In Joplin, Mo., the need for a stronger workforce was the catalyst for a series of meetings called Forward Together. The Forward Together work group, led by local leaders, held a roundtable in July to identify issues and then convened the Forward Together Workforce Summit in September. The roundtable and summit produced a shared call to action to address workforce issues facing Joplin and nearby communities.
Throughout the process, work group members sought to connect resources and strategies to support local business owners and their workforce. “Each work group member raised their hand to help--without hesitation or strings attached,” said Marisa Martinez, community development advisor with the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City. “A spark of optimism connected everyone in the room and online during each and every meeting.”
Roundtable identifies issues specific to the region
To pinpoint key workforce concerns, Steven Shepelwich, lead community development advisor with the Kansas City Fed, hosted a workforce roundtable in July. The 15 participants included business owners, HR professionals, and hiring managers.
The roundtable discussions identified four critical issues:
- Career advancement: Workers had limited opportunities for promotion.
- Technical skill gaps: The region faced a shortage of skilled workers, especially in manufacturing.
- Affordable housing: Rising housing costs contributed to employee disengagement and burnout, resulting in turnover and recruitment difficulties.
- Access to reliable transportation: Without dependable transport, there is a lot of isolation and economic stagnation.
Participants also observed 'silent quitting,' with employees feeling tired and disengaged. “We're a lower-income area, which impacts the workforce,” a roundtable participant said. “Many people remain stuck at one level. We’re a blue-collar community. No matter what we do, issues will persist.”
Roundtable participants set priorities among employee needs during a workforce development roundtable led by Steven Shepelwich at the Missouri Job Center in Joplin, Missouri.
Roundtable hosts include (left to right) Steven Shepelwich and Marisa Martinez, Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, Sherri Rhuems, Missouri Job Center, and Lisa Robinson, University of Missouri Extension.
Forward Together Workforce Summit explores solutions
Findings from the workforce roundtable helped the Forward Together work group shape the inaugural Forward Together Workforce Summit. The summit drew employers, educators, and community leaders to Missouri Southern State University in Joplin on September 26, 2025, to discuss workforce challenges and explore solutions that empower regional communities. Attendees engaged with local experts on workforce development, apprenticeships, leadership, and collaborative tools to enhance the skilled talent pipeline.
Summit hosts included the MOKAN Partnership, along with Missouri Southern State University, Crowder College, the Joplin Regional Alliance for Health, University of Missouri Extension, the Workforce Investment Board, and the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City.
“This event is about bringing our region together to address the challenges we all face,” Amy Kauffman said. “Workforce development is not a challenge any single organization can solve alone. It requires collaboration to build a strong, future-ready workforce.” Kauffman is executive director of MOKAN Partnership.
The “Expanding Careers Through Apprenticeships” panel, moderated by Steven Shepelwich, helped employers understand how apprenticeships can help employees gain practical, on-the-job experience while acquiring new skills and higher pay, two issues noted during the July workforce roundtable. “Apprenticeship programs, with their ‘earn as you learn’ model, provide training and advancement opportunities for workers that need a paycheck now, while helping employers attract and retain skilled staff,” Shepelwich said. “It’s hard to beat.”
Since solutions to prevent employee burnout and quiet quitting aren’t as conventional as apprenticeships, the planning team found ways to address these issues through workplace emotional intelligence taught by Ed Barlow with Crowder College. The sessions discussed leadership techniques, to help encourage employee motivation, self-awareness, empathy, and active listening.
Ed Barlow, Crowder College, presents “EQ at Work: Potential Through Emotional Intelligence.”
According to the post-event survey, 72% of attendees would “share knowledge and best practices with colleagues or peers,” and 56% of survey respondents would “implement strategies to remove barriers to employment and support individuals with workforce challenges.”
The first Forward Together Workforce Summit served as a platform for collaboration among stakeholders committed to strengthening the regional workforce. Based on feedback from the summit attendees and work group, this event will become an annual gathering to convene and address the evolving workforce needs in the Joplin region.
The views expressed are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the positions of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City or the Federal Reserve System.