Message from the Chairman

Charles Dickens and Winston Churchill were right. Georgia Work Ready is right... now!

"It was the best of times. It was the worst of times." (Dickens)
"... Never, never, never, never ... give in." (Churchill)

We often lose trace of the many ways that 2010 may be the "best of times." For America and Americans there are reasons to see "best of times" in 2010.

Sugar-coating "the worst of times" is not what I am about. We are in the "Great Recession" or the worst economic times since the "Great Depression" in the view of most folks. Few of us lived through the Great Depression, but we know that this recession is as bad as any that most of us have known. We don't have to debate whether it is "the worst of times." We can agree that it is not good. That is why Georgia Work Ready, and Winston Churchill, is important for Georgians in 2010.

If you are looking for a job or are a business owner looking for skilled employees as the economy recovery – if you have Winston Churchill's determination to "never, never...give in" – Georgia Work Ready is for you.

Being "Georgia Work Ready Certified" if you are looking for a good job can be a real plus when jobs are scare or plentiful. And when you become Georgia Work Ready Certified you are also registered as National Career Ready Certified. Being a "Georgia Work Ready Business" can help you increase productivity, cut costs and waste, and increase profits. There are many Georgia businesses already using Work ready that will attest to these facts.

This is a powerful message for Georgia and Georgians. Those of us who are working most closely with Georgia Work Ready have an important, upbeat message in even down economic times.

With more than 165,000 Work Ready Certificates – yes, more than 165,000 – Georgia leads the nation in this growing skills certification movement.

With 77 Work Ready Certified Communities – yes, 77, which is a very impressive number and our increasing Work Ready Regions – we are on to something important in these best and worst of times.

Stay involved and stay tuned. For all who are making all of this happen, thank you.

Mark Musick, chair
State Workforce Investment Board