Members of the Diversity Committee will educate APWA members on ways of recruiting and retaining talent from minorities and the underprivledged. This presentation will discuss concepts and proven techniques used across the United States on reaching out to these individuals, educating them on the value of entry-level or professional careers in Public Works and providing them a direction and the skills to become successful.

1. Workforce Diversity:
Recruiting and Retaining
Minorities and the Disadvantaged
Chas Jordan, MPA
Management Analyst III
City of Largo, Florida
Charles E. Pinson
Safety/Accreditation Manager
Anderson County, S.C.
Bill Dunlop, P.E., F. SAME
JSD Professional Services, Inc.
Madison, Wisconsin

2. Workforce Diversity Presentation:
1. Chapter Outreach to High Schools,
Technical Schools, and Career Programs
2. Agency Diversity Initiatives, Departmental
Demography and Diversity.
3. Educational Programs and Opportunities
that benefit Disadvantaged and target
Minorities.

3. Recruiting a Diverse
Workforce
Bill Dunlop, P.E., F. SAME
JSD Professional Services, Inc.
Madison, Wisconsin

4. Recruiting a Diverse
Workforce
• The Need
• The Goals
• How Wisconsin Chapter Approached the
Need
• Where We Want to Go

5. The Need
• Workforce not reflective of the overall
population
• It’s the Law
• It’s the Right Thing to Do

6. The Goals
• Increase Awareness of the Diversity of Public
Works Career Opportunities
• Attract Qualified Applicants at All Levels
• Provide Opportunities to Increase Workforce
Diversity
• Foster Mentorship Opportunities

7. Chapter Initiatives
Milwaukee Area – Boys Scout
Presentations
Milwaukee Area – Boys and Girls Club
– Presentations
Madison Area – Boys and Girls Club –
College Club

8. Madison Area BGC
College Club – Goals
• Show Diversity of Opportunities
• Hands-on Presentations
• Sustainable
• Build Relationships

9. College Club
Verona High School Based
• College Readiness
• Traditionally Underserved
• 50 Students in 1st
• 84% Students of Color
• 86% Low Income Households
• Average GPA 2.09

10. College Club
Goals
• Tutor
• Meet Regularly
• College and Career Exploration

11. College Club
APWA Interaction
• Quarterly Visits
• 3-4 Presenters
• View Office Environment
• View and Touch Equipment

12. College Club - APWA
Fitchburg
• Project Planning and Design
• Water System Control
• Equipment Display
• Surveying

13. College Club - APWA
Sun Prairie
• 3-4 Presenters
• Equipment Oriented
• Traffic Signal
Operation and
Maintenance

14. College Club
Madison
• Sewer Design
• Sewer Maintenance
• Televising Equipment
• Jetting Equipment

15. College Club - APWA
2nd
Year
• Verona, Fitchburg, Cottage Grove
and Madison Metropolitan Sewer
District
• Continue to Develop
Relationship

16. Lessons Learned
• It takes time to develop relationship
• Make the program sustainable from
the start
• Hands on over classroom
• Keep at it.

17. Workplace Diversity:
What is Your Measuring
Stick?
Charles E. Pinson
Safety/Accreditation Manager
Anderson County, S.C.

18. MAN IN THE MIRROR

19. What is Diversity?
“Diversity is a commitment to
recognizing and appreciating the
variety of characteristics that make
individuals unique in an atmosphere
that promotes and celebrates
individuals’ collective achievements.”

20. Steps to Increase Workforce
Diversity
• Identify what your agency’s or company’s needs are.
• Make sure your workforce matches the demographic you
serve.
• Develop a hiring strategy to increase workforce diversity.
• Develop a procedure to track, measure, and enforce policy.
• Develop relationships with local organizations and with
community connections including churches, cultural
institutions, Colleges, Urban League, National Council of La
Raza.
• Use websites such as www.workplacediversity.com,
www.monster.com, www.employdiversity.com .
• Use Employee Referrals and minority job head hunters.

21. Demographics
Anderson County
Whites – 80.9%
Black – 16.6%
Indian/Alaskan – 0.3%
Asian – 0.8%
Hispanic/Latino – 3.1%
Source: US Census Bureau 2011 QuickFacts
Public Works Division
Whites – 89.05%
Black – 9.95%
Indian/Alaskan – 0%
Asian – 0.5%
Hispanic/Latino – 0.5%
Source: Anderson County Human Resources Department

22. Benefits of Diversity in the
Workplace
• New learning opportunities.
• Additional creativity.
• Increased productivity.
• Attracting and retaining talent.
• Increase market share and create a
satisfied customer base.

23. The Program Purpose
The program is intended to promote awareness and accountability as
we embrace diversity in our workforce. The implementation process
will consist of the following:
• Obtain support from top level management.
• Schedule bi-annual meetings with the department heads and top
level officials encouraging them to support and promote the
“Measuring Stick Program.”
• Review workforce demographic vs. service area demographic,
assess recruiting method, and promote diversity.
• Develop a brochure to distribute to local organizations, churches,
cultural institutions, colleges, Urban League, National Council of La
Raza as required to become more inclusive in getting the information
out about the types of jobs, job openings, and the method to apply
for jobs.

24. WONDERFUL WORLD

25. Diversify Your Education
Program – Provide for Skilled
Workers
Chas Jordan, MPA
Management Analyst III
City of Largo, Florida

26. APWA – Educational Focus
• College and Advanced Degrees
• Engineering Construction Programs
• Technical and Equipment Sessions
• CEUs / PDHs
• Predominantly Professional /
Technical or Management Focused
programming

27. Workforce Diversity Educational
Focus
• Well-Rounded:
– Skilled Labor
– Technician Training
(Wastewater, Stormwater,
Heavy Equipment)
– Inspection Training
– In-the-Field Experience
• The “Do-ers” not the “Say-ers”

29. pTEC Public Works Academy
• Supported by a Board that is
composed of Public Works Directors
from around the County
• Publically Funded through County
School District
• Available for varying age groups (High
School aged or older)
• Scholarship Programming
• Consistent, Proven Trainers/Teachers

30. Who does it Benefit?
• US
– Public Works Professionals
– Directors
– City and County Engineers
• THEM
– Individuals who cannot afford
college
– Skilled Laborers looking for
Work

31. How does it Benefit Us and
Them?
Your organization can now get a
skilled worker that can perform
multiple technical tasks for your
organization with little investment
financially on your part, or theirs.
Providing a quality worker with
employment without the need for
excess, costly education.