Preparing Tomorrow’s Workforce
Our work gets Idahoans into the careers they want and puts them on a path to prosperity. We also make sure Idaho’s employers have the highly educated, highly skilled talent they need to thrive, today and into the future. We do it by bringing cohesion and providing the expertise and funding to set things in motion for our workforce development partners throughout the state.
Our Mission
We champion strategies that prepare Idahoans for careers that meet employers’ needs.
Our Vision
We envision a future where Idaho’s diverse and prepared workforce meets the needs of our unique communities and employers.
Creating Opportunity and Prosperity
Established by the Office of the Governor in 2017, the Idaho Workforce Development Council is here to make sure Idaho works. We help bring cohesion and provide the expertise and funding to set things in motion for our workforce development partners throughout the state. Together, we ensure every Idahoan is prepared for the career—or careers—of their choosing. We meet the needs of Idaho’s employers by creating a pool of qualified talent for every workforce sector, in every corner of the state.
Our work is all about creating opportunity and prosperity. For Idaho’s employers, it’s the promise that they will grow, thrive, and remain vital well into the future because they have the workforce they need to get business done right. For the people who proudly call Idaho home, it’s a promise that every Idahoan will have a rewarding career—one that provides stability, prosperity, dignity, and a sense of pride.
Committees
Executive Committee
The Executive Committee of the Council is comprised of the Council Chairperson, the Vice Chair, and three additional members. The Executive Committee’s responsibility is to set the direction and strategy for the Council, coordinate the work of the Council’s Committees, and serve as a conduit to employers. The Executive Committee may be convened to take action on behalf of the entire Council on matters that require expeditious action.
Committee Members
- Deni Hoehne – Chair, Amazon
- John Young – Vice Chair, Young Construction
- Joe Maloney – Idaho State AFL-CIO
- Kelly Kolb – Vista Outdoor
- Sarah Griffin – Idaho Power
- Liza Leonard – Ball Ventures
Child Care Expansion Grant Committee
The Child Care Expansion Grant Committee is tasked with reviewing and making recommendations to the Council for the Child Care Expansion Grant Policy, and to review Child Care Expansion Grant applications.
Committee Members:
- Sarah Griffin – Chair, Idaho Power
- Emily Allen – Idaho Voices for Children
- Martin Balben – Association for the Education of Young Children
- Anna Almerico – Idaho Out-of-School Network
- Ben Davidson – ICCU
- Caroline Merritt – Chamber Alliance
- Renee Bade – Idaho Department of Labor
- Lori McCann – Idaho House of Representatives
CNA Advisory Committee
CNA Advisory Committee co-chaired by Idaho Health & Welfare (IDHW) and Idaho Career Technical Education, is tasked with recommending a statutory framework for the governance of nursing assistants in Idaho.
Committee Members:
- Senator David Lent
- Jeff Greene – Trinity Health
- Jeff Pittard – Life Care Centers of America
- Zendi Meharry – Cascadia Healthcare
- Leslie Wilson – Mountain View Hospital
- Robert Vande Merwe – Idaho Health Care Association
- Karen Leach – Idaho Hospital Association
- Nicki Chopski – Idaho Division of Occupational & Professional Licensing
- Laura Thompson – Co-Chair, Idaho Department of Health & Welfare
- RaeLyn Price – Idaho State University
- Stephanie Mai – Co-Chair, Idaho Career Technical Education
- Randy Hudspeth – Idaho Center for Nursing
- Reuben Dekastle – St. Luke’s Health System
- Shawnie Leigh – Idaho Hospital Association
Grant Review Committee
The Grant Review Committee is responsible for reviewing grant proposals and recommending expenditures from the Workforce Development Training Fund.
Committee Members:
- Kelly Kolb – Chair, Vista Outdoor
- Jay Larsen – Idaho Technology Council
- Brian Cox – Kochava
- Jeff Greene – Trinity Health
- Joe Maloney – Idaho AFL-CIO
- Jake Reynolds – Idaho Commerce
- Rico Barrera – Idaho Department of Labor
- Jenni Bradford – Idaho Career Technical Education
One-Stop Committee
The One-Stop Committee ensures the Council fulfills the requirements of a State Workforce Investment Board as set forth in the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act – with an emphasis on continuous improvement, alignment, and coordination. The Committee will draft policies as needed and coordinate procurement activities for the one-stop system.
