April 16, 2008

On April 16, 2008, Mind2Marketplace was hosted by Vanderbilt University to hear from guest speaker Norma Noble, the Oklahoma Deputy Secretary of Commerce for Workforce Solutions. Commissioner James Neeley of the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development was on hand to welcome and introduce Noble.

Norma spoke to the audience about Grow Oklahoma, an initiative working to bridge economic and workforce development. The program aims to reduce worker and skill shortages in order to increase the quantity and quality of the jobs. Noble highlighted the importance that communication between educators, workforce system partners and employers plays on both economic and workforce development throughout a community. Preparing a workforce for jobs of the future is an important part of successful economic development. In order to accomplish this, these areas must work together with the same mission and goals in mind. Mind2Marketplace appreciates Norma taking the time to be with us and sharing her presentation with our group.