Gov. Bill Ritter today formally convened the Colorado Jobs Cabinet, bringing together nearly three dozen business, economic-development, education and civic leaders from around the state to meet current and future workforce needs of Colorado
The Jobs Cabinet will be co-chaired by attorney Jim Lyons, Qwest Executive Vice President Teresa Taylor and Trinidad State Junior College President Ruth Ann Woods. Its work will complement education-reform efforts being spearheaded by the Governor's P-20 Council, and several high-ranking members of Gov. Ritter's administration will serve as ex-officio members.
"This Jobs Cabinet will ensure that we align our education programs with the very real and relevant needs of Colorado's diverse businesses and industries, including key economic sectors that will experience significant growth in the next decade, such as bioscience, energy, tourism, aerospace and other technology and knowledge-based industries," Gov. Ritter said at today's first meeting of the full Jobs Cabinet.
"The Jobs Cabinet will help us build the best-educated and best-trained workforce in the world," Gov. Ritter added. "It will set strategic priorities and work directly with local and regional partners to ensure that training programs are developed, delivered and readily available. It will allow employers to help shape and design the workforce of tomorrow – 10, 15 and 20 years down the road.
"This is about building a workforce that can compete globally. It's about bringing business and education together on a regional scale, and it's about creating a sustainable economic future for our children and our grandchildren."
The Jobs Cabinet is expected to meet regularly around the state. It also will establish regional subcommittees on the Western Slope, Eastern Plains, San Luis Valley , Front Range and the mountains to address region-specific issues.
The current membership of the Colorado Jobs Cabinet:
Co-Chairs |
| ||
Jim Lyons | Partner | Rothgerber Johnson & Lyons | |
Ruth Ann Woods | President | ||
Teresa Taylor | Exec. Vice Pres. | Qwest | |
Members | |||
Victor Andrews | Former President | USAA | |
Michael Bennet | Superintendent | Denver Public Schools | |
Jeff Campos | President/CEO | ||
Blanche Hughes | VP Student Affairs | CSU | |
Marilynn Liddell | President | ||
Zach Neumeyer | Chairman | Sage Hospitality | |
Daniel Yohannes | President/CEO | M&R Investments, LLC | |
Valerie Finnegan | Owner | Bill Clark Truck Lines | |
Ed Forsman | Owner/CEO | FCI Constructors, Inc. | |
Tom Gendron | CEO | Woodward Governor | |
Sandy Gutierrez | President/CEO | ||
Mike Thilmony | President | Bank of | |
Barbara Baumann | President | Cross Creek Energy Corp | |
John Lundgren | Training Director | ||
John Boyd | President | ||
Judy Giacomini | Dean | Northeastern Junior College | |
Thomas Gonzales | Fmr. President | Front Range CC | |
Steve Jordan | President | ||
Patricia Ladewig | Dean | ||
Jim Rizzuto | President | Otero JC & Lamar JC | |
Mary Rubadeau | Superintendent | Telluride Schools | |
Dave Svaldi | President | ||
Ed Vandertook | ED | Mountain BOCES | |
Antwan Wilson | Principal | ||
Hans Jespersen | GM, VP | Vestas Blades | |
Richard Truly | Retired | NASA | |
Rocky Scott | President | McWhinney-Centerra | |
Debra Pain | EVP | ||
Walter Isenberg | Chairman | ||
Ex-Officio Members | |||
David Skaggs | Exec. Director | ||
Donald Elliman, Jr. | Director | ||
Donald Mares | Exec. Director | C. Dept. of Labor & Employment | |
Joe Garcia | Co-Chair | P-20 Council | |
Susan Kirkpatrick | Exec. Director | ||
Rico Munn | Exec. Director | ||
Rich Baer | Chairman | ||
