Iowa Innovation Gateway hosted Emily DeRocco and her team from the Manufacturing Institute for a series of events and meetings this month to discuss the implementation of the National Association of Manufacturers-Endorsed Skills Certification System. According to the Manufacturing institute, “Access to talented individuals with high-quality education and advanced skills is critical to manufacturers' capacity for innovation and business success. Companies continue to report they cannot find individuals with the skills required for today's advanced manufacturing workplaces.” On January 11, Emily DeRocco addressed the Iowa Association of Business and Industry board and asked them to use the Skills Certification System in their hiring processes. The team also met with the Central Iowa Works Advanced Manufacturing Workforce Partnership and explained to them what the Skills Certification System could do for them.
The next day, at Accu-mold in Ankeny, Emily and her team provided a day of technical assistance to community college representatives from across the state on how to integrate the Skills Certification System into what they are already doing. Community college representatives were able to share what they are currently offering for those seeking certification in advanced manufacturing skills and what their next steps in this process will be. Further events are being planned as result of this training and feedback from the community college representatives who said they would like to learn more and educate more people from their colleges.
The next day, the Manufacturing Institute team and concerned manufacturers met with state policy makers including Lt. Governor Kim Reynolds, to discuss they could assist with the deployment of the Certification System. CLICK HERE to learn more about NAM Skills Certification.
Paul Gregoire, Vice President of Global Human Resources at Emerson/Fisher Controls and President of the Iowa Innovation Gateway Board of Directors finds great value in the NAM Skills Certification System as an employer. Gregoire said, "The NAM Skills Certification System provides a consistent, reliably educated individual with skills needed in businesses today. The NAM SCS could serve to better connect the educational efforts of our K-12 system and community colleges while upgrading the educational level across the state for those not planning to attend a 2 or 4 year university.”
