015, Digital Works announced its first offering of advanced curriculum and 20 available nanodegree scholarships provided in collaboration with Udacity and AT&T. A nanodegree, defined as a compact online curriculum designed to get participants the skills that employers believe are key to a job in technology, parallels with Digital Work s training model. Nanodegree training opportunities available include: Front-End Web Developer Full-Stack Developer ios Developer Offering scholarships and up to 100 internships underscores our firm commitment to the potential of nanodegrees to build a pipeline of talented workers for our future workforce. Nanodegrees will also provide a highly effective means to build the skills of our current employees around critical software disciplines. Bill Blasé, Senior Executive Vice President, Human Resources, AT&T Digital Works first nanodegree candidate, Darlene B. of Gallipolis, began training in February of this year. Training is expected to take six to nine months. Partnership Digital Works strives to work hand-in-hand with the state, leveraging community partnerships and existing resources to efficiently provide needed training and opportunities. Digital Works has various levels of partnership with the following 19 employers: ACD Direct, Ameridial, Concentrix, Convergys, edegree, Infocision, IPSOS, LiveOps, Maritz Research, NexRep, odesk, Safelite, Support.com, Sutherland Global Services, Teleperformance, TeleTech, U-Haul, Verfast, and Working Solutions. The opportunity portfolio offers a variety of entry level career paths from 1099 to W-2, part-time, full-time, flex-time, sales, technical support, gaming, and service, there is something for everyone. Digital Works continually seeks new employer partnerships and curriculum customization to meet employer needs. 15 Page

18 Communications: Building upon Connect Ohio and Digital Works outreach precedent, this quarter we focused our stakeholder communication efforts on enhancing awareness across all aspects of our program, providing timely updates on Digital Works activities and community support, and fostering direct engagement and active participation among stakeholders and program participants through social media interactions. We continued to provide outreach and awareness campaigns to highlight job placement successes and opportunities in the state through daily Facebook posts, timely press releases, blog post, and the e-newsletter. Stakeholder communications throughout this quarter were measured according to the number of people reached, page followers, links clicked, and likes when applicable on the social media outlet. Digital Works had positive media impressions resulting from the following events: Connect Ohio February e-newsletter; January and February Digital Works Graduate Newsletters; Jill Reiger blog; Digital Works Success Stories Brochure; and the Gallipolis Grand Opening press release. Digital Works also benefitted from numerous indirect impressions secured as an initiative of Connected Nation. This quarter, Digital Works staff also coordinated with Connect Ohio staff in order to distinguish and streamline our respective community outreach efforts through tailored newsletters and separate social media accounts. Since this change did not occur until mid-way through the quarter, certain outreach materials encompassed both programs. Instances in which this occurred are clearly noted in the subsections that follow. Future quarterly reports will contain only Digital Works content. Think Tank The Think Tank is a weekly virtual conference for Digital Works Facilitators, trainees, and graduates to come together, share ideas, discuss issues and opportunities, and a way to cultivate new friendships and support within the Digital Works Community. Topics this quarter have included: Skype 101, time management, Frequently Asked Questions, Successful Personality Traits Needed to Work From Home, a refresher on job applications, TeleTech Opportunity Overview, edegree Advisor Opportunity Overview, selling skills, tax tips, Driveyourlearning.org Resource Overview, and Windows 8. Blogs Accompanying Digital Works operational transitions, Digital Works has set a goal to increase blog posts to one each week highlighting recent employer relationship developments, program graduate successes, telework industry content, and program expansion information. The goal for these blogs is to offer stakeholder interaction that is less formal than a press release, yet contains more content than a social media post. Links to these blogs and their accompanying social media metrics are included in the table below: Title Link Jill R Blog For the full text of the above blog posts, please see Appendix Page

