On Wednesday, December 6th, MAX held our 3rd Annual Meeting of the membership, at Atlanta Metropolitan State College’s Conference Center. This is our time of year when we gather with our beloved MAX members as we celebrate the year behind and preview the year ahead. It is also when we announce our new slate of board officers and members for the next two years. More than 80 members gathered in person for this special time of fun, enlightenment, and fellowship.
Before the MAX business portion of the meeting, members heard a special keynote address from C. David Moody, Jr., President & CEO of C.D. Moody Construction Company, Inc. Moody praised the work of workforce developers and noted how impactful this work is to countless individuals. He shared his company’s personal experiences in working with providers such as Construction Ready to find qualified workers with barriers that can often prevent them from employment. Moody also discussed the importance of helping individuals not only understand what they are passionate about but also what they are good at. And he discussed how important self-care is to avoiding burnout in the demanding profession we know as workforce development.
Following Moody’s remarks, Scott Shelar, President & CEO of Construction Ready, also addressed MAX members. Shelar stressed how the work done by workforce professionals is evermore important giving the rising demand for the skilled trades workforce. He shared how the skilled trades provide opportunities for individuals to access high-paying, quality jobs in an attractive career pathway that offers true upward mobility potential. Shelar noted how through short-term, credentialed training, individuals access these jobs without incurring unnecessary college debt. The Construction Ready executive shared stories of individuals who found their calling in the skilled trades.
MAX Board Chair John Helton, President & CEO of CareerRise, followed these inspirational remarks with a reminder of MAX’s mission and the unique role that we play for our region and state. Following Helton’s initial remarks, MAX leaders provided updates as follows:
- MAX Provider Council Update: Dana Inman
- MAX Data Council Update: Marion Phillips
- MAX Member Engagement Council Update: Breezy Straton
- MAX Program of Work Update: Joy Wilkins
- MAX Finance Update: John Helton for Tim Cairl
- MAX Strategic Priorities Review: John Helton
Helton closed this portion of the agenda with special remarks regarding his tenure as board chair for the past two years and a warm welcome to incoming board chair, Jenny Taylor, Vice President and Chief Mission Officer, Goodwill of North Georgia.
As Taylor joined the podium, she officially introduced the MAX 2024-2025 leadership team as follows:
- CHAIR: Jenny Taylor, Vice President & Chief Mission Officer, Goodwill of North Georgia
- VICE CHAIR: Dana Inman, President & CEO, Atlanta Center for Self Sufficiency
- TREASURER: Tim Cairl, Senior Director, Talent Development, Public Policy, Metro Atlanta Chamber
- SECRETARY: Daniela Perry, Vice President, Georgia Chamber Foundation
- PAST CHAIR: John Helton, President & CEO, CareerRise
- DATA COUNCIL CHAIR: Marion Phillips, Research Supervisor, Community & Economic Development, Georgia Power
- MEMBER ENGAGEMENT COUNCIL CHAIR: Breezy Straton, Vice President, Elevate Douglas Economic Partnership
- PROVIDER COUNCIL CHAIR: Jeannie Ross, Director of Job Training and Employment Services, City of Refuge
- BOARD MEMBER EMERITUS: Wendell Dallas, President & CEO, Nicor Gas (a Southern Company)
- David Dietrichs, General Counsel, Utility, Inc.
- Sonya Grant, Executive Director, WorkSource Cobb + WorkSource Metro Atlanta
- John Hallman, Deputy Commissioner, Office of Family Independence, Georgia Department of Human Services
- Chris Kidd, Director of Economic Development, University System of Georgia
- Kristin Laarhoven, Executive Director, WorkSource Georgia
- Amy Lancaster-King, Principal & Chief Consultant, Long Game Solutions LLC
- Karen Leone de Nie, Vice President, Community & Economic Development and Community Affairs Officer, Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta
- Amelia Nickerson, President & CEO, First Step Staffing
- Joe Paolini, Vice President, Bobby Dodd Institute
- Dr. Ray Perren, Deputy Commissioner, Technical College System of Georgia
- Dr. Victoria Seals, President, Atlanta Technical College
- Dr. Barbara Wall, Deputy Superintendent, Career, Technical, and Agricultural Education, Georgia Department of Education
Taylor then proceeded to share her vision for 2024 and 2025 for MAX which falls into the following four areas – all of which align with the goals the board has adopted for MAX.
- Sustainable, neutral, third-party convener
- Capacity and effectiveness
- Awareness of partner assets
- System alignment
During this time, we also recognized the recipient of the 2023 MAX Wendell Dallas Excellence in Leadership Award — Karen Leone de Nie, Vice President, Community & Economic Development and Community Affairs Officer for the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta. Click here to learn more.