This past month, The City of Frederick was represented by Mayor Michael O’Connor on a panel entitled "Employee Retention in Frederick County Manufacturing: Embedded Employees for Stronger Companies and Communities. "
Hosted by Hood College, the discussion featured experts and community leaders discussing research and best practices for employee retention in the manufacturing industry. Other panelists and presenters for the event included:
Benjamin McGlaughlin, Manufacturing Program Manager at Maryland Department of Commerce
Philip Brown, President & CEO at Phoenix Mecano North America
Denis Cowburn, Senior Executive at Tooling U-SME
Melissa Corliss, Director of Operations at Canam Steel Corporation
Rick Weldon, President & CEO at the Frederick County Chamber of Commerce
David Gurzick, Director of the Data Driven Frederick Center and Chair of the George B. Delaplaine School of Business
Darnell Billups, DOL’24, Organizational Leadership Researcher and Manufacturing Leader
While the conversation was held within the context of the manufacturing, many of the workforce retention strategies discussed offered an opportunity for all employers, regardless of industry.
OUR Key Takeaways for local employeRs included:
Draft clear career development pathways
Create good gathering spaces and establish an environment that people want to come to work.
Invest in your corporate culture.
Your employees are your company's single most important commodity.
Prioritize creating more diversity in your workforce. Your workforce should reflect your community.
Connect with your economic development team to better understand resources and programs for your company to take advantage of.
Make your company a place where people feel safe, and they know their role and what is expected of them.
Remain collaborative, but don't get comfortable. Always seek out the next best thing!
Whether you employ five people or five hundred, Frederick County Workforce Services offers tailored solutions for your specific needs to help your company stay productive, competitive, and grow.
Contact the team today at fcws@frederickworks.com or explore more online here.