1. 1
Enhancing Performance,
Improving Efficiency &
Increasing
Program/Service
Integration
Alaska Workforce Program
Anchorage, AK Performance Training
September 25-26, 2012

2. WHO’S HERE?
2
 Introductions
Vinz Koller
Director, Training & Technical Assistance
Kristin Wolff
Senior Analyst, Training & Technical Assistance

3. WHO’S HERE?
3
 Participant introductions (1 minute each)
 Name
 Organizational affiliation &role
 “The most important function of the AWIB
is…”
 “One thing you think would help the AWIB do
its work more effectively is…”

4. RESPONSES : FUNCTION (1 of 4)
4
 Function:
 “To provide priorities/guidance on workforce
issues” (e.g. sectors)
 “We do a lot of compliance. We could take a
more strategic view.”
 “Board spends a lot of time on small “p”
policy issues. Opportunities lie in big “P”
policy issues.”
 “To provide high-level policy guidance”

5. RESPONSES: FUNCTION (2 of 4)
5
 Function:
 “We are an advisory board. There is tension
between Gov/gov’s staff/AWIB/Commissioner.
This could be a healthier tension.”
 “Insure that Department’s vision is aligned
with the needs of Alaskans & with Alaska’s
economic priorities.”
 “Overarching policy/strategy guidance.”

6. RESPONSES: FUNCTION (3 of 4)
6
 Function:
 “To communicate about jobs – connect the
program and policy conversations.”
 I”t should be a strategic role.”
 “Bring key policy, program, industry leaders
together.”
 “Play the role of compass – encourage
alignment.”
 “To link policy and programs.”

7. RESPONSES: FUNCTION (4 of 4)
7
 Function:
 “Must deal with compliance responsibly, but
should move more toward strategy.”
 “Convening and communication.”
 “General guidance, approval of key policies.”
 “Responsibility is considerable—mix of policy,
finding ways to work with industry in effective
way.”

8. RESPONSES: “ONE THING THAT WOULD HELP” (1 of 4)
8
 One thing that would help:
 “Defining our role more strategically.”
 “A more strategic view.”
 “Investing time in big “P” policy issues.”
 “A feedback loop – how is our guidance being
used?”
 “Leading in a particular areas of focus (we
may need to update the statute).”
 “More outreach – especially via social media.”

9. RESPONSES: “ONE THING THAT WOULD HELP” (2 of 4)
9
 One thing that would help:
 “A solid strategicplan.”
 “More familiarity with issues for new
members, better onboarding, more
commissioner participation.”
 “Staff could be engaged differently toward a
positive effect.”
 “Realize collective power differently (might
need a change in statute).”

10. RESPONSES: “ONE THING THAT WOULD HELP” (3 of 4)
10
 One thing that would help:
 “Develop and empower regions and local areas.”
 “More concrete data/information, deeper
conversations about what it means.”
 “More systems-level conversations—with
schools, economic development, human
services.”
 “Board members may need more help finding
effective ways to engage.”

11. RESPONSES: “ONE THING THAT WOULD HELP” (4 of 4)
11
 One thing that would help:
 “More clarity on boundaries of advisory role.”
 “More strategic focus, clearer idea of
how/where the system adds value and how we
grow that value over time.”

12. NATIONAL CONTEXT
12
 US DOL Priorities& Key Initiatives
 Innovation (WIF)
 Employer Services (EBE)
 Lay-off Aversion/Rapid Response (TEN)
 Veterans Services (VRAP, Joining Forces)
 AlaskaState Plan
 Budget Realities

13. CONTEXT: Workforce Innovation Fund
13
 $98M - $147M
 26 Grantees
 Accompanying
Pay-for-Success
Grantees

14. CONTEXT: Expanding Business Engagement
14

15. CONTEXT: Expanding Business Engagement
15

16. CONTEXT: Layoff Aversion (Rapid Response)
16
 TEN August 31, 2012
 “Establishment and maintenance of deep and
broad partnerships.”
 “…an environment that encourages innovation,
promotes creativity, and favors comprehensive
solutions over menu-based services.”
 “…layoff aversion is as much a mindset as a
collection of activities.”

17. CONTEXT: Layoff Aversion (Rapid Response)
17
 “Rapid response is acomplex and varied
component of the workforce
system…practitioners must exhibit an array of
competencies that cross many disciplines, and
often perform seemingly disparate functions,
while creating seamless solutions for all
customers…Rapid response is both strategic
and operational.”

