Michael Zucchet is general manager of the San Diego Municipal Employees Association, the City of San Diego’s largest employee union. He also serves as one of three City representatives on the Board of Port Commissioners and as trustee for the San Diego City Employees Retiree Medical Trust. From 2002 to 2005, he served as City councilmember for San Diego’s Second District and as Deputy Mayor in 2005. In the years prior, he worked with public and private companies as well as governmental bodies, including the U.S. Department of Energy. Here, he shares how workforce development can change lives.
Why are you passionate about workforce development?
Effective workforce development programs transform individual lives and families. Collectively, workforce development supports the economic growth of an entire community. It’s easy to be passionate about both of those goals!
If you had $1M to donate to a workforce development program, what would you want done with it?
While I am no expert in this field, I do enjoy my role in supporting the experts at the Workforce Partnership. With that said, if I were handing out money, I would support specific programs targeting young people who are justice involved. The crossroads that often present themselves in these lives, particularly with young adults, are profound and new paths can literally transform families forever.
What do you like best about being on the Workforce Development Board?
The staff is awesome and it’s a joy to be able to offer whatever support I can…and to watch them do their thing. The Board is also a super diverse, accomplished group that I learn something from at every meeting.
What do you enjoy doing when you’re not working?
I’m pretty simple (some would say boring), so spending time at home or traveling with my family is my thing. I also enjoy golf and tennis, and occasionally a game of cards or playing the ponies at Del Mar.