Workforce Investment Board – Northern Kentucky Career Center

About the Northern Kentucky Workforce Investment Board

The Northern Kentucky Workforce Investment Board (NKWIB) drives policy, direction, and funding oversight for the local workforce investment system. The NKWIB drives innovative workforce development that meets the changing needs of employers and our labor force, resulting in the enhancement of economic development for our region.

As a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization, the NKWIB is responsible for the following:

Management of the local Kentucky Career Center efforts, including the selection of the one stop operator and direct service providers (adult/dislocated worker and youth)
Selection of youth workforce investment activities
Identification of eligible providers of training services
Maintenance of a performance driven system for documenting accomplishment of standards
Oversight of budget status, audits, contract status

The federal WIOA guidelines require NKWIB to contract for the role of one-stop operator. The Commonwealth of Kentucky adds the additional requirement for local boards to contract out for direct service provider role for adult, dislocated worker, youth and business services. The NKWIB follows all state and federal guidelines for procuring the role of one-stop operator, direct service provider (adult/dislocated worker and youth) and business services. The NKWIB Program/Youth Committee reviews all related RFPs, contracts and/or agreements and makes final recommendations to the Full Board and the Local Elected Officials Governing Board. In 2020, following the procurement process described above, selected Brighton Center as the One-Stop Operator and Direct Services Provider for a one-year contract, renewable per board approval for two additional years. In May 2021, the NKWIB voted to renew the contract for an additional year.

Through a procurement process, the Local Elected Officials Governing Board designed the Northern Kentucky Area Development District (NKADD) as the NKWIB fiscal agent. For general information including services provided, career opportunities and transparency, visit NKADD.org.

NKWIB By-Laws

NKADD/NKWIB Role In Workforce Development

Business and Industry Partners

The Northern Kentucky Workforce Investment Board (NKWIB) is a unique partnership between public and private sectors. With at least 51% of its membership from the business sector, the NKWIB drives the policy, direction and funding oversight for the local workforce investment system. This system promotes workforce readiness, education, and economic development. We assist employers of all kinds and workers at all education and skill levels. We primarily deliver our services through the six Kentucky Career Centers located in eight counties. We direct delivery of services through a sector approach which had identified the following industries as key to the economic health of Northern Kentucky:

Advanced Manufacturing
Healthcare
Transportation and Logistics
IT / Business and Finance
Construction and Trades

Vision Statement

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

Mission Statement

We drive innovative policy and direct funding for workforce investment through strong community partnerships to promote:

Engaged employers
Skilled jobseekers
Collective impact

Core Values

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.

Strategic Plan

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion Statement

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.

Northern Kentucky Workforce Innovation Awards Past Winners

The Northern Kentucky Workforce Innovation Awards recognizes and honors those who made an impact on Northern Kentucky’s workforce talent and development efforts and individuals who have successfully moved forward on their career pathway and in their employment goals. Since 2009, over 75 employers, workforce partners and clients have been recognized for their hard work and dedication. Past winners include:

Year	Adult/ Dislocated Worker	Youth/ Young Adult	Non-WIOA	Workforce Collaboration	Workforce Employee
2009	Catherine Pentescu			Brent Cooper	Stacey Hillman
	Ronald Blacke			Napier Truck Driver Training Program	Stephan Sovilla
2010	Donna Mann			CVG	Cathy Rogers
	Alonzo Hunley			David Fleischer	Karla Riley
	Peggy McLaren Dunn
2011	Matthew Riggs	Andrea Smith		Brighton Center Career Connections	Lauren Mann
	Lance Polege			Grant County Judge Link and Vanessa Rose
2012	Clifford Sullender	Melissa Guffey		Bill Weier MAG	Jason Ashbrook
2013	Sonya Strunk	Sonja Pedersen		Rich Jordan	Canis Wirth
	Michael Hagedorn
2014	Albert Brewer	Marquis Rice		David Fleischer	Lisa Elliott
2015	Keith Jones	Austin Crowell	Angel Merkel	Chris Reinersman and DHL	Mark Freudenberg
2016	Terry Younts	Gabriel Wright	Dallas Willoughby	Citi and Amanda Hansman	Marsha A. Baker
2017	Stephen Crouse	Jeremiah Rice	Regina Owens	Johnson Control	Ron Ketterer
				Tim Barnes
2018	Rebecca Miller-Selby	Sage Auer	Linda Smith	Life Learning Center	Melinda Ford
				Castellini Group of Companies
				Sarah Hartloff
2019	Russell Manning	Willie Sharp	Joshua Buckley	Natalie Ruppert Kenton County Public Library	Mindy Puckett
				Jamie Johnson Dorman Products
2020	Kelsie Guenther	Megan March		Andrew Aiello Transit Authority of Northern Kentucky	Connie Schnell
					Talia Frye
2021	Adrienne Hale	David Sams Jr.	Teayha Webb	Christi Godman Gateway Community and Technical College	Correy Eimer

WIOA Local and Regional Plan

Data Driven, Results Oriented

NKADD/NKWIB FY 2022 Results and Impacts

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

Northern Kentucky Workforce Investment Board – New Member / WIOA Orientation

Northern Kentucky Area Development District Employer Workforce Incentives

Career Center Network

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.

