About MUS

Midwest Urban Strategies (MUS) is an intermediary of urban workforce development boards (WDB) serving their local communities to connect the stakeholders of the workforce ecosystem.

Our Vision

Equitable access for all populations in the Midwest region seeking a better life through the services and supports of the public workforce ecosystem.

Our Mission

Improve the economic conditions of the Midwest region, with targeted focus on urban areas, to serve and advance the needs and interests of the region’s diverse populations, employers, workers, job seekers and workforce development professionals.

Our Values

With an equity lens and intentional collaboration, we leverage regional and national stakeholders, and efficiently and creatively use resources, to shorten the learning curve in reaching and serving our local communities. Together, we design, test, and implement workforce strategies and practices that support diverse workers and employers to accomplish their goals.

Group playing giant Jenga

An Introduction to MUS

Our Team

Tracey Carey

Tracey Carey

Executive Director
Tracey Carey

Tracey Carey

Executive Director
MUS

Tracey Carey leads Midwest Urban Strategies (MUS), a consortium of 13 of the largest urban workforce boards in the Midwest. With more than $20 million in federal and philanthropic investment and a growing portfolio of business and service partners, MUS delivers high value resource to its members. The consortium’s mission is to grow business investment and expand and diversify talent in the Midwest. Prior to her tenure with MUS, Ms. Carey enjoyed nearly two decades of service developing and supporting workforce development programs and strategies. As the Director of Strategic Initiatives for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Milwaukee, Tracey facilitated the summer youth employment program that provided first jobs for more than 500 young people annually. She also developed and facilitated training programs for opportunity youth that reengaged them in school and/or work. In 2014 she joined Employ Milwaukee, the workforce development board for Milwaukee County (WI) as the Director of Fund Development & Strategic Initiatives. While serving in that capacity, Ms. Carey raised an additional $13 million dollars and supported the startup of MUS. Then, in 2018, she left Milwaukee to join the staff at Partner4Work, the workforce development board for the City of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County, PA. As the Chief Strategy Officer. At P4W, Tracey led a team of innovators working to improve workforce development practice, including the restart of the area’s workforce funding collaborative. Through her leadership, P4W brought more than $10 million dollars to the region in her first year. Tracey holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in English from the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee, Certificate in Women’s Studies from the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee, Summa cum laude, Certificate in Non-Profit Management from the Center for Non-Profit Management, and Business and Economic Development Finance Professional Certification from the National Development Council.

Keith Dehut

Keith Dehut

Regional TA Grants Manager
Keith Dehut

Keith Dehut

Regional TA Grants Manager
MUS

keith@midwesturbanstrategies.com

Mr. Dehut comes to MUS with over 15 years of experience in sales, information technology, data analysis and intelligence security.  Keith strives to make any work environment productive and fun. Having worked in multiple countries doing a variety of work, Mr. Dehut believes “work can be more than work if you find the right reasons to be there and make people’s lives better every day.”

Eileen M. McMahon

Eileen M. McMahon

Executive Assistant
Eileen M. McMahon

Eileen M. McMahon

Executive Assistant
MUS

Originally from Chicago, Illinois with a career spanning over 30 plus years in government, accounting, advertising, manufacturing, communications, and insurance in various administrative roles, Ms. McMahon brings her broad experience in various industries to the fore in her new role at Midwest Urban Strategies.  She has also called Monterey, CA and Cleveland, OH home before relocating to Milwaukee in 2001 for a role with General Electric Medical Systems. She most recently assisted executives at Employ Milwaukee.

Her daughter Erin resides in Chicago and is a writer and business owner.  Her son Kevin is a commercial painter and musician and lives in Milwaukee. She loves hiking and history.

Robyn M. Minton-Holmes

Robyn M. Minton-Holmes

Senior Director for Operations and Grants Administration
Robyn M. Minton-Holmes

Robyn M. Minton-Holmes

Senior Director for Operations and Grants Administration
MUS

With over 30 years of nonprofit work experience, Robyn currently serves as Senior Director for Operations and Grants Administration with Midwest Urban Strategies. Prior to joining MUS, Robyn was Vice President of Workforce Initiatives at the Center of Workforce Innovations (CWI). During her 13-year tenure at CWI, she was responsible for the integration, alignment, partnering, and innovation of the State’s Northwest Indiana regional WorkOne (Career Services and One Stop) Centers. She also shared her expertise as a School of Business Faculty Member at the University of Phoenix for ten years.

