Workforce Investment Board – Northern Kentucky Career Center

About the Northern Kentucky Workforce Investment Board

The high-impact 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.

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.

WIOA Local and Regional Plan

Data Driven, Results Oriented

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

Northern Kentucky Workforce Investment Board – New Member / WIOA Orientation

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, Membership & Board Operating Committee Chair*
Dr. Vicki Berling, Building Industry Association of NKY/Enzweiler Building Institute
Nick Birkenhauer, DBL Law
Kevin Bonhaus, Mubea
Catrena Bowman-Thomas, Northern Kentucky Community Action Commission
Brian Bozeman, Skanska Building USA
Michelle Cestaric, Staffmark, NKWIB Vice-Chair*
Brent Cooper, Northern Kentucky Chamber of Commerce
Chad Day, Greater Cincinnati Building & Construction Trades
Dana Dobbs, Citi, WIB Chair/Executive Committee Chair*
Gina Douthat, TANK
Sherra Dunlap, Owen Electric Cooperative
Dr. Fernando Figueroa, Gateway Community & Technical College
David Fleischer, Alpha + Beta Strategies LLC, Business Service Committee Chair*
Janet Harrah, Northern Kentucky University
Kristie Henry, Heritage Bank
Ryan Henson, Office of Vocational Rehabilitation
Jamie Johnson, Dorman Products
Dean McKay, Skilcraft
Lisa Morris, North American Stainless
Sybil Murphy, Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport
Dr. Francis O’Hara, Kenton County Public Schools
Jamie Parsons, St. Elizabeth Healthcare, Program & Youth Committee Chair*
Dr. Randy Poe, Northern Kentucky Education Council
Kimberly Rossetti, Northern Kentucky Tri-ED
Connie Schnell, KY Career Development Office
Dave Schroeder, Kenton County Library
Dr. Carissa Schutzman, University of Cincinnati, WIB Secretary*
Dr. Robert Stafford, Owen Co. Board of Education
Shannon Starkey-Taylor, Learning Grove
Jarrod Tiemeier, Ironworkers Local 44
Michelle Tyson, Cummins, Inc., WIB Treasurer*
Alecia Webb-Edgington, Life Learning Center
Rhonda Whitaker Hurtt, Duke Energy

*Denotes Executive Committee Members

Officers and Committee Chairs

Dana Dobbs – WIB Chair / Executive Committee Chair
Michelle Cestaric – Vice-WIB Chair
John Baines – Membership & Board Operating Committee Chair
Jamie Parsons – Program & Youth Committee Chair
David Fleischer – Business Services Committee Chair
Michelle Tyson – Treasurer
Carissa Schutzman – Secretary

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
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 14, 2020	August 26, 2020	August 25, 2020	August 11, 2020	August 10, 2020
September 8, 2020 - WIOA Awards Luncheon	October 28, 2020	October 27, 2020	October 13, 2020	October 21, 2020
November 10, 2020	December 16, 2020 - Date change to accommodate holiday schedules	December 14, 2020 12-1:30 pm - Date and time changed to accommodate holiday schedules	December 8, 2020	December 9, 2020 - Date changed to accommodate holiday schedules
January 12, 2021	February 24, 2021	February 23, 2021	February 9, 2021	February 17, 2021
March 9, 2021	April 28, 2021	April 27, 2021	April 13, 2021	April 21, 2021
May 11, 2021	June 23, 2021	June 22, 2021	June 8, 2021	June 16, 2021

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

Tara Johnson-Noem – Director
Katie Jo Berkshire Kirkpatrick – Development and Outreach Specialist
David Klokner – Data Specialist
Liberty Kordish – Workforce Finance Specialist
Tonia Slone – Project Manager

For more information please contact Tara Johnson-Noem Director of the Northern Kentucky Workforce Investment Board (859)-283-1885