Tom Kavanagh Named Northern Indiana Workforce Board President & CEO
The Northern Indiana Workforce Board (NIWB) is a non-profit business and industry-led corporation representing Elkhart, Fulton, Kosciusko, Marshall and St. Joseph Counties in Indiana. Instituted under Indiana law as a regional leadership organization, the board is dedicated to building an educated, skilled regional workforce to compete successfully in our evolving regional economy, through coordination, collaboration and partnerships among economic development, education, workforce development and local government agencies.
Tom Kavanagh comes to us from his current role as Chief Operating Officer for Job Works, Inc., a Fort Wayne, Indiana based organization that specializes in the operation of workforce services programs, training programs, and consulting services focused on workforce system design strategic planning, and fiscal services.
Mr. Kavanagh has over 25 years of experience in the workforce industry. He is performance, process and results driven with commitment to quality, continuous improvement and integrity. Tom’s extensive experience in leadership and collaboration with workforce development systems focuses on board governance and developing strategies to meet business and employer needs. He has worked with numerous Workforce Development Boards through strategic planning, local and regional WIOA plan development, system design and redesign efforts. He has facilitated and presented at several local, state, and national conferences. He also directed his team to successfully perform operations involving nine different government funded programs including the Workforce Investment Act (WIA), WIA Adult and Dislocated Worker, Ex-Offender Re-entry, and Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF).
Tom holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Accounting from Hillsdale College and is a long-time member of the US Conference of Mayors Workforce Development Council. In partnership with the National Association of Workforce Boards (NAWB), he co-authorized a policy brief on WIOA - Publication: The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act – “Driving Innovation, Collaboration and Performance.” 2015.
Tom resides with his wife (Melissa) and their three children Ethan, Andrew, and Elizabeth in Elkhart, IN. Tom has been a volunteer coach for soccer, baseball, and basketball for his children. In his spare time, if he is not with family and friends, you can find him volunteering his time with the Concord Dollars for Scholars Board and for the last six years he has served as the President of the Concord Development Basketball League.
"We look forward to working together with Tom Kavanagh, utilizing his years of extensive experience in workforce development, as he leads NIWB to be the best region in the state of Indiana." -Bob Dunn, NIWB Treasurer
"We are excited to welcome Tom Kavanagh to The Northern Indiana Workforce Board (NIWB), Tom brings more than two decades of experience working with workforce boards on a national basis. We believe his experience and leadership will take NIWB to new heights as we join with other regional partners to enhance the regional workforce environment, for both employers and for individual employees alike." -Todd A Bruce, NIWB President
For media inquiries, please contact:
Todd Bruce – NIWB Board Chair
Northern Indiana Workforce Board, Inc.
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