Robyn’s tenure in the nonprofit world led her to positions where she developed model programs and quality initiatives, set strategic direction in areas where change and crisis management were required, and stood as a human capital expert and coach while managing multi-site operations. She is a results-driven and business-oriented leader.

Before moving to the Midwest, Robyn was a Program Director at the Nashville, Tennessee YWCA where she managed day-to-day operations of the state’s largest domestic violence services program. Her role included program development and expansion, human capital management, (capacity building, community awareness, grants management, volunteer management and quality improvement initiatives. She oversaw this $1.7 million program with proven success and is proud to say that the programs initiated under her direction are still in existence and continue to grow and evolve. While at the YWCA, Robyn worked on initiatives with the United States Department of Justice and the Violence Against Women division in creating and evaluating best practice models.

Prior to the YWCA, Robyn’s social services work in Tennessee included her position as Associate Director at Omni Residential Treatment Service where she managed operations, personnel, and the design and oversight of therapeutic protocols.  She also served for ten plus years as a Program Coordinator within the children and youth division of Centerstone, Inc.. Her position with Centerstone involved program development, managing grants, volunteer coordination, and fiscal oversight.  

Robyn has an MBA from Vanderbilt University-Nashville, Tennessee. She earned her M.A. in Counseling from Trevecca Nazarene University, and a B.A. in Sociology from Kentucky Wesleyen College.  She is a member of Leadership Northwest Indiana (LNI, 27) and is a commissioned Honorable Kentucky Colonel (’85).

She was a recipient of the Non-Profit Management Scholarship from Nashville’s Center for Non-Profit Management & Vanderbilt University. In addition, her leadership of volunteer recruitment and retention strategies for a school based HIV education program, garnered her recognition on a national level when she was recognized with the Golden Rule Award for Volunteer Management.

Our Members

Debra Bahr-Helgen

Debra Bahr-Helgen

Executive Director
,
City Of Minneapolis Employment & Training
Debra Bahr-Helgen

Debra Bahr-Helgen

Executive Director
City Of Minneapolis Employment & Training

Debra Bahr-Helgen has led the City of Minneapolis Employment and Training Program for more than 11 years. Prior to holding the Director position, Bahr-Helgen served as Program Manager.  Debra is a highly engaged leader in workforce and economic development. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Concordia University and completed graduate studies at St. Mary’s University of Minnesota.

JoAnn Breedlove

JoAnn Breedlove

Executive Director
,
Stark Tuscarawas Workforce Development Board
JoAnn Breedlove

JoAnn Breedlove

Executive Director
Stark Tuscarawas Workforce Development Board

JoAnn Breedlove serves as executive director to the Stark Tuscarawas Workforce Development Board located in Ohio. Prior to her appointment as executive director in March 2022, JoAnn began her employment with Workforce Initiative Association in 2008 as an Employer Account Representative and has served as the organization’s Business Services Manager, Business Resource Network Project Director and Chief Operating Officer, overseeing the programmatic aspects of the Workforce Initiative Association which include OhioMeansJobs Stark and Tuscarawas County Center operations, programs funded through the Workforce Innovation & Opportunity Act and Ohio’s youth Comprehensive Case Management & Employment Program.

JoAnn views the workforce system as perfectly poised to strengthen communities by supporting businesses with strategies that serve their workforce needs while ultimately improving the lives of its citizens through employment and training resources.

Prior to her service with the public workforce system, JoAnn worked for the Stark County Board of Developmental Disabilities as a Contract Procurement Specialist and in sales and management with Kimberly Clark Corporation. JoAnn holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration/Marketing and Human Resource Management from The Ohio State University, and a Master of Science degree in Management from Indiana Wesleyan University.

Lisa M Daugherty

Lisa M Daugherty

President & CEO
,
Lisa M Daugherty

Lisa M Daugherty

President & CEO

Lisa Daugherty is serving as the new President & CEO of Center of Workforce Innovations (CWI), which provides solutions to meet the workforce-related needs of customers in Lake, Porter, LaPorte, Newton, Jasper, Starke and Pulaski counties in Northwest Indiana.

