Today, Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross and Advisor to the President Ivanka Trump announced the 25 members of the American Workforce Policy Advisory Board. Among those selected is Dr. Sheree Utash, President of WSU Tech. Established under Executive Order 13845, this Board will work directly with the National Council for the American Worker, leveraging the knowledge of its members to develop and implement a strategy to revamp the American workforce to better meet the challenges of the 21st century.
“I feel privileged to be part of the newly formed American Workforce Policy Advisory Board.”, said Dr. Utash “This is a chance to reframe and redesign education and training for skilled jobs in our country. It offers the opportunity to align career technical education to meet business and industry needs and 21st century skills that require a higher level of learning than past generations. These colleagues from the private sector, employers and educational institutions are subject-matter experts primed for this role. While challenging, advising the federal government on how we can improve education, training and re-training for American workers is an opportunity I welcome. This is difficult work, but it is critical as we build the future workforce to fuel the economy of the United States.”
The official press release issued by the Department of Commerce can be found below or at this link: https://www.commerce.gov/news/press-releases/2019/02/secretary-commerce-wilbur-ross-and-advisor-president-ivanka-trump
Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross and Advisor to the President Ivanka Trump Announce the Members of the American Workforce Policy Advisory Board
WASHINGTON – Today, Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross and Advisor to the President Ivanka Trump announced the 25 members of the American Workforce Policy Advisory Board. Established under Executive Order 13845, this Board will work directly with the National Council for the American Worker, leveraging the knowledge of its members to develop and implement a strategy to revamp the American workforce to better meet the challenges of the 21st century.
“President Trump is the dynamic ally that our workforce has needed in the White House for decades,” said Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross. “Under his guidance, the Advisory Board will work in coordination with the National Council for the American Worker to solve the pressing issues facing American workers and families each day.”
“This Administration is committed to making sure all Americans can participate in the opportunities created by the booming economy. I look forward to working with this exceptional and committed group of leaders to advance the goals of the National Council for the American Worker and ensure inclusive growth,” said Ivanka Trump. “We want all Americans to have the skills and opportunities to secure good paying jobs and successfully navigate technological disruptions and the rapidly changing nature of work.”
The Advisory Board, co-chaired by Secretary Ross and Ivanka Trump, brings together members from diverse backgrounds including the private sector, educational institutions, and state and local governments. The members will provide varied perspectives on workforce issues facing communities and businesses across the country, while raising awareness of multiple pathways for American workers to obtain family-sustaining careers. The members’ terms last until July 2020.
The members of the Board include:
- Jay Box, President, Kentucky Community and Technical College System
- Walter Bumphus, President & CEO, American Association of Community Colleges
- Jim Clark, President & CEO, Boys & Girls Clubs of America
- Tim Cook, CEO, Apple
- Tom Donohue, CEO, U.S. Chamber of Commerce
- Juanita Duggan, President & CEO, National Federation for Independent Business
- Elizabeth Goettl, President & CEO, Cristo Rey Network
- Marillyn Hewson, Chairman, President, & CEO, Lockheed Martin
- Eric Holcomb, Governor, Indiana
- Barbara Humpton, CEO, Siemens USA
- Al Kelly, CEO, Visa
- Vi Lyles, Mayor, Charlotte, North Carolina
- Bill McDermott, CEO, SAP America
- Sean McGarvey, President, North America’s Building and Trades Unions
- Doug McMillon, President & CEO, Walmart
- Craig Menear, Chairman, President, & CEO, Home Depot
- Michael Piwowar, Executive Director, Milken Institute
- Scott Pulsipher, President, Western Governors University
- Kim Reynolds, Governor, Iowa
- Ginni Rometty, Chairman, President, & CEO, IBM
- Scott Sanders, Executive Director, National Association of State Workforce Agencies
- Johnny Taylor, President & CEO, Society for Human Resource Management
- Jay Timmons, President & CEO, National Association of Manufacturers
- Sheree Utash, President, WSU Tech
- Marianne Wanamaker, Professor, University of Tennessee
Background:
Under the Trump Economy there are currently a record 7.3 million job openings, well exceeding the number of people unemployed. This presents a mismatch between the skills needed and those being taught, requiring immediate attention to help more Americans enter the workforce.
On July 19, 2018, President Donald J. Trump established the National Council for the American Worker through Executive Order 13845. The Department of Commerce is charged with appointing and administering a 25-member board that will provide information and recommendations to the National Council. On August 30, 2018, Secretary Ross announced that the Department of Commerce was accepting nominations for this Advisory Board.
The Advisory Board’s recommendations will help guide the National Council’s critical work in establishing a strategy to ensure that America’s students and workers have access to affordable, relevant, and innovative education and job training that will equip them to compete and win in the global economy. As part of this strategy, the Advisory Board will assist in:
- Developing a national campaign promoting multiple education and training pathways that lead to family sustaining careers;
- Recommending a specific course of action for improving labor market data to better match American workers and students with the skills and competencies employers demand;
- Identifying strategies to improve private sector investments in American students and workers to establish a culture of lifelong learning; and
- Increasing transparency and outcomes of education and job training programs, as well as enhancing skills-based hiring to better identify the needs companies seek in job applicants.