Committee Members:
- Jane Donnellan – Chair, Idaho Division of Vocational Rehabilitation
- Admir Selimovic – Idaho Commission on Aging
- Adrian San Miguel – Idaho Career Technical Education
- Amelia Valasek – Idaho Commission for Libraries
- Beth Cunningham – Idaho Commission for the Blind and Visually Impaired
- Korene Gonzalez – Community Council of Idaho
- Kristin Matthews – Idaho Health & Welfare
- Kristyn Carr – Idaho Department of Labor
- Terry Butikofer – The Development Company
Outreach Committee
The Council is responsible for “increasing public awareness of and access to career education and training opportunities.” The Outreach Committee drives the coordination across state agencies, education, and the private sector to meet this objective.
Committee Members:
- John Young – Chair, Young Construction
- Donna Butler – Dawn Enterprises
- Dave Hannah – G-Zero
- Caty Solace – STEM Action Center
- Georgia Smith – Idaho Department of Labor
- Janelle Culley – University of Idaho TRIO
- Jeff Tucker – Idaho Public Television
- Linda Clark – State Board of Education
- Matt Van Vleet – Clearwater Paper
- Allison Dunman – State Department of Education
- Megan O’Rourke – Idaho Career Technical Education
- Janet Pretti – College of Southern Idaho
- Anna Almerico – Idaho Out-of-School Network
- Liza Leonard – Ball Ventures
Work-Based Learning Committee
The Work-Based Learning Committee will lead the development of replicable and sustainable work-based learning opportunities. The committee serves in advisory capacity to the Apprenticeship Idaho team.
Committee Members:
- Marie Price – Chair, Idaho Forrest Group
- Sean Kelly – Dennis Technical Center
- Gina Robison – Idaho Department of Labor
- Elizabeth Hoeper – Boise State University
- Debbie Ronneburg – Idaho State University
- Sherry Maupin – Valley County Commissioner
- Vicki Isakson – North Idaho College
- Ryan Gravette – Idaho Digital Learning Alliance
- James Smith – Southeast Idaho Electrical JATC
- John Russ – College of Western Idaho
- Paula Kellerer – Idaho Business for Education
- Becky Robinson – Idaho Career Technical Education
- John McFarlane – STEM Action Center
Workforce Development Policy Committee
The Workforce Development Policy Committee is responsible for developing and overseeing procedures, criteria, and performance measures for the Workforce Development Training Fund, in addition to any other programs under the Council’s authority. The Committee will also develop an annual projection of needs for state investment into workforce development activities.
Committee Members:
- Hope Morrow – Chair, INL
- Christi Gilchrist – College of Western Idaho
- Clay Long – Idaho Career & Technical Education
- Daniel Puga – In Time Tec, LLC
- Jani Revier – Idaho Department of Labor
- Jason Hudson – Idaho State AFL-CIO
- John Smith – City of Lewiston
- Lori Barber – College of Eastern Idaho
- Sean Coletti – City of Ammon
- Tom Kealey – Idaho Commerce
- Tom Schultz – Idaho Forest Group
WIOA Service Provider Selection Policy Committee (RETIRED)
The Workforce Development Council is responsible for the selection of providers to provide workforce investment activities.
The Committee is being tasked with creating a policy document that accomplishes 4 things:
1. Goals
2. Procurement Options
3. Method of Contract
4. Remedy for Breach of Contract/Non-performance
Committee Members
- BJ Swanson, Co-Chair, Latah County
- Jane Donnellan, Co-Chair, Idaho Division of Vocational Rehabilitation
- Dwight Johnson, Idaho Career Technical Education
- Jan Nielsen, Basic American Foods
- Heather Sprague, Saint Alphonsus
- Steve Widmyer, City of Coeur d’Alene
TPM Project Management Selection (RETIRED)
The TPM Project Management Selection Committee was established to select an entity in each of the 6 regions of Idaho to facilitate efforts to align industry/employer needs to specific training that is offered through Idaho Launch and/or other grants. The Committee will review all TPM Project Management applications and provide a recommendation to the Executive Committee on selections.
Committee Members:
- John Young, Chair, Young Construction
- Matthew Thomsen, Idaho Workforce Development Council
- Jake Reynolds, Idaho Commerce
- Alex LaBeau, IACI
- Clay Long, Idaho Career Technical Education