Mainebiz

V O L . X X V N O. X X V I I I D E C E M B E R 9 , 2 0 1 9 16 WO R K F O R C E D E V E L O P M E N T F O C U S Training dental assistants In response to a pressing need throughout Maine's dental industry, Yarmouth Dental co-owner and business manager Marcy Boynton five years ago co-founded VIP Dental Assistant Training in Maine. The state-licensed program offers requisite training, conducted one full day per week for 11 weeks. "It's very condensed and fast-moving," says Boynton. "When they finish with the program, they'll have the knowledge they need to get a job." The program, conducted spring and fall, enrolls up to 16 students coming from throughout Maine. Instruction takes place at Yarmouth Dental. It includes lectures, hands-on practice in the facility's operations, laboratories and steriliza- tion room, as well as job shadowing. Marketing is mainly through social media and word-of-mouth. "There was a huge need for this program," she says, citing the track record. OUTCOMES Over 100 dental assistants graduated Nearly 100% placement Most are hired by practices where they job-shadowed Some pursue further education Full enrollment expected this spring In 2020, Boynton plans to launch Prospect Staffing, an online platform to match dentists with trained assistants and hygienists. "Over the last five years I've been inundated with calls and emails from prac- tices all over Maine, New Hampshire and Massachusetts, from practices looking for dental assistants," she says. Catching 'boomerang' Mainers In November, Live and Work in Maine launched its second "Boomerang" campaign to increase awareness about career opportunities in Maine. The statewide effort, focused on Thanksgiving week, targeted the "boomerang" demographic – people with a Maine association, perhaps growing up or visiting here, but currently not in Maine. The campaign aimed to reach the many people visiting Maine at places they hang out, like bars and restaurants. "Our objective is to get in front of them while they're here, and get out the message that they're wanted here, that there's enormous opportunity in Maine," says Nate Wildes, executive director of Live and Work in Maine. Wildes contacted venues one-on-one and through partnerships with chambers of commerce, the Maine Brewers' Guild and other organizations, distributing Live and Work in Maine swag such as coasters and glassware. "They'll be serving a lot of Maine craft beer on 'Live and Work in Maine' coast- ers," says Wildes. "Our hope is to create ambassadors for this message." Some businesses co-branded things like menus and brews. Partner venues were promoted on various platforms and were asked to promote on their own marketing channels. During Thanksgiving week, media outlets, Live and Work in Maine, and other partners stopped by to capture promotional images and video. The results speak for themselves. OUTCOMES Several dozen venues signed up in 2018; nearly 100 signed up in 2019 2018's estimated reach was tens of thousands of people engaged through venues and social media. Hundreds of thousands expected for 2019 B y L a u r i e S c h r e i B e r W orkforce development spans a wide array of initiatives throughout Maine. Training programs for everyone from youth to retirees aim to bolster all levels of the labor force. Outreach is underway to reach former Mainers and entice them back home with the prospect of good careers. Many programs, sponsored by employers, serve as job pipelines. Industries served span the gamut, from hospitality to the trades to biosciences and aquaculture. Here's a sampling of initiatives seeing excellent outcomes. Students take part in Students take part in VIP VIP Dental Assistant Training in Dental Assistant Training in Maine Maine, a hands-on program that , a hands-on program that takes place at takes place at Yarmouth Dental Yarmouth Dental. P H O T O S / C O U R T E S Y V I P D E N TA L A S S I S TA N T T R A I N I N G I N M A I N E PHOTO / TIM GREENWAY Yarmouth Dental Yarmouth Dental co-owner co-owner and business manager and business manager Marcy Marcy Boynton Boynton co-founded co-founded VIP Dental VIP Dental Assistant Training in Maine Assistant Training in Maine, in , in response to persistent demand response to persistent demand for skilled labor in the dental for skilled labor in the dental industry. In five years, over 100 industry. In five years, over 100 dental assistants have graduated. dental assistants have graduated. When they finish with the program, they'll have the knowledge they need to get a job. — Marcy Boynton VIP Dental Assistant Training in Maine Workforce development roundup In a tight labor market, employers in Maine are working the angles

• Cover