Yes there are National skill shortages, but this national problem can only be answered locally. Every locale has its very own personality, needs, and in this case skill gaps. You weren’t naive enough to think we could just start-up a national skill factory and answer the problem did you. The root of the problem is LOCAL and to answer this problem you can’t expect national answers.

Hard questions…
What are you doing to answer your local community’s talent problems? Are the kids in your Junior High, High School, Community College, and Universities focusing on curriculum that will provide for the local economy? Does your company support adult education classes and resources that will re-tool adults specifically for another local career and fill your local talent gaps? How is your company impacting talent growth in your community?

A man with ANSWERS… Now lets change focus to a man who is truly making a difference and impacting lives daily by interacting, educating and creating TOP TALENT locally and hopefully soon in 100 local markets. Bill Strickland is President and CEO of Manchester Bidwell Corporation. At the Texas Workforce Commission Conference a few months ago I was lucky enough to hear Bill’s story of success. No fancy presentations, no whiz bang jargon, just a man sharing his story of hope. This message of hope and success is a template for our workforce and should be, in a variety of ways, implemented in every city throughout the nation. Bill’s success comes from a common sense approach of merely doing the right and smart thing, devoid of government and corporate bureaucracy. This cat’s got it figured out!

Manchester Bidwell is actually two schools in one world class setting.

Bidwell Training Center enrolls people who are as diverse as those found at any workplace. Some are preparing for their first job. Others are learning job skills that will enable them to pursue a new career, or advance in their current job. Whatever their backgrounds, Bidwell students share one common goal: the desire for more satisfying and rewarding careers.

Manchester Craftsmen’s Guild includes the nationally recognized MCG Youth program—dedicated to educating and inspiring Pittsburgh’s urban youth through the arts. Through public art exhibitions, MCG connects diverse, accomplished visual artists to Pittsburgh and its communities. Through Grammy-producing MCG Jazz, a social enterprise dedicated to preserving, presenting and promoting jazz music, MCG stimulates intercultural understanding and appreciation in the region and throughout the world.

I would try and tell Bill’s tale although I am confident that I would not do it justice. So I have found short video clips of Bill’s fantastic story. Enjoy!

Bill’s Story – video
“I Believe that people were born into this world as assets, not liabilities” – Bill Strickland

People are the Function of the Environment – video
“In order to work with people who have been left behind by life, you have to look like the solution not the problem.”
- Bill Strickland

Jazz is Life – video
“You don’t have to have a tuxedo on to be a world class citizen.” – Bill Strickland

Scalable – video
“We got the poor people in the next century…and they’re doing fine.” – Bill Strickland

Make the Impossible Possible – video
“I’m doing this because I want to change the planet and I want to do it with you…” – Bill Strickland

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