**
>>> SUPPORT FOR THIS PROGRAM IS
PROVIDED BY THE FOUNDATION FOR
EXLENGTHS IN LOUISIANA PUBLIC
BROADCASTING.
AND FROM VIEWERS LIKE YOU.
**
>>> HELLO AND WELCOME TO
"LOUISIANA PUBLIC SQUARE," I'M
BETH COURTNEY, PRESIDENT OF THE
LOUISIANA PUBLIC BROADCASTING.
>> AND I'M ROBERT TRAVIS SCOTT,
PRESIDENT OF THE PUBLIC AFFAIRS
RESEARCH COUNCIL OF LOUISIANA.
THE MONTH OF MAY BRINGS WITH IT
THE END OF THE SCHOOL SEMESTER,
AND THE BEGINNING OF THE CAREER
SEARCH FOR TENS OF THOUSANDS OF
LOUISIANA GRADUATES.
THE GOOD NEWS IS THAT TODAY'S
JOB HUNTERS HAVE MUCH LESS NEED
TO LOOK OUTSIDE OF THE STATE FOR
EMPLOYMENT THAN THEIR
COUNTERPARTS FROM JUST A DECADE
AGO.
>> LOUISIANA NOW HAS MORE PEOPLE
WORKING AND A HIGHER PER CAPITA
INCOME LEVEL THAN EVER BEFORE.
WHAT ARE THE HOT CAREERS AND HOW
WELL ARE OUR COLLEGES AND
UNIVERSITIES PREPARING GRADUATES
FOR THEM?
AND WHAT TOOL RESOURCE AVAILABLE
FOR THE STATE'S JOB SEEKERS.
PLUS, THE HUNDREDS OF LOUISIANA
VETERANS RETURNING TO THE
WORKFORCE.
TONIGHT "LOUISIANA PUBLIC
SQUARE" LOOKS FOR ANSWERS TO
THESE QUESTIONS AND MORE AS IT
EXPLORES "JOB MARKET 2014".
>>> FROM BATON ROUGE COMMUNITY
COLLEGE GRADUATE JOHN CULOTTA,
MAJORING WAS AN EASY CHOICE.
>> A LOT OF PEOPLE IN THE OIL
INDUSTRY I KNOW WORKED WITH
PROCESS GUYS, THEY RECOMMENDED
TO ME TO LOOK AT IT AND TO
PURSUE IT.
>> AFTER TWO YEARS OF HANDS ON
TRAINING SIMULATED PROCESSING
UNITS, CULOTTA IS EAGER TO BRING
HIS SKILLS TO A REAL PLANT.
>> WAVE P.M. ON 610.
>> THE WHOLE THING ABOUT BEING
AN OPERATOR, THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE
DOING.
WHEN THERE'S A PROBLEM WITH THE
UNIT YOU'RE THERE TO CORRECT IT
AND KEEP THE PLANT RUNNING AT
FULL EFFICIENCY.
>> CULOTTA HAS BEEN JOB HUNTING
ONLINE, ACCESSORYING THE
INTERNET FOR JOBS.
ONE PLACE HIS SEARCH WON'T TAKE
HIM IS OUT OF STATE.
>> I'VE LIVED HERE ALL MY LIFE.
I HAVE A LOT OF RESPECT FOR
LOUISIANA AND THE AMOUNT OF
JOBS, HERE, TOO.
I DON'T THINK YOU REALLY NEED TO
GO ANYWHERE.
I THINK MORE PEOPLE WOULD BE
COMING HERE.
>> MORE THAN 37,000 GRADUATES IN
THE STATE WILL BE RECEIVING
TWO-YEAR, FOUR YEAR AND ADVANCED
DEGREES THIS YEAR.
THEY FACE A LOUISIANA JOB MARKET
THAT HAS BEEN EXPANDING FOR MORE
THAN THREE YEARS.
>> FOR THE LAST CONSECUTIVE 42
MONTHS PRIVATE SECTOR EMPLOYEES
HAVE BEEN GAINING, ADDING JOBS
INTO THE ECONOMY.
RIGHT NOW AT AN UNEMPLOYMENT
RATE OF 4.5% WE ARE THE LOWEST
IN THE SOUTH, AND 10th LOWEST
UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IN THE ENTIRE
NATION.
>> BRYAN MOORE IS THE DIRECTOR
OF WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT FOR THE
LOUISIANA WORKFORCE COMMISSION.
HIS AGENCY PROJECTS LOUISIANA
WILL GAIN 103,000 NEW JOBS
ANNUALLY OVER THE NEXT TWO
YEARS.
>> SOME FIELD WE HAVE MOSTLY MEN
IN LOUISIANA WOULD INCLUDE THE
PETROCHEMICAL INDUSTRY WITH $60
BILLION OF ANNOUNCED ECONOMIC
EXPANSION THAT'S TAKING PLACE.
THE CONSTRUCTION FIELD IS IN
GREAT DEMANDING PARTICULARLY
CARPENTERS AND ELECTRICIANS AND
PIPE FITTERS.
BUT ALSO THE HEALTH CARE
INDUSTRY, YOU'LL SEE THERE'S A
LARGE NEED FOR REGISTERED NURSES
AND OTHER HEALTH CARE
PRACTITIONERS AS WELL.
>> THE SHALE GAS INDUSTRY WILL
GENERATE OVER 4,000 JOBS AND HAS
ATTRACTED INVESTMENT FROM
COMPANIES LIKE REGENCY ENERGY
INTO SHREVEPORT, COOL PLANET
INTO ALEXANDRIA, SOUTH AFRICA
BASED SASOL INTO LAKE YOURS AND
OTHERS INTO HACKBERRY.
JOBS WILL BE INCLUDING COMPUTER
SCIENTIST CORPORATION IN BOSSIER
STUDY, GE CAPITOL SOFTWARE IN
NEW ORLEANS, CGI I.T. SERVICES
IN LAFAYETTE AND IBM IN BATON
ROUGE.
>> AT IBM, I'M IN THE ORACLE
FIELD.
WE'RE DEALING WITH DATABASES.
>> THE SOUTHERN UNIVERSITY
CENTER LEAH KIGHT IS INTERNING
IN BATON ROUGE.
>> THE THING ABOUT COMPUTER
SCIENCE IN OUR DEPARTMENT IS OUR
TEACHERS, THEY HAVE ALREADY HAD
THAT EXPERIENCE IN THE CORPORATE
WORLD OR THE RESEARCH WORLD,
WHICH MAKES IT EASY FOR THEM TO
TEACH US THINGS TO HELP US
SUCCEED.
>> WITH AN ABUNDANCE OF
TECHNOLOGY OPPORTUNITIES IN THE
STATE, KIGHT IS RECONSIDERING
HER CAREER SEARCH.
>> AT FIRST I WAS THINKING I
WOULD PROBABLY HAVE TO MOVE.
NOW WITH IBM MOVING TO
LOUISIANA, IT'S A 90% CHANCE I
WILL BE WHERE I GREW UP AT.
>> WITH THE DEMAND FOR SCIENCE,
TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING AND MATH
FIELDS OR S.T.E.M. FIELDS IS
MUCH HIGHER THAN THE STATE
SURPRISE.
THEIR THREE STEM OPENINGS FOR
EVERY UNEMPLOYED WORKER.
>> THE PROBLEM WE ARE TRYING TO
SOLVE IS WE HAVE A LOT OF REALLY
GOOD NEWS IN ECONOMIC
DEVELOPMENT.
WE HAVE A LOT OF GOOD JOBS
COMING INTO LOUISIANA.
WE DON'T HAVE THE TRAJECTORY TO
BE ABLE TO FILL ALL OF THOSE JOB
GAPS WITH GRADUATES FROM THE
TWO-YEAR COLLEGES AND FOUR-YEAR
COLLEGES.
>> SANDRA WOODLEY, PRESIDENT OF
THE UNIVERSITY OF LOUISIANA
SYSTEM JOINS THE SESSION TO
SUPPORT THE WORKFORCE AND
INNOVATION FOR A STRONGER
ECONOMY, OR WISE FUND.
THEY SET ASIDE $40 MILLION THAT
PUBLIC COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES
COMPETE FOR BY PRODUCING
GRADUATES IN HIGH-DEMAND FIELDS.
SCHOOLS ARE ALSO REWARDED FOR
INCREASING RESEARCH
POSSIBILITIES.
>> FOR ME TO -- I JUST CAME
THROUGH THAT PROCESS SO I KNOW
ALL OF THE PROBLEMS THAT THEY
ENCOUNTER.
>> KENNY LYNCH RETIRED FROM THE
AIRPORT LAST JUNE AFTER SERVING
25 YEARS.
HE INITIALLY APPROACHED THE
LOUISIANA WORKFORCE COMMISSION
FOR EMPLOYMENT ASSISTANCE AND
ENDED UP BEING OFFERED JOB AS
COUNSELOR IN THE VETERANS
PROGRAM.
HE HELPS THE HUNDREDS OF
SOLDIERS RETURNING TO THE
WORKFORCE CONQUER THEIR BIGGEST
CHALLENGE: MAKING EMPLOYERS
UNDERSTAND THEIR SKILL SET.
>> THE MILITARY, THE MILITARY
USE AS LOT OF JAR GONE.
IN THE CIVILIAN SECTOR IT
DOESN'T TRANSLATE AS WELL.
>> THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE OF
LOUISIANA VETERANS IS 4.9%,
SLIGHTLY HIGHER THAN THE STATE
RATE OF 4.5%.
