Workforce Development

Workforce Board and Committees

Board Composition

The Tompkins County Workforce Development Board works to enhance the productivity and competitiveness of Tompkins County by developing and coordinating resources that meet employer needs while facilitating employment and development opportunities for individuals. The board is composed of fifty-one percent private sector and forty-nine percent non-for profit, community-based, and other organizations.

Board Members

Scott Pronti - Chair
Vice President of Human Resources
Tompkins Trust Company

Kim Babuka - Secretary
Senior Director, Workforce Planning and Compensation
Cornell University

Paul Levesque - Treasurer
President
HOLT Architects

Todd Bruer
Business Manager and Fund Administrator
IBEW - Local 241

Suzanne Cerquone
Human Resources Manager
Ithaca Marriott Downtown

Kip Cerasaro
Employment Services Manager
New York State Department of Labor

John Cometti
Business Agent and Organizer
Teamsters Local 317

Danielle Harrington
Executive Director
Tompkins Community Action

Katelyn Hettrick
Senior Human Resources Manager
BorgWarner

Leon Holden
Director of Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging
Family and Children's Service of Ithaca

Kit Kephart
Social Services Commissioner
Tompkins County Department of Social Services

Chris Malcolm
Service Area Manager
Wegmans

Heather McDaniel
President
Ithaca Area Economic Development

Ron Olson
Director of Operations
Cornell NanoScale Facility, Cornell University

Kate Shanks-Booth
Director of Youth Services
Tompkins County Youth Services

Jennifer Tavares
President & CEO
Tompkins County Chamber of Commerce

Kathy Taylor
General Manager
Ithaca Downtown Conference Center
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Andrew Tunison
District Office Manager
ACCES-VR Southern Tier

Denise Vreeland
Vice President of Services
Challenge

Steve Waight
Human Resources Manager
Cayuga Health

Cindy Walter
Assistant Superintendent for Instructional and Career Services
TST BOCES

Carrie Whitmore
Director of Continuing Education and Workforce Development
Tompkins Cortland Community College

Yen Wu
Owner
Lev Kitchen

Paula E.F. Younger
Executive Director for Government, Community, and Constituent Relations
Ithaca College

Ex-Officio, Non-Voting

Bridgette Nugent
Deputy County Administrator
Tompkins County

Committee Information

The Tompkins County Workforce Development Board has established five committees to carry out the vision and mission of the Board. Committees are comprised of members of the Board, and “ad hoc” members (as designated by the individual committees). The chairperson for each committee is selected by the Board Chairperson annually at the first meeting of the year.

Executive Committee

The Executive Committee is responsible for overseeing workforce development programs and implementing strategies to accomplish the goals and objectives of the Tompkins County Workforce Development Board. The Executive Committee shall have all the authority of the Workforce Development Board and act on behalf of the Board as needed.

Meetings are held on the 1st Tuesday of each month at 8:15 a.m. at 119 East Seneca Street, Suite 200, Ithaca, NY 14850

Executive Committee Duties

The Committee:

Oversees the activities of the Board and committees to ensure the satisfactory performance of workforce development programs pursuant to Title I of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA)
Develops and reviews program plans, reports, and documents for recommendations
Acts on behalf of the Board between regularly scheduled Board meetings when necessary
Reports actions taken in Executive Committee meetings at the next Board meeting
Increases the involvement of the business community in the planning, development, and implementation of the employment needs of the private sector
Promotes the general welfare and prosperity of Tompkins County, and to work toward assuring that all Tompkins County residents can work and earn a wage they can live on

Members of the committee shall include:

Officers of the Board
WDB members

Minimum Meeting Requirements:

Monthly and as needed

Committee Members

Scott Pronti, Chair - Vice President of Human Resources, Tompkins Trust Company
Kim Babuka, Secretary - Senior Director, Workforce Planning and Compensation, Cornell University
Paul Levesque, Treasurer - President, HOLT Architects

Youth Oversight Committee

The Youth Oversight Committee (YOC) is responsible for oversight, administration, and effectiveness of all youth programs by the Tompkins County Workforce Development Board. The YOC is also responsible for analysis of existing youth serving programs and after consultation with youth employment services agencies identifying gaps in service and funding.

Meetings are held on the 2nd Wednesday of each month at 8:45 a.m. at 119 East Seneca Street, Suite 200, Ithaca, NY 14850

Youth Oversight Committee Duties

The Youth Oversight Committee (YOC) is responsible for oversight, administration, and effectiveness of all youth programs by the Workforce Development Board. The YOC is also responsible for analysis of existing youth serving programs and after consultation with youth employment services agencies identifying gaps in service and funding.

