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.
2018 Board Meetings
March 14, 2018 4-6 p.m.
Lower Columbia College
1600 Maple Street, Longview, WA 98632
Student Center, Second Floor, Room 210
June 13, 2018 4-6 p.m.
Partners in Careers (PIC)
3210 NE 52nd Street, Vancouver, WA 98663
Main Conference Room
September 12, 2018 4-6 p.m.
Lower Columbia College
1600 Maple Street, Longview, WA 98632
Administration Building, Heritage Room
December 12, 2018 4-6 p.m.
Partners in Careers (PIC)
3210 NE 52nd Street, Vancouver, WA 98663
Main Conference Room
Local Workforce Development Board Members as of July 2018
| FIRST NAME | LAST NAME | POSITION | COMPANY/SECTOR REPRESENTING |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bianca | Kolle | Vocational Rehabilitation Supervisor | 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 |
| Max | Ault | Interim 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 Manager | Columbia Machine, Inc. Clark County Private Sector |
| Robert | Gaffney | Certified Rehabilitation Counselor | Gaffney Counseling and Consulting Clark County Private Sector |
| Anne | Goranson | Southwest 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 |
| Bob | Knight | President | Clark College Clark County Post-Secondary Education |
| Jim | Lucey | Controller WSW Treasurer |
Linear Technology Clark County Private Sector |
| Eddie | Martin | Human Resources | NORPAC/Weyerhaeuser 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 | Senior Account Executive WSW Board Chair |
General Sheet Metal 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 | Executive Director | SW WA Contractors Association Clark County Private Sector |
| Robert | Jungers | Owner | Elochoman Millwork Wahkiakum Private Sector |
| Bob | Gustainis | District Manager | Walgreens Tacoma-Vancouver Cowlitz County Private Sector |
| Frank | Hurtarte | Vice President, Human Resources, NW Region | Kaiser Permanente Clark 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 as of September 2017
Clark County – Councilor Eileen Quiring (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. The next meeting will be held on Tuesday, October 2. Locations rotate. Contact Melissa Boles at mboles@workforcesw.org or 360.567.3185 for details.
As of November 2017
| FIRST NAME | LAST NAME | ORGANIZATION |
|---|---|---|
| Christine | Katon | ESD112 |
| Angela | Cruz | A First Place |
| Marcie | Ebarb | WA State School for the Blind |
| Darcy | Altizer | SW WA Contractors Association |
| Darcy | Hoffman | WorkSource Vancouver |
| Katie | Miles | Goodwill Columbia Rainier |
| Eric | Kindvall | Employment Security Department |
| Carl | Cecka | Goodwill Columbia Rainier |
| Mark | Wreath | Vancouver School District |
| Mike | Bridges | Union-IBEW #48 |
| Miriam | Martin | Workforce Southwest Washington |
| Sue | Orchard | 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 |
| Josh | Beaman | Clark County Youth House |
| Rebecca | Royce | Clark County Community Services Dept. |
| Angela | Simmons | Aligned Lifestyle Concierge |
| Bill | Skidmore | General Sheet Metal |
| Denise | Smith | Rebound Orthopedics & Neurosurgery |
| Mike | Zahnizer | LaborWorks Inc. |
| Andrew | Westlund | Partners in Careers |
| Ryan | Cunningham | WorkSource |
| William | Westmoreland | Workforce Southwest Washington |
| Cass | Parker | Workforce Southwest Washington |
| Morgan | Parker | WorkSource |
