Press Release: Workforce Partnership Appoints New Board Members

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SAN DIEGO, CA — The San Diego Workforce Partnership announces the appointment of new members to its Policy Board and Workforce Development Board (WDB). The new members are:

Policy Board

• Greg Cox, County Supervisor, The County of San Diego
• Nathan Fletcher, County Supervisor, The County of San Diego
• Monica Montgomery, Councilmember, The City of San Diego

WDB

• Sean Karafin, Vice President of Economic Research, San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce
• Keith Maddox, Executive Secretary Treasurer, San Diego and Imperial Counties Regional Labor Council (AFL-CIO affiliate)
• Pam Murray, District Manager, Banana Republic/Gap Inc.

“I’m excited to join the San Diego Workforce Partnership Policy Board again and support its mission of putting San Diegans to work,” says Supervisor Cox. “Getting good paying jobs for hard working San Diegans has always been one of my top priorities as a County Supervisor and the Workforce Partnership has a long track record of doing just that.”

“The San Diego Workforce Partnership creates opportunities for individuals to improve their skills and build long lasting careers with some of our region’s most successful organizations,” says Supervisor Fletcher. “I am excited to join the policy board. As the erosion of middle-class continues across the country, it is imperative that the Workforce Partnership drive policies that will create quality middle-class jobs. I look forward to partnering with other regional leaders to support working class families.”

“I’m passionate about economic empowerment through career pathways, therefore joining the San Diego Workforce Partnership Policy Board is an important platform to help connect underemployed people with career advancement opportunities,” says Councilmember Montgomery. “I look forward to helping shape policy that will yield tangible results for all stakeholders.”

Councilmember Barbara Bry is stepping into the role of Policy Board Chair, with Supervisor Cox becoming Vice Chair.

Karafin, as the Vice President of Policy and Economic Research for the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce, oversees the Chamber’s advocacy and the agendas for the Chamber’s various policy committees and roundtables. Through the “Regional Jobs Strategy” initiative, Sean has worked with nearly 70 organizations from across the region to direct the attention of the business and civic community on the issues that matter most for job creation.

Maddox was elected Executive Secretary Treasurer of the San Diego and Imperial Counties Labor Council in June 2018, after serving as the Trustee from May 2017–June 2018. In this capacity, he runs the day to day operations of an organization with 135 Affiliated Unions representing over 200,000 working families in San Diego and Imperial Counties.

Murray has been in retail for over 21 years, recently having spent nearly 15 years with Gap Inc. at Banana Republic. Prior to her time with Gap Inc./Banana Republic she was in financial services. She received a bachelor’s degree in finance, real estate and contract law from Cal Poly. She is married and has an amazing 6-year-old son. In her spare time she enjoys cooking, baking and spending time with family and friends.

“The Workforce Partnership is excited to welcome this powerhouse team of individuals to board service,” says Workforce Partnership CEO Peter Callstrom. “We look forward to strengthening partnerships with government, business-serving agencies, labor and the private sector through new board members who share our vision for a prosperous San Diego region.”

The WDB and Policy Board provide oversight and funding direction to the Workforce Partnership, determining workforce strategy, objectives and priorities based upon regional needs and impact. Members represent all of San Diego County. As required by the Workforce Innovation Opportunity Act, the majority of WDB members are from the private sector. Remaining members represent education, the public sector, organized labor, and community advocates for workforce development. The Policy Board includes two County Supervisors, two San Diego City Councilmembers and a community representative.

For more information on the boards, visit workforce.org/governance.

MEDIA CONTACT: Desiree Roughton, (619) 228-2959, desiree@workforce.org

San Diego Workforce Partnership

The San Diego Workforce Partnership is the leader for innovative workforce solutions in San Diego County. A joint powers authority (JPA) entity and 501c3 nonprofit, the Workforce Partnership funds and delivers job training programs that enable all job seekers to develop the skills and knowledge needed for in-demand careers. The Workforce Partnership also provides ongoing labor market research on the region’s workforce trends and key industries. Its vision is to ensure that every business in our region has access to a skilled workforce and every job seeker has access to meaningful employment. For more information, visit workforce.org.