New Office of Workforce Innovation and External Relations, which replaces the old Office of Business and Community Relations, is part of a larger vision, the SUNY Oswego Vision 4040 plan, initiated by President Nwosu
By Stefan Yablonski
34 E. Bridge St., Oswego, is more than just a storefront.
It is a designated point of entry into SUNY Oswego for industry, nonprofit, public, private and community partners to connect with institutional assets.
Last year, SUNY Oswego President Peter Nwosu announced his “Vision 4040: Expanding SUNY Oswego’s Promise,” a blueprint for the years 2024-40. The institution is committed to doubling the number of graduates per decade by 2040 and significantly increasing its economic and social impact on the region.
To help achieve these goals, in the fall of 2023, SUNY Oswego’s Office of Business and Community Relations was re-imagined and renamed as the Office of Workforce Innovation and External Relations, according to Kristi Eck, assistant vice president of workforce innovation and external relations.
“We needed to transform the Office of Business and Community Relations into the Office of Workforce Innovation and External Relations to give us a front door, into SUNY Oswego,” Eck said.
OWIER offers to its partners and the public workforce and leadership development programs and an array of community-serving high-impact programs and resources that are supported by SUNY Oswego and its regional partners.
Its purpose is to develop and advance relationships with the college within three areas of focus:
• Workforce innovation and upward mobility
• Government and legislative affairs
• Community-serving high-impact programs and resources
“We have two locations — 34 E. Bridge St., and in Syracuse, 2 S. Clinton Square,” she said. “I split my time between here and Syracuse. My staff is just me and Tracie Wallace at the moment. We are currently a very lean and small staff. Tracie works three days a week. We are growing our team to soon include a director of workforce innovation and community impact. I lead the OWIER.”
They are open Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Partnerships formed will generate economic and social benefits for the region that align with the priorities and vision of SUNY Oswego and contribute to the long-term, sustainable vitality of the university and the Central New York region, she explained.
“I don’t force connections; I make the connections that need to be made so that the person can get the assistance they need,” she added.
Sharing
“We are thrilled that we are sharing this space with the Greater Futon-Oswego Chamber of Commerce and the Onondaga Small Business Development Center to provide local county residents no-cost business consulting services to help with a start-up or existing business,” she said. “We can have actual conversations together — be proactive and we can better serve the communities of our region. It’s not about the building, it’s about connecting people.”
SUNY Oswego was founded in 1861 by Edward Austin Sheldon to provide education and opportunities to the local population with the mission to contribute to the common good.
“We’re more than that now. We’ve elevated that,” Eck said.
“We’re not just SUNY Oswego, New York. Really, we are global — we have international students from all over the world,” she continued. “As a public comprehensive university — president Nwosu really takes seriously serving the community, having a greater impact on the economic and social landscape of the region. So my responsibility is to help fill that out.”
Micron’s spark
Central New York needs a skilled workforce that is representative of its population to build a vibrant, equitable economy — “That’s something our partners know well,” she said.
Micron’s investment has really sparked the need for a vibrant workforce. But prior to Micron, other employers needed to find the right workers, she said. In recent years, companies have had a difficult time finding workers.
She is one of the members of Micron’s Community Engagement Committee.
The committee was created to conduct focus groups, to sit down and have one-on-one conversations with the public regarding the Micron project.
“The big challenge right now is we need a skilled workforce for all the opportunity coming our way,” she noted.
OWIER will do its part to ensure the workforce is prepared.
