Quad Cities Business News

Prescott, Prescott Valley, Chino Valley, & Dewey/Humboldt

You are here: Home / Archives for Teri Drew

Teri Drew

Understanding Labor Market Trends in Yavapai County

By Leave a Comment

It’s important to note that labor trends can change over time and the specific conditions in Yavapai County may evolve with industry needs.

Yavapai County has its own unique labor trends and characteristics. General information about labor trends in Yavapai County are based on historical information from September 2021 to the present.

Yavapai County has a diverse economy, with multiple sectors driving employment. Some of the significant industries in the region include health care, tourism, education, government, retail, construction and manufacturing.

The healthcare sector is a major employer in Yavapai County. The county has numerous healthcare facilities, including hospitals, clinics, nursing homes and specialty care centers. Jobs in health care range from medical professionals to support staff and administration. The current average hourly rate of pay is $41.35 in the healthcare sector.

Yavapai County is known for its natural beauty, scenic landscapes and historical attractions. Popular tourist destinations in the county include Prescott, Sedona, Jerome and the Verde Valley. The tourism industry provides employment opportunities in hospitality, lodging, restaurants, outdoor recreation and retail. The current average hourly rate of pay is $17.31 in the tourism sector.

Yavapai County has several educational institutions, including colleges, community colleges, universities and school districts. These institutions offer employment opportunities for educators, administrators, support staff and other related roles. The current average hourly rate of pay is $25.05 in the education sector.

Government jobs, both at the county and local level, contribute significantly to the labor market in Yavapai County. These jobs include positions in administration, law enforcement, public safety, public works and social services. The current average hourly rate of pay is $21.88 in the government sector.

The construction industry plays a crucial role in Yavapai County’s economy, driven by residential and commercial development projects. Infrastructure development, such as road construction and improvement, also provides employment opportunities. The current average hourly rate of pay is $23.11 in the construction sector.

Yavapai County has a small but growing manufacturing sector. Manufacturing jobs can be found in industries such as aerospace, electronics, food processing and more. These jobs often require specialized skills and training. The current average hourly rate of pay is $20.62 in the manufacturing sector.

It’s important to note that labor trends can change over time and the specific conditions in Yavapai County may evolve with industry needs. It is always advisable to consult local employment agencies, economic development organizations and government sources that specialize in labor market data for the region. With Yavapai County’s unemployment rate at 2.9%, there are still many employment opportunities in each of the listed sectors. Visit Yavapai County | ARIZONA@WORK (arizonaatwork.com) to learn more about labor market trends, employment and training opportunities. QCBN

By Teri Drew

Teri Drew is the executive director of the Yavapai County Workforce Development Board.

Mentoring Through Quad Cities ATHENA Leadership Awards

By Leave a Comment

Nominations being accepted for September High Tea.

The Quad Cities ATHENA Leadership Awards not only celebrate, recognize and honor women for their leadership skills, career achievements, community service and mentorship, they also promote what leadership looks like. ATHENA recipients say this is powerful because younger or less experienced women in the workplace can identify local role models they can talk to, observe in action and learn from.

“Leaders become mentors for others and impact future growth,” said 2022 ATHENA recipient Teri Drew, executive director of NACOG’s Yavapai County Workforce Development, in a 2022 QCBN interview. “My parents and siblings were and continue to be my mentors. They taught me what to and not to do growing up, and those strong ethics pay off.”

On Sunday, Sept. 24, women from across the region will come together at Starting Point in the Prescott Gateway Mall for the 4th Annual Quad Cities ATHENA Leadership Awards High Tea, presented by Quad Cities Business News. They will hear stories of struggle and triumph, perseverance through fear and how to tap into their inner strength in times of adversity. They will also learn how women lean into their core values and their hopes for the future.

“I believe my life is a blessing and given as a blessing. Giving back is just what I believe I need to do. Mentoring others is one of my tenets and receiving the ATHENA award strengthened that,” said 2018 Flagstaff ATHENA recipient Theresa Bierer, an associate professor of practice in management in the W.A. Franke College of Business at Northern Arizona University. “In our lives, everyone is so busy, but what really makes the fabric of a community is people who step outside of themselves and put others and community first. To me, that’s what the ATHENA Award embodies.”

This year, QCBN will recognize an individual with the traditional ATHENA Leadership Award and also will present the ATHENA Young Professional Leadership Award. In addition, for the first time in Northern Arizona, the Quad Cities ATHENA Leadership Awards will celebrate a business or organization that supports, develops and honors women leaders with the ATHENA Organizational Leadership Award.