LYNCH ENCOURAGES HIS CLIENTS TO
MAKE EMPLOYERS AWARE OF TAX
INCENTIVES AVAILABLE FOR HIRING
70s.
CREDITS RANGE FROM $24 TO 9600
DOLLARS PER HIRE.
>> MOST EMPLOYERS WHEN YOU FIND
OUT I CAN GET MONEY BACK FROM
THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT FOR
HIRING 92 THEY TONED, WELL, LET
ME HEAR MORE ABOUT THAT.
>> FOR BOTH CURRENT AND FUTURE
LOUISIANA JOB SEEKERS, MOORE
ENCOURAGING THEM TO VISIT THE
COMMISSION'S WEBSITE TO PERUSE
JOB LISTING, EXPLORE HIGH-DEMAND
FIELD AND LEARN THE EDUCATIONAL
PATHWAYS TO THOSE CAREERS.
>> WE HAVE MORE JOBS THAN PEOPLE
WHO QUALIFY FOR THEM.
IT'S UP TO THE YOUNG PEOPLE TO
UNDERSTAND WHAT THEY NEED TO DO
TODAY TO HAVE A BETTER TOMORROW.
>> JOINING ME IN OUR STUDIO
AUDIENCE TONIGHT TO EXPLORE
LOUISIANA'S JOB MARKET ARE
RESIDENTS FROM THE GREATER BATON
ROUGE AREA.
THEY INCLUDE RECENT TWO- AND
FOUR-YEAR GRADUATES, CAREER
COUNSELORS, A VETERAN, AND
MEMBERS OF A LEGISLATIVE YOUTH
ADVISORY COUNCIL.
LSU'S PUBLIC POLICY RESEARCH LAB
SURVEYED PEOPLE ON TONIGHT'S
TOPIC.
>>> WHEN ASKED IF GRADUATES OF
LOUISIANA'S UNIVERSITY RESOURCE
ADEQUATELY PREPARE FOR THE JOB
MARKET 61% OF RESPONDENTS SAID
YES, 30% SAID NO AND 9% WERE
UNSURE.
AND WHEN ASKED IF LOUISIANA
VETERANS ARE ADEQUATELY PREPARE
FOR THE CIVILIAN JOB MARKET, 41%
SAID NO, 37% SAID YES, AND 22%
WERE EITHER UNSURE OR DIDN'T
ANSWER.
>> WHEN ASKED THEIR OPINION ON
CURRENT BUSINESS CONDITIONS IN
THE STATE, COMPARED TO A YEAR
AGO, 47% OF THOSE SURVEYED THINK
CONDITIONS ARE ABOUT THE SAME.
27% THINK THAT THEY ARE WORSE.
AND JUST 23% SAY THEY ARE
BETTER.
3% WERE UNSURE.
DESPITE THESE OPINIONS 63% OF
RESPONDENTS WOULD FIZER REENTS
COLLEGE GRADUATES TO LOOK FOR
JOBS IN THE STATE.
29% WOULD RECOMMEND LOOKING
OUTSIDE LOUISIANA FOR
EMPLOYMENT.
AND 8% WERE UNSURE.
SO LET'S LAUNCH OFF FROM THAT
POINT.
WE'VE HAD A LOT OF BIG BOOMING
JOBS A LOT OF JOB OPPORTUNITIES.
HOW ABOUT THOSE OF YOU WHO HAVE
EITHER FELT THE IMPACT OF THIS
YOURSELF OR KNOW SOMEBODY WHO
HAS FELT THE IMPACT OF ALL OF
THESE DEVELOPMENTS?
WHO WANTS TO START OFF?
HOW ABOUT YOU, LEASE SKID MARKS
TELL US ABOUT YOUR SITUATION.
YOU'RE A BATON ROUGE COMMUNITY
COLLEGE COUNSELOR, IS THAT NOT
RIGHT?
>> YES.
WELL, IN MY POSITION AT BATON
ROUGE COMMUNITY COLLEGE I GET TO
SEE STUDENTS ENTERING THE JOB
MARKET.
AND IN MY EXPERIENCE -- MY
EXPERIENCE IS THAT THOSE
STUDENTS WHO HAVE WORK
EXPERIENCE ALONG WITH THE
EDUCATION ARE FINDING
EMPLOYMENT.
IT'S KIND OF A SPECIAL MIXTURE.
THE TYPE OF EXPERIENCE AND OF
COURSE THE DEGREES.
SOME OF OUR DEGREES THAT WE
OFFER ARE IN HIGHER DEMAND, AND
THE STUDENTS IN THOSE ALMOST
STEP INTO A JOB RIGHT AFTER
GRADUATION.
>> THAT'S REALLY GREAT.
HOW MUCH TROUBLE DO YOU HAVE
GETTING STUDENTS CHANNEL INTO
THE RIGHT DIRECTIONS?
>> WELL, UNFORTUNATELY IF SOME
OF THAT HAPPENS BEFORE THEY GET
TO US AT THE COLLEGE, SO THEY
ARE NOT ALWAYS AWARE THAT A
COMMUNITY COLLEGE DEGREE IS A
VIABLE OPTION, WHEREAS IN THE
EMPLOYMENT WORLD, IT IS A VERY
VIABLE OPTION.
SO COMMUNICATING THAT MESSAGE TO
THE PARENTS AND TO THE STUDENTS
AT A YOUNGER AGE IS REALLY
IMPORTANT, BECAUSE ONCE THEY GET
TO US, A LOT OF THEM ARE NOT
AWARE THAT THEY COULD GO INTO A
WORKFORCE TYPE DEGREE.
>> RIGHT, RIGHT.
AND YOUR COLLEAGUE AT BATON
ROUGE COMMUNITY COLLEGE IS
KERRY.
ARE YOU SEEING THE SAME TYPE OF
TREND THERE?
>> 72.
AND THE WORKFORCE PROGRAMS THAT
I BELIEVE LISA'S REFERRING TO
ARE APPLIED SCIENCE PROGRAMS.
THE STUDENTS HAVE A BUILT-IN
INTERNSHIP COMPONENT TO THEIR
STUDIES, SO THEY ARE GETTING
WORK ALONGSIDE OF THEIR
EDUCATION.
AND THAT IS DEFINITELY PREPARING
THEM TO ENTER FULL TIME WORK IN
THEIR FIELD, RIGHT AFTER
GRADUATION.
>> LET'S TALK TO SOME OF THESE
STUDENTS AND WHAT THEY ARE
FACING.
AUSTIN, TELL US A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT WHO YOU ARE, WHERE YOU ARE
RIGHT NOW, AND WHAT'S YOUR
CAREER OUTLOOK.
>> WELL, I'M JUST NEWLY
GRADUATED, HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE
FROM ST. MICHAEL HIGH SCHOOL
HERE IN BATON ROUGE.
I CURRENTLY WORK AT A LAW FIRM
RIGHT NOW WORKING FULL TIME.
BUT I THINK FOR, YOU KNOW,
TALKING ABOUT STUDENTS COMING
OUT OF THE -- AFTER GRADUATING
GOING INTO THE WORKFORCE, I
THINK IT DEPENDS ON WHAT TYPE OF
WORK YOU'RE GOING INTO.
WE SEE A LOT OF HIGH-TECH
INDUSTRY COMING IN BUT I THINK
IT ALL DEPENDS ON WHAT CAREER
FIELD YOU'RE WANTING TO GO INTO.
I KNOW FOR SOMEONE WANTING TO GO
INTO A LAW FIELD, FOR A CITY
WITH TWO LAW SCHOOLS, IT'S VERY
HARD TO FIND WORK HERE IN BATON
ROUGE, IN THE WIDER LOUISIANA
COMMUNITY.
A LOT OF PEOPLE TYRONN LUE HAVE
TO GO OUT OF STATE FOR LAW
SCHOOLS --
>> FOR LAWYERS, MAYBE THERE SEEM
TO BE A LOT IN THAT FIELD.
>> BUT YOU'VE CHOSEN IN ANYWAY.
>> I HAVE CHOSEN IT ANYWAY.
>> GOOD LUCK TO YOU ON THAT
AREA.
>> THANK YOU.
>> HOW ABOUT 92.
>> YES, SIR, I'M TYRONN LUE
STUDYING JOURNALISM AND
INTERNATIONAL STUDIES.
I GO TO LSU RIGHT NOW AND I HAVE
BECOME DEFINITELY MORE INVESTED
IN THE STATE.
BUT I'M CONCERNED THAT WHEN I
GRADUATE, I'M INTERESTED IN
INTERNATIONAL JOURNALISM.
I DON'T KNOW THAT THERE ARE JOBS
FOR THAT IN LOUISIANA.
THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS
INTERNATIONAL.
>> WELL, DEFINITELY A
CHALLENGING INDUSTRY THESE DAYS.
BUT HOW ABOUT YOU, WALLACE?
>> YES, I'LL BE A SENIOR AT HIGH
SCHOOL THIS COMING UP SPRING.
I THINK THERE ARE PLENTY OF JOBS
AVAILABLE RIGHT NOW IN SOUTHWEST
LOUISIANA WITH SASOL, BUT THE
PROBLEM WE ARE SEEING IS A LACK
OF EXPERIENCE FOR THOSE JOBS.
I THINK THEY ARE TRYING HARDER
TO PROVIDE THE EXPERIENCE, BUT
THAT IS WHAT WE'RE LOOKING INTO
RIGHT NOW.
>> HOW ABOUT THAT.
