WDC board meeting: New officers elected, national leader speaks, and honors shared

The WDC board elected new officers, celebrated the past year’s accomplishments and honored board members and staff during its annual meeting June 18. (Read the press release…)

“With $300 million less in our workforce system than six years ago and at the same time a 250% increase in people needing employment help, we must work together with other systems, be more efficient and innovate,” said Ron Painter, CEO of the National Association of Workforce Boards, in the keynote address. “The WDC here in Seattle is one of those places we look to for innovation.”

Painter’s talk was the highlight of the WDC board meeting as the board celebrated the accomplishments of the past year. These included:

• 1,200 individuals placed in jobs
• 1,000 young people employed in internships through stimulus funding
• 6,000 jobseekers served each month at WorkSource centers
• $11.5 million in new grants brought into the local community for job training.

The board also elected new officers to two-year terms:

• Chair: Terry Pickering, Senior Vice President & Industry Specialist Manager at Viking Bank.
• Vice Chair: Tom Peterson, Vice President/General Manager of Hoffman Construction.
• Secretary/Treasurer: John Doocy, representing the private sector.

In other business, the board recognized several longtime members for their outstanding service in the past year:

• Walt Yeager, a business member from BRD Corp.;
• Dr. Michael Bisesi of Seattle University’s Nonprofit Leadership School; and
• Rich Berkowitz of the Transportation Institute, the outgoing chair of the WDC.

Finally, Peter Cavanaugh of the WDC staff was honored with the first annual Kris Stadelman Leadership Award for his outstanding work in the past year, including leading the 2009 summer jobs program that put 900 youth to work.

Kris Stadelman, in Seattle to present the award named after her, praised Peter’s in-depth knowledge of youth issues, flexibility in leading industry-sector initiatives, and mentorship of other staff. The former CEO of the WDC, Kris now helms the NOVA Workforce Board in the Silicon Valley of California.

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