THIS LUNCHEON IS NOW SOLD OUT
March Roundtable Luncheon
Wednesday, March 8, 2017
12:00-1:30 PM
Cumberland Club, 116 High Street, Portland
Barbara Babkirk
Heart at Work Associates and
The Boomer Institute™
Maine’s aging population is resulting in an aging workforce and presenting a significant challenge for employers: Within the next 20 years, nearly half the state’s current workers will reach traditional retirement age, according to the Maine Department of Labor. At least 40 percent of the current Maine workforce will be 65 or older.
Research shows that the majority of boomers plan to work into their 70’s, well past the traditional retirement age, and that they are motivated by a sense of purpose and meaning. Maine could be positioned as a destination for a “purposeful retirement,” thus attracting much needed talent to the state and engaging boomers who already reside here.
Boomers are not interested in a “business as usual” type of work arrangement. As they plan their “third age” work stage, boomers are looking for a new way of working -- flexible hours, less than full-time work, pro-rated health benefits (up to age 65), and opportunities to mentor as well as learn new skills that would satisfy their need for meaning in this stage of life.
To address these issues, Barbara has created The Boomer Institute™ which would:
- Assist in defining a new sense of purpose for experienced and educated boomers seeking to make a contribution in their second half of life following their primary career(s) and prior to retiring entirely from the workforce.
- Offer training to boomers who want to learn new skills and/or transfer their existing competencies into a new arena where they are needed.
- Address a skilled talent shortage in key industry areas in Maine (medical, technical, non-profit leadership and professional services).
- Attract new residents seeking an extraordinary quality of life coupled with an opportunity to gain a sense of purpose and meaning in their later years.
Barbara is looking for feedback on this exciting new venture, and we hope you can join us to help her take The Boomer Institute™ to the next level of development!
Her challenge question for Women Standing Together:
“Where does The Boomer Institute find its ideal client in Maine?”
Barbara Babkirk is a Master Career Counselor and principal at Heart At Work Associates, an innovative career counseling and outplacement firm in Portland.
A native to Maine who chose to return after living in Boston and abroad, Barbara lives and works in Portland. She is committed to strengthening Maine's workforce by guiding individuals to positions that align with their skills and life stage priorities.
A boomer herself, Barbara has studied the career and work priorities of this significant demographic that encompasses 30% of Maine's population. It is from this research and experience with her boomer clients that she created her newest initiative, The Boomer Institute™, that matches talented and experienced boomers with Maine employers.