ARE YOUR FRIENDS GEARING UP FOR
ALL OF THE WORK THAT'S GOING TO
BE TAKING PLACE IN THE LAKE
CHARLES AREA?
IS THIS A COMMON CONVERSATION
POINT?
>> YES, SIR, IT HAS BACK COMMON
CONVERSATION.
OUR TEACHERS AND PRINCIPALS ARE
LETTING EVERYONE KNOW THAT THERE
IS GROWTH GOING ON IN OUR AREA.
FOR THE LONGEST TIME I'VE WANTED
TO LEAVE THE STATE AND GO
FURTHER, BUT NOW I'M THINKING
ABOUT STAYING HOME BECAUSE OF
THE ECONOMIC SITUATION.
>> OKAY.
YOU'RE TRYING TO BE THE POSTER
KID FOR WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO DO
HERE.
I GUESS WE'LL SEE IF THAT WORKS
OUT.
JERRY, YOU ARE A MOM OF A VET,
THAT IS NOT RIGHT?
>> YES, I AM.
>> TELL US ABOUT THAT AND WHAT
YOUR SON IS EXPERIENCING.
>> I'M A PROUD MOM OF A VET AND
A NEW ATTORNEY IN THE STATE.
IT WAS A LITTLE DIFFICULT FOR
HIM MAKING THE TRANSITION BACK.
>> WHAT DID HE RETURN HOME FROM?
>> HE DID SERVE IN IRAQ.
WHEN HE CAME HOME AND CAME OUT
OF THE MILITARY, IT WAS
DIFFICULT FOR HIM TO MAKE
ADJUSTMENTS.
BUT THROUGH THE INTRODUCTION
TYRONN LUE OF THE WORKFORCE
WEBSITE, HE WAS INTRODUCED TO
CAREER FIELDS THAT HE HAD NOT
EVEN FATHOMED BEFORE.
>> WHAT WEBSITE ARE YOU
REFERRING TO?
>> I'M TALKING ABOUT THE
WORKFORCE, THE STATE WORKFORCE
WEBSITE.
FROM THERE WE STARTED TALKING
ABOUT THOSE FILMS AND
OPPORTUNITIES THAT WERE
AVAILABLE BASED ON THE INDUSTRY
NEED IN THE STATE.
AND HE HAS SETTLED ON GOING INTO
ONE OF THE CONSTRUCTION
MANAGEMENT FIELDS E. SAW THAT,
YOU KNOW, EVEN THOUGH HE MIGHT
WANT TO GO ON TO COLLEGE AND GET
A FOUR-YEAR DEGREE, HE COULD GET
RIGHT TO WORK WITH THE SUPPORT
OF INDUSTRY AND GETTING A
COMMUNITY COLLEGE EDUCATION THAT
WAS AFFORDABLE AND ACCESSIBLE TO
HIM.
>> HOW ABOUT THAT.
YOU'RE ALSO WITH THE COMMUNITY
COLLEGES.
>> YES, I AM.
>> MAYBE YOUR SON NEEDS TO TALK
TO MATT.
YOU JUST HEARD WHAT SHE SAID.
ARE YOU READY FOR A RESUME?
>> WELL A LOT OF OUR ABC MEMBER
CONTRACTORS --
>> MY NAME IS MATT CAMPBELL, I
WORK WITH THE BIDDING AND
CONTRACTORS PELICAN CHAPTER HERE
IN BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA.
A LOT OF OUR MEMBER CONTRACTORS
FOR THE SASOL PROJECT ARE
WORKING WITH VETERANS, WORKING
TO HIRE THEM.
WE'VE HEARD ABOUT TAX INCENTIVES
AND THINGS LIKE THAT FOR HIRING
VETERANS.
IT'S A VERY ATTRACTIVE OFFER FOR
EMPLOYERS.
THEY HAVE THE REGIMENTED
TRAINING, THEY WORK AS A TEAM
AND KNOW HOW TO GET THINGS DONE.
IT'S VERY ATTRACTIVE TO
EMPLOYERS.
THEY MAKE A PERFECT FIT A LOT OF
TIMES INTO OUR INDUSTRY.
OUR INDUSTRY IS RECRUITING THEM
HARD AND WE ARE VERY INTERESTED
IN GETTING THEM STARTED WORKING.
>> THE PUBLIC HE DOES INDICATION
SYSTEM IS NOT FILLING THE NEED
YOU THINK THEY DO, AND THAT'S
WHY THE INDUSTRY ITSELF HAS AN
EDUCATIONAL ARM.
IS THAT WHAT WE'RE TALKING ABOUT
SNEER.
>> I THINK RIGHT NOW WITH THE
BOOM IN INDUSTRIAL CONSTRUCTION,
ALL OF US COULD TRAIN AND THERE
STILL WON'T BE ENOUGH.
THERE WILL BE ENOUGH FOR
EVERYBODY TO REACH OUT THERE AND
GET A PIECE OF THE PIE.
>> JEREMY, I BELIEVE, JEREMY,
YOU ARE ENROLLED IN THE SCHOOL?
>> I'M A RECENT GRADUATE.
>> THIS PAST MAY I'VE GRADUATED
FROM ABC PELICAN CHAPTER.
I WAS WORKING THROUGH AN
APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM, MY
COMPANY, JACOBS STEEL SERVICES.
THROUGH THAT I'VE HAD A LOT OF
OPPORTUNITIES OPEN UP FOR ME.
I WENT TO THE NATIONAL CRAFT
OLYMPICS AND WON THIRD PLACE AND
THE SAFETY AWARD AND ALL THAT.
MY APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM AND
TRAINING HAS HELPED ME COME A
LONG WAYS.
IT GAVE ME A CAREER, SOMETHING I
CAN BUILD UPON.
>> AND YOU'RE TALKING TO FRIENDS
ABOUT THIS?
>> DEFINITELY, I'M RECRUITING
THEM IN, TRYING TO GET A BUNCH
OF PEOPLE IN.
>> YOU'RE VERY OWN HEADHUNTER
HERE.
LET'S GO BACK TO LEE I CAN'T.
LEAH, YOU DID A FINE JOB ON THE
NEWS PROGRAM AS WE STARTED OFF
OVER THERE TELL US A LITTLE MORE
ABOUT YOUR SITUATION AND WHAT
YOU SEE AHEAD OF YOU AND HOW
YOU'RE TRYING TO MATCH UP YOUR
CAREER WITH YOUR EDUCATION.
>> WELL, RIGHT NOW I AM
INTERNING AT IBM.
I'VE BEEN THERE FOR THE SPRING
AND THE SUMMER.
RIGHT NOW, OTHER THAN ENHANCING
MY TECHNICAL SKILLS, I'M LEARN
IF YOU GO TAKE THE INITIATIVE
ALL THE TIME, YOU WILL SUCCEED.
AND WHEN I SAY THAT, I SAY THAT
IT IS -- WHEN IT COMES DOWN TO
TECHNOLOGY THERE'S ALWAYS
SOMETHING NEW COMING.
AND DON'T ALWAYS BASE IT ON
CURRICULUM, THIS IS WHERE YOU'RE
GOING LEARN SOFTWARE ENGINEERING
AND C, PLUS, PLUS.
BY BEING A COMPUTER SCIENCE
STUDENT, I CAN HONESTLY SAY
THROUGH DEDICATION AND LATE AT
NIGHT YOU'RE STUDYING, LEARNING
A NEW PROGRAM LANGUAGE.
DURING THE SUMMERTIME, I'M NOT
RELAXING U I'M RETURNING OUR
CLOUD IS NEVER A SITTING POINT
FOR ME.
>> CAN YOU COME TALK TO MY
TEENAGERS AT HOME?
[LAUGHTER]
>> WELL, THAT'S ALL THE TIME WE
HAVE FOR THIS PORTION OF OUR
SHOW.
WHEN WE RETURN WE'LL BE JOINED
BY A PANEL OF EXPERTS TO FURTHER
EXPLODE LOUISIANA'S JOB MARKET.
**
>>> WELCOME BACK TO "LOUISIANA
PUBLIC SQUARE."
TONIGHT WE'RE DISCUSSING
LOUISIANA'S "JOB MARKET 2014".
JOINING US NOW IS OUR PANEL OF
EXPERTS.
THEY INCLUDE THE HEAD OF THE
STATE'S WORKFORCE COMMISSION AND
REPRESENTATIVES FROM THREE OF
THE STATE'S BURGEONING FIELDS.
KURT OCCUR IS THE EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR OF THE LOUISIANA
WORKFORCE COMMISSION, APPOINTED
TO THE POSITION BY GOVERNOR
JINDAL IN 2009, MR. EYSINK HAS
INCREASED WORKFORCE
PARTICIPATION AND TRANSFORMED
WHAT WAS KNOWN AS THE DEPARTMENT
OF LABOR INTO A WORKFORCE
DELIVERY SYSTEM THAT STRIVES TO
MEET THE NEEDS OF BUSINESS AND
INDUSTRY.
DR. TINA HOLIDAY LAND WAS
SELECTED IN APRIL AS THE NEW
PRESIDENT OF OUR LADY OF THE
LAKE COLLEGE IN BATON ROUGE.
THE INSTITUTION HAS RECENTLY
EXPANDED PROGRAM OFFERINGS TO
EXPAND THE OVERWHELMING PROGRAM
FOR HEALTH CARE PROFESSIONALS.
