Employee Learning Week

ASTDps welcomes Barry Allen, Chief Financial Officer for Corbis, to the Chapter's Employee Learning Week Advisory Board. Allen has more than 25 years of global experience in diverse senior executive leadership roles at public and private companies in the Internet, enterprise technology and real estate sectors. He is a recognized expert in global mergers and acquisitions, responsible for the acquisition or sale of more than a dozen companies, as well as helping to grow revenues in dynamic environments. Barry is also noted around Corbis as a true people-developer.

I am pleased to announce that John Yokoyama, the owner of the world-famous Pike Place Fish Market is the latest distinguised executive from our region to sign on with the ASTDps Employee Learning Week Advisory Board. Working with creativity coach Jim Bergquist, Johnny (as he likes to be called) took a struggling fish stand and, using employee learning, turned it into an internationally recognized entertainment venue and exemplary workplace. You can read a short version of this inspiring story by clicking here.

Bev Parnell, the ASTDps Director of Employee Learning Week has this exciting news to share:

Mark Wednesday morning, November 18th on your calendar for what is sure to be a sell-out chapter meeting featuring guest speaker Tony Bingham, President and CEO of ASTD National.

Tony kicks off the dedicated season of Employee Learning Week, just in time for you to help your organization get fired up and ready to go. All attendees will receive a limited edition Employee Learning Week Toolkit.

A recent New York Times editorial highlighted an important issue of which we in the WLP profession need to be aware. The editorial noted the recent increase in the federal minimum wage to $7.25 from $6.55 an hour. The editorial went on to cite US Department of Labor estimates that "5 of the 10 occupations expected to add the most jobs through 2016 are 'very low paying,' up to a maximum of about $22,000 a year. They include retail sales jobs and home health aides.

"Chutzpa" (or chutzpah, which, if you don't know, is Yiddish for "audacity") is how the Tacoma News Tribune describes General Plastics, a dynamic firm in our region that is making great strides in opening markets internationally. The company recently won a top award for its international prowess. And a good chunk of the credit for the company's success is due to employee learning -- and the chutzpa that comes from it. You can read the entire article here.

ELW Spot 2

ASTD National has created several audio clips for promoting Employee Learning Week.