Prior to coming to CWI, Lisa served as President and CEO for Lake Area United Way (LAUW), leading the organization through a significant transition to a new community impact model, focused on strengthening low-income working families by helping them access financial education resources, child care and better paying jobs. While in that role, she earned NIPSCO’s Luminary Award for Outstanding Community Leadership.

Before LAUW, Lisa entered the nonprofit sector as the Director of Marketing & Development for TradeWinds Services, Inc., an organization serving children and adults with disabilities. She also managed the Employment Services Department which connected clients with job opportunities and provided supportive services to retain employment.

Prior to her roles in nonprofits, Lisa enjoyed a diverse career in media with The TIMES Media Company serving lastly as the Advertising Director and General Manager. Throughout her career at The TIMES, she held various sales, management and director level positions in circulation, marketing, human resources and advertising.

Lisa earned a Bachelor of Arts as well as a Master of Arts in Communication and Creative Arts from Purdue Northwest.

Outside of her work priorities, Lisa works really hard to pamper her four rescues.

Marie Mackintosh

Marie Mackintosh

President & CEO
,
EmployIndy
Marie Mackintosh

Marie Mackintosh

President & CEO
EmployIndy

Marie Mackintosh has served as President and CEO of EmployIndy since the fall of 2022. As a workforce development board and nonprofit intermediary in
Indianapolis, EmployIndy is focused on creating strategic partnerships, connections, and opportunities that enable all Marion County residents to grow and prosper in a career that meets employer demand for talent.


She joined EmployIndy in 2016 and guided the implementation of several pivotal initiatives that collectively work to create economic prosperity across
Indianapolis for all residents and businesses. Whether the New Skills Ready Network Collaborative, Modern Apprenticeship, Talent Bound, Rapid Re-
Employment Response, or the Good Wages Initiative, Mackintosh has led the EmployIndy team to integrate investments and to focus on ensuring that
students and workers are prepared for 21st century jobs through career-connected learning, access to career coaches, and equitable postsecondary
options. Simultaneously, her team engages businesses to ensure they are competitive in a global marketplace by offering opportunities to co-create
talent pipelines, become a choice employer with good jobs, and make connections to a diverse and well-prepared talent pool so that that the Indianapolis economy can grow and thrive.


Mackintosh brings over 20 years of relevant experience to this role, having worked immediately prior to EmployIndy in various leadership roles at the
Indiana Department of Workforce Development, in marketing at a global manufacturer, and in advising and academic affairs at Butler University,
DePauw University, and the University of Kent in Canterbury, England. She holds an MBA from Butler University and a BA from Indiana University, where
she graduated Phi Beta Kappa. She was named one of Indy’s Best and Brightest in 2017 and has served on numerous committees and boards for
organizations that include the U.S. Conference of Mayors Workforce Development Council, Midwest Urban Strategies Consortium, Indy Chamber,
Local Initiatives Support Corporation, Business Equity for Indy, Far Eastside Collective Impact Council, Near Eastside Innovation School Corporation, and
IndyFringe

Clyde McQueen

Clyde McQueen

President & CEO
,
The Full Employment Council (FEC)
Clyde McQueen

Clyde McQueen

President & CEO
The Full Employment Council (FEC)

Clyde R. McQueen serves as President/Chief Executive Officer, of the nationally recognized job training and placement enterprise, the Full Employment Council (FEC), Inc. Since 1987, FEC has been the strategic workforce entity and fiscal agent for two Workforce Development Boards, serving five counties, including two of the largest cities in Missouri, Kansas City and Independence, in a region that covers 2,700 square miles serving urban, suburban, and rural markets.

He previously worked as the Division Director of Training and Employment Development for the Texas Department of Community Affairs, the administrative agency for the Workforce Development system throughout the State of Texas. Clyde also served as Chairman of the Technical Review Committee for Economic Development, which oversaw the disbursement of an economic development fund for non-entitlement cities. He developed the program design and application procedure for the state’s Economic Development Grant Program, which utilized community development block grant funds for economic development.   

Clyde served as Administrator of Technical Programs for the Texas Economic Development Commission where he worked with communities and various groups to develop strategies for attracting businesses and industries into specific regions of the state. He served as an Administrative Technician, working with small and minority businesses, providing management and technical assistance in securing contracts and financial assistance.