Board Members

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*
Dr. Vicki Berling, Building Industry Association of NKY/Enzweiler Building Institute
Nick Birkenhauer, DBL Law
Natasha Bowsher, Abrapower inc
Catrena Bowman, NKY Community Action Commission, WIB Secretary/Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Chair *
Brian Bozeman, Skanska Building USA, Business Services Chair*
Cara Brooks, Duke Energy
Joe Buerkley, Pendleton County Schools
Michelle Cestaric, Staffmark, WIB Chair/EXEC Chair*
Brent Cooper, NKY Chamber of Commerce
Dana Dobbs, Citi
Gina Douthat, TANK
Kate Doolittle, PNC Bank
Sherra Dunlap, Owen Electric
Dr. Fernando Figueroa, Gateway Community and Technical College
Mike Flannery, Amazon
Janet Harrah, Northern Kentucky University
Ryan Henson, KY Office of Vocational Rehabilitation
Colleen Kirkpatrick, Ethos Laboratories
Dean McKay, Skilcraft, WIB Vice Chair/Program and Youth Chair*
Dr. 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*
Shannon Starkey-Taylor, Learning Grove / NAVIGO
Gina Stough, Kenton County Airport Board/CVG
Jarrod Tiemeier, Ironworkers Local 44
Michelle Tyson, Cummins, Inc.
Matthew Turner, Boone County Schools
Alecia Webb-Edgington, Life Learning Center
William Weier, Mazak
Kristie Henry Willoby, Heritage Bank

*Denotes Executive Committee Members

Officers and Committee Chairs

Michelle Cestaric – WIB Chair / Executive Committee Chair
Dean McKay – Vice-WIB Chair
John Baines – Membership & Board Operating Committee Chair
Shannon Starkey-Taylor – Program & Youth Committee Chair
Brain Bozeman – Business Services Committee Chair
Catrena Bowman-Thomas – Secretary / Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Chair
Dave Schroeder – Treasurer

Board and Standing Committee Meeting Schedule

Northern Kentucky Workforce Investment Board (NKWIB)	Executive Committee	Membership and Board Operating Committee	Program/ Youth Committee	Business Services Committee	Diversity, Equity and Inclusion 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.	Meets at 2:00 PM on the 4th Tuesday of alternate months after the NKWIB
July 12, 2022	August 24, 2022	August 23, 2022	August 9, 2022	August 17, 2022	July 26, 2022
September 13, 2022	November 1, 2022 (no quorum)	October 25, 2022	October 11, 2022	October 19, 2022	September 27, 2022
November 8, 2022	December 14, 2022 - Date changed to accommodate holiday schedules	December 13, 2022December 13, 2022 - Date changed to accommodate holiday schedules	December 6, 2022 - Date changed to accommodate holiday schedules	December 7, 2022 - Date changed to accommodate holiday schedules	November 22, 2022
January 10, 2023	February 22, 2023	February 21, 2023 - Date changed to accommodate meeting schedule	February 14, 2023	February 15, 2023	January 31, 2023
March 14. 2023	April 26, 2023	April 25, 2023	April 11, 2023	April 19, 2023	March 28, 2023
May 9, 2023	June 28, 2023	June 27, 2023	June 13, 2023	June 21, 2023	May 23, 2023

NKWIB Standing Committee Agendas, Meeting Minutes and Archived Documents

Board Certification

2019 Certification Packet
2019 Certification Function Tracker (Microsoft Excel)

Northern Kentucky Workforce Investment Board Support Staff

Correy Eimer – Director (Local EO Officer)
Katie Jo Berkshire Kirkpatrick – Development and Outreach Specialist
Simon Boxall – Workforce Specialist Compliance and Policy Analysis
Melinda Ford – Workforce Specialist-Program Specialist
David Klokner – Data Specialist
Liberty Kordish – Senior Finance Workforce Specialist
Melissa Patchell – EC Supervisor/Eligibility Specialist
Tonia Slone – Project Manager

For more information please contact Correy Eimer Director of the Northern Kentucky Workforce Investment Board (859)-283-1885