Hot Topics

Rosalie Drago

Economic Development June 18, 2020

Report links LI pandemic recovery to racial equality

By GREGORY ZELLER // A new socioeconomic study ties Long Island’s post-pandemic economic recovery inexorably to race. Sensing an “unprecedented opportunity” in the confluence of the global COVID-19 pandemic and America’s resurgent interest in racial equality, the Long Island Regional Planning Council and the Suffolk County Industrial Development Agency on Thursday released “Upskilled: Preparing the Long Island Workforce for the Future.” The comprehensive study – prepared by James Lima Planning + Development, a New York…

Newsletters January 8, 2020

No. 464: Charging into the 20s, with Hawking, Cousteau, surgery bots and a new Penn Station

  Off we go: The holidays are over and reality returns, dear readers, as a fresh month, year and decade of socioeconomic innovation begins. It’s Wednesday, Jan. 8 – Babinden in Belarus, celebrating midwives, and World Typing Day, promoting speed and accuracy. Sweets: It’s also National English Toffee Day and National Man Watchers Day, which attempts to balance societal scales by encouraging women to gawk at men for a change (not sure about the thinking…

Voices January 3, 2020

Online hiring practices, 2020 Census loom large for LI

By ROSALIE DRAGO // Ah, the start of a new year, when people (and companies) consider some major decisions that could improve both prosperity and quality of life (or business). If entire regions could make New Year’s Resolutions, I’d recommend these two workforce development-related commitments for Long Island: develop and deploy an Island-wide strategy that helps employers clear barriers created by online applications (more skills-based hiring, less “degree inflation”), and leverage the networking capabilities of…

Newsletters November 13, 2019

No. 454: Making Whoopi, seating Parks and (kinda) quoting Franklin – plus, the winds of cyberwar blow

  Half full: You’ve made it this far, dear reader – it’s Wednesday, Nov. 13, and you’re already halfway through this busy workweek. Well done! Tell everyone how you did it – it’s National Start a Rumor Day. You don’t Sadie: Empowering to some, infuriating to others, life imitates art this and every Nov. 13 – Sadie Hawkins Day, as first celebrated in the satirical “Li’l Abner” comic strips of the 1930s. Here’s one we…

Voices November 8, 2019

When workforce development met entrepreneurism

By ROSALIE DRAGO // This has certainly been a busy year for workforce development – especially if you know what workforce development truly is. In 2019, in this space, we’ve discussed key tools for robust and impactful workforce development, including equitable and inclusive growth strategies; leveraging relationships between economic developers, employers and high-school educators; and evaluating the work-first and college-first paths. But we haven’t focused specifically on one of the most critical components of workforce…

Newsletters October 2, 2019

No. 442: Snoopy and Gandhi in ‘The Twilight Zone’ – and puppy love at the SBDC

  Fall for it: Don’t let the thermometer fool you – it’s actually autumn, dear readers, and we’ll be bundled up soon enough! Whatever the hell Mother Nature is smoking, welcome to Wednesday, Oct. 2, as we hurdle the hump of this latest, very busy week of socioeconomic innovation. A stitch in time: To our many readers in Indonesia, a festive Batik Day, celebrating the Asian nation’s traditional cloth – officially recognized in 2009 by…

Newsletters August 21, 2019

No. 431: Inventing Google, superior supercomputing and just the fax, ma’am

  Equatorial shift: Over the hump we go, dear readers, as we slide into the second half of this summertime workweek on Long Island and around the world (except in the Southern Hemisphere, where it’s winter). Senior circuit: Whatever your season, it’s Aug. 21 out there – and to the 47 million-plus U.S. citizens ages 65 and older (according to the 2017 census), enjoy your National Senior Citizens Day. Readers of all ages can get…

