EXECUTIVE BOARD
An interlocal agreement between the City of Tacoma and Pierce County provides the foundation for workforce development initiatives across Pierce County. Elected officials from the City of Tacoma and Pierce County, as well as a representative of business, form a governing board which works closely with and appoints members to the Workforce Development Board (WDB). Together, their mission is to ensure the coordination of the WorkSource Pierce system. Click here to access meeting minutes from Executive Board Meetings.
Current members include:
Ryan Mello
Pierce County Executive
Victoria Woodards
Mayor of the City of Tacoma
Kiara Daniels
City of Tacoma Council Member
Irene Reyes
(WDB Chair)
CEO and President
Excel Gloves & Safety Supplies, Inc.
PIERCE COUNTY WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BOARD
The Pierce County Workforce Development Board (WDB) is a business-led council comprised of community leaders with expertise in the public, private and philanthropic sectors. With a wealth of expertise, the WDB works side-by-side with the Chief Local Elected Officials to address workforce deficiencies, to upskill workers, to develop potential employees and to ensure the workforce development system offers the highest quality services to its customers.
The WDB meets every other month, and its individual committees meet on an as-needed basis.
Irene Reyes
(WDC Chair – Small Business)
CEO and President
Excel Gloves & Safety Supplies, Inc.
Dave Shaw
(WDC Vice Chair – Business Representative)
CEO
Global Business Resources
Robin J. Baker
(Business Representative)
Program Manager
Amazon Web Services
Taliesha Garrett
(Small Business)
Chief of Staff
Eight Twenty-Eight Consultants
Michael Hines
(Labor)
President
UFCW Local 367
Deanna Keller
(Economic Development)
Commissioner
Port of Tacoma
Mandy Kipfer
(Title I Rehab)
Supervisor
Dept of Vocational Rehabilitation
Nathe Lawver
(Labor)
Secretary-Treasurer
Pierce County Central Labor Council ALF-CIO
Ann Medalia
(Business Representative)
VP Operations
TERRA Staffing Group
Rachael Pease
(Business Representative)
Vendor Diversity Manager
BNBuilders
Jolita Perez
(Business Representative)
System Manager Workforce Development
MultiCare Health System
Jenna Pollock
(Title II-ABE)
Associate Dean, Transitional Studies
Clover Park Technical College
Dona Ponepinto
(Workforce Representative)
President & CEO
United Way of Pierce County
Demetria “Lynn” Strickland
(Registered Apprenticeship)
Executive Director
Aerospace Joint Apprenticeship Committee
Misty Sullivan
(Business Representative)
Care Center Administrator
Proliance Rainier Orthopedic Institute
Norton Sweet
(Wagner-Peyser)
Central Sound Regional Director
Employment Security Department
Deborah Tuggle
(Small Business)
Owner
Bite Me, Inc.
Umi Wagoner
(Business Representative)
Co-Owner
EtC Tacoma
Blaine Wolfe
(Business Representative)
Project Executive
Absher Construction Company
Lin Zhou
(Higher Ed)
President
Bates Technical College
