Polk County Makes Workforce News in National Cooperation

In April of this year, Kim Parker-Llerenas, WWP’s Executive Director, participated in the Workforce GPS/NAWB webinar, Promising Practices in Engaging Local Elected Officials, attended by more than 300 people. Kim shared her insights about building and sustaining relationships with local elected officials. Specifically, building trust, communicating consistently and navigating the politics. Kim’s presentation was exceptionally well received and led to an invitation to present at a recent round table webinar facilitated by NAWB for the Department of Labor’s Employment and Training  Administration Next Level Now Collaborative Technical Assistant Program. Kim and Craig Pope, Polk County Commissioner, Chief Local Elected Official, and Chair of the Mid-Willamette Valley Jobs Council shared examples of how workforce boards effectively engage local elected officials.

 Commissioner Pope stated, “I have dedicated a considerable portion of my adult working life to furthering the efforts of my local workforce board, as an employer and as an elected official in my county. It was an honor to stand alongside my amazing Executive Director, and share our thoughts about the value of relationships and project delivery in the workforce world.

Their participation in this webinar was recognized in NAWB’s May 26, 2023 Weekly Postcard with the following shout-out “Huge thanks to Kim Parker-Llerenas & Craig Pope of Willamette Workforce Partnership….for providing attendees with high quality working examples!”

 Congratulations to Kim and Commissioner Pope for expanding WWP’s national exposure!