DR. HOLLAND PREVIOUSLY SERVED AS
AN INTELLIGENCE OFFICER IN THE
MARINE CORPS GREGORY BOWSER IS
EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT OF THE
LOUISIANA CHEMICAL ASSOCIATION
WHICH REPRESENTS THE INTERESTS
OF MORE THAN 60 CHEMICAL
MANUFACTURING COMPANIES ALL OVER
THE STATE.
HE ALSO SERVES AS VICE PRESIDENT
OF THE LOUISIANA CHEMICAL
INDUSTRY ALLIANCE A PARTNERSHIP
OF LOUISIANA'S CHEMICAL PLANTS,
THEIR SURPRISER, CONTRACTORS AND
VENDORS.
NOAH BOUDREAUX IS THE CHIEF
OPERATING OFFICER OF SPARKHOUND,
ONE OF THE FASTEST GROWING
TECHNOLOGY COMPANIES IN THE
COUNTRY.
AS COO MR. BOUDREAUX OVERASSESS
OPERATION OF SPARKHOUND'S
OFFICES IN BATON ROUGE, HOUSTON
AND DALLAS AS WELL AS NATIONAL
I.T. SUPPORT FOR ITS CUSTOMERS.
HE RECEIVED HIS DEGREE IN
COMPUTER SCIENCE FROM
SOUTHWESTERN LOUISIANA
UNIVERSITY.
>> I WONDER IF YOU COULD TELL US
WHAT ARE SOME OF THE BIGGEST
CHALLENGES YOU ARE SEEING FROM
YOUR PARTICULAR PERSPECTIVES ON
ALL THIS BIG JOB MARKET, AND
TRYING TO GET THE WORKFORCE IN
SYNC WITH THE JOBS THAT ARE
COMING AVAILABLE.
I'LL GO RIGHT DOWN THE LINE AND
START WITH YOU, MR. EYSINK.
>> I SEE THE CHALLENGE TODAY AS
BEING TWOFOLD.
FIRST, IT'S MAKING SURE PEOPLE
IN LOUISIANA ARE AWARE OF
EXACTLY WHERE THE OPPORTUNITIES
ARE AND WHAT THOSE OPPORTUNITIES
ARE, AND REALLY, THE LIFELONG
OPPORTUNITIES IN THE STATE WE
HAVEN'T HAD BEFORE.
THE SECOND PART OF THE CHALLENGE
IS MAKING SURE THE EDUCATION AND
TRAINING FACILITIES ARE IN LINE
WITH THAT.
>> WE'RE THE DOG THAT CAUGHT THE
CAR, YOU KNOW? EVERYBODY I THINK
IN THE STATE HAS BEEN WORKING
HARD TO CREATE THESE
OPPORTUNITIES AND WE REALLY WANT
TO THANK PRIVATE INDUSTRY FOR
COMING OUR WAY.
NOW WE'VE GOT MAKE THE MOST OF
IT.
>> DR. HOLLAND, WELCOME TO
LOUISIANA.
WHAT DO YOU MAKE OF US SO FAR?
>> I LOVE THE STATE AND BATON
ROUGE IN PARTICULAR.
THERE IS SOMETHING TO BE SAID
ABOUT SOUTHERN HOSPITALITY,
THAT'S FOR SURE.
>> TELL US HOW THINGS LOOK FROM
YOUR END.
>> WONDERFUL OPPORTUNITY WE HAVE
IS THAT WE DIRECTLY PREPARE
STUDENTS FOR MEETING THE GROWING
NEED FOR WHAT ARE CALLED
PHYSICIAN EXTENDERS, THOSE FOLKS
THAT SERVE IN HEALTH CARE BEFORE
YOU NOT THEMSELVES DOCTORS.
THE WHOLE TEAM APPROACH THAT WE
ARE EXPECTING TO SEE AS THE
AFFORDABLE CARE ACT GAINS ITS
MOMENTUM, WE'LL SEE MORE AND
MORE OF THESE ANSWER LATERAL
APPROACHEDS, HEALTH CARE BEING
RETIRED ON THESE.
>> Ron: PROVISION TEAMS.
PEOPLE IN HEALTH LIT RAS, HEALTH
COACHES, LOTS OF AREAS THAT ARE
TANGENTIAL TO THE ACTUAL
CLINICAL PROFESSIONS IN HEALTH
CARE.
THE OPPORTUNITIES ARE REALLY
QUITE NUMEROUS WITH THE COLLEGE
AND WE'RE KEEPING UP BY
EXPANDING OUR PROGRAMS AT
DOCTORATE LEVEL FOR DMPs,
DOCTORATES OF NURSING.
AND ONE OF OUR FASTEST GROWING
AREAS IS IN PHYSICIAN
ASSISTANTS.
>> NOT ONLY NEW JOBS AND
TECHNOLOGIES BUT A DIFFERENT
WORKPLACE ENVIRONMENT WITH THE
WAY THE HEALTH TEAMS WORK.
>> YES.
>> VERY INTERESTING.
>> MR. BOWSER, HOW ABOUT 92.
>> WE WERE FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO
GET A NUMBER OF EXPANSION THINGS
COMING DOWN THE ROAD TO
LOUISIANA.
MAKING SURE WE HAVE A READY
WORKFORCE.
ONE, TO HELP BUILD THOSE
FACILITIES, YOU'LL NEED PIPE
FITTERS AND PEOPLE THAT ARE
WILLING TO DO THAT.
SOMEONE HAS TO OPERATE THOSE
FACILITIES AND WE HAVE TO MAKE
SURE THEY ARE TRAINED AND
THERE'S A WORKFORCE READY THERE.
THERE'S A LARGE MAJORITY OF THE
WORKFORCE THAT ARE GOING TO BE
RETIRING IN THE NEXT FIVE TO
EIGHT YEARS.
WE HAVE A THREE-PRONGED
APPROACH.
WE THINK IT'S A CHALLENGE OUR
STATE AND INDUSTRY CAN LIVE UP
TO.
>> IS IT THIS YEAR, NEXT YEAR,
OR IN TWO OR THREE OR FOUR
YEARS?
>> PROBABLY IT'LL START TO RAMP
UP THIS TIME NEXT YEAR.
YOU'LL SEE THE CONSTRUCTION END
OF IT START TO REALLY TAKE OFF.
YOU'LL SEE THE ENGINEERING PART
OF IT GOING ON RIGHT NOW.
PROBABLY THIS TIME NEXT YEAR
YOU'LL SEE THE CONSTRUCTION END
OF IT'LL TAKE OFF AND WE'LL GO
FROM THERE.
>> WE'LL HAVE TIME TO GET AHEAD
OF IT WHY YOU IF YOUR JOB.
>> SPARKHOUND.
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
>> WHAT IS SPARKHOUND?
>> IT'S AN I.T. SERVICES AND
CONSULTING FIRM OUT OF BATON
ROUGE, LOUISIANA.
WE HAVE HEADQUARTERED HERE ABOUT
200 EMPLOYEES.
WE MOSTLY SERVE BUSINESSES IN
ORDER TO BE ABLE TO REALLY
PROVIDE CONSULTING ON HOW TO
BEST WRENCH TOCK NOL WITHIN YOUR
ORGANIZATIONS.
ALSO TO IMPLEMENT THOSE
TECHNOLOGIES AND SUPPORT THEM
LONG TERM.
DO YOU HAVE MORE JOBS OPEN THAN
PEOPLE TO FILL THEM?
>> WE ABSOLUTELY DO.
THE CHALLENGE FOR US, WHICH MAY
SEEM PRETTY I GUESS COMMON, THAT
IS TECHNOLOGY CHANGES VERY
RAPIDLY.
WE'RE ALWAYS TRYING TO FIND
PEOPLE WITH THE SKILLS OF THE
LATEST TECHNOLOGY.
ALSO, BEING IN CONSULTING, IT'S
DIFFICULT TO FIND PEOPLE WITH
THE SOFT SKILLS, AS WELL AS THE
TECHNICAL SKILLS.
>> TELL US WHAT YOU MEAN BY
THAT.
>> COMMUNICATIONS, LEADERSHIP,
BEING ABLE TO WORK WITH
CUSTOMERS AND REALLY CONSULT
WITH THEM ON THE BEST USE OF THE
TECHNOLOGY, AND NOT JUST BE ABLE
TO HAVE THE SKILLS NECESSARY TO
GO AND IMPLEMENT.
>> ALL THESE, SO THAT'S AN ISSUE
OUT THERE.
>> O THAT'S WHY I SAID THE CORE
CURRICULUM AT ANY COLLEGE IS
GOING TO BE KEY REGARDLESS OF
WHAT THE TECHNICAL PREPARATION
1ST THAT STUDENT SO, THAT THEY
WOULD REMAIN FLEXIBLE AND ABLE
TO FUNCTION IN A WORKPLACE AND
PARTICULARLY IN A LEADERSHIP
POSITION.
>> RIGHT, RIGHT.
NOW, GEORGIA, YOU HAD A QUESTION
FOR THE PANEL ABOUT THAT, AND I
WANTED TO MAKE SURE YOU HAD AN
OPPORTUNITY TO ASK THAT.
>> THANKS.
I WANTED TO KNOW WHAT PROVISIONS
ARE BEING MADE FOR VETERANS WHO
CURRENTLY WORK IN THE WORKFORCE
IN LOUISIANA E AND VETERANS
COMING INTO THE WORKFORCE.
>> I'LL TAKE A STAB AT THAT.
BUT I THINK THE GUYS ARE TYRONN
LUE -- THAT DO MOST OF THE
HIRING COULD PROBABLY GIVE YOU A
GREAT TUNES THIS, TOO.
