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Gulf Coast Workforce Board

Who We Are  ::  Board Members  ::  Partners  ::  Florida Workforce System 

Who We Are

The Gulf Coast Workforce Board is one of 24 regional workforce boards around the state of Florida.  It is chartered to serve the workforce and training needs of Bay, Gulf, and Franklin counties. Our board members represent a broad cross-section of industry, economic development, government, and education partners.  They bring an industry focus as well as management and policy development expertise to the provision of workforce services in our community and administer federal funds in a way that reflects the values of private business. The vehicle for providing employer and job seeker services is the Workforce Center. The Board creates the vision and the focus of workforce services in our region and selects service providers who are best suited for ensuring that our workforce meets the employment needs of our community. 

Mission

To provide leadership, oversight, guidance and assistance to institutions and agencies delivering training and workforce services in order to meet the economic development and employment needs of Bay, Gulf, and Franklin Counties. 

Gulf Coast Workforce Board Members

Lynn Funchess

Berg Steel Pipe

 

Jimmy Vineyard

Clear Channel Communications

 

Duane Laster

Trane, Inc.

 

Alisa Kinsaul

Applied Research Associates, Inc.

 

Jon Cupp

Bay Medical Center

 

Lisa Thompson

Peaden Mechanical, Inc.

 

Betty Croom

 

 

Ted Mostellar

 

 

Shelia Hauser

Forgotten Coast TV

 

Randi Turpin

Adecco

 

Chuck Edwards

Health Check, Inc.

 

Jerry Warren

Jerry’s Framing Crew, Inc.

 

Gary Ross

 Hoist & Crane Company

 

Dr. Jim Kerley

Gulf Coast Community College

 

Fred Poteat

Vocational Rehabilitation

 

Janice Brown

Florida Department of Children and Families

 

Barbara Griffin

Agency for Workforce Innovation

 

Flo Sasser

National Caucus and Center on Black Aged, Inc.

 

Tommy Ward

Central Labor Council

 

Fred Croon

Central Labor Council

 

Brian Phillips

Central Labor Council

 

Rev. Billy Fox

Panama City Rescue Mission

Ruth Phillips

 

 

Cliff Butler

Friends of the Franklin County Public Library

 

James McCalister

Bay District Schools

JoAnn Gander

Franklin County Schools

 

Tom Wilder

Gulf County Schools

 

Leigh Berdon

Bay County Economic Development Alliance

 

Suzanne Zimmerman

Carrabelle Chamber of Commerce

 

William Dozier

Bay County Commission

 

Russell Crofton

Franklin County Commission

 

Billy Traylor

Gulf County Commission

 

Sue Brookhart

Naval Support Activity Panama City Career Development and Resource Center

 

Staff

Executive Director - Kimberly L. Bodine
Deputy Director - Jennifer German
Finance Director - Deb Bentley
Program Monitor - Judy Creel
Director of Communications - Maria Goodwin
Business and Educational Liaison - Joe Chavarria
Information Systems Administrator - Gaston Glasgow
Performance Analyst - Corbett Hines
Senior Bookkeeper - Janine Dexter
Executive Secretary - Donna Williams 

Partners

To provide workforce development services, the Gulf Coast Workforce Board relies on a strong network of community, economic development, and governmental partners.

Community Partners

  • Gulf Coast Community College, which operates the Workforce Training Center and our one-stop center, The Workforce Center. The Workforce Center coordinates employer services, job seeker services, testing, and veteran’s employment services.
  • Royal American Management, which manages the region’s welfare reform program, One on One, One by One and manages a youth program, Youth Employment Services (YES).
  • The Friends of Franklin County Libraries,  Bay District Schools, Workforce Training Center at Haney and STARS Workforce Program provide services to youth in Bay County.

Economic Development Partners

Governmental Partners

The Gulf Coast Workforce Board is the custodian of federal monies and is rigorously evaluated by the state. Workforce Florida Inc., measures us on many outcomes quarterly and yearly. In Florida, these core measures are used to determine performance incentives with the possibility of adding to local funds and support. Each year since 1999, the Gulf Coast Workforce Board has been ranked among the top five regions in the state on these outcome measures. In 2004, we are proud to say that we were ranked 1st in the state in overall performance. We partner with several state agencies to provide a seamless system of programs for our community.  

State Workforce System

Kimberly Bodine serves as Executive Director of the Gulf Coast Workforce Board, Inc., which is governed by a local board of directors. The Gulf Coast Workforce Board is part of a network of local workforce boards and is overseen by the state level workforce board, Workforce Florida, Inc. Each individual board is given great freedom to structure partnerships and programs that are responsive to their local community needs.  

Workforce Florida Inc. was created by Governor Jeb Bush and the Florida Legislature with the passage of the Workforce Innovation Act of 2000, Chapter 445, Florida Statutes. A 45-member board appointed by the Governor oversees and monitors the administration of the state’s workforce policy, programs and services carried out by the 24 business-led Regional Workforce Boards and the Agency for Workforce Innovation. Direct services are provided at nearly 100 One-Stop Centers with locations throughout the state. This innovative approach to workforce development in Florida is illustrated in the model above.