First Lady Andrea Conte holds up a piece of the new Tennessee Residence china pattern from Pickard that features an image of the Tennessee state flower, the purple iris, painted by Tennessee artist Shelley Snow.

Jonesborough chairmaker Curtis Buchanan stands beside one of the chairs he is making for the dining room of the Tennessee Residence. Curtis makes only Windsor chairs and is nationally known for his craft, having made chairs that are part of collections in museums and historic homes including Monticello, home of Thomas Jefferson.

 

First Lady’s Luncheon benefits Residence project        

On April 19 First Lady Andrea Conte was host for “The First Lady’s Luncheon” to benefit the restoration and preservation of The Tennessee Residence. At the event, which took place on the lawn of the Tennessee Residence, Conte announced that the luncheon raised more than $250,000 and took the total raised so far for the project past the $7.5 million mark.
           
More than 500 guests who attended the event had the opportunity to preview décor renderings and fabric and surface samples to be used in the restoration, all in keeping with the First Lady’s principle to restore, recycle, and reuse.
           
Pictures of the interior design renderings unveiled at the Luncheon can be found at http://state.tn.us/firstlady/intdesign1.html.

Photos from the Luncheon can be found in the First Lady’s Photo Gallery located at http://state.tn.us/firstlady/photogallery.html.     

Governor Bredesen, First Lady Andrea Conte, and the crowd are pictured at the First Lady’s Luncheon.

 
   
 
 


Budget approval is involved process
By Cathy Rowe, assistant administrator for Fiscal Services

Editor’s note: This is the time of year when Commissioner Neeley and other key departmental staff appear before various legislative committees with the intent of gaining approval for the next fiscal year’s budget. Just how this process works, we wondered, so we asked Cathy Rowe, assistant administrator for Fiscal Services, to describe the budget process. Her explanation follows:

The department, in mid-August, is sent instructions by Finance and Administration Budget Division on budget preparation, which always specifies that we begin the next year budget submission with the dollar amount received during the current budget year.
  		 
  Marvin Peebles and I start the budget process by receiving a complete staffing report from Finance and Administration Budget Division. We are tasked with making sure the staffing salaries and benefits are correct and that a projected insurance increase is added.  Administrators are asked to determine if any of their programs have specific projects or needs that will have to be addressed as improvement requests.    
  Prior year actual expenditures are analyzed to determine ongoing costs and one-time costs. The department receives a  
Cathy Rowe
 
 

computer program in which we enter the data gathered for budget preparation. Staff in the fiscal section who participate in the process are given access to the program. This includes Rosemary Cole, Phil Anderson, Marvin Peebles, Harold Shackelford, and me. We begin by entering actual expenditures in all budget line items for the prior year in each of the divisions. We then enter the current year budget from a work program received from Finance and Administration Budget Division. Using the corrected staffing list mentioned above, we enter the projections for the upcoming year adjusting line items as needed to remain within the bottom line total. We then analyze revenues for needed adjustments and determine if there is a need to request an improvement to state appropriations due to decreasing revenues or possibly increase fees in a division that is revenue funded. 

If administrators have determined a need for improvement requests within their programs, we enter the request and the reasons the department feels the request is needed and justified. We may also have to request that a division determine how they will fund the improvement if they are revenue funded. Divisions are sometimes asked to cut expenses in other than personnel costs in order to fund requested salary increases.

When Fiscal Services, administrators, the deputy commissioner, and the commissioner are all in agreement with the projected budget and improvement requests, the budget package is submitted to Finance and Administration (F & A) Budget Division. The budget analyst reviews the data with F & A management and visits the department with questions that need clarification. When F & A agrees with the budget projection, it is submitted to the governor for approval. A budget hearing with the governor is scheduled in order for the commissioner to present his budget and explain the improvements requested and for the governor to express any concerns he might have with the department’s programs. After the hearings with the governor are finished, he submits his budget to the legislature. 

