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MDBC Trade and Logistics Committee Draws more than 100 Participants
The most recent MDBC Trade & Logistics Committee meeting was hosted by FedEx on August 2, 2018. The meeting began with setting the tone for a discussion on the “jobs of the future” in an industry that reportedly accounts for approximately 20 percent of Miami’s economy—logistics and supply chain management. The committee looked at a framework for fostering a workforce that considers the roles played by academic institutions as well as the industry itself.
Later in the meeting, a panel discussion featuring representatives from DHL, ADP, and Wyncode as well as a retired executive from Wal-Mart ensued with panelists engaging their fellow committee members immediately as they offered insight into what companies are doing today to prepare and retool talent for evolving careers. They fielded questions from peers on specific programs as well as emerging technologies that will likely have an impact on the workforce.
The meeting also highlighted a recent announcement about the apprenticeship program to be overseen by Miami-Dade College. This program is drawing national attendance as it embraces an alternative track for businesses interested in developing talent. A model proven effective throughout the world, apprenticeships are a hot topic. This program has the potential to alleviate the pressure of attracting and training talent for companies that want to pursue it with federal and state dollars available. For more information on the program, contact Marimar Molinary at mmolinar@mdc.edu.
In another segment of the agenda, Dr. Richard Sarabia, a professor with MDC, shared some initial high level results from a survey of trade and logistics executives that aims to uncover any skills gaps in the workforce. The results shared touched on the importance of specific industry credentials (e.g. certifications in inventory management and supply chain management) as well as a dependence on interns in the local industry (nearly 70 percent of respondents have employed interns in the last 12 months). For more on the initial survey results or to participate in this skills gap analysis, contact Dr. Sarabia at rsarabi1@mdc.edu.
The next committee meeting will be held on September 18, 2018 and hosted by PortMiami. For more information on the MDBC Trade & Logistics Committee, contact Stanley Rigaud, Director of Economic Development – International Programs, at srigaud@www.beaconcouncil.com.
