December 07, 2004
Will Foster Michigan's 21st Century Workforce
December 7, 2004
LANSING – Governor Jennifer M. Granholm has announced an executive order creating the Council for Labor and Economic Growth (CLEG). The council’s work will focus on developing strategies to prepare Michigan’s workers for the 21st century.
“The Council for Labor and Economic Growth will be our guide as we strive to meet Michigan’s job needs of today while fostering the skilled and flexible workforce that Michigan businesses need to compete successfully in the future,” said Granholm. “This talented body will help us challenge the status quo on how best to develop and invest effectively in Michigan’s 21st century workforce.”
Executive Order 2004-36 creates the business-led council and replaces the current Michigan Workforce Investment Board. The council’s members include key leaders from business, labor, community colleges, universities, community-based organizations, local workforce boards, the K-12 educational community, and government. The council will recommend strategies to encourage and stimulate innovative responses to Michigan’s workforce challenges. The new council has been reorganized to comply with federal workforce law which requires a 73-member board.
“The Council for Labor and Economic Growth will help us refine and advance Michigan’s workforce and economic development strategies,” said David C. Hollister, Director of the Michigan Department of Labor & Economic Growth. “This council brings invaluable expertise to the table and will work very closely with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation’s Board of Directors and the Governor’s Council of Economic Advisors to help us more effectively reshape Michigan’s workforce and meet Michigan’s human capital needs.”
The new council will build on some of the workforce development successes already achieved this year, including the establishment of 13 Regional Skills Alliances (MiRSASM) – Michigan’s employer-led, regionally-based workforce development partnerships that address local workforce challenges. Current MiRSAsSM are targeting ways to fill openings in healthcare, construction, manufacturing, and nanotechnology industries. A MiRSASM is currently under development for the hospitality industry.
Some of the other strategic efforts the new council will help the Governor and the Michigan Department of Labor & Economic Growth tackle are:
• achieving the Governor’s goal of doubling the number of students who obtain college degrees and other credentials over the next 10 years;
• facilitating the transition of Michigan workers to 21st century jobs and careers;
• engaging local workforce boards and officials to strategically build effective coalitions to achieve workforce and economic development goals;
• developing and implementing a system to measure the success of workforce development in Michigan; and
• guiding creation of a strategy to assist low-wage workers to become financially self-supporting.
In keeping with the council’s strong connection to industry, Sharon Wenzl, Tower Automotive’s vice president of human resources and communications, has agreed to serve as the CLEG Chair.
“It is a unique opportunity to have the expertise and experience of so many business leaders on the Council for Labor and Economic Growth,” said Wenzl. “The willingness of so many business leaders to work together shows the commitment Michigan companies have to work on an innovative strategy that ensures tomorrow’s workforce has the skills needed for the future. It is a win/win for the state, its residents, and its businesses.”
In addition to developing and maintaining Michigan’s workforce plan and providing oversight and leadership to local workforce boards and services, the Council for Labor and Economic Growth will have the broader charge of assessing human capital trends and developing strategies that will encourage and stimulate innovative public and private responses to workforce challenges.
The executive order, filed with the Secretary of State December 6, is effective immediately. A copy of the executive order creating the Council for Labor & Economic Growth is available at www.michigan.gov/gov. A list of the 73 appointed members is attached.
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Appointees representing the business community are:
Wilma Abney of Southfield, director – Talent Acquisition & Human Resources Shared Services, DaimlerChrysler
Derick Adams of West Bloomfield, vice president of human resources, Amerisure Mutual Insurance Company
Kenneth Baker of Bloomfield Hills, president and CEO of Altarum Institute
Ralph Bedogne of Gladstone, vice president of Engineered Machined Products, Inc.
Michele Barney of Portage, plant manager for International Paper
David A. Binkley of Stevensville, senior vice president of global human resources, Whirlpool Corporation
Thedore Blashak of Canton, vice president of Michigan campuses, University of Phoenix
Richard Blouse of Birmingham, president and CEO of Detroit Regional Chamber of Commerce
Antoon P. Brusselmans of Plainwell, Kalamazoo site leader for Pfizer Global Manufacturing
Matthew C. Brynildson of Birmingham, director of corporate human resources, Arvin Meritor, Inc.
Matthew Chambers of Portage, president and CEO of Three Rivers Health
Richard J. Dandurand of Jackson, continuous learning director of Granger Construction Company
Christopher P. Fitch of West Bloomfield, general manager of Weiss Construction Company
Norma R. Hagenow of Grand Blanc, president and chief executive officer of Genesys Regional Medical Center
Doyle Hayes of Grand Rapids, president and CEO of Pyper Products Corporation
Win Irwin of Grand Rapids, chief executive officer of Irwin Seating Company
Robert Jacquart of Ironwood, owner and president of Jacquart Fabric Products
Janet Joseph of Howell, co-owner of Dunnage Engineering, Inc.
