GREATER LAFAYETTE, Ind. — Greater Lafayette Commerce (GLC) is putting a new employer-led workforce strategy to work locally after staff and regional partners completed the Talent Pipeline Management (TPM) Academy of Indiana, a statewide training program facilitated by the Indiana Chamber of Commerce's Institute for Workforce Excellence in partnership with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, with support from the Indiana Commission for Higher Education.

Kara Webb, GLC's director of workforce development, joined three other Greater Lafayette leaders, Koreen Kyhnell of IU Health Arnett Hospital, Melissa Leaming of the Region 4 Workforce Board and Melody Cockrum-Dixon of Franciscan Alliance, in the second cohort of graduates honored July 27 at a ceremony in Indianapolis featuring remarks from Indiana Secretary of Education Katie Jenner. Their graduation gives the region four leaders trained in the same demand-driven framework, developed by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, just as Greater Lafayette prepares to staff three new hospitals while shoring up its existing health care workforce.

GLC plans to apply the TPM framework through its Health Care Taskforce, using the model to build a stronger, employer-led talent pipeline for the region's health care sector.

The Indiana Chamber's statewide announcement of the graduation named Greater Lafayette's health care work as one of several regional projects already putting TPM demand planning to use, identifying workforce needs and building stronger ties between employers and education providers.

"This training gave us a clear, employer-led framework for tackling one of the biggest challenges facing our region, building a health care workforce that can keep pace with our growth," Webb said. "With three new hospitals coming to Greater Lafayette, we have an opportunity to get this right from the start, and TPM gives our Health Care Taskforce the tools to do that in partnership with our hospitals, employers and training providers."

"While attending the TPM Academy, I've discovered connections and resources in the workforce planning space that will help advance this work in our community and in our organization," said Koreen Kyhnell, advisor of expansion and growth planning at IU Health Arnett Hospital. "I'm excited to take what we have learned and apply it to work we are doing at the GLC Healthcare Taskforce."

Melody Cockrum-Dixon, administrative director of human resources for Franciscan Alliance's western Indiana region, said the training will strengthen how local health care employers work with schools and training providers.

"I am honored to participate in the Talent Pipeline Management Academy on behalf of Franciscan Health and Greater Lafayette Commerce," Cockrum-Dixon said. "As the Lafayette area continues to grow, so do the health care needs of our community. The Talent Pipeline Management framework provides valuable tools to help health care employers like Franciscan Health collaborate more effectively with schools, colleges and training providers to strengthen and expand the workforce needed to serve our region."

Cockrum-Dixon was also selected to represent the region at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce's seventh TPM Summit in Washington, D.C., this September.

Melissa Leaming, president and CEO of Tecumseh Area Partnership Inc., which operates the Region 4 Workforce Board, said the framework gives employers a clear way to manage talent from secondary education through the existing workforce.

"TPM is an excellent framework for helping employers effectively manage their talent pipeline, from secondary education through postsecondary pathways and into the existing workforce," Leaming said. "I am grateful for the opportunity to participate in the training and look forward to collaborating with the Chamber and local employers to leverage TPM in addressing workforce needs."

The TPM framework asks employers to define their talent needs directly, rather than leaving that work to education and workforce systems alone, and to use that data to shape training and hiring pipelines. GLC's Health Care Taskforce will use the model to coordinate hiring and training plans across hospitals, health systems and educators in the nine-county region.

More information about the TPM Academy of Indiana is available at tpmacademy.org.

About Greater Lafayette Commerce

Headquartered in Lafayette, Indiana, Greater Lafayette Commerce (GLC) has been the region’s premier chamber of commerce and economic development organization since 1927. By uniting business, education, government and civic partners, GLC drives growth, supports local enterprises and enhances the quality of life in Greater Lafayette. Learn more at greaterlafayettecommerce.com.

Media Contact

Shelby White

Public Relations & Communications Manager

Greater Lafayette Commerce

(765) 742-4044

swhite@greaterlafayettecommerce.com

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