What Is Work Ethic?
So what do we mean by work ethic? You might think of it as the willingness to be a self-starter and get the job done. But there is a deeper meaning, one that encompasses our philosophy here at The Center for Work Ethic Development. We look at work ethic not as a single trait, but as a set of seven skills – sometimes called soft skills, work readiness or portable job skills.
The term “soft skills” is so vague, so instead we focus on just Work Ethic – the foundational workplace skills that are the building blocks for success in every job. These seven skills have been identified through our research and validated by the competency models developed by the U.S. Department of Labor.
At The Center for Work Ethic Development, we work hard to make sure that our mission, vision, and values are part of our every day decision-making, operations, and customer service.
The overarching themes of our work are integrity and positivity. Everything we do builds from these traits.
Our Curriculum: Bring Your ‘A’ Game – Online and Instructor-Led
This is the fundamental premise of the work of The Center for Work Ethic Development. Rather than rely on short-term incentives, the key to sustained improvement is to build foundational skills, and the values that support them. Our research has found the most effective way to develop these building blocks no matter if you are 16 or 60. These are also the values and skills that drive our business results at The Center for Work Ethic Development.
Our Team
Josh Davies
Chief Executive Officer
Josh Davies is passionate about helping others make a difference in their lives, jobs, and community. Through his work as a speaker and trainer, he has engaged and encouraged professionals across North America, the Middle East, and Asia.
- 2022 Outstanding Leaders by Education 2.0
- HG Weisman Award
Chris Carman
National Accounts Mgr.
Chris Carman has spent his career serving others through education and workforce development. He has over fifteen years of experience administering State-level programs including Workforce Investment and Opportunity Act, Layoff Transition Programs, Business Services, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, and Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Programs Employment & Training.
Sarah Browning
Operations Manager
Sarah comes to The Center for Work Ethic Development with a background in state government and nonprofit work. She graduated from the University of California Santa Barbara with a bachelor’s degree in history of public policy, and completed her master’s degree in public administration at the University of Colorado Denver.
Eric Chester
Founder
Since 1998, Eric Chester has been the leading voice in attracting, managing, motivating, and retaining the emerging workforce. He’s a former high school career and tech-ed instructor who became a motivational speaker for more than a thousand high school and colleges in the 80’s and 90’s. It is there that he witnessed the declining emphasis placed on preparing students with essential work ethic values and soft skills.
Canine Resource Team
We are a dog-friendly office, and as such we rely heavily on input from our “canine resource team.” They are always willing to greet new people and offer themselves for pets and treats.
Lily – The newest addition to the Canine Resource Team is Lily. She is an eight-year-old tri-color Corgi mix who found her forever home during the quarantine of 2020. She is a very relaxed and loving dog that spends most of her time in the office either sleeping or requesting belly rubs. Her hobbies outside of work include chasing squirrels, long walks in the park, and of course, begging for treats. The bringer of calm and sanity to the office, Lily resides with Josh and Lara when she isn’t ensuring that humans bring their ‘A’ Game every day.
Lucy & Odie – Lucy (left) and Odie (right) are both Jack Russell Terriers. Lucy is nine and Odie is Eleven. Both precious pooches live with their human best friend Sarah and family. Lucy is an independent pup that loves going camping, hogging the bed, and being anywhere her humans are, including the bathroom. Odie is a happy-go-lucky little love, and is instantly best friends with anyone that glances in his direction. He enjoys playing with toys that don’t squeak, napping, and being loved on by everyone.