Mitzi King of Rochester Hills, associate director of staffing, SBC
Francis Lopez of Pinckney, chairman and CEO of AZTEC Manufacturing
Alan Low of Brighton, president and CEO of Dynalectric of Michigan
Myra A. Moreland of Birmingham, vice president of corporate affairs, METLADYNE
Bill Orabone of Ann Arbor, president of Syneptics
Sherri L. Peterson of Gladstone, human resources director of MeadWestvaco
Philip Power of Ann Arbor, founder and chairman of HomeTown Communications Network, Inc.
Hubert Price, Jr. of Pontiac, president of Synergistics Consulting
Hari Radheshwar of West Bloomfield, director of Asia Pacific, Delphi Corporation
Michael T. Schmidt of Huntington Woods, contributions director, education, Ford Motor Company Fund, Ford Motor Company
Kester K. So of Okemos, attorney and member with Dickinson-Wright, PLLC
Mary Thornton of Grosse Pointe Shores, general director of GM University, General Motors Corporation
Mitchell Tomlinson of East Lansing, chief executive officer of Peckham, Inc.
John Van Wyck of Muskegon, State Director – External Communications, Verizon
John Voorhorst of Ann Arbor, Vice President of Denso International America, Inc.
Sharon Wenzl of Novi, Vice President of Human Resources & Communications, Tower Automotive
Michael J. Zelley of Grand Blanc, President of The Disability Network
Lynn Zuellig of Frankenmuth, director of Hospice, Lutheran Home Care
Representing chief elected officials:
George Heartwell, mayor, City of Grand Rapids
Thomas L. Hickner of Bay City, Bay County executive
Representing labor organizations:
Tom Boensch of Saginaw, secretary/treasurer of Michigan Building & Construction Trades Council
Bradley A. Dyer of Stockbridge, chief executive officer of Michigan State AFL-CIO Human Resources Development, Inc.
Sharon Rivera of Lansing, president of UAW Local 6000
Dennis Hands of Livonia, business representative and freight coordinator, Teamsters Joint Council 43
Representing individuals and organizations that have experience with respect to Youth Activities:
Harry Bonner, Sr. of Albion, executive director of Minority Program Services, Inc.
Sharon C. Peters of Lansing, president and CEO of Michigan’s Children
Representing individuals and organizations that have experience and expertise in the delivery of Workforce Investment Activities:
Dr. E. Sharon Banks of Lansing, superintendent of Lansing School District
David Eisler of Big Rapids, president, Ferris State University
Eleanor Josaitis of Detroit, CEO and co-founder of Focus HOPE
Albert Lorenzo of Clinton Township, president of Macomb Community College
Dr. Juan Mestas of Flint, chancellor, University of Michigan – Flint
Shelly Norman-Hill of Detroit, deputy director of Youth Sports and Recreation Commission
Richard J. Pappas of St. Joseph, president of Lake Michigan College
Sharon Parks of Holt, vice president for policy, Michigan League for Human Services
Gene Pierce of Birch Run, assistant superintendent of Tuscola Intermediate School District
Trenda Rusher of Canton, executive director of Washtenaw County Employment Training and Community Services Group/Workforce and Community Action Boards
Additional members are:
Jaye N. Balthazar of Lansing, state director of Rehabilitation Services
Lloyd Bingman of Okemos, workforce development coordinator for the United States Environmental Protection Agency
Mike Bryanton, Ingham County Clerk
Patrick Cannon of Haslett, State Americans with Disabilities Act coordinator
Enrique Carillo of Detroit, vice president of public affairs, manager of Hispanic initiative, Comerica Bank
Sam R. Garcia of Eaton Rapids, state director of Telamon Corporation
Jack Litzenberg of Flint, program director for C.S. Mott Foundation
Kenneth Meshigaud of Wilson, tribal chair and CEO, Hannahville Indian Community
Patricia Shimmens of Sault Ste. Marie, executive director of the Sault Ste. Marie Housing Commission
Benjie Williams of Flint, center director of Glint/Genesee Job Corps Center
George Yost of Midland, retired president of Mid-Michigan Central Labor Council
Serving as ex-officio, voting members are:
David Hollister, director of the Department of Labor & Economic Growth
Janet Olszewski, director of the Department of Community Health
Marianne Udow, director of the Department of Human Services
Thomas D. Watkins, superintendent of Public Instruction
