Abt Associates, Inc. – Abt Associates, Inc. has an established reputation as a large public policy research consulting firm. Abt subcontracts with the Nelson A. Rockefeller Institute of Government, a SUNY Albany based research institute and Workforce Learning Strategies (WLS), a small woman-owned consulting firm with workforce development leadership experience. Previous client projects Abt has undertaken include The Ford Foundation for the “Workforce.net” project; USDOL in a study of service delivery under WIA; and the US Department of Health and Human Services in a study of the TANF application process and the New Visions Self-Sufficiency and Lifelong Learning Project.
Advocates for Human Potential (AHP) - AHP is a research and consulting firm with offices in Delmar, NY and Sudbury, MA that has been in operation for over 24 years. AHP’s principle consultant on this contract is Gary Shaheen, a nationally recognized expert in rehabilitation and employment program development. Over the past two years, Mr. Shaheen has helped local area WIBs, one-stops and youth councils develop strategic plans, improve partnerships and acquire knowledge. Previous client projects of AHP include the Tennessee Department of Mental Health in a project to improve access and use of mainstream employment services by people with disabilities, and the South Beach Psychiatric Center on Staten Island in a 2-year project to develop partnerships to employ people with psychiatric disabilities. Currently, Mr. Shaheen is working with New York State’s Disability Program Navigator (DPN) program.
Brandeis University, Center for Youth and Communities – The Center for Youth and Communities (CYC) is one of the nation’s premier research, training and technical assistance organizations dedicated to improving the quality of life for youth, families and communities by improving the quality of education and workforce development systems. Established in 1983 as a policy and management center at Brandeis University’s Heller School, the Center quickly earned a reputation for quality and effectiveness through its work in all 50 states. The CYC has provided training, technical assistance and evaluation in projects dealing with welfare reform, education reform, and school-to-career transitions. Previous client projects include working with the HoustonWorks staff in facilitation, strategic planning and coaching, and providing evaluation support for the GE Foundation since 1999.
Center for Workforce Learning - Founded in 1996, the Center for Workforce Learning (CWL) works with private sector businesses, non-profits and public agencies to build the capacity of their employees and organizations. Services to the workforce development community range from facilitation (strategic planning, process mapping, service mapping, and balanced scorecard development) to training (all topics such as integrated case management, fee-for-service, customer satisfaction tools and techniques, organizational development) and consulting. In addition, CWL conducts mystery shopping for state and local agencies. CWL has consulted on WIA and workforce issues in all 50 states including several local areas in New York State as well as the National Association of Workforce Boards; Michigan Works! Association; Ross Learning; the US Department of Labor; and the University of Oklahoma Leadership Institute.
CGR (Center for Governmental Research, Inc.) – CGR was established in 1915 by George Eastman to provide objective research, consultation and implementation expertise to empower government, business and non-profit leaders to improve the quality of their communities as places to live and do business. CGR has consulted with over 30 counties in New York State and projects involving NYS agencies including the Office of Children and Family Services, Education Department, Office of Temporary and Disability Assistance, Division of Criminal Justice Services and Empire State Development. CGR has six major practice areas: Integrated Services to Children and Families; Health and Social Policy; Human Services Analysis; Management Assistance to Governments; Economic Analysis and Education Reform. Recently, CGR worked with the Broome-Tioga Association of Chief School Administrators to identify cross-district collaboration opportunities; and with the Albany County Department for Children, Youth and Families to reexamine its structure for delivering child welfare services.
Charter Oak Group, LLC – The Charter Oak Group (COG) specializes in developing strategically targeted evaluation and performance management approaches that strengthen service quality, decision-making, policy development and accountability in the workforce development system. COG was established in 2001; however its three principles, Barry Goff, Bennett Pudlin, and Ronald Schack, have been working in and consulting to the workforce development system for more than 15 years. They have backgrounds in research, policy, management, law, adult education and training. Recent clients include the Connecticut Office for Workforce Competitiveness; the US Department of Labor, Division of Older Worker Programs; and the San Diego Workforce Partnership.
