March 11, 2025 Minutes

Workforce Development Board Regional Minutes

Employment Services - 315 N. 11th Ave, Bldg. B, Greeley, CO 80631
Meeting Location: First Floor Conference Room
Meeting: March 11, 2025 12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Board Members Present:
Alex Kloehn, Lutheran Family Services, Rocky Mountains; Bill Johnson, Yoder Family Companies; Cecil Courtney, Denver Pipefitters Local 208; Karla Torczon, Elevations Credit Union; Kelly Folks, Colorado Department of Labor & Employment; Lauren Price, Aurora Mental Health & Recovery; Lisa Taylor, The Weld Trust; Lisa Vaughn, Golden Aluminum; Matthew Hortt, High Plains Library District; Meghan Greene, CDLE DVR Michael Wailes, Weld RE-5J; Robert Rigg, Elder Construction; Shawn Croissant, Envision; Victoria Cordova, Banner Health; Zach Huston, Chevron U.S.A. Inc.; Lynette Peppler, Weld County Commissioner; Cassidy Stubblefield, Upstate Colorado.

Absent:
Amanda Ericson, HRx Services; David Zumbrun, Chicken Salad Chick; Justin Booker, City of Greeley Fire Department and IAFF Professional Firefighter's Union, Local 888 - Greeley Firefighters; Phil MacHendrie, City of Greeley.


Quorum Present: Yes

Others Present:
Andrew Chadwick, ESWC; Greg Cordova, ESWC; Karina Amaya-Ragland, ESWC; Tami Grant, Weld County DHS; Jesus Borrego, CDLE; Thomas Hartman, CWDC; Kelsey Baun.

  1. Call to Order
    1. Introductions & New Members: Cassidy Stubblefield & Ronald Cole

  2. Changes to the Agenda - None

  3. Approval of Minutes
    • Motion: To approve the minutes from the previous meeting.
    • Moved by: Michael Wailes
    • Seconded by: Lisa Taylor
    • Vote: Unanimous approval

  4. Workforce Wins
    1. Story of veteran J.G. receiving support for MST claim

  5. Unfinished Business
    1. February Joint Regional Meeting: Recap
      • Focus on customized training programs and industry engagement
      • Four occupations elevated: HVAC, Radiation tech, Utility line workers, Equipment operators
      • Equipment operator identified as most promising focus area
    2. Regional Talent Summit: Recap
      • First of 7 across the state held February 25th at UNC
      • Focus on 3 industries: Healthcare, Construction and Advanced Manufacturing
      • Somewhat of a re-launch of Sector partnerships with industry stating what they need and having education institutions, colleges, k-12, Workforce and other community partners to support the work.
      • Task forces will be developed out of the day to focus on the 3 areas and will eventually provide input for the State Workforce plan that we will be required to incorporated into our local workforce plan in a 2-year and 5-year iteration.
      • More to come…

  6. Announcements, Updates, and Celebrations
    1. Awareness Committee
    2. Mobile Workforce Unit
      • $780,000 funding secured for mobile workforce unit
      • Collaboration between Employment Services, Library District, and Weld Trust
      • Unit to provide job seeker services, Internet access, and workshops in rural areas
    3. Staffed with two librarians and one employment services navigator
    4. Youth Committee
      • Meeting held on February 18th focused on youth mental health
      • Panel discussion with HR representatives and mental health service providers
      • New co-chairs: Nelson Rodriguez and Jesus Borrego
      • Next meeting on April 29th to focus on youth with disabilities
    5. NoCo Works
      • Website development for resource navigation in progress
      • Economic inclusion efforts and external barriers discussed
      • Childcare and transportation initiatives outlined
      • Talent Pipeline focusing on skills-based positions

  7. Board Focus
    1. Mid-Year monitoring report with Dashboard
      • Grounding State Program and Fiscal year July 1, 2024-June 30, 2025
      • Walk through highlights
      • Had mid-year monitoring report last week about progress and we are right on target, no concerns from the State with explanations
    2. WIOA Authorization
      • Still an appetite to move forward on “A Stronger Workforce for America Act” ASWA or WIOA from what it looked like in December, not the most ideal but better than nothing.
      • Waiting on vote this afternoon to determine government shutdown, If it passes the House it will need at least 8 Democratic Senators + Republicans to pass the Senate
    3. NAWB & Policy Day
      • Tami, Ruth, Greg, Victoria, and Matt will be attending NAWB at the end of the month; we’ll also attend Advocacy Day with CeCe afterwards. They will bring back updates.
    4. On-Stop Operator Bid & Executive Committee
      • Happens every three years and for several years Weld County Employment Services has served as the local One-stop operator for the Workforce Program
      • The competitive application process is now open: March 7th though April 9th
      • We will submit our application for review
      • After April 9th the Weld County Attorney will move any completed applications forward for consideration.
      • We have an OSO Executive Committee comprised of Bill Johnson, Lisa Taylor and Todd Neilson. They will present applications at the May meeting for approval of the Workforce Development Board
      • Staff will not be present for the vote
      • OSO Exec Committee will provide recommendations to Karin McDougal the Weld County Attorney to be approved by the BOCC.

  8. Miscellaneous
    1. EWSC Staffing Updates
      • New positions: Workforce Administrative and Policy Operator, Workforce Finance Person
      • Elizabeth Barber announced resignation as Workforce Director; Tammy to step in as interim director

  9. Adjournment

Strategic Goals

  1. Continue seeking clarity and improving connections for programs and services between Employment Services and the businesses and individuals in the Weld County Community.
  2. Increase awareness and clarify the impact of Weld County's workforce network by attracting organizations and businesses to utilize the available funding provided to Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) targeted populations.
  3. Increase Weld County Workforce Development Board (WCWDB) member engagement by involving board members in planning, leadership pipeline development, and committee involvement.
  4. Working with intention by participating and supporting ESWC, sector partnerships, and their workgroups to ensure our regional workforce has equitable access to opportunities for quality, life-long education, and individual advancement to secure the future of work in Northern Colorado.

Board Recruitment

The following positions are vacant:

Two Business Representatives

  • Accommodation and Food Service
  • Transportation and Warehousing
    If you know someone interested in Workforce Initiatives and can fill one of these roles, please direct that person to Andrew Chadwick or CeCe Majchrowski.

Upcoming Events

  1. Required Meeting: 5/13/2025; 11:45 AM to 1:30 PM (12:00 PM-1:30 PM Virtual)
  2. Awareness Committee Meeting: 5/6/2025; 11:45 AM to 1:00 PM (12:00 PM-1:00 PM Virtual)
  3. Youth Committee Meeting: 4/29/2025; 11:45 AM to 1:30 PM (12:00 PM-1:30 PM Virtual)

Assurance

  1. Veterans and eligible spouses are entitled to priority access to Department of Labor-funded programs.
  2. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities. Dial 711 for Relay Services.
  3. Employment Services of Weld County is an equal opportunity program and employer.
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