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What is the history of the Wisconsin Seasonal Workforce Coalition?

BUYSEASONS, a large employer that hires approximately 1,500 seasonal workers had the vision of helping their temporary workers find employment once their season ended.  In Fall 2008, BUYSEASONS, hosted an exit party at the end of their hiring season as a way to link their seasonal employees to other employers.   During their hiring season, BUYSEASONS partnered with a number of Community Based Organizations to help with recruiting.   In February 2009, BUYSEASONS, followed up with the employers and CBO’s to brainstorm ways of helping this group of seasonal workers.  As a result of this meeting, Interfaith Employment Services, a part of Interfaith Older Adult Programs, wrote a grant to United Way of Greater Milwaukee to fund the development of a Wisconsin Seasonal Workforce Coalition.  The grant proposed that a coalition would seek to identify other seasonal employers, develop a website that would include a calendar of all seasonal hiring and coordinate local seasonal employment hiring.

What is the Wisconsin Seasonal Workforce Coalition?

Wisconsin Seasonal Workforce Coalition includes employers and community based workforce agencies working together to coordinate 2,000 + seasonal employment opportunities across the calendar year. 

Who are the workers targeted for seasonal employment?

The Coalition recognizes that there are a number of demographic groups that need and want seasonal employment.  This group includes college students, homemakers with dependent children, and mature workers.  In addition, there are individuals that have been out of the workforce and need to rebuild their resumes, seasonal employment can offer that opportunity.  Finally, the coalition wants to help disadvantaged workers that need an opportunity to prove themselves as valuable employees.  Seasonal employment is often the entry way into permanent full-time employment.

Why are employers partnering with CommunityOrganizations?

Many community based organizations work with unemployed individuals to help them find jobs.  Employers that partner with community based organizations have access to a pool of well prepared job seekers. 

MISSION:

The vision for the Coalition is “Seasonal Employment = Future Opportunities.”  The mission for the coalition is to coordinate seasonal employment opportunities as a way for laid off workers to bridge employment and for entry level workers to prepare for permanent employment. 

LEADERSHIP TEAM:

• David Karst, V.P. H.R, BUYSEASONS, Inc.
• Jeff Bloedorn, Workforce Planning Manager, UPS
• Matthew Martin, Corporate Director of Recruitment, Marcus Hotels and Resorts
• Lynda Horn, Director, Education/Training/Employment, Center for Veteran's Issues
• Carol Eschner, Executive Director, Interfaith Older Adult Programs
• Pastor David King, Milwaukee God Squad
   

Staff:

• Pat Delmenhorst, Coordinator, Wisconsin Seasonal Workforce Coalition, Interfaith Older Adult Programs
   

What We Do:

Wisconsin Seasonal Workforce Coalition, a project funded by United Way of Greater Milwaukee, is assisting exiting seasonal employees  to find another seasonal or full time position through the coalition partnerships.  What is unique about this effort is that community based organizations are partnering with employers to help them share their employees across the calendar year.   The Coalition is also providing free outplacement assistance to the exiting employees.  MATHER, Milwaukee Area Transitional Human Resource, Community Workforce Parnters and other  community professionals  volunteer their time to assist these exiting workers with resumes, cover letters and interviewing.

Join Us:

• Employer Application
• Employee Application