IN THIS ISSUE

Aloha Chamber Members,

Laulima & mahalo,

Does your company hire IT professionals? If so, please take 10 minutes to complete an Information Technology (IT) Workforce Needs Survey that will be used to build Hawaii’s technology workforce, including the development of new training and education programs aligned with the employer's current and future needs.

You can help us better understand the skills and credentials employers’ value in IT staff, especially in entry level roles, and provide a roadmap for the state to build an integrated career and technical education pathway from K-12 to higher education and into technology careers.

SMS Research is conducting the survey with Hawaii employers on behalf of the Chamber of Commerce Hawaii, University of Hawai‘i Community Colleges and the Harold K.L. Castle Foundation.

CEOs, CIOs, IT Department Directors, and HR Managers are asked to participate in the survey by September 29.

Mahalo for your valuable input as we work to support Hawaii’s technology sector, connect more local residents to in-demand, recession-resistant careers, and diversify Hawaii’s economy for long-term growth and resilience. The IT Workforce Needs Survey can be found here.

ADVOCATING FOR BUSINESS

Webinar: Plastic and Disposal Foodware Changes for Maui and Honolulu

The Chamber will host a business impact update on plastic and disposal foodware changes that will be forthcoming for Maui County and the City and County of Honolulu starting January 1, 2022. Undoubtedly, businesses are facing challenges during the pandemic and with the uncertainty in business environment going forward, let’s understand the scope of changes that will affect your business and how to prepare for them.

The webinar is free and open to all businesses. Register here.

SUPPORTING OUR MILITARY

MAC Executive Committee Meet with

Hawaii Congressional Delegation

The MAC Executive Committee met with Senator Brian Schatz, Senator Mazie Hirono, Congressman Ed Case and Congressman Kai Kahele.

Topics discussed include: Pending legislation, Homeland Defense Radar-Hawaii, Red Hill, the retention of training lands in Hawaii, Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard Dry Dock 5 and infrastructure upgrades.

EDUCATION & WORKFORCE

The Chamber of Commerce Hawai’i gives a huge mahalo to Chamber Members Diamond Bakery for giving a virtual tour for over 25 students and teachers interested in a career in Manufacturing. The students and teachers are part of a manufacturing cohort hosted by the Chamber and Hawai’i Technology Development Corporation (HTDC) that aims to certify 38 students with a Certified Manufacturing Associate (CMfgA) Certification. During the tour, Gary Yoshioka, President of Diamond Bakery and the Hawai’i Food Manufacturers Association, shared the importance behind manufacturers in Hawai’i and gave a behind-the-scenes tour of the many products Diamond Bakery makes. The tour gave students the ability to learn more about the manufacturing field, hear about key employability skills for the industry, and discover how the certification they are earning can lead to exciting manufacturing careers in Hawaii.

One student from Waipahu High School said, “Although we were in a virtual setting, the field trip felt like we were in person. I liked how they brought the camera into the workstations and explained what's going on in each area. I believe I can take what I learned, and implement it while I'm working on the manufacturing certification program that I am currently taking. Thank you for this opportunity!”

Diamond Bakery is just one of many other manufacturing organizations getting involved to support the learning of this manufacturing cohort. The cohort will continue to be supplemented with virtual tours and guest speakers that will illustrate the importance behind the certification. High-quality work-based learning is important for the future workforce as they continue to dive into their passions and determine their career paths.

For those interested in learning more about the manufacturing cohort, virtual tours, or other types of work-based learning, please contact Lord Ryan Lizardo, Program Manager of Work-Based Learning at lrlizardo@cochawaii.org.

BUILDING OUR MEMBERSHIP

TOGETHER, WE STAND