As I travel through Pasco County, I’m struck by the number of “Help Wanted” and “We’re Hiring” signs displayed by businesses. Finding and keeping talented employees has become an increasingly difficult challenge for employers. While it’s often possible to hire individuals with the right skills – be it in accounting, welding, sales, customer service or project management, the real hurdle is retention. Skilled workers can be easily lured away by slightly better pay or benefits, making employee turnover a constant and costly concern.
Research from the Association for Talent Development and the Society for Human Resource Management shows that employees are far more likely to stay with organizations that invest in their growth. When people see a clear career path, not just a job, they become more engaged and committed. It allows them to develop a professional identity and feel a stronger connection to their work – and their employer.
However, Gallup’s research over the last decade reveals a troubling trend: employee engagement in the U.S. is steadily declining. Their most recent survey reports that only 34% of American workers are actively engaged in their roles.
So, how can employers boost engagement and loyalty, especially when faced with tightening budgets? In the past, organizations often created in-house training departments or brought in external consultants to deliver broad, one-size-fits-all programs. While well-intentioned, these approaches often missed the mark for many employees.
Today, workforce development is evolving, and three modern approaches are gaining traction:
- Internal Mentors, Coaches and Trainers
Many organizations are now investing in their own people to train and mentor others. By offering facilitation and coaching training, companies can turn experienced employees into internal experts. These mentors not only help upskill the workforce but also feel valued themselves—deepening their engagement and loyalty. In many ways, they become the organization’s most valuable talent developers.
- Specialized External Vendors
There’s still an important role for outside training providers. These vendors bring deep expertise in areas like project management, IT, leadership, communication, supervision, and more. When large numbers of employees need specific skills, external trainers can deliver targeted, high-quality instruction that’s difficult to replicate in-house.
- Training Partnerships
Perhaps the most collaborative approach is the training partnership model, where multiple non-competing organizations pool resources to offer shared development opportunities. A great example in our region is the Pasco County Training Partnership.
Four years ago, the Pasco County Economic Development Commission launched the Executive Success Program in collaboration with E-Assessments, Inc. Over the past three years, more than 20 companies have sent key employees to participate in leadership and communication workshops. Participants come from diverse sectors, including manufacturing, retail, healthcare, hospitality and real estate.
The program continues into 2025-26, with sessions beginning in September at 4&Co’s facility in the Bexley development. These workshops, shaped by client feedback, are designed to strengthen leadership at all levels and ultimately foster a more engaged, resilient workforce.
Pasco County Training Partnership 2025/2026 Schedule
- Sept. 9, Interpersonal Communication*, Full Day
- Oct. 9, Personal Listening*, Half Day
- Nov. 13, Conflict Management*, Full Day
- Dec. 11, Adapting to Change, Half Day
- Jan. 8, 2026, High Performance Work Teams*, Full Day
- Feb. 12, 2026, Facilitative Leadership*, Full Day
- March 12, 2026, Decision Making, Full Day
- April 9, 2026, Managing Your Career, Half Day
- May 7, 2026, Interviewing & Selection of Employees, Full Day
Sessions marked with a * indicate that individual pre-session assessments will be used by participants to enhance the learning outcomes.
Contact Dr. Stacy Myers at or call him at 865-250-1343 for more information.
On the web: eassess.net
Stacy C. Myers serves as president of E-Assessments in Land O’ Lakes.
