CHICAGO - Chicago Career Tech (CCT), an innovative workforce training program, aimed at putting displaced white-collar Chicagoans back to work in technology-focused jobs, held its first Advisory Board meeting today at the Microsoft Training Center in Chicago. Mayor Richard M. 
Daley welcomed the distinguished roster of private sector Advisors for the program, which operates out of World Business Chicago (WBC), the City’s not-for-profit economic development office.
CCT will create a new corps of technology professionals that will strengthen Chicago’s position as a technology center, while providing a path into technology jobs for workers at risk of becoming permanently unemployed due to changing workforce demands.
The program targets middle income, laid-off workers, who make up half of the unemployed population, yet are largely left out of public programs aimed at supporting and retraining dislocated workers. Roughly 30,000 unemployed Chicagoans are part of this population, many of whom held white collar jobs for years, or even decades, but do not have the resources available for training that will make them employable in today’s tech-driven economy.
“By investing in these workers, and partnering with the private sector on training and workforce opportunities, we will make Chicago more attractive to prospective employers, while keeping thousands from joining the ranks of the long-term unemployed,” said Mayor Daley, who envisioned the program upon talking to Chicagoans who fall into this demographic.
Program participants will receive fast-track training from an accredited partner institution, and partake in on-the-job learning, as well as service learning at a nonprofit organization. In return, they will receive a weekly stipend to complete the six-month, six-day per week program. To be eligible, participants must be Chicago residents, have been laid off from their previous place of employment, have had previously earned between $25-75K, and hold at least a high school diploma.
At today’s meeting, WBC president, Rita Athas announced the formal appointment of Marie Lynch as Executive Vice President, Executive Director of Chicago Career Tech. Lynch was the Acting Executive Director of Chicago Career Tech while a Principal at Civic Consulting Alliance. While at CCA, she provided strategic and operational consulting expertise to public sector and nonprofit organizations such as the Chicago Public Schools, Mayor’s Office, and Chicago Alliance.
“Chicago Career Tech is a very exciting opportunity for the City of Chicago, because it provides access to career opportunities to a large number of Chicago residents who need new or different skills to compete in today’s job market,” said Lynch. “CCT’s public/private sector partnership has the potential to put a great number of Chicagoans back to work, while continuing to strengthen the city’s position as a premier global business location with a strong technology workforce.”
Athas also introduced CCT’s Advisory Board, a notable cross section of thought-leaders that will help effectively and efficiently guide and support this program. The group, which is being chaired by Shelley Stern, Microsoft Central Region Community Outreach Director, will provide advocacy and expert input that will help this innovative program strengthen the city’s health IT and technology workforces and put Chicagoans back to work.
“Microsoft is honored to serve Mayor Daley in alliance with World Business Chicago during Chicago Career Tech’s journey to empower our residents with 21st century digital literacy skills,” said Stern. “As chair of the CCT board, I get a firsthand view of how digital skills offer people a way to succeed in the workplace while positioning Chicago to compete on a global scale.”
The City will invest in the program over the next three years, with goals to enroll 2,100 participants over that time. In addition, the program is pursuing State and Federal grants, as well as private sector funding and support.
Recruitment for the first pilot class of 150 participants will begin at the end of February, and the six-month program will begin in April. A larger second class is expected to be recruited at the end of the summer.
ATTACHED: List of Advisory Board announced at today’s meeting.
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World Business Chicago is a not-for-profit economic development organization promoting metropolitan Chicago. WBC markets Chicago's competitive advantages, coordinates business retention and attraction efforts, and seeks to enhance Chicago's business-friendly environment. WBC's Board of C-level corporate executives is chaired by Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley.
Chicago Career Tech is an innovative program that creates a new corps of technology professionals by providing technology training for displaced white-collar Chicagoans. Supported by the business community, and run out of World Business Chicago, the program strengthens Chicago’s position as a technology center, while providing a path into technology jobs for displaced workers. For more information, visit www.ChicagoCareerTech.com
Chicago Career Tech Advisory Board
- Ray Arias, President, Arias Information Solutions
- Michele Carlin, Senior Vice President Human Resources, Motorola, Inc.
- Brian Fabes, Chief Executive Officer, Civic Consulting Alliance
- Daniel Hamburger, President and Chief Executive Office, DeVry, Inc.
- Susan Kolon, Executive Director, Brand Strategy & Marketing, Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association
- Carl Larson, Group Vice President, Oracle
- Dean Manheimer, Senior Vice President, Human Resources, Northwestern Memorial Hospital
- Rodger Mullen, President & Chief Operating Officer, ArrowStream
- Sarah Pang, Vice President Public Affairs & Advertisin, CNA Corporation
- Stacey R. Sather, Senior Vice President Director of Public Affairs, Charter One
- Robert Stephens, Chief Executive Director, Geek Squad, Best Buy
- Shelley Stern*, Citizenship Director, Central Region, Microsoft Corporation
- Sheila Talton, Vice President, Cisco Systems, Inc.
- Chuck Templeton, Founder, OpenTable, Inc.
* Board Chair
Additional Support:
World Business Chicago’s Board of Directors is the current governing body of Chicago Career Tech
- Mayor Richard M. Daley, Chair
- Michael D. O’Halleran, Co-chair
- Rita R. Athas, President
- Marie Lynch, EVP and Executive Director of Chicago Career Tech
Media Contact: Karley Sweet
ksweet@worldbusinesschicago.com | 312.553.4658