EVERY COMPANY WE WORK WITH IS
INTERESTED IN HIRING VETERANS.
WE HAVE A UNIT DEDICATED JUST TO
THAT.
WE HAVE A FOLKS AROUND THE STATE
WHOSE JOB IT IS TO MAKE THOSE
CONNECTIONS FOR VETERANS, EVEN
IF THEY ARE FAR R.V. REMOVED
FROM THE MILITARY.
WE DO HAVE AN EMPHASIS ON
RECENTLY SEPARATED VETERANS.
ANALYZING THEIR SKILLS IN
CIVILIAN TERMS AND TRYING TO
CONNECT THE SKILLS REQUIRED IN
THE MILLION DOLLARS FOR TO
CIVILIAN CREDENTIALS SO WE CAN
MAKE IT EASY.
HERE IS THE VALUE IN THIS
PERSON.
HOW TO WORK WITH PEOPLE, YOU
KNOW, HOW TO GET THE JOB DONE,
OVERCOME OBSTACLES AND THE
THINGS WE WERE TALKING ABOUT
EARLIER.
>> HOW ABOUT YOU FOLKS?
>> I WOULD AGREE.
I THINK ONE OF THE THINGS WE
REALLY HAVE TO FOCUS ON ARE THE
SOFT SKILLS.
WE HAVE PEOPLE COMING OUT OF
COLLEGE AND WE LOOK AT THE
YOUNGER GENERATION, THEY
COMMUNICATE DIFFERENTLY.
I'VE SEEN YOUNGER KIDS IN THE
SAME ROOM AND RATHER THAN TALK
THEY WILL TEXT EACH OTHER.
THAT'S DIFFERENT THAN WHAT WE'RE
ACCUSTOMED TOO.
SOMEONE COMING OUT OF THE
MILITARY UNDERSTANDS THAT, THE
COMMUNICATION AND HOW IMPORTANT
IT IS.
THEY BRING A LOT OF THOSE SOFT
SKILLS ALREADY THERE.
THEY UNDERSTAND WHY THEY NEED TO
BE ON TIME.
>> IT VARIES FROM COMPANY TO
COMPANY.
THEY REACH OUT TO VETERANS
BECAUSE OF THEIR SPECIALIZED
TRAINING.
IT JUST DEPENDS ON WHAT THE
COMPANY DOES.
THEY MAY MAKE A CHEMICAL THAT
GOES INTO SOMETHING THAT MAKES A
CERTAIN PROTECTIVE GEAR.
SO THOSE ARE THE KINDS OF THINGS
THEY REACH OUT TO THEM FOR, ON
THAT BASIS.
>> AND AT STUDENTS, I ALWAYS
WANTED VETERANS, THEY UNDERSTAND
THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING ON TIME
AND BEING PREPARED.
THEY UNDERSTAND WORK ETHIC AND
OFTEN, AFTER THE EXPERIENCE THAT
THE VETERANS HAD GOING SCHOOL IS
AN ABSOLUTE PLEASURE.
SO I CAN SAY FROM EXPERIENCE
THAT ONE OF THE GREATEST
DIFFICULTIES IS THE ADJUSTMENT,
AND PERHAPS HAVING THE CONFIDENT
THAT, OH, I REALLY AM PREPARED
TO KEPT IN THE WORKPLACE OR AS A
ONTO.
>> I THINK ANDREA WANTS TO QUIZ
YOU ON NEW GRADUATES, AND ADVICE
YOU WOULD GIVE TO THEM.
ANDREA, WHAT WAS YOUR QUESTION?
>> I'M A COLLEGE GRADUATE AS OF
ONE WEEK AGO.
>> CONGRATULATIONS.
>> DID YOU BRING YOUR RESUME?
>> I SHOULD HAVE!
BUT ONE OF THE QUESTIONS I FIND
MYSELF FACING AND LOT OF MY
FRIEND ARE FACING IS THIS
QUESTION OF WHETHER WE SHOULD
TAKE KIND OF THE FIRST
OPPORTUNITY THAT COMES TO US FOR
WORK, AND GET OURSELVES INTO THE
WORKFORCE, OR IF WE SHOULD HOLD
OUT FOR THAT KIND OF DREAM JOB
THAT, YOU KNOW, WE THINK MAY OR
MAY NOT COME ALONG DOWN THE
LINE.
WHAT DO YOU SUGGEST?
>> I'LL SPEAK FROM EXPERIENCE,
ONLY BEING THERE 20 YEARS AGO.
BUT I WOULD SAY DON'T SELL
YOURSELF SHORT.
BUT WE NOTICE IN THE WORKPLACE
TODAY A LOT OF I GUESS WHAT
YOU'D CALL THE MILLIENNIAL
GENERATION RIGHT NOW HAS
EXPECTATIONS THAT AREN'T QUITE
ALIGNED WITH THE TRADITIONAL
EMPLOYERS ARE PROVIDING.
>> DO YOU MEAN MONEY?
>> I DO IN SOME WAYS BUT OTHER
THINGS, AS WELL.
I WOULD DEFINITELY GO FOR WHAT
YOUR PASSION IS ABOUT, GO FOR
WHAT YOU ENJOY DOING.
FIND A COMPANY THAT YOU BELIEVE
IN THAT YOU TRUST, AND THAT
YOU THINK YOU CAN MAKE A HOME
AND BE HAPPY FOR A LONG TIME.
GET THE PERSONALITIES UNDER YOUR
BELT.
>> I CAN GIVE THE REST OF YOU A
CHANCE TO ANSWER THAT QUESTION.
CAN YOU BEAT THAT?
I THINK PROBABLY NOT, THAT WAS
GOOD.
WENDY, YOU HAVE A QUESTION ABOUT
SORT OF NONTRADITIONAL PEOPLE IN
THE WORKFORCE.
>> I'M A NONTRADITIONAL STUDENT
PURSUING A SECOND DEGREE.
>> WHAT DO YOU MEAN BY THAT?
>> NOT TRADITIONALLY COLLEGE
AGE, I'M A FEW YEARS OLDER THAN
MOST OF MY FELLOW STUDENTS.
I'M TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT I
NEED TO DO TO MAXIMIZE BY
ABILITY TO GET OUT INTO THE
WORKFORCE AGAIN.
>> OKAY.
SO NONTRADITIONAL STUDENTS,
CURT, YOU DEAL WITH A LOT NOT
JUST WITH GRADUATES BUT PEOPLE
WHO ARE JUST OUT THERE IN AN
OLDER AGE GROUP GOING TO RETRAIN
AND ENHANCE THEIR CAREERS.
>> MOST OF THE PEOPLE WE DEAL
WITH ARE NOT FRESH GRADUATES
FROM ANYTHING.
THEY HAVE EITHER BEEN UNEMPLOYED
FOR A WHILE -- BUT IT WAS
SURPRISING TO ME HOW MANY PEOPLE
WE WORK WITH WHO WERE ALREADY
WORKING BUT LOOKING FOR A BETTER
JOB.
THE ADVICE FOR THEM, THERE ARE A
LOT OF THINGS WE DO WITH THOSE
FOLKS.
THE FIRST THING IS CONNECT WITH
SOMEBODY WHO UNDERSTANDS THE
FIELD YOU WANT TO GET INTO.
UNDERSTANDS WHATEVER YOUR
PASSION IS.
I HOPE THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE
TRAINING FOR, AND CONNECT WITH
THOSE COMPANY HE IS AND GET AN
INTERNSHIP PROGRAM WHILE YOU'RE
STILL IN SCHOOL.
IT'S GOING TO MAKE SURE YOU KNOW
IF THAT'S WHAT YOU REALLY WANT
TO DO.
YOU DON'T WANT TO GET A
FOUR-YEAR DEGREE AND THEN YOU'VE
GOT ALL THESE LOANS AND SO FORTH
AND DO YOU THIS JOB FOR A WHILE
AND SAY, MAN, I MADE A BAD
DECISION.
YOU DON'T WANT TO BE THAT
PERSON.
CONNECT WITH EMPLOYERS IN THAT
FIELD AND IN MY EXPERIENCE THEY
ARE VERY HAPPY TO HELP OUT
PEOPLE WHO ARE INTERESTED IN
THEIR COMPANY.
IT'S MUCH MORE OF A JOB SEEKERS
MARKET.
PARTICULARLY WITH THE JOBS THEY
HAVE HAD TO BE IN THE PAST.
THEY ARE GOING TO WANT TO
CONNECT WITH YOU, TOO.
>> DR. HOLLAND, FOR PEOPLE
OUTSIDE THE HEALTH CARE INDUSTRY
BUT TRYING TO MOVE INTO IT, ARE
WE TALKING ABOUT NEW YOUNG
GRADUATES OR PEOPLE AT MID
CAREER?
>> WE'RE TALKING ABOUT A REALLY
RICH MIXTURE
INTERGENERATIONALLY.
THE AVERAGE AGE OF STUDENTS AT
OUR LADY OF THE LAKE COLLEGE IS
ABOUT 27 YEARS OLD.
I WOULD SAY ANYWHERE FROM
VETERANS TO PEOPLE WHO HAVE
ALREADY EARNED BACHELOR'S
DEGREES OR MASTERS OR ARE MAKING
CHANGES ARE GOING TO BE ADULT
STUDENTS, NONTRADITIONAL
STUDENTS.
THERE'S A REALLY SMALL NUMBER
THAT KNOW PRECISELY THEY WANT TO
GO INTO A PARTICULAR HEALTH CARE
FIELD DIRECTLY OUT OF HIGH
SCHOOL, THOUGH WE DO HAVE A FAIR
NUMBER OF THEM THERE IS.
