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Phoenix, AZ – Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton joined Markle Foundation CEO and President Zoë Baird, LinkedIn Vice President of Product Management and Co-Founder Allen Blue, Maricopa County Supervisor Steve Gallardo and Arizona State University officials today as Skillful went live in greater Phoenix and Maricopa County. Employers and educators including Arizona Public Service, Affinity Technology, and Maricopa Community College District joined with job seekers from across the Phoenix region for the roll-out of Skillful, a new skills-based platform that values people’s skills, not just degrees, and which supports lifelong learning in today’s rapidly changing economy. Skillful is a network of online tools and on-the-ground resources that connects job seekers to fast growing and well-paying jobs and to the educators who can help them get training, acquire new skills, and advance their careers. Skillful’s digital tools and in-person support will help job seekers identify the specific skills and training needed to obtain available jobs, even if they don’t have a college degree. It meets job seekers where they are – online or in their community – through career navigators who can help guide them through their job search. Skillful also works with employers to offer innovative tools and advisors to broaden their talent pool by helping them create skills-based job descriptions and to hire workers based on the core skills needed for the job. Skillful is geared toward middle-skill job seekers: individuals with at least a high school diploma, but not a four-year degree. Over 30 percent of the job openings in the Phoenix area are geared toward middle-skilled workers. These are good jobs that pay well, with many of them offering a median salary above $60,000 a year. On Skillful, job seekers will be able to explore salaries and job openings by sector, and find trainings directly linked to specific job paths. “Skillful is a new opportunity for people who don’t have a college diploma to show the skills they have and to get connected to great jobs,” said Zoë Baird, CEO and President of the Markle Foundation. “71 percent of Phoenix area residents don’t have a college degree, but they have great skills. Jobs are changing so dramatically because of technology and globalization. People need to be able to learn new skills over the course of a lifetime and to retool throughout their career. Skillful is going to provide new paths for people to show that they have the skills to get jobs that have income growth potential and the opportunity to move in new directions.” Skillful unites the combined efforts of national partners like LinkedIn, edX and Arizona State University, and local partners including the city of Phoenix, Arizona Manufacturing Partnership, Arizona Technology Council, Arizona Commerce Authority, and anchor navigators Maricopa Community College District, Goodwill of Central Arizona and [email protected] to expand paths for job seekers to advance their careers. “As Phoenix continues to look for ways to stay competitive, Skillful will help those in our workforce gain the skills they need to get ahead,” said Mayor Greg Stanton. “We are honored to be one of the first cities in the nation to go live with Skillful, which shows our commitment to skills-based training and hiring.” “Skillful chose Phoenix and Maricopa County because of the opportunities our community has to offer,” said Maricopa County Supervisor Steve Gallardo. “We have thriving businesses and a workforce that is eager to take advantage of openings in growing industries. Skillful will be able to connect individuals with good paying positions that will benefit our economy.” The city of Phoenix and the state of Colorado are the first locations to go live with Skillful. The national partners chose these locations for their track record and commitment to job and opportunity creation, education and innovation, as well as their commitment to building partnerships aimed at improving the lives of their citizens. “Forty-four percent of Colorado and Phoenix employers say it’s hard to find people with the right technical skills,” said LinkedIn VP of Product Management and Co-Founder Allen Blue. “And fifty-four percent of U.S. workers who have a high school diploma and some or no college education say they don’t know what jobs are available, and if they have the skills needed for those jobs. We’re excited to help overcome this disconnect by partnering with Skillful and providing employers and educators with Economic Graph insights that spur collaboration on curriculum, and to empower job seekers to find training programs that will teach them the skills they need to get the jobs they want.” LinkedIn is also working with Skillful to help develop more skills-based job descriptions. Additionally, ASU has been a thought leader in creating the Skillful partnership. "Arizona State University is committed to building lifelong learning pathways with a variety of on-ramps and off-ramps into post-secondary education," said ASU President Michael Crow. "Our education technology experts at EdPlus helped design and build the Skillful platform because it will offer Phoenix and Maricopa County residents access to the learning opportunities they need to develop a career path." Skillful will provide employers with the data and templates they need to craft job descriptions based on skills versus using degrees as a default. These same skills can help inform on-the-job training or collaborations with educators. Skillful will help facilitate better connections between employers and local education and training institutions, allowing these institutions to tailor programs to ensure workers have the skills and knowledge to be successful. Businesses in Phoenix now will have with direct access to the skilled employees they need to fill their open positions. Employers across the region are already on board including Affinity Technology, Arizona Public Service, Axosoft, Ipro Tech, Make-A-Wish Foundation, Nichols Precision, Outlook Advisors, and Pinnacle Transplant Technologies. “We are engaged with Skillful to help build out a qualified pipeline of employees who we know will be a strong fit for our company,” said Russ Yelton, CEO of Pinnacle Transplant Technologies. “Skillful will allow us to better describe the specific skills required of potential employees. This means we’ll take less time to fill a job and have happier, more productive workers which benefits us all.” Skillful will concentrate opportunities on some of the largest industries in the greater Phoenix area and in Maricopa County starting in advanced manufacturing and information technology. “IT is a continually-evolving sector. Skillful will help our business find better talent by focusing our recruitment efforts on skills needed to accomplish the job,” said Dave Sloan, President of Affinity Technology. “Additionally, by working with local education partners, we can help ensure the trainings they provide are relevant to what to companies like mine need to continue to grow.” "We applaud the Markle Foundation in bringing Skillful to Phoenix. Skillful provides an opportunity for Innovate+Educate to continue our work to advance skills based hiring,” said Jamai Blivin, CEO of Innovate+Educate. “The Markle Foundation has been incredibly thoughtful and diligent in architecting and designing Skillful, and we look forward to working with the many leaders in Phoenix to expand access and new opportunities to education, skills training and employment via Skillful." For educators, Skillful will provide crucial data about the employment picture in the regions they are serving and help them develop curricula to better prepare workers for the ever-changing labor landscape. “Skillful offers us a way to reach more potential students and have greater access to insights about local employers which can help us ensure that our educational programs continue to meet industry needs,” said Dr. Randall Kimmens, Ed.D, Associate Vice Chancellor, Workforce Development, Maricopa Community Colleges. “We want our students to get the best jobs possible and Skillful will provide us with crucial data about what types of jobs our alumni are getting and about the employment picture in our region, allowing us to adapt our programs to give our students a leg up.” Skillful is using advanced statistical modeling to reach middle-skill job seekers in their communities through experienced advisors and career coaches based in local non-profits. Skillful users will be able to draw on these set of coaches – called navigators – through organizations like Goodwill of Central Arizona and [email protected] These expert navigators also will be able to use the tools and resources from Skillful to better serve their population. Skillful tools are informed by data and insights from some of the best research firms in the nation – LinkedIn, Civis Analytics, and North Star Opinion Research, and strategy support was provided by McKinsey & Company. Employers, job seekers, educational institutions and community-based organizations interested in trying Skillful are invited to visit www.skillful.com for more information. Skillful also can be found on Facebook at Facebook.com/JoinSkillful and on Twitter @JoinSkillful. Media Contact:[email protected] About Markle and Rework America Markle leverages the potential of information technology to drive solutions to some of the nation’s most pressing problems in the areas of health, the economy, and national security. Markle’s current initiative, Rework America, is focused on accelerating innovations that use the forces of technology and globalization to return opportunities to Americans in today’s rapidly changing networked economy. For more information, visit markle.org, follow the foundation on Twitter @MarkleFdn, and visit Rework America. press release, media release Skillful
