Dear Friend,

Technology has long been a driving force for change and innovation. In this issue of SmartWork, we discuss how technology increases the need for new skills and how it can be used to implement new modes of learning. WorkforceChicago2.0 advocates the strategic use of technology for furthering employee learning and development objectives.

The seventh practice of the Nine Key Components of Exemplary Practice in Employee Learning and Development, Strategic Use of Technology for Meeting Learning Objectives, is the focus of this newsletter. In this practice, innovative technologies are used to support and reinforce learning and to manage companies’ education and training offerings. Read about the other Nine Key Components disseminated by WorkforceChicago2.0 and developed by CAEL by visiting our redesigned website.

In our Business Leader’s Perspective interview with Tim Reedy, President and CEO of ConferencePlus, one of the WorkforceChicago2.0 award winners in 2005, he discusses how risky it is not to invest in learning and development for his workforce and how the company uses technology to meet their learning objectives. Mr. Reedy connects his employee learning and development efforts with the company’s extremely high customer service ratings, which directly impact their bottom line.

In the book review of The World is Flat, by Thomas L. Friedman, we learn how ten particular “flatteners,” including many that are technology-related, have leveled the playing field of global business and interaction.

WorkforceChicago2.0 is about creating the business and political will to continue to educate and train our workforce for the future. We want to ensure that Chicago is the leading talent pool in the nation by having the most businesses who invest in developing their workforce. Please help us help the region by continuing to support this initiative. If you would like to discuss how you can be involved, Michelle Sanford can be reached at (312) 499-2337 or msanford@cael.org

We’ll see you next quarter!

WorkforceChicago2.0 Exemplary Practices Award Nomination Process Opens

Hurry! Submission deadline is March 10, 2006

The 2006 WorkforceChicago2.0 Exemplary Practices Award nomination survey is now available at : www.workforcechicago2.org, our redesigned website (see below).

This year’s nomination survey has several new features including detailed information about the:

Selection process, Judging criteria, and Benefits of being an award-winning organization.

The WorkforceChicago2.0 Exemplary Practices Award Nomination process is open from February 1–March10. The winning organizations will be announced at our annual WorkforceChicago2.0 Exemplary Practices Award event in June of 2006.

Nominate an organization

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Business Leader’s Perspective

Timothy J. Reedy, President & CEO of ConferencePlus—an audio, web, and videoconferencing provider—and WorkforceChicago2.0 Business Leadership Group Member, Shares His Thoughts on Employee Learning and Development.

In his own words, Reedy details ConferencePlus’s continued journey along the path of growth and prosperity since receiving the WorkforceChicago2.0 Exemplary Practices Award in 2005. He discusses the rewards and challenges of investing in educational and developmental programs for employees and how the strategic use of technology aids this work.

Get Reedy’s Perspective

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Book Review: The World is Flat by
Thomas L. Friedman

Thomas L. Friedman, Pulitzer-prize-winning Op-Ed and foreign affairs columnist for the New York Times and author of several best selling books, discusses the new global landscape and designates it “flat.” Friedman promotes a business ethic called “compassionate flatism”. The similarities between its guiding principles and the mission of WorkforceChicago2.0 are encouraging.

Read the review

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New Business Leadership Group
(BLG) Members

We are delighted to have two new CEOs join the Business Leadership Group (BLG) for the WorkforceChicago2.0 Initiative: Lyle Heidemann, President and CEO of True Value Company, and Jack Rooney, President and CEO of U.S. Cellular. True Value’s former CEO had served on the Business Leadership Group since 2002, and we are delighted that the company’s new CEO Lyle Heidemann will continue this tradition. U.S. Cellular was awarded the WorkforceChicago2.0 Exemplary Practices Award in 2005, bringing the vision of WorkforceChicago2.0 to Jack Rooney’s attention. He is looking forward to contributing to the mission of WorkforceChicago2.0 and to joining his peers on the Business Leadership Group.

View the full BLG list

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WorkforceChicago2.0 Develops Higher Education–Business Leader Forum
for April 26

On April 26, we will kick off the first Higher Education–Business Leader Forum! Leaders in higher education and business throughout Chicagoland will be invited this spring for this first-ever event at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago.

The outcomes of this forum will be to launch collaborative initiatives that will improve the learning and development of our workforce at all levels within organizations. Our goal is to create cross-sector teams and relationships that will lead to effective and innovative projects that will further both workforce and economic development for this region.


From CAEL’s research and our nationally implemented programs, we have reached two important conclusions regarding the education and training of our region’s workforce:

1. Our region needs greater collaboration between higher education institutions and business to meet the human resource needs of this region.
   
2. Public policies in Illinois should be more supportive of adult learning and workforce development—from the perspective of employers and from the perspective of higher education.

Regional university presidents and chancellors, corporate CEOs and executives, and CAEL experts in learner services and workforce development are guiding the development of this forum. Look for more details in upcoming issues of SmartWork! Or contact us to contribute: (312) 499-2337.

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First Webinar for Exemplary Practices Discussion Series (EPDS) Presents “How to Create a Learning and Development Culture in Your Organization”—May 4

WorkforceChicago2.0’s newest form of executive learning and networking opportunities, Exemplary Practices Discussion Series (EPDS), allows you to engage in discussions with other executives on best practices and the latest developments in employee learning programs. We hold the EPDS throughout the year in the Chicago region in the form of workshops, seminars, or Webinars. All events are free of charge.

The next meeting will occur via a Webinar from 10:00 – 11:30 a.m. Central Time on Thursday, May 4 using Web and telephone technologies. Hosted by ConferencePlus™, one of the winners of the WFC2.0 award in 2005, the event will present how to create a culture that nurtures and promotes learning and development for all levels of an organization. ConferencePlus is eager to share its insights on building and maintaining a culture of employee development and to engage in a dialogue with the greater Chicago business community and beyond. Check the WFC2.0 website in the coming months for further details.

See “Upcoming Events” in future newsletters for new topics and locations. Watch for events hosted by U.S. Cellular and IBM, among others. For more information, contact Michelle Sanford at (312) 499-2337 or msanford@cael.org and www.workforcechicago2.org.

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WorkforceChicago2.0 Website Redesign

As the WorkforceChicago2.0 initiative continues to grow, so do the demands and requirements of what our website needs to offer to our visitors. In response to the growth of this initiative, we have created a website that provides visitors with attractive, interesting, and fresh content that is easy to navigate and search. New features include:

• Improved navigation and site menu
  
• Added internal search engine powered by Google
  
• Enhanced visual elements such as new graphics, images, and photo galleries
  
• Enhanced online award nomination process and award information (2006 Award Nomination Submissions accepted February 1– March 10 . Apply now!)
  
• Addition of Upcoming Events and Resource Center
  
• …and much more!

Visit us today at, www.workforcechicago2.org,
to find out more.

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