Terri Campbell, Vice President of Operations for the Private Industry Council and Carrie Schmucker, Human Resource Administrator for Airo Die Casting (and a regular SAGE user) were interviewed for the "Sunday Business Page" on October 14, 2007. View the segment.

Following the successful introduction of the System for Assessment and Group Evaluation (SAGE) in Westmoreland and Fayette counties, the Private Industry Council of Westmoreland/Fayette, Inc. (PIC), introduced the system to employers in Allegheny County. On September 18, 2007, PIC presented an overview and demonstration of the system for employers and human resources managers at the New Century Careers Training Innovation Center, on Pittsburgh's South Side. A partnership with New Century Careers makes the site available to Allegheny County employers for system administration by PIC. New Century Careers contributes work to deliver a capable workforce to manufacturers of the region.

The System for Assessment and Group Evaluation (SAGE) is a comprehensive assessment system designed to help employers make more informed staffing decisions.

"Hiring and retaining skilled workers in every industry sector has been a costly and time consuming challenge, diminishing company productivity," said Tim Yurcisin, PIC President "The Private Industry Council offers SAGE as part of its ongoing commitment to address this critical need."

"The SAGE assessment has been invaluable to our apprenticeship program process. Our applicant pool can number as many as 800. Using SAGE, we can get a quick and reliable assessment of candidates' aptitudes," reported Steven D. Columbus, Administrative Manager, Western PA Operating Engineers Joint Apprenticeship and Training Program, who began to use SAGE in January 2007. "This obviously saves administrative time to devote to training and other responsibilities. The candidates can start training sooner. And we both have a higher confidence that successful placement will occur," he adds.

SAGE has proven beneficial to job seekers, career counselors and employers. The results aid in identifying the talents and occupational options of individuals while providing employers with information to make more informed staffing and training decisions and to maximize the natural aptitudes of their workforce. With a total of 19 individual assessments, the SAGE system can be used in its entirety or customized to measure only those factors applicable to a specific job position.

• Is the latest applicant for employment at your company the right person for the right job?
• Does your new apprentice have what it takes to be successful in their training program?
• Which incumbent worker possesses the qualities needed for career advancement at your company?

SAGE is the solution employers need for reliable, non-discriminatory, valid, and comprehensive assessment. "Employers are finding SAGE to be an important tool in evaluating candidates for employment," said Terri Campbell, PIC Vice President of Operations. "It also can create an accurate picture of employee strengths and potential," she adds.

Human Resource Manager Phyllis Miller and Human Resource Generalist Christine Neubauer, both of Hamill Manufacturing Co. in Trafford, can attest to both applications. They have been SAGE system clients since 2005. "In addition to the assessment of job candidates, we have seen considerable advantages for incumbents, as well. We have used results as a means of benchmarking skill levels and aptitudes, a basis for offering employees new career options through transfer and promotion. That makes it a valuable retention tool for us," they explain.

Phyllis estimates that to date close to 50 percent of the Hamill workforce has completed SAGE assessments.

• A reliable, valid, affordable, and non-discriminatory assessment
• An aid in identifying talents and occupational options of employees and new hires
• Customization for an individual employer's needs
• Administration at multiple locations
• No-cost preliminary assessments to establish job-specific, location-specific profiles
• Quick results
• Local professional staff providing personalized service and follow-up

SAGE is administered by the Private Industry Council of Westmoreland/Fayette Inc. and is supported in part with funding from the Westmoreland-Fayette Workforce Investment Board and the PA Department of Labor.

For additional information or to arrange a demonstration, employers can contact Jenalee Clair, at (724) 836-2600.