Workforce Investment Board

Every Northern Kentucky community thrives as a result of sustained economic prosperity.

• Collaboration We value the strengths of our community partners and work together to ensure effective and efficient service delivery.
• Continuous Improvement We critically review our own methods and metrics to chart our path toward success.
• Customer Focus We respond to employer and individuals’ needs with exceptional and culturally competent services.
• Equity We are a catalyst for equity, inclusion and life-changing results for all our clients.
• Innovation We step beyond traditional thinking by using creativity to develop policy and direction.
• Independence We empower customers to set their own course toward self-sufficiency and continued growth.

The Strategic Plan developed with input from NKWIB board members and community leaders drives the work of the NKWIB, its workforce development partners and the local Kentucky Career Center system.

NKWIB Strategic Plan Elements  

1. Employer Services
   Engage employers in the design of services that support talent recruitment, incentivize workforce participation and remove employment barriers.

• Monitor and respond to employer feedback on Career Center business services.
• Serve as a trusted resource and collaborator for employer and workforce partners.
• Assess and deploy WIOA resources as available to support hiring and upskilling.

2. Jobseeker Services
   Prepare individuals to enter and advance along the talent pipeline by aligning with P-12, adult and post-secondary education to provide lifelong opportunities for the rapidly shifting realities of work.

• Monitor and assess outcomes for individuals utilizing Career Center and WIOA services.
• Leverage partnerships and resources to effectively engage clients in work and training opportunities.
• Connect educational and training partners with employers to further align career pipeline preparation.

3. Board Governance
   Maintain strong leadership and community connectivity by fostering board member recruitment, retention and education efforts with an emphasis on diversity, equity and inclusion.
   • Create a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee comprised of board and community members to report regularly to the board and oversee DEI Action Plan.
   • Create and implement a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Action Plan.
   • Increase initiatives designed to engage current board members and attract new board members from all five in-demand industry sectors and all eight counties in our region.

4. Data-Driven Decision Making
   Respond to changing employer and individual needs by effectively leveraging local, state and federal resources and benchmarking impact through data and metrics through an equity lens.

• Collaborate with regional workforce partners to assess and drive progress toward local and statewide goals.
• Update financial and programmatic key performance indicators and analyze regularly through the NKWIB and its committees.
• Establish innovative workforce policy and funding using regional labor market information and local Career Center performance data.

The Northern Kentucky Workforce Investment Board embraces the need for diversity, equity and inclusion to be a component of everything we do.  We strive to create a network that meets business needs while it also supports the dignity of our clients.  We respond to regional employment needs through the perspectives of local employers’ demand for talent and economic empowerment.  We are a catalyst for equity, inclusion and life-changing results for all our clients.  These priorities are supported through the values below and outlined in our diversity, equity and inclusion action plan.

• Collaboration
  We value the strengths of our community partners and collaborate to ensure effective and efficient service delivery.
  

• Continuous Improvement
  We foster a culture of continuous improvement through regular evaluations of programs and activities using measurable goals and targets.
  

• Customer Focus
  We respond to employer and individuals needs with exceptional and culturally competent customer service.

• Equity
  We are a force for equity, inclusion and life-changing results for all of our clients.
  

• Innovation
  We step beyond traditional thinking by using creativity to develop policy and direction.

• NKWIB WIOA Local and Regional Plan FY 2022-2025
• Central Kentucky WIOA Regional Workforce Plan 2021

Northern Kentucky Workforce Investment Board – Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

Northern Kentucky Workforce Investment Board – New Member / WIOA Orientation 

The Northern Kentucky Workforce Investment Board is responsible for funding and oversight of the locations in the Kentucky Career Center network in our region where employers and job seekers can come together and connect.  The Comprehensive center in Covington, the affiliate centers in Florence and Williamstown, and the access points in Carrollton and at CVG and at the Kenton County (Erlanger), Owen County and Pendleton County Public Libraries all were reviewed by a team and subsequently certified by the NKWIB.  This certification process ensures our clients that no matter where they are in our career center network, they will receive consistent and high-quality service.

All Northern Kentucky Workforce Development Board members shall be appointed in accordance with the criteria established between the Governor and the Kentucky Workforce Investment Board in accordance with the Federal Act and outlined in Kentucky Workforce Investment Board’s Policy Number 15-001.

