Our Leadership

The Pierce County Workforce Development Board (WDB) and Chief Local Elected Officials establish the vision for the region’s workforce development system, known as WorkSource Pierce, strengthening alignment and helping bridge the skills gap to support a more prosperous economy.

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.

Ryan Mello

Pierce County Executive

Headshot of Tacoma Mayor Anders Ibsen

Anders Ibsen

Mayor of the City of Tacoma

Headshot of Pierce County Councilmember Rosie Ayala

Rosie Ayala

Pierce County Council Member (District 4)

Headshot of City of Tacoma Council Member Olgy Diaz

Olgy Diaz

City of Tacoma Council Member (Position 7)

Dave Shaw

CEO, Global Business Resources

WDB Chair

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.

Dave Shaw

CEO, Global Business Resources

WDB Chair, Business Representative

Mandy Kipfer

Deborah Tuggle

Owner, Bite Me, Inc.

WDB Vice Chair, Small Business

Headshot of John Adams

John Adams

Business Manager, LiUNA! Local 252

Labor

Robin J. Baker

Program Manager, Amazon Web Services

Business Representative

Nino Gray

Central Sound Regional Director, Employment Security Department

Wagner-Peyser

Deanna Keller

Commissioner, Port of Tacoma

Economic Development

Mandy Kipfer

Mandy Kipfer

Deputy Regional Administrator, Dept of Vocational Rehabilitation

Title I Rehab

Mandy Kipfer

Nathe Lawver

Secretary-Treasurer, Pierce County Central Labor Council ALF-CIO

Labor

Mandy Kipfer

Ann Medalia

VP Operations, TERRA Staffing Group

Business Representative

Mandy Kipfer

Rachael Pease

Director of Business Development & Strategy, Kiewit Building Group

Business Representative

Mandy Kipfer

Jolita Perez

System Manager Workforce Development, MultiCare Health System

Business Representative

Mandy Kipfer

Jenna Pollock

Associate Dean, Transitional Studies, Clover Park Technical College

Title II-ABE

Mandy Kipfer

Dona Ponepinto

President & CEO, United Way of Pierce County

Workforce Representative

Mandy Kipfer

Irene Reyes

President & CEO, Excel Gloves & Safety Supplies, Inc.

Small Business

Mandy Kipfer

Demetria “Lynn” Strickland

Executive Director, Aerospace Joint Apprenticeship Committee (AJAC)

Registered Apprenticeship

Mandy Kipfer

Misty Sullivan

Care Center Administrator, Proliance Rainier Orthopedic Institute

Business Representative

Mandy Kipfer

Umi Wagoner

Co-Owner, EtC Tacoma

Business Representative

Mandy Kipfer

Blaine Wolfe

Project Executive, Absher Construction Company

Business Representative

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