Board & Committees
Our business-led workforce board represents private businesses, education, organized labor, local governments, community-based and nonprofit organizations, state agencies and economic development councils.
The board provides strategic direction and oversight for the local area’s workforce plan; defines policies, goals and objectives that meet the workforce needs of business and individuals; and evaluates the workforce system that serves Southwest Washington. Investments are made based on the strategic direction set by the Board and in keeping with the guidelines of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act.
Workforce Southwest Washington’s board meets quarterly in March, June, September and December. Meetings are open to the public.
2020 Board Meetings
March 11, 2020 4-6 p.m.
Lower Columbia College
1600 Maple Street
Longview, WA 98632
June 10, 2020 4-6 p.m.
Workforce Southwest Washington
805 Broadway, Suite 412
Vancouver, WA 9866o
September 9, 2020 4-6 p.m.
Lower Columbia College
Student Center Conference Rooms STC120 A,B, and C
1600 Maple Street, Longview
(The conference rooms are located on the lower level, right off of the cafeteria in the student center)
December 9, 2020 4-6 p.m.
Workforce Southwest Washington
805 Broadway, Suite 412
Vancouver, WA 9866o
Local Workforce Development Board Members as of July 2019
| FIRST NAME | LAST NAME | POSITION | COMPANY/SECTOR REPRESENTING |
|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Social and Health Services Clark County WorkSource Partner (DVR) |
|||
| Ben | Bagherpour | Vice President of Operations | SEH America Clark County Private Sector |
| Christopher | Bailey, JD | President | Lower Columbia College Cowlitz County Secondary Education |
| Jennifer | Baker | President | Columbia River Economic Development Council Clark County Economic Development Sector |
| Mike | Bridges | Organized Labor Representative | Cowlitz-Wahkiakum Central Labor Council Cowlitz County Organized Labor Sector |
| Bob | Carroll | Business Representative | IBEW Local Union 48 Clark County Organized Labor Sector |
| Renny | Christopher | Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs | Washington State University Vancouver Clark County Post-Secondary Education |
| Monte | Constable | Community Services Office Administrator | Department of Social and Health Services Clark County WorkSource Partner |
| Kelley | Foy | HR Business Partner | LifePort Cowlitz County Private Sector |
| Robert | Gaffney | Certified Rehabilitation Counselor | Gaffney Counseling and Consulting Clark County Private Sector |
| Scott | Haas | Southwest Coastal Regional Director | Employment Security Department WorkSource Centers |
| Mara | Kieval | Nurse Representative | Washington State Nurses Association Clark County Organized Labor Sector |
| Robert | Harris | Vice President | JH Kelly Cowlitz County Private Sector |
| Ralph | Clark | Owner | Cowlitz Container & Diecutting Cowlitz County Private Sector |
| Ilona | Kerby | Executive Director | Lower Columbia CAP Cowlitz County Community-Based Organization |
| Clark College Clark County Post-Secondary Education |
|||
| Jim | Lucey | Controller WSW Treasurer |
Analog Devices Clark County Private Sector |
| Eddie | Martin | Human Resources | NORPAC Cowlitz County Private Sector |
| Diane | McWithey | Executive Director | Share Vancouver Clark County Community-Based Organization |
| A.D. | Simmons | Owner | Aligned Lifestyle Concierge Clark County Private Sector |
| Bill | Skidmore | Manager of Sales WSW Board Chair |
Cornerstone Engineering Clark County Private Sector |
| Denise | Smith | Chief Operating Officer | Rebound Orthopedics & Neurosurgery Clark County Private Sector |
| Ted | Sprague | President | Cowlitz Economic Development Council Cowlitz County Economic Development Sector |
| Paige | Spratt | Attorney at Law WSW Board Vice-Chair |
Schwabe Williamson & Wyatt Clark County Private Sector |
| John | Vanderkin | President WSW Immediate Past Board Chair |
Employers Overload Clark County Private Sector |
| Darcy | Altizer | Director of Innovation | Matrix Roofing & Home Solutions
Clark County Private Sector |
| Robert | Jungers | Owner | Elochoman Millwork Wahkiakum Private Sector |
| Bob | Gustainis | District Manager | Walgreens Tacoma-Vancouver Cowlitz County Private Sector |
| Shannon | Stull | Business Manager | LiUNA 335 Cowlitz County Organized Labor Sector |
The Executive Board appoints members to the Local Workforce Development Board and provides oversight of the Workforce Board’s policies, procedures and budget.
