| Solving the Critical Skills Shortage - September 23, 2004 |
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| IRRA members enjoyed an excellent evening conference September 23 at the Embassy Suites Hotel - St. Louis ( Downtown). The event featured three superb speakers addressing the topic: "Solving the Critical Skills Shortage." |
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| Rick Beasley, Director of the Division of Workforce Development for the Missouri Department of Economic Development, gave a PowerPoint presentation that focused on the local, regional and global competition for jobs and businesses. He spoke about how his agency works to secure and preserve jobs in Missouri and the challenges the state faces in keeping businesses from taking their operations out of state or overseas. |
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| David Heath, Labor Negotiator for The Boeing Company, addressed how Missouri's poor performance in education (ranked 44th out of 50 states) works to the state's disadvantage in retaining or attracting businesses and the potential dire consequences for the state if major changes are not made. |
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Herb Johnson, Secretary-Treasurer of the Missouri AFL-CIO, discussed the impact on working families when companies ship jobs overseas.
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| Virtually all attendees stayed for the question and answer session following the presentations, and the discussion was lively and sometimes passionate. Attendees enjoyed an excellent prime rib dinner. |
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| Congratulations to program chair Max Aud (FMCS) for organizing a highly successful event, to Eric Mooshegian (IUOE Local 148) for planning the conference, and to Past President Roz Sherman-Voellinger (St. Louis University) for performing as emcee. |
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| Photos by Rudy Smith (Plumbers & Pipefitters 562) |
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