The commissioner and selected staff are asked to appear at budget hearings before the Senate Finance Subcommittee, the House Finance, Ways and Means Committee, and the Senate Commerce, Labor & Agriculture Committee. The commissioner is asked to explain the improvements requested and to give details on specific programs such as the UI Trust Fund, Career Centers, or Second Injury Fund.

The budget receives final approval after the legislature has completed all the hearings, the Senate and House agree on funding for all departments, and outstanding bills have been passed or tabled for the next session. Also, the budget receives final approval only when the appropriations bill is signed.


  
 
 


Project Paycheck draws 2,500
By Jeff Hentschel

Each year our department sponsors and helps organize Project Paycheck, “Middle Tennessee’s Largest Job Fair.”  For the last five years it’s been a fairly routine affair with volunteers from Field Operations, Marketing, Communications, and the Career Center chipping in to organize the event and then execute the fair at the Gaylord Entertainment Center.  The Nashville Chamber takes the lead in setting everything up with our lead chairman, Heather Vincent, telling us what to do.  For years we’ve done this job fair the same way . . . until this year when everything changed.

This year our Chamber chairman left the planning committee, and the GEC was not available to us, so we moved the event across the street to the Nashville Convention Center. 


  
 

Would a change in venues be a disappointment to our exhibitors?    Would the Channel 4 Snowbird fly the coop?  Would our jobseekers come at all?  We had no way to know.

The first sign was not good. Usually when we open the doors to the event, at least 500 or so people are waiting to rush the show.  When we opened the doors this year, there was a well-dressed 50 or so ready for action.  Maybe the rest were working out parking downtown.

By noon we had a steady stream of clients/job seekers that seemed promising.  I began talking with exhibitors, and they seemed happier than ever before.  They said a more professional group seemed to be attending this year with far fewer randoms who show up just for the free pens and candy. Our workshops,

 
 

NCAC Communications Coordinator Mailynne McKinney consults Channel 4’s Snowbird at Project Paycheck.
 
 

many of which were held by Nashville State Community College, on topics like interviewing and résumé writing, were at capacity.  Our new leader with the Chamber, who hadn’t slept for days, was strangely calm.  Things were almost going too well.  Could there be something horrible waiting for us around the corner?  Well, it might be more interesting to read, but everything went fantastically well.


  
 

The turnstiles at the event showed the turnout at around 2,500.  Surveys are still being gathered from sponsors and exhibitors at the event, but preliminary reports are good.  Most importantly, jobseeker surveys are indicating that many got what they were after – a connection to a job.  Project Paycheck will follow up with many jobseekers to see if they really landed a job, which above all else is the litmus test of our success.

I know that our department deals directly with clients all the time, but for those of us who don’t, there is something really tangible and wonderful when you can help bring 134 employers together in a room with thousands of job seekers.  It’s great to be involved with an event like Project Paycheck, and it’s even better when a great team has a plan and implements it without a hitch.

  
 

Pictured at Project Paycheck are Sandra Driver, Tanya Evrenson, and Paul Haynes, all of the Nashville Career Advancement Center, now at the NCAC Workforce Campus.
 
     
 


Time to ask and listen . . .
By John Crawford
Assistant Director for Marketing Services

Ever try to carry on a conversation with someone who is so busy thinking of the next thing he is going to say, that he is clearly not listening to you?  That’s the way many organizations operate – communication is one-way from the top down, and listening is a lost art.  Our leadership’s commitment, detailed in the department’s strategic planning goals, is to create tools and opportunities to listen to both our employees and our customers, continuing to build a culture of two-way communication.  We all have to listen to those we serve to understand not only what our customers require, but also to be able to measure our success in responding to their needs. We now have several tools in the works that will allow us to do both on a regular basis. 