Clyde also served as an Assistant Instructor at Texas State University, and as a Field Supervisor for the City of San Antonio Nutrition Program.  He holds a Bachelor’s Degree and a Master’s Degree in Speech Communications and Political Science from Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas.  He completed the Top State Manager’s Executive Education Program at Duke University. 

As a volunteer, Clyde has served as President of Kansas City Consensus, President of U.S. Conference of Mayor’s Workforce Development Council, President of the National Association of Counties Training and Employment Professionals, President of the National Business League (Centex) Chapter, Chairman for the Economic Development Corporation of Kansas City, and a member of the Missouri Automobile Task Force, the Community Development Advisory Committee of the Federal Reserve Bank/Kansas City Region, Missouri Community Service Commission, United Way of Greater Kansas City, The Starlight Theater, and the Austin/San Antonio Corridor Council.

Presently, Clyde serves as an executive committee member of the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce, Board member of the United Services Community Action Agency, Board member of the Clay County Economic Development Corporation, member of the Personnel Committee of the Economic Development Corporation of Kansas City, and a Board member of the Construction Workforce Development Board of the City of Kansas City, MO.

Clyde has been recognized as “Professional of the Year” by the Missouri Association of Workforce Development, “Local Hero” and “100 Most Influential Kansas Citians” by Ingram’s Magazine, “Job Training Professional of the Year” by the National Alliance of Business, “Distinguished Service Award” by the Texas Association of SDA Administrators, and “Top State Manager” by the State of Texas.  

Clyde has also been awarded resolutions, sponsored and the Missouri House of Representatives and the Missouri Senate on his accomplishments in workforce development.  Clyde has testified before the U.S. Senate Health, Education, Labor, & Pensions Committee regarding the reauthorization of workforce development programs in the United States. Clyde also was recognized in the Congressional Record of the U.S. House of Representatives and inducted into the Missouri Walk of Fame to honor the achievements of African Americans who made significant contributions to the state of Missouri.   He also received a Distinguished Service Award from the Kansas City NAACP and recognized as Citizen of the Year by the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity.  His work has also been cited in Nations Business Magazine and the New York Times.


Lisa Patt-McDaniel

Lisa Patt-McDaniel

,
The Workforce Development Board of Central Ohio
Lisa Patt-McDaniel

Lisa Patt-McDaniel

The Workforce Development Board of Central Ohio

Lisa Patt-McDaniel joined the Workforce Development Board of Central Ohio as the first President and CEO in November 2016. The Board develops strategies for placing jobseekers on the path to family sustaining careers and works with employers to identify talent pipelines for their businesses. The Board works through its Ohio Means Jobs Center Columbus Franklin County (OMJCFC) and other partner agencies to create innovative workforce solutions for the Central Ohio Business Community. 


Previous to this position, Ms. Patt-McDaniel was an Executive on Loan to the Affordable Housing Trust for Columbus & Franklin County to stand up a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) with the capacity to lend on housing and mixed-use developments in Franklin County. 


Ms. Patt-McDaniel spent over 20 years at the Ohio Department of Development working in the areas of economic, workforce and community development, completing her career there as the Director of the Department and a member of the Governor’s Cabinet. While she was Director, Ohio claimed its third Governor's Cup from Site Selection Magazine by focusing on taking the steps necessary to be competitive, even in a challenging economic environment. McDaniel joined Ohio Capital Corporation for Housing (OCCH) in 2011 as Director of Community Development where she was responsible for developing relationships and services related to community development, including working with cities and in rural areas to address vacant land and housing, leveraging resources for development, and convening local officials around common development issues. 


Ms. Patt-McDaniel is a Certified Economic Development Professional (EDP) through the National Development Council.  She is an officer on the boards of the Ohio Workforce Association, Midwest Urban Strategies, the Columbus Next Generation Corporation, and Heritage Ohio. She is also on the Board of the US Conference of Mayors Workforce Development Council. Ms. Patt-McDaniel is a lecturer at the John Glenn College of Public Affairs where she has taught classes in public policy and strategic management. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Public Administration from Miami University and a Master of Public Administration from the John Glenn College of Public Policy at The Ohio State University.  Ms. Patt-McDaniel is married to Dana McDaniel, City Manager of the city of Dublin, and they are the proud parents of two daughters, Caitlyn and Colleen.