18. CONTEXT: Services for Veterans
18
 Veterans
Reemployment
Assistance Program
(VRAP)
 VOW/Hero to Hired
Tax Credit Program
 VETS
 Veterans preference
 Helmets to Hardhats
 Joining Forces

19. CONTEXT: Alaska State Plan
19
 Integration, Integration,
Integration
 Alignment
 Employer Engagement
 Sector Focus
 Uniqueness
(demographics, rural
character, industry mix,
skill demands, etc.)

20. CONTEXT: Declining Resources
20
$20,000,000
$18,770,900
$18,539,226
$18,000,000
$17,028,267
$16,000,000
$14,000,000
$12,612,180 $12,911,942
$13,025,384
$12,000,000
$9,860,965 $9,906,319
$10,000,000 $9,377,309
$9,929,745 $9,771,128 WIA Adult, DW and Youth Funding
$8,000,000 Includes $9.1 million of ARRA Funding
$7,566,960
$6,133,711
$6,000,000
$5,564,363
$4,000,000
$2,000,000
$-
SFY SFY SFY SFY SFY SFY SFY SFY SFY SFY SFY SFY SFY
2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

21. Welcome to the Inaugural
Governors Prosperity Prize Event
21

22. GOVERNORS PROSPERITY PRIZE CHALLENGE
22
 Part 1: Develop 1-3 specific ideas that result in:
 Better jobs in better businesses for more
residents
 Improved alignment of program strategies and
better collaboration between programs and
program staff across programs
 More effective use of technology to engage
employers and workers
 Part 2: What role could the AWIB play in
implementing these ideas?

24. THREE TEAMS, THREE GRAND VISIONS (1 of 3)
24
 Team 1: Many people doing lots of things moves
mountains
 Use social media to connect people to work &
opportunity
 Find ways to support and advance self-employment
options
 Align curricula so students earns credit across
institutions (private & public)
 Streamline permitting so businesses can launch
more quickly

25. THREE TEAMS, THREE GRAND VISIONS (1 of 3)
25
 Team 1: Many people doing lots of things moves
mountains (cont.)
 Cultivate openness/culture of innovation (public &
private shift in world view)
 Make educational curricula more relevant to
workforce, in particular use and train in new
technologies
 Develop focused AWIB Strategic Plan & protocols
for advising governor

26. THREE TEAMS, THREE GRAND VISIONS (2 of 3)
26
 Team 2: Alaska Training Trust
 Modeled on the Alaska Permanent Fund
 Initial $500K investment, membership-based model
for ongoing sustainability
 Assessments, referrals, apprenticeship, etc.
 Significant online presence
 Incentives for collaboration/cost-effective delivery
 80/20 rule
 AWIB launches, provides oversight & governance

27. THREE TEAMS, THREE GRAND VISIONS (3 of 3)
27
 Team 3: Green Energy, Food Security & Enterprise
Development
 Local wind-generated power supports
greenhouses/hydroponic farms
 Entrepreneurship opportunities in both energy and
food
 Links urban and rural
technologies/economies/prosperity
 Potential reverse innovation pathways—we start in
rural and Native Alaskan communities and transfer
successful lessons to urban areas

28. Links we said we’d send…(1 of 2)
28
 Entrepreneurship/Enterprise/Self-Employment
 Self-Employment Program: 5 states currently allow UI
recipients to us their UI funds to launch businesses. All
other states (including Alaska) received grants to support
it in May 2012. In some states, a statutory change is
required:
http://www.dol.gov/opa/media/press/eta/ETA20121073.
htm#.UHRzOxjfL8M
 Start-Up America has now launched in 29 states and
Puerto Rico. Alaska is one of only four states without
activity. But ten Alaskans/companies have registered.
http://www.s.co/regions/map

29. Links we said we’d send…(2 of 2)
29
 Distance Learning/Tech Infrastructure
 Recent (2011) recipients of USDA technology-based
learning grants:
http://www.alaskadispatch.com/article/23-million-usda-
distance-learning-grants-alaska-natives
 Here’s a Blog about Tok, Alaska, that has generated more
friends on Facebook than people living in the town. What
else like this could be done to cultivate skills and promote
place/economy/social capital more generally in a
workforce context?
http://livingintok.com/
 Surely you’ve all seen this? 1.5M YouTube viewers have
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LyviyF-N23A

30. Q&A

31. Contact
Kristin Wolff
Social Policy Research Associates
(503) 888-1022
Kwolff@thinkers-and-doers.com
Vinz Koller
Social Policy Research Associates
(831) 277-4726
vinz_koller@spra.com