>> GOVERNOR LOMBARDO IS SEEKING MORE FUNDING FOR WORKFORCE TRAINING, AND HE WANTS TO CREATE A NEW OFFICE OF WORKFORCE.

SO WHAT DOES WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT LOOK LIKE HERE IN SOUTHERN NEVADA'S EVOLVING ECONOMY?

THAT'S THIS WEEK ON "NEVADA WEEK".

[MUSIC] >> SUPPORT FOR "NEVADA WEEK" IS PROVIDED BY SENATOR WILLIAM H. HERNSTADT.

>> WELCOME TO "NEVADA WEEK."

I'M MARIA SILVA IN FOR AMBER RENEE DIXON, WHO IS ON MATERNITY LEAVE.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

WE'LL GET TO THE OVERALL PICTURE OF WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT IN A MINUTE BUT FIRST TEACHER RECRUITMENT AND RETENTION IS A NATIONWIDE PROBLEM.

THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR EDUCATION STATISTICS REPORTED IN DECEMBER THAT, LISTEN TO THIS, 45 PERCENT OF PUBLIC SCHOOLS ARE OPERATING WITHOUT A FULL TEACHING STAFF.

SO HOW IS SOUTHERN NEVADA DOING?

JOINING US TO TALK ABOUT EFFORTS TO STAFF AND RETAIN TEACHERS IS CAROL TOLX, CHIEF HUMAN RESOURCES OFFICER FOR THE CLARK COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT.

CAROL, THANKS SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.

>> BEFORE WE GET TO THE TEACHER SITUATION HERE IN SOUTHERN NEVADA, I DO NEED TO TALK TO YOU -- YOU'VE ONLY BEEN WITH THE DEPARTMENT FOR ABOUT TEN MONTHS, BUT YOU BRING A WEALTH OF KNOWLEDGE AND INFORMATION.

AND YOU HAVE A VERY IMPRESSIVE RESUMÉ.

EVERYTHING FROM A SUBSTITUTE TEACHER TO ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL TO A PRINCIPAL.

AND THEN AGAIN NOW IN CHARGE OF HR.

>> YES.

YES, MA'AM.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT WHY THAT'S SO IMPORTANT TO BE ABLE TO BRING THAT KNOWLEDGE WITH YOU HERE TO CLARK COUNTY.

YOU'VE ONLY BEEN WITH CCSD FOR ABOUT TEN MONTHS, RIGHT?

>> YES.

I THINK MY BACKGROUND BRINGS A UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE TO THE JOB ESPECIALLY IN HR.

BECAUSE IF YOU DON'T UNDERSTAND HOW TO LEAD, WHICH I THINK IS REALLY AN IMPORTANT COMPONENT THAT I LEARNED WHEN I WAS A PRINCIPAL AND ASSISTANT PRINCIPAL, THAT COMPONENT, BRINGING THAT TO AN HR DIVISION, IT HELPS ME TO WRAP THE PEOPLE AROUND A VISION AND GOALS AND PUSH THEM FORWARD RATHER THAN JUST DIGGING INTO THE MINUTIA, IT IS MY GOAL TO INSPIRE AND THEN SET THE STRATEGIC, ALIGN US WITH THE STRATEGIC GOALS OF THE DISTRICT.

>> YOU HAVE ALREADY MADE SOME CHANGES.

WE'LL GET TO THOSE IN A MINUTE.

BUT LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT WHERE WE ARE, WHERE IS THE CLARK COUNTY SCHOOL DISTRICT WHEN IT COMES TO TEACHER SHORTAGE?

>> OKAY.

WELL, WE HAVE TWO DIFFERENT NUMBERS THAT WE'RE LOOKING AT RIGHT NOW.

ACTUALLY, WE STARTED OFF THE YEAR WITH A LITTLE OVER 1300 VACANCIES.

AND I HAD JUST STARTED IN JUNE.

SO THAT WAS A BIG NUMBER FOR ME.

I HAVE WORKED IN SEVERAL DIFFERENT STATES.

AND IN SEVERAL DIFFERENT SCHOOL DISTRICTS.

BUT THIS IS THE LARGEST ONE I STARTED WITH.

YOU CAN IMAGINE THE CHALLENGE I PUT BEFORE MYSELF.

BUT SINCE THEN, WE HAVE HIRED OVER 2200 TEACHERS SINCE THE BEGINNING OF SCHOOL THIS YEAR.

AND WHEN I COMPARE THAT TO SCHOOLS YEARS IN THE PAST, THAT'S 200 MORE THAN WE DID FOR THE ENTIRE SEASON LAST YEAR.

AND THEN 400 MORE THAN WE DID THE SEASON BEFORE.

SO WE'RE NOT EVEN THROUGH OUR FULL SEASON.

AND WE'RE THAT MUCH FURTHER AHEAD.

BUT I AM FACING RIGHT NOW, BECAUSE WE JUST POSTED FOR OUR NEW BUDGET NEXT YEAR, RIGHT NOW I'VE GOT 1300 VACANCIES FACING ME RIGHT NOW.

BUT WE'RE DOING A LOT OF DIFFERENT TECHNIQUES, BECAUSE I WASN'T HERE THEN, THAT WEREN'T IMPLEMENTED THIS QUICKLY LAST YEAR FOR NEXT YEAR.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT YOU ARE IMPLEMENTING.