Michelle Rose

Michelle Rose

Executive Director
,
Cleveland/ Cuyahoga County Workforce Development Board
Michelle Rose

Michelle Rose

Executive Director
Cleveland/ Cuyahoga County Workforce Development Board

In June 2022, Mayor Justin M. Bibb appointed Michelle Rose as the Executive Director for the Cleveland-Cuyahoga County Workforce Development Board. In this role, she leads public sector workforce development programming and strategy for the City of Cleveland and Cuyahoga County. 


Previously, Rose served as Acting Assistant Secretary for Congressional and Intergovernmental Affairs under U.S. Secretary of Labor Marty Walsh.  “From day one, Michelle Rose has been a trusted advisor and strong leader as Acting Assistant Secretary for Congressional & Intergovernmental Affairs,” Secretary Walsh said. “As a former mayor, I'm thrilled she is bringing her expertise to drive change at a local level.” As Acting Assistant Secretary, Rose directed the Department of Labor’s strategy for interacting with Congress and advancing legislative priorities, successfully led ten Senate confirmations, served as the primary staff liaison to Capitol Hill on behalf of the Department of Labor, and managed all operations of the Office of Congressional and Intergovernmental Affairs. 

Rose’s prior experience includes serving as chief of staff to U.S. Deputy Labor Secretary Chris Lu, nearly six years as a senior legislative officer in the Office of Congressional Affairs, and work with advance teams for both the White House and the Obama for America Presidential Inaugural Committee.    


Locally, Rose was Director of Talent Initiatives for the Cleveland Innovation Project, a non-profit collaborative of foundations and economic development organizations working to create a blueprint for regional growth through high-tech jobs in Northeast Ohio. Rose has also worked in constituency services for the Democratic National Committee and holds a B.A. in Political Science from Miami University. Her first role in Washington was as a summer intern for Ohio’s Senior Senator, The Honorable Sherrod Brown. She is a Northeast Ohio native and grew up in Painesville Township. She and her husband are happy to be raising three daughters in Shaker Heights.

Robert Shimkoski

Robert Shimkoski

Director of Planning and Resource Development
,
Detroit Employment Solutions Corporation
Robert Shimkoski

Robert Shimkoski

Director of Planning and Resource Development
Detroit Employment Solutions Corporation

Robert Shimkoski Jr. lives in Detroit Michigan and is the Director of Planning and Resource Development for the Detroit Employment Solutions Corporation (DESC), a Michigan Works! Agency that administers Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) and Temporary Assistance for Needy Family (TANF) Programs in the city of Detroit. He holds a B.S. in Public Administration from the University of Scranton and a M.A in English from Wayne State University. He has served as a volunteer with the Jesuit Volunteer Corps and worked for the city of Detroit’s Workforce Development and Housing Departments and several non-profits.  He currently serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors for the United Community Housing Coalition, President of the Board of Directors for the Mary Turner Center for Advocacy and is a board member for several other organizations.   He has also completed a fellowship with the Aspen Institute’s Detroit Workforce System Leadership Development Academy.

George Wright

George Wright

CEO
,
The Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership
George Wright

George Wright

CEO
The Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership

George Wright became the CEO of The Chicago Cook Workforce (The Partnership) in June 2023. Wright comes to the role after a distinguished career in banking and community investment and after serving as the co-chair of The Partnership’s Board of Directors since 2015.  In April, he stepped down from The Partnership Board and retired as director of community relations for Citibank’s Global Consumer Group. As director of community relations, Wright led all aspects of Citi’s community development portfolio in Illinois and across the Central Region. 


Previously, Wright served as national director of emerging markets for Washington Mutual, where he was responsible for national home loan sales and operations to emerging market consumers and oversaw a team of more than 200 employees. Earlier in his career, Wright was a senior vice president at GMAC Bank where he was one of the six senior founding bank managers and was responsible for all areas of the bank’s Community Reinvestment Act initiatives, as well as customer service and philanthropy. He began his career at Citicorp / Citibank in Illinois as a management associate and was progressively promoted throughout his 30 years there, ultimately rising to
become community investment officer where he managed all aspects of community development for the Central Region and national manager of planning and integration. 


In addition to his service on The Partnership Board, Wright has also served as Board Chair of Acciόn Chicago and the Center for Economic Progress, as well as the Greater Englewood CDC.  In addition, he is the recipient of numerous community leadership awards including the James Sills Community Reinvestment Act Leadership Award, the YMCA Black / Hispanic Achiever in Industry Award, Englewood “Maker of Men” Award, 100 Black Men Leadership Award, Chicago Defender “Man of Excellence” Award, Executive of the Year for AFP and Chicago “Community Change Maker” Award. 


