Workforce Development Working Group

Working Group Purpose

The Workforce Development Working Group is focused on ensuring adults have the knowledge and skills employers need to succeed. By bringing together business leaders, workforce organizations, educators, and community partners, the group is identifying high-quality workforce development practices that align training with employer demand, create clear career pathways, reduce barriers to participation, and deliver measurable results for both workers and employers. This work is designed to strengthen West Michigan’s talent pipeline and support long-term economic growth.

Goal: Ensure Adults Have the Knowledge and Skills Employers Need

Strategies

  • Align Workforce Training with Employer Demand
  • Establish Quality Standards for Workforce Programs
  • Strengthen Career Pathways
  • Expand Employer Engagement
  • Remove Barriers to Participation
  • Improve Data and Outcomes Measurement
  • Scale Proven Workforce Solutions

Membership

Headshot of John Wilson

John Wilson

President & CEO

Western Land Services, Inc.

Headshot of Alex Andrews

Alex Andrews

Director of Business Intelligence & Workforce Innovation

TalentFirst

Mylène Sage

Continuous Improvement Director

Paramelt

Headshot of Michael Davenport

Michael Davenport

President

Jireh Metal

Bob Van Kaenel

CEO

Hope Network

Jay Dunwell

President

Wolverine Coil Spring

Jeanette Hoyer

President & CEO

Goodwill Industries of West Michigan

CEO Working Group Information

Interested in learning more about a TalentFirst Working Group? Complete the form below and a member of our team will follow up with information about how you can get involved with our work.

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Related Publications

All Related Publications

The Hidden Cost of Low Pay: Analyzing and Addressing Compensation for Early and School-Aged Learning Educators in Indiana

An examination of early and school-aged learning educator compensation in Indiana, including a series of recommendations to bolster the workforce through increased compensation.

Balancing the Scales

This report provides a comprehensive overview of early care and education (ECE) compensation in Michigan and proposes a unifying wage scale that places ECE wages on par with comparable roles requiring similar skills and qualifications. The wage scale provides guidance on what ECE professionals should be paid based on their geography, role, qualifications, and years of experience — regardless of setting — and provides guidance for wage and scaling increases over time.

Childcare Workforce in West Michigan

An overview of the current state of the childcare workforce in West Michigan, including wage comparisons against similar occupations.

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