2024 MAWD Award Winners
Workforce Professional of the Year
Melanie Williams | Workforce Keystone Award
Jerri Bowles | Workforce Rookie of the Year
Kyle Lackey |
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Partnership Collaboration
Youth Employment Program | Local Excellence Award in Partnership (LEAP)
Empowering Employers |
2023 MAWD Award Winners
Workforce Professional of the Year
Ruth Whitis was the WIOA Workforce Director in the Northeast Region from November 2021 through April 2023. In just over a year in the position, Ruth had successfully transitioned into a leadership role that had an enormous impact by leading a reinvigoration of the staff. Ruth never lost sight of the quality of her work and became a knowledgeable resource for others across north Missouri. Ruth’s adaptability skills were proven to be critical for her organization as they experienced many changes created by the merger of the Northeast and Northwest regions. Through many operational changes, Ruth made a difference in Northeast Missouri, she exemplified the mission of Gamm, Incorporated, and positively impacted the people of our state. | Workforce Keystone Award
Kim Hinkle is the Fiscal Manager at Gamm, Incorporated and is an exemplary professional in all her administrative duties going above and beyond expectations to support her team, the customers, and the mission. Kim’s soft skills are among some of the best an employer could ask for. Her customer service skills are some of the strongest ever witnessed. Kim’s active listening, clear communication, and rapport-building skills are invaluable to Gamm, Incorporated. During the past seven years the NEMO WDB’s Fiscal Manager/Agent has changed six times and each time Kim played a crucial part in the transition for one to the next. Her flexibility and adaptability have been successfully tested with each of the changes. |
Workforce Rookie of the Year
Megan Kempker is the Workforce Development and Training Coordinator at the Callaway Chamber of Commerce. Megan created partnerships with the local school superintendents and counselors to celebrate National Manufacturing Day with high school students at participating manufacturing facilities. She has assisted businesses in setting up tours at the Department of Corrections to assist in bridging the gap between employers and ex-offenders. And most recently, she brought in the Be Pro, Be Proud simulator from Arkansas to showcase skilled trades to 8th – 12th graders in 4 school districts within the county. | Local Excellence Award in Partnership (LEAP) BEST Program In 2018, Hannibal High School, in conjunction with Hannibal Regional Healthcare System, developed the B.E.S.T (Basic Employment Skills Training) program. This program was designed to provide work-based internships for high school seniors who have been identified with developmental disabilities. In order to ensure the success of the program, Hannibal High School partnered with Hannibal Regional Healthcare System, Gamm, Incorporated, Marion County Services of Developmental Disabilities, Vocational Rehabilitation, Learning Opportunities/Quality Works, Douglass Community Center, and the Missouri Department of Mental Health. Each partner plays an integral role in ensuring this program is successful. In the five years this program has been in place, 31 students have been enrolled with a one hundred percent success rate. |
2022 MAWD Award Winners
Workforce Collaboration Award
Justin Logan is the Program Manager with the Missouri Department of Social Services, Cross Functional Division. Justin created the Cross Functional Division Team to assist employers and employees with recruitment and retention. He actively participates in multiple initiatives that cross department lines to ensure the best outcome for Missouri citizens. Justin understands the need for collaboration within partners and resources so everyone can lead safe, healthy and productive lives. | Workforce Collaboration Award
Lynnette Saxton is the Equus Workforce Solutions Project Director in the Northwest Region. Lynnette has led her team to be innovative and has directed many collaborative events throughout the region like “Red Carpet Job Fair” and employer seminars. Her forward-thinking and willingness to partner in many events in Northwest Missouri have been very successful and continues to lead the region forward. | Keystone Award
Les Johnson is the Vice President for ARCHS (Area Resources for Community and Human Services). He has held the position for 25 years and coordinated numerous programs to help Missouri Citizens see their true potential and better themselves and their families. He manages community programs that impact adults that reduce their barriers to participating in workforce development employment and training programs. Mr. Johnson has represented the Department of Social Services as a presenter at several workforce conferences and is very well known in the workforce and local community circles. | Local Excellence Award in Partnership (LEAP) This year’s winner for the LEAP Award is the Art@Work Program from the City of Springfield Department of Workforce Development. This innovative project is to integrate public schools, local four year colleges, art museums and the public workforce system to support and impact fourth grade students in low income neighborhoods with limited exposure to the arts. Art@Work will prepare the students for the workforce with hands on art projects, working as a team, problem solving, critical thinking, communication and seeing a project through to completion. Art@Work is a creative model that utilizes integral partnerships within the community to serve underrepresented and youth in at risk situation while creating a data driven pipeline of talent for the future public workforce system. |