In June, you will have the opportunity to participate in a voluntary Web based employee opinion survey.  This will be easily accessible and will be made available throughout the month of June.  All responses will be anonymous.  The survey will take about 10 to 15 minutes to complete and will cover topics we all care about.  The questions will be in a multiple choice format with the options being strongly agree/ agree/ disagree/ strongly disagree.  At the end of each section, you will have the opportunity to add your own comments.   More details will follow on how to access and complete the survey.  Later in the summer, cumulative results will be made available to all.  Some employees will then have the opportunity to participate in projects or on teams that will address those results, and they will share their progress so that results will be demonstrated.   Please take this opportunity to communicate with our leadership; they are listening! 

We also want to hear what our customers have to say, both those inside and outside our department.  Some of our divisions already measure customer satisfaction, and they are working on improving those methods.  Others are working toward that goal and are currently creating the tools to use.  These may take the form of a phone or electronic survey, or maybe some questions worked into the normal course of business.  This will provide the divisions needed information to improve our customer’s experience with our department.

Internally, our support groups such as Human Resources, Communications, and Fiscal are currently surveying our own divisions as to how well they meet the division’s needs.  This effort will help improve communication between the teams and will help improve our overall department performance for the citizens of Tennessee.  

The important thing to note in all of this is that we will ask the people we serve how we are doing, and then we will act on the responses we receive.  We are committed as a team to making a difference through listening!
 

 
 


Eddie Scott
Regional EEO Coordinator, Memphis Poplar, 29 years

What do you like best about your job?
Daily interactions with people and knowing you sometimes actually make their lives better


  
 

Name a person who is an inspiration to you.
Dr. Martin Luther King because he practiced peace and goodwill

What do you listen to on the way to work?
Tom Joyner Morning Show

What do you eat for lunch every day?
I seldom eat lunch.

What's usually your “water-cooler chat”?
Sports, cars, or any current topic other than religion and politics

 
 
Eddie Scott
 
 

What's your favorite vacation spot?
Chicago

Name something you can’t go a day without.
The Memphis Commercial Appeal - although I dislike a lot of the headline news, I feel a need to keep in touch with what is going on outside my immediate surroundings

What would we be surprised to know about you?
I am a gentle giant.

What are your personal interests/activities outside of work?
Golf, reading and working with veteran organizations - I choose to volunteer with agencies/organizations who understand that volunteering ones self is the most gratifying, loving thing one person can do for another.

What do you do in your job to support the department’s Mission Statement?
I make sure everyone seeking my assistance is treated with dignity and respect, because I am aware that my actions are not only a reflection of myself but also the agency as a whole.

Why do you think it’s important to work as a team?
The accomplishments can be gratifying. A lot of problems in EEO are systematic, if you can get a group working toward one goal, sometimes you can change the system.

How do frontline employees in your division practice teamwork?
We are a small unit. It requires a team effort to succeed in the enormous job we are charged with – ensuring quality and non-discriminating service for all Tennesseans seeking employment related assistance.
 
 


Trenching precautions emphasized as
construction activity increases

With spring and summer weather upon us, more trenching and excavation construction projects are happening across the state. Commissioner Neeley is renewing his special emphasis on safety on these types of work projects.

Since 2004, The Tennessee Occupational Safety and Health Administration (TOSHA) has issued 240 violations involving trenching and excavations, totaling more than $1 million in penalties.  Also three workers have lost their lives since then, due to safety violations.

“TOSHA would like to see a decrease in trenching and excavation fatalities and violations,” said Neeley.  “When accidents happen in trenching they are usually fatal, and this type of accident can easily be prevented.”

The TOSHA division offers the following safety tips to employers and workers. Where a trench that is to be occupied by a worker is five feet deep or greater:

  • The sides of a trench or excavation must be protected from “cave-in” by one of the following: sloping (at the appropriate angle for the soil type); shoring (normally with metal and hydraulic approved equipment); or inserting a trench box in a trench.
  • Excavated dirt must not be within two feet of the trench or excavation.
  • A “competent person” must be present.  This person must know the requirements of the trenching and excavation standards and have the authority to stop and/or make necessary changes in the operation to make it safe.

Under a special emphasis program on trenching and excavation established in 1997 all TOSHA compliance and consultative services personnel are instructed to be on the lookout for trenching or excavation work sites. Trenching and excavation work creates extremely dangerous hazards to workers. 

