Workforce Opportunity Services

We are thrilled to have Eric Severson greeting our guests at our upcoming Talent Symposium. Looking forward to an amazing event! Secure your spot today: https://lnkd.in/gnQGxxKx #Welcome #TalentSymposium Eric Severson is a visionary leader in human resources and organizational development, known for his strategic insights and transformative approach to building high-performance cultures. With a notable career spanning leadership role at global organizations, Eric has earned a reputation for driving innovation and fostering employee engagement. Eric’s special interests encompass creating workplaces where employees thrive, developing inclusive leadership practices, and leveraging data-driven strategies to optimize organizational effectiveness. He is passionate about shaping organizational cultures that prioritize employee well-being, growth, and sustainable success. Eric has led initiatives to enhance diversity and inclusion, elevate talent development programs, and implement progressive HR policies that support employee advancement and retention. His expertise in aligning HR strategies with business objectives has been essential in driving business outcomes and enhancing organizational resilience. Beyond his professional commitments, Eric is dedicated to mentorship and education, actively supporting initiatives that empower emerging leaders and promote lifelong learning. He is a frequent speaker at industry conferences and contributes thought leadership on topics ranging from leadership development to the future of work. Join us at the upcoming industry event to gain insights from Eric Severson and discover strategies for creating a workplace culture where talent thrives and organizations excel in today’s competitive landscape.

Mandela Day is observed annually on July 18 in honor and recognition of Nelson Mandela. On this day, we are encouraged to reflect on Mandela's values and principles, and how we can make a positive impact within our own community. The theme of #MandelaDay2024 is #ItsInYourHands and we are asked to use our hands to do good in this world where we continue to see inequity. Together, we can do our part to make the world a better place. To learn more about Mandela Day and how to get involved, visit https://lnkd.in/diZNMqx.

Today is World Emoji Day! The first World Emoji Day was celebrated in July 2014 and was created by Jeremy Burge, the founder of Emojipedia. July 17 was chosen for this holiday because it is the date displayed on the calendar emoji. This date was selected as it marks the day iCal was first announced at the 2002 MacWorld Expo. To learn more about World Emoji Day, visit https://lnkd.in/eRv5hwhw. Take a look at the Top 10 Most Used Emojis in 2023 here: https://lnkd.in/eNpswhcZ.

How can a sustainable and adaptable workforce contribute to the long-term success of your AI initiatives? Our AI Solutions Division offers expert guidance in assessing, designing, and deploying effective AI solutions. Contact us today to get started! https://wosaisolution.com/.

Since 2014, July 15 has been recognized as World Youth Skills Day, celebrating the importance of teaching young people skills for jobs and entrepreneurship. Events on this day unite youth, training institutions, businesses, employers, workers, policymakers, and development partners to share ideas and emphasize the importance of skills for sustainable development. In honor of this day, we share the story of how WOS was founded. Growing up in the Bronx, Dr. Art Langer faced significant challenges in finding employment and educational opportunities, often traveling outside his community for guidance. Determined to level the playing field for underserved populations, Dr. Langer launched the Inner-City Workplace Literacy Study in 2001 at Columbia University. This study focused on preparing 40 individuals from Harlem, NY for IT roles, identifying employment challenges, and providing the necessary training to be competitive in the job market. Dr. Langer developed the Langer Workforce Maturity Arc (LWMA) during this research to measure job readiness and created a systemic workforce development solution. This led to the launch of his first program at Columbia University in 2003, paving the way for the founding of Workforce Opportunity Services in 2005. To learn more about World Youth Skills Day, visit https://lnkd.in/d26MXaS. For more information on the LWMA, visit https://lnkd.in/e93Tmz4J.

This month's Employee Spotlight is Jose R. Cabrera Jr., Associate Director of Talent Acquisition. Each day is a little different for Jose, but his responsibilities include managing job postings, overseeing the talent acquisition team, presenting weekly updates, reaching out to partner organizations to grow our network, and ensuring smooth operations. Before joining WOS, Jose worked at a nonprofit founded by his fellow Marines. He was then referred to WOS and started as a Talent Acquisition Associate. Jose's favorite part of working at WOS is the opportunity to make a positive impact on people's lives. The highlight of his day is talking to people, especially when interviews feel like natural conversations. Someday, you might find Jose studying to become the next LeVar Burton, with dreams of being a librarian in a small town. Get to know Jose a little more with the facts below!

Every year on July 11, we celebrate World Population Day, a day dedicated to raising awareness about population issues. Established in 1989 by the then-Governing Council of the United Nations Development Program, World Population Day was inspired by the Day of Five Billion, first observed on July 11, 1987. In December 1990, the UN General Assembly decided to continue observing this day to further enhance awareness of population issues. The first celebration in July 1990 saw participation from over 90 countries. Today, numerous United Nations Fund for Population Activities country offices and various organizations continue to observe this important day. For more information on World Population Day, visit https://lnkd.in/eB69_xW.

What impact could a stable, locally sourced workforce have on the success and sustainability of your AI initiatives? We are thrilled to announce the launch of our latest offering at Workforce Opportunity Services: WOS AI Solutions! Find out more here: https://wosaisolution.com/.

Last week, we shared feedback about Edmund and Eleazar and their outstanding work with our partner, Turner. Today we want to share Eleazar's story and how he arrived at Turner. Mid-summer of 2021, Eleazar Espinoza stumbled across an online application for a position to train as an associate at Workforce Opportunity Services. After the interview process, Eleazar was informed that he had been accepted into WOS’s software development training program. With WOS, Eleazar was able to participate in training while being employed. Eleazar was then moved into a 12-week Power BI training program and went on to earn the Power BI Data Analyst Associate certification from Microsoft. The WOS program in partnership with Turner Construction allowed Eleazar to work on Power BI projects and complete additional training. Eleazar is currently a part of the Business Intelligence Managed Services team at WOS providing Power BI support to Turner.

In honor of graduation season, we’re excited to share some photos of our most recent group of BCBS MA graduates. Our partnership with BlueCross BlueShield consistently brings us many successful associates, and we are forever grateful to be part of their journey. We are proud and honored to collaborate with BCBS and look forward to many more successful cohorts in the future. Congratulations to all of our graduates! We know you will continue to achieve great things, and we are excited to see what the future holds for you.