Denver, CO – Governor John Hickenlooper joined Markle Foundation CEO and President Zoë Baird and LinkedIn Co‐Founder Allen Blue today as Skillful went live in the state of Colorado. Job seekers, employers, and educators from around the state also were on hand for the roll‐out of Skillful, a new skills‐based platform that values people’s skills, not just degrees, and which supports lifelong learning in today’s rapidly changing economy. Skillful is a network of online tools and on‐the-ground resources that connects job seekers to fast growing and well‐paying jobs and to the educators who can help them get training, acquire new skills, and advance their careers. Skillful’s tools and in‐person support will help job seekers identify the specific skills and training needed to obtain available jobs, even if they don’t have a college degree. It meets job seekers where they are – online or in their community – through career navigators who can help guide them through their job search. Skillful also works with employers to offer innovative tools and advisors to broaden their talent pool by helping them create skills‐based job descriptions and to hire workers based on the core skills needed for the job. Skillful tools are informed by data and insights from some of the best research firms in the nation ‐ LinkedIn, Civis Analytics, and North Star Opinion Research, and strategy support was provided by McKinsey & Company. Skillful is geared toward middle‐skill job seekers: individuals with a high school diploma, but not a four‐year degree. Research conducted by the state revealed that in Colorado, 40% of the state’s “top jobs” – those with high annual openings, above average growth rates – do not require a four‐year degree. These are good jobs that pay well, with many of them offering a median salary above $50,000 a year. By working with employers to clearly define the skills needed for these jobs, and by making it easier for job seekers to learn or demonstrate these skills, Skillful will create more career paths for those without a college degree. At the same time, it is providing businesses across the state with direct access to the skilled employees they need to fill their open positions. “Skillful is a new opportunity for people who don’t have a college diploma to show the skills they have and to get connected to great jobs,” said Zoë Baird, CEO and President of the Markle Foundation. “Sixty‐two percent of Coloradans don’t have a college degree, but they have great skills. Jobs are changing so dramatically because of technology and globalization. People need to be able to learn new skills over the course of a lifetime and to retool throughout their career. Skillful is going to provide new paths for people to show that they have the skills to get jobs that have income growth potential and the opportunity to move in new directions.” Through the combined efforts of national partners like LinkedIn, edX and Arizona State University, and local partners like the state of Colorado, the Colorado Workforce Development Council and workforce centers, the Colorado Advanced Manufacturing Alliance, the Colorado Technology Association and Goodwill Industries of Denver, Skillful will expand Colorado’s ongoing effort to develop cutting‐edge skills programs in the state. “Colorado has long been committed to ensuring our workers have access to the skills they need to get ahead and Skillful provides a powerful new tool for job seekers to do that,” said Governor John Hickenlooper. “We are honored to be the first state to gain access to Skillful, which builds on our efforts to promote skills‐based training and hiring in Colorado. It will help keep our state competitive both nationally and globally.” Colorado is the first state to have access to Skillful. Skillful also will be going live in early April in Phoenix, the first city to use the platform. The national partners chose these locations for their track record and commitment to job and opportunity creation, education and innovation, as well as their commitment to building partnerships aimed at improving the lives of their citizens. “Forty-four percent of Colorado and Phoenix employers say it’s hard to find people with the right technical skills,” said LinkedIn VP of Product Management and Co‐Founder Allen Blue. “And fifty‐four percent of U.S. workers who have a high school diploma and some or no college education say they don’t know what jobs are available, and if they have the skills needed for those jobs. We’re excited to help overcome this disconnect by partnering with Skillful and providing employers and educators with Economic Graph insights that spur collaboration on curriculum, and to empower job seekers to find training programs that will teach them the skills they need to get the jobs they want.” LinkedIn is also working with Skillful to help develop more skills‐based job descriptions. For job seekers, Skillful is like GPS for their career. It shows them companies that are hiring, what kinds of jobs are available, the skills required and where to find the training to get those jobs. Skillful is using advanced statistical modeling to power a grassroots campaign to reach middle‐skill job seekers in their communities through Skillful navigators based in local non‐profits who are experienced advisors and career coaches. Skillful will provide employers with the data and templates they need to craft job descriptions based on skills versus using degrees as a default. These same skills can help inform on‐the‐job training or collaborations with educators. Skillful will help facilitate better connections between employers and local education and training institutions, allowing these institutions to tailor programs to ensure workers have the skills and knowledge to be successful. Both of these collaborations will provide businesses with access to a broader talent pool. “We are engaged with Skillful to help build out a qualified pipeline of employees who we know will be a strong fit for our company,” said Barbara Brannen, Vice President of Human Resources at Pinnacol Assurance. “Skillful will allow us to better describe the specific skills required of potential employees. This means less time trying to fill a job and happier, more productive workers which benefits us all.” Skillful will concentrate opportunities on some of the fastest growing industries in Colorado – advanced manufacturing and information technology. “Advanced manufacturing is a continually‐evolving sector. Skillful will help our business find better talent by focusing our recruitment efforts on skills and abilities,” said Noel Ginsburg, CEO of Intertech Plastics and Intertech Medical. “Additionally, by working with local education partners, we can help ensure the trainings they provide are relevant to what to companies like mine need to continue to grow.” For educators, Skillful will provide crucial data about the employment picture in the regions they are serving and help them develop curricula to better prepare workers for the ever‐changing labor landscape. “Skillful offers us a way to reach more potential students and have greater access to insights about local employers which can help us ensure that our educational programs continue to meet industry needs,” said Dr. Nancy McCallin, President of the Colorado Community College System. “We want our students to get the best jobs possible and Skillful will provide us with crucial data about what types of jobs our alumni are getting and about the employment picture in our region, allowing us to adapt our programs to give our students a leg up.” Skillful users will be able to draw on a set of trained coaches – called navigators – through Goodwill Industries of Denver and Larimer County Workforce Center. These expert navigators also will be able to use the tools and resources from Skillful to better serve their population. Employers, job seekers, educational institutions and community‐based organizations interested in trying Skillful are invited to visit www.skillful.com for more information. Skillful also can be found on Facebook at Facebook.com/JoinSkillful and on Twitter @JoinSkillful. Media Contact:[email protected] About Markle and Rework America Markle leverages the potential of information technology to drive solutions to some of the nation’s most pressing problems in the areas of health, the economy, and national security. Markle’s current initiative, Rework America, is focused on accelerating innovations that use the forces of technology and globalization to return opportunities to Americans in today’s rapidly changing networked economy. For more information, visit markle.org, follow the foundation on Twitter @MarkleFdn, and visit Rework America. press release, media release Skillful
