New York State Department of Labor Commissioner Colleen Crawford Gardner to Keynote Event at St. Joseph’s College Patchogue Campus

HAUPPAUGE, NEW YORK, JUNE 4, 2010 – In her first public address to a Long Island audience, New York State Department of Labor Commissioner Colleen Crawford Gardner will keynote the HIA-LI 12th Annual Workforce Development Conference. The event will explore a number of employment-related themes including internships, communication in the workplace and transitioning to a new career from 7:30 AM – 2:30 PM on Thursday, June 10 in O’Connor Hall at St. Joseph’s College Patchogue Campus. More information is available at: http://bit.ly/HIA-LI-Workforce

During the 8:00 – 10:00 AM Executive Breakfast, Commissioner Crawford Gardner will discuss “Business & the Workplace – the Connection in the Competitive Economy.” Ms. Crawford Gardner will discuss thriving industries and programs and how they can be expected to impact the future.

During the Scholarship Awards Luncheon from 12:00 – 2:00 PM, 12 local students attending college on Long Island will be awarded cash scholarships from HIA-LI. The HIA-LI scholarship fund began 12 years ago with the vision of encouraging HIA-LI members and their children to stay on Long Island. The luncheon will also feature a discussion led by Dr. Clyde Payne, Dean of School of Education at Dowling College on “Developing Future Long Island Leaders.”

Exhibitor showcases will be open between 10:00 – 10:30 AM and again between 2:00 – 2:30 PM. Individual seminars on a variety of critical workforce development topics will be held between 10:30 – 11:30 AM.

“Despite a number of bright signs on the economic horizon, business owners and workers continue to worry about our still unsettled economy,” said HIA-LI President Terri Alessi-Miceli. “We believe that our speakers and activities will reinvigorate attendees in addition to informing them of ways they can get on-board with programs and industries geared toward working their way to a stronger economy.”

For more information or to register to attend, call HIA-LI at 631-543-5335 or email kfahrbach@hia-l.org. Costs for the full day program, lasting 7:30 am – 2:30 pm, are $99 for members, $149 for non-members and $50 for talent transition members. Costs for the breakfast or the luncheon only are $50 for members and $75 for non-members. There will be an exhibit hall, break-out sessions and opportunities for networking.

About HIA-LI
HIA-LI (The Hauppauge Industrial Association of Long Island) is a 32 year old not-for-profit business organization that represents the 1,600 companies and 55,000 employees in one of the largest industrial parks in the nation. With a membership of approximately 1,000 companies in Hauppauge and throughout Long Island, HIA-LI is recognized as a powerful economic development force in the region. HIA-LI provides services and programs focusing on international trade, human resources, business development, government affairs, manufacturing, technology, environment, education, engineering, transportation, energy and much more. For more information, visit https://www.hia-li.org.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Anne Strauss, Communication Strategy Group, 631-766-6810; astrauss@gocsg.com