SUMMER NEWSLETTER 2013
Contents
1. STAFF TRANSITIONS
After nearly three years as Executive Director to the East Bay Economic Development Alliance (East Bay EDA), Karen Engel resigned her position in June. In that time she has been a tremendous asset to East Bay EDA, launching several new initiatives and maintaining the organization’s membership and revenues at a time of economic uncertainty. We wish her well in her professional endeavors.
Darien Louie will serve as Interim Executive Director while a search is conducted. Darien is taking a temporary leave of absence from her position as Director of Public Private Partnerships for the East Bay Community Foundation. She has previously been a consultant to East Bay EDA and has worked with many East Bay EDA members and supported many East Bay EDA initiatives through her role at the Foundation.
2. ECONOMIC OUTLOOK
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Two reports by the East Bay EDA show continued economic recovery in the region and increases in employment projected to continue in coming years.
In its annual East Bay Economic Outlook, East Bay EDA reported that unemployment reached 7.7% in March 2013 consistently declining each month since mid-2010. Employment growth has stayed consistent at 2% per year over the past two years.
A Special Report on the East Bay Workforce is an in-depth analysis of the major shifts in both the demand for and supply of the region’s most valuable asset: its human resources. The East Bay’s education and workforce development institutions are making every effort to understand and adapt to these shifts and to be better connected with regional employers to ensure a dynamic, adaptive workforce development system that ensures the competitiveness of workers and employers alike.
East Bay EDA convened many partners across different sectors to produce these two, important reports, including:
• Alameda County Workforce Investment Board
• Contra Costa Community College District
• Oakland Workforce Investment Board
• Peralta Community College District
• Richmond Workforce Investment Board
• Workforce Development Board of Contra Costa County
Meanwhile, the reports would not have been possible without the very generous support of:
• AAA of Northern CA, NV, & UT
• East Bay Community Foundation
• Y&H Soda Foundation
The annual Economic Outlook was prepared for East Bay EDA by Dr. Christopher Thornberg, Principal at Beacon Economics, one of California’s leading economic forecasters. The Special Report on the East Bay Workforce was prepared by Josh Williams, President of BW Research Partners.
3. STRATEGIC PRIORITIES 2013-14
The Board of Directors met on June 6th at Tilden Park’s Brazilian Room for its annual strategic planning retreat.
Breakout discussions focused on infrastructure, workforce development, and marketing. Input and ideas from the Board were integrated into a draft 2014 East Bay EDA Strategic Plan.
After the Executive Committee reviews and approves the Strategic Plan in July, it will be posted to our website and distributed in the Fall newsletter to all members. Thanks to all Board members who contributed valuable perspectives and information at the retreat and a special thank you to those who made presentations (click here for event highlights and photos).
4. OUTGOING COMMITTEE CHAIRS
We would like to express our appreciation to outgoing Committee Chairs who have provided their time, talent and leadership to East Bay EDA. We will greatly benefit from their contributions to our organization:
Buck Koonce, LLNL – Innovation Council
Mary Nejedly Piepho, Contra Costa County – Membership Committee & Vice Chair of the Board
Linda Smith, City of Dublin – Marketing Committee
Janet Venturino, Kaiser Permanente – Marketing Committee
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EAST BAY EDA ON-LINE. PLEASE: |
CONTACT This report was prepared by: Scott Peterson East Bay EDA For more information on the East Bay, click on www.eastbayeda.org
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