PHOENIX, AZ – Markle Foundation CEO and President Zoë Baird today joined with Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton, LinkedIn Co-Founder Allen Blue, Arizona State University President Michael M. Crow, representatives of the Maricopa Community College System, edX, and Phoenix employers to announce Rework America Connected, a partnership that will use online technology to improve the way job seekers find jobs and learn new skills, and improve the way employers find workers. The online platform will provide an opportunity for many more Americans to qualify for good-paying careers, whether or not they have a college degree. Through this portal, employers will be able to more effectively fill available positions with skilled employees and grow their businesses. More than half of all American employers say a lack of skilled workers is the reason so many jobs remain unfilled. Rework America Connected is building the platform in partnership with LinkedIn, Arizona State University, and edX. The partners will work with the City of Phoenix and Phoenix employers and educators to connect, enhance, and scale efforts already underway, and tailor the program to Phoenix’s needs. The goal is to connect individuals—from the skilled, mid-career worker whose job has been reshaped by technology to the retail worker looking for a leg up into a middle-skill career—to professional and educational opportunities and develop a more qualified workforce for Phoenix employers. "As the digital economy continues to rapidly change our work lives, we have an opportunity here in Phoenix to help thousands land middle-skill jobs that offer them a way toward meaningful career paths," said Markle CEO and President Zoë Baird, who leads Rework America. "There are so many people who have the capacity to move into better jobs, and so many businesses who need skilled workers; now we need to connect both and put opportunity within reach. Imagine the possibilities if businesses use concrete skill sets as their benchmarks for employment, and education and training providers offer credentials that identify a job seeker’s capabilities. We could open doors for so many who are ready to tackle a wide range of work and who want the opportunity to thrive in today’s economy." "Rework America Connected has the potential to lower barriers to high-quality training and education options for Arizona’s job seekers, enabling them to embark on a meaningful career in our networked economy," said Arizona State University President Michael M. Crow. "We are proud to apply ASU’s expertise in digital academic advising and online learning to this important initiative." With guidance from employers, the cutting edge online platform will be able to customize tools and data to industry-specific employment needs. Rework America will draw on innovative classroom and online educational content from providers like community colleges to ensure job seekers have access to the most up-to-date trainings. The program will also engage a sophisticated recruitment and targeting effort to engage middle-skill workers who are often disconnected from such career paths. "Phoenix is known for using technological innovation to improve workers’ economic security, and Rework America Connected will help the city’s workers pursue better career paths and gain the skills they need to succeed in today’s economy," said Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton. "And by ending Phoenix’s skills mismatch, the platform will help local employers find enough skilled workers to grow their businesses at the speed they like." "LinkedIn’s vision is to create economic opportunity for every member of the global workforce," said LinkedIn VP Product Management and Co-Founder Allen Blue. "With Rework America Connected, we are taking another step towards achieving that vision. Through greater transparency between employers, educators, and job seekers, we’re aiming to create greater economic opportunity for middle-skilled workers." Markle is drawing on the best resources from the public and private sectors in greater Phoenix to create this network. Maricopa County Community Colleges, a system renowned for its workforce development initiatives and industry-specific skill programs, will serve as a premier education content provider. ASU, in conjunction with LinkedIn and edX, will provide technological expertise to Rework America Connected, helping build a 21st century interest inventory and skills assessment tool that will help job seekers determine the best pathway to follow. Job seekers also can access ASU pathways through credentials offered by Maricopa County Community Colleges, regardless of whether they’re pursuing a college diploma. "The Greater Phoenix metropolitan area can have the most prepared workers in the country if we leverage the power of the Internet to help them train for the work of the future," said Estrella Mountain Community College President Ernest Lara, who represents the partnership of the Maricopa Community College System. "The Rework America Connected platform will help jumpstart this process by connecting workers to the jobs that are already available across Arizona." The City of Phoenix and local employers will assist in the execution of the effort, supplying important data and information to increase the online platform’s efficiency. Additional local employers supporting Rework American Connected include Arizona Public Service, Go Daddy, Arizona Manufacturing Partnership, Arizona Technology Council and Walmart Foundation. "We are thrilled to help the workforce of today and tomorrow identify and secure careers," said Ty Freeland, Manager of Talent Acquisition for Arizona Public Service. "Rework America Connected will help us connect with our future employees online and ensure they have the skills to make more of an impact on day one." "The Walmart Foundation is committed to increasing economic mobility for retail workers through our Retail Opportunity Initiative and that is why we’ve allied with the Markle Foundation and Rework America Connected," said Julie Gehrki, Senior Director of the Walmart Foundation. "The Walmart Foundation is excited to partner in Phoenix with other employers to leverage technology in order to create pathways in retail and adjacent sectors." Phoenix will be the first city to participate in Rework America Connected and Colorado will be the first state in the nation. Rework America Connected chose these locations for their track record and commitment to job creation, education, innovation, and partnerships aimed at improving the lives of its citizens. Employers, job seekers, educational institutions, and community-based organizations interested in participating in the program are welcome to visit www.reworkamericaconnected.org to join the coalition or sign up for more information. Rework America Connected can also be found on Facebook at Rework America and on Twitter @ReworkAmerica. Rework America Connected is a key part of the Markle Foundation’s Rework America initiative, which is driving real solutions to the disruptive changes brought on by technology and globalization. Rework America’s 56 members are leaders from across a diverse spectrum who are focused on innovations to create opportunities for Americans in today’s networked economy. Most recently, Markle’s members released a collectively authored book, America's Moment: Creating Opportunity in the Connected Age, which offers an agenda for action to create new paths for good and meaningful work and outlines recommendations to navigate the changing economic landscape of the connected age. Rework America Connected is now known as Skillful. Media Contact:[email protected] About Markle and Rework America Markle leverages the potential of information technology to drive solutions to some of the nation’s most pressing problems in the areas of health, the economy, and national security. Markle’s current initiative, Rework America, is focused on accelerating innovations that use the forces of technology and globalization to return opportunities to Americans in today’s rapidly changing networked economy. For more information, visit markle.org, follow the foundation on Twitter @MarkleFdn, and visit Rework America. press release, media release