YOUR RECRUITMENT EFFORTS, REALLY RAMPING THOSE UP, NOT JUST LOCALLY, NATIONALLY, BUT ALSO INTERNATIONALLY.

LET'S TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE THINGS THAT YOU'RE DOING DIFFERENTLY TO TRY TO RECRUIT MORE TEACHERS TO CCSD.

>> THANK YOU.

AN EXCITING PROGRAM WE STARTED THIS YEAR WAS CALLED THE AMBASSADOR PROGRAM.

AND WHAT WE DID WAS WE LET PRINCIPALS APPLY TO BE REPRESENTATIVES OF OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT AND GO OUT ON RECRUITMENT TRIPS AND AT THE MOMENT US WHERE DID THEY GO TO SCHOOL, WERE THEY PART OF ANY GREEK CLUB SOCIETIES SO THAT THEY WOULD HAVE AUTOMATIC CONNECTIONS WITH SCHOOLS.

AND THAT HELPED US STRATEGIZE WHERE WE WERE GOING TO GO.

AND WE ALSO DEVELOPED AN ACTUAL CONTRACT THAT WE REQUEST OFFER.

IT'S A CONTINGENT CONTRACT.

AND IT GIVES THE CANDIDATE TEN DAYS, BUT WE BRING THE PRINCIPALS WITH US BECAUSE THEY CAN DO THE ACTUAL INTERVIEWS RATHER THAN MY RECRUITERS WHO ARE NOT EDUCATORS.

WE'VE GOT THE EDUCATORS INVOLVED SO THEY CAN OFFER THE CONTRACTS ON SITE, AND THEN THAT WILL HELP ME TO MONITOR NEXT YEAR WHERE DID WE GET OUR BIGGEST BANG FOR OUR BUCK, BECAUSE HOW MANY OF THOSE TEACHERS MATRICULATED INTO AN ACTUAL EMPLOYEE COME AUGUST.

SO WE'LL BE MONITORING THAT.

>> REAL QUICK ANOTHER THING YOU IMPLEMENTED NOWADAYS WITH TECHNOLOGY THAT WE HAVE IN OUR PHONES PEOPLE AREN'T GIVING OUT THOSE BUSINESS CARDS ANYMORE.

BUT THAT'S SOMETHING THAT YOU ARE BRINGING BACK.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

AND YOU WOULD BE SURPRISED AT THE RESPONSE WE HAD.

WE MADE IT VOLUNTARY.

I'VE HAD OVER 3700 PEOPLE REQUEST THEM.

SO WE HAVE OVER 222,000 CARDS FACILITATING THROUGHOUT THE VALLEY AND THROUGHOUT THE NATION RIGHT NOW.

>> LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT ALSO ABOUT THE DIFFERENT PROGRAMS THAT YOU HAVE.

YOU HAVE THE PARA PROFESSIONALS PATHWAY PROJECT WITH UNLV ONE OF SEVERAL PROGRAMS OUT THERE.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

IF YOU'RE A PARA PROFESSIONAL AND YOU HAVE BETWEEN 40 AND 60, OR YOUR AA DEGREE, WE WILL PAY FOR YOUR ENTIRE DEGREE TO GET TO THAT BA.

EVEN IF YOU'RE MISSING A FEW OF YOUR CORE CLASSES BEFORE YOU GET THAT AA, WE'LL ACTUALLY PAY FOR THOSE TOO.

WE'RE USING ESSR FUNDS TO SUPPORT THAT.

>> AND SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS, YOU WERE NOT ONLY THE PARA PROFESSIONAL BUT ALSO SUBSTITUTE TEACHER.

LET'S TALK ABOUT THAT.

BECAUSE THAT'S SOMETHING ELSE THAT YOU'RE ALSO LOOKING INTO TO TRY AND GET MORE SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS.

THAT'S SO IMPORTANT.

>> YES.

ABSOLUTELY.

AND WE'VE DONE A TREMENDOUS JOB.

I HAVE TO GIVE KUDOS TO MY DIRECTOR WHO IS OVER THAT.

BARBARA COLLINS HAS DONE A FANTASTIC JOB.

WE'VE HIRED OVER 1200 SUBSTITUTES THIS YEAR ALONE, AS WELL.

SO WE'RE CONTINUING THE MORE WE HAVE, THE BETTER WE HAVE.

BUT ALSO WE'RE GIVING THEM PATHWAYS TO GET TO THAT ALTERNATIVE CERTIFICATION PROGRAM.

AND THEY WERE DELIGHTED.

THEY WERE ACTUALLY ONE OF THE BIGGEST GROUPS THAT WAS SO DELIGHTED TO GET A BUSINESS CARD BECAUSE YOU KNOW THEY NEVER HAD ONE BEFORE.

SO THEY PROBABLY HAVE OVER 350 OF OUR SUBS HAVE THOSE.

SO IF YOU MULTIPLY THAT BY 60, THAT'S HOW MANY THEY'RE DISTRIBUTING.

SO IT'S BEEN REALLY EXCITING TO SEE.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT THE OTHER PARTNERSHIPS WE HAVE.

I MENTIONED UNLV.

BUT YOU ALSO HAVE PARTNERSHIPS WITH CSN.

NEVADA STATE UNIVERSITY NOW.

>> YES.

>> NOW THEY HAVE DUAL CREDIT PROGRAMS, THAT I KNOW RETAINING TEACHERS, WE TALK ABOUT KEEPING THE BEST AND BRIGHTEST HERE AND TRYING TO KEEP THEM HERE IN OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT.

