Preparing for a Hands-On Work Environment: Interview with CCEDC's Marybeth DiVincenzo
Marybeth DiVincenzo is Program Director of the Chester County Economic Development Council. Her responsibilities include fostering workforce development by growing partnerships and collaboration among businesses, business-related organizations and schools. The 3E Institute interviewed her one afternoon at CCEDC headquarters in Exton, PA, to hear her ideas on how workforce development relates to entrepreneurial educators. Here are the questions we asked her followed by her replies:
Q. What should we know about the work of CCEDC?
“Our mission is to foster smart economic growth in the region. In Chester County we focus mainly on growing existing businesses. Our CEO, Gary Smith, believes strongly in creating a one-stop resource for businesses. One of our major programs is arranging small business loans for various purposes. We also have an interactive business assistance group to advise other businesses. We conduct environmental and Brown fields programs with the EPA. We run public safety training and do land and site selection advisement. We maintain and distribute regional demographic data for facilitate new companies moving here. We have some agriculture support programs. We do municipality outreach through Community Development Corporations in Kennett Square, Coatesville, Phoenixville, and Oxford.”
“We also do a lot of workforce development, which is not part of many regional economic development councils. This is where we interface with secondary schools and higher education in the region, and with organizations such as Delaware Valley Industrial Resource Center, Career Link and the Ben Franklin Partnership. We have a large IT partnership group and a substantial incumbent and displaced worker training programs.”
Q. What skills do employers of this region look for in new hires? Have these changed in the past years?
“In this region employers have historically called for technical expertise and four year college degrees for many jobs, even though the jobs themselves have not necessarily required the degree to do the work well. Fifteen to twenty years ago employers definitely preferred younger entry level workers. Today they are looking favorably at older workers, attaching more value to their experience and maturity. Cross-generational teams are not unusual and help people learn to respect differences in colleagues. Today, In addition to technical skills, employers want stronger communication skills, both speaking and writing. They want employees who are able to work in a team environment. Of course, computer skills are essential: I know of an expanding company now hiring, where people at all job levels are required to take a computer skills test when they apply.”
Q. What are the most important things that K-12 teachers should know about preparing students for the 21st Century workplace?
“Today educational delivery must be interactive in order to prepare students for a ‘hands on’ work environment. Teachers need to experience the modern workplace themselves to understand how to teach their students to prepare for it. Also, teachers need to stay current with what goes on in business and industry. One thing for sure, the workplace is a real ‘doing’ environment. In schools there is often too much reading and writing without application to the real world. Teaching to the test and measuring by “seat time” does not prepare students for the 21st Century workplace.”
Q. How can businesses and schools work together at the local or regional level to address workforce and educational issues?
“I would really like to push cross-over experiences, so more educators experience the workplace. This would mean more internships, externships and shadowing opportunities. We need to get CEO’s and superintendents at the same table. I want to see superintendents shadowing business executives and vice versa, so they develop mutual appreciation and understanding of roles. This can be accomplished in short bytes of time that fit into the executive schedule.“
Q. How would you describe an entrepreneurial educator?
“Entrepreneurial educators can handle change well. They ‘think outside the box’ and go beyond ‘seat time.’ Entrepreneurial educators are always looking for a new approach. They really stand out in the traditional school environment, which can be restraining or restrictive. Unfortunately teachers don’t enjoy the opportunity for flex time that is used as an incentive and reward for an highly talented, entrepreneurial person in many business environments. The incentives in their work environment usually don’t match the high level of accountability they now bear. So, it’s really a testament to their dedication to their work and the students that these entrepreneurial educators persist.”
“I’m really impressed with the work the 3E Institute is doing in this region. They are great at linking the people from business and education who need to get together on this. They also provide educators with excellent support and professional development opportunities.”