DENVER, CO – Markle Foundation CEO and President Zoë Baird today joined with Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper, Lt. Governor Joe Garcia, LinkedIn Co-Founder Allen Blue, edX President and COO Wendy Cebula, Intertech Plastics CEO Noel Ginsburg and Senior Vice President and COO of Kaiser Permanente Colorado Nancy Wollen to announce Rework America Connected, a partnership that will build on major initiatives already underway in Colorado and use new technologies and programs to better connect and support job seekers, employers, and educational providers. This announcement comes in conjunction with Governor Hickenlooper's efforts to create the Business Experiential-Learning Commission to ensure middle-skill workers have the training to meet the needs of Colorado employers. Rework America Connected will provide opportunity for many more Americans to qualify for good paying careers, whether or not they have a college degree. It will benefit employers by allowing them to more effectively fill available positions with skilled employees. More than half of all American employers say a lack of skilled workers is the reason so many jobs remain unfilled. Rework America Connected, being built in partnership with LinkedIn, Arizona State University, and edX, will work with the State of Colorado and Colorado employers and educators to connect, enhance, and scale efforts underway through technology, as well as offer new tools and resources. The program aims to help connect individuals—from the skilled, mid-career worker whose job has been reshaped by technology to the retail worker looking for a leg up into a middle-skill career—to career and education opportunities and develop a more qualified workforce for Colorado employers. "As the digital economy continues to rapidly change our work lives, we have an opportunity here in Colorado to help thousands land middle-skill jobs that offer them a way toward meaningful career paths," said Markle CEO and President Zoë Baird, who leads Rework America. "There are so many people who have the capacity to move into better jobs, and so many businesses who need skilled workers; now we need to connect both and put opportunity within reach. Imagine the possibilities if businesses use concrete skill sets as their benchmarks for employment, and education and training providers offered credentials that identify a job seeker's capabilities. We could open doors for so many who are ready to tackle a wide range of work and who want the opportunity to thrive in today's economy." "Colorado has one of the lowest unemployment rates in the country, but we know there is still work to do, especially for middle-skill jobs," said Gov. John Hickenlooper. "Innovative approaches like Rework America Connected will help end the skills mismatch and create a transparent job market that offers Coloradans a chance at a career path with real advancement potential, aligning with the goals of the new Business Experiential-Learning Commission." Rework America Connected will provide cutting edge technology tools and resources to job seekers, employers, and educators—from data and dashboards on industry-specific talent needs to flexible, innovative educational and training content from online providers like community colleges and boot camps. It will also deploy a sophisticated recruitment effort to engage and connect middle-skill workers of all types, a population that is often underserved and disconnected from job opportunities and education tools. "LinkedIn's vision is to create economic opportunity for every member of the global workforce," said LinkedIn VP Product Management and Co-Founder Allen Blue. "With Rework America Connected, we are taking another step towards achieving that vision. Through greater transparency between employers, educators, and job seekers, we're aiming to create greater economic opportunity for middle-skilled workers." "Working with Rework America Connected, we will empower organizations to create high-quality online learning experiences and credentials valued by employers to help job seekers gain the knowledge and skills needed to advance their careers," said edX President and COO Wendy Cebula. Employers welcomed Rework America Connected as an important tool to help expand their business. "Across the state, advanced manufacturing companies deal with the challenge of finding skilled workers to fit our needs, which is why Rework America Connected will create a bridge to help our industry grow," said Noel Ginsburg, Intertech Plastics CEO. "We have more need for skilled workers than ever before—and we are excited to use Rework America Connected to find new employees and help Colorado's economy continue to excel." Colorado will be the first state in the nation to participate in Rework America Connected and Phoenix will the first city. Rework America Connected chose these locations for their track record and commitment to job creation, education, and innovation, as well as their commitment to building partnerships aimed at improving the lives of its citizens. Employers, job seekers, educational institutions, and community-based organizations interested in participating in the program are welcome to visit www.reworkamericaconnected.org to join the coalition or sign up for more information. Rework America Connected can also be found on Facebook at Rework America and on Twitter @ReworkAmerica. Rework America Connected is a key part of the Markle Foundation's Rework America initiative, which is driving real solutions to the disruptive changes brought on by technology and globalization. Rework America's 56 members are leaders from across a diverse spectrum who work to drive innovations to create opportunities for Americans in today's networked economy. Most recently, Markle's members collectively authored the book, America's Moment: Creating Opportunity in the Connected Age, which calls on leaders from all sectors to create new paths for good and meaningful work, offers an agenda for action, and outlines recommendations to navigate the changing economic landscape of the connected age. Rework America Connected is now known as Skillful. Media Contact:[email protected] About Markle and Rework America Markle leverages the potential of information technology to drive solutions to some of the nation’s most pressing problems in the areas of health, the economy, and national security. Markle’s current initiative, Rework America, is focused on accelerating innovations that use the forces of technology and globalization to return opportunities to Americans in today’s rapidly changing networked economy. For more information, visit markle.org, follow the foundation on Twitter @MarkleFdn, and visit Rework America. press release, media release
New book redefines ways Americans can thrive in the digital economy "In a time of deep polarization, America’s Moment provides an important service by developing a tangible and workable way forward for America’s most pressing policy problems."—Arthur C. Brooks, president of the American Enterprise Institute "For anyone looking for insights and inspiration on navigating the 21st century economy, this is essential reading."—Reid Hoffman, co-founder and chairman of LinkedIn "America’s Moment redefines the biggest economic transformation this country has seen in a century."—Arianna Huffington, cofounder and editor-in-chief of the Huffington Post "This wise book is a roadmap for restoring the American Dream."—Walter Isaacson, president and CEO of Aspen Institute, The Aspen Journal of Ideas NEW YORK, NY –In the midst of the biggest economic transformation in 100 years—one that has left millions of Americans uncertain of their future—technology and globalization are not a threat, but an opportunity to reshape the future, write a diverse group of leaders across America in the collectively authored book America’s Moment: Creating Opportunity in the Connected Age. Released this week, America’s Moment is a call to action at a critical moment in history as a wave of digital, technological, and marketplace transformations have fundamentally altered the very nature of work. Through a compelling lens that looks at examples of innovative entrepreneurs, small businesses, and Americans across the country, America’s Moment demonstrates how our lives have been impacted by the country’s economic transformation, and how we can rework America for the 21st century economy. The book calls on leaders from all sectors to use technology to create new paths for good and meaningful work, offers an agenda for action, and outlines recommendations to navigate the changing economic landscape of the connected age. It is part of a major commitment from the Markle Foundation’s Rework America initiative, whose 56 leaders are driving actions to expand opportunities for employment and learning. The Markle Foundation pledged $50 million over three years to advance Rework America, offering a vision, as well as partnerships to connect Americans to opportunity. "America’s Moment is a call to participate in the most vital undertaking for America in the 21st Century," said Zoë Baird, CEO and president of Markle who leads Rework America and who wrote the book’s preface. "It is unacceptable in our nation for economic well-being to be out of reach for so many hard working Americans. Everyone must once again feel their efforts can lead to endless possibilities. The forces of globalization and technological change can also be the tools we use to make sure all Americans are included in this transformation. We need leaders to share and build on this agenda to secure meaningful work for all Americans." America’s Moment is not just another book describing the problem. It is a call to action at a critical juncture in our nation’s life to create more good work, prepare Americans for 21st century careers and connect job seekers with opportunities. The book offers solutions on a broad front and proposes dozens of recommendations for action to accomplish these goals. Among them: • Preparing Americans for the lives they want through new affordable, flexible, and personalized higher education options beyond high