The southwest Minnesota workforce development board
The Southwest Minnesota Workforce Development Board is one of Minnesota’s 16 local workforce boards designated under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2014. The Board is comprised of a majority business representatives, as well workforce, education, government, economic development, and community stakeholders. The board is dedicated to provide a diverse and quality workforce that best meets the needs and challenges of the 14 county area of Southwest Minnesota. These counties include Big Stone, Chippewa, Cottonwood, Jackson, Lac qui Parle, Lincoln, Lyon, Murray, Nobles, Pipestone, Redwood, Rock, Swift, and Yellow Medicine.
The Southwest Minnesota Workforce Development Board is a leader in CareerForce, Minnesota’s unified workforce system and guides the design of local workforce development including oversight of CareerForce locations in Marshall, Montevideo and Worthington. Board priorities include: addressing the shortage of skilled workers through sector-based career pathway approaches; increasing service levels and outcomes for individuals experiencing employment disparities; expanding partnerships with local school districts to increase career awareness, career counseling and work-based learning opportunities for students and parents; and increasing employer engagement through sector-based partnerships.
Meetings
The Southwest Minnesota Workforce Development Board meetings are held the first Thursday of the month at 4 PM in the following months: February, April, June, August, October and December at the Lyon County Government Center located at 607 West Main Street in Marshall, MN.
The next meeting of the Southwest Minnesota Workforce Development Board will be held on Thursday, February 4th, 2021 from 4:00 – 6:00 p.m.
Minutes
October 1 2020 - Workforce Development Board Minutes - FINAL (0.2 MB)
August 6 2020 - Workforce Development Board Minutes - FINAL (0.3 MB)
June 4 2020 - Workforce Development Board Minutes - FINAL (0.3 MB)
May 7 2020 - Workforce Development Board Minutes - FINAL (0.3 MB)
February 6 2020 - Workforce Development Board Minutes (0.3 MB)
southwest minnesota workforce development board’s Regional Work Plan
Regional Workforce Developoment Planning Forums Findings, Priorities & Strategies (0.5 MB)
Understanding Southwest Minnesota's Labor Market - February 2020 (0.7 MB)
RWDA #5 Regional Plan 2020 (1.2 MB)
- Southwest Minnesota Local Workforce Development Plan (LWDA #6) – coming soon
Private Sector
Len Bakken, Chair
Windom, MN
Cottonwood County Private Sector
John Roiger
Dawson, MN
Lac qui Parle County Private Sector
Andy Easley
Balaton, MN
Lyon County Private Sector
Melissa McGinty-Thompson
Benson, MN
Swift County Private Sector
Curtis Rethwisch
Lake Benton, MN
Lincoln County Private Sector
Carla Goedtke, Vice Chair
Slayton, MN
Murray County Private Sector
Nathalie Nkashama
Worthington, MN
Nobles County Private Sector
Miguel Rivas
Worthington, MN
Minority Owned Small Business Representative
Jeffrey Varcoe
Canby, MN
Yellow Medicine County Private Sector
Dawn Schnell
Jackson, MN
Jackson County Private Sector
Robyn Leese, Secretary
Montevideo, MN
Chippewa County Private Sector
Anne Johnson
Redwood Falls, MN
Redwood County Private Sector
Tim Paulson
Pipestone, MN
Pipestone County Private Sector
David Rogers
Ortonville, MN
Big Stone County Privat Sector
Brad Vaughn
Luverne, MN
Rock County Private Sector
Ad-Hoc Representatives
Diana Anderson
Hutchinson, MN
Economic Development
Eric Austin
Luverne, MN
Labor
Terry Gaalswyk
Worthington, MN
Education
Bruce Bergeson
Montevideo, MN
Education
Tim Jones
Marshall, MN
Community Based Organization
Kirby Kruse
Windom, MN
Labor
See Moua-Leske
Marshall, MN
Education
Dawn Regnier
Canby, MN
Education
Mimi Schafer
Hutchinson, MN
Rehabilitation Services
Chuck Swanson
Granite Falls, MN
Community Based Organization
Beth Wilms
Marshall, MN
Health & Human Services
Reggie D. Worlds
Mankato, MN
Wagner-Peyser Services