19 Press Releases Digital Works issues press releases in conjunction with major organizational announcements. This quarter, Digital Works announced the opening of its second Gallipolis facility. This release was distributed to 50 media contacts in 30 counties, and published by Grow Gallia: Gallia Herald: and on AT&T Ohio s blog: For full text of the release, please see Appendix 4. E-Newsletter Digital Works released e-newsletters for January and February this quarter. The January newsletter focused on Tracy, via our graduate spotlight, and Concentrix. This newsletter was read by 711 unique users. The February newsletter announced the opening of our second facility in Gallipolis and contained information on graduate spotlight, Jill; Teletech; Thursday Think Tank; and Tax Tips. The February newsletter was read by 742 unique readers, an increase of 31 viewers from the month prior. For the full text of the newsletters, please see Appendix 5. Social Media Digital Works maintains social media accounts on Twitter (twitter.com/digitalworksusa), and Facebook ( This quarter, Digital Works Twitter followers increased from 0 to 23, and Facebook fans reached 169. In addition to our new social media accounts, Digital Works utilized Connect Ohio s media until the programs began to transition in late March. This quarter Connect Ohio s Twitter followers increased from 1,299 to 1,358, and its Facebook fans reached 1,206. Digital Works and Connect Ohio combined tweets (25) and Facebook posts (14) tracked rich social media engagement, particularly for the announcement of our new Digital Works Vice President, graduate updates, and People on the Move in Columbus Business First. Digital Works Facebook Cover Digital Works Twitter Handle 17 Page

20 Opportunity: While the program to date has experienced great success addressing Ohio s workforce skills gaps and in meeting many technology and telework employer opportunities, there remains tremendous opportunity to expand. Disabilities Pilot As mentioned above, in the last quarter Digital Works launched a pilot program in collaboration with Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities at the Carrollton facility. This pilot has already proven successful in expanding the digital literacy skills of those in need and had a recent graduate secure work. Discussions are in progress at a state level for potential customized training. Re-entry Pilot Recent success in placement and advancement of candidates with criminal background barriers resulted in a re-entry pilot program launched in collaboration with Gallia County OhioMeansJobs and Gallia County Economic Development. There is a great need across the state and nation alike to serve this at-risk population. It is our hope to fine tune initial successes, based on lessons learned from this 3 candidate pilot, and replicate those practices to an enterprise wide offering. Results are expected in the coming quarter. New Lexington In March, representatives from local government in Perry County met with Digital Works leadership to learn more about potentially offering the program in New Lexington, Ohio. The meeting included a tour of the flagship Logan facility and discussion of available Perry County community demand and resources. Columbus The first quarter of 2015 included activity spanning three potential Columbus locations: Reeb School - As mentioned above, a sublease agreement was secured with the City of Columbus to open a Digital Works Center at the Reeb Avenue Center as part of the Southside Project. A tour of the facility, including an update on the renovation progress, is scheduled for April 2015, with an anticipated opening in August The Shoppes at Alum Creek - Staff toured available space at this location during the first quarter. Discussions for a potential lease are in progress. Greater Linden Development Corporation - A potential shared space was toured, as well as available space for lease. Next steps include discussion with the Greater Linden Development Corporation Board of Directors to determine collaboration structure. Partnerships In the coming quarter, Digital Works intends to submit a request to be listed in the Ohio s Promising Workforce Practices database. This database was created by the Governor s Office of Workforce Transformation to showcase emerging and promising practices throughout Ohio that work to address Ohio s in-demand jobs. This database is intended to facilitate dialogue among workforce stakeholders in an effort to replicate promising workforce practices across the state. Community level partnership discussions have been in progress with The Columbus Foundation, IMPACT Community Action, Dawson, Franklin County Economic Development and Planning, 18 Page

21 Jewish Family Services, Central Ohio Workforce Investment Corporation (COWIC), Per Scholas, Goodwill Columbus, and Greater Linden Development Corporation. Digital Works central Ohio staff attended the Gearing Up in an Age of Accelerated Change! An Information Technology Summit hosted by Columbus State Community College during the first quarter of The event featured robust and critical dialogue about the Central Ohio Technology and Innovation business, its growth, and talent pipeline. Top area IT leaders including representatives of Pillar Technologies, TechCrunch, and Cardinal Health were present to discuss talent gaps, skill development, and anticipated needs with regional education partners who are deploying technology programs to meet current and future demands. Transition Assistance Program (TAP) Staff and representatives from partner employer Convergys met with Transition Assistance Program Community Readiness staff this quarter. The meeting, to collaborate on a program offering specific to transitioning service members and their families, took place at Wright Patterson Air Force Base. Next steps include establishment of an area Digital Works facility and/or implementation of Digital Works blended virtual training. 19 Page

22 Conclusion In pursuit of the Governor s Office of Workforce Transformation s goal to create a unified workforce system that helps employers find the workers they need to succeed and grow, and helps workers access the skill training and resources they need to compete for in-demand jobs, the Digital Works program is achieving tremendous success. Over 350 new jobs have been created statewide, since inception, through employer driven relationships and customized training. Leveraging the hundreds of existing partnering community resources, 19 current (and growing) employer relationships, and Ohio s driven workforce, the Digital Works program is expanding rapidly to meet needs and strengthen Ohio s communities and economy. 20 Page