A FRIENDLIER ENVIRONMENT FOR
THAT SORT OF A SCHOOL, MUCH LIKE
KURT WAS SAY, YOU WANT TO KIND
OF GET AN IDEA OF WHERE YOU'D
WANT TO LAND WHEN YOU'RE
FINISHED.
AT OUR LADY OF THE LAKE COLLEGE
FULFILLING SOME OF THOSE NEEDS
IN THE HEALTH CARE INDUSTRY, ALL
OF OUR CLINICAL INDUSTRIES
REQUIRE CLINICAL PREPARATIONS.
MOST OF THEM HAVE INTERNSHIP
REQUIREMENT AND HEALTH CARE
ADMINISTRATION AND THOSE SORTS
OF THINGS.
>> MR. BOUDREAUX, A LOT OF
PEOPLE THINK IF YOU GO INTO THE
TECHNOLOGY FIELD OR TECHNOLOGY
FIELD, THAT'S REALLY FOR PEOPLE
WHO WANT TO STAY UP ALL NIGHT
AND EAT PIZZA.
>> SHOULD THOSE PEOPLE BE
INTIMIDATED ABOUT THOSE JOBS?
>> OLDER TYPE INDIVIDUALS LIKE
MYSELF, IF THE PASSION IS THERE,
AND SOME OF THEM EVEN COME INTO
ENTRY LEVEL POSITIONS IN OUR
ORGANIZATION.
WE OFFER LIKE A DEVELOPMENT
PROGRAM AND SOME OF THE
POSITIONS, TOO.
WE BRING THEM ON BOARD AND KIND
OF TRAIN THEM TO MORE ADVANCED
AREAS OF THE ORGANIZATION.
I WOULDN'T SHY AWAY FROM IT.
TECHNOLOGY IS SOMETHING WITHDRAW
YOU HAVE TO GET REACHES TO, NO
MATTER WHAT THE ORGANIZATION.
IF YOU'RE COMFORTABLE WORKING
WITH CUSTOMERS AND TECHNOLOGY
DOESN'T CARRY YOU I HAVE A I
ETERNAL WOULD ENCOURAGE IT.
>> LET'S TALK ABOUT HOW DO YOU
RECRUIT?
HOW DO YOU FIND PEOPLE WHAT, DO
YOU DO?
>> CURT, I'M GOING LET YOU GO
LAST ON THIS.
LET'S START WITH YOU, MR.
BOWSER, IN THE CHEMICAL
INDUSTRY.
>> ENGINEERS GO TO DIFFERENT
SCHOOLS TO TALK TO THE COLLEGE
BUSY THEIR ENGINEERING PROGRAM.
WE WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH LSU
AND OTHER COLLEGES AROUND TO
LOOK AT STUDENTS.
WE BRING THEM IN AS INTERNS V
THEM INTERN EARLY IN THEIR
CAREER WHERE THEY GET A CHANCE
WITH DID WAS GET INTO OPENLY
THINGS FOR HIM.
WE HAVE A TWO-YEAR PROGRAM WE
STARTED SEVERAL YEARS AGO IN
LOUISIANA WHERE YOU CAN GO IN
AND TYRONN LUE LEARN AND GO
THROUGH THE PROCESS, GET A
TWO-YEAR DEGREE AND COME OUT AND
OPERATE A PLANT.
WHEN I FIRST STARTED IT WAS
DIFFERENT.
I HAD TO -- IT WAS HANDS ON, YOU
HAD TO TURN A VALVE WITH A
WRENCH.
TODAY IT'S LIKE RUNNING A VIDEO
GAME.
YOU BRING PEOPLE IN AND YOU
TRAIN THEM THAT WAY. ONE OF THE
PROBLEMS WE HAD WITH THE PROCESS
TECHNOLOGY PROGRAM IS THEY WERE
INTERNING AND PEOPLE WERE OURING
THEM BEFORE THEY COULD FINISH.
>> TRY TO GO TO THE HIGH SCHOOLS
AND GET PEOPLE GOING IN
DIFFERENT TYPES OF PROGRAM HE IS
AND TECHNOLOGY.
>> OF THE SCHOOLS LET YOU IN?
>> YEAH, SOME OF THEM DO.
NOT EVERYBODY'S GOING TO GO TO A
FOURYEAR PAST.
>> DR. HOLLAND, YOUR FORM STATE
WAS INDIANA, RIGHT?
>> YES.
>> HOW DID YOU RECRUIT BACK IN
INDIANA?
AND ARE YOU GOING TRY TO RECRUIT
THE SAME WAY HERE?
>> WE REUET EMPLOYEES, KIND OF A
BUYER'S MARKET FOR FACULTY THESE
DAYS.
ITS VERY COMPETITIVE.
BUT FOR STUDENTS IT'S A MATTER
OF MATCHING, NOT SO MUCH
RECRUITING BUT MATCHING
STUDENTS' NEEDS WITH YOUR
EDUCATIONAL MINISTRY.
WE ARE GOING TO BE REACHING OUT
TO THOSE STUDENTS THAT BELIEVE
THAT THEY HAVE AN INTEREST OR A
CALLING SOMEHOW IN THE EAT
FIELD.
BUT TO LOOK AT THIS BROADLY
BECAUSE OF THE BROADENING OF THE
NEEDS IN HEALTH CARE DELIVERY.
IN TERMS OF THE RECRUITMENT OF
STUDENTS FROM OUR LADY OF THE
LAKE COLLEGE FOR EMPLOYMENT,
THEY ARE -- THEY ARE RECRUITED
MUCH AS GREG WAS SAYING, ALMOST
BEFORE THEY CAN COMPLETE THEIR
PROGRAMS BECAUSE THEY HAVE BEEN
EXPOSED AT CLINICAL SITES AND
THEY ARE PART OF A HEALTH
SYSTEM, THE REGIONAL MEDICAL
CENTER AS WELL AS THE SMOLS
HEALTH SYSTEM.
THERE'S ALREADY A NETWORK.
BUT THEN ALSO THERE'S 95 OR MORE
COMMUNITY PARTNERS THAT ALL OF
OUR STUDENTS ARE PLUGGED INTO,
SO THEY ARE RECRUITED THROUGH
THOSE PARTNERS, AS WELL.
SO ANYWHERE FROM 95 TO 100% OF
OUR STUDENTS FIND EMPLOYMENT
WITHIN THE FIRST SIX MONTHS FROM
GRADUATION.
>> HOW ABOUT THAT.
RECRUITING FOR YOU?
>> IT'S A CHALLENGE.
IT'S DEFINITELY A MULTIFACETED
APPROACH.
WE DO SOME OF THE TRADITIONAL
THINGS, WE PARTNER WITH LOCAL
COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES TO
REALLY DRAW SOME OF THOSE PEOPLE
IN.
BUT WE ALSO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF A
LOT OF SOCIAL MEDIA AND, YOU
KNOW, REALLY FROM THE MARKETING
SIDE, HOW WE POSITION OURSELVES
COMPETITIVELY IN THE MARKET SO
THAT POTENTIAL EMPLOYEES SEE US
DIFFERENTLY.
IF GO TO OUR WEBSITE YOU'LL
INSIDE HOW WE POSITION OURSELVES
AND IT'S VERY.
>> FOCUSED ON OUR PEOPLE, NOT SO
MUCH THE CONNECT MORRISON BRIDGE
-- THE OTHER PART IS RETENTION
AND THAT'S TYRONN LUE HARDER,
SOMETHING WE FOCUS ON EVEN MORE.
HOW DO WE KEEP THE PEOPLE THAT
WE HAVE.
>> DOUGHNUTS, DOUGHNUTS.
>> THAT'S PART OF IT.
BUT AT SEVERAL PROGRAMS WE'VE
IMPLEMENTED AROUND JUST
MENTORSHIP, DEVELOPMENT OF OUR
EMPLOYEES, MAKING SURE THEY KNOW
THEY ARE IN A CULTURE THAT CARES
ABOUT THEM AND THEY CAN FEEL
THEY HAVE OPPORTUNITY TO GROW
AND LEARN.
>> DO YOU HAVE A PING-PONG
TABLE?
>> WE ABSOLUTELY DO HAVE A
PING-PONG TABLE.
>> DO YOU HAVE STOCK OPTIONS?
>> I'VE WATCHES A FEW.
I IT THIS VIEW I WOULD TAKE IS A
SHORT-TERM APPROACH TO FILL A
NEED HAVE YOU NOW.
BUT I THINK SUCCESSFUL COMPANIES
TAKE A LONGVIEW AND TRY TO BUILD
A PIPELINE.
I'D SAY CONTACT THE WORKFORCE
COMMISSION, I'VE GOT GIVE US A
PLUG.
>> YOU'VE GOT OF A WEBSITE.
>> LOUISIANA STAR JOBS GO, TO LA
WORKS.NET AND IT'LL TELL YOU
JOBS AND RANKS THEM BY HOW
VALUABLE THEY ARE TO A JOB
SEEKER.
IF THERE ARE LOTS OF OPENINGS
IT'S FIVE STARS, IF THERE ARE NO
OPENINGS AND THE PAY IS LOUSY OR
BOTH, YOU CAN GET ONE STAR.
WE HELP 100,000 PEOPLE A YEAR
GET A JOB.
A LOT OF THOSE FOLKS ARE WORKING
ALREADY BUT NOT ALL OF THEM ARE.