Wright received his BS degree in Psychology from St. Joseph’s College and did his graduate studies at Illinois Institute of Technology.

Beth Yoke

Beth Yoke

Executive Director
,
Workforce Council of Southwest Ohio
Beth Yoke

Beth Yoke

Executive Director
Workforce Council of Southwest Ohio

Prior to joining the Workforce Council of Southwest Ohio as Executive Director, Beth Yoke served as Chief Strategy Officer for the Cincinnati and Hamilton County Public Library from 2018 - 2024. From 2004 - 2018 she served as Executive Director of the Young Adult Library Services Association, and has also worked as a university and a high school librarian, and an elementary school teacher. She obtained her undergraduate degree from Gettysburg College and her master’s degree from Louisiana State University. You can find her on X (formerly Twitter) and LinkedIn. Yoke is a resident of the Northside neighborhood in Cincinnati, OH.

Our Member Organizations

Stark Tuscarawas Workforce Development Board

Canton
,
OH
stwdb.org

The mission of the Stark Tuscarawas Workforce Development Board is to assist area businesses in meeting their workforce needs by coordinating the workforce development activities of the numerous employment, education, and economic development entities in the region. The OhioMeansJobs One-Stop System strives to act as a consolidated employment resource for all partner programs, employers, and job seeker customers while supporting the mission of the Workforce Development Board. These platforms provide free services made possible through funds provided by the U.S. Department of Labor and operated locally by the Stark Tuscarawas Workforce Development Board and the Stark and Tuscarawas Boards of County Commissioners.

The Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership

Chicago
,
IL
chicookworks.org

Created in 2012, The Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership (The Partnership) is an umbrella organization operating the public workforce system in the City of Chicago and Cook County. The Partnership combines federal and philanthropic resources to broaden the reach and impact of workforce development services for both employers and job seekers. As the largest non-profit workforce development system in the nation, The Partnership has helped place more than 70,000 individuals in employment, collaborated with more than 2,000 employers, and administers more than $300 million in federal and philanthropic funds. The Partnership’s network of more than 50 community-based organizations, 10 American Job Centers, and sector-driven workforce centers serve 132 municipalities.

Workforce Council of Southwest Ohio

Cincinnati
,
OH
cincyworkforce.org

The Workforce Council of Southwest Ohio is a 501c3 Ohio chartered nonprofit organization. The Workforce Council of Southwest Ohio implements the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) in the City of Cincinnati and Hamilton County. The board is responsible for developing strategies to engage employers, employees, government, education, organized labor and community-based organizations in a partnership to strengthen and expand the workforce resources of the region for the benefit of all the participants and communities where we live, work and raise our families. The SWORWIB sets the vision, policy, and performance expectations for the regional OhioMeansJobs (OMJ) workforce development system In Cincinnati-Hamilton County.

Cleveland/ Cuyahoga County Workforce Development Board

Cleveland/Cuyahoga County Workforce Development Board (CCWDB) is a proud partner of the American Job Center Network and serves as the advisory body for the City of Cleveland and Cuyahoga County Departments of Workforce Development. The purpose of the departments is to provide resources a to assist area businesses with their hiring and training needs to stay competitive in today’s environment as well as provide residents in the county with the tools necessary for a successful job search. Its programs and services include education, occupational training, job match, search assistance, and employment-related youth programs funded through the Federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2014.

The Workforce Development Board of Central Ohio

Columbus
,
OH
wdbco.org

The Workforce Development Board of Central Ohio serves the city of Columbus and Franklin county. The Board serves the residents and employers in their workforce region, connecting them to training and supportive services and coordinating the planning and convening of workforce system partners from throughout the region. Operating in a collaborative service delivery model, the Board contracts with ResCare to convene three trusted workforce system partners to deliver services to job seekers and incumbent workers. Those system partners include the Urban League, Goodwill, and Jewish Family Services.