Individuals, businesses and organizations are encouraged to nominate extraordinary women leaders who are making a difference in their communities and pioneering a path for others to impact the future.

“My hope for young women entering the workplace is for them to do what they love and love what they do,” added Drew.

Nominations are being accepted until Friday, Aug. 4, at prescottathena.com. QCBN

By Bonnie Stevens, QCBN

Photos by Kay Lyons: QCBN women have been instrumental in bringing the ATHENA Leadership Awards to Prescott. Photographed here are QCBN Co-Owner Amy Bix, Editor Bonnie Stevens and Advertising Manager Ann Herrington. 

Recognizing the Value of Customer Service

By Leave a Comment

Post-pandemic expectations and attitudes have shifted.

As I onboard individuals at the office, one of our first conversations is about the importance of customer service.

I always describe myself as their customer; regardless of their position, I also count them as my customer. In my view, positive work culture and job satisfaction begin and end with mutual respect, and our employees need to know that we as administrators share in that responsibility.

When we demonstrate a positive internal customer service environment, our team easily relates this practice to our many external customers.

I don’t know about you, but I experience declining customer service everywhere I go, from the doctor’s office to the grocery store. My response is to change where and how I do business and where I spend.

Post-pandemic expectations and attitudes have shifted. In the web world, customers want access to us 24/7, and most will focus their time and resources on companies that meet these demands. Now, most of us do not offer 24/7 assistance, but we all have the resources to use the tools we have, namely websites and electronic or automated services to respond to customers 24/7. A common website sometimes supplies frequently asked questions (FAQ) access, allowing customer access to you or your company. Even better than FAQs are the automated live chat options where the customer can interact directly and receive responses to common questions. Efficient customer service is being able to help someone when they need it.

Customers have high expectations. Recent studies show that in the U.S., 54% of all customers said they have higher expectations than pre-pandemic. Post-pandemic society has shifted to be more flexible. To be competitive, customers need access to goods and services outside of the 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. pre-pandemic scheduling. Recently, my husband called his doctor to schedule an appointment and the scheduler told him she didn’t have time to schedule him. What?

Customer service should be your priority. Customer experience is drawing a lot of attention in the social media arena. If someone has a positive experience in minutes, they transmit that experience through social media and the public responds favorably, and vice versa, a poor experience travels like lightning as well. Studies show that customer experience is more important than price. Good customer service equals loyal, returning or repurchasing consumers.

When considering politics, don’t get me started, but companies need to know that if you publicly display your political affiliation or party support, you may lose customers and/or suppliers.

Think about your customer journey. What restaurants, grocery stores or medical providers do you patronize and why? Then, test your place of business. Are your businesses meeting your expectations?

My office’s general comment or feedback is “I felt welcomed, I felt like I mattered, and my needs were met.” Our federal customer rating is 98% satisfaction.

The Yavapai County Workforce Development Board has embraced Kazien-continuous improvement. Our goal is 100% customer satisfaction, 100% of the time. QCBN

By Teri Drew

Teri Drew is the executive director of the Yavapai County Workforce Development Board.

Recognizing the Rewards of Skills-Based Hiring

By Leave a Comment

I’m a believer of skills-based hiring, but applicants do need to demonstrate applicable skill sets to be selected for an interview.

Recently, my long-term executive assistant notified me that she was retiring and relocating to another state to be close to family. She is literally my “right arm” at the office and works diligently to serve our many committees and boards across Northern Arizona. We are a well-oiled machine, and together, we accomplished much success.

I started the search for her replacement and a finance position almost eight weeks ago. The pay for this executive position is above the average wage for Yavapai County and includes 100% paid benefits. The first few weeks, there were no applicants – followed by a flood of individuals who applied but did not meet minimum requirements. I’m a believer of skills-based hiring, but applicants do need to demonstrate applicable skill sets to be selected for an interview.

Finally, three applicants to interview! Two were rather new to the area – two years or less. All interviewed well and demonstrated transferrable skill sets. As we moved forward with job offers, we found the need for flexibility to go beyond what a public service agency could offer.

One individual requested a minimum of $36 per hour and noted a few acceptance requirements – she could not begin work until after 8 a.m. and must end the day just before 4 p.m. The position is an exempt position with hours between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m., as we are open to the public during these hours.

Another applicant was probably over-qualified and had five other interviews the same week she interviewed with us. While we felt we moved swiftly, at the time of hire, she had accepted another offer.