23 Appendix 1: Success Stories John began his Digital Works journey in late January 2015 at the Carrollton facility. He was referred to the program by Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities and Creative Rehab. John has a college degree in computer animation and graphic design; yet, he had no luck finding employment in his field. Prior to enrolling in the Digital Works program, John had been working in fast food but hoped to get out of that environment. On March 10, John began his new career as an independent customer service agent with LiveOps. John stated he appreciates the Digital Works support resources including Nesting, to ease into the telegreeter position, as he has no previous experience with customer service or phone support. Since completing his training, John has also created an online odesk account and has been reviewing freelance opportunities for graphic design. LaDonna, of Gallipolis, first secured temporary contract employment last October with TeleTech. When her contract ended, LaDonna, equipped by her acquired training and newly established work history, had no trouble landing her next opportunity with edegree in March My name is LaDonna Day. I am single parent with four dependents. I have been looking for a job that I could have flexibility with and make good money also. I am looking forward to learning new things and showing my kids that you can start over at any age and time. - LaDonna Day Jill was first referred to Digital Works through the Food Assistance Program at Gallia County OhioMeansJobs. When Jill attended program orientation, she was homeless and had been unemployed for over a year. Jill had very little skills or work history, as well as some additional barriers based on her background. I am now employed, renting a home, working from home and ready to take all I have learned from Digital Works to excel in my new found career, said Jill. Jill first secured temporary contract employment last November with Sutherland Global Cloudsourcing. When her seasonal contract ended, she had no trouble securing her next opportunity with edegree in March Page

24 Winston, of West Union, Ohio began working with edegree in February. Since he began training in November 2014, Winston has been a standout candidate in West Union. He is a young adult and with technical expertise beyond his years. Winston is always helping fellow Digital Works candidates and is one of our biggest recruiters! He is planning to pursue the Udacity nanodegree program to enhance his technical skills and launch them into a career. Eva, a retiree looking to supplement her income, secured work with LiveOps on March 26. She began her Digital Works training January 12 and completed the coursework in 4 weeks. Like so many Digital Works candidates, Eva has overcome many personal challenges on her journey. Lyvette, of Portsmouth, also began her Digital Works training January 12, and after completing the coursework in 4 weeks, Lyvette secured work with LiveOps on March 26. Lyvette recently retired from Scioto County Board of Developmental Disabilities as a Human Resources Secretary. She also worked previously for the Department of Corrections as an account clerk, as well as Merit Bank as a secretary. She is involved in several community programs and is a board member of Alcohol, Drug Addiction, and Mental Health Services (ADAMHS), as well as a member of the area Disaster Relief Team. In summary, Lyvette is well connected and skilled. We are thankful to have her as part of the Digital Works community. Linda began her Digital Works training in early December Having completed her coursework in January, Linda began working with LiveOps on February 4. Linda was referred to the program by a friend who was successfully working as an independent agent for Allstate. Linda had previously owned her own cleaning business for twenty years and was no stranger to being her own boss, setting her own schedule, keeping records for taxes, and providing good customer service. She had also worked as a phone operator for a large downtown Columbus hotel prior to moving to Logan. Her goal, with the help of this training program, is to work from home and do a less physically stressful job. She is on her way! 22 Page

25 Darlene a veteran and resident of Gallipolis, began working as an independent agent with LiveOps on March 17. Darlene began her training in early January after being unemployed for more than 3 years. I have worked all my life...until now. I was a computer programmer/analyst for 20 years, working for two companies. However, at both companies, we were outsourced. I am now finding out that my skills are obsolete. I programmed in COBOL on mainframes. Both COBOL and mainframes are not being used any longer. I am now working part time through Mature Services, which is a Senior Employment company. I am working in clerical support at our local Senior Center. This program is to update/create skills which are marketable. Upon beginning the Digital Works program, I had applied for approximately 50 jobs in the preceding 5 months. However, I feel my age and lack of skills kept me from even receiving an interview. I learned about Digital Works through Mature Services. I am interested in the customer service training and would like to go on in Technical Support, Web design and coding. -Darlene Tyra began training in mid-december 2014, and completed coursework by late January. Upon completion she secured a position with LiveOps - on February 16. She lives in Mechanicstown, Ohio and has worked in customer service all her life. She was let go at Napa a year ago and had been job searching locally with no luck. She was referred to Digital Works by a former co-worker who, facing the same issues, had found success through the job training and placement program. Cindy, of Portsmouth, began working with LiveOps March 13. Cindy had heard about Digital Works from the Gallia County Department of Jobs and Family Services office. Cindy is selfemployed, and at the moment working with various community agencies such as workers compensation and vocational rehabilitation. Cindy previously worked in Managed Care in Cincinnati, Ohio, but moved back to Scioto County to care for an aging parent. After applying to numerous jobs that required an excessive commute, she was determined to find something closer to home. Digital Works has helped Cindy meet that need, and Cindy is already excited about referring others and peer mentoring in the local center. 23 Page