Detroit Employment Solutions Corporation

Detroit
,
MI
descmiworks.com

Detroit Employment Solutions Corporation (DESC) became the city of Detroit’s workforce agency in 2012. DESC is part of the Michigan Works! Association anda proud partner of the American Job Center network. DESC regularly partners with political and community leaders, employers, community-based organizations, and stakeholders to raise awareness regarding education and workforce issues facing Detroit residents. DESC serves as the fiscal and administrative entity that provides workforce employment and training services for the City of Detroit. DESC reports to the Mayor’s Workforce Development Board (MWDB), which was appointed by the Mayor of the City of Detroit and is responsible for developing the strategy for Detroit’s workforce development service delivery system.

The Northwest Indiana Workforce Board

Gary/ Valparaiso
,
IN
gotoworkonenw.com

The Northwest Indiana Workforce Board is a 27-member business member led board representing seven counties of Northwest Indiana including Lake, Porter, LaPorte, Newton, Jasper, Starke, and Pulaski counties. The board incorporated in 2005 as a non-profit board working in partnership with Local Elected Officials covering each of the seven counties. As part of its infrastructure, the Northwest Indiana Workforce Board has contracted with the Center of Workforce Innovations, Inc. to serve as the board staff, as the One Stop Operator, and to provide some services of Title 1 of WIOA.

EmployIndy

Indianapolis
,
IN
employindy.org

EmployIndy has transitioned to focus on target impact areas to create a more community-driven initiative, becoming a hub for targeted populations and those who have given up hope in the possibility of entering or re-entering the workforce. Establishing a more neighborhood-focused form of workforce development will be designed by both increasing the implementation of resources in local community centers and reducing barriers for residents so they may have access to career pathways and gain the necessary skills to excel in the workforce. This strategy presents employers with qualified candidates to fulfill their hiring needs. This ABC (Any Job, Better Job, Career) Approach exemplifies the transitional goal for both workers and employers, realizing that having access to a career and skilled workers is a journey, not just a destination.

The Full Employment Council (FEC)

Kansas City
,
MO
feckc.org

The Full Employment Council Inc. (FEC) is the administrative entity and fiscal agent for two workforce development boards: Kansas City & Vicinity Workforce Development Board and Eastern Jackson County Workforce Development Board. FEC is a business-led private nonprofit corporation whose mission is to obtain public and private sector employment for the unemployed and underemployed residents of the greater Kansas City area. FEC accomplishes this goal by working in collaboration with businesses, local units of government, educational institutions, labor organizations, and community-based organizations. This partnership responds to employer needs while reducing unemployment and underemployment of area residents.

City Of Minneapolis Employment & Training

Minneapolis Employment and Training administers a variety of employment and training programs under the direction of the Mayor, City Council, and Minneapolis Workforce Council. Minneapolis Employment and Training is the administrative entity and staff to the Minneapolis Workforce Council. City programs under the oversight of the Workforce Council include services for low-income adults, dislocated workers, and youth. In Minneapolis, these services are delivered to job seekers and businesses by community-based organizations that have been competitively evaluated and selected based on their ability to effectively serve target groups and achieve employment-related outcomes, including both placement and support for retention in employment.

St. Louis Agency on Training and Employment (SLATE)

St. Louis
,
MO
stlouis-mo.gov

The St. Louis Agency on Training and Employment (SLATE) offers job seekers and businesses a variety of no-cost employment services, including job training and career counseling. It is the City of St. Louis government agency that offers job seekers and businesses a variety of no-cost services related to employment, training, and career advancement. SLATE, in coordination with the Missouri State Department of Economic Development (DED), Division of Workforce Development (DWD), the City of St. Louis Mayor's office and several partners, operates SLATE Missouri Career Centers, which connect employers to a skilled workforce and provide training and placement services to the City's adult workforce.

Workforce Alliance of South Central Kansas

Wichita
,
KS
workforce-ks.com

The Workforce Alliance is the Local Workforce Development Board, Administrative Entity and Program Administrator for US Department of Labor Education and Training programs in Local Area IV of Kansas, which includes Butler, Cowley, Harper, Kingman, Sedgwick and Sumner counties. It is a proud partner of America’s Job Center Network and Kansansworks.com. The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) was signed into law in 2014 and is comprised of multiple titles that provide federal job training programs and adult education programs into block grants. The Local Workforce Development Board (LWDB) assures WIOA funds and operations are invested in workforce development activities that address the needs of employers and job seekers in South Central Kansas. Currently, the LWDB operates One Stop Workforce Centers in El Dorado, Winfield, Wellington, and Wichita.

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