Steamboat Springs Chamber Resort Association
Announces Workforce Forum Series
Series to feature open discussion on topics of concern to the local workforce

STEAMBOAT SPRINGS, CO-In celebration of its Centennial year, the Steamboat Springs Chamber Resort Association announces the Workforce Forum Series, a series of five forums that will address challenges facing the local workforce.  The first forum will be held Wednesday, April 11, 2007 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Rex's American Grill & Bar.  The series is presented by the Steamboat Springs Chamber Economic Development Council. 

"Our community is facing ever increasing challenges with its workforce and the Chamber hopes to shed light on these issues through dialogue," said Dean Vogelaar, president, Steamboat Springs Chamber Resort Association.  "The Workforce Forum Series intends to educate attendees on the primary topics of concern."

The forum topics will address the upcoming construction projects, housing the workforce, workforce retention, recruitment and training. 

On Wednesday, April 11, the series begins with a discussion on the opportunities and challenges of the "construction boom" that will begin this spring.  Panelists will include: Toby Keaton, construction site inspector for the City of Steamboat Springs, Carl Dunham, Routt County regional building department manager, Steven Douglass, managing director, Green Courte Partners, Joe Kracum, project coordinator, Base Area Development, Joe Jones, TCD, Inc., and Todd Ficken, project manager for the Steamboat Springs School District projects.

"The Workforce Forum Series aims to prevent future mistakes through educating ourselves and the community on economic conditions and trends," said Bob Larson, chair of the Steamboat Springs Chamber Economic Development Council.  "The EDC strives to think ahead in order to build a healthy community where we all want to live."

All five forums will take place at Rex's American Grill & Bar, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.  Admission is $15 per forum or $70 for all five and includes lunch.  Seating is limited, call the Chamber at 875-7000 to register.

2007 Steamboat Springs Chamber Economic Council's Workforce Forum Series

April 11 - 2007 Construction Update
This public forum will discuss the opportunities and challenges of the 2007 construction boom (or season).  The goal of the forum is to have public discussion about the economic and job opportunities as well as the concerns of impacts to local businesses and the community.  We will have panelists from local government (Code Enforcement, Building Dept), developers and contractors from downtown and mountain area projects, Main Street Steamboat, and others. 

May 9 - Housing our Workforce
This forum will explore how members from various categories of industry are experiencing workforce challenges due to the housing supply.  A panel representing construction, tourism, schools, healthcare, Yampa Valley Housing Authority, and other small and mid-sized companies, will also provide some examples of possible solutions.

June 21 - Workforce Retention
This forum will focus on the high cost of employee turnover and strategies local firms are using to slow the turnover in their businesses.  We will seek suggestions and input from employers that hire both seasonal as well as long term employees.  There will be a topic overview presentation then each employer will be asked to highlight their retention efforts followed by a roundtable discussion of creative suggestions and local challenges. 

July 18 - Workforce Recruitment
There is a need for unskilled and skilled labor in the Yampa Valley and this need will increase prior to the labor market improving.  Therefore, this forum will serve as a starting point for community dialogue and collaboration on addressing the issue.  A panel will provide an opportunity to learn more about workforce recruitment - strategies, resources, and opportunities for future collaboration.  We will look at where the workers are, both nationally and internationally, and how we might bring them here.

August 8 - Workforce Training
 "An organization's ability to learn and translate that learning into action rapidly is the ultimate competitive advantage."  With the shelf life of knowledge in many occupations now less than two years, organizations are finding themselves in the business of educating their employees.  This discussion will focus on how to take a proactive role in developing educational systems and cooperative partnerships with academia to create a workforce that can operate successfully in today's knowledge economy.

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