The Committee:

Advises on the administration of funds to deliver program services to improve the training, literacy, and job readiness skill of youth
Recommends providers of youth services to be awarded grants or contracts on a competitive basis by the local board
Conducts oversight with respect to providers of youth services

Members of the committee shall include:

WDB members
Representatives of community-based organizations, agencies, and education providers with demonstrated record of success in providing oversight of programs serving youth

Minimum Meeting Requirements:

Bi-monthly

Committee Members

Kate Shanks-Booth, Chair - Director of Youth Services, Tompkins County Youth Services
Gladys Larson - Probation Supervisor, Tompkins County Probation and Community Justice
Shelley Lester - Rural Youth Services Coordinator, Cornell Cooperative Extension
Chris Malcolm - Service Area Manager, Wegmans
Victoria Zeppelin - Director of CollegeNow, Tompkins Cortland Community College

One Stop Operations & Oversight Committee

The One Stop Operations & Oversight Committee is responsible for advising the Tompkins County Workforce Development Board on matters relating to the delivery of services through the One Stop Career Center. The One Stop Operations & Oversight Committee shall also provide policy guidance as it relates to the overall services available to all customers of the local workforce system.

Meetings are held bi-monthly on the 2nd Tuesday of the month at 8:30 a.m. at 119 East Seneca Street, Suite 200, Ithaca, NY 14850

One Stop Operations & Oversight Committee Duties

The Committee:

Is responsible for certification of training providers and oversight of training outcomes
Responsible for programmatic and fiscal monitoring of One Stop Operations
Ensures that the interests of job seekers and employers are equally represented in the One Stop system
Ensures that the One Stop system provides quality comprehensive services in a seamless, integrated, effective, and efficient manner
Ensures that the One Stop system meets or exceeds performance standards
Ensures the continuing implementation of One Stop system activities by identifying and monitoring the flow of services
Oversees team management of the One Stop system
Identifies and implements effective employment and training strategies that result in employment opportunities for economically disadvantaged adults, youths, and dislocated workers
Recommends funding allocations for program services
Conducts oversight of program operations, including development and review of program policies

Members of the committee shall include:

One Stop management
WDB members
Representatives of One Stop Partner agencies

Minimum Meeting Requirements:

Bi-monthly

Committee Members

Suzanne Cerquone - Human Resources Manager, Ithaca Marriott Downtown
Danielle Harrington - Executive Director, Tompkins Community Action
Carrie Whitmore - Director of Continuing Education & Workforce Development, Tompkins Cortland Community College
Cindy Walter - Assistant Superintendent for Instructional and Career Services, TST BOCES

Governance and Membership Committee

The Governance and Membership Committee is responsible for advising the Tompkins County Workforce Development Board on matters related to recruitment and training of new board members, developing a slate of officers annually, and reviewing and recommending changes in the By-Laws as appropriate.

Meetings are held quarterly or as needed at 119 East Seneca Street, Suite 200, Ithaca, NY 14850

Governance and Membership Committee Duties

The Committee:

Reviews By-Laws for appropriate changes
Recruits new board and committee members
Provides orientation for new board members
Presents annual slate of officers to the Board
Keeps members abreast of attendance and other membership requirements and responsibilities

Members of the committee shall include:

WDB Members

Minimum Meeting Requirements:

Quarterly or as needed

Committee Members

Kim Babuka - Senior Director, Workforce Planning and Compensation, Cornell University
Scott Pronti - Vice President of Human Resources, Tompkins Trust Company
Heather McDaniel - President, Ithaca Area Economic Development
Jennifer Tavares - President & CEO, Tompkins County Chamber of Commerce

Disabilities Workforce Committee

Disabilities Workforce Committee is a responsible for advising the Tompkins County Workforce Development Board on matters related to accessibility and the provision of disability services to One Stop customers with disabilities. The Disabilities Workforce Committee shall also provide policy guidance as it relates to services to individuals with disabilities.

Meetings are held bi-monthly on the 2nd Tuesday at 8:30 a.m. at 119 East Seneca Street, Suite 200, Ithaca, NY 14850

Disabilities Workforce Committee Duties

The Disabilities Workforce Committee is a responsible for advising the WDB on matters related to accessibility and the provision of disability services to One-Stop customers with disabilities. The Disabilities Workforce Committee shall also provide policy guidance as it relates to services to individuals with disabilities.

The Committee:

Advocates for customers with disabilities
Raises awareness of disability as a civil rights and diversity issue
Promotes collaboration between service providers
Seeks ways to increase inclusive employment opportunities with local businesses
Supports and collaborates with the Workforce Development Disability Resource Coordinator

Members of the committee shall include:

WDB members
Advocates for individuals with disabilities
Providers of employment services
Representatives of national disability advocacy organizations for adults with disabilities
Experts with a background in academia or research and expertise in employment and wage policy issues for individuals with disabilities
Representatives from the employer community or national employer
Other individuals or representatives of organizations with expertise on increasing opportunities for competitive integrated employment for individuals with disabilities

Minimum Meeting Requirements:

Bi-monthly

Committee Members

Andrew Tunison, Chair - District Office Manager, ACCES-VR Southern Tier
Bruce Flaherty - Employment Specialist, Tompkins County Whole Health PROS
Jan Lynch - Executive Director, Finger Lakes Independence Center
Amanda McManus - Director of Employment Services, Unity House
Karen Rachetta - Coordinator for Access and Equity Services, Tompkins Cortland Community College
Briggs Seekins - Director of Employment and Vocational Services, Challenge
Jennifer Slade - Integrated Employment Specialist, ACCES-VR Southern Tier