Applicant No. 3 was well-qualified and has been a top contender for the position – an offer is pending. In the meantime, two other well-qualified individuals have applied, and we are considering interviews to fill positions.

The moral of this story is:

  • Always cross-train your team. I am fortunate to have others to fill in the gaps.
  • Be flexible. My current executive assistant is working remotely to assist in keeping operations moving.
  • Be patient. The applicants are out there. While the process may take longer to identify the right candidate, they are out there.
  • Consider skills-based hiring. Offer a training program to help individuals develop skill sets, be open to change and hire with conscientiousness, leaving yourself sensitive to the ever-changing labor market – go with the flow!

Yavapai County’s unemployment rate continues to be low; currently at 2.7% (compared to 3.5% in the U.S. and 4.0% in Arizona). But, incumbent workers are on the move. Applicants are reaching for advancement opportunities. We advertise our positions on social media, our websites, publications and via word-of-mouth, which continues to be the best recruiter.

Good luck in your search, and reach out for assistance as needed – 928-778-1422. QCBN

By Teri Drew

Teri Drew is the Executive Director of the Yavapai County Workforce Development Board.

Workers Remain in High Demand

By Leave a Comment

Workers are still in high demand and the competition continues to be fierce.

Workers are still in high demand and the competition continues to be fierce.The Yavapai County employment rate is at 97.3% and the unemployment rate is at 2.7%, which, by most definitions, equals full employment. Since the pandemic, Yavapai County has had disparity between the number of jobs in demand and the number of workers actually seeking employment. Employers in our area have been creative and innovative in their quest to attract and retain workers. Some examples of creativity and innovation include hiring bonuses, increased wages, temporary housing solutions, moving expenses and most importantly, there have been large investments in up-skilling job candidates and tenured workers.

Our most recent data calculated our labor force at 70,300 individuals in non-farm employment and our average wage is stable at $23.24 per hour. The current worker population demographic is almost equal between 18- to 35-year-olds and 35- to 60-year-olds and 65 or older rounding out at 31.6%. These changes would indicate an increase in population below 65 or possibly fewer retirees returning to work.

The top five industries in the county include food and accommodations, construction, retail trade, administrative and waste services, and real estate rental and leasing services. According to the Arizona Office of Economic Opportunity, the healthcare, utility, art and recreation employer sectors are in decline, especially with recent events.

The ARIZONA@WORK, Yavapai County servicer hosts a Rapid Response process for employers who are laying off workers and for workers being furloughed, permanently laid off or individuals who have been separated from their income. These services offer businesses and workers options to easily transition to other jobs, avoiding the need for lost income or unemployment services and access to retraining with paid tuition and job placement. We also assist employers with exit strategies including layoff aversion. Currently, in Yavapai County, we have two active Rapid Response events, to include manufacturing, retail and food service.

Workers are still in high demand and the competition continues to be fierce. Stay tuned, as we expect to see significant changes to the labor market over the next quarter. QCBN

By Teri Drew

Teri Drew is the executive director for the Yavapai County Workforce Development Board.

Welcoming Retirees Back to the Workforce

By Leave a Comment

If you want qualified, dependable, skilled workers, consider hiring quality workers by recruiting retirees!

Many of us have seen the movie “The Intern,” where a retired gentleman seizes a chance to go back to the workforce as a senior intern. He brings a wealth of knowledge and skills, work ethic and dedication, and quickly becomes an invaluable team member. This fictional movie has become a reality for so many retirees returning to the workforce.

Retirees have a variety of reasons to return to work. Post-pandemic, many individuals are looking to find a rewarding job opportunity that will make a difference to a business and community. They also have the luxury to do the work they like, not what they need to do to sustain a family. Some retirees are looking to earn extra money for travel or to have additional funds to pay bills. Most just want to remain active and engaged.

Over the last quarter, applicants for local job vacancies come from retirees. According to the Arizona Office of Economic Opportunity, Yavapai County has more than 54% of the active workforce in the age range of 55-64 years and almost 14% are over the age of 65.

Why Hire a Retiree?

There are several reasons, including the following:

Reliability and a strong work ethic: This includes punctuality, maturity, a willingness and eagerness to learn, and a strong commitment to quality.

Varied work experience: Many seniors and retirees have a broad-based career, education and skills background, which enables them to bring a wide variety of knowledge and experience to the workplace.

