A Partnership for Job Seekers, Employers

In 2022, the East Tennessee Local Workforce Development Area, under grant funds from the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce Development, tabbed the UT Center for Industrial Services or CIS to operate the American Job Centers in East Tennessee. As the One-Stop Operator, CIS will coordinate multiple American Job Center partners and service providers throughout the East Tennessee Local Workforce Development Area. 

Podcast host Susan Robertson chats with CIS Executive Director Paul Jennings and Jennifer Eppley who leads the American Job Centers in East Tennessee. 

Transcript

Audio file

CIS and AJC Edited_mixdown.mp3

Transcript

00:00:03 Susan Robertson

Hi and welcome to In Touch with Tennessee, the official podcast of the University of Tennessee Institute for Public Service.

00:00:12 Susan Robertson

In  2022, the East Tennessee local Workforce Development area under grant funds from the Tennessee Department of Labor and Workforce.

00:00:24 Susan Robertson

Development tabbed the UT Center for Industrial Services, or CIS to operate the American Job Centers in East Tennessee.

00:00:33 Susan Robertson

As the One Stop operator CIS will coordinate multiple American Job Center partners and service providers throughout the East Tennessee local Workforce Development Area.

00:00:47 Susan Robertson

Joining us today are CIS Executive Director Paul Jennings and Jennifer Epley, who leads the American Job Centers in East Tennessee.

00:00:57 Susan Robertson

Welcome to both of you.

00:00:59 Paul Jennings

Thanks, Susan

00:01:02 Susan Robertson

So Paul, let's start with you.

00:01:03 Susan Robertson

Can you explain how CIS was selected to become the One Stop operator of the East Tennessee American Job Centers?

00:01:12 Paul Jennings

Sure, you know this.

00:01:13 Paul Jennings

The short answer is the East Tennessee Workforce Development Board was looking for a One Stop operator and issued a request for proposals.

00:01:22 Paul Jennings

We responded, the board liked our proposal and selected us.

00:01:28 Paul Jennings

The more interesting answer is that as we were trying to decide whether or not we wanted to submit a proposal, we had a lot of discussions with our internal team members and our partners to try to

00:01:46 Paul Jennings

Really decide whether this was something that we wanted to do and then probably as equally important.

00:01:55 Paul Jennings

Is this something 

00:01:58 Paul Jennings

Where we could add value.

00:02:01 Paul Jennings

You know there were a lot of people.

00:02:08 Paul Jennings

Really questioned whether this is something we wanted to get into because it was somewhat outside our normal space where we operated.

00:02:19 Paul Jennings

But as I.

00:02:19 Paul Jennings

Started looking into it more and more and talking with people inside the workforce development system across the state as well as.

00:02:28 Paul Jennings

With our business and industry partners, I started to see where there was.

00:02:36 Paul Jennings

Where we could really make a difference and.

00:02:40 Paul Jennings

That there were ways that we could add value.

00:02:44 Paul Jennings

I think from the university perspective we could provide stability.

00:02:47 Paul Jennings

We can provide connections to the university and resources and then from a CIS perspective, it really.

00:02:57 Paul Jennings

It addressed our mission and it built on our.

00:03:01 Paul Jennings

Experience, you know, over the years, Susan, CIS has added programs and service lines as the economy changes and the needs of business and industry change.

00:03:12 Paul Jennings

And we felt like this was  just the next step in that journey.

00:03:16 Susan Robertson

Right. So as a One Stop operator, what exactly is is the center's role?

00:03:23 Paul Jennings

Well, I think the first thing is to think of.

00:03:27 Paul Jennings

The customers of the American Job Center and the two customers are job seekers and employers, so to support job seekers and employers.

00:03:38 Paul Jennings

And when you think of job seekers, you're really thinking of people who really face obstacles to employment, and so they need a range of services.

00:03:47 Paul Jennings

Help them seek and secure jobs.

00:03:52 Paul Jennings

So there are a range of services and programs within that American Job Center.

