Could your business benefit from employee coaching, career counseling, soft skills training and employment retention? Join us for an informational meeting about expanding the Johnson County Employer Resource Network® on September 14, 2023.

An Employer Resource Network® for Johnson County

Responding to community needs

The Johnson County Community Foundation (JCCF) is diligent about staying in touch with the communities we serve. We actively collaborate with other community organizations and local leaders to assess area needs and identify opportunities so we can respond responsibly. As a part of Lilly Endowment Inc.’s seventh phase of its Giving Indiana Funds for Tomorrow (GIFT VII) initiative, we have identified that a workforce development initiative was what was needed to address long-term community development in Johnson County.

With the grants received from GIFT VII, the community foundation has launched an Employer Resource Network® (ERN®), a 15-year old, nationally tested program that places success coaches in the workplace of participating companies. The success coach is a confidential resource that employees can access on a predictable, ongoing basis. Success coaches serve as a direct conduit to community resources that provide relief for many issues including reliable transportation, workplace conflict, childcare, housing challenges, family challenges, etc. While the focus is on entry-level and low-wage employees, the services will be available to all who work for ERN® member companies.

Prior to the pandemic, the unemployment rate was less than 3% and while that was outstanding, it was creating recruitment and retention issues for businesses across Johnson County, hence the idea of launching an ERN® program to help alleviate those issues. With the ongoing health crisis and higher unemployment rates, new issues have surfaced amongst businesses and employees making an ERN® even more critical.

Several Johnson County companies have partnered with us to participate in this initiative. The ERN® member companies will become the driving force behind this initiative and help identify the success coach to work with their employees.

Programs such as an ERN® will help Johnson County continue to thrive long into the future.

Learn more about the Employer Resource Network® here.

MEET NICK

Nick serves as the Success Coach for the Johnson County Employer Resource Network®. As a Success Coach, Nick works with employees at local partner companies to address personal challenges through coaching and resource referral.

Since he started coaching, Nick has provided services to clients and their families at these member companies. Nick provides services related to mental health referrals, career counseling, housing and transportation assistance.

Nick’s work experiences include positions in community engagement, mental health counseling, volunteer management, and workforce development. He utilizes over 10 years of nonprofit leadership to ensure partner companies and their employees receive the support required to succeed.

Nick obtained his Executive Coach certification through Coach Training EDU. He earned his bachelor's degree in religious studies and sociology from Franklin College and master's degree in philanthropic studies from the IU School of Philanthropy. He resides in Franklin with his wife, Lindsay, and three sons, Grady, Griffin and Dawson.