Job flexibility: In many cases, seniors have accomplished their career goals and are excited and willing to take base jobs or intern roles. Senior employees have excellent attendance records because they rarely miss work for the myriad of personal and family reasons that other workers typically have.

Job loyalty: A fear about seniors and retirees is that they won’t stay on the job for very long. But, in fact, they tend to be much less likely than younger workers to job-hop and look for other opportunities. The average tenure is two to three years or less.

Eagerness to learn new skills and a positive attitude: Another misconception about seniors is that they are hesitant or even resistant to learn new technologies and ways of doing things. Some studies have shown that seniors and retirees are among the fastest growing demographic of social media users and online communities as well as adopters of new technologies such as laptop and tablet PCs and handheld devices and software programs.

Strong people and customer service skills: While this is obviously not true of every individual, as a group, seniors and retirees tend to interact best with customers and their co-workers because of their history of experience in resolving conflict and strong communication skills.

If you want qualified, dependable, skilled workers, consider hiring quality workers by recruiting retirees! QCBN

By Teri Drew

Teri Drew is the executive director of Yavapai County Workforce Development Board.

New Year, New Career, New Focus

By Leave a Comment

So, as 2023 begins with its unique economic challenges, focus your attention on the opportunities that are available locally to achieve your goals.

As we begin 2023, it is a good time to reflect on the past year as a benchmark to set our sights for planning innovative economic strategies.

Yavapai County began 2022 with a labor force of 106,288 (ages 16+). Active employment was 103,202 – a difference of 3,086 (unemployment). The official January 2022 Unemployment Rate was 2.9%.

Fast-forward to the latest data available as of this writing – the October 2022 labor force increased to 108,343 (+2,055), but the actual employment only increased by 1,530 (104,732), creating an increase in the unemployment rate to 3.3% (3,611). The November 2022 Yavapai County unemployment rate was recorded as 2.9%, which is an increase year-over-year of 0.3%.

How do we address these challenges in 2023? Our economy is changing rapidly and businesses are showing signs of economic stress related to inflation. The effects of inflation cause home sales to fall, with related occupations declining. Auto sales overall continue to decline, which affects related occupations in those industries as well. Remote workers are returning to security-based jobs with set pay and benefits.  Families are merging – parents and grandparents are providing support for struggling children and grandchildren, and the cost of education is out of reach for many.

Rapid Response funding for dislocated worker re-training through the state and the Yavapai County Local Workforce Development Area is available to employers for layoff aversion strategies and career placement services for individuals suddenly finding themselves unemployed through no fault of their own. The Yavapai County Workforce Development Board is currently working with local businesses and dislocated workers who are negatively affected by the impacts of inflation, to include banking, real estate, title companies, auto sales, service and related occupations.

As workforce leaders, our job is to invest federal dollars that result in positive impacts to local economies, offering paid classroom training, incumbent worker upskilling and re-skilling, paid on-the-job training and work experience opportunities. We continue to bring CEOs to the table and align federal investments to targeted industries to develop innovative strategies. Currently, occupations in high demand in Yavapai County include heavy and tractor-trailer truck drivers (currently 26,794 employed), Licensed Practical/Vocational Nurses (currently 6,839 employed) and aircraft mechanics/service technicians (currently 5,272 employed).

So, as 2023 begins with its unique economic challenges, focus your attention on the opportunities that are available locally to achieve your goals. QCBN

By Teri Drew

Teri Drew is the Executive Director of the Yavapai County Workforce Development Board.

Teri Drew Honored with Prestigious ATHENA Leadership Award

By Leave a Comment

Prescott-area High Tea celebrates local women in the international program.

Among a sea of fancy hats and fine china, more than 150 community members came out in style to celebrate women in leadership during the third annual Prescott-area ATHENA Awards High Tea, hosted by Quad Cities Business News and Prescott Woman Magazine. With a standing ovation, the crowd honored Northern Arizona Council of Governments (NACOG) Regional Director Teri Drew as the 2022 Prescott-Area ATHENA.

In receiving the award, she recognized the support of her husband and high school sweetheart, Rick Drew, as well as her co-workers.

“The honor of being named the 2022 Athena Award winner has changed my perspective on my career, contributions and commitment to community,” she said. “The award has motivated me to seek out the good in all women and nominate them for this life-changing recognition. It has changed my life by being able to share more about me – my family, my career – with the community. I’ve received so many emails, calls and congratulations from the community. I’m grateful to share my story.”

