Council Chair Sees Big Workforce Plans in 2022
On February 11, the Governor’s Council for Workforce and Economic Development will hold its first meeting of 2022. The Council meets quarterly, serves as the state workforce board, and sets policy goals for Oklahoma’s workforce system.
2022 marks Council Chair Chuck Gray’s second year at the helm of this business led board.
“It is exciting to contribute one’s experience and talents toward shaping Oklahoma’s future workforce capability,” said Gray. “Our goal is to propel Oklahoma into a top 10 state for economic growth, low unemployment and workforce prosperity.”
Gray serves as the Vice President and Director of Strategic Solutions of Frontier Electronic Systems in Stillwater.
Frontier specializes in aerospace and defense systems through engineering and manufacturing.
Gray knows Oklahoma companies like Frontier are counting on a solid state workforce.
“We have a competitive, motivated, and innovative workforce with a ‘git’er done right the first time’ attitude,” said Gray.
What does Gray hope the Governor’s Council can offer Oklahoma businesses in 2022? Plenty.
“I want us to strengthen the alignment between the Governor’s Council and Local Workforce Boards through quarterly collaboration calls supporting attainment of Governor Kevin Stitt’s strategic goals focused on increasing Oklahoma’s workforce participation rate, wage growth, business engagement and economic development.”
“We need to expand services to rural communities through American Recovery Plan funding and the deployment of mobile workforce units to rural communities,” said Gray. “This can be done in collaboration with local workforce boards, library partnerships to support free adult basic education opportunities and proactive business engagement.”
Gray says he enjoys collaborating with Governor Stitt as well as working with his fellow council members, Oklahoma Office of Workforce Development Director Don Morris and his team, Local Workforce Development Boards, and the professionals at the Oklahoma Department of Commerce.
Gray believes their work is helping elevate Oklahoma into being a top 10 state.
“I want us to enhance business services through apprenticeship programs, doubling sector partnership grants, local workforce board engagements, as well as increased legislative interaction on workforce matters and communication,” said Gray.
“We need to work to enhance broadband access, particularly in rural areas, employ new technology to simplify the workforce management & data collection system and develop specific and universal metrics to measure performance to plan.”
The Council will meet February 11, April 29, July 29 and October 28 on the campus of OSU-Oklahoma City. All meetings are open to the public and begin at 9am.