Baltimore City and Baltimore County host third annual awards ceremony celebrating “Regionalism that Works”
Four employers are recognized for innovative approaches to building and strengthening workforce

Baltimore, MD –Baltimore County Council Chairman Joseph Bartenfelder and Baltimore City First Deputy Mayor Andrew Frank, along with the Baltimore Workforce Investment Board and Baltimore County Workforce Development Council, honored the recipients of the third annual Baltimore Regional Employer Institute Awards today at Morgan State University. These awards were presented to area businesses that exemplify innovative approaches to workforce development. The winning businesses and organizations below were selected from nominations received in the following four categories:

• Creating Success in a Challenged Economy – Sinai Hospital of Baltimore is targeting entry-level workers with the “Freedom to Learn” campaign, which offers these employees free academic preparation and job training opportunities scheduled at convenient locations and times, supported by pay incentives and coaching services.

• Overcoming Barriers to Employment and Retention – Good Samaritan Hospital operates the “1st Span” program – a work-based learning program that combines class work, career coaching, peer mentoring and work-based learning to help low-skilled workers become certified nursing assistants, and progress into higher-paying patient care jobs.

• Competitive Advantage – Genesis HealthCare is working to alleviate the shortage of allied health professionals by offering incumbent workers the chance to build on their skills and advance in the healthcare industry. Offering job readiness training, certified nursing assistant training, and on-site certified medication assistant training along with tuition assistance, Genesis is giving its employees the chance to grow professionally.  

• Preparing Youth for the 21st Century Workplace – Uptown Press is helping young people realize success in the printing industry. The company works closely with state, regional and local-level Career and Technology Education programs to ensure that students are receiving top-quality professional preparation. Uptown Press leverages resources to overcome unforeseen barriers, and works with students and businesses to connect youth with valuable internship opportunities.

The Baltimore Regional Employer Institute was launched three years ago as a partnership initiative between Baltimore City’s and Baltimore County’s workforce development offices.

 “Our approach to employment and economic development is truly unique, in that we have sustained a regional partnership for a number of years,” said Baltimore County Executive James T. Smith. “Our intent is to continue to serve our citizens in just this fashion in order to strengthen the Baltimore regional economy.”

“In order for our economy to continue its recovery, it is vital for Baltimore City and Baltimore County to work together to increase employment and training opportunities for all our residents,” said First Deputy Mayor Andrew Frank. “The employers receiving awards today have implemented strategic and innovative programs that are developing a well-prepared and productive workforce that benefits our entire region.”

This year’s award winners were very pleased to be recognized for their efforts.  Anita Hammond, workforce development coordinator for LifeBridge Health and Sinai Hospital of Baltimore commented that “Sinai Hospital is extremely proud to be a recipient of a Baltimore Regional Employer Institute Award for 2009. This award recognizes the work we do to support our employees in their academic and professional development efforts. Our programs have made a difference in the lives of our employees, and we look forward to many more success stories.”

Joanne Eich, director of nursing education/staff development at Good Samaritan, agrees. “It is a great honor to be recognized for the work that we are doing at Good Samaritan. Our partnership with the Baltimore Alliance for Careers in Healthcare, and the unending support of the Good Samaritan leadership team, have helped us to open many doors for our entry-level incumbent employees. In our organization, patient care is always number one. Number two is helping all of our staff to achieve excellence. As our president, Larry Beck, always says, ‘Everyone deserves a chance.’  It is very rewarding to be able to give people that chance.”

And while giving employees the chance to develop professionally clearly benefits individuals, the innovative initiatives created by this year’s award winners also serve their bottom lines.  Jack Weber, president of Uptown Press, observes that “The world of business is changing, especially for small manufacturing businesses. To be more competitive in a global economy, businesses need to think differently and look outside of their walls – that’s what helped our initiative succeed. You don’t have to be a big business to pull off big ideas, you just need to recognize the resources that are available to you and combine them in ways that make sense.”

The awards ceremony kicks off the Baltimore Regional Employer Institute’s newest season, which is designed to share information on the award-winning initiatives with the broader regional business community. As in years past, the Institute will provide area business leaders with the chance to network and dialogue on the issues impacting them most by hosting employer-to-employer forums beginning in February 2010. This season’s forums will feature interactive access to sessions and materials by using the latest in social and business networking tools, webinars, and online document access.

“We understand that in this economy, every productive minute counts,” remarks Ed Fangman, executive liaison to the Baltimore County Workforce Development Council. “We want businesses to be able to take advantage of this information when it is convenient for them and their workers. Going virtual will open up a new avenue for accessing terrific resources.”
The ceremony was organized by Baltimore City’s Mayor’s Office of Employment Development and Baltimore County’s Office of Workforce Development in order to assist their efforts in promoting successful workforce development initiatives for their customers.

The sponsors that contributed to the 2009 Baltimore Regional Employer Institute Awards included America Works, the Department of Labor, Licensing and Regulation, Goodwill Staffing Services, Johns Hopkins Hospital, MedStar Health, Whiting-Turner, University of Maryland Medical System, Lifebridge Health, Plumbers and Steamfitters Local Union #486, and Verizon.