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Orlando, Fla. – During this week’s quarterly meeting, the CareerSource Florida Board of Directors unanimously approved two additional nominees as members of the state’s first Credentials Review Committee to help lead work underway to strengthen Florida’s workforce and education systems. Hugh Campbell of Tampa is president of AC4S Technologies, a hybrid cloud solutions provider. Debbie Magruder of Winter Park is chief administrative and financial officer of Full Sail University. They join 16 other leaders in industry, education and workforce development appointed by the board Executive Committee in August.
Empowered by the Reimagining Education and Career Help (REACH) Act, championed by Florida House Speaker Chris Sprowls and signed into law by Governor Ron DeSantis, the Credentials Review Committee is working to establish a definition for credentials of value and create a framework of quality in the development of a new Master Credentials List in support of more robust and accountable workforce and education systems.
“The CareerSource Florida Board of Directors is honored to have such an important role in furthering the vision of our state leaders and supporting Governor DeSantis’ goal for Florida to be the No. 1 state for workforce education by 2030,” said Board Chair Stephanie Smith. “We, and our partners at the state and local levels, are collaborating and innovating to advance these directives and ensure Floridians receive the highest quality instruction and employment outcomes at every stage of their career journeys.”
The state board also welcomed two new members as a result of the REACH Act: state Department of Education Division of Vocational Rehabilitation Director Allison Flanagan and state Department of Children and Families Secretary Shevaun Harris.
The board heard presentations on implementation of the REACH Act from CareerSource Florida President and CEO Michelle Dennard; Katie Crofoot, director of the state’s new REACH Office; Department of Economic Opportunity Deputy Secretary Adrienne Johnston; board member and Department of Education Senior Chancellor Eric Hall; and board member and Department of Children and Families Secretary Shevaun Harris.
Additionally, leaders from four of the state’s 24 local workforce development boards provided updates on implementation at the local level. CareerSource Research Coast CEO Brian Bauer, CareerSource Gulf Coast Executive Director Kim Bodine, CareerSource Palm Beach County President and CEO Julia Dattolo and CareerSource Central Florida President and CEO Pam Nabors each presented current examples of collaborative programs with their local state colleges to connect job seekers with training and innovative ways in which they have worked to serve employers and people with barriers to employment exacerbated by impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.
CareerSource Brevard President Marci Murphy led an informative presentation on a successful partnership with Eastern Florida State College and ASRC Federal to help students in the college’s aerospace technician program gain valuable work experience. Eastern Florida State College Instructor Ed Mango noted 80 to 90 percent of students in the program have jobs before they graduate.
Board members also approved a strategic policy for one-stop career centers codifying expectations for enhanced customer service, hours of operation and comprehensive communication, all vital to assisting Floridians with finding gainful employment while connecting them with businesses that are growing their workforce. Additional information can be found at https://careersourceflorida.com/boardroom/.
The CareerSource Florida board meeting coincided with the annual Workforce Professional Development Summit, at which professional training is provided to front-line and management staff from throughout the CareerSource Florida network of local workforce development boards. The summit includes an award ceremony to recognize the best of the best team members from across the state who exemplify dedication to public service and collaboration with state and local partners to better serve their customers.
This year the CareerSource Florida leadership team selected Business and Workforce Development Director Carmen Hilbert from a list of exemplary nominees as the recipient of the inaugural CareerSource Florida Workforce Professional Excellence Award. Ms. Hilbert was recognized for leadership and collaboration with partners — local and state — to address talent solutions for the aviation/aerospace industry sector, support for state training grant programs and contributions to apprenticeship expansion efforts.
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ABOUT CAREERSOURCE FLORIDA
CareerSource Florida, with its business-led board of directors, provides policy direction for talent development programs administered by the Department of Economic Opportunity, Florida’s 24 local workforce development boards and their 100 career centers. The CareerSource Florida State Board serves as the Governor’s principal workforce policy and investment board, working in partnership with DEO, which is responsible for the state workforce system’s fiscal and administrative affairs, and local workforce development boards that serve Florida’s businesses and career seekers. Together, the CareerSource Florida network connects employers with qualified, skilled talent and Floridians with employment and career development opportunities to achieve economic prosperity. Learn more at careersourceflorida.com.