Corporation for a Skilled Workforce – The Corporation for a Skilled Workforce (CSW) is a national nonprofit policy firm based in Ann Arbor, Michigan and was established in 1991 as a workforce development policy and change management organization. CSW has a team of consultants located around the country with many years of experience in the workforce development field leading change at the national, state and local levels. CSW principles have extensive experience working with workforce boards, employment and human service agencies (particularly one-stop operators and staff), education and training institutions, employers, community-based organizations and state and local elected officials. Recent clients include work in most of the 50 states including many New York local WIAs. CSW has also conducted workforce related studies including the Benchmarking One-Stops project.
Creative Education Associates – Creative Education Associates is a women’s business enterprise established as a partnership in 1989 to provide staff development, training and consulting services. With over 30 years combined experience, principles M. Beth Henry and Barbara Johnson have expertise in custom designing curriculum, program delivery and evaluation. Creative Education Associates takes the time to understand the client’s business needs and ensures that every training program employs creative strategies to facilitate audience participation. Program evaluation and measurable outcomes are part of program planning from the beginning stages. Creative Education Associates has recently worked with the NYS Governor’s Office of Employee Relations, SUNY Buffalo Student Health Services, the NYS Employee Assistance Program, Citibank Student Loan Corporation and the Roswell Park Cancer Institute.
Delacroix Consulting Group, LLC – The Delacroix Consulting Group was established in 2001 as the human resource management consulting arm of the law firm of Ferrara, Fiorenza, Larrison, Barrett & Reitz located in East Syracuse, NY. The firm’s practice is dedicated to representing public and private sector employers in the areas of labor relations and employment law. Delacroix’s principal consultants, Nicholas Fiorenza and Michael Dodd, have experience counseling and coaching employers in all aspects of employee recruitment, retention and development. Their expertise can provide local workforce investment areas with insights as to the services and programs that will be most beneficial to employers and how best to deliver those services and programs. Delacroix routinely makes presentations and provides training on a variety of legal and HR-related topics and was selected this past fall as one of only a handful of consulting firms to present at the annual meeting of the Niagara Frontier Chapter of the Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM). Recent training topics delivered to clients include: Effective Performance Appraisal Systems; Coaching the Generation ‘X’ Employee; Leadership and Influence; Employee Discipline in a Unionized Environment; When Laws Collide: Complying with the ADA, FMLA and Workers’ Compensation Laws.
ELM Associates – Founded in 1990, ELM Associates provides training and curriculum development services at the executive, management and support staff levels for State and Federal government agencies, educational institutions, correctional facilities, hospitals and private sector businesses. ELM Associates makes every effort to design courses that will encourage participants to transfer learning to their workplace. Proven methodologies including case study, role play and group discussion are used to present material and engage participants. Past client projects include Diversity training for KeyCorp employees; Customer Service training for faculty and staff of Hudson Valley Community College; and Negotiation Skills for state managers and supervisors under a contract with the Governor’s Office of Employee Relations.
FutureWork Systems, LLC – FutureWork Systems is a private company founded in 2000 that provides consulting, training and technology support services to the public workforce system in a broad range of areas including policy and oversight, program design, customer satisfaction and evaluation. FutureWork brings an in-depth knowledge of the operation of one-stop centers and WIA initiatives through previous operation of the FutureWorks One-Stop Career Center in Springfield, MA which was awarded Career Center of the Year by the National Alliance of Business. FutureWork’s most recent work is with several New Jersey workforce investment boards in the provision of training, consulting and technical assistance in support of continuous improvement of WIA services.
Hudson Valley Technology Development Center (HVTDC) – HVTDC is a private, nonprofit business assistance firm that helps manufacturers and other business entities improve their operational performance and competitiveness. Operating in the mid-Hudson Valley for over 15 years, the Center delivers a mix of services including business process improvement, project management, organizational design, operations assessments and cost analysis. The HVTDC is one of 10 Regional Technology Development Centers in New York State sponsored by NYSTAR (NYS Office of Science, Technology and Academic Research). Their mission extends beyond providing consulting and facilitation services in that they seek to enable clients to become progressively self-sufficient in creating excellence from within. Recent projects have include consulting on logistics and customer service issues; analyzing production and office operations to identify corrective actions; and facilitation and strategic planning of an overall business model.
