September 2025

Volume 6, Issue 1

From the Desk of the President...

Hello, MAWD Members!

Did you know that September is Workforce Development Month? Workforce Development Month was created by the National Association of Workforce Development Professionals (NAWDP), to help raise awareness around the importance of the workforce industry. Each and every one of you serve in your own way that is critical to workforce development, whether that’s through connecting employers with qualified job candidates, providing Missourians with access to training opportunities to pave the way to family-sustaining wages, connecting to necessary resources and supports, and also providing words of encouragement to keep customers going when times are difficult. On behalf of the MAWD Board, I just want to say thank you for all you do to serve Missourians. Your hard work and dedication does not go unnoticed and we are proud to have you as workforce professionals here in Missouri.

As we celebrate and honor all workforce development professionals, I’d like to give a shoutout to your MAWD Board. The Board has already met to begin planning for the 2026 Annual MAWD Conference. We’ve had lots of discussions surrounding the theme, our purpose, and being intentional about topics and potential speakers. The 2026 Annual Conference will be hosted at the University Plaza in Springfield, April 22-24—so save the date! The Board plans to have information available to you by mid-November, so keep an eye out for registration information and begin thinking about submitting proposals to share knowledge about key, innovative programs in action.

New to you as members is our expanded partnership with NAWDP. Before the new year began, we launched a joint membership opportunity, providing MAWD members the ability to purchase a NAWDP membership at a reduced rate. If you would like to add a NAWDP membership, you may do so at any time online at https://mawd.us/join-us. If you’ve already purchased your MAWD membership and want to add the NAWDP membership, simply contact our Board Treasurer, Jeanie Griffin, at jgriffin@mail.ncmissouri.edu. Additionally, the MAWD Board has entered into a MOU with NAWDP to provide access to additional professional development opportunities. We will begin to work with NAWDP on identifying topic needs and providing these opportunities to you all throughout the year.

In terms of current available professional development, our second training opportunity, The AI Odyssey: From Sci-Fi to Your Desk, will be November 5, 2025. This virtual session will be a “light-hearted and comedic exploration of AI” brought to you by fellow MAWD member, Cody Naeger. Register today at https://mafwd.wildapricot.org/events.

In closing, please remember that the work you do every day is important and creates a lasting impact in each person you serve. Keep up the great work, all! I look forward to seeing you again soon!

Donna Brake

MAWD President

Certified Work Ready Communities:

Leading the nation w/ 99 ACT CWRCs,
97% of MO counties participate.

More Info

Apprenticeship:

#3 in Completed and New Apprentices
Over 22,000 active apprentices engaged in training
50+ Registered Youth Apprenticeship Programs active and available in Missouri Comprehensive HS and CTEs statewide

Learn More

With the help of key partners, MDHEWD was able to make great strides in the last year alone. Accomplishments include:

Provided more than 64,000 students with over $163 million in state financial aid
Deployed $38.3 million through MoExcels to fund 19 projects to help with workforce preparation
Ranked in the top 3 in the U.S. for new and completed apprenticeships
Served more than 70,000 Missourians with job readiness services through job centers across the state
Led an adult learner network of 53 organizations that examined and improved policies and practices for working learners and launched an adult learner strategic framework

Missouri's Current CWDPs

Leslie Abram - Joplin

Lori Admire - Jefferson City Amy Aldridge - Cape Girardeau Brandi Aldridge - Springfield Elizabeth Aley - Nixa

Terrill Allen - Independence Lindsey Bassham - West Plains Janaina Baum - St. Charles Stacy Beaman - Sedalia

Sharrie Berowski - Park Hills Daniel Bettes - Lebanon Geoffrey Bieniek - Jefferson City

Jacqueline Bovaconti - Washington

Joel Breedlove - Jefferson City Roger Brisley - Columbia

Kori Cameron - Kirksville

Darci Clatt - Hannibal

Tara Colter-Lappat - Warrensburg

Tonya Crawford - Ozark Roosevelt Daniels - Independence

Tina Davis - Jefferson City Erica Davis - LaBelle

Scott Davis - West Plains Agusta Draper - Rolla

Ruth Eaker - Joplin

Lisa Engelhardt - West Plains Tracy Feltner - Sedalia

Emily Gabbert - Kansas City Jake Gesling - St. Louis

Kasey Guthrie - Jefferson City Erin Hand - West Plains

Diane Harrison - Joplin

Jacob Hart - Kirksville

Brian Harter - Joplin

Alicia Harvey - Kansas City Zachary Henderson - Branson LaTrisha Hicks - Kirksville Peter Hill - Springfield

Sondra Huey - Pineville

Kellie Hughes - Saint Joseph Jody James - West Plains Pierre Jason - Joplin

Shannon Johnson - St. Louis Haley Jones-Sides - Springfield Keith Jordan - Columbia

Felicia Jordan - St. Louis

Dana Keller - LaBelle

Deborah Ketterer - Washington Kimberly Kirchoff - Arnold Cindi Koenneker - Springfield Billi Litton - Jefferson City Deborah Lucas - Kansas City Amanda McClanahan - Kirksville

Melody McCulloch - Independence

Fredrecka McGlown - St. Louis Keri McKee - Springfield

Laura Miller - Park Hills

Lisa Mizer - Lebanon

Janet Myers - Hannibal

Martha Patterson - Sedalia Luereatha Pickens - Kansas City

Nichelle Pool - Columbia

Sara Prater - Eldon

Tonya Pryor - Monroe City Brenda Ranney - St. Paul Timothy Retzer - Fort Leonard Wood

Melissa Robbins - West Plains Shamyia Roston - Cape Girardeau

Johnathan Saunders - Springfield

Stephanie Selsor - New London