Personal observation, reports of imminent danger, safety and health agency referrals, employee complaints, and media reports are used to locate trenching and excavation work.

For more information on trenching and excavation hazards call the Tennessee Occupational Safety and Health division of the Tennessee Department of Labor & Workforce Development at 800.249.8510.
 
 
Division Updates

Barbara Boyd and Jim Fussell conducted Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) training in Johnson City. TAA is a federal program that aids workers who lose their jobs or whose hours of work and wages are reduced as a result of increased imports. Pictured are Teresa Broome, district manager for LWIAs 1 and 2; Jim; Barbara; Steve Vinsant, Kingsport Career Center manager; and Jack Greene, John City Career Center manager.

 

Workers’ Compensation
The medical case management section was created as a result of the 1992 Workers’ Compensation Reform Act which required employers to assign a medical case manager to an injured employee’s claim whenever an established threshold was reached.  Staff developed policies and protocols to ensure the role of the medical case manager is to facilitate the employee’s medical treatment and return to work – not to function as an adjuster.  Medical case managers must register with the department and complete required forms on each claim worked.  To maintain an active status, the medical case manager must submit appropriate license and/or certification renewal information. Complaints against medical case managers are investigated and promptly resolved by staff.  An investigation may lead to the re-education of the medical case manager or the removal of a medical case manager from a claim.    

The Workers’ Compensation Reform Act of 2004 removed the mandatory thresholds for medical case management allowing employers to choose whether or not to use medical case management services.  Since this change, more than 200 new medical case managers have been added to our registration database.  Required forms on each claim are now submitted primarily in electronic format.  Staff continues to assist interested parties with this program as it remains an important part of the workers’ compensation system.  If you have questions regarding medical case management please contact Suzy Douglas, R.N.		  

TOSHA
TOSHA would like to welcome three new employees to the division.  Brian Irwin is employed as an occupational safety Specialist in the Kingsport office.  In Nashville TOSHA has two new occupational safety specialists, John Houghton and David Buckles.  John transferred from the Workers’ Compensation Division, and David and Brian were previously employed outside of state government.

On April 13, 2007, OSHA proposed a new rule that revises the explosives and blasting agents standard in 29 CFR 1910, Subpart H.  This revision of 1910.109 is intended to enhance the protections provided to employees engaged in the manufacture, storage, sale, transportation, handling, and use of explosives.  The proposal updates and clarifies the regulatory language, addresses regulatory inconsistencies between OSHA and other Federal agencies, incorporates updated consensus standards, and provides the regulated community with greater compliance flexibility.  The State of Tennessee Division of Occupational Safety and Health is required to adopt a rule that provides the same protection as afforded by the federal rule within six months of the promulgation of the federal rule. 

 
 

Adult Education
Liz Mills of Maryville has been named Volunteer of the Year by the Tennessee Association of Adult and Community Education. She brings to her students a vast wealth of experience and inspiration.

Before retiring to Blount County, Ms. Mills worked as an IBM software engineer. Her work experience included domestic and international air traffic control, working with the Apollo space mission, and 20 launches of the space shuttle. Liz was part of the team that sent man to the moon.

According to Carol Ergenbright, Blount County AE Supervisor, “Liz is a person who welcomes challenges. For each student that she teaches, she explores different materials to select the very best for each student and meticulously prepares and documents an individual lesson plan. She is incredibly patient and willing to review and reinforce even the most basic skills.”

Liz views her work with the adult education program as a calling and as a way to give back to the community. Her volunteer time has been beneficial to her as well. Tutoring has given her a better understanding and appreciation of both the need for adult education and of the way the system works.

Adult Education is fortunate to have hundreds of volunteers across the state that give their time and talents to tutoring students one-on-one and teaching small groups. Without these volunteers, it would take many students years to complete their educational goals.   Ms. Mills is a shining example of these volunteers and the Division of Adult Education salutes her for her efforts and congratulates her on her award.		  