The ATHENA Award is part of an international program that began in 1987. Its mission is to support, honor and develop women leaders and inspire women to reach their full potential. It recognizes women who achieve excellence in their work, support their community and mentor others. Astronauts, judges and elite athletes are among the ATHENA circle of sisterhood. Famous ATHENA Award recipients include Billy Jean King, Condoleezza Rice and Marlo Thomas. At the Prescott event on Sunday, Sept. 18, Aboost was the lead sponsor. Founder and owner Anita Farrelly, RN, says she loved being in a room full of women who were pushing themselves to the next level to be role models and leaders for the community. “I’ve always been an advocate for leadership, growth and development and to participate in an event that champions these skills is powerful, enlightening and motivating. It’s what I want my daughters to know and learn.”

Farrelly added that for nurses, the assumption is that they will always work for someone else, a hospital or a corporation. “The Prescott-Area ATHENA Awards is such a good fit for Aboost because we’re teaching nurses how to be owners of their own businesses, to have an entrepreneur mindset and to develop marketing and sales skills so that they may use their nursing skills to care for the community in a different way.

Through her work with NACOG across more than four decades, Drew has helped numerous job seekers receive career-path training and find employment. She is credited for NACOG’s local, state and national recognition in innovation, leadership and services. She is nationally known for her economic and workforce development strategies and has been named Prescott Area Leadership Woman of the Year. As executive director for the Yavapai County Workforce Development Board, Drew was honored in Washington, D.C. recently for successfully nominating Grant Quezada and Founding Fathers Collective for the W.O. Lawton Business Leadership Award.

“I am blessed to say I have accomplished many successes in my career,” she said. “My greatest was my tenure of 45 years. I’ve learned so much and connected with so many people to make a significant difference for so many. I love it when someone says, ‘You helped me with school and now I am an RN,’ or ‘You placed me at the county, now I’m in management,’ or, ‘You taught me to be strong. Now I lead others.’ My greatest accomplishment is seeing others reach their potential.”

Drew says her parents and siblings were and continue to be her mentors. “They taught me what to and not to do growing up, and those strong ethics pay off.”

As a next achievement, Drew says she’d like to explore an elected position. “My hope for young women entering the workplace is for them to do what they love and love what they do.” QCBN

By Bonnie Stevens, QCBN

Going Back to the Workplace

By Leave a Comment

Job opportunities continue to rise, with the demand for skilled labor increasing more and more.

Since the pandemic, we have seen the pendulum swing from the “Great Resignation” to the “Great Retention.” Now we are experiencing the “Great Return!”

There are two sides to every coin – the front and the back. The front side of the “inflation coin” is the most obvious side that everyone talks about, such as the high prices at the grocery store and the gas pump. However, the back side doesn’t get as much attention, but it’s just as important – inflation is driving workers back to the workplace, which is good for local economies!

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the U.S. economy added 315,000 jobs in August, with notable job gains in professional and business services, health care and retail trade. In a U.S. Department of Labor blog titled “Why It’s Good the Employment Rate Ticked Up,”  Joelle Gamble wrote, “In August, the labor force participation increased to 62.4% after stagnating for several months. This increase in participation led to a slight increase in the unemployment rate, now at 3.7%. This rise was a positive sign – Americans who were not employed and not looking for work began to look for work, becoming classified as unemployed. (Unemployed persons must be actively looking for work to be counted in the primary measure of the unemployment rate.)

Notably, the prime-age (25-54 years old) employment to population ratio recovered, particularly the employment-to-population ratio for prime-age women. And prime-age women’s labor force participation rate now exceeds its February 2020 point. This is one month of data that we hope will become a trend.”

The latest jobs report for Yavapai County shows an increase in total non-farm employment of 2,400 jobs in July – an increase of 3.7%. Still, our supply of workers does not equal the demand, which changes the economy, especially related to interest rates. We have seen national permanent job loss of 188,000 in August, while the long-term unemployed saw little change. The number of persons not in the labor force who currently want a job declined by 361,000 in August. In the metropolitan Prescott area, the labor force was approximately 67,600 in July, up 3.7% from last year, and the number of unemployed was 3,656, just 3.4% of the labor force – a decrease of 0.9% from one year ago.

Layoffs are at record lows, according to The Daily Independent. Layoff rate estimates for June 2022 by industry range from less than 0.5% in financial activities and state and local governments, to 1.7% in construction. Trade/transportation/utilities, leisure/hospitality and construction are at record low layoffs, although some are still behind pre-pandemic levels when it comes to employment, particularly in leisure/hospitality. The demand for travel and vacations in Northern Arizona is helping to drive job growth in these industries.

