Economic and Workforce Development Luncheon Highlights Collaboration in Springfield, Ohio

The Greater Springfield Partnership hosted an Economic and Workforce Development Luncheon in March, hosting 85 attendees in addition to local and regional speakers. Representatives of Clark County businesses, government entities, the United Way and Partnership investors were present, highlighting the vast network of organizations committed to strengthening Clark County’s economy through workforce development.

During the luncheon, Jeff Hoagland, the President and CEO of the Dayton Development Coalition, gave a presentation on recent wins within the state and region, including the Intel project and LG & Honda battery plant. “Clark County is a microcosm of the growth happening throughout Ohio, and the Dayton region continues to be a destination of choice for business growth,” said Hoagland. 

Amy Donahoe, Director of Workforce Development for the Partnership, moderated a panel of experts discussing workforce trends, resources, and best practices for growing and strengthening their workforce. Jennifer Sirucek, Chair of the Jobs & Job Readiness Taskforce and Senior Employee Experience Analyst for Assurant, Crystal Jones, Vice President for Marketing, Diversity, and Community Impact at Clark State,  Erin Willoughby, Deputy Director at Clark County Department of Job & Family Services, and Kaitlyn Tyler, Talent and Education Coordinator for the Partnership, all spoke. “Our panel discussion shed light on the strength of our workforce systems and areas where we can improve. We can learn a lot from each other and from these Clark County leaders,” said Donahoe. “The trends and strategies they discussed will help to make everyone’s workforce initiatives stronger.”

The luncheon itself was an incredible example of the collaborative spirit of Clark County. “We have been working together to develop our workforce, solve challenges and meet the needs of our business and resident communities for over a decade. Our partnerships are strong and have contributed to our success,” said Horton Hobbs IV, Vice President of Economic Development for the Partnership. “We recently completed our five-year workforce plan and are discussing what’s next. In the meantime, it’s clear that relationship building has been critical for collaboration between industry, K-12 and post-secondary education. For example, Ohio Means Jobs is spreading the word about job opportunities amongst marginalized communities, and Clark State is working to get students through non-credit and credit training programs that are aligned with the skills businesses are prioritizing. At the Partnership, our Jobs & Job Readiness Taskforce has developed short and long-term strategies that Kaitlyn and our team implement daily - all based on feedback from local businesses.” Whether in a meeting with businesses, government leaders, educational leaders, or nonprofits, what’s clear is that collaboration is occurring, and this is making it easier to get Clark County residents upskilled and employed. 

“Whenever I speak with prospective businesses, I tell them this is the Springfield you need to know about. We work together, we’re strategic, and through collaboration, we exceed our plans and expectations year over year,” said Hobbs. “It’s a great time to be in Clark County.”