2011
January 27, 2011 – Approximately 200 people attended the 2011 State of the Workforce Summit at The Lakeland Center. The event featured nine diverse breakout sessions as well as Simon Lia from GEMS Consulting as the keynote speaker.
March 10, 2011- Polk Works partners with USF Polytechnic for the 8th Annual USF Polytechnic Career and Networking Fair. Over 40 employers/businesses registered for this event.
March 15, 2011- Polk Works holds the 1st Annual “What If Expo”. This college and career fair focused on youth between the ages of 14 and 21. Approximately 200 youth attended this event.
April 2011- Polk Works held a Virtual Job Fair during the week of April 24-30. There were 20 companies that posted jobs for this event and 687 job seekers who participated.
May 2011 – Polk Works Job Links Internship Program run from May thru June 2011. Financially disadvantaged youth between the ages of 18 and 21 offered opportunities to interview for one of 120 position offered with employers throughout the county. Job Links Program was able to engage 50 employers in which 120 youth were placed in employment during this timeframe.
June 2011 – Polk Works host its 4th Corporate Institute with a “Boot Camp” training for its staff. The candidates for the Leadership Institute Class of 2011-12 were announced: Joshua Giron, Frankie Rollins, Jennie Santos, Voncia Simmons, Aletta Stroder & Laura Weiss.
June 7th – Congressman Dennis Ross Job Fair was held at the Bartow Civic Center. Approximately 1000 job seekers were on hand to see the over 60 employers.
July 2011 – Rod Crowley is appointed as the Board’s Chair.
August 2011 – Polk Works held is Annual Meeting & Best Places to Work award ceremony on August 18, 2011 at the Lakeland Center. 12 employers won Best Places to Work Award. As the theme of the event, “The Offerer”, 3 people were offered jobs with Polk County companies. The keynote speaker was Adrian Jones, General Manager Legoland Florida.
October 2011 – Polk Works held its Annual ACES Golf Tournament at Eaglebrook Country Club on October 7, 2011. All sponsors were on hand and the annual raffle was held. Polk Works gave away some amazing prizes and the golf tournament was a great success.
December 2011 – On December 19, 2011, Polk Works’ VP of Operations (Mr. Thomas) distributed via email the revised directive (PY11-07) indicating to all Polk Work’s staff that as of December 1, 2011 “Workforce 2020” had its name changed to “Business Services Unit”.
December 6th, 2011 – ResCare Academy Roll-Out took place.
December 16th, 2011 – Polk Works held its Mid-Year Corporate Institute and a subsequent dinner for all staff at Polk State College.