• John Baines, Insight Partners, LLC., Membership and Board Operations Chair*
• Vicki Berling, Building Industry Association of NKY/Enzweiler Building Institute
• Nick Birkenhauer, DBL Law
• Kevin Bonhaus, Mubea
• Catrena Bowman-Thomas, NKY Community Action Commission, WIB Secretary*
• Brian Bozeman, Skanska Building USA, Business Services Chair*
• Cara Brooks, Duke Energy
• Michelle Cestaric, Staffmark, WIB Chair/EXEC Chair*
• Brent Cooper, NKY Chamber of Commerce
• Dana Dobbs, Citi
• Gina Douthat, TANK
• Sherra Dunlap, Owen Electric
• Fernando Figueroa, Gateway Community and Technical College
• Mike Flannery, Amazon
• Janet Harrah, Northern Kentucky University
• Kristie Henry, Heritage Bank
• Ryan Henson, KY Office of Vocational Rehabilitation
• Colleen Kirkpatrick, Ethos Laboratories
• Anna Larson, KY Adult Education/Skills U
• Dean McKay, Skilcraft, Program and Youth Chair*
• Lisa Morris, North American Stainless
• Francis O’Hara, Kenton County Schools
• Jamie Parsons, St. Elizabeth Healthcare, WIB Vice Chair*
• Randy Poe, NKY Education Council
• Kimberly Rossetti, Northern Kentucky Tri-ED
• Connie Schnell, KY Career Development Office
• Dave Schroeder, Kenton County Public Library, WIB Treasurer*
• Carissa Schutzman, University of Cincinnati
• Robert Stafford, Owen County Board of Education
• Shannon Starkey-Taylor, Learning Grove / NAVIGO
• Gina Stough, Kenton County Airport Board/CVG
• Jarrod Tiemeier, Ironworkers Local 44
• Michelle Tyson, Cummins, Inc.
• Alecia Webb-Edgington, Life Learning Center

*Denotes Executive Committee Members 

• Michelle Cestaric – WIB Chair / Executive Committee Chair
• Jamie Parsons– Vice-WIB Chair
• John Baines –  Membership & Board Operating Committee Chair
• Dean McKay – Program & Youth Committee Chair
• Brain Bozeman – Business Services Committee Chair
• Catrena Bowman-Thomas – Treasurer
• Dave Schroeder – Secretary

Northern Kentucky Workforce Investment Board (NKWIB)	Executive Committee	Membership and Board Operating Committee	Program/ Youth Committee	Business Services Committee
Meets at 8:30 AM on the 2nd Tuesday of alternate months opposite of Committee Meetings.	Meets at 3:30 PM on the 4th Wednesday of alternate months opposite of the NKWIB.	Meets at 2:00 PM on the 4th Tuesday of alternate months opposite of the NKWIB.	Meets at 8:30 AM on the 2nd Tuesday of alternate months opposite of the NKWIB.	Meets at 2:00 PM on the 3rd Wednesday of alternate months opposite of the NKWIB.
July 13, 2021	August 25, 2021	August 24, 2021	August 10, 2021	August 18, 2021
September 14, 2021 - WIOA Awards	October 29, 2021	October 26, 2021	October 12, 2021	October 20, 2021
September 30, 2021 - Special Meeting starting at 12:00 PM
November 9, 2021	December 15, 2021 - Date changed to accommodate holiday schedules	December 14, 2021 - Date changed to accommodate holiday schedules	December 7, 2021 - Date changed to accommodate holiday schedules	December 8, 2021 - Date changed to accommodate holiday schedules
January 11, 2022 - NOTE: meeting time changed to 9:30 am - 11:00 am	February 23, 2022	February 22, 2022	February 8, 2022	February 16, 2022
March 8, 2022	April 27, 2022	April 26, 2022	April 12, 2022	April 20, 2022
May 10, 2022	June 22, 2022	June 21, 2022 – Date changed to accommodate meeting schedule	June 14, 2022	June 15, 2022

NKWIB Standing Committee Agendas, Meeting Minutes and Archived Documents

• 2019 Certification Packet
• 2019 Certification Function Tracker (Microsoft Excel)