>> CAN YOU GIVE EXAMPLES OF HOW
IT'S WORKING?
>> WELL, ANECDOTALLY WE LAUNCHED
IT I WANT TO SAY IN EARLY 13.
AND BEFORE THE END OF THAT
SPRING SEMESTER MOST OF THE
COMMUNITY AND TECHNICAL COLLEGE
VS. PUT THAT LINK ON THEIR
WEBSITES.
IT'S ALREADY SHAPING HOW HIGHER
EDUCATION DOLLARS ARE BEING
EDUCATED.
IT'S BEEN USED AS A TOOL TO
ALIGN SPENDING WHERE THE JOBS
ARE.
WE ARE INVESTING OUR DOLLARS IN
A PLACE THAT HAS THE MOST BANG
FOR THE STATE.
IF WE HAVE TO MAKE CHOICE WE
WILL SPEND OUR MONEY TO PREPARE
SOMEBODY FOR A FIVE-STAR JOB
BEFORE WE PREPARE THEM FOR A
ONE-STAR JOB.
>> SOMEBODY TAKES TICKETS AT THE
MOVIE THEATER.
HONESTLY, THERE ARE A LOT OF
JOBS.
LAWYERS HAVE KIND OF FLATTENED
DOWN THE SCALE.
BUT A LOT OF JOBS WHERE THERE'S
A LOT OF TIME.
THOUSANDS OF OPENINGS BUT THE
PAY IS TERRIBLE.
I HAD SOME OF THOSE JOBS AND
THEY ARE VERY VALUABLE IN THE
ECONOMY BUT WE'RE NOT GOING
SPEND MONEY TO TRAIN PEOPLE FOR
THOSE AND YOU CAN'T FEED YOUR
FAMILY FROM THOSE.
SOMETIMES THEY ARE SECOND JOBS
FOR PEOPLE.
YOU'RE NOT GOING TO BUILD A CELE
SELLING POPCORN.
>> FOUR IS THE TOP?
>> I'D SAY THIS IS SUCH A BREATH
OF --
>> HE PROBABLY HAS A LOT OF
OPTIONS ON A 4- AND FIVE-STAR
JOBS.
>> ALL OF THESE GUYS HAVE A LOT
OF FIVE-STAR JOBS.
>> TELL US ABOUT A FIVE-STAR
JOB.
>> A LOT OF S.T.E.M. JOBS.
>> AND S.T.E.M. MEANS?
SCIENCE, TECHNOLOGY, ENGINEERING
AND MATH.
WELDERS ARE S.T.E.M. JOBS, PIPE
FITTERS ARE S.T.E.M. JOBS THEY
GO UP TO PH.D.s, PHYSICIANS,
AT EVERY STRAT THAT THERE ARE A
LOT OF THOSE JOBS.
THEY ALSO LIKE TO JOKE THIS,
IT'S A LOT OF PRESTIGIOUS.
>> LET'S GO TO JAMES, YOU HAD A
QUESTION ABOUT AUTOMATION.
>> YEAH, OKAY.
SO THIS KIND OF BUILDS OFF OF
WHAT YOU WERE SAYING WITH YOUR
ONE-STAR JOBS.
AS SOMEONE GETTING A PH.D. IN A
NONS.T.E.M. FIELD, THE GROWING
FIELDS ARE ALL S.T.E.M. FIELDS
IN LOUISIANA.
>> WHAT IS THAT PH.D. IN?
>> POLITICAL SCIENCE.
I TYRONN LUE STUDY THE IMPACT OF
TECHNOLOGY ON SOCIETY THIS.
SPINS OFF OF MY OWN RESEARCH.
SO IT'S KIND OF A TWOFOLD
QUESTION.
ON ONE HAND MASSIVE GROWTH IN
THE S.T.E.M. FIELD, THE
STATISTICAL DATA THAT THERE ARE
THREE OPENINGS FOR EVERY JOB
SEEKER IN THE S.T.E.M. FIELD.
THE REVERSE OF THAT IS TRUE FOR
NONSTEM FIELD.
WHAT IS THE STATE OF LOUISIANA
GOING TO BE ABLE TO DO FOR THE
GUY WHO COOKS THE POPCORN, WHEN
WE MOVED TO A SOCIETY THAT'S
MUCH MORE AUTOMATED, JOBS A
MACHINE CAN DO.
HOW DOUGH WE RESPOND TO THAT?
AS SOMEONE WHO'S NOT IN THESE
S.T.E.M. FIELDS, IF I COULD GO
BACK I WOULD GO AND BECOME A
WELDER OR AN I.T. GUY WITH A
TWO-YEAR DEGREE FROM COMMUNITY
COLLEGE.
>> MR. BOWSER PH.D.s HE AND
ENGLISH AND POLITICAL SCIENCE
PEOPLE HAVE YOU HIRED?
>> I'M SURE THERE WERE SOME OF
THEM.
>> SOME OF THEM GO BASS I
REALLY.
BECAUSE IF YOU CAN LEAVE YOUR
CHOOL, I'M NOT SURE HOW YOUS
HANDLE THAT.
>> FOR YOU INDIVIDUALLY, AS AN
EDUCATOR, I WOULD TELL THAT YOU
YOU HAVE TO REALLY LOOK AT ALL
OF THOSE TRANSFERABLE SKILLS
THAT YOU'VE DEVELOPED AS A PH.D.
IN POLITICAL SCIENCE, AND
INDICATE, HOW ARE THOSE SKILLS
REALLY MARKETABLE IN THIS
ECONOMY.
THOUGH I MAY NOT HAVE THESE
TECHNICAL TRAINING, I HAVE VERY
VALUABLE TRANSFERABLE SKILLS
THAT I'VE LEARNED THROUGH MY
HIGHER EDUCATION.
HOW CAN I USE THOSE IN A WAY
THAT'S OF VALUE.
I LIKE TO REFINED STUDENTS THAT
EDUCATION IS NOT EQUAL TO
TRAINING.
THEY ARE RELATED.
BUT WE STUDY TO MAKE NOT JUST A
LIVING.
WE STUDY TO MAKE A LIFE.
KEEP THAT IN BALANCE AND
UNDERSTAND THAT, WELL, YOU MIGHT
BE A STARVING PH.D. FOR A WHILE.
>> GREAT POINT, DR. HOLLAND.
>> MR. BOUDREAUX WITH
SPARKHOUND, WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO
SAY TO HIS QUESTION?
>> I THINK I AGREE WITH MY
COLLEAGUES HERE.
GOING BACK AND LOOKING AT IT AS
SECOND CAREER IS CERTAINLY
SOMETHING, IF YOU FEEL THAT'S
SOMETHING YOU WANT GO TOWARD.
BECAUSE YOU KNOW, IT'S TOO
DIFFICULT TO FIND A JOB IN
LOUISIANA WITH YOUR BACKGROUND.
SOME OF SKILLS YOU'VE LEARNED
THROUGH THE EDUCATION PROCESS,
I'M SURE WOULD LEND THEMSELVES
VERY WELL TO, YOU KNOW, ANY OF
THE CAREERS THAT WE OFFER, GIVEN
THE SUFFICIENTLY I WOULD GO AND
GET THE TIME TO SOME I.T.
SKILLS.
HISTORY, ENGLISH AND AFTER A
TECHNICAL SKILL AND TRAINING IN
ORDER TO REALLY CHANGE THEIR
PATH.
>> I'D LIKE TO SWITCH THIS
AROUND JUST A LITTLE BIT NOW,
AND GO TO LISA AND KERRIE.
LISA AND KERRIE WORK AT BATON
ROUGE COMMUNITY COLLEGE, THEY
ARE RIGHT THERE AT THE JUNCTION
BETWEEN THE STUDENTS AND
COUNSELING THEM TO GO TO CLEARS.
I WANT YOU TO TELL THESE FOLKS
WHAT THEY NEED TO HEAR FROM YOU
THERE IN THE TRENCHES AND THE
BATON ROUGE COMMUNITY COLLEGE.
I'M SURE PROBABLY REPRESENTING A
LOT OF COMMUNITY COLLEGE PEOPLE
LIKE YOURSELF AROUND THE STATE.
AND LISA, HERE'S YOUR CHANCE.
>> OKAY, WOW.
REALLY?
>> LET HIM HAVE IT.
>> I REALLY PERSONALLY AND
PROFESSIONALLY BELIEVE WE NEED
TO REACH THE STUDENTS AT A
YOUNGER AGE WITH THIS MESSAGE.
BECAUSE THERE'S SO MUCH THAT
COULD BE DONE BEFORE THEY EVEN
GET IN THE COLLEGE DOORS.
THAT MESSAGE NEEDS COME NOT JUST
FROM THE ONE COUNSELOR THEY SEE.
BEING VISIBLE IN THE SCHOOLS AND
GETTING THE MESSAGE ACROSS,
SENDING YOUR.
AND HELPING SUPPORT THAT
PHILOSOPHY THAT THERE ARE MANY
WAYS TO MAKE A CAREER, MANY WAYS
TO MAKE A LIVING AND THEY DON'T
ALWAYS INVOLVE A BACHELOR'S
DEGREE.
THEY CAN BE IN THE SKILLED
TRADES, THEY CAN BE IN A
COMMUNITY COLLEGE DEGREE.
>> LISA, HOW YOUNG ARE YOU
TALKING ABOUT?
>> JUNIOR HIGH TO HIGH SCHOOL.
WE REALLY MISSED THAT
OPPORTUNITY BECAUSE A LOT OF
PARENTS AREN'T HEARING THAT
MESSAGE.
