Gridsmart and Next Education target worker shortage

A new initiative to address the shortage of trained ITS worker staff is being launched here this afternoon at ITS America Detroit. Industry visionary Bill Malkes, CEO of 8097 Gridsmart Technologies (above right), and Elaina Farnsworth, The Next Education’s CEO (formerly Mobile Comply), will announce a brand-new education programme and certification initiative aimed at current  traffic and transportation workers and re-skilling other workers so they can transition into the industry.

As Bill Malkes explains, right now, there's a massive staffing disconnect. “The new innovation economy is already leaving tens of thousands of ill-prepared and untrained traffic and transportation workers behind. While it's a national problem, Detroit is a showcase for the issue. Through no fault of their own, dozens of job classifications just don’t have the technical skills to transition well into the new innovation economy. Many of those currently employed in ITS are falling behind the education curve and at the same time, the industry is suffering a trained worker staffing shortage. It’s a growing crisis with few existing solutions.”

The launch today, from 3-5pm in Room 250A, by Malkes and Farnsworth will reveal initial curriculum and training concepts to serve transitioning employees and the transportation providers that will hire them.

Booth 501