school to supplement the college path. There need to be many ways to learn and train for the work of the future over the course of a lifetime; • Better matching Americans to opportunities through new credential systems that recognize an individual’s abilities, and by providing transparent and accessible information on skills required by employers; • Creating more jobs in America by linking American small businesses and entrepreneurs to the world of buyers for goods and services; • Creating growth potential for job-creating small businesses by expanding access to capital and credit that is currently parked on the sidelines; and • Enabling many more career paths to well-compensated work by using technology to deliver information to workers when they need it. "The daunting challenges of the new economy demand new ideas, new types of leadership and new partnerships—both public and private," said co-author and California Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom. "Business, education, and government leaders can work collaboratively to grow our economy, invest in education, and create good jobs. We have to step up and take responsibility if we want to prepare the workforce of tomorrow. " "America's Moment shows us the steps that America must take to turn today's challenges into opportunities," said co-author Geoffrey Canada, president of the non-profit Harlem Children's Zone. "The digital technology revolution has given us incredible new tools for learning and ways to turn the corner on the financial anxiety and job insecurity that are haunting so many Americans." "We now have the ability to expand the number of pathways to learning and to rethink how every individual can be ensured of a pathway to opportunity and employment," explained ASU President and co-author Michael Crow. "With the technological tools available to us today, we can advance flexible and personalized learning systems and generate new market-ready credentials based on an individual’s demonstrated knowledge." "America's Moment serves as an important reminder that we are stronger as a nation when everyone gets an equal chance to achieve success," said co-author Howard Schultz, chief executive officer and chairman, Starbucks. "With millions of Americans completely disconnected from the economy, we need the leadership, creativity and courage of the private sector, working with communities and everyday citizens, to create meaningful lifelong opportunities for all. Technology and globalization are not our biggest challenge - they are our greatest opportunity." "The world economy is set to more than triple in size in the next 15 years, said Robert K. Steel, co-author of America's Moment and CEO, Perella Weinberg Partners. "Looking at the Internet alone, there were a billion users in 2006, now there are three billion and growing. American small businesses can use openings created by the Internet for much more digitized commerce. They can produce goods and services that are valued around the world, and connect directly to millions of potential new international customers." "Technology and platforms have created the opportunity for small and medium size businesses to connect with and sell to customers anywhere in the world, something which was completely unheard of 20 or 30 years ago," said co-author James Manyika, Director, McKinsey Global Institute. "They will be the engine that powers America’s future growth." "The exponentially expanding capabilities of information technology have precipitated the greatest economic transformation since the Industrial Revolution," said Craig Mundie, president of Mundie & Associates, former Chief Research and Strategy Officer for Microsoft and co-author of the book. "We need to rethink how we optimally invest going forward to innovate in education, training and credentialing. And leaders need to shine a light on the ideas and policies that will secure our economic future, and – most importantly – recognize the very real dangers to our economy and national security that will come from continued inaction." "We must ensure that all Americans, especially Americans in underserved communities, have full access to the tools of the digital revolution," said co-author Antonia Hernandez, President and CEO, California Community Foundation. "Leaders across sectors must prioritize investing in these communities by expanding programs that make the Internet widely available, that provide caring mentors, and that help at-risk young people develop their untapped potential, and learn valued skills." "America has come through profound economic transformations before and we can successfully do it again," said co-author and Markle Visiting Director Philip Zelikow. "We reworked American institutions when we transitioned from an agrarian society to the industrial age. This is what is needed today." A number of programs will be forthcoming from Rework America and its partners to help create scalable actions. A program expected to be unveiled later this month will provide cutting edge technology tools and resources to benefit middle skill job seekers, employers and educational providers in partnership with local governments. And in the coming months, Rework America will focus on driving actions across the country and injecting the unique opportunities of the digital economy into the 2016 presidential election conversation. "How can there be so many paths to opportunity with so few people travelling them?" asked Ms. Baird. "Imagine the America we want to live in: with good jobs and ways to prepare for them, opportunities to build businesses, the excitement and not fear of innovation, and a chance to create a better life for oneself. This is the America we want our children to inherit. Rework America will promote ideas and actions to enable all Americans to dream again." For more visit http://www.markle.org and http://www.ReworkAmerica.org Media Contact: Lisa MacSpadden or Chris Valens [email protected] About Markle Markle works to realize the potential of information technology to address previously intractable public problems for the economic security, health, and national security of all Americans. Markle’s current initiative is focused on accelerating innovations that use the forces of technology and globalization to return opportunities to Americans in today’s rapidly changing networked economy. For more information, visit markle.org and follow us on Twitter @MarkleFdn. Rework America Rework America, an initiative of the Markle Foundation, is a partnership focused on driving solutions to the changes brought by today’s networked world. Rework America’s 60 members are leaders from across the political spectrum, working in the business, education, government and nonprofit sectors to identify and develop new ways for Americans to grow their businesses, create new jobs, and develop the skills they need to participate in this new economy. For more information, visit ReworkAmerica.org and follow us on Twitter @ReworkAmerica. "press release", media release
NEW YORK, NY – Markle Foundation CEO and President Zoë Baird today announced the appointment of Robert Khedouri as Managing Director and Chief Operating Officer and Wan-Lae Cheng as Senior Director. Both will build on an already diverse and talented team committed to furthering Markle’s mission to improve the economic security, health, and national security of all Americans. Currently, Markle is engaged in a nationwide effort to advance transformative strategies that create paths for good and meaningful work for all Americans in the digital age. Rework America, the Markle Economic Future Initiative, is a group of more than 50 leaders from across America focused on driving innovations in business, education, and training to ensure all Americans have a meaningful place in the new economy. “Robert and Wan-Lae are important appointments for Markle as they bring extensive experience and add the necessary leadership and depth that will help us drive Rework America,” said Zoë Baird, CEO and president of the Markle Foundation. “Their strength in building teams and developing comprehensive strategies across sectors will be instrumental as our initiative moves forward.” “Markle recognizes that America is in the midst of the greatest economic transformation in over a hundred years,” said Robert Khedouri. “Through Rework America, Markle has a vision for making opportunity available for everyone. I very much look forward to working with Markle’s talented team and helping to lead this important national initiative.” “As someone who strongly believes in the promise of the American Dream, I am honored to join Markle,” said Wan-Lae Cheng. “Markle is an innovative, forward-thinking organization with the ability to impact the lives of millions of Americans. I look forward working closely with our partners to make the Initiative’s vision a reality.” About Robert Khedouri Most recently, Robert Khedouri was Co-Founder and Director at PeerIQ, a financial information services company in the peer-to-peer loan space. He was previously Co-Founder and Co-CEO of MusicGremlin, a venture-backed startup that pioneered the delivery of digital media content direct to wireless devices. Following the sale of MusicGremlin to SanDisk in 2008, Robert held senior