Welcome from Joe Tuerff, Chair
Phoenix Workforce Connection Board

The Vision of the Phoenix Workforce Connection is, “To become a high value network of choice for building a workforce to keep business competitive and sustain economic growth.” I am proud to report to you that your Workforce Investment Board and workforce development system made great strides in fiscal 2006-2007 toward this important vision!

Of particular significance in support of the Vision is the partnership struck this past year between Phoenix Workforce Connection (PWC) and Maricopa Workforce Connections (MWC). The 2007 CEO Workforce Summit “The Profit Factor: Connecting Talent to Business” held on April 10, 2007 was the product of this collaborative effort. The PWC and MWC Boards also held a joint strategic planning meeting in order to begin addressing regional issues that were identified at the workforce summit. In addition, the city and county have joined forces to implement initiatives that align with economic development in order to make a strong strategic regional impact.

The Phoenix Workforce Connection is receiving national recognition from participation in a study conducted by the National Center on Education and the Economy (NCEE). The NCEE conducts research and publishes information about organizations that have reorganized economic and workforce development organizations and governance structures in order to bring their resources, including staff, funding, and organizational priorities, under one organizational umbrella.

Workforce development is and will continue to be a critical part of our country's ability to compete and thrive in a global economy. Yet, limited federal funding means we need to find new ways to conduct our operations more efficiently. It means we need to supplement federal dollars with private sector investment sources to drive workforce efforts regionally. The partnership with the City of Phoenix and Maricopa County gives us an even greater value proposition to seek private investment from industries vital to our community like aerospace, high-tech manufacturing, healthcare, IT and high-end business services and bioscience industries.

The outcome of our efforts has and will continue to be seen in businesses within our community being successful because they found people with the skills they need, to work in occupations with strong growth opportunities, at wages that will enable people to thrive! All of this provides contributions to the tax base needed to sustain local and national economic growth, ensuring that the way of life we all enjoy today will also be there tomorrow and for future generations.

I would like to express my gratitude for the work that the Phoenix Workforce Connection Board and staff have accomplished in support of our Vision. Bring on ’07-’08!

Sincerely,
Joseph D. Tuerff, Chair
Phoenix Workforce Connection