mgWRAP

THE PARTNERSHIP:

The Middle GA Work Ready Aerospace Partnership (MgWRAP) brings together representatives of Defense/Industry/Education/Government and other stakeholder groups working in a synergistic and collaborative way to develop and enhance the skills of the aerospace workforce in Middle Georgia. 

THE MISSION:

The partnership will develop and oversee the implementation of a regional aerospace workforce development strategy.  The partnership will jointly identify initiatives to undertake, set priorities, identify funding streams, develop, monitor and update co-operative strategies in order to achieve a renewable aerospace workforce for Middle Georgia.

  • Develop, implement, monitor programs to develop desired skill sets in both incoming and incumbent workers
  • Liaising with other stakeholder organizations to share best practices, experiences, resources and achieve economies of scale.  Consolidate efforts, and use resources efficiently.
  • Reach into K-12 programs to both inform, and engage youth in career opportunities in Aerospace Industry. 
  • Enable better networking among education and training providers and the industries they support. Encourage collaboration between Educational Institutions—working together to address industry needs.
  • Develop repeatable processes to determine, articulate and satisfy the changing aerospace workforce requirements in the region
  • Continuously evaluate partnership and strive for continuous improvements

 

The Structure:

Board of Advisors (BOA): The BOA is chaired by Warner Robins Air Logistics Center Executive Director and co chaired by a senior level representative from the defense industry.  It is important that the Board of Advisors is a true reflection of the aerospace community of the region. The Chair and co-chair position will rotate on an annual basis. 

  • The BOA’s role is to articulate the vision and goals for the partnership as well as provide oversight, guidance and support to the Steering Committee and the Initiative Champions.   

BOA membership should include representation from the following areas (# indicates number of voting members)

  • Representative from local Defense business areas (2- One ALC affiliated/One non ALC affiliated)
  • Representative from local area trade or professional organizations (1) Examples could be a rep from LOA/ATA/NCMA)
  • Representative of local educational entities, including representatives of local educational agencies, local school boards, entities providing adult education and literacy activities, and postsecondary educational institutions (including representatives of community colleges, where such exist) nominated by regional or local educational agencies, institutions, or organizations representing local educational entities(2) (See NOTE)
  • Representative of labor organizations, nominated by local labor federations(1)
  • Representative of community-based organizations, including organizations representing individuals with disabilities and veterans(1)
  • Representative of economic development agencies (1)or Workforce Investment Boards
  • Representatives from elected officials. 

NOTE – Most of these partners will also be the lead voice for the issues arising from one of the steering committees.  (2) Positions for business organizations to accommodate the defense industry as well as the military defense concerns, (2) positions for education to represent both the educational institutions that provider confers certificates and diplomas, as well as a rep for educational institutions provides and confers degrees,

Working Group/Steering Committee

  • This Group is made up of representatives from the various stakeholder groups (Defense/Industry/Education) and reflects the interests of the diverse members of the partnership.  The function of this working group will be to vet/validate initiatives amongst the different partner communities prior to presentation to the BOA.

(Recommend membership includes Warner Robins Chamber AIC (industry), Aerospace Innovations Center (state government and economic development or Workforce Investment Board), Education Consortium (educational entities) and Military (ALC) and Community (21st Century Partnership)

These participants should be knowledgeable subject matter experts who are empowered to make decisions and recommendations for their respective agencies and organizations insuring that their represented organization/communities views are captured and expressed.

Ad hoc committees/Initiative Teams

Ad hoc committees may be convened as necessary to develop and champion initiatives to fill the gaps identified in the assessments.  Membership to the AD HOC group will be dependent of the initiative.

Initiative Champions (Champions):  The role of the Champions is to lead action teams in developing a plan to implement initiatives. Initiatives should be vetted with affected partners prior to presentation to the Steering Group.

MgWrap Project Manager: 

This non-voting position supports the MgWrap partnership, the BOA and Steering Committees.   The major responsibility of this position is coordinating the disparate group activities, keeping groups informed, scheduling meetings and maintaining cooperative working relationships and performing the role of the secretariat for the BOA. Funding for this position ideally will be provided through Grant from Governors Office of Workforce Development.  NADC and AIC are seeking funding to support.   *(Until funding for this position is located, ALC Directorate of Personnel in conjunction with the Aerospace Innovation Center (AIC) will provide the initial support, and will solicit support from within partnership to support the requirements of the position.  Ideal situation may be to work with colleges and universities to create an internship or work-study opportunity.)

  • *Note:  The Industry Initiative Project Manager is a non-voting member of the mgWrap Partnership.  The Project Manager will function as a link between the different committees with in the partnership.  They will be knowledgeable of required reporting both to the BOA and to the State to support the Grant and other funding streams.  They will work closely with each of the partnership entities to guide and assist in assuring that metrics and initiatives identified are developed in such a way to assure a continued funding stream, and process towards partnership goals.

PROCESS

Issues taken to the BOA should be vetted through the steering group.  They should be informational, or require Senior Level support.

Issues unable to be resolved at the steering group level will include the following when taken to the BOA

Issue/Initiative to be addressed

Recommended action/activity

Pros/cons

Views of others  

Initiatives and developing strategies will target the needs of job seekers and employers across the employment spectrum-from entry into the workforce (pipeline development) to cultivating workers (current workforce) or to fill coveted high skill/high demand jobs to the community. On an as-needed basis, the board may form Ad Hoc Committees or other special groups to focus on specific issues, or to look for ways to leverage activities that are in support of this partnership.

Decision Making Process

 The Initiative Champions should identify any unresolved issues or disconnects to the BOA for resolution.  The BOA will be notified of each request by email,  if the issue can be resolved without a meeting.  Requested BOA meetings will be scheduled as soon as practical to address major issues. Urgent needs may be addressed directly to the BOA chair for resolution.

Meetings

Initiative champions and their respective committees will meet no less than monthly, providing updates to the BOA quarterly

BOA will meet Quarterly.

Out of cycle meeting can be called when ever needed to obtain guidance or support.

All meetings should be documented with agendas and minutes, and provided to the mgWrap Project Manager who will distribute (or post) to all committees and partners.  This Project manager is responsible for the development of the BOA Agenda items and the development and disbursement of the BOA meeting minutes.  Requests for out of cycle BOA meetings will be worked through the project manger.

FUNDING

Funding for MgWrap Project Manager would ideally be provided through the governors Office of Workforce Development.   Any other funding needs should be identified to the BOA through the MgWrap Project Manager for presentation to the BOA.  The BOA will determine if the need can be supported by any/all the partners or if a request for funds from available grants is required.  Examples of funding needs might include development of marketing materials on initiatives/partnership, attendance fees for partners at seminars/events in other locations, the hosting of partner meetings or Summits.

Great Achievements are not born from a single vision but from the combination

of many distinctive viewpoints.

 (Carolyn Griffin)


 

 
Copyright 2010 21st Century Partnership. All rights reserved.