Heritage Trust FCU Helps Provide Workplace Education for Community

(North Charleston, S.C.)—7/12/2017 — Heritage Trust Federal Credit Union teamed up with the TriCounty Society of Human Resource Management Association (TCHRMA) and the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce, to provide a program to over 80 key HR professionals and local employers around workforce changes in the region. Mary Graham, Chief Advancement Officer and Jacki Renegar, Business Research Director, both from the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce, shared new, demographic data around existing and incoming talent to the region as well as skill set shortages, employment rates and regional efforts to help solve existing talent challenges. Because Charleston is the fastest growing job market in the state, these issues make staffing increasing difficult for critically needed positions.    
 
Emily Reynolds, CDO of Heritage Trust and Workforce Readiness Chair for TCHRMA, presented data around local retention, hiring and tenure as well as alternative options for Commuter Benefit Programs employers should be considering as part of their core offerings. She shared insights from two case studies from larger, metropolitan areas which have had success with these programs in high cost housing and commute heavy areas that have resulted in tax savings for both employees and employers as well as helped with attraction and retention. She also provided resource information for attendees to craft their own solutions for their companies. 
 
A panel discussion followed featuring HR professionals and employers in a variety of industries including, Melanie Stith, VP of HR for Roper St. Francis Healthcare, Gary Plyler, Business Development Manager for MAU Workforce Solutions, Mamie Bush, Director of Sales & Marketing of Hilton Garden Inn Waterfront,  and Peter Knight, Senior HR Business Partner of Amerihealth Caritas Family of Companies.  
 
Panelists shared their insights around tenure, regional challenges with commuting and housing affordability, wage alignment, talent acquisition and retention. Survey data was collected at the end of the program that will be used to help address these regional issues going forward.                               
 
“Our community continues to come together to collaborate on solutions as we face regional challenges. The more employers and specifically the HR professional community works together, the more successful we as a region will become, stated Emily Reynolds.”