CONTACT: ANDREA PESTANA, 253.677.1409
Tacoma, WA – In response to the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) of 2014, WorkForce Central is transitioning from being a direct career service provider and one stop operator to focusing primarily on the strategic oversight of the one stop system and its services. This transition will not impact WIOA funds allocated to Pierce County and will not impact services benefiting job seekers, workers and businesses.
WIOA supersedes the Workforce Investment Act of 1988 and provides authority to Local Elected Officials and private sector led Workforce Development Councils to lead and oversee the development and implementation of a strategic, integrated plan that supports economic growth and labor force.
WorkForce Central has formed a new Senior Leadership team that will work community wide to enhance Pierce County’s workforce development system so that more job seekers, workers and businesses can access available services. Innovation and technology will be deployed readily. “We are excited to introduce the new leadership team to our community. This team will work closely with our Chief Local Elected Officials, Pierce County Workforce Development Council and partners to realize the vision of WIOA,” says Linda Nguyen, CEO.
Percy Lagdan has been appointed as the Director of Accountability. He began in February 2016 and will be responsible for system policies, monitoring, procurement, and contracting.
MaryEllen Laird has been appointed as the Director of Adult, Youth, and Young Adult Workforce services. She will work closely with workforce system stakeholders to ensure job seekers and workers can easily access value added services that will lead to family wage employment with advancement opportunities. In addition, she will assess, evaluate and continuously improve workforce programs for adult, youth, and young adult job seekers and workers in collaboration with partners.
Ellie Chambers-Grady has been appointed the Director of Business Services and Sector Strategies. She started at WorkForce Central in December 2015 and is responsible for ensuring that the workforce development system can facilitate businesses’ access to talent and solutions to address diverse workforce issues and needs.
Shellie Willis has been appointed as the Director of Strategic Initiatives. She will develop, implement and oversee strategic initiatives that include transitioning service member and veteran programs and initiatives, develop, implement and oversee funding and resource development strategies, and lead career pathway development.
The role of Chief Operations Officer was recently appointed to Deborah Howell. She is responsible for the development, execution, and oversight of WorkForce Central’s administrative strategies, objectives and goals as well as for organizational development.
Lastly, the role of Chief Financial Officer was recently appointed to Kirk Smith. He is responsible for the overall financial operations of WorkForce Central, including the development and maintenance of WorkForce Central’s budget, preservation of company assets, and ensuring full compliance of federal, state and local rules and regulations to ensure proper management of public funds.
The new Senior Leadership Team will allow WorkForce Central to seamlessly implement WIOA, which calls for better alignment of education and economic development for the Pierce County area. The ultimate goal of WorkForce Central and WIOA is to improve the quality of the workforce, reduce welfare dependency, increase economic self-sufficiency, and enhance productivity and competitiveness of our businesses.
If you’d like to learn more about WIOA please visit the WorkForce Central website at www.workforce-central.org/about-wfc/about-wioa