Jamestown Community College – JCC is a State University of New York sponsored higher education institution with locations in Jamestown, Olean and Dunkirk, New York and Warren, Pennsylvania. JCC has a long history of providing career, developmental and continuing education services to the community. Continuing Education staff served on the planning committees for one-stop centers, and are active partners in Chautauqua and Cattaraugus/Allegany Counties. JCC staff have completed projects in the past with several NYS workforce investment areas and have also worked with the Cattaraugus County Department of Social Services, the Olean General Hospital, and First Tier Bank & Trust Company.
LaGuardia Community College – The LaGuardia Community College Center for Corporate Education (CCE), which also houses the Division of Adult and Continuing Education, provides customized and industry specific training programs to the area’s businesses, non-profits, health organizations, law firms and city, state and federal agencies. The CCE trains between 1500 and 2000 participants a year in management, leadership and supervisory skills, computer applications, industry specific ESL and all levels of written and oral communication. The CCE’s trainers are accomplished professionals who routinely use a variety of instructional techniques to reach training goals. Recent client projects include a Mentoring curriculum and a five-day Management Skills training developed and delivered for the NYC Department of Design and Construction; Customer Relations for the USTA National Tennis Center; a Diversity Workshop for Health Plus PHSP, Inc., and an ambitious 12-hour customized training program entitled “Customer Service: Delivering High Value” delivered in 90-minute modules for 300 support staff of the Weil, Gotshal, Manges firm.
Metis Associates, Inc. – Metis Associates is a consulting organization based in New York City whose mission is to support public and private organizations to make a difference in the lives of the children, families and communities they serve. Founded in 1977, Metis carries out research and evaluation projects for a broad range of clients, including foundations, government agencies, universities and community-based organizations. Metis’ Division of Applied Research and Evaluation has a staff of 30 professionals who are skilled in both quantitative and qualitative evaluation, and who work with clients to develop and use benchmarks to track progress, and assess the effectiveness and impact of their programs and services. Metis staff members employ a wide range of methods, including interviews, focus groups, document review, observations, surveys, and the statistical analysis of data sets. Metis has worked with a number of clients in the areas of career and technical education and workforce development, including serving as the state evaluator for the school-to-career initiatives in Massachusetts, Ohio, North Carolina and Rhode Island, and as the evaluator of Connecticut’s Career Choices program.
NYATEP – The New York Association of Training and Employment Professionals (NYATEP), has developed an extensive national information network that enables them to quickly assess best practices from other states and local areas to meet WIA challenges. With seven full time staff and exclusive representation of national consultants Greg Newton, Lori Strumpf, Rochelle Daniels, Kip Stottlemyer, Sandra Hastings, Melanie Arthur, Dick Gaither and Jody Sue Kelly, NYATEP can provide training and presenting services on a wide variety of workforce and related topics. As a member association for workforce professionals across the state, NYATEP’s service quality and expertise are well known as are the national reputations of the consultants they represent.
Opportunity Group, Inc. – The Opportunity Group (TOG) is a consulting organization specializing in building leaders, teams and culture. For teams and individuals, TOG fosters communication skills development, whole relationship management, and the development of the leader within. In business since 1997, TOG staff are experts in many personality indicator and assessment tools including the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), Fundamental Interpersonal Relations Observable-Behavior (FIRO-B), and a suite of originally developed Emotional Intelligence tools (Organizational Emotional Intelligence Profile, Leadership Emotional Intelligence Profile, Readiness to Change Profile). TOG has worked with Eastman Kodak, Casco Security and the Center for Creative Strategy and Innovation on a number of capacity-building projects.
Partnerships for Quality – PfQ has developed a national reputation for providing high quality services and products to WIBs, businesses, workforce development professionals and support staff as well as members of Congress, state legislators and others on issues related to welfare reform and workforce development. PfQ principle, Dr. April Bender, has worked with Federal representatives from the 10 Centers for Faith-Based and Community Initiatives and agencies that work with mature workers, youth and the disabled. A full-service consulting organization, PfQ focuses on the customer and customer satisfaction in all activities and services. Among PfQ’s client projects are facilitation of a Federal inter-agency task force that provided input to USDOL on WIA implementation at the local level; work with the Texas Workforce Center on integrated approaches to working with business customers and facilitated interagency case management; data analysis, strategic planning, research and report writing for Macro International in conjunction with USDOL; and numerous presentations and speaking engagements at national conferences and seminars.
