January 23, 2001

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The NOVA Workforce Board Selection Committee is recommending confirmation of the following individuals to the NOVA Workforce Board:

Mr. Harold Evans, Coordinator

Field Ironworkers Apprenticeship & Training Program, Santa Clara

Dr. Hilary Goodkind, Director

Center for Quality of Management, Mountain View

Dr. Robin Parker, Worldwide Knowledge Engineering Manager

Hewlett-Packard Company, Cupertino

Ms. Michelle Alford-Williams, Rehabilitation Supervisor

California Department of Rehabilitation

The NOVA Workforce Board Selection Committee is comprised of NOVA Workforce Board chairperson (Clare Phillips), the President of the Sunnyvale Chamber of Commerce (Suzi Blackman) and a Sunnyvale City Council member (Julia Miller). The Selection Committee is charged with the responsibility of recommending a slate of candidates for the NOVA Workforce Board, for confirmation by the Sunnyvale City Council.

The Selection Committee is recommending Harold Evans, Hilary Goodkind, Robin Parker, and Michelle Alford-Williams for four year terms on the NOVA Workforce Board.

BACKGROUND

The Workforce Investment Act of 1998 stipulates the composition, roles and responsibilities of the local workforce board. The local workforce board is appointed by the chief local elected official (Sunnyvale City Council) and should be comprised of the following representation:

• Business Executives (majority and chair)

• Education providers

• Labor Organizations

• Community-based Organizations

• Economic development agencies

• One-Stop partners

Additional members appointed by chief local elected official

On January 11, 2000, the Sunnyvale City Council approved implementation of the Workforce Investment Act and authorized the NOVA Private Industry Council to evolve into the new NOVA Workforce Board, under WIA, with membership expanded during the coming year. (RTC#00-012) It is expected that the new Board will be expanded to approximately 35 seats.

Over the past several months, NOVA has been actively soliciting potential candidates for the NOVA Workforce Board, with the plan to recruit business representatives first, followed by representation from the public sector and other sectors in the community. In recruiting business, the goal is to have a Workforce Board representative of the broad range of diverse and innovative new and old economy industries that have made Silicon Valley what it is today including: biosciences, computers & communications, defense & space, innovation & R&D, semiconductors, software & internet, contract manufacturing, other business services and retail. In addition, it is expected that the companies represented will be located in the seven cities area that make up the NOVA consortium. Candidates from the public sector are expected to represent a wide variety of programs and services and include programs that fall under the one-stop required partners category, as stipulated by WIA.

Specific recruitment activities accomplished to-date include:

• Establishing an application process on-line at www.novawb.org
• Submitting an article to the Chamber of Commerce newsletter
• Sending recruitment letters to the mayors of each of the seven cities
• Establishing a Workforce Board Recruitment Committee to identify and solicit potential candidates

Recruitment of new Board members is expected to conclude shortly. The NOVA Workforce Board Selection Committee is recommending these four new candidates Harold Evans, Hilary Goodkind, Robin Parker and Michelle Alford-Williams to the NOVA Workforce Board, as they represent important industries in Silicon Valley and will contribute specific expertise essential to the work of the new Board.

ABOUT THE CANDIDATES

Harold Evans, Coordinator

Field Ironworkers Apprenticeship & Training Program, Santa Clara

Ironworkers Apprenticeship & Training Program represents an important labor organization providing training, retraining and apprenticeship services for the building industry, vital to growing our own workforce and contributing to the new economy. Ironworkers Apprenticeship & Training Program employs approximately eight employees. Mr. Evans brings to the Workforce Board specific knowledge and experience with labor's workforce development issues and needs, training workers to succeed in the new economy and helping put people to work.

Hilary Goodkind, Director

Center for Quality of Management, Mountain View

Center for Quality of Management provides organizational and executive development around the principles of the Malcolm Baldrige Performance Excellence Criteria and total quality management, vital to NOVA's launch of their new customer satisfaction initiative and continuous quality improvement efforts. Dr. Goodkind brings to the Workforce Board previous experience on two Workforce Boards in Oregon and specific expertise in organizational learning/development and CQM research/methodology. In addition, Dr. Goodkind has a background in higher education at both the university and community college level.

Robin Parker, Worldwide Knowledge Engineering Manager

Hewlett-Packard Company, Cupertino

Hewlett-Packard Company has been a leader in workforce development not only in its many years of contributions on the NOVA Workforce Board, but in its role in the economic vitality of this community. Dr. Parker brings to the Workforce Board over ten years of experience in education, workforce development and customer satisfaction. In addition, Dr. Parker's civic and community participation includes over ten years of experience serving on various boards, commissions and elected offices—more recently Mayor of the City of Sunnyvale, 1995-1996. Dr. Parker replaces former Workforce Board member Ms. Fredia Brooks, who recently moved to another company.

Michelle Alford-Williams, Rehabilitation Supervisor

California Department of Rehabilitation

California Department of Rehabilitation represents an important and mandated partner in the one-stop service-delivery system, under the Workforce Investment Act. For many years, the Department of Rehabilitation has been represented on the NOVA Workforce Board and the former Private Industry Council. Ms. Alford-Williams brings to the NOVA Workforce Board over 10 years of experience in the employment field, with a specialty in disabilities. She currently oversees the day-to-day operations of a unit of rehabilitation counselors and functions in the capacity of community liaison with various community-based organizations. Ms. Alford-Williams has also been active in CONNECT!, NOVA's one-stop system, serving on a variety of task forces and committees. Ms. Alford-Williams replaces former Board member Mr. Bill Moore, former Administrator for the San Jose District office of the Department of Rehabilitation, who was recently promoted. Ms. Alford-Williams is being nominated to serve on the Workforce Board on an interim basis until the Administrator position has been filled.

EXISTING POLICY

The proposed activities are consistent with the City of Sunnyvale's Socio-Economic Goal 5.1F: Provide job training and employment services, within constraints of operative Federal regulations and available Federal funding to address the locally-determined employment and training needs of economically disadvantaged residents and others with special needs.

Fiscal Impact

No fiscal impact.

PUBLIC CONTACT

Publication and posting of Council Agenda. In addition, Council reports are available at the Sunnyvale City Library and on the City's internet page.

ALTERNATIVES

(1) Confirm the four candidates recommended by the NOVA Workforce Board Selection Committee for the NOVA Workforce Board.

(2) Confirm one, two or three candidates recommended by the NOVA Workforce Board Selection Committee for the NOVA Workforce Board.

(3) Recommend that none of the four candidates be confirmed for the NOVA Workforce Board.

RECOMMENDATION

The NOVA staff recommend that the Sunnyvale City Council approve Alternative #1 and take the following actions:

• Confirm the four candidates recommended by the NOVA Workforce Board Selection Committee for the NOVA Workforce Board.

Prepared by:
Mike Curran, Director 
Department of Employment Development

Approved by:
Robert S. LaSala
City Manager