New Gubernatorial Order Establishes Michigan Workforce Development Board

On May 29, 2020, Michigan Governor Gretchen Whitmer signed Executive Order 2020-107 establishing the Michigan Workforce Development Board. Section 101 of chapter 1 of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) requires the governor to establish a state workforce development board. The Board is created as an advisory board within the Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity (the “Department”). The Board consists of 26 members who are tasked with strengthening the quality and labor market relevance of Michigan’s workforce through investment, education, and economic development efforts.

We will monitor the activities of the Board and report on any developments of interest.

The duties of the Board consist of assisting the governor with all of the following:

1. The development, implementation, and modification of Michigan’s four-year unified state plan;
2. The review of statewide policies and programs and of recommendations that should be taken by Michigan to align workforce development programs in Michigan;
3. The development and continuous improvement of the workforce development system including:
   • Identification of barriers and means for removing said barriers to better coordinate, align, and avoid duplication among the programs;
   • Development of strategies to support the use of career pathways for the purpose of providing individuals with workforce investment activities, education, and supportive services to enter or retain employment;
   • Development of strategies for providing outreach to individuals and employers who could benefit from these services;
   • Development and expansion of strategies for meeting the needs of employers, workers, and jobseekers; and
   • Development of strategies to support staff training and awareness across these programs
4. The development and updating of performance accountability measures for the state;
5. The identification and dissemination of information of best practices;
6. The development and review of statewide policies affecting the state’s one-stop delivery system as described in section 121(e) of the WIOA;
7. The development of strategies for technological improvements to the one-stop delivery system;
8. The development of strategies for aligning technology and data systems across one-stop partner programs;
9. The development of allocation formulas for the distribution of money for employment and training activities for adults, and for youth workforce investment activities;
10. The development of strategies to ensure engagement of stakeholders from the stat’s vocational rehabilitation program;
11. The preparation of annual reports described by the WIOA;
12. The development of the statewide workforce and labor market information system; and
13. The development of other policies to promote statewide objectives for the workforce development system in the state.

In addition, the Board must advise the governor and the director of the Department regarding policies in workforce development, adult education, career and technical education, community colleges, and the workforce elements of economic development.

The full text of the executive order can be read at: https://www.michigan.gov/whitmer/0,9309,7-387-90499_90705-530456–,00.html

The Board members must include:

1. The governor, or the governor’s designee.
2. One member of the Michigan House of Representatives, appointed by the governor from a list of three candidates submitted by the speaker.
3. One member of the Michigan Senate, appointed by the governor from a list of three candidates submitted by the majority leader.
4. The director of the Department, or the director’s designee from within that Department.
5. The following members appointed by the governor:
   • Twelve residents of this state representing businesses in Michigan. Each member must be an owner of a business, a chief executive or operating officer of a business, or other business executive or employer with optimum policy-making or hiring authority. These members must include:
     1. A small business owner.
     2. A member representing manufacturing business enterprises.
     3. A member representing mobility business enterprises.
     4. A member representing minority-owned business enterprises.
     5. A member representing female-owned business enterprises.
     6. A member representing business enterprises employing veterans, returning citizens, or persons with disabilities.
     7. A member representing business who is also a member of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation Board.
     8. Five other members.
   • Three residents of this state representing the workforce and general labor in Michigan.
   • Five other residents of this state, including all of the following:
     1. A director of a Michigan high school career and technical education program, including high school instructional programs that teach students skills in a specific career clusters and prepare students so they have the necessary academic, technical, and work behavior skills to enter, compete, and advance in education and in their careers.
     2. An apprenticeship coordinator of a joint labor-management apprenticeship program.
     3. One chief elected official of a city or county in this state, or the chief elected official’s designee.
     4. One president of a community college district organized under the Community College Act of 1966, 1966 PA 331, as amended, MCL 389.1 to 389.195.
     5. One president of an institution of higher education described in or established pursuant to section 5 or 6 of article 8 of the Michigan Constitution of 1963.
6. One non-voting member of the Michigan House of Representatives, appointed by the governor from a list of three candidates submitted by the house minority leader.
7. One non-voting member of the Michigan Senate, appointed by the governor from a list of three candidates submitted by the senate minority leader.

Several of the Board members have already been decided and are further detailed below:

Steve Claywell, of Battle Creek, is the president of the Michigan Building and Construction Trades Council. Mr. Claywell is appointed to represent the workforce and general labor in Michigan for a term commencing May 29, 2020 and expiring May 29, 2024. 

Awenate Cobbina, of Detroit, is the vice president of business affairs for Palace Sports and Entertainment and the chair of the MEDC Executive Committee. Mr. Cobbina is appointed to represent businesses and the Michigan Economic Development Corporation Board for a term commencing May 29, 2020 and expiring May 29, 2024. 

