The Sept. 18 Workforce Investment Board (WIB) meeting was generously hosted by Qualcomm’s Thinkabit Lab. Ed Hidalgo, senior director of staffing at Qualcomm and a WIB member, shared details of the company’s new outreach program, which provides hands-on lab experiences where students are encouraged to design, tinker and invent as they convert classroom lessons into real-life projects. This first-of-its-kind program is designed to foster interest in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) fields and show youth creative applications of the subjects. Hidalgo showed off some of the latest student projects, which combine coding and creativity to create moving pieces of art.
The board also heard from a Health Profession Opportunity Grants (HPOG) employer from Casa Companion Homecare Solutions who shared the success they’ve had recruiting employees through the program.
In addition, SDWP’s Workforce Investment Board (WIB) welcomed five new members who were sworn in prior to the September 18 meeting.
- Trevor Blair, business development manager at Manpower
- Linda Kavanagh, director of people services at Cox Communications
- Ed Hidalgo, senior director of staffing at Qualcomm
The new members began their terms immediately.