26 Mary began working with LiveOps on January 15. Mary began her training in November of last year and completed coursework in about 5 weeks. Upon entering the program, Mary had been unemployed for over 3 years and had limited computer experience. She was referred to Digital Works through the 55 and older volunteer program of Portsmouth, Ohio. Since graduating the program, Mary has developed challenging medical issues. She is thankful to have an income opportunity that is flexible during this time. Robin, of Portsmouth, Ohio began her training in October 2014 and completed coursework in late January due to medical delays. On March 9, Robin began working with LiveOps. My name is Robin and I am a single mother with two teenage children. I have worked as an insurance adjuster, truck driver, hair dresser, and foster parent. I came to Digital Works after losing my job with the doctor s office when the doctor decided to leave. I was tired of my job security being based off of someone else s decision. When I saw the flier for Digital Works I wrote down the number but did not call for about three months. When I finally called, I fell in love with the concept. My expectations are simple: To move forward with a career that I can provide for my family and hopefully enjoy more freedom than with the typical workforce experience. - Robin Nathan H. entered the program with an associate s degree in Applied Computer Science. He was working at Walmart at the time and excited to transition to working from home. On February 2 Nathan began working with LiveOps. Nathan is looking forward to gaining telework experience and then applying that work history, coupled with his education, towards an advanced technical position. Karen, of Logan, Ohio was referred to Digital Works from a Disability Management Services Organization called Peak Performance. Peak Performance works with injured workers in the Workers Compensation system. Karen has worked all of her adult life. She was previously employed by the Logan Goodyear factory for over 20 years and was laid off when the plant closed in She also worked at a local café and as the assistant manager of a clothing store in Lancaster. She was injured while working and is now limited to the number of hours and type of work she can do. Karen started Digital Works training in December of last year, and completed coursework in about 5 weeks. Karen began working LiveOps February 5. Diane began working LiveOps January 12. Diane started Digital Works training after her hours were cut as a field interviewer with a statistical company. She wanted to find something supplemental that she could do when her full-time job had down time. She feels Digital Works has provided the perfect fit an opportunity she can work full-time while she is laid off, and then less when she is called back. 24 Page

27 Patricia, of Carrollton, began working LiveOps March 4 and recently secured work with the local Developmental Disabilities office as a care giver; but, upon training with her new position she realized it was not a fit for her. Patricia completed her coursework in record time and is excited to be on her way in a new career! Judy has two children and is a Licensed Practical Nurse (LPN) currently doing home health care. She began working with LiveOps January 5, and is excited to move toward a work at home career to be more independent and able to spend more time with her family. Alexandra was referred to Digital Works by her grandmother Shirley, who has started training in January. Alex has been a great support and inspiration to her grandmother; they have been working together on role play and selling skills. Alex began working with LiveOps March 30. Alex has great computer and people skills that will take her far in her new career path. Joel, of Portsmouth, began working with LiveOps March 16. Joel is a single mother of three children. She has an associate s degree in Applied Science for Medical Billing and Coding. Joel has worked in customer service for a number of years and in a variety of jobs ranging from financial services representative for a collections company to customer service at rent to own. Carolyn, of West Union, Ohio recently began working Live Ops on the Proflowers dedicated line. Carolyn came to the program looking for a new opportunity - with no previous computer experience. She is a great example of the dividends that hard work and dedication can pay. Elyse is a case manager employed by Scioto County OhioMeansJobs, who enrolled in Digital Works looking for supplemental income. Like many Digital Works candidates, Elyse has had to face recent struggles. At the time, she was working full-time, training, and caring for an ailing parent. Elyse began working with LiveOps January 16. Nic, of Gallipolis, entered the Digital Works program with a bachelor s degree in English from Marshall University. He began training in March 2014, and began working initially with edegree Advisor to build work history. In February, he was ready for his next opportunity. Nic secured work with Amazon at the Huntington, West Virginia location. 25 Page