TALK ABOUT THE PARTNERSHIP YOU HAVE WITH THESE ORGANIZATIONS AND THE UNIVERSITIES.

>> WE JUST STARTED A GREAT PROGRAM WITH NEVADA STATE COLLEGE.

WE GAVE THEM $3 MILLION OF OUR ESSR FUNDS FOR THEM TO PAY FOR STUDENTS GOING INTO THE EDUCATION FIELD SO THEY WILL THEN HAVE A PATHWAY INTO CLARK COUNTY.

SO FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND, WHEN THEY FIRST HEARD THAT, THERE WERE TEARS.

FROM WHAT I UNDERSTAND DR. JARA AND I ARE ACTUALLY GOING TO GET AN OPPORTUNITY TO GO OUT MEET WITH THEM WHICH IS A WONDERFUL THING.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT THESE ESSR FUNDS THEY'RE MORE IMPORTANT NOW MORE THAN EVER?

>> VERY IMPORTANT.

ONE OF THE THINGS I FOUND VERY SUCCESSFUL, THIS WAS IMPLEMENTED IN OUR ESSR PLAN BEFORE I GOT HERE WAS THE $4,000 OF FUNDS WE GAVE TO PEOPLE COMING FROM THE OUTSIDE, WE GAVE THEM $4,000 FOR RELOCATION EXPENSES.

I DID AN ANALYSIS OF THAT, AND THAT WAS ALMOST A THIRD OF THE PEOPLE THAT WE HIRED LAST YEAR.

BETWEEN 25 AND 30%.

OF THOSE 85% SAID THAT IT WAS A MAJOR MARKER FOR THEIR DECISION TO COME TO CCSD.

SO THAT IS SOMETHING WE ARE LOOKING TO NEGOTIATE AS WE MOVE FORWARD.

>> REAL QUICK.

WE HAVE ABOUT A MINUTE.

LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT NOT JUST TEACHERS, SUBSTITUTE TEACHERS YOU'RE IN CHARGE OF SUPPORT STAFF AS WELL.

>> YES, I'M IN CHARGE OF SUPPORT STAFF AND I'M IN CHARGE OF ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF.

SO I HAVE THE WHOLE GAMUT.

ONE OF THE THINGS I THINK IS VERY IMPORTANT I TOOK ON THE ROLE OF TEACHERS THIS YEAR TO MAKE SURE THAT OUR SALARY SCHEDULE WAS MORE EQUITABLE BECAUSE WE BROUGHT UP THE BASE TO 5115 THIS YEAR, WHICH COMPRESSED OUR SALARY.

SO IT WAS REALLY IMPORTANT FOR ME TO LOOK AT ALL THE TEACHERS AND THEIR SALARIES AND HOW WE'RE PAYING THEM.

IT'S ALSO REALLY IMPORTANT FOR ME TO LOOK AT HOW WE PAY OUR SUPPORT STAFF BECAUSE WE'RE COMPETING WITH THE STRIP.

AND OUR ADMINISTRATORS, BECAUSE WE NEED TO KEEP THAT TALENT WITHIN.

SO I'M HAVING A THIRD PARTY ACTUALLY COME IN AND LOOK AT BOTH OUR SUPPORT STAFF AND OUR ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF AND SEE WHERE THEY LIE WITH THEIR JOB DESCRIPTIONS AND HOW THEIR COMPENSATION OVERLIES AND HOW WE COMPETE ON A NATIONAL LEVEL AND A LOCAL LEVEL.

>> CAROL, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR WHAT YOU'RE DOING.

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

WHERE CAN WE GET MORE INFORMATION BECAUSE ON YOUR WEBSITE YOU HAVE SO MANY GREAT RESOURCES FOR ANYONE WHO IS INTERESTED IN BECOMING A TEACHER OR WORK FOR CCSD.

>> ALWAYS GO TO THE CCSD WEBSITE AND LOOK UNDER HUMAN RESOURCES AND YOU CAN FIND A PLETHORA OF INFORMATION.

>> WHEN YOU FIRST WALK INTO OUR VEGAS PBS BUILDING YOU'RE GREETED BY THIS MESSAGE LETTING YOU KNOW THAT ALL THE SERVICES THAT VEGAS PBS HAS TO OFFER BEYOND THE BROADCAST.

WHAT A LOT OF PEOPLE MAY NOT KNOW IS THAT WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT IS A BIG PART OF WHAT WE DO HERE AT VEGAS PBS.

WE RECENTLY SAT DOWN WITH DEBRA SOLT, DIRECTOR OF WORKFORCE TRAINING AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

SHE SHARES HOW THE HUNDREDS OF PROGRAMS AND COURSES BEING OFFERED ARE HELPING SO MANY NEVADANS.

>> EDUCATION IS AT THE CORE OF OUR MISSION, IS WE EDUCATE, WE ENTERTAIN, WE INSPIRE.

AND SO OUR PROGRAM STARTED IN 2010 DURING THE LAST MAJOR RECESSION.

NOT THE COVID RECESSION.

AS A RESULT OF THE HIGH UNEMPLOYMENT, THE HOME LOSSES AND THE NEED TO EITHER TRAIN PEOPLE ON HOW TO GO BACK TO WORK OR TRAIN PEOPLE IN NEW CAREERS TO REENTER THE WORKFORCE.

