MINUTES

Nebraska Career Pathways Project
FutureForce Transportation, Distribution, Warehousing and Logistics
September 23, 2005
11:30 am – 1:30 pm


Meeting Summary

Present: Dennis Tyson, Lisa Juricek, Nancy Bjorklund, Alan Hartley, Bill Hitesman, Bob Blanchard, Dwayne Probyn, Bev Vonasek, Larry Johnson, Marilyn McGahan, Ed Haynes, Lou Soukop, Cindy Johnson, Glen Williams, Jim Walsh, Shawn Klein, Lyle Kathol, Tony Glenn, Larry Scherer, Jeff Rumery, Sherry Morrow, Greg VanderWeil, Larry Rilett, and Randy Kissinger.

Dennis Tyson provided committee members a copy of the committee email distribution list to review for corrections/additions. Any changes/additions should be forwarded to Susan Hooker.

There were no additions or corrections to the agenda.

University Update
Larry Rilett provided a PowerPoint presentation. Handouts of the presentation were provided.

Diesel Technology Career Field Promo
Jim Walsh provided a presentation “From Trucks to Bucks.” American Truck Dealers Association made this video. The videos will cost $20 a piece. The problem is how to get this to the high school level. Guidance counselors need to have access to this DVD. Jim would like all community colleges, every high school with an industrial tech program, and chambers of commerce to request a copy. Jim will send an email out to this group with the contact information. It was suggested that educational service units would be a place to send these. Plan is to have educational units request this.
ACTION ITEM: Jim will report back on progress at next meeting.

Career Nights
It was also suggested to have the Diesel Technology group do career nights, with the community colleges hosting them. Educate teachers and counselors first and then give information to parents/students. Dennis Tyson will visit with CCC’s recruiting/admissions department to see about putting one together. He will also work with NACRO. The Planning Committee will work on this - Al Hartley is chairman. Some of the invitees to Career Awareness Nights/Events:
- OneStops
- State Career Education meetings; Guidance Counselor meetings
- Individual high school guidance meetings for parents and students
- Teacher inservices
ACTION ITEM: Follow up on Career Night/NACRO - Tyson

Metro’s Program of Study in Logistics
Dwayne Probyn reported on Metro’s AAS program of study in logistics with specializations in Trucking (CDL), Automotive repair, and Diesel technology. A date has not been set for rollout--approximately next spring semester.

Employability Skills Documents: SkillsUSA, PDP, and CALS Assessment
Tony Glenn provided a handout (CALS assessment) that was piloted in four high schools. They are currently piloting in 13 high schools. This document shows where students are with their employability skills. There are 9 different competencies and assessments. Data management of the assessment will be the teacher’s responsibility and will be part of the Nebraska Career Management System (NCMS). It shows students and parents the skills that are important. They will be working with industrial tech people and will have the opportunity to have curriculum in place. SkillsUSA has a professional development program with 6 levels. Teachers will use both tools (CALS and Skills USA PDP) to see how students are progressing, track where students are on the rubric, and keep an ongoing progress update for each student.

Summary of College Courses/Program Offerings/Inventory in TDWL
Lisa Juricek provided a handout. Larry Scherer will have Kathleen Fimple look this document over. It was suggested to offer a consortium degree to have a common approach to a curriculum. Dennis will meet with CIO’s and will share with them and present this as a point of discussion. Each community college may want to specialize in a particular area. Wayne State has a bachelors degree with a major in technology. UNL will possibly have a minor coming out in logistics within their Engineering department. Bellevue hopes to have an accelerated online/traditional classroom logistics degree -1 year accelerated program. Bellevue is looking for students who already have experience in TDWL.
ACTION ITEM: Dennis Tyson will provide an update from CIOs; Larry Scherer will provide a curriculum/course offering report from CCPE.Tony stated that each student will have a personal learning plan-plan out beginning in grade 8 and starting in 2007 that will provide career planning through their post secondary education. Hopefully this piece will be mandatory.

Committee Reports
a) Strategic Planning: Al Hartley reported for this committee. Al provided a handout-Logistics Vision and Goals with six goals identified in the strategic plan. Alan will add warehousing into the vision statement.
Motion: Larry Johnson made a motion to accept the addition to the vision statement; Dwayne Probyn seconded. Motion carried.

b) Transportation Systems/Infra-Structure, Planning, Management & Regs: Larry Rilett reported for this committee--this committee hasn’t met yet. Working on this.

c) Transportation Operations, Logistics Planning and Management Services: Ed Haynes reported for this committee. Ed has worked with Lisa Juricek and Larry Johnson. Ed provided a handout--Careers in Logistics. This handout provides salary information along with earning potential. Ed also provided another handout (Bellevue program) how to get the word out about these jobs. There is a website address located in the Careers in Logistics handout. Randy Kissinger feels the Web listings are key. Nebraska Career Management System will have a link to the Department of Labor’s job postings . Randy will send an email to Lisa with the DOL address. It was suggested to piggyback links with the NCMS website and focus on providing solid information in order to bring the talent back home. Workforce Development would also be involved with career fairs.
www.nebraskaworkforce.com – Click on “Finding a Job”

d) Warehousing and Distribution Center Operations: Bob Blanchard reported for this committee. They have looked at past information, people to contact, still working on this. Waiting until Lisa Juricek has completed the needs assessment to avoid duplication.

e) Mobile Equipment Maintenance: Jim Walsh reported for this committee. There has been a change of members for this committee. Remove Dave Jacobs as a representative of Omaha Truck Center and add Shawn Klein. Jim provided a handout – Mobile Equipment Repair roadmap.

f) Highway Reauthorization Grant: Larry Johnson reported for this committee. Lisa and Larry are going to Boston in October to meet with the national level of the American Trucking Association and will present the model program to them.

g) Business Needs Assessment: Lisa Juricek reported this instrument is on the FutureForce Nebraska® website. It has been presented at two meetings - Nebraska Trucking Association Convention talked about the survey and at the September Nebraska Logistics Council meeting. Lisa has made phone calls with partners on the manufacturing side who use transportation and logistics services. She has received 10 surveys back. The committee reviewed the handout listing potential survey recipients. Lisa would like volunteers to make some of these contacts. Let Lisa know if you know someone on this list. Would like to get 100 responses from across the state.

Report on Grants
Bill Hitesman provided the committee’s report. They are still waiting to hear on this grant. The second round of funding is in jeopardy due to the hurricanes.

Other
Dennis reported this committee has $4,500 for operational expenses. There is $200,000- State Steering Committee for FutureForce Nebraska®. Funding will be processed through the Coordinating Commission.

New Business
Lisa Juricek suggested putting a marketing piece together to put at the one-stops. The Planning Committee will look at this. Keep it simple, not too much information to go through. Cindy Johnson, Dwayne Probyn, Lyle Kathol and Glen Williams will also join this group.
ACTION ITEM: One-Stop Promotional Flyer (Juricek)

Next Meeting
It was suggested that the next meeting be held in Lincoln. UNL, Dept. of Roads, or Southeast Community College volunteered to host. The next meeting date will be November 4, 2005, 11:30 – 1:30.