Rutgers University, Heldrich Center for Workforce Development – The John J. Heldrich Center for Workforce Development, located at Rutgers, State University of New Jersey, is an independent, university-based research and technical assistance center dedicated to workforce development. The Center’s mission is aimed at both nurturing concrete innovations in local, state and regional workforce practices, as well as addressing broad-scale policy changes. The Heldrich Center operates with 25 full-time staff including researchers, analysts, managers, faculty and practitioners. Services include benchmarking best practices in the workforce development field; developing, calculating, analyzing and displaying performance measures; designing and delivering training programs and professional development courses; and leading strategic planning and problem-solving initiatives. The Center’s various client projects include: a multi-year comprehensive evaluation of New Jersey’s high school career and technical education programs; an analysis and on-line display of customer satisfaction data from Washington State’s workforce development system; a full-day conference to explore best practices for increasing the ability of one-stop centers to offer true universal access.
Syracuse University, The Leadership Institute – The Leadership Institute of Syracuse University is one of the principle university outreach departments in NYS in guiding professional and organizational development. Chartered in 2000, the Institute has created over 40 partnering ventures with associations such as the Project Management Institute, American Society of Trainers and Developers (ASTD) and the Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM) as well as business partnerships with the Manufacturers Association of Central New York (MACNY) and Central New York Technology Development Organization (CNYTDO). The Institute’s Instructional Design, Development and Evaluation team create training and development “interventions” and have delivered programs including Project Management, Performance Coaching, Process Improvement, Leadership and Supervisory Excellence. The Institute’s recent work includes developing and implementing a union/management leadership program with Lockheed Martin; and conducting strategic planning, developing a performance measures system, and leadership development for the Utica UCP, a human service agency.
Tyler Consulting – Tyler Consulting (located in the Rochester area) offers strategic and business planning, program management, research and communication services to organizations in health care, not-for-profit organizations and small businesses. Tyler Consulting prides itself on listening to client’s needs, reflecting back understanding to assure accuracy and developing options and proposals to best meet the client’s needs. Tyler Consulting possesses expertise in consulting and facilitating related to negotiating, collaborative decision-making and change leadership. As a former member of the Rochester/Monroe County PIC under JTPA and a member of the NYS Job Training Partnership Council, Tyler consultant Robert Volpe testified before the Senate Committee on Labor and Human Resources regarding the need for a customer-focused workforce development system. Recent client projects include consulting and coaching regarding grant writing with the Ontario County Cornell Cooperative Extension Service; facilitation of labor negotiations between the Webster Central School District teachers union and management; and marketing planning and consultation with Bonn, Shortsleeve and Gray, a local CPA firm.
WAVE (Work, Achievement, Values & Education) – Based in Washington, D.C., WAVE was founded in 1969 to help governments, schools and community organizations develop capacity to serve at-risk youth and young adults. Since 1978, WAVE received grant support from USDOL to help workforce systems develop effective education and training for youth. WAVE has served as a coach, trainer and capacity-builder for the Youth Opportunity grantees in Detroit, Milwaukee and Cleveland. Based in Washington, D.C., WAVE has also collaborated with the Boys and Girls Club of America in Atlanta to develop an employment training and youth development program for out-of-school youth in 42 local clubs; developed curriculum for a summer youth program in San Antonio, TX; and is providing nine Tennessee counties with youth leadership seminars and training for youth workers.
Workforce Strategy Center - The Workforce Strategy Center (WSC) is a national nonprofit that shapes policy and institutional change to create a market-driven workforce system. WSC has developed a model that builds capacity and supports policy change to bring workforce systems into alignment with the needs of employers in high demand, high wage sectors. Since 1998 WSC has worked nationwide to establish collaborations among the employer community, community colleges, community based organizations and the workforce system. The Center has worked with WIBs, policy-makers, employers, and educational institutions to develop career pathways programs and create workforce initiatives in NYS, California, and Wisconsin. The WSC is currently providing services to four WIBs in the Capital District area, the NYC WIB and Boards in four other states. Additional projects include assisting in the creation of the New York Information Technology Career Ladders Consortium; assisting Bergen Community College in the development of a career pathways program focused on new manufacturing; and conducting research for the Annie Casey Foundation, Casey Jobs Initiative project.