Workforce Recruitment and Retention Strategies--A Day of Action (Panel & Roundtable Discussion)

The Canandaigua Chamber of Commerce will continue the regional workforce and best practice discussion it started last fall, with a roundtable planning event February 12, 2020 at Nolan’s on the Lake.
 
The Chamber held a “state of the region workforce development” panel on October 29, 2019 at Finger Lakes Community College that drew upwards of 80 people. The program was a conversation starter on this critical issue and the Chamber now seeks to continue fostering dialogue, resource connection and solutions.
 
The February event is a bit different, and will provide you plenty of opportunity to share and contribute. This conversation on workforce recruitment and retention will commence with an expert panel followed by facilitated roundtables for you to discuss the challenges, best practices, resources and needs to ensure our local businesses have the necessary talent to succeed and grow. The groups will then report out their discussion to the collective for inclusion in a meeting report. The goal is to continue the conversation and this session will provide a roadmap for doing so – and opportunities to drive real results! 

Space is limited to the first 40 registrants.  You must register online or contact Elisha Everson, IOM at 585-394-4400, ext. 203 by February 5.  Cancellations after Feb. 5 are invoiced.

For the past six years, Matt Frahm has served as Superintendent of the Naples Central School District. After graduating from college with a BA in History, Matt started his career in public education as a Social Studies teacher in Geneseo, NY. In addition to teaching Global History and Participation in Government in the High School, Matt also worked as an adjunct instructor at SUNY Geneseo where he taught Humanities 220.

After eight years as public school teacher, in 2010 Matt accepted the position of High School Principal in Naples. Holding a BA and an MS from SUNY Geneseo, Matt obtained his Certificate of Advanced Study in Educational Administration from SUNY Brockport, and he is currently pursuing his Doctorate in Executive Leadership from St. John Fisher College. Aside from his work in the Naples Central School District, Matt is also the President of the Wayne-Finger Lakes Superintendents’ Association, the President-Elect of the Naples Rotary Club, and the Board Chair of the Partnership for Ontario County.

Amy Gould is the Chief People Officer for RTS, overseeing Human Resources, Customer Service, Marketing & Communications, Community Outreach and Business Development. Amy joined the Authority in March 2014, bringing more than 20 years of expertise in all facets of human resource management and people development. She led the effort to design the Authority’s first ever internal customer service standard campaign, which has since evolved into The RTS Way, linking our values with behaviors to drive a more inclusive culture. This has been the catalyst for employee recognition and engagement initiatives across the organization.
 
Gould earned a Bachelor’s degree in Organizational Management from Roberts Wesleyan College. She brings a blend of public and private sector experience, having served in multiple human resources capacities with the City of Rochester, and most recently with Johnson & Johnson as the lead Human Resource Manager for their Rochester subsidiary prior to joining RTS.  Gould is a member of the Women’s Leadership Council for the United Way of Greater Rochester.  Amy recently joined the Talent Strategy Task Force for the ROC 2025 initiative, focusing on accelerating economic growth in the greater Rochester area.  She also sits on the Human Resources Committee and Workforce Development Sub-Committee for the American Public Transportation Association.

 Michelle Pedzich is Senior Vice President, Human Resources for Canandaigua National Bank and Trust. Michelle is responsible for managing all aspects of Human Resources, including developing strategic initiatives and communicating and executing human resources throughout all levels of the organization. Michelle was previously the Director of Compliance and Training for HR Works. She has an extensive business background with over twenty years of experience focusing on delivering optimal business, compliance, and human resource “best practice” solutions that take into consideration legal requirements and budgetary constraints. Mrs. Pedzich has participated in several public speaking engagements and conferences and has written several articles covering a wide range of human resources topics.

Michelle holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from SUNY Geneseo and a Master’s degree in Human Resources Development from the Rochester Institute of Technology. She serves on the Canandaigua Board of Education and is Second Vice President of the Canandaigua Chamber of Commerce. Michelle is also on the FLX Women’s Conference Planning Committee and is the chair of the Leadership Ontario Steering Committee. She is also a Leadership Rochester alumnus, a 2008 recipient of the Rochester 40 under 40 award, and was nominated for the Canandaigua Athena Award in 2016.