00:03:56 Paul Jennings

Well, the One Stop operator.

00:03:58 Paul Jennings

Coordinates and provides leadership for the range of services to make sure that they're aligned and working together to impact the the job seeker and help the employee.

00:04:12 Paul Jennings

So CIS role within that.

00:04:17 Paul Jennings

That's the One Stop operator is to coordinate those services and then find areas working with it that an American Job Center team where we can contribute and help improve the services.

00:04:35 Paul Jennings

Thing that I've.

00:04:37 Paul Jennings

Emphasized a lot as we've gotten into this role is to.

00:04:44 Paul Jennings

Identify those.

00:04:46 Paul Jennings

Niches where we can, where we can really add value.

00:04:51 Paul Jennings

So for example conducting professional development sessions, sponsoring events, helping with outreach, those are things where we can add value.

00:05:01 Paul Jennings

So, as I told Jennifer a number of times, I don't want to get in your way.

00:05:05 Paul Jennings

But just let's just keep finding.

00:05:07 Paul Jennings

Where can we add value to this and help this make a better system?

00:05:13 Susan Robertson

Do you see that role expanding in other regions of the state in the future?

00:05:19 Paul Jennings

It could Susan.

00:05:21 Paul Jennings

I think that the approach that we're taking is we're going to continue looking for opportunities where we can contribute to the workforce development system in the state, any place we see where we feel and our partners feel that.

00:05:39 Paul Jennings

We could help strengthen that system, add value to that system.

00:05:44 Paul Jennings

We would like to participate, I think.

00:05:50 Paul Jennings

I think the important thing is.

00:05:57 Paul Jennings

Really, we want to serve and we want to say wherever UT can help.

00:06:02 Paul Jennings

That's where.

00:06:03 Paul Jennings

We want to be.

00:06:05 Susan Robertson

OK.

00:06:06 Susan Robertson

So Jennifer, tell us a little bit about your position at the East Tennessee American Job Centers.

00:06:12 Jennifer Eppley

Sure, Susan.

00:06:13 Jennifer Eppley

Thank you.

00:06:13 Jennifer Eppley

So my role is actually the One Stop operator manager.

00:06:18 Jennifer Eppley

So I'm the person who assists our partners in connecting together, making sure that we are working as one team.

00:06:27 Jennifer Eppley

Supervising the function and flow of referrals and outreach and connections and that sort of thing.

00:06:33 Jennifer Eppley

So ultimately, it's basically oversight and making sure that we're following policy, making sure that we're conducting training on a regular basis, just ultimately making sure that everything is working well together as well.

00:06:51 Susan Robertson

And what is

00:06:51 Susan Robertson

The general mission of the American Job Centers.

00:06:54 Jennifer Eppley

And what Paul said a second ago to echo what he said.

00:06:57 Jennifer Eppley

You know, ultimately we serve two customers and that's going to be job seekers and businesses and for our job.

00:07:03 Jennifer Eppley

Seekers as Paul.

00:07:04 Jennifer Eppley

Stated it's individuals who have barriers to employment, so we have a priority of service and that priority service says that we serve veterans.

00:07:13 Jennifer Eppley

We work with.

00:07:14 Jennifer Eppley

Veterans who have barriers to employment, those are our top ones, and we also work with individuals who may be on assistance of another type.

00:07:23 Jennifer Eppley

For example, they may be on benefits they may be on SNAP benefits, they may have some sort of other barrier to employment.

00:07:31 Jennifer Eppley

And so we.

00:07:32 Jennifer Eppley

Will work with those individuals who have barriers.

00:07:35 Jennifer Eppley

You need additional assistance in actually, you know obtaining.

00:07:40 Jennifer Eppley

A resume or perhaps doing a job search, or, you know obtaining the required elements for starting a new job like transportation or perhaps clothing or tools or that sort of thing.

00:07:54 Jennifer Eppley

So ultimately our partners work together so that they can assist those individuals.