Voices June 28, 2019

‘Manifesto’ destiny: colorblind economic development

By ROSALIE DRAGO // Cities across the nation are committing to an “Equity Manifesto,” not just as a matter of social fairness but a matter of economic survival. Equity and inclusion, as they relate to economic development, mean ensuring that all people can fully participate in the creation of socioeconomic growth – and fully share in its benefits. So, as Long Island’s demographics shift and minority populations grow, where are we on this? According to…

Economic Development June 11, 2019

Stakeholders unite to support pharma/nutra’s future

By GREGORY ZELLER // With more than 150 companies and 9,800-plus employees, the pharmaceutical/nutraceutical industry is already a Long Island cornerstone – and some major regional stakeholders want to see it grow. On Tuesday, the Suffolk County Industrial Development Agency and the Workforce Development Institute officially introduced “Driving Suffolk County’s Innovation Economy: The Pharmaceutical/Nutraceutical Growth Factor,” a 48-page report detailing pharma/nutra’s impressive growth over the last decade and the unique obstacles the industry faces on…

Newsletters June 5, 2019

No. 411: In which Voder speaks, the Apple II arrives, iTunes departs – and the Avengers assemble!

  Half full: Welcome to Wednesday, dear readers, as we reach the midpoint of another exciting week of socioeconomic innovation. Before we dive in, a warm welcome to new newsletter subscribers Michael, Kathleen, Josh, Frank, Tim, Wayne, Elizabeth, Warren, Eddie, Cliff, Noel, Micaela, Paige and Gary. Let us be the first to wish you a healthy and safe World Day Against Speciesism. Ecologically logical: That must mean it’s June 5 out there, and most of…

Voices May 31, 2019

Giving the LI innovation economy plenty of STEAM

By ROSALIE DRAGO // Employers in technical trades lament the loss of “shop” class and its hands-on maker skills. Business owners complain that candidates possess minimal work experience. But there is tremendous work-readiness power in STEAM – enough to fuel a 21st century workforce. Beginning in elementary school, education institutions are using STEAM (for science, technology, engineering, arts and math) to contextualize core classroom subjects in a way that aligns with skills required by the…

Voices May 17, 2019

To keep talent coming, tech must fill its own pipeline

By PHIL RUGILE // Workforce development in tech? Not as easy as it sounds. My workforce muse, Rosalie Drago, has in this very column touched on the concept that apprenticeships belong in every industry – but in fact, they’re still viewed mainly as benefits only in trade occupations. You often hear of someone “apprenticing as a plumber.” But when talking about a software developer getting on-the-job training as a “junior” developer, the term “apprentice” would…

Newsletters May 8, 2019

No. 403: On Truman, workforce development and Adelphi diversity – plus, casting a new Spellman

  Fair to middling: A pleasant Wednesday to you, dear readers, as we reach the midpoint of our latest busy workweek. Before we dive in, welcome new newsletter subscribers Donna, Sammy, Eric, Pearlene, Luke, Shaun, Hamlet, Catherine, Andre and Marshall. If any of you had the house of Zhao beating the house of Zhi (ending the Battle of Jinyang in the State of Jin on this date in 453 B.C.), collect your 100 bronze Yibi…

Voices May 3, 2019

With jobs waiting, Island must master apprenticeships

By ROSALIE DRAGO // Apprenticeship is one of the most powerful weapons we have to advance Long Islanders, regional business and the local economy. It’s time to deploy it. At a time when many employers report a lack of skilled workers, employer-led training – which develops workplace skills based on the latest industry practices, while incorporating related classroom instruction – is being promoted and supported on federal and state levels as a fix for widening…

Voices April 5, 2019

Diverse opinions fuel C3E Women in Energy event

By ROSALIE DRAGO // In any industry, “diversity” means intentionally incorporating views and perspectives different from our own – an essential practice for both personal and professional innovation and advancement. We all know it’s easier and faster to move something forward with someone who agrees with us. It doesn’t mean you get the best outcome, though. It can be uncomfortable, to have your voice heard and to listen to that “other” voice, and difficult to…