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Theatre students helped the economic development organization bring its annual workforce alignment report to life, while President Lee Fisher led a dialogue on the region's talent development challenges.
It was not business as usual this year when Team NEO released the 9th edition of "Aligning Opportunities," a data-driven research report on emerging workforce needs and talent trends in Northeast Ohio.
The report, "Aligning Next-Gen Talent: Preparing Today for Tomorrow's Opportunities," emphasizes the need to give students "earlier exposure to career pathways through work-based learning experiences and the vital soft skills needed in the workforce."
Researchers also explored "how different generations approach work."
Instead of just talking through the results with the business and education leaders gathered at Stillwater Place at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo this week, Team NEO invited Baldwin Wallace University theatre students to act out common intergenerational workplace challenges.
Bella Issa '25, a recent BW acting and directing graduate, directed the three vignettes, with BW BFA acting majors Gabriel Cummings '28, Gioianna DiGiorgio '26 and Ash Farley '28 deftly handling the acting duties. The three humorous scenarios started with a skit on the generational gulf in technology mastery and included examples of communication disconnects in recruiting and mentoring young people early in their careers.
The goal was to present the intergenerational workforce findings in a creative and humorous way to spark discussion among the companies in attendance.
A panel discussion, moderated by BW President Lee Fisher, followed the vignettes and featured companies experienced in work-based learning programs. The report advocates for employers to not only partner with colleges and universities but also to begin engaging with students in middle and high school to build their future talent pipelines.
Noting that BW is committed to experiential learning partnerships, internships and other work-based learning, Fisher quizzed panelists Shaun Eller, Chief Business Officer at Ohio Gratings, Inc.; Natalie Joyce, HR Generalist at Ravago Medina; and Davonta Milbry, Program Coordinator at the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, about how they build company cultures that bridge generational gaps in communication styles, workplace expectations and career development.
Team NEO CEO Matt Dolan closed the event by emphasizing the twin goals of "awareness and connection" to feed Northeast Ohio's talent pipeline.
Team NEO is a private, nonprofit economic development organization that ignites economic vibrancy, fosters sustainable growth, and champions equitable prosperity. As a designated JobsOhio Network Partner, we collaborate across all 14 counties in the Northeast Ohio Region to create strategies to attract and retain companies, drive innovation, cultivate a skilled workforce, advance market-ready sites, and promote and engage the region. To learn how Team NEO helps make Northeast Ohio more competitive, visit northeastohioregion.com.
