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78

BizVoice/Indiana Chamber – November/December 2017

The biannual

Indiana Vision 2025

Report Card is an

important update of Indiana’s progress on key

measures relative to the 49 other states. The

subsequent statewide outreach/listening tour is no

less critical as it provides the pulse of what is taking

place in communities and regions to help move the

state forward.

Six traditional regional stops (Evansville, Fort Wayne, Hammond,

Indianapolis, Sellersburg and South Bend) brought more than 300 leaders

together in 2017. Additional sessions took place in Bloomington,

Crawfordsville, Kokomo, Richmond and Terre Haute to support

planning efforts in those areas.

This fourth round of forums (in 2012 after the

Indiana Vision 2025

plan was introduced and following Report Card releases in 2013 and

2015) brought at least one significant change from past events.

“We heard a near unanimous focus on talent and workforce

issues,” says Indiana Chamber President and CEO Kevin Brinegar. “In

the past, there was more diversity with various infrastructure needs

and other topics at the forefront. Today, not surprisingly, talent is top

of mind.”

John Burnett and Jack Hess helped facilitate the sessions. They are

partners in CivicLab, part of the Community Education Coalition in

Columbus, and dedicated to advancing community collaborations

across Indiana and around the country. Much of that effort is in the

talent and workforce fields.

The duo shares their perspectives on the Report Card results and

the forums.

Key data takeaways

Jack Hess: “Particularly in education, I think we know we have a

way to go around attainment. The report certainly confirmed that. It

showed we’re making great progress, but maybe not the progress we

need to be making relative to the nation as a whole.

“I was taken aback by the STEM (science, technology, engineering

and mathematics) data, particularly the science and technology degrees

conferred (third in the nation) but percent of population with degrees

(42nd). Forty percent (degrees) vs. 10% (population with those

degrees). Those were some surprising facts, yet present some great

opportunities looking forward.”

John Burnett: “I would echo Jack’s comments. Indiana at 41.1%

and the nation at 45.8% (in population with at least an associate

degree or high-quality credential) in education attainment. If we really

focus in on those credentials and high-quality certificates, it not only

can help us statistically but help more people be better prepared for

economic success – providing connections to those employing people

in manufacturing, health care, information technology to name a few.”

Large STEM gap

Hess: “Part of it is probably structural – the kinds of industries

(Indiana has are) not requiring as many STEM jobs. Indiana is kind of

new to the career pathways game, making the pathways a lot more

visible and understood. We are accelerating the efforts more quickly.

We have to focus (on students) much earlier than we have been – have

to go back almost to when making transitions from elementary school

to middle school and middle school to high school.”

Burnett: “That also connects to the Dynamic and Creative

Culture part of the Report Card as well. A lot of people employed in

large companies tends to cause folks to navigate to those employment

opportunities rather than creative start-ups.

“Those two things are definitely tied. A lot of your

entrepreneurial start-ups tend to be in STEM areas. The lower amount

of start-ups is a causal factor affecting those STEM rates.”

Regional reflections

Burnett: “The topic turned to talent in a very significant way.

Attraction, development, engagement. Bringing new people to the

region and ensuring talent is being developed. That’s always a short-

term need that gets expressed, particularly in low unemployment

times, but it’s encouraging how thoughtful the business community is

Regional Forums Focus on People

TALKING TALENT

By Tom Schuman

Indiana Vision 2025

Ron Christian, 2017 Indiana Chamber board chairman, gives a local

perspective at the regional forum in Evansville, where a large media

contingent reported on the latest Report Card findings.