Debra Rodenbaugh-Schaub Introduces Rotarians to Kansas Workforce Program

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Debra Rodenbaugh-Schaub of Kansas Department of Commerce (KDOC) was the Rotary speaker on July 11, 2013. Rodenbaugh-Schaub is the Governor-Elect for District 5710 of Rotary Club International but was at the club in her capacity as Program Consultant for the Workforce Services Division of KDOC. She spoke about the Kansas Workforce Development Program that connects potential employees to employers in the State.  

Kansas Workforce Development Program works with post-secondary students and military installations to make them aware of employment opportunities across the state. “Whether by email or in person we try to let them know of opportunities in various states,” she said.

The Program has several recruiting centers across the state including two in Manhattan and one in Junction City. The Manhattan Vets Center located on South 4^th Street not only serves veterans who are transitioning from Fort Riley and their families but has also been recruiting from out-of-state military installations.

Rodenbaugh-Schaub introduced members to the Workforce employment tool at www.kansasworks.com that allows job seekers to register and post resumes, job skills and other information about their employment needs.  Employers can also post available openings and review posted resumes at no charge. She encouraged Rotarians to share information about the tool and to use it for job postings.

One of the key objectives of the Workforce Program is to recruit people who want to move to Kansas as well as those who want to remain in the state to relocate to some of the smaller counties. 

Rodenbaugh-Schaub spoke about the Rural Opportunities Zone program of KDOC that reaches out to the 50 counties that have had a substantial decrease in population.  “It is one of those things like the human body – If your foot hurts or back hurts you hurt all over. We have to make efforts to help those counties” she said.  The program has two incentives to encourage people and families to move to these countries. First, Kansas waives income tax for out-of-state residents up to 5 years. Second, the state offers repayment of student loans up to $15,000.  “These are good incentives to get people from out-of-state to these counties and for potential workers.”  She said. “The bottom-line is we need more people to increase the population in those counties to help create a healthier tax-payer base.

Rodenbaugh-Schaub has previously worked as a marketing manager in the Economic Development Division at Manhattan Area Chamber of Commerce, as the International Program coordinator at Wheeler and Associates and as a State Education Coordinator at Kansas Bankers Association.  She is a long-term member of Rotary International having joined in 1994 and has served in various leadership roles including that of the Club President for Manhattan Konza Club in 2009/2010. She will assume the District-Governor position in 2014.  

In the picture:  Debra Rodenbaugh-Schaub (Left) speaks with a fellow Rotarian after her presentation