Workforce Committee

The Workforce Development Committee developed the We Have Jobs Campaign for Western Kansas Find a Job – Western Kansas Jobs (westernksjobs.com), including posters, postcards, give-a-way items, etc.   The Committee members attend numerous events out of State, along with the Workforce Development Division Staff of the Ks. Dept. of Commerce, recruiting workers to Western Kansas.  They are now working with the Dept. of Commerce on the “LOVE Kansas” Campaign and with the MakeMyMove organization in promoting Western Kansas Job openings, as well as thru Kansas WORKS and other job posting sites.

The workforce committee works with Economic Development and communities to establish avenues to recruit, train and retain a qualified workforce. This may mean looking at other geographic areas that we may be able to recruit workforce to re-locate to Western Kansas (WKREDA Area) to work and live. Other recruitment activities may include making sure that job openings or potential job growth is pushed out and marketed to jobseekers so that they are aware of what is available and in high demand. Training jobseekers to fill in-demand job openings across the WKREDA area will be very important in order to fill the openings that are currently available and upcoming projects that will need a qualified workforce. And of course, retention will be key in maintaining job growth across WKREDA. That may included ensuring that area employers are of aware of what competitive wages and benefit packages look like. Training availability and quality of life factors will be necessary to in order to retain the quality workforce.

Committee Co-Chairs:

Tucky Allen   (316) 303-2906   tucky@kansasworkforceone.org
Kyla  Keller    (620) 371-3866   kkeller@dodgedev.org

Committee Members:

Courtney Swanson - (785) 532-1249 - caswanson@ksu.edu
Heather Morgan - (913) 683-9946 - hmorgan@kacct.org
Joann Knight - (620) 338-5101 - jknight@dodgedev.org
Kelly Larson - (785) 524-8954 - LcedfDirector@Outlook.com
Kimberly DeClue - (620) 672-5501 - executivedirector@prattkansas.org
Lea Ann Seiler - (620) 357-5561 - hodgeman1@unitedwireless.com
Lucas Goddard - (785) 874-5150 - lucas@nwkeici.org
Marla Canfield - (785) 230-1025 - marla.canfield@ks.gov
Phyllis LaShell - (785) 577-4610 - Phyllis.LaShell@ks.gov
Ron Wilson - (785) 532-7690 - rwilson@ksu.edu  
Vernon Hurd - (785) 460-4511 - director@thomascounty.com