Parkview-health

Learning from NIHRA

 
Ni-what?

 
NIHRA—Northeast Indiana Human Resource Association, an affiliate of the national association, Society of Human Resource Management. And they are our new best friends!

 
Vision 2020 had the opportunity speak with NIHRA at their monthly luncheon on Monday—and what a great experience. Over 100 people in the room, representing companies and jobs throughout the region, listened attentively to Mike Packnett, president and CEO of Parkview Health, as he gave the overview of the Vision 2020 process.

 
Heather Schoegler of Parkview Foundations and Liz Bushnell of Manchester College, gave an introduction to the pillars of Quality of Life and 21st Century Talent. These two pillars were a match for the interests of human resource professionals.

 
Then, we put NIHRA to work. We asked the group to discuss topics and come up with ideas of what they could do as a group to improve workforce readiness, retention and recruitment, quality of life, and community culture and pride.

 
Here are just a few of their ideas:

• Work with employers to build community involvement
• Create a mentorship program with Young Leaders of Northeast Indiana
• Encourage the media to promote positive news stories
• Be more assertive in telling the story of our region
• Prepare our people and culture for change
• Understand Northeast Indiana’s niche and what we can offer
• Offer flexible schedules and work-life balance
• Increase STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) skills, as well as critical thinking and other “soft skills”
• Increase professionalism
• Increased degrees and certifications
• Prepare high school students for college, help them plan for college, and help them find their passions

 
Overall, NIHRA said that the region needs to improve in workforce readiness, but said that all of the topics they discussed were inter-related. Most of the change, they said, would come from a ground-up approach. Everyone has to embrace change and move the region forward.

 
We were able to learn a lot from NIHRA, and we know many groups throughout the region could teach us a few things.

 
What ideas do you have for improving workforce readiness, retention and recruitment, quality of life, and community pride in Northeast Indiana?

Photo from stock.xchng