Executive Board of County Commissioners
Clark County – Councilor Julie Olson (WSW Executive Board Member)
Cowlitz County – Commissioner Dennis Weber (Chief Local Elected Official for WSW)
Wahkiakum County – Commissioner Mike Backman
Community Workforce Partnership (CWP): The CWP assures the appropriate return on investment of public funds through our regional WorkSource centers and establishes innovative and strategic partnerships that support job seekers and employers throughout Southwest Washington.
The CWP meets quarterly on the second Monday of the selected month. Locations rotate. Due to the Veteran’s Day holiday falling on the second Monday, the next meeting will be held on Monday, November 19 from 10-11:30 a.m. Contact Narek Daniyelyan at ndaniyelyan@workforcesw.org or Miriam Martin at mmartin@workforcesw.org for details.
As of September 1, 2016
| FIRST NAME | LAST NAME | ORGANIZATION |
|---|---|---|
| Robert | Gaffney | Committee Chair Gaffney Consulting |
| Anne | Goranson | Employment Security Department, Regional Director |
| Kevin | Perkey | Workforce Southwest Washington |
| Eka | Frimpong | WorkSource Clark County |
| Dave | Cole | WorkSource |
| Noel | Woods | WorkSource |
| Diane | McWithey | SHARE Vancouver |
| John | Vanderkin | Employers Overload |
| Nona | Mallicoat | WorkSource Cowlitz-Wahkiakum |
| Cass | Parker | Workforce Southwest Washington |
| Meredith | Harding | Dept. of Services for the Blind |
| Kristine | Hammond | Dept. Social & Health Services |
| Monica | Wilson | Clark College |
| Paige | Spratt | Schwabe Williamson & Wyatt |
| Priscilla | Benavides-Campos | Employment Security Department |
| Renny | Christopher | WSU Vancouver |
| Savannah | Patton | Vancouver Housing Authority |
| Tamara | Bell | Lower Columbia College |
| Tina | Ailinger | Division of Vocational Rehabilitation |
Emerging Workforce Committee (EWC): Representing the private sector, workforce, nonprofits, and education, the committee advocates for and supports the Next youth career center and affiliated youth programming in alignment with WSW’s strategic plan.
The EWC meets quarterly. Locations vary. 2019 meetings will be held 3:30-5 p.m. on January 15, April 18, June 20 and October 15.
Contact Melissa Boles at mboles@workforcesw.org or 360.567.3185 for details.
As of November 2018
| FIRST NAME | LAST NAME | ORGANIZATION |
|---|---|---|
| Christine | Katon | ESD112 |
| Benton | Waterous | Workforce Southwest Washington |
| Marcie | Ebarb | WA State School for the Blind |
| Darcy | Altizer | SW WA Contractors Association |
| Katie | Miles | Goodwill Olympic & Rainier Region |
| Carl | Cecka | Goodwill Olympic & Rainier Region |
| Mark | Wreath | Vancouver School District |
| Mike | Bridges | Union-IBEW #48 |
| Stacey | Sowders | Lower Columbia College |
| Kelley | Foy | Columbia Machine |
| Melissa | Boles | Workforce Southwest Washington |
| Dennis | Kampe | Cascadia Technical Academy |
| Jim | Lucey | Linear Technology Corporation |
| Miriam | Martin | Workforce Southwest Washington |
| Matt | Anderson | Biggs Insurance |
| Kelly | McNutt | Kiewit Corporation |
| Rebecca | Royce | Clark County Community Services Dept. |
| A.D. | Simmons | Aligned Lifestyle Concierge |
| Bill | Skidmore | General Sheet Metal |
| Denise | Smith | Rebound Orthopedics & Neurosurgery |
| Morgan | Parker | Next |
