After a decade of dedicated service to the workforce of Southwest Washington, our CEO, Miriam Halliday, will be departing Workforce Southwest Washington (WSW) to begin a new chapter as CEO of Worksystems in Portland, Oregon.
Miriam joined WSW in 2016 as Youth Initiatives Manager and quickly became a driving force within the organization. In 2019, she was promoted to Program Director, and in December 2021, she was appointed CEO. In this role, Miriam helped shape WSW’s strategic vision and expand its impact across the region.
During her tenure, Miriam led a comprehensive strategic planning process that aligned board members, staff, and partners around shared priorities and long-term investments. This work positioned WSW for sustained impact and organizational resilience.
“Miriam has led Workforce Southwest Washington with steadiness, integrity, and a deep commitment to our mission and community. Her leadership has strengthened the organization, created greater alignment, and positioned WSW well for the future. We are grateful for her leadership and confident in the strong foundation she leaves behind.”
— A.D. Simmons, Board Chair
She also spearheaded several initiatives that earned statewide and national recognition. In 2017, she launched Next, the first and only youth employment and training center in Clark County. In addition, she designed and managed pilot programs that evolved into two major statewide efforts: Career Connect Washington and Economic Security for All, a poverty reduction model that was later codified into state law.
Miriam has been a key partner to workforce boards across the state through her work with the Washington Workforce Association. Her advocacy helped secure strong gubernatorial and legislative support for workforce investments, while reinforcing the essential role of local workforce boards. Throughout her leadership, she has emphasized strong governance, fiscal stewardship, cross-sector collaboration, and results-driven systems change.
Beyond her professional accomplishments, Miriam is known for her kindness, compassion, and deep commitment to her team. She has led WSW with confidence and professionalism while remaining approachable, grounded, and authentic.
While we will miss Miriam’s day-to-day presence, we are grateful that her work in our region will continue. As CEO of Worksystems, she will remain an active partner in the bi-state Columbia-Willamette Workforce Collaborative, continuing to advance access to quality employment opportunities across our shared region.
We thank Miriam for her extraordinary leadership and lasting contributions to Workforce Southwest Washington and the communities we serve, and we wish her continued success in this next chapter.
“Worksystems has made an outstanding choice in appointing Miriam as its next CEO. During my tenure on the WSW Board, I have seen firsthand her professionalism, passion, and unwavering commitment to workforce development. Her ability to unite diverse groups and lead meaningful change is exceptional. She has an extraordinary talent for bringing out the best in people, and although she will be deeply missed, her next organization is gaining a remarkable leader.”
— Corey Giles, Vice Chair
The WSW Board of Directors will lead the process to identify the organization’s next CEO, with additional details to be shared in the coming weeks.
