Message from Michael Fisher, Chair - September 2008
Phoenix Workforce Connection Board

The vision of Phoenix Workforce Connection is "To become a high value network of choice for building a workforce to keep business competitive and sustain economic growth." The Phoenix Workforce Connection Workforce (PWC) Investment Board is committed to making this vision become a reality within our business and workforce communities we serve.

The coming year will be challenging for our communities. We are seeing a strong increase in unemployment rates and businesses are struggling, yet there is great hope and change coming. Our board's taskforces and committees are excited and involved in tackling issues and working on resolutions that will move us towards meeting our goals and vision. These taskforces are discussing how to improve workforce services, operations, system effectiveness, and youth services, as well as becoming the voice of advocacy with our legislators and congressional leaders to make workforce issues paramount in everyone's mind.

We are continuing to build the bridge of partnership with Maricopa Workforce Connections in regional efforts so that we can better service the entire City's needs. We are working on ways to be more productive and innovative with less funding than we have had in past years, due to funding cuts by the federal government. We are striving to find avenues to upgrade our One-Stop facilities, so that we can be proud to invite our workers and businesses to use these locations for greater productivity and success.

Phoenix Workforce Connection has undergone some recent restructuring so that we can be more creative, innovative and create a team that is working as one to seek out the issues and find resolve to create success. We are so proud to have a quality team to work with on improving our ability to keep business competitive and sustain economic growth, especially in the present day environment.

Our challenges have never been greater, but the PWC Board has never been stronger, engaged together and empowered like they are today, with gifted leaders from private, public, education and community based organizations ready and capable of taking on those challenges. Please do not hesitate to contact me or any member of the PWC Board to learn how you and the industry you represent can make an impact within the community that will benefit people obtaining work and businesses obtaining the workers they need to meet our challenges today, tomorrow and into the future. You can and will make a difference to our City and the Community.

Sincerely,
Michael Fisher, Chair
Phoenix Workforce Connection