Employment Security
Congratulations to the Appeals Tribunal for being tied for fourth best in the country and the Board of Review tied for seventh best in the country. Michael Thomason, director of Appeals, was recently notified of Tennessee’s achievement by Dianna Milhollin, regional UI director for the U.S. Department of Labor, Employment & Training. “Lynda McDaniel and Bill Sizer both do an excellent job for the people of Tennessee,” said Thomason.

Commissioner Neeley and Melinda Williams, assistant administrator for Employment Security, gave opening comments during the WIA-TAA training recently in Nashville. The training was conducted by Joey Czarneski with Employment & Workforce Development. TAA staff also included in the training from the ES Division were Mike Daniel, Robin Wright, and Barbara Boyd.

ES district managers and other staff from across the state attended the AFL-CIO Technical Assistance Training held last week in Memphis.

Don Ingram, administrator for Employment Security, and Marie Moss, assistant administrator, attended a meeting for administrators and directors in Atlanta last week hosted by the USDOL Regional Office.		  
 

Employment & Workforce Development
The federal allocations for the Workforce Investment Act were released in mid-April and reflect across-the-board increases for Adult, Youth and Dislocated Worker funding.  In addition, the Employment and Workforce Development Division recently worked in conjunction with the Department of Economic and Community Development to submit two Workforce Innovation and Regional Economic Development or WIRED grants to USDOL.  Both grants were from East Tennessee, and of particular note was a grant submission from LWIA 5 that included both the states of Georgia and Alabama.  Each governor could submit only two grant applications per state, and we are very pleased to have two neighboring states in support of Tennessee’s proposal.  Announcements for these grants will be made in late June, and Tennessee could receive up to $10 million in additional WIA funding.

  

Regulations & Compliance
John Straub, chief elevator inspector for the Elevator Division, has announced that he will retire effective May 31.  John came to us from the elevator industry and has worked for the division for 10 years.  He said he will now fish from sunup to sundown.  We wish him well.

Labor Standards Division welcomes their new employee, Cathy D. Carter, administrative assistant. 

Mine Safety Division has announced that Hansford Hatmaker, mine safety instructor, will be retiring effective May 15.  He is also vice mayor of Lafollette, and will now be spending most of his free time running for mayor.

Congratulations to Ken Wolentarski of Labor Research & Statistics on his appointment as statistical analyst supervisor.

  

Julie Shadrick, center, was chosen the annual Learner of the Year by the Tennessee Association for Adult and Community Education (TAACE). The award provides a $1,000 scholarship. After surviving Katrina, Julie enrolled in Adult Education courses and successfully passed the GED seven months later. She is now enrolled at Martin Methodist College in the physician’s assistant program. Commissioner Neeley recently congratulated Julie along with her supervisor for the Marshall County Adult Education program, Sara Campbell.

 


To: Joe Cummings, Research & Statistics
From: Kathy J. Pierce, Northeast Tennessee Workforce Investment board

“I have had the privilege of working with Linda Davis to get some statistical info for LWIA 1 in preparation for our strategic plan presentation to the State Workforce Board.  I just wanted to send her an ‘official’ compliment for the excellent work she did, for all her help, and for her terrific attitude!

She is a winner, and it was a pleasure talking to her.”

To: Peggy McLain, TN Career Center Pulaski
From: Dan Bates, Goodman Co.

“Goodman Co. thanks you and your staff for helping us conduct our job fair at your offices last Thursday. Around 90 people were interviewed, and we had about 50 of these attend an orientation/training session yesterday.  We plan to hire from this group of applicants.  We consider this job fair a big success.

We really appreciate your help!  Please pass this on to your staff.”

To: Phil Jones, TN Career Center Tullahoma
From: A job applicant

Thank you for always keeping me in mind for possible jobs. About three weeks ago, I was hired as the administrative assistant to the director of engineering for this company in Huntsville.