executive positions at SanDisk for several years, most recently as GM of the Software & Solutions Division. Earlier in his career, Robert was a corporate attorney with Cravath, Swaine & Moore, where he represented banks and issuers in a variety of public and private debt and equity issuances, mergers & acquisitions and other corporate matters, and also a consultant at McKinsey & Company, where his clients included a variety of technology companies, financial institutions and media companies. Robert holds a B.S.E. with concentrations in finance and real estate from The Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania, and a J.D. from the University of Pennsylvania law school. About Wan-Lae Cheng Wan-Lae served as Associate Principal at McKinsey & Company since 2008 where her experience crossed the public, private, and social sectors. Wan-Lae focused on strategy, organizational transformations, and innovation with non-profit higher education systems, foundations, and private sector companies in the education space. She also led McKinsey’s research on student attitudes as it relates to college completion and worked on topics related to Common Core assessments and implementation. Prior to McKinsey, Wan-Lae worked for MDRC in Oakland, CA, a public policy firm specializing in large-scale randomized control trials, where she led site selection, pilot design, and data collection for federal studies on employment retention and advancement for the U.S. Department of Labor and U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Wan-Lae holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Virginia in Foreign Affairs, and an MBA from the Columbia Business School. For more visit http://www.markle.org and http://www.ReworkAmerica.org Media Contact: Lisa MacSpadden or William Herbig [email protected] About Markle Markle works to realize the potential of information technology to address previously intractable public problems for the economic security, health, and national security of all Americans. Markle’s current initiative is focused on accelerating innovations that use the forces of technology and globalization to return opportunities to Americans in today’s rapidly changing networked economy. For more information, visit markle.org and follow us on Twitter @MarkleFdn. Rework America Rework America, an initiative of the Markle Foundation, is a partnership focused on driving solutions to the changes brought by today’s networked world. Rework America’s 60 members are leaders from across the political spectrum, working in the business, education, government and nonprofit sectors to identify and develop new ways for Americans to grow their businesses, create new jobs, and develop the skills they need to participate in this new economy. For more information, visit ReworkAmerica.org and follow us on Twitter @ReworkAmerica. press release, media release
NEW YORK, NY – During the closing plenary of the 2014 Clinton Global Initiative (CGI) Annual Meeting, President Bill Clinton today announced REWORK AMERICA, the Markle Economic Future Initiative's CGI Commitment to Action. REWORK AMERICA is an extraordinary partnership focused on the changes brought about by today's networked world. The Markle Economic Future Initiative will help drive innovations that expand opportunities for employment and broaden ways for all Americans to learn and train for the work of the future. Co-chaired by Markle CEO and President Zoë Baird and Starbucks chairman, president and ceo Howard Schultz, the Markle Economic Future Initiative brings together a broad collaboration of entrepreneurs, technology leaders, CEOs, educators, community and religious leaders, and other partners to empower all Americans to succeed in today's digital economy. The members believe it will take strong leadership in these transformational times to advance actions that help all Americans gain access to the resources they need to share in the benefits of the new economy. Markle is committing $50 million dollars to REWORK AMERICA. The members of REWORK AMERICA share a vision of a hopeful future for our nation, one in which the changes brought about by a networked world work for us and where more Americans are optimistic about their chances for learning, training, and employment. In a collective point of view (reworkamerica.org), the members offer their thoughts for pairing ideas with powerful actions to accelerate innovations that return opportunities to all Americans. While uncertainty and pessimism about the future remain high, there is a strong foundation on which to rebuild. In fact, 70 percent of middle class Americans in a recent Markle commissioned national survey said they want the chance to advance their education and training to learn new skills in math, science, and technology. Eighty six percent agreed that learning throughout one's lifetime is critical to keeping up in today's world. And nearly 9 out of 10 middle class Americans expressed support for access to resources that can help American small businesses expand into new markets. "There is no challenge more important for the strength of our nation than the challenge of advancing economic opportunity for all Americans," said Markle CEO and President and Markle Economic Future Initiative co-chair Zoë Baird. "Americans are known for their creativity and entrepreneurship. By mastering innovations in learning and business growth, we can reach for a better future in which all Americans prosper in the networked world." Technology is making it easier than ever to tap into learning that is more flexible, affordable, and personalized. It also is creating new ways for Americans to work or to start and grow a business, aided by tech platforms that can bring the world's growing middle class as potential customers to our tablets. We need to enable Americans to connect with buyers around the world and to bring the operational power and insight of large businesses into the hands of small entrepreneurs and main street businesses. And 21st century learning options are needed to develop credentials that correlate with work that will carry Americans into the future and enable people to keep learning throughout their lives. "I have long believed the best investment a leader can make is in their own people and their futures," said Howard Schultz, chairman, president and ceo of Starbucks and co-chair of the Markle Economic Future Initiative. "Today, too many of our youth believe the American Dream is impossible to achieve. It's more important now than ever for business, community and government leaders to come together to create pathways to opportunity for young Americans to become the kind of leaders who will move our country forward. Together we can create a future where the doors to opportunity are shut on no one and access to the American Dream is open to everyone." Markle has long taken a leadership role with collaborations that use technology tools to address previously intractable public problems, including overcoming obstacles to economic growth. The recent Starbucks-Arizona State University partnership, inspired by the Markle Initiative, is one example of a groundbreaking prototype for creating opportunities that rethink learning, skill development, and readiness for the work of the future. The innovative plan will provide access to an online college education at ASU for thousands of Starbucks partners (employees) in the United States. Collaborations with other educational institutions and businesses are also currently being developed to help Americans navigate the new economy. "We are in a period of momentous change in America," said Purdue University President and Initiative member Mitchell E. Daniels, Jr., former governor of Indiana and former director of the Office of Management and Budget. "One of our most important assets has always been the knowledge and skills of our workforce and the nation's economic success will depend on our effectiveness at educating students in an increasingly technological world. But we can no longer rely on traditional strengths alone to prepare for the 21st century economy. We must reimagine the way we teach and use today's new tools to design educational platforms that foster the skills today's employers say they prize most." "Many students are leaving college laden with debt, often to discover that employment is yet another challenge," said ASU President and Initiative member Michael Crow. "But this doesn't have to be. We now have the ability to expand the pathways to learning and to rethink how every individual can be ensured of a pathway to opportunity and employment. With new learning technologies and tools, we can advance flexible and personalized learning and generate new market ready credentials based on demonstrated knowledge, rather than only the more traditional pathways of post-secondary education. These new opportunities allow learning to be pursued at all times and in any venue." "More than ever, education is the single most reliable way to break the cycle of generational poverty," said Geoffrey Canada, Initiative member and president of the non-profit Harlem Children’s Zone. "The digital technology revolution has given us incredible new tools for learning, but it also raises the educational bar for future