Through periodic MAX Member Spotlights, our MAX team is honored to help our broader workforce development network get to know our members better in order to strengthen connections, collaborations, and practices among workforce developers and organizations engaged in workforce development. Here, our members share insights on how MAX is helpful in their work, accomplishments they’re most proud of, emerging trends they see as affecting workforce development, and more.
Why did you become a MAX member?
This work is incredibly important to inform, prepare and strategize for greater economic prosperity in the region.
How long have you been engaged with the MAX network?
More than 5 years. (ARC participated as a member of the initial team from which MAX was developed.)
How has being a member of MAX benefitted you or your organization?
MAX is critical to helping those in our organization who work in or partner with the efforts to increase regional and statewide workforce and economic development competitiveness. Its function to showcase partnerships, netweave professionals and inform and support creative collaborations to support success now and into the future enable long-term success for potential workers and our business community.
How have you engaged through MAX in the past 12 months?
MAX Leadership Network, MAX Mondays, sharing MAX information on job fairs with my colleagues within ARC and my larger network
Which event do you most look forward to attending?
All of them. I find very interesting events that are particularly focused on economic development, entrepreneurship and small business, and innovative public/private collaborations that specifically promote workforce and economic solutions.
How many years have you served in the workforce development profession?
17+ years. I currently work in the Center for Strategic Relations but have more than 17 years management experience in workforce solutions and business development.
Why do you serve in this profession? What motivates you or inspires you to do what you do?
Core to our success in the region is having a skilled workforce to meet employer demand and creating more economic development opportunity in our region is of most importance. Our PEOPLE are why companies want to relocate their headquarters and expand in Georgia. Workforce development is the nucleus that drives these gains.
What is something you and/or your organization have accomplished in the past 12 months that you are most proud of?
Metro Atlanta Speaks Survey; deeper engagement with the public and private sector partners; strategic plans for aging independence and transportation solutions; regional leadership programs such as LINK, RLI, MARC and ALMA; and, most recently, our water conservation success. ARC played a critical role in helping the state win Florida v. Georgia case over the equitable apportionment of the Apalachicola-Chattahoochee-Flint river system.
What are some emerging trends you see as affecting the job seekers and employers served through our profession?
Reorganization and restructuring as a result of the impact of the pandemic, new acquisitions, succession planning and major executive level changes in many regional corporations.
Is there anything you believe that we, as a profession, should do differently in the future to best serve those we serve?
We should do a deeper dive into the small business community and the small businesses of color.
What is a little-known fun fact about you?
I played Polo at Agnes Scott.
Click here for more MAX Member Spotlights.