WORKFORCE ANALYST

The San Bernardino WIB identified the manufacturing sector as a critical part of the county's workforce and economic health. The problems in hiring were known to all local manufacturers, but it was California Steel Industries that took the initiative to connect with five comparable companies and compare notes. The WIB was able to connect the concerns of this coalition with its own analyses and initiate a productive relationship with Chaffey Community College and San Bernardino Valley Community College. In addition, the group realized that additional, higher-quality classroom equipment was needed to make the project successful. One provider of such equipment, Amatrol in southern Indiana, already had a training program in place that utilized a similar collaborative structure to the proposed San Bernardino area program. Representatives from CSI and the WIB went to Indiana to study the program first-hand. It proved suitable, and the analysis was transformed into action.