generations. For that reason, it is incumbent on our country to increase access to all of our young people and Rework America is a terrific step in that direction." Initiative member and chairman and CEO of salesforce.com, Marc Benioff said, "We're in the middle of an incredible transformation, driven by new social, mobile and connected cloud technologies. By embracing these new technologies, we can prepare our youth for the jobs of tomorrow, and encourage entrepreneurs to build new companies to propel our economy forward." "In order to restore the American dream, in order to bring back hope and promise for so many people in this nation, we need strong visionary leadership," said Reverend Calvin Butts, III, pastor of The Abyssinian Baptist Church of New York City, president of the State University of New York College at Old Westbury and Initiative member. "Leadership has to be more than just strong and visionary in the sense of rhetoric, it has to be ready to take risks." "Americans have always been good at innovation and seizing a challenge and making it work for them," said Initiative member and Leavitt Partners Chairman Michael Leavitt, the former governor of Utah and a former cabinet official. "But we need to recognize this is a genuine challenge and that we need to take steps to help build new jobs and new skills for the future. And the sooner we do this, the better." For more information visit www.reworkamerica.org and www.markle.org. Media Contact: Lisa MacSpadden or William Herbig 212-713-7632 [email protected] About Markle Markle works to realize the potential of information technology to address previously intractable public problems for the economic security, health, and national security of all Americans. Markle’s current initiative is focused on accelerating innovations that use the forces of technology and globalization to return opportunities to Americans in today’s rapidly changing networked economy. For more information, visit markle.org and follow us on Twitter @MarkleFdn.
NEW YORK, NY - Markle President Zoe Baird today announced the appointment of former Deputy Secretary of Defense Dr. Ashton B. Carter as Senior Executive at the Markle Foundation. He will help develop the Markle Economic Future Initiative along with Baird and Initiative co-chair Howard Schultz, chairman, president and ceo of Starbucks. The Initiative is advancing transformative strategies that use technology and globalization to help all Americans flourish in the economy of a networked world. The Markle Economic Future Initiative consists of a broad coalition of entrepreneurs, academics, CEOs, diplomats, community activists, religious leaders, and others who have assembled to collaborate on groundbreaking ideas for empowering Americans in today’s economic landscape. Carter will be a member of Markle’s leadership team and will head up the Initiative’s efforts to develop creative and scalable solutions to grow businesses by focusing on key opportunity areas. These include helping Americans provide services into global markets, using open data to offer growth opportunities, using information technology to enable middle skilled Americans to do work that used to require years of training, and improving access to capital. "As the Defense Department’s former chief operating officer, Dr. Carter understands the forces impacting the American economy and our society. He is a hands-on leader who sees the big picture and envisions actionable solutions," said Markle President Zoe Baird. "The addition of Dr. Carter will strengthen our efforts to help Americans at all income levels transition to the economy of the future." Carter has a long association with Markle. He served as a member of the Markle Task Force on National Security in the Information Age since its inception in 2002, and in 1997 he and Baird prepared a Defense Science Board Summer Study on the role of defense against the terrorist threat. "The most important challenge facing the nation is finding innovative solutions to build the American Dream for the 21st Century to provide a path for all Americans to succeed in the networked economy," said Dr. Carter. "I look forward to continuing the practice of partnering with private and public sector experts that is essential to achieving Markle's goals. After five years driving change at the Pentagon, I am enthusiastic about the opportunity to continue to serve the public good at Markle." Carter served in two of the top positions for the U.S. Department of Defense, most recently as Deputy Secretary of Defense from October 2011 to December 2013. As Deputy Secretary, he oversaw global operations with an annual budget of more than $600 billion and a 2.4 million workforce of civilian and military personnel. From April 2009 to October 2011, Carter was Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and Logistics with responsibility for procurement of all technology, systems, services, supplies, bases and infrastructure, energy and environment, and more than $50 billion annually in Research and Development. He was recognized for his service to national security on five separate occasions with the Department of Defense Distinguished Service Medal, DOD’s highest award. Previously he served as Senior Partner of Global Technology Partners, where he focused on advising major investment firms in technology and defense. He also served as an advisor to Goldman Sachs on global affairs and as Professor and Chair of the International Relations, Science, and Security faculty at Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government. Carter has served on numerous boards, including the MITRE Corporation, Mitretek Systems, MIT’s Lincoln Laboratories, and the Draper Laboratory Corporation. He has also been a member of the Defense Policy Board, the Defense Science Board, and the Secretary of State’s International Security Advisory Board. He was elected a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and the Aspen Strategy Group. Carter is the author of 11 books and more than 100 articles on physics, technology, national security, and management. Contact Lisa MacSpadden or William Herbig [email protected]
NEW YORK, NY - The Markle Foundation today announced that Philip Zelikow has joined the organization as Visiting Managing Director. Mr. Zelikow is a member of the Markle Economic Future Initiative, co-chaired by Markle President Zoë Baird and Starbucks chairman, president and ceo Howard Schultz. The Initiative is advancing transformative strategies that use technology and globalization to help all Americans flourish in the economy of a networked world. Mr. Zelikow, the White Burkett Miller Professor of History at the University of Virginia, is on leave from the University after completing a term as dean of the Graduate School. His collaboration with Markle began in 2002 when he was Executive Director of the first year of the Markle Task Force on National Security in the Information Age. That initiative, co-chaired by Zoë Baird and former Netscape CEO Jim Barksdale, led to highly regarded recommendations that formed the basis for intelligence reform and information sharing in the 9/11 Commission Report, the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004, the Protect America Act of 2007, and a wide range of actions at the federal, state and local level, as well as in the private sector. “We are delighted to have Philip’s brilliant contribution and his extraordinary knowledge of how Americans succeeded in past economic transitions as Markle continues to explore ways to unleash opportunities for Americans in today’s networked economy,” said Zoë Baird, president of Markle. "He is a forward thinking educator whose contributions are instrumental to tackling this pressing social need.” “America has been through major economic and social transitions before,” said Philip Zelikow. “But Americans used their talents to design and build the greatest engine of mass prosperity the world had ever seen. By accelerating innovations that return opportunity to Americans, we can do it again.” In 2003-2004, Zelikow directed the 9/11 Commission, producing a report that led to many important reforms that have changed how government and businesses use information to improve national security while protecting traditional civil liberties. The report was selected as a finalist for the National Book Award. In 2005-2007, as the Counselor of the Department of State, he served as a deputy to Secretary Rice with responsibilities including the Iraq war, Middle East policy, India, North Korea, intelligence, and counterterrorism issues. In addition to the University of Virginia, Zelikow has taught at Harvard University and for the United States Navy. He has served on several boards, including as a member of the President's Intelligence Advisory Board for President George W. Bush (2001-2003) and for President Barack Obama (2011-2013) and on the advisory board for global development of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. He has authored several books, including Germany Unified and Europe Transformed: A Study in Statecraft (with Condoleezza Rice), The Kennedy Tapes: Inside the White House during the Cuban Missile Crisis (with Ernest May), and Essence of Decision (with Graham Allison).
