Duffy Visits Ashland Job Center Today

Seventh District U.S. Representative Sean Duffy (R-Ashland) visited the Ashland Job Center today. Northwest Wisconsin Concentrated Employment Program, Inc. (CEP, Inc.) and the Northwest Wisconsin Workforce Investment Board, Inc. (NWWIB) coordinated the visit.

CEP, Inc. Employment Specialist Assistant, Julie Shilts, gave Duffy a tour of the facilities, explained some of the resources available, and introduced him to job seekers using the resource room.

Randy Rust and Jessica Gallagher, both of Ashland Industries, were also on hand to discuss how they make use of the employment and training resources available through the NWWIB and CEP, Inc. On-the-Job Training and industry partnership grant trainings have been helpful to the company in recent years. Also, regional welding boot camps have helped them find workers with the skill set that Ashland Industries is looking for, according to information from CEP.

After touring the Job Center, Mari Kay-Nabozny, chief executive officer of NWWIB, Brad Gingras, chief operating officer, Duffy and his staff discussed the Workforce Investment Act and other successful area employment programs.

“We are so pleased to have had the opportunity to sit down with Congressman Duffy and his staff to discuss the region’s workforce challenges. He took a real interest in what the job seekers and employers had to say about workforce development needs in the area and we look forward to working with his office more in the future on finding solutions.” said NWWIB CEO Mari Kay-Nabozny.

NWWIB is a regional body charged with oversight of employment and training programs, provided by CEP, Inc., that comprise the workforce development system. Both organizations cover the same ten county region of northwest Wisconsin: Ashland, Bayfield, Burnett, Douglas, Price, Iron, Rusk, Sawyer, Taylor, and Washburn. NWWIB is committed to creating a competitive workforce that meets the changing needs of the community and local businesses. CEP, Inc. seeks to strengthen the economy of northwest Wisconsin by providing effective and efficient workforce development services to businesses and workers.

For more information about NWWIB and CEP, Inc., please visit their websites at www.nwwib.com and www.nwcep.org.