00:07:59 Jennifer Eppley

If an individual needs training.

00:08:01 Jennifer Eppley

To actually get employed and we have partners that work with those individuals to get them training and the goal is shorter-term training that's focused on in demand occupations.

00:08:13 Jennifer Eppley

So that we're working hand in glove with our employers and meeting those actual employment needs that they have.

00:08:19 Jennifer Eppley

And then the second partner in that work is going to be our employers.

00:08:25 Jennifer Eppley

And so we will work with our employers to make sure that they are able to post their jobs on Jobs4TN.gov that they're registered.

00:08:33 Jennifer Eppley

That's our state system.

00:08:35 Jennifer Eppley

We want to work with them to set up job fairs, assist them in having on site job fairs, either here with us at the American Job Center and we have 10 of those.

00:08:44 Jennifer Eppley

Across the area.

00:08:46 Jennifer Eppley

Or on their side.

00:08:47 Jennifer Eppley

And then, you know, help promote that as well.

00:08:50 Jennifer Eppley

And just whatever their needs are, try to make sure.

00:08:52 Jennifer Eppley

That we're working.

00:08:53 Jennifer Eppley

With them to get those needs met.

00:08:57 Susan Robertson

Right.

00:08:58 Susan Robertson

Well, how does someone connect with the American Job Center?

00:09:01 Jennifer Eppley

Sure. So I'll give you about three different ways that they can connect. They can go to tn.gov/work.

00:09:08 Jennifer Eppley

And then if they'll just type in the search box, find local American Job Center, it's going to pop up a link and they'll be able to see a map and contact information.

00:09:19 Jennifer Eppley

For all of the.

00:09:19 Jennifer Eppley

American Job Centers in the entire state.

00:09:21 Jennifer Eppley

Of course, our area of East Tennessee, the 16 counties, it'll have that information there address an e-mail, a telephone number.

00:09:30 Jennifer Eppley

If they want to, they can call our Knoxville American Job Center. That main number is area code 865-594-5500.

00:09:41 Jennifer Eppley

And they're also welcome to reach out directly to me if they would like.

00:09:44 Jennifer Eppley

My e-mail address is Jennifer.Eppley@tennessee.edu  Our thought is we have no wrong door, so however someone contacts us whatever they need, we're going to try to connect them with the correct partner to get their needs met, whether their job seeker.

00:10:06 Jennifer Eppley

Or an employer.

00:10:09 Susan Robertson

OK, let's go back to becoming a part of the UT Center for Industrial Services.

00:10:14 Susan Robertson

What benefits have you seen in, in becoming, you know, under the UT CIS umbrella?

00:10:24 Jennifer Eppley

So I think as Paul kind of stated, one of the greatest things that we've seen is just that added support for the work that is done here, especially with businesses you know obviously.

00:10:38 Jennifer Eppley

Since we are focused on serving our employers so that they can meet their needs, having UT CIS system there with all of their array of business services, you know hosting the manufacturer extension program and and just everything that they do, I think that has been just a great benefit.

00:10:59 Jennifer Eppley

You know we've been able to host.

00:11:02 Jennifer Eppley

Toyota KATA workshops for several of our AJCs and we have had several employers attend those and that's that Lean process so that they can you know focus on increasing efficiency both with services and with individuals.

00:11:16 Jennifer Eppley

And so that's been a great thing.

00:11:18 Jennifer Eppley

You know, we've had a a Cobot, a collaborative robot intro session, and we're going to have a tech showcase.

00:11:24 Jennifer Eppley

In March, to help serve so just it's literally an added menu and library of services for our businesses that we're just able to expand and that has just been a great support and it's just a great team.

00:11:38 Jennifer Eppley

To work with.

00:11:41 Susan Robertson

Well, this question, I'd like to you know for you to both weigh in on what do you see as the strengths of the East Tennessee American Job Center?

00:11:53 Paul Jennings

I can start Susan.

00:11:58 Paul Jennings

If you visit an in American Job Center and you talk with the people who are working there.

