MassHire: Options for Businesses Experiencing a Downturn in Business

The MassHire Department of Career Services oversees Massachusetts's network of MassHire Career Centers that assist businesses in finding qualified workers, providing job seekers with career guidance as well as referrals to jobs and training. 

This session will explore the options for your business experiencing a downturn in business, COVID-19 resources, an intro to the MassHire Rapid Response program and more!

Presenters:

Ken Messina, Rapid Response and Business Services Manager,  Massachusetts Department of Career Services   Rapid Response / Business Engagement Manager, Executive Office of labor and Workforce Development, MassHire Department of Career Services.    Ken has thirty-two years of experience in workforce development particularly in the Rapid Response field. In his twenty-eight years of experience Ken and his team have served over 10,000 company closings or layoff events that have affected over 550,000 employees.    Ken has been involved in the Department of Labor’s National Rapid Response Workgroup since 1998 and is regularly requested to provide Rapid Response/ Layoff Aversion training nationally.    Some initiatives that Ken has started include; the first Regional Rapid Response Summit, Rapid Response Set Aside fund program, and he developed the Massachusetts Rapid Response model that ensures consistency be maintained statewide.  This model has been recognized nationally and duplicated in many other states.    The US Department of Labor as the National Rapid Response coordinator hired Ken in January of 2009. He is part of the Department of Labor’s effort to ensure quality/ consistent Rapid Response services are carried out throughout the country.     Ken continues to oversee the Mass BizWorks Program that coordinates business services and programs from various agencies and departments provided by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts that makes it easier for businesses to access these services.