Workforce Development Board

The purpose of the Workforce Development Board is to involve the private business community, local units of government, human service organizations, economic development, and educational institutions in the planning, design, and delivery of state and federally funded employment and training. This training is for the economically disadvantaged and other specified groups of individuals as defined by state and federal law.

View our bylaws.

View our 2023-2024 WDB & JPB meeting schedule.

WDB Member Directory

2023-2024 Workforce Development Board

Berg, Rachel – McNeilus Truck & Manufacturing
Caldwell, Shelly – Marco
Hanson, Chris – Poet Bioprocessing
VACANT – At-Large, Private
Randi Callahan – Three Rivers CAP
Watson, Joy – Rice County Housing & Redevelopment Authority
Holthaus, Nadine – Rochester Public Schools/Hawthorne Education Center
Brownell, Laurie – Southeastern Minnesota Area Agency on Aging
Budimlic, Armin – IMAA
VACANT – At-Large, Private
Pyfferoen, Michelle – Small Business Development Center/RCTC
Herber, Autumn – DEED/CareerForce
Powell, Lane – Harmony Enterprises
Thompson, Jena – Daisy Blue Naturals
Eaton, Jean – Granicrete
VACANT – Goodhue, Private
Jacobson, Phil – Gemini, Inc.
Boyd, Jeffery Dr. – RCTC
Henderson, Liz – New Age Tree Service of MN, Inc.
Cashman, Brian – Goodhue County Education District
Steele, Sheldon – Laborers District Council of MN & ND
Bambrick, Mike – IBEW 343 – SC MN JATC
Amaya, Dalila – Hormel
Smith, Geoff – IBI Data
Rechtzigel, Barb – Mayo Clinic
Benike, Aaron – Benike Construction
Pugleasa, John – Houston County Human Services
Otteson, Alisha – MN DEED/Vocational Rehabilitation Services
Urias, Marv – K&G Manufacturing
Abdille, Mustafa – Jennie-O Turkey Store
Kingsley, Jim – Wenger Corporation
Sayles, Phil – Viracon
Root, Jim – St. Elizabeth’s Medical Center

2023-2024 Executive Committee

Jim Kingsley – President
Lane Powell – Vice President
Phil Sayles – 2nd Vice President
Jim Root – Treasurer
Brian Cashman – Secretary
Brad Edwin, Freeborn County Commissioner
Rick Gnemi, Steele County Commissioner
Mitch Lentz, Fillmore County Commissioner

WDB Meeting Minutes

2024 Minutes

• January
• March

2023 Minutes

• June
• April
• March
• January

2022 Minutes

• December
• November
• August
• June
• May
• April
• March
• January

2021 Minutes

• December
• November
• October
• September
• August
• June
• May
• April
• March
• January

Joint Powers Board

The Joint Powers Board is made up of County Commissioners from the ten counties in Workforce Service Area #8 (Dodge, Fillmore Freeborn, Goodhue, Houston, Mower, Olmsted, Rice, Steele and Wabasha). The purpose of the Joint Powers Board was to establish Workforce Development, Inc., which delivers Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act services in the region, as well as other related employment and training programs. The Joint Powers Board provides oversight and policy formulation for Workforce Development, Inc.

2023 JPB Member Directory

Edwin, Brad – Freeborn County
Gnemi, Rick (Chair) – Steele County
Greseth, Todd – Goodhue County
Key, Cheryl – Wabasha County
Lentz, Mitch (Vice Chair) – Fillmore County
Senjem, David – Olmsted County
Severson, Dewey – Houston County
Sparks, Dan – Mower County
Toquam, Rhonda – Dodge County
Underdahl, Steve – Rice County

Meeting Minutes