FL 2030 Trailblazer Spotlight – Michelle Dennard, CareerSource Florida
Tell us a little about CareerSource Florida.
CareerSource Florida is the Governor’s principal workforce policy and investment board for the state of Florida. Our partners include the state Department of Economic Opportunity, 24 local workforce development boards and 100 career centers throughout Florida. Together as the CareerSource Florida network, we help connect businesses with the talented workforce and training they need to succeed and grow.
Based on a company’s individual needs, the CareerSource Florida network provides guidance through every step of the hiring process at no cost. Programs like On-the-Job training help businesses by allowing them to save money on employee recruitment and training costs. CareerSource Florida also offers customized training grants to help both new and existing businesses with funding specific to the talent and industry needs in their area. Additionally, local workforce development boards can connect businesses with the resources they need to build a registered apprenticeship program. Registered apprenticeships have many benefits. Apprenticeship programs allow businesses to custom-train their workforce, build loyalty among employees, and help workers grow in well-paying, in-demand occupations.
What made CareerSource Florida join the Florida Chamber Foundation’s Community Development Partnership Council and Board of Trustees, and what would you say to other Florida business leaders about the benefit and value of these partnerships?
CareerSource Florida is honored to be a member of Florida Chamber Foundation’s Community Development Partnership Council and Board of Trustees. This is where the important conversations about Florida’s future occur. We are able to learn from and share insights with experts and thought leaders from across the state, widening the reach of the CareerSource Florida network. I highly value the opportunity to sit alongside other leaders from across Florida, all vested in the long-term future of our state, knowing that working together and measuring our progress is the only way to achieve the 39 goals set forth in the Florida 2030 Blueprint.
What are CareerSource Florida’s particular goals/areas of interest as it applies to reaching the Florida 2030 Blueprint goals designed to make Florida a top 10 global economy by 2030?
The Florida 2030 Blueprint emphasizes that we must work across organizations and sectors to make Florida a top 10 global economy by 2030. Through outreach efforts like the Future of Work Florida Initiative, we can continue to bring together Florida employers, policymakers, and partners to close Florida’s talent gaps by generating excitement and awareness of in-demand careers in our state.
CareerSource Florida is proud to be the Florida 2030 Blueprint goal leader for ensuring more than 80 percent of Florida’s workforce has essential employability skills. By emphasizing the talent-oriented metrics of TheFloridaScorecard.org that focus on both educational attainment and essential employability skills, we can be sure we are cultivating a sustainable talent pipeline for Florida businesses.
Click here to learn about the Florida Chamber Foundation’s Community Development Partners who are uniting Florida businesses for good around the Florida 2030 Blueprint and powering TheFloridaScorecard.org.