28 Roberta, of Portsmouth, Ohio has pioneered the Digital Works program on multiple levels. Roberta came to Digital Works after battling the conflict between traditional employment and her Multiple Sclerosis diagnosis in To compound the issue, Roberta is a single mother with five dependents. Roberta began her training in November 2013 and was working with LiveOps four weeks later. After building some work history, Roberta was ready for more. In March 2015, she secured two additional, advanced positions with Transcom and Verafast. The Digital Works Program has been a real blessing for me, it provides the freedom to work from home and also to provide for my family. - Roberta Marilyn, a veteran living in Carrollton, began working for Maritz Research in January She currently works from the Digital Works facility as internet service is not available at her home. Nathan M. began his journey with Digital Works in March 2014 after struggling to meet traditional job demands with a challenging medical condition. Through collaboration by Digital Works and Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities, Nate was able to achieve his goal of contributing to his family income with a flexible structure. Nate began working with LiveOps by the end of April 2014, and just recently accepted an additional position (a W-2 opportunity) with TeleTech. Tiffany began working with TeleTech on January 21. This is the first stepping stone on the path to her career goals. Tiffany is currently working as a temporary employee providing services for a tax support line. She put 140 hours in on her last two week pay period - talk about making it count she is making the most of her temporary position. Where others may have looked at this opportunity and passed (because it was not permanent), she is seizing it, gaining experience and earning a paycheck all the while. I ve learned a lot with Digital Works. I learned how to give customer support. I came to Digital Works because I wanted to work from home. I came in and they helped me step by step to get set up. They are very helpful. I enjoy working with Digital Works and I plan to continue working with them for a while. Tiffany 26 Page

29 Appendix 2: Blogs 4/13/2015 Digital Works Graduate Spotlight: Jill R- Gallipolis Like Us on Facebook Connect on Twitter HOME ABOUT US STATES BLOG VIDEOS CONTACT US Contact Us Connecting People & Jobs Apply Today! Digit al Wor ks Graduat e Spot light : Jill R- Gallipolis Admin February 19, comments Uncategorized Recent Posts Jill started class on Septem ber 10, Jill has inspired everyone at Digital Works but her story started before she walked through the door. My story is pretty m uch just trying to m ake up for a bad choice I m ade in 1999, Jill said. I was charged with a crim e in 2000, sentenced to do seventy days in county jail, four m onths house arrest and one year of probation, let m e tell you I have learned m y lesson, Jill said. After com pleting the classes and subm itting several applications, Jill got a call for an interview with Cheryl s Cookies and on Novem ber 7, 2014, she was hired. Jill started training with Cheryl s Cookies on Novem ber 17, Her training consisted of 8 hours per day for 10 days. She then began her official employm ent on Novem ber 28, Jill picks up any extra hours that she possibly can, working all shifts including ones lasting until 2:00-3:00 AM. She even had to put training with edegree, another Digital Works em ployer on hold for right now, due to working so m uch for Cheryl s Cookies. However, she hopes to eventually work full tim e for both com panies! Jill is by far one of the m ost dedicated, hardworking, and driven graduates that has com e through the program. She is an inspiration to everyone! Leave a reply Digital Works Kentucky Newsletter 2015 Digital Works Graduate Spotlight : Jill R- Gallipolis Ribbon Cutting for Jobs Program Facility Slated for Dec. 5 Partnership Between Teleworks USA, Digital Works to Bring Advanced Training, New Job Opportunities to Eastern Kentucky ConnectKentucky, Thorn Hill Education Center Announce Partnership to Bring Jobs Program to Frankfort Recent Comm ents INETConnectionsNetwork Legislators, Connect Ohio Mark Digital Works Success in Local Job Creation on Digital Works 100th Job Placed Legislators, Connect Ohio Mark Digital Works Success in Local Job Creation North Fork Vue on Digital Works 100th Job Placed Vanessa Carter on Events Tishya Albright on Connect Ohio Opens Jobs Skills & Placement Center in Logan SHARON BOLES on Events Name (required) 1/3 27 Page