SO IT STARTED TO ADD CAPACITY TO THE WORKFORCE SYSTEM.

HAS SINCE GROWN FROM OFFERING 28 UNIQUE PROGRAMS TO NOW WE OFFER OVER 700 CAREER PROGRAMS.

THOUSANDS OF SHORT-TERM TRAINING PROGRAMS.

HAVE A FULL COMPLEMENT OF OSHA COMPLIANCE, THE NEVADA OPTIMIZE SYSTEM ALONG WITH HIGH STAKES TESTING THAT WE HAVE IN ORDER TO SERVE OUR SCHOOL DISTRICT AND OUR COMMUNITY.

>> VEGAS PBS IS ONE OF THE PLACES THAT I WENT TO TO FIND OUT ABOUT OSHA 10.

VEGAS PBS HELPED ME GET MY OSHA 10 CARD.

NOW I OWN THREE BUSINESSES HERE IN LAS VEGAS.

TO ME, VEGAS PBS MEANS A FRESH START IN LAS VEGAS.

>> SUCCESS STORIES.

FIRST OF ALL, WE BELIEVE OUR PROGRAMS ARE HIGH TECH HIGH TOUCH.

WE DON'T JUST PUT OUR ONLINE PROGRAMS ON THE WEBSITE AND EXPECT PEOPLE TO JUST HAVE AT IT.

WITH THE WORKFORCE TESTIMONY, WE TOUCH PEOPLE MINIMUM OF TWICE A MONTH, OFTENTIMES IT'S MORE THAN THAT.

SOME OF OUR VETERANS, WE'VE TAKEN FROM HOMELESSNESS TO NOW THEY ARE LEAD PEOPLE BUILDING, REBUILDING WHOLE COUNTRIES LIKE IN PUERTO RICO.

WE HAVE ONE THAT WENT FROM DIVORCED HOMELESS, UNEMPLOYED, ALCOHOLIC TO NOW HE'S ONE OF THE LEAD FOREMEN REBUILDING PUERTO RICO AFTER THE HURRICANES.

AND THEY STAY IN TOUCH WITH US.

THEY REFER OTHER VETERANS.

I THINK THAT'S PART OF OUR HIGH TECH PHILOSOPHY, WE KNOW WHO OUR STUDENTS ARE, WE CARE ABOUT OUR STUDENTS.

AND THEY'RE OUR NEXT GENERATION.

VETERANS WHO ALSO GO FROM TAKING A CLASS AND GETTING AN OSHA 10 TO NOW OWN THEIR OWN BUSINESS.

THOSE ARE EXCITING STORIES.

AND FOR ME THAT'S WHAT MAKES WHAT I DO MEANINGFUL AND IMPORTANT.

>> VEGAS PBS, THAT'S RIGHT, VEGAS PBS, YOU WANT TO KNOW ABOUT THEM BECAUSE IT'S THROUGH THEM THAT I DISCOVERED THAT I, YES, I COULD ACCOMPLISH WHAT I DIDN'T THINK WAS POSSIBLE.

>> LOVE HEARING THOSE SUCCESS STORIES.

GOVERNOR JOE LOMBARDO MADE A STRONG STATEMENT ABOUT THE STATE OF WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT EFFORTS DURING HIS STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS, SAYING, QUOTE, RIGHT NOW WE ARE WASTING MONEY BUT, MORE IMPORTANTLY, WE ARE WASTING TIME IN GETTING ALL NEVADANS THE JOB OPPORTUNITIES THEY DESERVE.

END QUOTE.

HE WENT ON TO OUTLINE HIS PLAN TO CREATE A OFFICE WORKFORCE.

SO WHERE DO OUR EFFORTS TO DEVELOP A WORKFORCE FOR A CHANGING ECONOMY.

JOINING US TO TALK ABOUT IT, STACEY BOSTWICK, DIRECTOR OF WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT FOR THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

GOED.

AND BILL ARENT, CHIEF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT OFFICER FOR THE LAS VEGAS GLOBAL ECONOMIC ALLIANCE.

BOTH OF YOU HAVE A WEALTH OF KNOWLEDGE AND INFORMATION.

LET'S TALK A BIT ABOUT, BEFORE WE START, YOUR DEPARTMENT AND WHAT YOU DO.

>> SURE I'M THE DIRECTOR OF WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT FOR GOED MUCH EASIER TO SAY AND I'VE BEEN HERE FIVE YEARS.

I THINK I HAVE THE BEST JOB AT GOED BECAUSE I LIVE AT THE INTERSECTION OF WORKFORCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, BRINGING BOTH THE EMPLOYERS AND EMPLOYEES TOGETHER.

>> AND LVGEA, YOU WORK CLOSELY TOGETHER.

TALK ABOUT YOUR EXPERIENCE.

ONLY BEEN THERE FOR A FEW MONTHS, BUT YOU'VE BEEN WITH THE CITY OF LAS VEGAS FOR MANY, MANY YEARS.

>> YES, THANK YOU.

REALLY GLAD TO BE ON THE SHOW TODAY.

WORKING WITH NEW EMPLOYERS THAT ARE LOOKING AT LAS VEGAS AND COMING INTO THE MARKET, ONE OF THE FIRST QUESTIONS THEY HAVE IS WHERE AM I GOING TO FIND MY WORKERS.

WHERE AM I GOING TO HAVE ACCESS TO TALENT?

