Workforce Development Board

The Workforce Development Board of Northwest Georgia, Inc. provides strategic and operational oversight and policy guidance to help develop a comprehensive and high quality workforce development system in the fifteen county Northwest Georgia Region (SWDA 1).

The board works to increase the Northwest Georgia region’s competitiveness in the global economy by providing employers with a highly trained workforce and robust labor market services. The board also seeks to maximize economic development opportunities and to ensure that residents have access to high-quality labor market information and quality training and employment services.

Workforce Development Board Members

Adult Education / Supervisor of Youth Success Academy

Lisa Shaw, Vice President of Adult Education, Georgia Northwestern Technical College

Apprenticeship

DeShawn Richardson, Assistant Business Manager, IBEW Local 613

Business Representatives

Andy Allen, Owner, Double A Timber Company
Kate Daggett, Executive Administrative Assistant, Kellanova Rome Bakery
Zac Dixon, Plant Manager, Ball Corp.
Selena Galmon, HR Manager, Yanmar
Barry Gentry, President & CEO, Murray County Chamber of Commerce
Bethany Gilmer, Human Resource Business Partner, Pirelli
Jim Henry, President, Custom Precision Components (Secretary/Treasurer)
Randy Long, Plant Manager, Pilgrim's
Mike Murphy, COO, McWhorter Capital
Jason Smith, ETC
Marianne Wood, President, Polk County Chamber of Commerce
Vacancy (2)

Council of Chief Elected Official

Harry Harvey, Mayor, Summerville, Georgia

Community Based Organization

Marion Barber, Tallatoona CAP

Economic Development

Chris Thomas, President/ CEO, Development Authority of Polk County

Higher Education Representative

Cynthia Brown, Associate Dean of Economic Development. Chattahoochee Technical College

Labor Representatives

Robert Strickland, Business Agent, Southern States Millwrights, Local 1263
Carey Tucker, Marketing Representative, Plumbers, Pipefitters, and HVACR Technicians, Local 72

Vocational Rehabilitation