Expanding Talent Pipelines with IMEC

Paola Andrea Velasquez and John Azara discuss how IMEC Illinois (the Illinois MEP) expands talent pipelines.

Paola Velasquez, a first-generation immigrant, learned English through full immersion in grade school and grew up interpreting for her parents. This early responsibility helped her develop a deep appreciation for different cultures and an acute awareness of privilege, laying the foundation for her exceptional communication skills and passion for helping others thrive. Today, Paola excels in fostering relationships and enhancing communication within companies through diversity and inclusion training. She is dedicated to building strong teams through one-on-one conversations and accountability, driven by her organized, responsible nature and strong work ethic.

John Azara is a global operations and program management leader with a proven track record of developing and implementing strategies that enhance operational performance and drive revenue growth. He excels in increasing profitability, turning around underperforming organizations, and building high-performance teams across the medical device, electronics, and aerospace industries. John is recognized for his ability to develop talent and manage global programs that deliver significant improvements and impactful results.

IMEC is a team of improvement specialists and technicians dedicated to providing organizations in Illinois with the tools and techniques to create sustainable competitive futures. The experienced hands-on team at IMEC works closely with its manufacturers to plan critical business improvements in the areas of Leadership, Strategy, Customer Engagement, Operations, Marketing, eCommerce and Workforce.

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Key Highlights

? MEP network and its impact on Illinois manufacturers. 0:01

? Workforce development and hiring diverse talent in manufacturing. 4:25

? Creating opportunities for differently abled individuals in the workforce. 11:35

? Impact of manufacturing hearing aids on people’s lives. 15:28

? Disability employment, manufacturing, and workforce development. 21:14

? Overcoming barriers to manufacturing grants and resources. 27:45