HOW MUCH IS THERE?

WHAT AM I GOING TO HAVE TO PAY THEM?

WHAT ABOUT TURNOVER.

SO WORKING WITH FOLKS LIKE STACEY AT GOED IS REALLY IMPORTANT AS WE START TO WORK WITH NEW EMPLOYERS THAT ARE FIRST LOOKING AT COMING INTO THE MARKET.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT, WE MENTIONED THE GOVERNOR AND HIS PLAN TO CREATE -- HE WANTS TO CREATE AN OFFICE OF WORKFORCE.

DURING HIS CAMPAIGN, THIS IS ALSO SOMETHING THAT WAS BIG, HE DID MENTION THIS.

HE SAID, "IT'S BECOME INCREASINGLY CLEAR THAT WE NEED TO DIVERSIFY OUR ECONOMY FROM JUST GAMING AND TOURISM.

NEVADA'S HISTORICALLY DOMINANT ECONOMIC SECTORS.

WE KNOW THAT.

LIKE NORTHERN NEVADA DID WITH THE TAHOE RENO INDUSTRIAL CENTER, IT'S TIME FOR THE REST OF THE STATE TO LOOK AT NEW INDUSTRIES LIKE MANUFACTURING AND TECHNOLOGIES.

IN ORDER TO BRING NEW INDUSTRIES TO THE STATE NEVADA NEEDS A SKILLED AND TRAINED WORKFORCE.

WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE SO WE HAVE THAT SKILLED AND TRAINED WORKFORCE?

STACEY, WANT TO START?

>> THE GOVERNOR HAS BEEN A STRONG PROPONENT OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

I THINK THE WORD WE LIKE TO USE IN OUR OFFICE A LOT IS RESILIENCE AND PROVIDING PEOPLE THE OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE CONSISTENCY WHEN WE GO THROUGH ECONOMIC DOWNTURNS.

AND OUR EMERGING INDUSTRIES AND GROWING THAT SO WE HAVE PARITY ACROSS INDUSTRIES IS AN IMPORTANT PIECE OF THAT.

>> I MENTIONED NORTHERN NEVADA.

WHEN WE WERE PREPARING FOR THIS SEGMENT YOU ALSO MENTIONED THERE'S A LOT OF ACTIVITY GOING UP IN NORTHERN NEVADA.

WHAT'S GOING ON UP THERE?

>> WELL, LOTS OF GREAT THINGS.

I THINK ONE THING I ALWAYS LIKE TO TALK ABOUT IS WHEN EMPLOYERS WORK TOGETHER WITH EDUCATION INSTITUTIONS.

AND SO WE TALK ABOUT HOW DOES THAT REALLY AFFECT WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.

A GREAT EXAMPLE OF A PARTNERSHIP IS WITH PANASONIC AND TRUCKEE MEADOWS COMMUNITY COLLEGE.

PANASONIC IS BUILDING A NEW KIND OF HEADQUARTERS ON PLUMB LANE AND THEY'RE DEDICATING A PIECE OF THAT SPACE FOR TRUCKEE MEADOWS TO PROVIDE TRAINING TO THE COMMUNITY.

SO THOSE KINDS OF THINGS ARE REALLY INNOVATIVE AND GREAT FOR EMPLOYEES AND EMPLOYERS IN THE VALLEY.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT THIS BECAUSE HE DID MENTION AGAIN THAT WE NEEDED TO DIVERSIFY OUR ECONOMY MORE THAN JUST GAMING AND TOURISM.

I FEEL THAT'S ALREADY BEING DONE.

YOU'RE THE EXPERT ON THIS.

WHAT'S GOING ON HERE IN LAS VEGAS IN SOUTHERN NEVADA?

>> IT'S BEING DONE BUT WE NEED TO DO MORE OF IT.

SO WE'RE FOCUSED ON A LOT OF INDUSTRIES TO EXPAND UPON OUR CORE INDUSTRY OF GAMING HOSPITALITY.

THAT WILL ALWAYS BE OUR CORE INDUSTRY.

BUT HOW DO WE DIVERSIFY AND EXPAND SO WE'RE FOCUSED ON ADVANCED MANUFACTURING.

WE'RE FOCUSED ON CLEAN TECH.

WE'RE FOCUSED ON FIN TECH AND CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS.

AND AS AN EXAMPLE OF FEEDING OFF WHAT STACEY SAID, OUR UNIVERSITY PARTNERS, OUR HIGHER EDUCATION PARTNERS ARE LISTENING.

WE WERE TALKING WITH PRESIDENT WHITFIELD OF UNLV ON OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS ABOUT THIS GRADUATING CLASS THIS UPCOMING YEAR.

AND I THINK IT WOULD SURPRISE PEOPLE TO KNOW THAT UNLV IS FORECAST TO GRADUATE ALMOST THE SAME NUMBER OF GRADUATES FROM THEIR ENGINEERING SCHOOL AS THE COLLEGE OF HOSPITALITY.

FOR THE FOUR-YEAR UNDER GRADUATE DEGREES.

SO TODAY'S UNLV IS VERY DIFFERENT FROM UNLV FROM FIVE YEARS AGO.