00:12:07 Paul Jennings

You will quickly see how passionate the people are about what they do.

00:12:12 Paul Jennings

Are so committed to their customers and helping their customers find that job or helping the employer find the right fit for their organization?

00:12:28 Paul Jennings

There's again, it's

00:12:30 Paul Jennings

There's a passion for service and you can really.

00:12:33 Paul Jennings

So I would see that as the major strength

00:12:37

I'm going to.

00:12:38 Jennifer Eppley

Agree with Paul on that additional strengths that we have.

00:12:41 Jennifer Eppley

You know we're really connected to the community and you know several of our staff across various partners and have connections to businesses and agencies and networks.

00:12:52 Jennifer Eppley

And you know they're willing and happy to share with their coworkers across.

00:12:57 Jennifer Eppley

You know, different counties, different AJCs

00:13:00 Jennifer Eppley

And so that's just been a great sort of strengthening.

00:13:05 Jennifer Eppley

Web of services that we like to connect with and we share those out freely and happily.

00:13:10 Jennifer Eppley

And I think that just works to help our customers even more, both the job seekers and the businesses.

00:13:17 Paul Jennings

You know, Susan, I I think that also points to why the.

00:13:24 Paul Jennings

UT and American Job Center connection is so.

00:13:29 Paul Jennings

Heard we have connections and partners across the region and it's interesting that they're a little different with the A JC partners and connections in the region are a little different than ours, but together, I mean it is quite the network.

00:13:53 Susan Robertson

So do you see any challenges over the next several years facing?

00:13:59 Susan Robertson

The American Job Centers, or the UT CIS American Job Centers relationship.

00:14:06 Paul Jennings

I think there are a.

00:14:09 Paul Jennings

A few and I'll just briefly mention.

00:14:12 Paul Jennings

Those I think we're going to have to continually.

00:14:17 Paul Jennings

Work together and work with our partners to streamline and improve the systems of.

00:14:26 Paul Jennings

Of the whole workforce development system, I think that's true of any organization where as we move to the future, we're going to have to continually find ways.

00:14:35 Paul Jennings

To do things better.

00:14:37 Paul Jennings

So I think working on the systems, I think marketing and outreach is going to be really important.

00:14:44 Paul Jennings

We're going.

00:14:46 Paul Jennings

To have to really work on connecting with the job seekers, connecting with partners, connecting with employers.

00:14:55 Paul Jennings

So I think that marketing and outreach is important.

00:14:58 Paul Jennings

And then finally, as with the many organizations, funding is a problem.

00:15:04 Paul Jennings

There's lots to do, lots to do.

00:15:06 Paul Jennings

And there's a lot of opportunity.

00:15:09 Paul Jennings

We just have to continually be on the on the lookout for new funding and see and be very aggressive in seeking new funding opportunities.

00:15:19 Susan Robertson

Right.

00:15:20 Jennifer Eppley

And to kind of add to what Paul said, you know the the workforce system is changing and you know we've got new generations of workers coming through now.

00:15:30 Jennifer Eppley

And I think just navigating those changes.

00:15:33 Jennifer Eppley

You know, I think.

00:15:35 Jennifer Eppley

That'll just be a challenge, but that's going to.

00:15:37 Jennifer Eppley

Be the challenge we.

00:15:38 Jennifer Eppley

All have.

00:15:40 Jennifer Eppley

So we'll continue to try to connect with them as best we can and just do a great job there.

00:15:47 Jennifer Eppley

And then just as policies change as staffing changes, you know just to.

00:15:52 Jennifer Eppley

Continue to 

00:15:52 Jennifer Eppley

Navigate those changes.

00:15:56 Susan Robertson

Right. Well thank

00:15:57 Susan Robertson

You both for joining us today, it's been very informative.

00:16:00 Paul Jennings

Thank you. Thank you, Susan.

00:16:03 Susan Robertson

And thank you listeners.

00:16:04 Susan Robertson

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