Record Numbers Turn Out for the Michigan NCRC Conference

The 2009 Michigan NCRC Conference was held in Lansing, MI on November 16th and 17th and had a record showing. More than 300 people from 11 states gathered to share best practices, learn more about WorkKeys® and the National Career Readiness Certificate, and to get updates on the Michigan NCRC program. The two-day event included a full program with top-notch Keynote speakers and 30 break-out sessions that covered a range of topics from NCRC case studies to implementation practices for KeyTrain® and WorkKeys.

Keynote speaker Andy Levin, Chief Workforce Officer for the State of Michigan, gave a clear picture of the state’s challenges and laid out some lofty goals for the Michigan National Career Readiness Certificate. Dr. Keith Bird, Corporation for a Skilled Workforce, discussed the role of community colleges and the NCRC in today’s global marketplace. From ACT, Inc.’s Workforce Development Division, President and COO, Martin Scaglione, gave a national outlook and update on the NCRC and its role in our country’s workforce and education issues.

Formerly entitled the Michigan WorkKeys Conference, this year marked the 5th annual event sponsored by the Michigan NCRC Advocates, the Michigan Department of Energy, Labor, and Economic Growth (DELEG), KeyTrain, and WorkKeys. “Given travel restrictions and budget cutbacks, the record turnout demonstrates the importance of the topic of workforce development and our NCRC program in Michigan,” said Cindy Leyrer, Board Member, Michigan NCRC Advocates. Presentations and other information from the event can be found at www.michigancrc.org