I THINK YOU CAN SAY THAT ACROSS ALL HIGHER EDUCATION IN NEVADA.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT HOW YOU'RE WORKING WITH THE OTHER INSTITUTIONS HIGHER ED INSTITUTIONS HERE IN SOUTHERN NEVADA AS WELL.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

ONE OF THE BEST RESOURCES WE HAVE WITHIN GOED IS A TOOL THAT WE CALL THE WIN FUND.

THAT'S A NEAT OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO BRING EMPLOYERS AND EDUCATORS TOGETHER AND FOR THEM TO KIND OF SAY WE WANT TO SCALE UP A PROGRAM.

WE NEED THIS.

WE HAVE EMPLOYERS SAYING WE NEED ADVANCED MANUFACTURING TRAINING PROGRAMS IN TWO YEARS AND FOUR YEARS.

COLLEGE OF SOUTHERN NEVADA, UNLV, NEVADA STATE, WHO THAT MIGHT BE.

AND WE'RE ABLE TO ACTUALLY PROVIDE FUNDING AND RESOURCES FOR THEM TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT WHAT ELSE IS COMING IN SOUTHERN NEVADA.

YOU HAVE COMPANIES THAT COME IN PARTNERS THAT COME IN.

I WAS ON YOUR SOCIAL MEDIA YESTERDAY.

YOU TALKED ABOUT SOME OF YOUR NEW INVESTORS.

WHAT'S GOING ON OVER AT LVGEA.

>> I'LL GIVE YOU AN EXAMPLE OF A RECENT EMPLOYER WE RECRUITED TO LAS VEGAS.

CAE IS AN AVIATION TRAINING PROGRAM.

THEY OPENED UP JUST WITHIN THE PAST YEAR AND A HALF TO TWO YEARS.

THEY HAVE A TRAINING PROGRAM FOR BUSINESS AVIATION PILOTS.

AND WHEN THEY'RE UP AND RUNNING AT FULL SPEED, THEY'LL BE ABLE TO TRAIN 2500 PILOTS ANNUALLY.

THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE LOOKING AT AND FOCUSED ON IS HOW DO WE LEARN AND KNOW ABOUT ALL THE WORKFORCE TRAINING PROGRAMS THROUGHOUT OUR COMMUNITY.

NOT JUST THE ONES THAT ARE RECEIVING PUBLIC FUNDING, BUT THE PRIVATE FUNDING.

WE HAVE A LOT OF WONDERFUL TRAINING PROGRAMS THAT ARE REALLY NATIONAL MODELS HERE IN LAS VEGAS.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE POSITIVE ASPECTS OF BRINGING YOUR BUSINESS HERE TO LAS VEGAS AND SOUTHERN NEVADA, NEVADA IN GENERAL.

AND THEN ALSO SOME OF THE CHALLENGES THAT YOU SEE OUR STATE FACING RIGHT NOW STACEY.

>> I'LL TAKE A STAB AT THAT FIRST.

ONE CHALLENGE IS ALSO AN OPPORTUNITY.

OUR UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IS ONE OF THE HIGHEST I BELIEVE THE HIGHEST IN A NATION FOR A MAJOR METROPOLITAN AREA.

BUT THERE ARE TWO SIDES OF THAT COIN.

EVEN THOUGH THERE ARE A LOT OF FOLKS IN OUR COMMUNITY STRUGGLING, WHEN WE TALK TO A COMPANY AND WE LOOK AT OUR AVAILABLE WORKFORCE AND LABOR SUPPLY AND HOW EASY IT IS TO STAFF THESE NEW POSITIONS, WHETHER IT BE ADVANCED MANUFACTURING.

WHETHER IT BE IN FINANCIAL SERVICES OR OTHER COMPANIES, THEY ACTUALLY HAVE A BIGGER LABOR POOL HERE THAN OTHER MARKETS OUR SIZE.

SO THAT COIN KIND OF FLIPS BOTH WAYS.

IT CAN BE AN ADVANTAGE BECAUSE THERE ARE NATIONAL LABOR SHORTAGES EVERYWHERE IT COULD BE EASIER TO HIRE HERE FIND SKILLED WORKERS HERE THAT ARE HUNGRY AND WANTING TO DO GOOD WORK.

>> I KNOW SPEAKING WITH DEBRA SOLT WITH PBS HERE SHE MENTIONED IT'S ABOUT KEEPING OUR BRIGHTEST HERE IN SOUTHERN NEVADA.

AND MAKING SURE THAT THEY DO STAY HERE WITH PROGRAMS LIKE THE ONES WE OFFER HERE AT VEGAS PBS.

AND WHAT ARE WE DOING TO MAKE SURE THAT WE DO CONTINUE TO RETAIN THOSE WORKERS HERE IN SOUTHERN NEVADA?

>> I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS WE'RE WORKING ON IN GOED, I LIKE TO THINK ABOUT IT AS AVAILABILITY AND CAPACITY.

DO WE HAVE THE PROGRAMS AVAILABLE TO ALIGN WITH THE JOBS?

IT'S LIKE A ONE-PLUS-ONE SITUATION, BECAUSE IF WE'RE PRODUCING ENGINEERS TO BUILD PLANES BUT WE DON'T HAVE COMPANIES FOR THEM TO LAND HERE, THAT TALENT HAS NO CHOICE BUT TO LEAVE THE STATE.

AND SO IT REALLY IS ALIGNING THE RESOURCES AND MAKING SURE WE HAVE PROGRAMS AVAILABLE FOR THE JOBS THAT ARE HERE.

AND SO WE'RE LOOKING A LOT AT MANUFACTURING AND LOGISTICS.