Job opportunities continue to rise, with the demand for skilled labor increasing more and more. The economy recovers well when business functions well within the community. Business functions well when people go back to work. The Yavapai County Workforce Development Board stands ready to provide skills training for job seekers to equip them for in-demand jobs in career occupations, fostering a sustainable economy and workforce retention. QCBN

By Teri Drew

Teri Drew is the executive director of the Yavapai County Workforce Development Board.

NACOG Honors County Work Force Members

By Leave a Comment

Almost 60 people from across the county gathered at the Prescott Lakes Golf Course Club House at 311 E. Smoke Tree.

Praised by Mary Mallory, chair of the Yavapai County Board of Supervisors (BOS), as “going above and beyond the ordinary bounds of leadership in serving the greater community,” several Yavapai County leaders were accorded high recognition during the 2022 annual luncheon meeting of  “Arizona Work” in Yavapai County.

Almost 60 people from across the county gathered at the Prescott Lakes Golf Course Club House at 311 E. Smoke Tree.

Organized by the Northern Arizona of Council of Governments (NACOG), the program was opened by NACOG Regional Director Teri Drew. Honors were announced in several categories.  Among them were:

LEADERSHIP AWARDS

Adult Care Services-West Yavapai County was represented by Cynthia Fisher. The organization was recognized for offering meaningful programs to help individuals with memory loss, illnesses and disabilities who live at the Susan J. Rheem Adult Day Care Center and the Margaret T. Morris Adult Day Care Center. The organization was praised because it provides employees with excellent opportunities to increase their wages and advance their careers.

Town of Camp Verde-East County was represented by Julie Kaiser and Crisi Clark. After several years of collaborating with NACOG, the Work Experience/On the Job Training program has become 100% successful in retaining employees. The community received the reward because its clients had moved on to prosperous careers.

The Meadows of Northern Arizona-West County was represented by John London.

Considered an outstanding partner with NACOG, the Meadows of Northern Arizona has consistently assisted its students with accurate and in-depth information about programs and how they best can succeed in their training program. The students who complete the program succeed and find stable employment in health care careers.

TITLE 1 ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS

June Mann: Prior to working in the United States, Mann had been a nurse in Scotland and teacher in England. Arriving in Arizona in 1990, she taught until the pandemic struck. She then returned to the health care field, where she had more job opportunities and was able to assist people who are at the end of their lifecycle.

John Burien: Burien completed his CNA certification at the Meadows of Northern Arizona a year ago. He has been appointed from temporary Nursing Assistant to CNA and received his CNA title and a significant raise in December 2021. He continues working there and is moving upward.

Jaime Wiltgen: This Prescott resident began her employment at Adult Care Services as an assistant caregiver and then completed an on-the-job training contract. She also attended a training course where she gained her caregiver certificate and was valedictorian of her graduating class. She has now risen to position of assistant team leader.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AWARD

Rogers Academy of Beauty: This organization has partnered with NACOG by giving students information that will let them complete their education and certification as cosmetologists and aestheticians. Owner Sheri Rogers provides her students with educational opportunities and certifications to the point that in the past year, 13 students benefitted. Ten graduated and seven became employed.

EXCEPTIONALISM IN PARTNERSHIP RECOGNITION

Linda Bolyard: Title 111 Re-Employment Services Supervisor for Yavapai County Linda Bolyard  is credited with recognizing and understanding the partnership benefits of having staff at the Prescott location where staff could identify and shift staff members to accommodate the workload created by the pandemic. She collaborated with others to be ascertained that all critical roles would be filled while the rotation of key staff positions was shifting.

CHAIRMAN’S AWARD

Mel Ingwaldson: Since 2006, Ingwaldson has contributed his leadership and support to the Summer Youth Employment Programs and Youth Service Provider selections. He also has worked with the public voice representative on the executive committee to provide recommendations to the executive committee.

OUTSTANDING MEMBER RECOGITION

Patrick Ramirez: Ramirez joined the workforce development board in spring 2021 with the Arizona Pipe Trades Apprenticeship. He has assisted with technical and logistical support along the way with new personnel and he is credited with having gone beyond ordinary limits in supporting new personnel in training.

During the program’s closing moment, Supervisor Mallory said she was proud to represent the board in congratulating those who had been recognized for their hard work and dedication and strong contributions to the overall county economy. QCBN

By Ray Newton, QCBN