1. Randy Thelen
President
Lakeshore Advantage
randy.thelen@LakeshoreAdvantage.com

2. Roller Coaster Economy!
Ottawa County
2006-2012
18,000
15,623
16,000
14,000
12,000
10,000
7,230 6,892 Unemployment
8,000
6,000
4,000
2,000
0
2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 Nov-12
Michigan Labor Market Information, Data Explorer. State of Michigan, 2013. Web.
<http://milmi.org/cgi/dataanalysis/labForceReport.asp?menuchoice=LABFORCE>.

3. Synchronist
• 200 Companies are visited annually
• 47 Question Survey
• Best local economic knowledge available
Data > Anecdotes!

5. Value/Growth
Value Growth Matrix
120
100
80
Growth
60
40
20
0
0 10 20 30 40 50 60 70 80
Value
Source: Synchronist Business Information System. 2012
For reuse, contact Lakeshore Advantage.

7. Long Term
• Ready for School
– Pre-K Focus
– Every child will be prepared for school
– Reading - Centric
– Schools, Churches, Hospitals, and Businesses
are partnering

8. Intermediate
• Programs from Middle School - High School
– Herman Miller Academy
– Apprenticeships and Internships
– ―Connections‖ / Middle College

9. Immediate
• HelloWestMichigan.org
• ReadyNow!
– Michigan Works, Community College, Manpower
– Rapid Rehiring Program
– Response to ―No recent work history‖

10. • Ready Now continued
– 1 Week
– 3 days of training soft skills
– 1 day of optional coaching
– Guaranteed 2 Interviews
– First program—56 of 97 participants hired!

11. • Ready Now continued (behind the scenes)
– Provide an uplifting experience
• Great venue
• Great food
• Great energy
– Passionate partners
– Read:
―A Framework to Undertanding Poverty‖
by Ruby Payne.

12. Thank You!