Day 1

Opening Plenary Session Part I

The 2007 Workforce Innovations conference officially kicked off as a capacity crowd was welcomed by red shoe-clad Conference Chairman Bill Sanders in a video takeoff of the "Wizard of Oz." After clicking his heels together, Sanders introduced participants to the local cultural and historical sights and sounds of Kansas City as it has evolved from a city founded on grit and determination to a region in the midst of transforming itself into a shining example of collaboration.

Sanders was quickly met by Murray, "the Wizard of WIB," a self-purported "expert" on regional workforce and economic development, and a genuine source of wit and wisdom throughout the conference.

Emily Stover DeRocco, Assistant Secretary of Labor for Employment & Training, joined Sanders in welcoming guests to the largest Workforce Innovations to date and thanked participants for their involvement in the Department's efforts to assist in regional economic transformation and workforce development.

U.S. Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao remarked on the resilience of the American economy despite recent economic challenges. The Secretary stressed the necessity for an advanced education in today's job market. Today's fastest-growing jobs require a post-secondary education, which provides essential skills necessary to obtain rewarding jobs. According to Secretary Chao, the American ideals of creativity and innovation will be the key to remaining competitive in today's global economy. Finally, the Secretary challenged the workforce development system to do more. Through further regional integration of workforce and economic development partners, the system will continue to play an integral role in advancing the competitiveness of our nation's workers.

After returning to the stage, Assistant Secretary DeRocco was joined by Missouri Governor Matt Blunt and Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius in a question and answer segment regarding their regional partnerships. In addition to sharing a WIRED region, Kansas and Missouri also have collaborated to help spur the growth of Kansas City's animal and life sciences industries and encourage talent development through a bi-state program allowing Kansas City residents to pay in-state tuition regardless of the state in which they reside. Through the states' integration, more than $1 billion has been pledged to support this joint educational effort. Assistant Secretary DeRocco noted a meeting several hours earlier between the Kansas and Missouri state workforce boards to discuss further workforce development collaboration.

Opening Plenary Session Part II: Jump Start Your Brain

The second half of the plenary opened with the conference's first Thought Leader, Doug Hall. The founder and CEO of Eureka! Ranch presented his strategies for connecting smarter business growth with talent development and community building.

Hall's high-energy presentation outlined the keys to growing one's business, empowering individuals at all levels, and, ultimately, creating future-oriented communities. His "Three laws of marketing physics, include providing an "overt benefit to the customer" giving them a reason to believe in the product or service; and offering a single dramatic difference that sets one apart from the competition.

One of his personal missons, says Hall, is adapting the big guys' ideas for the little guys. In applying his marketing principles to small business growth, Hall has increased profitability for enterprises including classical music festivals, restaurants and manufacturing firms. Hall believes in engaging employees at all levels in the business development process. The best ideas, says the former Master Marketing Inventor at Procter & Gamble, come not from the front office, but from the factory floor.

Small businesses are the top innovators in America, says Hall, with 85% of all breakthrough ideas and 100 percent of the country's new jobs coming from them.

While increasing the bottom line is the immediate goal, Hall says "getting people to believe again" is the key to spurring innovation, and transforming the way businesses and communities across the nation develop and grow.