I love my new job; it has been difficult to find time to call you during business hours, as there is so much to learn and to do. Although my primary responsibility is to the director, I also support managers and about 150 engineers! I leave home about 6:15 a.m. and don’t get home until about 6:15 p.m. It is, however, well worth the drive, and after my son graduates from high school, I may relocate to Alabama.

I am very appreciative of all that you have done for me and all of the good advice that you have given me. Thank you so much. Your suggestion of indeed.com was very helpful, as that is where I found the job posting.

Interestingly enough, I have come away from this experience believing that there are just some matches that fit. After having interviewed quite a number of people, including quite a few who already worked for this company, I was informed of my hiring when one of the managers walked me back to the HR office. By the way, our company is actively looking for engineers, so if you know of any, send them our way.”

To: Lynda McDaniel, Chief Hearing Officer for Appeals
From: LaVonna Burns, Greene County Human Resources Association

“On behalf of the Greene County Human Resources Association, I would like to thank you for agreeing to speak at our monthly meeting.  Your generous donation of your time and resources has helped make this year’s programs a huge success.  The turnout was great!

Human Resource professionals benefit from understanding the process and the ‘whys’ on Unemployment Appeals.  I personally gained knowledge that will assist me and the State in the future.

We are making efforts to ensure that all our members – those who attended and those who could not – are being made aware of the companies that have generously donated their time and resources to help us in our goal of educating our association.

Once again, thank you for your support of the Greene County Human Resources Association.  Please do not hesitate to contact us if we can be of any assistance to you in any way.” 

To: Andrea Witt, Career Center Chattanooga
From: A job applicant

“I just wanted to say ‘thank you.’ I spoke to you a couple times, and you were very helpful and encouraging.  I took your advice and drove to Nashville and took the test for the secretary position. I have an interview tomorrow with the Department of Human Services. Before I spoke to you, I had convinced myself it would be a waste of time to just get on another register.

I also took your advice and looked at the McCallie Web site.  I had an interview with Mr. Kemp yesterday.  I just want you to know that your time and efforts are appreciated.  Thanks to you, I have received two more employment opportunities. Many times searching for a job can be draining and disappointing.  Your encouragement and understanding helped me get motivated again.”

To: Betty Lewis, Labor Standards
From: A client

“Thank you for your time and attention into this matter. You were very kind every time we spoke, and I certainly appreciate your help.”

To: Mark Chandler, Field Operations
From: Jane Wallace, Stratford IT Academy

“Your contribution to the success of the Stratford Information Technology Academy’s job shadowing event cannot be understated. Thank you very much for spending some time explaining and demonstrating your work to our students. Their comments showed how much they appreciated the visits and how important the experiences are to the students. Thank you for being positive influences and role models for our students.”

To: Arthur Franklin and Mary Ellen Grace, Labor Standards
From: A client

“This letter is to communicate the appreciation of the time, effort, professionalism, and willingness of Santiago Rodriguez, who assisted my parents and me regarding a delay in payments and no payments at all from an employer.

Santiago was willing to assist even though not required. Thanks to the support of his managers, he took on the challenge and sent a notification letter to the company and followed up with phone calls to all parties involved. During the calls he was most helpful and professional.

My parents and I are extremely pleased to quickly receive payments as a result of the hard work of Mr. Rodriguez.”
 




 
 

May
Safe Jobs for Youth Month
Press release first of month

May 17
April state unemployment rate released

May 24
April county unemployment rates released

May 28
Memorial Day observed; offices closed

June 14
May state unemployment rate released

June 21
May county unemployment rates released


  

July 4 (Wednesday)
Independence Day; offices closed

July 19
June state unemployment rate released

July 22-25
30th Annual Tennessee Safety & Health Congress & Exposition
Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center, Nashville

July 26
June county unemployment rates released

  
 
Comments or Questions? Contact Martha Deacon at martha.deacon@state.tn.us.

The Tennessee Department of Labor & Workforce Development is an equal
opportunity employer/program. Auxiliary aids and services will be provided upon
request to persons with disabilities.