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MICHIGAN -- The Michigan Works! Association recognized U.S. Sen. Gary Peters (D-MI), State Rep. Julie Rogers (D-Kalamazoo County), and leaders throughout the Michigan workforce development community for their contributions to statewide professional development.
According to a Michigan Works! press release, the Michigan Works! Association Legislator of the Year Award recognizes lawmakers who have exemplified the advocacy of Michigan Works! This year's legislators of the year are State Rep. Julie Rogers and U.S. Sen. Gary Peters.
"I'm incredibly honored to receive this recognition, and I'm grateful for the partnership of Michigan Works! organizations across our state," Rogers said in the release. "From my time serving on the Southwest Michigan Works! board as a county commissioner to my work in the Legislature, I've seen firsthand how transportation, child care and unnecessary licensing barriers can stand between people and good-paying jobs. Whether it's expanding access to Tri-Share child care, cutting red tape through the Occupational Therapy Interstate Compact or securing resources to help Michigan Works! support people navigating new Medicaid work requirements, I'll continue working alongside our local workforce partners to remove those barriers and connect more Michiganders with opportunity."
The Shining Stars Awards celebrate Michigan Works! Agency frontline staff who, through dedication and contributions to workforce development, personify the Michigan Works! mission, according to the release. Thirteen local workforce development leaders were awarded the Shining Star Awards.
This year's Shining Star Awardees include:
- Norean Saul of Capital Area Michigan Works!
- Herschel Poger of Detroit Employment Solutions Corporation
- Amber Longstreet of Great Lakes Bay Michigan Works!
- Athena Asher of GST Michigan Works!
- Jill Kotchi of Macomb-St. Clair Michigan Works!
- Michael Mompremier of Michigan Works! Berrien, Cass, and Van Buren
- Jeremiah Johnston of Michigan Works! Northeast Consortium
- Jody Bennett of Michigan Works! Region 7B
- Angela Watkins of Michigan Works! Southeast
- Jim Walters of Michigan Works! Southwest
- Ann Walker of Michigan Works! West Central
- Tina Thompson of Northwest Michigan Works!
- Rachel Fuller of Oakland County Michigan Works! Pontiac
- Asma Afzali of SEMCA Michigan Works!
- Tom Autio of Upper Peninsula Michigan Works!
- Cara Actherof of West Michigan Works!
"This year's Shining Star award recipients are a group of diverse and inspiring leaders from across our member agencies," Ryan Hundt, CEO of Michigan Works! Association, said in the release. "Through facility improvement, managing apprentices, sustaining school partnerships, and everything in between, these awardees went above and beyond to improve systems and support job-seekers and employers throughout the state."
The Employer of the Year award highlights a private sector employer that, in partnership with a Michigan Works! Agency, contributes to local job placement and promotes education to maintain a skilled workforce, the release stated. This year's employer of the year is Wolf Line Construction, a rural fiber company with strong apprenticeship programs, veteran inclusion efforts, recovery-friendly practices, and workforce funding.
According to Michigan Works!, the Volunteer of the Year Award honors an individual from the private sector who is dedicated to the growth and promotion of Michigan Works! This year's honoree is Howard Hipes of Bricklayers - Trowel Trades A&T Org. Hipes is a retired apprenticeship leader who co-built the Apprenticeship Readiness Training program, mentors participants, advocates for statewide apprenticeship programs, and strengthens collaboration across labor and workforce partners.
The Christine Quinn Excellence in Leadership award honors leaders in the Michigan Works! system who go above and beyond to benefit workforce development in Michigan, according to the release. The award is named after Christine Quinn, who was Michigan's workforce champion in the U.S. Department of Labor and was a strong advocate for the system for decades. This year's Christine Quinn awardee is Bill Hellar, Chief Information Officer of SEMCA Michigan Works!, recognized for his policy and technology expertise, collaboration across the state, and generous sharing of best practices.
The Board of Excellence award is presented to a local workforce development board that demonstrates exceptional leadership and innovation for job seekers and employers, the release stated. This year's recipient is the Oakland County Workforce Development Board. The board leads the Oakland County Michigan Works! System, serving the 1.2 million residents and 40,000 businesses in Oakland County.
"Our Employer of the Year, Volunteer of the Year, Christine Quinn Excellence in Leadership, and Board of Excellence awards highlight leadership on all levels throughout our communities," Hundt said in the release. "We congratulate Wolf Line Construction, Howard Hipes, Bill Hellar, and the Oakland County Workforce Development Board for their support and commitment to Michigan's workforce development system."