ICP Retreat

The ICP Retreat is THE venue for program supporters, volunteers and champions to work together on pressing issues and set the course for the next year.  Over the course of two days, ICP initiative stakeholders attend informational presentations, share ideas and tackle program challenges in working sessions.  Connect with distributors, manufacturers, associations and educators who share a common interest in connecting with and preparing the industrial distribution workforce of tomorrow.

Featuring breakout sessions and customized group meetings, ICP Retreat participants play a key role in advancing shared issues, such as reaching the potential employee/student population and raising awareness of industrial distribution as a major unrecognized part of the economy and global supply chain.

2010 Highlights

On June 22-23, a group of 26 distributors, manufacturers, associations and academics  invested their time, experience, knowledge and showed their commitment to both industrial distribution and tomorrow’s workforce by shaping the work of Industrial Careers Pathway. Working on both the 2010/2011 action plan and the strategic direction of the ICP initiative, the group made specific recommendations with an aggressive timeline for next steps.

To employ the best young adults with both technical and business aptitude and skills, industrial distribution must first reach them with a positive message that moves them to interest and action. We recommend: A strategic rebalancing of ICP priorities to strongly emphasize and commit additional ICP resources to building the Outreach and Awareness capacity of the initiative. Recognizing that industrial distribution remains a best-kept secret, to connect with potential employees and potential students we need a more comprehensive local and North American approach to getting the word out about industrial distribution careers. This rebalancing will filter through every aspect of ICP.

This is not a movement away from the other strategic emphasis on industrial distribution education, but a recognition that, as our college partners have told us, “If we know employers have jobs, we will prepare the

students.”

Next action steps in Outreach/Awareness and Education include:

• Four Retreat participants volunteered to serve on a Task Force to develop a road map for Industry Champions on how to get an ICP project underway in their community within the next 60 days.
• Create a Community Outreach Tool Kit for distributors and manufacturers taking on the challenge of increasing awareness of industrial distribution and ID careers in their community. This will include outreach to educators (K-12 and community/technical colleges). It also includes tools to help employers interact with potential employees through their website and direct contact such as internships.
• Alliance Partners will work together to identify distributor and manufacturer members who 1) can be invited to participate on Advisory Committees where ICP projects are active, and 2) will step up and lead a community outreach and awareness effort. We will look for opportunities to create a leadership team in several communities for a pilot effort in 2011.
• Incorporate on the ICP website pages presenting visual, exciting stories around 3 messages:
  • Distributors are problem solvers, saving the day every day.
  • Industrial Distribution is not an old news business, but an innovative and interesting 21st century business.
  • There is great variety in ID career options.
• Develop a matrix of presentations for various audiences and venues ranging from a presentation to a high school class to a presentation at a conference general session.
• Increase Alliance Partner membership through targeted outreach to industrial distribution and manufacturing associations.
• Develop a high school outreach plan.
• Build a case for manufacturer involvement in and support for ICP.
• Engage a team of college students to develop an expanded Case for Industrial Distribution, including replicable figures on the size of the industrial distribution sector, industrial distribution employment and industrial distribution position in the economy for both the US and Canada.

The 2011 ICP Retreat has yet to be scheduled.  Please contact ICP at +1.312.516.2100 or info@industrialcareerspathway.org to be notified when more information is available.