Rowlett Area Chamber CEO enhances workforce strategies with skills-based hiring training

Rowlett, Texas (July 18, 2023) – Michael Gallops, President/CEO of the Rowlett Area Chamber & Visitors Center has completed a skills-based hiring training series with the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives Foundation. Skills-based hiring is a talent strategy where companies focus on the skills needed to succeed in open roles and reduce bias throughout the hiring process. During this training, participants learned how to incorporate a skills-based hiring approach, from identifying skills needed for open positions to coaching teams interested in implementing this strategy.

“I learned so much during this training, including how to best help our employers focus on the skills they need rather than so-called pedigrees”, said Gallops, “Now I can partner with our employers and coach them to use skills-based hiring to fill their workforce gaps.”By gaining a foundation in skills-based hiring, participants can use the training to upgrade how a company attracts talent. Sourcing talent is critical to a company’s operations and chamber members are struggling to attract, retain and promote employees in this economic climate. Skills-based hiring can reduce bias in the hiring process, attract diverse talent, and fill workforce gaps effectively.

“We have been overwhelmed by the enthusiastic response to this executive leadership training initiative and the high caliber of applicants,” said ACCE President & CEO Sheree Anne Kelly. “By giving industry professionals training in skills-based hiring, chambers can play an integral role in shaping recovery efforts, building resilient local economies and creating opportunities for everyone in the community to thrive.”

The ACCE Foundation skills-based hiring training series adapted programming from the Rework America Alliance: A Markle Initiative to address the needs of chambers. Through its network of national partners, the Rework America Alliance is developing data-driven resources and tools to help workers who have the capabilities but may not have the credentials to advance to higher-paying jobs, particularly women and people of color.

Submitted press release

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