Workforce Development Among Seminar Topics

The message to prospective employers attending a workforce seminar this morning was that even in a struggling economy, there are good people out there eager to work.

About 100 corporate and business representatives sat in on the annual Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce's workforce summit in the auditorium of Stetson College of Law, just north of downtown Tampa.

With a lot more qualified people being laid off "it's an opportunity for employers to improve their workforce," guest speaker John J. Fernandes said.

Fernandes, president of the Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business International, said young workers are ever-shifting and that there are three times as many business schools now than 20 years ago. With a sluggish economy, many are going back to school "to tool up," he said.

Speakers were scheduled, breakfast was served and round-table discussions were planned for most of the morning.

Round-table topics included: "Internship Programs," "Green Incentives in the Workplace," "Hiring People With Disabilities" and "Identifying and Retaining the Right People for Your Organization."

"The issue of workforce development and preparedness is of tremendous significance to area businesses and our communities," a news release announcing the event said. The seminar presented "emerging workforce trends and strategies to enhance [a] company's success."

The conference was a place for local business owners and managers to find out what is out there in terms of workers and to help them hire the workforce they are looking for.

The keynote speaker was Susan MacManus, professor of public administration and political science at the University of South Florida.

McManus said politics and business are similar in many respects.

"Elections are all about the casual voter," she said. "And business is all about the casual customer."

The economy became a looming issue in the recent presidential election, and concerns varied depending on who you talked to, she said.

Senior citizens worried about the economic futures of their children and grandchildren, baby boomers worried about their retirement incomes and young people with families worried about their homes.

College students, more than anything else, were concerned about jobs, she said.

The workforce seminar was the first of two employment-related events today.

This afternoon, Jobing.com is hosting a career expo at the Tampa Convention Center, where potential employees will be given tips and chances to interview with hiring companies. More than 70 companies and businesses will have representatives to take résumé and talk to people.

The expo lasts from 2 to 6 p.m. and is free.