Local human resource officials learn workforce development opportunities

SIKESTON -- Southeast Missouri human resource officials learned about workforce development opportunities this month in Sikeston at a time when many residents are facing unemployment.

Karen Bailey, past president of the Society for Human Resource Management of Southeast Missouri, said the recent meeting with the Workforce Development Board of Southeast Missouri was very timely and useful to the local human resource officials.

"We did a meeting like this several years ago, but it's the first time we've had one with Workforce Development in probably three or four years," said Bailey, who is also the city treasurer and HR director for the city of Sikeston.

The Society, or SHRM, is a local human resource professional group which holds monthly meetings on various topics. However, this month's meeting, which was Feb. 9 at the Clinton Building in Sikeston, was organized by the Scott County Commission.

"The County Commission put the program together to inform employers in the area what Workforce Development can do for them," said Scott County First District Commissioner Dennis Ziegenhorn.

June O'Dell with the Workforce Development Board of Southeast Missouri in Cape Girardeau presented ways of helping employers in the surrounding counties regarding on-the-job training as well as other opportunities.

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