Wave Makers Employers Forum - June 2026 Session Notes

The June 12, 2026 Wave Makers Forum, held at Cape Cod Community College, was highly interactive and generated strong engagement among employers, workforce partners, and community organizations. Participants actively shared challenges, explored available resources, and identified practical actions that could be implemented in the near term to strengthen workforce recruitment, retention, and development across the Cape and Islands.

A recurring theme throughout the session was the importance of increasing awareness of existing programs and services. Many participants expressed surprise at the breadth of resources already available and identified opportunities to better connect employers with workforce partners.

The energy in the room remained high throughout the session, with many participants continuing discussions during networking and expressing interest in future collaboration.

Key Takeaways:

What We Heard:

• Employers are seeking practical, near-term workforce solutions.
• Awareness of existing workforce resources remains a significant challenge.
• Employers value opportunities to connect directly with workforce partners.
• Non-traditional talent pools represent an underutilized opportunity.
• Seasonality continues to impact workforce stability across the region.

What Stood Out

Participants consistently moved beyond discussing challenges and focused on actionable solutions. The willingness of employers, educators, workforce organizations, and community partners to collaborate demonstrates growing momentum toward building a stronger, more resilient workforce ecosystem for the Blue Economy.

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Agenda:

•   8:30 AM  –   8:35 AM: Welcome/Agenda Review
•   8:35 AM  –   9:00 AM: “Rethink Hiring – Beyond the Job Description: Finding Great Talent on Cape Cod” – Jen Vondenbrink
•   9:00 AM  –   9:35 AM: Round Table Break Outs  – “Creative Hiring in Actions”
•   9:35 AM  – 10:05 AM:  Report Out/Discussion
• 10:05 AM – 10:15 AM: Addressing Seasonality – Rhino Foods Employee Exchange
• 10:15 AM – 10:30 AM: Wrap Up & Next Steps

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Featured Presentation: “Rethink Hiring – Beyond the Job Description" - Jen Vondenbrink

Jen challenged participants to rethink traditional hiring practices by focusing on the underlying competencies, behaviors, and attributes that drive success rather than narrowly defining candidates by technical skills or experience alone.

Key Themes:

• Hiring for potential, adaptability, and problem-solving
• Identifying critical success competencies versus task-specific skills
• Expanding talent pools by considering non-traditional candidates

Participants completed an exercise identifying the core competencies most critical to success in their organizations and discussed how these competencies could broaden hiring opportunities.

Breakouts: “Creative Hiring in Action” 

Attendees participated in facilitated round table discussion with three Regional Workforce Partners to learn about available programs, identify barriers and explore practical actions employers can take.

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1. Barnstable County’sSheriff’s Department - Facilitator: Greg Carbone

The Sheriff's Office highlighted workforce training programs that prepare incarcerated individuals for employment opportunities in areas such as:

• Culinary arts
• Construction trades
• HVAC
• Facilities and maintenance

Employers were encouraged to explore these programs, visit facilities, and engage directly with participants preparing to re-enter the workforce.

Key Barriers Identified:

• Employer hesitancy and perceived risk associated with hiring formerly incarcerated individuals
• Concerns regarding trust, liability, and working independently in customer settings
• CORI-related restrictions and hiring limitations

Discussion highlighted that many participants in these programs demonstrate exceptional work ethic, reliability, and motivation to succeed. MassHire representative also noted that employer protections and insurance programs may be available to help mitigate perceived risks.

Opportunities

• Increase employer awareness of second chance hiring programs
• Facilitate employer visits and direct engagement opportunities
• Continue advocacy around policy and legislative solutions that support workforce re-entry

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2. CCAPE/4Cs- Facilitators:  Rachael Kittleson, Mary Conklin

CCAPE and Cape Cod Community College shared a broad range of workforce development offerings, including:

• Customized employer training
• Professional development programs
• Workforce certifications
• Marine Technology apprenticeships
• HVAC training initiatives
• Internship and apprenticeship support

Many participants were unaware of the training facilities, customization capabilities, funding resources, and workforce support services available through the College.

Key Barriers Identified:

• Limited employer time and capacity for workforce training
• Lack of awareness regarding available programs and services
• Perceived challenges associated with training space and logistics

Opportunities

• Expand employer awareness and outreach
• Promote customized training solutions
• Increase visibility of available funding resources
• Position CCAPE as a workforce development partner rather than solely a training provider

As a result of the discussion, CCAPE identified opportunities to enhance marketing and communications efforts to better showcase available services and employer success stories.

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3. MassHire – Facilitators: Justin Grota, Cat Wilson

MassHire representatives provided an overview of both the Workforce Board and Career Center functions. Current initiatives include:

• Healthcare career pathways (CNA/LPN)
• Youth workforce programs
• Arts and creative economy initiatives
• Employer recruitment and hiring support
• Career counseling and job placement services

The Workforce Board focuses on securing and administering grant-funded workforce programs, while the Career Center provides direct support to job seekers and employers.

Key Barriers Identified:

• Housing affordability and availability
• Transportation limitations
• Demographic shifts and aging workforce
• Seasonality of employment
• Competitive labor market conditions

Opportunities:

• Improve employer understanding of available workforce programs
• Connect employers with non-traditional talent pools
• Expand workforce pathways aligned with regional industry needs

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Spotlight Discussion “Addressing Seasonality: Rhino Foods Employee Exchange Model” – Facilitator: Tricia Teixeira

Participants were introduced to the Rhino Foods Employee Exchange Program, an innovative workforce-sharing model developed in Vermont to address seasonal employment fluctuations. The concept generated significant interest among attendees, many of whom saw potential applications for Cape Cod and the Islands, where seasonality affects multiple industries.

Participants expressed interest in a future Wave Makers session dedicated to exploring:

• Workforce-sharing models
• Cross-industry employment partnerships
• Seasonal workforce retention strategies
• Adaptation of the Rhino model for the Cape and Islands economy

Future discussions may include participation from:

• Rhino Foods leadership (Lauren McBride, Dir. People and Culture)
• Regional employers already utilizing workforce-sharing approaches (Ken*)
• Workforce and economic development partners

Website: https://www.rhinofoods.com/employee-exchange-program/

Video Link: https://vimeo.com/19871173?fl=pl&fe=sh