Robert Davies, Ph.D., of Mount Pleasant, is the president of Central Michigan University. Dr. Davies is appointed to represent a president of an institution of higher education described in or established pursuant to section 5 or 6 of article 8 of the Michigan Constitution of 1963, for a term commencing May 29, 2020 and expiring May 29, 2023. 

Mike Duggan, of Detroit, is the mayor of the City of Detroit. Mayor Duggan is appointed to represent a chief elected official of a city or county in this state for a term commencing May 29, 2020 and expiring May 29, 2023. 

Jennifer A. Geno, of Bay City, is the executive director of career and technical education for the Saginaw Intermediate School District. Ms. Geno is appointed to represent a director of a Michigan high school career and technical education program for a term commencing May 29, 2020 and expiring May 29, 2024. 

Lee Graham, of Holly, is the executive director of Operating Engineers 324’s Labor Management Education Committee. Mr. Graham is appointed to represent an apprenticeship coordinator of a joint labor-management apprenticeship program for a term commencing May 29, 2020 and expiring May 29, 2022. 

Peter T. Hungerford, of Grand Rapids, is the chief operating officer of ADAC Automotive. Mr. Hungerford is appointed to represent manufacturing business enterprises for a term commencing May 29, 2020 and expiring May 29, 2021. 

Russ Kavalhuna, of Dearborn, is the president of Henry Ford College. Mr. Kavalhuna is appointed to represent a president of a community college district organized under the Community College Act of 1966, for a term commencing May 29, 2020 and expiring May 29, 2024. 

Leigh A. Kegerreis, of Monroe, is an administrative assistant to the president of the UAW. Ms. Kegerreis is appointed to represent the workforce and general labor in Michigan for a term commencing May 29, 2020 and expiring May 29, 2023. 

Birgit M. Klohs, of Grand Rapids, is president and CEO of The Right Place, Inc. Ms. Klohs is appointed to represent businesses for a term commencing May 29, 2020 and expiring May 29, 2022. 

Rachel E. Lutz, of Detroit, is the owner of the Peacock Room Boutique, Yama, and Frida clothing stores. Ms. Lutz is appointed to represent small business owners for a term commencing May 29, 2020 and expiring May 29, 2023. 

Dave Meador, of Bloomfield Hills, is vice chairman and chief administrative officer of DTE Energy. Mr. Meador is appointed to represent business enterprises employing veterans, returning citizens, or persons with disabilities, for a term commencing May 29, 2020 and expiring May 29, 2022. 

Cindy Pasky, of Detroit, is the president and CEO of Strategic Staffing Solutions. Ms. Pasky is appointed to represent female-owned business enterprises for a term commencing May 29, 2020 and expiring May 29, 2023. The Governor has designated Ms. Pasky to serve as Chairperson of the Board.  

Patti Poppe, of Grass Lake, is the president and CEO of CMS Energy and Consumers Energy. Mrs. Poppe is appointed to represent businesses for a term commencing May 29, 2020 and expiring May 29, 2022. 

Tony Retaskie, of Marquette, is the executive director of the Upper Peninsula Construction Council. Mr. Retaskie is appointed to represent the workforce and general labor in Michigan for a term commencing May 29, 2020 and expiring May 29, 2024. 

Jessica L. Robinson, of Detroit, is the co-founder of the Detroit Mobility Lab and Michigan Mobility Institute and the co-founder and partner of Assembly Ventures. Ms. Robinson is appointed to represent mobility business enterprises for a term commencing May 29, 2020 and expiring May 29, 2022. 

Ari Weinzweig, of Ann Arbor, is the co-founder and CEO of Zingerman’s Community of Businesses. Mr. Weinzweig is appointed to represent businesses for a term commencing May 29, 2020 and expiring May 29, 2021. 

Matthew J. Wesaw, of Lansing, is the tribal council chairman of the Pokagon Band of Potawatomi Indians and the chairman and CEO of the Pokagon Gaming Authority Board. Mr. Wesaw is appointed to represent businesses for a term commencing May 29, 2020 and expiring May 29, 2021. 

George Wilkinson, of Grand Blanc, is the president of NorthGate and a pastor at Word of Life Christian Church. Pastor Wilkinson is appointed to represent minority-owned business enterprises for a term commencing May 29, 2020 and expiring May 29, 2021. 

Martha Zehnder Kaczynski, of Frankenmuth, is the vice president of the Frankenmuth Bavarian Inn Corp., Bavarian Inn Lodge, and the Frankenmuth Cheese Haus. Mrs. Kaczynski appointed to represent businesses for a term commencing May 29, 2020 and expiring May 29, 2021.