2013 Alternative Staffing Forum

 

More than 40 representatives from workforce development, local government, social service agencies, local employers and community colleges attended the June 28, 2013 forum, sponsored by SkillUp Washington.

“The Alternative Staffing model offers some intriguing possibilities for addressing some of our key workforce development challenges,” explained Susan Crane, Executive Director for SkillUp Washington, who kicked off the panel discussion.

Teresa Peterson, a consultant who has been working on the feasibility study, set the context for the panel discussion by providing a reality check about the growing reliance of employers on the temporary staffing industry as a way to onboard new employees and respond to their needs for a flexible workforce.

Sheila Maguire, a researcher involved in the foundational work of creating the alternative staffing model, highlighted how the new model emerged as a response to the traditional staffing industry, which was not historically successful in serving job seekers with limited experience or other barriers to employment.

Dave Shaffer, President & CEO of DePaul Industries, expanded on how his organization has used the ASO model to leverage business to grow DePaul into a $36 million non-profit organization creating employment opportunities for people with disabilities.

Debbie Poulin, of the J.M. Eagle company, a client of DePaul, described the potential of the ASO model to meet the business needs of employers.

SkillUp Washington is working to keep this conversation going and is planning a field visit to DePaul Industries operations in Portland in September and arranging follow-up conversations with organizations who are interested in learning more about the ASO model and partnership opportunities with DePaul.

 

Click here to view forum agenda:docx Alternative Staffing Forum Agenda

Click here to view desk research summary: pdf Skillup Desk Research Summary

Click here to view panel presentations: pdf Alternative Staffing Organizations; pdf DePaul Industries

Click here for more information on Alternative Staffing: http://altstaffing.org/about-the-sector/

Click here for more information on projected growth of the Staffing Industry: http://www.americanstaffing.net/statistics/economic.cfm

 
 

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