National Headquarters Literacy Volunteers of America, Inc. 635 James Street · Syracuse, NY 13202 · (315)472-0001 · FAX (315)472-0002 · [email protected] For Immediate Release Contact: Tracy Carman, ext. 201

September 14, 1999 Workplace Educator to Close Literacy Volunteers of America National Conference Syracuse, NY -- Dr. Michael Bloom, a principal research associate with The Conference Board of Canada, will present the findings from his report �Turning Skills into Profit: Economic Benefits of Workplace Education Programs� at the closing brunch at the Literacy Volunteers of America, Inc. (LVA) National Conference in Nashville, TN. The brunch will be held Nov. 13, 1999 at 10:30 a.m. �One of the most significant challenges that employers face today is a shortage of skills in the available work force,� said Marsha L. Tait, national president of LVA. �This report presents significant findings that corporate investment in employment-related literacy programs will improve profitability.� Bloom joined the Conference Board in 1989 after working as a university teacher and consultant in Canada and England. He is past manager of the Conference Board�s �Employability Skills Forum� and �Business-Education Partnerships Forum.� In 1999, he presented a workshop at Vice President Gore�s Summit on 21st Century Skills for 21st Century Jobs on the benefits of workplace education programs. The Conference Board is the world�s leading business membership and research organization, connecting senior executives from more than 2,900 enterprises in over 60 nations. Results of Bloom�s report can be downloaded at no cost from the Conference Board site at www.conference-board.org. The national conference will bring together LVA professionals, trainers, program managers, board members, students and tutors for networking and workshops on literacy issues. Literacy Volunteers of America, Inc. is a national, not-for-profit organization, managed by professionals, which assists adults and their families to acquire literacy skills through a network of more than 50,000 volunteers nationwide. The LVA network consists of more than 363 community programs in 40 states and the District of Columbia in which volunteers are trained to tutor adults and their families. - ### -