THEY ARE PRESSURING THEIR
CHILDREN, YOU HAVE TO GO TO --
YOU KNOW, GET A BACHELOR'S
DEGREE.
THEY DON'T HAVE THAT MESSAGE.
>> KERRY, YOU WORK WITH
INTERNALS.
I'M FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO WORK
WITH CONSTRUCTION MANAGEMENT
STUDENTS.
MANY OF THEM GET INTO THIS
CAREER BECAUSE A FAMILY MEMBER
OR SOMEONE THEY KNOW HAS MADE A
VERY GOOD LIVING WORKING IN THE
CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY.
SO MANY OF THEM ARE PART TIME
WORKING IN RETAIL OR WORKING IN
FAST FOOD.
AND ONCE THEY GET THEIR
INTERNSHIP THEY ARE GOING FROM
MARKING WOMEN WAGE AND IT IS
LIFE CHANGES.
IT'S EVERYONE'S JOB, ESPECIALLY
INDUSTRY, TO CREATE AN AWARENESS
OF THESE OBJECTIONS FOR
STUDENTS.
IT'S NOT JUST FOR FOUR-YEAR,
TWO-YEAR -- I JUST GAVE YOU A
GREAT EXAMPLE OF PROCESS
TECHNOLOGIES.
THEY ARE MAKING AN AMAZING
LIVING.
>> WHEN YOU TAKE PEOPLE AND YOU
EXPLAIN TO THEM THAT BY GOING
INTO THE WORKFORCE WITH BENEFITS
AND WITH GREAT RETIREMENT PLANS,
YOU CAN DO THAT.
THE BIGGEST PROBLEM WE'VE HAD IS
EVERY PARENT THINKS THEIR KID
NEEDS TO GO TO A FOUR-YEAR
SCHOOL.
WE'VE FOUND PUCK GET THEM BEFORE
THEY GET THROUGH THE NINTH
GRADE, YOU'VE GOT A CHANCE.
I THINK THAT'S WHERE THE WHERE
THEY MAKE THAT DECISION, YOU'VE
GO AT CHANCE.
AND YOU CAN SHOW THEM WHAT IT'S
LIKE TO BE A SPESES DECISION,
IT'S NOT WHERE IT USED TO BE.
YOU CAN WORK IN A NUCLEAR PLANT
AND ALMOST ANY KIND OF FACILITY.
>> A LOT OF.
>> IT SAYS THE IMMEDIATE NEED
AND THEN THERE'S BUILDING THE
PIPELINE.
LAKE CHARLES HAS A GREAT
PROGRAM.
THERE WERE SOME DEVELOPING IN
OUR AREA.
THEY GET THEM ALL INTO A GIANT
CAREER FAIR AND HAVE PEOPLE
PERFORMING THE FUNCTIONS SO KIDS
CAN SEE THEM AND TALK TO THEM
AND INTERVIEW THEM AND THEN
MAYBE GET A FIELD TRIP OR
WHATEVER.
IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR
COUNTRIES TO DO THAT.
>> YEAH, WE JUST HAD SOME PEOPLE
FROM OUR EDUCATION SECONDER.
HOW DO YOU THINK OUR EDUCATION
SYSTEM IS PREPARING OUR YOUTH
AND PEOPLE RELATES TO THE
WORKFORCE?
>> YOU'RE REALLY TALKING ABOUT
THE PUBLIC.
WE HAVE A GENTLEMAN HERE MATT
WHO'S WITH PRIVATE CONSTRUCTION
TRAINING, WE HAVE THE HEALTH
CARE TRAINING WITH DR. HOLLAND.
BUT YOU'RE TALKING ABOUT THE
PUBLIC UNIVERSITIES AND
COMMUNITY COLLEGES AND SO ON.
>> WE HAVE THIS PLUS AND JOBS WE
SEE.
BRINGING IN A LOT OF PUBLICS
PRIVATE JOBS -- HOW DO YOU THINK
OUR EDUCATION SYSTEM IS
PREPARING THEM FOR THOSE PRIVATE
JOBS THAT ARE COMING IN?
AND WITH THE GENERAL
ADMINISTRATION CUTTING HIGHER
EDUCATION, HOW IS THAT AFFECTING
IT, AS WELL?
>> HOUR WE GOING TO RANK OUR
INSTITUTIONS WITH THE BURDEN?
>> I'LL TAKE A JAB.
>> I'VE GOT FIND MY BOSS.
[LAUGHTER]
>> A COUPLE OF THINGS.
I THINK THE ISSUE IN MY MIND IS
NOT THE QUALITY OF OUR
GRADUATES.
THE ISSUE IS THAT THEY ARE
COMING OUT IN FIELDS FOR WHICH
THEY HAVE TO LEAVE THE STATE TO
FIND WORK IN TOO GREAT A NUMBER.
ENGINEERS ARE HERE, THEY DO VERY
WELL, THEY ARE SOUGHT AFTER.
COMPUTER SCIENTISTS FROM OUR
SCHOOLS IN LOUISIANA, THEY ARE
SOUGHT AFTERNOON.
IT'S NOT AN I SHALL OF QUALITY,
VER WE'VE ALLOWED OUR SYSTEMSO
TO GET OUT OF WHACK.
>> THE REEMPLOYMENT INITIATIVE.
>> AND THE WISE PLAN.
WE TOOK UNEMPLOYED PEOPLE AND
SAID, YOU'VE GOT TO COME TO OUR
OFFICES AND GET FALLEN A
PROFESSIONAL COUNSELOR BUT ONE
OF OUR FOLKS.
WE THINK YOU'LL HAVE A BETTER
RESULT.
IN A SIX-MONTH PERIOD IN
ACADIANA, WE CUT THE NUMBER OF
WEEKS CLAIMANTS GET BENEFITS IN
25 TO 30%.
JUST IN THAT LITTLE PART OF THE
STATE, $2.6 MILLION IN SAVINGS.
>> L.A WORKS.NET.
>> ANY LAST THOUGHTS?
MR. BOWSER?
>> PROBABLY THE OTHER BIGGEST
FACTOR IS WHEN WE'RE LOOKING FOR
PEOPLE TO WORK, YOU ALMOST HAVE
TO GET 10 APPEAR INDICATES TO
GET THE SAME PERSON.
THAT'S BIG, BIG ISSUE IN
EMPLOYMENT AND SOMETHING WE'RE
GOING HAVE TO ADDRESS.
>> STAY OFF THE DRUGS, IT'S A
REAL PROBLEM IN THE WORKFORCE.
>> I HEAR SO MANY EMPLOYERS SAY
THIS, WE CAN LIFT THAT PROBLEM
WITH.
WE'VE RUN OUT OF TIME FOR OUR
QUESTION AND ANSWER SEGMENT.
WE'D LIKE TO THANK OUR PANELISTS
MR. EYSINK, D HOLLAND, MR.
BOWSER AND MR. BOUDREAUX FOR
THEIR INSIGHT ON THIS TOPIC.
WHEN WE COME BACK A FEW CLOSING
COMMENTS.
**
>>> WELL A LIVELY CONVERSATION,
LOOKS LIKE THERE ARE A LOT OF
JOBS OUT THERE.
>> WITH OPPORTUNITY COMES THE
CHALLENGES BUT I'M ENCOURAGED
AFTER ALL THIS DISCUSSION.
>> WELL, THAT'S GOOD.
I WAS TRYING TO THINK WHAT I
WANT MY GRANDCHILDREN TO GO
INTO.
THERE'S PROBABLY A JOB WE
HAVEN'T EVEN THOUGHT OF.
>> JOBS WE DON'T EVEN KNOW EXIST
ARE OUT THERE.
>> EXACTLY.
THAT'S ALL THE TIME WE HAVE FOR
THIS EDITION OF "LOUISIANA
PUBLIC SQUARE."
YOU ENCOURAGE YOU TO VISIT OR
WEBSITE AT LPB.ORG/PUBLICSQUARE.
TAKE THE SURVEY AND LEAVE
EXTENDED INTERVIEW CLIPS FROM
OUR SHOW.
LAST MONTH WE "STATE CONTRACTS
101".
J.G. WRITE, STOP PUTTING MONEY
IN USELESS PROGRAMS FOR
FOOLISHNESS.
>> ALEX WRITES, STATE CONTRACTS
ARE NEEDED.
THERE ARE HOWEVER OBVIOUS
PITFALLS INVOLVING CONTRACTORS
AND THEY ARE INCREASINGLY
OVERPOWERING.
>> DESPITE THE BACKING MEASURES
TO LEGALIZE MEDICAL MARIJUANA
FAILED TO PASS.
WE'LL HEAR FROM SUPPORTERS AND
OPPONENT NEXT MONTH ON
"LOUISIANA PUBLIC SQUARE'S"
ENCORE PRESENTATION OF "POT OR
NOT: THE DECRIMINALIZATION
DEBATE."
THANKS FOR WATCHING AND GOOD
NIGHT.
>> GOOD NIGHT, EVERYONE, AND
THANK YOU.
THANKS.
**
**
>>> FOR A COPY OF THIS PROGRAM
CALL 1-800- 973-7246.
OR GO I DON'T KNOW TO
WWW.LPB.ORG.
>>> SUPPORT FOR THIS PROGRAM IS
PROVIDED BY THE FOUNDATION FOR
EXCELLENCE IN LOUISIANA PUBLIC
BROADCASTING.
AND FROM VIEWERS LIKE YOU.
**