Florida Job Summit
Florida Jobs Summit - January 15, 2010 Orlando
Hosted by Sen. Mike Haridopolos & Rep. Dean Cannon
Overview of Key Observations, Trends and Strategic Imperatives
January 26, 2010
In a bold move, Sen. Haridopolos & Rep. Cannon called
together interested parties to explore the ‘State of the State of Florida’ in
relation to our current jobs and economic situation. As was mentioned in one
session, Florida had shifted in recent years from a leader in growth to a
leader in employment decline. With crisis comes opportunity, and Sen.
Haridopolos aptly quoted Gen. George Washington in saying, “We are out of
money. Now we must think.” We happen to think that is a great idea; one which
if turned around, could lead to Florida’s turn-around. In other words, let’s use excellent thinking now
to work out a viable short and long term strategy using our existing resources,
while simultaneously developing a foothold in our future.
Several themes emerged time and again from each of the
sessions and the plenary:
- Need to develop our talent pool for immediate
job placement as well as for long-term fit for future employment opportunities
and economic needs
- Need for innovation to stay economically viable-
innovation must be applied to both education of the workforce as well as to
types of industries to optimize future
sustainability
-
Need for access to investment capital to
jumpstart initiatives, be they small to medium entrepreneurial enterprises, big
businesses or major shifts in education
- Recognition of the need to be ahead of the wave
of change by cultivating emerging industries that fit with Florida’s existing
resources, access to talent/workforce, and geographic location
- Need to take stock of existing programs of merit
and create opportunities for transparency, collaboration and uber-leverage
- Need for consistent governmental policies and
legislation that welcomes, incentivizes and optimizes dynamic economic
development in Florida with a global outreach
We need to get out the message that ‘Florida Means Business’
as a core of the value proposition which brands Florida as an economic
powerhouse for the next century and beyond. In taking care of our own residents
initially, we can build the foundation for a hemispheric and global presence at
the hub of long-term economic revival and sustainability.
We of Retraining America Now LLC promote the ‘iSmart
Revolution’ to contribute to this vision through provocative and practical training, development and coaching in
thinking, creativity, and innovation. We can help jumpstart immediate reinvention and re-skilling of the
workforce for the 21 Century (No Adult Left Behind) and tactical
job design as well as work with government & industry on
longer-term strategic positioning.
We are also in a position to work with
educators in developing a curriculum to get thinking skills and creativity
into the normal school program. Lastly,
we have a history of facilitating the
process of innovation across many industries.
Please contact us for further discussion or to meet for next
steps.
C Digby-Jones,
President
Donna Kim-Brand, VP Knowledge Mgt. & Training
Richard
Hertan, VP Coaching & Devt.
561 361 9134 cdigbyjones@gmail.com
