|
MINUTES
Nebraska Career Pathways Project
FutureForce Transportation, Distribution, Warehousing and Logistics
September 29, 2006
11:30 am – 1:30 pm
Meeting Summary
Present: Bill Hitesman (Chair), Bruce Rieker, Marilyn McGahan, Tony Glenn, Kelly Christiansen, Glenn Williams, Greg Stahr, Valerie Lefler, Mary Hawkins, Doug ?, Jill Best, Justin Pierce, Rich Palzer, Lou Soukup, Terri McNeely, Sue Larson, Carrie Williams, Jim Walsh, Seth Derner, Trish Souliere, Larry Johnson
1. Additions or deletions to September 29, 2006 Agenda
There were no corrections to the agenda. There was one addition, discussion about the time and date of the next meeting.
2. Corrections, additions, approval of minutes from April 21, 2006
Motion: A motion was made by Tony Glenn to approve the minutes from April 21, 2006; Larry Johnson seconded the motion. The minutes were approved as submitted.
3. Welcome & Introductions
Bill asked everyone around the table to provide introductions. After general introductions were complete, Bill introduced Seth Derner, the new FutureForce and Nebraska Scholars coordinator.
A discussion followed regarding the benefits of developing a separate, distinctive TDW&L brand versus making it a part of the FutureForce logo. The consensus was to develop the TDW&L logo as part of the FutureForce Nebraska logo, which allows the focus to remain on FutureForce as the central warehouse for information with TDW&L offering focused information on a specific pathway. The Strategic & Marketing Committee volunteered to further the effort to develop a TDW&L logo.
4. Committee Reports:
a. Strategic& Marketing: (Alan Hartley, Tony Glenn, Bruce Rieker, Larry Johnson, Seth Derner)
Tony said that the committee has not met lately and does not have anything to report. There was discussion about a request for marketing materials to use at the State Skills ESA. Jim Walsh offered to bring a truck to provide a graphic illustration of the industry while Mary Hawkins mentioned that FutureForce has purchased three general display boards for this type of event. The displays can easily be targeted to specific pathways. Anyone interested in using these displays should contact Seth. Ultimately, requests for displays, brochures, CDs and more will be made through a resource page on the FutureForce website.
There was discussion about the mission of the TDW&L group and the current committees and questions about whether the existing committees are still viable. There is the sense that the TDW&L group is now moving into a different phase of development and implementation and some thought needs to go into what that looks like and where the committee will go from here.
One major goal is to reframe the public perception of technical skills as being lesser programs. Another goal is to begin collecting success stories to demonstrate the effectiveness of the career pathways process.
ACTION ITEM: The Strategic & Marketing Committee will meet with the chairs of all of the committees and formulate recommendations for future committee formation, overall committee goals and how to proceed with Phase 2.
b. Transportation Systems/Infrastructure, Planning, Management and Regulations (Dr. Larry Rillett (Chair), Dr. Micahel Riley, Bev Vonasek, Larry Johnson and other interested team members)
There was nothing to report.
c. Transportation Operations, Logistics Planning & Management Services (Dave Billings (Co-Chair), Ed Haines (Co-Chair), Larry Johnson, Bill Hitesman and other interested team members)
There was nothing to report.
d. Warehousing and Distribution Center Operations (Marilyn McGahan (Chair), Ron Kontos, and other interested team members)
Marilyn said that in the past, the focus of the TDW&L committee has been mainly on trucking, with warehousing in the background. The trucking pathway is well underway but warehousing is only just beginning to review curriculum.
e. Mobile Equipment Maintenance (Dave Jacobs and Jim Walsh (Leaders), Bill Hitesman, Shawn Klein, and other selected team members)
There was no report.
f. Business Needs Assessment – (Seth Derner, Dean Folkers, Jason Sokolewicz)
Seth reported on the findings of the survey. There was some difficulty in obtaining meaningful results because of the way the data results were reported. Charts detailing the information that was obtained were passed around. Most striking was the perceived need for technical skills and for general skills.
There was discussion about the Nebraska Council Association meeting and the fact that the messages being given are very consistent.
5. Department of Education
Tony reported that they have started career education with secondary teachers. The training was held at the community colleges to help make the connection to postsecondary education. The topic of contextual academics was discussed and a warehousing tour and a forklift driver training session were offered. The training went very well.
Nebraskacareerconnections.org is now available for use.
6. Report on Grants
a. University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Valerie Lefler reported a twelve million dollar grant was obtained by the University of Nebraska Lincoln to improve safety and minimize risk associated with multi-modal freight movement. The grant is a cooperative effort among five universities across four states. Nebraska will receive 40% of the grant funds.
Another grant project UNL has received is from the Coordinating Commission for Postsecondary Education for improving teacher quality. One of the issues they have discovered is a gap between teachers and students and their concepts of what careers are.
Finally, UNL received a grant to determine the impact of idling trucks. They are in the process of collecting baseline data, through GPS data and driver and performance data. The conclusions they have been able to draw regarding auxiliary power unit efficiency from data they have already obtained is dramatic.
b. Mid-Plains Community College/Central Community College
Dave Engel reported he has been working with the education grant for six months. His initial assessment remains that collaboration is the key to solving education and workforce issues. The program is moving along well
Kelly added that they are working on Community Based Job Training programs to build capacity. The first program they are developing will be a logistics program, available online. Next in line is a diesel tech program. They hope to align career awareness with Future Force.
Marilyn reported that Union Pacific is opening a third mainline through North Platte and a railroading degree will be available online soon. Two rail cars arrived at Mid Plains last week for their program.
There was some discussion about the possibility of using the fact that the track between North Platte and Gibbon is the busiest section of track in the world, averaging 150 trains a day along with the fact that I-80 is the busiest interstate corridor in the United States.
Bill commented that the partnership between Central Community College and Mid-Plains is going well. Central is planning to build an 11,000 square foot truck training center pending approval of the Coordinating Commission.
c. Metro Community College
Metro Community College has obtained $800,000 from the Step Up Grant program to help career cluster industries define the skills needed to get certain segments of the population into school.
d. Other
Seth reported that FutureForce is the sub-grantor for the Perkins Grant. $80,000 is available.
7. New Business
Train the Trainer – Larry Johnson
Larry Johnson reported on LB312, legislation designed to help small trucking companies with insurance issues. Traditionally, trucking companies will only hire drivers who are 23 with 2 years of experience. This legislation will allow a 23 year old truck driving student to finish his or her training on the road and still receive reasonable insurance rates.
8. Other
New pathways just starting development include Bio-Technology and Finance/Insurance.
Mary expressed interest in exploring faculty sharing and teacher sharing resource opportunities.
NEXT MEETING: The next meeting will be November 10, 2006 at Bellevue University.
|