WE'RE DOING A DEEP DIVE.

AND ONE OF THE THINGS WE FIND IS WE HAVE BIG GAPS IN THE INFRASTRUCTURE.

WE HAVE A LOT OF REALLY GREAT PROGRAMS.

BUT WE DON'T HAVE THAT OVERARCHING KIND OF SYSTEM TO CONNECT ALL THOSE PIECES.

AND THERE'S STILL WORK THAT NEEDS TO BE DONE TO FILL IN THOSE GAPS.

>> LET'S TALK ABOUT THE IMPACT THE PANDEMIC HAD ON OUR WORKFORCE.

>> YES, THAT'S ANOTHER PLACE WHERE I WOULD SAY RESILIENCE IS SUCH A BIG PIECE OF IT.

AND ONE OF THE TOOLS OR SYSTEMS THAT WE WORKED ON AT GOED WAS A PLATFORM THAT WE CALLED SKILLS MATCH FOR THAT BECAUSE ONE OF THE THINGS WE RECOGNIZED IS THAT WE HAVE THIS AMAZING WORKFORCE.

BUT WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT IS DYNAMIC.

WE'RE NOT A JOB TITLE.

WE'RE A PERSON WITH A SET OF SKILLS.

AND THOSE SKILLS CAN BE USED IN DIFFERENT PLACES.

AND SO I THINK FOR A LOT OF FOLKS WHO WORKED IN THE SAME INDUSTRY OR SAME JOB FOR SO LONG, IT WAS HARD TO BREAK OUT OF AN IDEA WHAT ELSE CAN I DO?

IF YOU FOCUS ON SKILLS VERSUS JOB TITLE HOW CAN I DO THAT?

SO THE WORKFORCE AREA IS EVOLVING.

I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE NEATEST THINGS ABOUT WORKFORCE.

WE'RE MOVING AROUND WHETHER OR NOT DEGREES MATTER, WHAT SKILLS MATTER, EXPERIENCE MATTERS, RIGHT?

SO GIVING THE PEOPLE THE TOOLS TO SAY I HAVE ALL THESE THINGS AND LOOK AT ALL THE DOORS THAT OPEN UP FOR ME BECAUSE I HAVE THESE SKILLS.

>> NOW YOU DID MENTION UNEMPLOYMENT.

ANY CONCERNS WITH POSSIBLE RECESSION WITH THE WAY THE ECONOMY IS RIGHT NOW?

>> I THINK WE'RE REALLY FOCUSED ON WHAT'S IN FRONT OF US.

WE DO TALK TO COMPANIES ALL THE TIME.

RIGHT NOW WE'RE WORKING WITH OVER 80 COMPANIES THAT ARE LOOKING TO RELOCATING TO LAS VEGAS AND SOUTHERN NEVADA.

AND SO THERE'S A LOT OF SLOW DOWN IN A LOT OF INDUSTRY.

EVERYONE READS THE HEADLINES.

I READ THE HEADLINES.

LAYOFFS AT GOOGLE AND OTHER BIG TECH, LAYOFFS AND OTHER INDUSTRIES.

BUT THERE'S STILL A LOT OF INVESTMENT IN WHAT I WOULD CALL EMERGING INDUSTRIES, BATTERY MANUFACTURING, FIN TECH, COMPANIES THAT ARE EXPANDING, INDUSTRIES EXPANDING, AND HOW DO WE PREPARE OURSELVES FOR THESE JOBS FOR THE FUTURE, WORKING WITH PARTNERS LIKE STACEY AT GOED, AND GOVERNOR'S OFFICE OF WORKFORCE INNOVATION OTHERS, REALLY IMPORTANT SO WE'RE LINED UP TO CAPTURE SOME OF THIS NEW BUSINESS.

>> MENTIONED 80 DIFFERENT COMPANIES.

THAT'S A LOT.

EXCITING TO HEAR THAT.

ARE THERE SOME COMPANIES YOU'RE LIKE THIS WILL BE GREAT HERE IN LAS VEGAS?

ALL OF THEM, BUT IS THERE ONE THAT JUST STICKS OUT?

>> I THINK THAT'S ONE OF THE CHALLENGES IS WE HAVE TO FIND THOSE COMPANIES THAT ARE A GOOD FIT.

WE'RE NOT FOR EVERYONE.

SO WE DO HAVE SOME CONSTRAINTS WITH THE AMOUNT OF LAND WE HAVE FOR BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY AND INDUSTRIAL LANDS.

WATER IS AN INCREASING CHALLENGE.

WE'RE SPENDING MORE TIME THAN EVER WORKING WITH THE WATER AUTHORITY TO TRY TO FIGURE OUT RESPONSIBLE USE OF WATER.

SO WE CAN ACCOMMODATE HIGH WATER USERS BUT NOT IF THEY'RE GOING TO BE CONSUMPTIVE WATER USERS WHERE THEY USE THE WATER AND THEN IT DOES NOT RETURN TO THE SOURCE.

SO WE'RE BEING MORE THOUGHTFUL ABOUT WHAT COMPANIES ARE A GOOD FIT.

BUT WE'RE REALLY EXCITED FOR THE FUTURE.

A LOT OF DIFFERENT COMPANIES ACROSS ALL INDUSTRY.

>> AND LET'S TALK ABOUT THE FUTURE.

