Five Questions

>>This fall, the Southwest Florida Workforce Development Board launched a Business Develop-ment Division, led by James Wall. The new service will assist local employers recruit candidates for hard-to-fill positions and provide training that will help retain existing workers.

Most of the help will be free, although some costs may arise if recruiting takes place out of state. Executive director Joe Paterno and business development director James Wall, who will lead the effort, explained how their organization hopes to help companies of all sizes in these two critical areas.

1. Why create the new division now?

Paterno: Businesses don’t see us as a tool for the professional-level positions. Our one-stop career centers are mainly seen as entry level. We wanted to have a division that focuses solely on working with the businesses. Now we’ve got somebody they can work with on a day-to-day basis. We have the capability of attracting different kinds of people. We could recruit for several companies at one time on a recruiting trip.

2. What’s challenging about this division and role?

Wall: Determining the true needs of the businesses for the future. Personally, I’m a little tired of the gloom and doom of what’s going on here in Southwest Florida. I look at this division as creating strategic partnerships and seeing what we can do together to pull ourselves out of the slower economy.

3. What have you identified so far as the toughest jobs to fill?