Essex County Workforce Investment Board Plan for American Recovery and Reinvestment Act Implementation

The quality and capacity of Essex County’s current and future workforce is vital to its economic future.  Therefore, the County’s continued economic success is directly linked to its ability to produce and continually develop a highly skilled workforce.

The Workforce Investment Board (WIB) along with the County Executive is Essex County’s chief policy-making body on workforce development and is mandated by the Federal Workforce Investment Act (WIA).  As required by federal legislation the Essex WIB is led by businesses and is comprised of a group of approximately 33 members, 51% of whom are from the private sector, which guides the County’s public workforce development system.  The board is responsible for developing strategies and policies to form a seamless coordinated One-Stop System from an array of education, employment and training programs.  Additionally, the WIB is responsible for oversight of the One-Stop Center and brings together and focuses disparate workforce development partners and other stakeholders on a single outcome; a properly prepared county workforce that will meet the current and future demands of Essex County employers.

The current Workforce Investment Board is comprised of the following appointed members:

                        Arthur Cifelli, Chairman                                  Bernice Manshel

                        Dr. Zachary Yamba                                        Coram Rimes

                        Carol Patterson-Brooks                                 Carolyn Kelly-Shabazz

                        Maurice Brown                                               Maria Rose-Smith

                        Frank J. Cancellieri                                         Ronald Coun

                        Susan Castano                                              Leah Dade

                        Victoria Martin                                                Ruth Dargan

                        Rosalina Melendez                                         Gail Davis

                        Bruce Nigro                                                    Judy Goldman

                        Regina Uzuma Okafor                                    David Harris

                        James R. Paganelli                                         Balozi R. Harvey

                        Gerald Pagano, Jr.                                          Nicole Krakowiak

                        Casto Maldonado                                           Barbara Lawton