YOU HAVE A WORKFORCE SUMMIT WITH GOED, WHY IS THAT SO IMPORTANT SCHEDULED IN THE SUMMER.

>> YES, SCHEDULED IN THE SUMMER.

I THINK WHAT'S MOST IMPORTANT IS EVERYTHING LEADING UP TO THE SUMMIT.

ONE OF THE THINGS WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON WITH GOED AND ALL OF OUR PARTNERS IS TRYING TO HAVE AN ACCURATE INVENTORY OF ALL THE PUBLIC AND PRIVATE WORKFORCE TRAINING PROGRAMS.

STACEY MENTIONED THE CHANGE OF WORK AND THE NATURE OF WORK THAT SOME JOBS REQUIRE A FOUR-YEAR DEGREE.

SOME JOBS REQUIRE CERTIFICATES OR TECHNICAL SKILLS.

HOW CAN WE INVENTORY ALL THOSE TECHNICAL PROGRAMS ACROSS OUR COMMUNITY.

WE HAVE SOME OF THE LARGEST TRAINING PROGRAMS IN THE NATION.

THE CARPENTER'S UNION HAS A FACILITY THAT TRAINS WORKERS FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

THEY HAVE TWO HOTELS JUST TO SERVE THIS TRAINING FACILITY.

THERE ARE COUNTLESS NUMBER OF STORIES THAT WE HEAR ABOUT THESE LARGE TRAINING SCHOOLS TRAINING NOT JUST LAS VEGANS BUT PEOPLE ON A REGIONAL BASIS, HOW CAN WE LEVERAGE THAT TO MAKE SURE, ONE, THE COMMUNITY KNOWS ABOUT IT, AND, TWO, WE CAN WORK WITH BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY TO CONNECT THOSE WORKERS TO NEW EMPLOYERS AS THEY'RE COMING INTO THE MARKET.

>> I DID ASK YOU BOTH BECAUSE I FEEL IT'S IMPORTANT, NEVADA LEGISLATURE HAPPENING RIGHT NOW.

ANY BILLS YOU'RE REALLY KEEPING A CLOSE EYE ON RIGHT NOW?

>> I'M NOT PAYING ATTENTION SO MUCH TO THE BILLS BUT FOLLOWING THE MONEY.

I THINK THIS SESSION IS JUST SHOWING A LARGE INCREASED INVESTMENT.

AND ALL THE WAY FROM K-12 INTO POST-SECONDARY EDUCATION.

AND THOSE INVESTMENTS JUST REAP SO MANY REWARDS FOR WORKFORCE.

>> BILL.

>> I WOULD ADD, LESS FOLLOWING THE BILLS BUT MORE WORKING WITH THE PEOPLE, WORKING CLOSELY WITH GOED, ALL OUR PARTNERS ACROSS THE REGION.

IT'S BEEN A DELIGHT TO WORK WITH GOVERNOR LOMBARDO AND HIS ADMINISTRATION.

OUR PRESIDENT, CEO, TINA QUIGLEY, WAS ON THE GOVERNOR'S TRANSITION TEAM FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

WE'RE WORKING VERY CLOSELY WITH THE GOED DIRECTOR TOM BURNS AND HIS WHOLE TEAM.

REALLY HOW DO WE COLLABORATE AND WORK TOGETHER ON SOLUTIONS.

THERE ARE A NUMBER OF BILLS OUT THERE.

BUT THEY'RE GOING TO GO THROUGH A LOT OF CHANGES.

SO WE WANT TO REALLY SEE KIND OF WHAT THE OUTCOME OF THAT IS TO WHAT WE'RE WORKING WITH.

>> AND REAL QUICK, LAS VEGAS PERSPECTIVE CAME IN -- TALK ABOUT THAT.

>> IT'S A GREAT EVENT.

WHERE WE ESSENTIALLY GO OVER EVERYTHING THAT'S HAPPENING IN OUR REGIONAL ECONOMY.

IT'S COMING UP AND OPEN TO OUR INVESTORS AND MEMBERS.

AND IT'S GOING TO BE A GREAT EVENT.

>> BOTH OF YOU, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US, AND THANK YOU FOR WHAT YOU DO.

ALL RIGHT.

YOU AT HOME THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US FOR "NEVADA WEEK."

BEFORE WE LEAVE YOU SO EXCITED ABOUT THIS.

WANTED TO SHARE A SPECIAL MESSAGE FROM AMBER RENEE DIXON.

>> HELLO, EVERYBODY.

HEY MARIA.

THANK YOU FOR FILLING IN FOR ME WHILE I'VE BEEN ON MATERNITY LEVEL.

LOVING ON THIS LITTLE GUY, EVERYONE.

THIS IS MY SON, OTTO.

AND MEETING HIS NEEDS HAS BEEN THE MOST MEANINGFUL WORK I HAVE EVER DONE, BUT IT IS TIME FOR ME TO RETURN TO THE MEANINGFUL WORK THAT WE DO AT "NEVADA WEEK."

AND SO MY FIRST SHOW BACK WILL BE FRIDAY APRIL 7TH, 8:00 P.M.

I SO LOOK FORWARD TO RETURNING AS HOST OF "NEVADA WEEK."

RIGHT NOW, THOUGH, I'M GOING TO RETURN TO MY ROLE AS MOMMY AND I WILL SEE YOU SOON ON "NEVADA WEEK" SAY BYE ALL.

BYE.