National Association of Workforce Board members began their tour with a walk through the historic Mission Inn which culminated later that day with dinner at March Field Air Museum.RIVERSIDE COUNTY TOOK CENTER STAGE on the national workforce development scene recently when a group of workforce development experts from around the country toured the area. More than 20 board members from the National Association of Workforce Boards, which represents all 650 local workforce investment boards across the U.S. and 50 state boards, got an up-close look at the workforce development programs underway here. And they came away impressed, according to Jamil Dada, a longtime workforce advocate who serves as Board Chairman of the NAWB.
“They got here thinking they were coming to some Podunk community, but when they left, they were thinking, ‘Wow, this is fantastic,’” said Dada, who is the past Chairman of the Riverside County Workforce Investment Board (WIB). “It opened their eyes to what is going on here and the different needs we have in terms of workforce issues.”
Some of the board members perceived Riverside County to be a farming community, Dada said. But the visit showed them the region’s diversity and its economic strength, despite the highly-publicized issues with unemployment and home foreclosures.
“They were surprised we are such a dynamic area,” Dada said. “They were impressed that there are so many things going full force.”
The visit was a major departure for how the national board usually operates. As a rule, it meets quarterly in Washington, DC, and members frequently testify before congressional committees, work closely with the Department of Labor and seek to keep workforce issues on the White House’s radar. The group is the biggest national voice speaking out for workforce issues.
Jamil Dada, NAWB Board Chairman (center with chef’s hat), “cooked” up what turned out to be a successful and eyeopening event for visiting National Association of Workforce Board members."The visit by the NAWB Board is one more way that we stay connected to our membership and to the issues/concerns that happen on the ground," said Ronald D. Painter, the NAWB’s Chief Executive Officer. "The WIB is clearly connected to its business community, and we wanted to encourage and show support for this important connection and its impact in strengthening job opportunities for the labor force in the Inland Empire."
Dada, who is Chairman of the NAWB through next March, said he was determined to put Riverside County and its workforce issues front and center before the group. He pushed for the board to visit Riverside County, where board members could see the work underway at new workforce centers in Riverside and Murrieta.
"I just thought, before my term is up, I want to show them what is going on here," said Dada, who is Vice-President of Provident Bank in Riverside.
The group stayed at the Mission Inn in Riverside, met Inn Keeper Duane Roberts and his wife, Kelly, toured the Inn and its catacombs and got a look at the county’s diversity, from its metropolitan centers to the wine country of Southwest Riverside County. After a meeting at the new Riverside Workforce Development Center, the group attended a luncheon prepared and served by students from the Riverside Community College Culinary Academy.
The group also toured the March Air Reserve Base, learning firsthand about the economic impact generated by the base and its surrounding properties, before having dinner on-site. The visit was the first time the group has met in California and the first time it has met outside Washington, DC in half-dozen years, Dada said.
"It was an extreme honor and pleasure to host the NAWB Board meeting in Riverside County," said Felicia Flournoy, Director of Workforce Development for Riverside County. “It was a great opportunity to network with business leaders representing local Workforce Boards across the country and to break down some of the negative perceptions out there about our county. The NAWB members were very surprised and impressed."
The visit apparently made an impact, since the board now is considering holding one of its quarterly meetings each year outside Washington, DC.
The meeting allowed the board an opportunity to see once again how national issues play out on the local level, said Laurie S. Moran, Vice-Chair of the NAWB. Moran, who is President of the Danville Pittsylvania County (Va.) Chamber of Commerce, said such visits help re-enforce the NAWB’s emphasis on helping local boards fulfill their goals.
"NAWB's meeting in Riverside was enlightening as it allowed us to see first-hand the great work that a local board is accomplishing" Moran said. "As we focus on national issues, we should always keep our local members at the forefront of our efforts. The Riverside team was phenomenal in ensuring we had a productive and engaging meeting that combined the local perspective with the national strategic focus."