ComfortCare Homes among Workforce Innovators inaugural class

The Workforce Innovators program kicks off with 11 mid-sized companies from South Central Kansas.

ComfortCare Homes was one of 11 companies selected for the first Workforce Innovators program, a new team-based program offered at no cost to help mid-sized companies transform their ability to attract, grow and retain employees. The program is a partnership between the Kansas Leadership Center and the Charles Koch Foundation.

“We are excited to be part of the initial cohort chosen for the Workforce Innovators program,” said Micala Gingrich Gaylord, president and chief executive officer at ComfortCare Homes. “This is an exciting opportunity for our team to engage with other mid-sized companies and participate in The KLC Path to develop leadership skills.”

Participants selected for Workforce Innovators will complete three leadership programs on The KLC Path and up to three hours of individualized leadership coaching. Upon completion, participants will gain access to an Empowering Practices Toolkit that includes innovative approaches to benefit employees and create value for their company. Companies accepted into the program receive free leadership development and coaching valued at $3,200 per person.

“We’re thrilled to have our first cohort chosen for Workforce Innovators and are eager to unite representatives from diverse industries to cultivate the skills needed to drive transformation and foster a culture of innovation to create a more effective and energized workforce. We had a fantastic response to the call for applications and plan to bring this program to more organizations in the future,” said Julia Fabris McBride, chief learning and development officer for the Kansas Leadership Center.

Workforce Innovators is a leadership development designed to develop the skills needed to drive change in a company, create an organizational culture of innovation, and create and leverage a more effective and energized workforce. 

“We know that fulfilled employees are more likely to go home with bandwidth for civic engagement and community service. A strong workforce supports a strong community. We are grateful to the Charles Koch Foundation for supporting this program and providing an extraordinary opportunity for us to work together to shape the future of South Central Kansas,” said Kaye Monk-Morgan, president and CEO of the Kansas Leadership Center.

Through the program, ComfortCare Homes will complete three leadership programs on The KLC Path and four hours of individualized leadership coaching. Upon conclusion, participants will gain access to an Empowering Practices Toolkit that includes innovative approaches to benefit employees and create value for their company. Companies accepted into the program receive free leadership development and coaching valued at $3,200 per person.

The Workforce Innovators partnership aligns with the Charles Koch Foundation’s vision for a society in which businesses succeed by creating the conditions necessary to empower employees and help them live lives of purpose and contribution. They work toward this vision by investing in social entrepreneurs who are creating new educational and training pathways that enable individuals to find meaning and purpose in work, and employers establishing cultures where employees find meaning in their work and benefit from the value they create.