NEW YORK, NY - The Markle Foundation announced today that Gilman Louie has joined its Board of Directors. Mr. Louie is currently a partner at Alsop Louie Partners, a San Francisco-based venture capital firm. “Gilman Louie has been a pioneer in this country’s technology economy. His vast experience fostering entrepreneurship and enhancing national security will help Markle advance the use of information technology to address the most difficult problems facing this nation,” said Zoë Baird, president of Markle. “We are delighted that this leading technologist and business leader will help us achieve Markle’s goals to improve people’s lives through information technology.” Mr. Louie is the founder and former CEO of In-Q-Tel, a strategic venture fund created to help enhance national security by connecting the Central Intelligence Agency and United States intelligence community with venture-backed entrepreneurial companies. Prior to joining In-Q-Tel in 1999, Mr. Louie was a pioneer in the interactive entertainment industry. There, he designed and developed the Falcon F-16 flight simulator, and he licensed Tetris, the world’s most popular computer game, from its developers in the Soviet Union. Mr. Louie also founded and ran Spectrum Holobyte, which was acquired by Hasbro Corporation, where he served as chief creative officer of Hasbro Interactive and general manager of the Games.com group. Mr. Louie is a member of the National Commission for Review of Research and Development Programs of the United States Intelligence Community; vice chairman of the Standing Committee on Technology, Insight- Gauge, Evaluate and Review for the United States National Academies; a member of the Technical Advisory Group for the United States Senate Select Committee on Intelligence; and has served on the Markle Task Force on National Security in the Information Age. In recognition of his intelligence work, Mr. Louie was the recipient of the 2008 Director of National Intelligence Medallion and the 2006 Director’s Award from the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency. Mr. Louie graduated in 1983 from San Francisco State University and attended the Advanced Management Program at Harvard Business School in 1997. Contact Andrew Peters (301) 280-5728 or [email protected]
NEW YORK, NY - The Markle Foundation announced today that Debora L. Spar has joined the Board of Directors of the Markle Foundation. Dr. Spar is the current president of Barnard College, a private liberal arts college for women in New York City. "Debora Spar's global leadership on business and technology issues will be extremely valuable as Markle continues to accelerate the use of information technology to address previously intractable public problems," said Zoë Baird Budinger, President of Markle. "We are delighted that this leading author and educator will help us achieve Markle's goals for health care, national and economic security." Dr. Spar became the seventh president of Barnard College in July 2008. Prior to joining Barnard, Dr. Spar spent 17 years on the faculty of Harvard Business School, where she taught courses on the politics of international business, comparative capitalism, and economic development. She also devoted herself to concerns of social justice, serving as Chair of the Harvard University Committee on Human Rights and Making Markets Work, a program to develop leaders in African nations. Dr. Spar is a political scientist by training and has focused her research on issues of international political economy and growth markets. She is a regular commentator on news outlets and has written numerous articles and books, including Ruling the Waves: Cycles of Invention, Chaos, and Wealth from the Compass to the Internet (2001) and The Baby Business: How Money, Science, and Politics Drive the Commerce of Conception (2006). Her forthcoming book, scheduled to be published in 2013, is tentatively titled Dancing at Utopia Mall: Dreams of Sex, Choice and Beauty at the Edge of the Feminist Era. Dr. Spar is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations and the American Academy of Arts & Sciences, and serves as a trustee or director of public and non-profit organizations. Dr. Spar graduated from Georgetown University's School of Foreign Service and received a doctorate in government from Harvard. Contact Andrew Peters (301) 280-5728 or [email protected]
New York, NY - To help consumers, providers, insurers and other health data holders see how providing the ability for people to download their health records can improve health and health care, the Markle Foundation today released a new video showing the power of blue button technology. The four-and-a-half minute video debuted at a consumer health IT summit at the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services in Washington, D.C. Through the stories of three veterans, it illustrates how much this simple tool helps people keep track of their medical information and the value that the blue button offers to both patients and providers. Markle hopes the video can be an important educational tool to help data holders understand the value of the technology and appreciate its importance to patients. The Markle Connecting for Health public-private collaborative conceived the idea for the blue button download capability at a January 2010 meeting. The idea was then embraced and developed as an innovative tool by the Department of Veterans Affairs and Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. Today, over one million people, including veterans and non-veterans, use a blue button to download their personal health information. "Information access is a critical building block to helping patients make better decisions, improve their health, and get better care," says Laura Bailyn, Senior Director, Markle. The Markle Connecting for Health collaborative envisioned the blue button as a broadly available tool for patients and beneficiaries on the secure websites of medical practices, hospitals, insurers, pharmacies, laboratories and information services. To make the blue button technology reliable and trustworthy, the group also has developed a recommended set of privacy and security practices for its implementation. To learn more about the blue button technology, visit our website at www.markle.org or visit www.bluebuttondata.org. Contact Andrew Peters (301) 280-5728 or [email protected]
