When it comes to finding the right job, for many people the best approach is the hands-on approach. While it may now be called experiential learning, as a panel of business, community and education leaders shared when they visited the Chamber on November 8, the idea is the same.
There are many reasons why Springfield is a great place for people starting or growing their career, and recent events from The Network highlighted two of them: access to outdoor amenities, and the ability to interact directly with business and community leaders.
When high school students reach their fourth year, they often look to expand their horizons. For the GO CAPS program, which just entered its fourth year, it’s no different.
New City Manager Jason Gage brought his experience and his outlook to The Network’s CEO Series on August 16 for a Q&A session in front of nearly 100 young professionals. See what he said about the future of Springfield and how he hopes to help the city moving forward.
At a July 12 event in the Chamber’s Workforce Event Series, the discussion focused on employers that support employee education efforts – through tuition reimbursement, professional development and company culture – and how those programs help with workforce recruitment and retention.
Many teachers in the area are taking the summer months to enjoy a well-deserved vacation. Or maybe they’re teaching a session of summer school. But some are using the time for a new type of experience – in conjunction with the Greater Ozarks Centers for Advanced Professional Studies (GO CAPS).
The Network’s third annual Summer Fest celebration is scheduled for June 8, and this year’s bash will have a seriously groovy vibe.
GO CAPS students spend an entire school year immersed in real-life, hands-on job experiences, learning about potential career opportunities and college pathways to reach those careers. On April 23 and 24, the students got a chance to show off what they’ve learned and developed.
The struggle for today’s businesses to grow and prosper often centers around finding and keeping the right mix of talented, motivated employees. That's part of the reason why the Chamber created the Workforce Event Series, which kicked off March 22.
More than 40 of the teachers who participated in last summer’s GO CAPS Teacher Externship program recently reconnected for the Winter Summit to interact with business partners, listen to industry leaders and discuss how they're using what they’ve learned.
The Network for Young Professionals turned 10 recently, and as most of us do around our 10th birthday, the group is going through some changes. The most visible change: its new brand.
Britton Jobe, a partner at Neale & Newman, LLP, was named The Network’s 2017 Young Professional of the Year at the organization’s Holiday Soirée on Dec. 13 at Hickory Hills Country Club.
As she reflected on a 25-plus-year career that’s still going strong, Sally Hargis had a lot to say to members of The Network about why she stays so involved in the community and how she works to keep a fresh, positive outlook.
While the Talent Attraction Initiative has been successfully utilized by local employers and even recognized by our peers as among the best in the industry, the Chamber is always working to keep the resources up-to-date.
It’s gratifying when our industry peers recognize our talent attraction efforts – as the International Economic Development Council did when they presented Chamber economic development staff with a Silver Excellence in Economic Development Award.
Taking the plunge to start your own business takes courage, commitment and encouragement. So it’s not surprising that successful entrepreneurs often have interesting stories to tell and valuable advice to offer.
It may be the summer, but for nearly 70 teachers in the Springfield area, late June and early July wasn’t a time for vacation – it was time for additional learning and teaching experiences.
As businesses continue to look for ways to address their biggest ongoing challenge – finding, developing and keeping quality, skilled employees – many are looking for ways to encourage employees to continue their education or add new training and certifications.
There are a whole range of ways to support professional development. The Chamber wants to help you learn more about how you can support your employees.
If you ask companies to identify the biggest potential barrier to growth and optimism, the answer is almost unanimous: access to workers. The GO CAPS Teacher Externship Program brings teachers into the workplace for job shadowing experiences that they can then share with their students.
The second crop of students participating in the GO CAPS program are preparing to show off the results of a year of hard work.
Mary Kellogg was at the Chamber March 21 to speak to members of The Network about her experience helping to grow the Titanic museum in Branson from an idea into a $20 million business.
News of the GO CAPS program's success has spread quickly, prompting State Sen. Jay Wasson to reach out to Springfield Public Schools Superintendent Dr. John Jungmann to learn more about the program.
The Network and Leadership Springfield had a huge turnout for our 2017 Leadership Kickoff event, with more than 100 members attending lunch and a Q&A session with new Chamber Chair John Wanamaker from BKD, LLP and Network Chair Britton Jobe from Neale & Newman.
If those in attendance at the most recent installment of The Network’s CEO Series have the ability to listen, they likely learned a lot from the current Springfieldian Award honoree.
Chamber staff recently brought State Speaker of the House Todd Richardson to the Chamber offices to talk with business and education leaders about workforce development and education issues, and the speaker heard about the continued challenges those leaders face.
Is your organization looking for new employees? Do you wish you had access to the Chamber’s vast network of connections? Our upcoming Career Fair may be just the answer.
The Network, the Chamber’s group for future business and community leaders, is once again giving its members the opportunity to recognize one of their own.
The Chamber continues growing its efforts in workforce development, and national organizations are recognizing our efforts.
When the Chamber asked businesses about their most pressing concerns, workforce consistently topped the list. But as the local economy continues to grow, we run into a problem that is both predictable and difficult to prevent: We’re running out of people to hire locally.
Springfield Area Chamber of Commerce
202 S. John Q Hammons Parkway | PO Box 1687 65801-1687 | Springfield, MO 65806 | (417) 862-5567
