The Westchester-Putnam Workforce Development Board (WPWDB) is comprised of leaders and staff of local businesses, state and county government agencies, non-profits, and public education who work together to strengthen the partnerships between business, education, and service providers within the “Career Center Network” to meet the needs for a skilled workforce. The WPWDB provides policy directions and program oversight to the Career Centers and workforce development programs in Westchester and Putnam counties. The board is appointed by Westchester County Executive George Latimer and Putnam County Executive MaryEllen Odell.
Download and read the bylaws that govern the WPWDB.
Board Members
Member listings followed by an asterisk sit on the WPWDB Executive Committee.
David Singer, Board Chair, President, Robison Oil*
Rosa Barksdale, Board Vice-Chair, CEO, Barksdale Home Services*
Wiley Harrison, Board Treasurer, President, Business of Your Business, LLC*
Karl Rohde, Board Secretary, Director, Putnam County Veteran Service Agency*
Amy Allen, Vice President, Westchester County Association
James Bernardo, President, Candela Systems Corporation
Thomas Capurso, Business Representative, IBEW Local Union 3
Edward Cooke, Council Representative, Northeast Regional Council of Carpenters
Joseph DiCarlo, Senior VP, Human Resources, WESTMED Practice Partners*
Dr. Marsha Gordon, President/CEO, The Business Council of Westchester (BCW)*
Michele Green, Integrated Employment Specialist, ACCES-VR
Richard Greenwald, President, Concorde Personnel Temporary Staffing
Natalie Griffith, Human Resources Manager, Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Allison Madison, President, Madison Approach Staffing*
Daniel Magnus, CEO, Elevation Burger
Anthony Marmo, President, Clover Heating & Cooling
Kevin McGuire, Commissioner, Westchester County Department of Social Services
Dr. Belinda S. Miles, President, Westchester Community College
Claudia Murphy, Director, Southern Westchester BOCES
Matthew Pepe, Assistant President, Construction Industry Council
Michael Piazza, Commissioner, Putnam County Department of Social Services
Robert O. Sanders, CEO, Hospitality Resource Group Inc.
James D. Schutzer, Vice President, J.D. Moschitto & Associates, Inc.
Atul Sheffey, Center Manager – Carmel, Mount Vernon, Peekskill and White Plains, NYS Department of Labor
Richard St. Paul, CEO/President, Law Office of Richard St. Paul, Esq. PLLC
Leonard J. Vallender, President, Fenbar Precision Machinists, Inc.
Board Meetings
The schedule of WPWDB meetings and minutes from prior meetings can be accessed below. All meetings begin at 8:30 a.m. and are held at the White Plains Career Center at 120 Bloomingdale Road, unless otherwise noted.
As per Public Officers Law, Article 7, Open Meetings Law and WIOA sec. 107(e), agendas and minutes will be posted within two weeks of each meeting.
2019 meeting dates
Jan. 31, 2019
March 28, 2019
June 14, 2019 - Annual Meeting
Meeting minutes
Nov. 29,2018, Operator Report
Sept. 27, 2018
July 3, 2018, Annual Report 2017-2018
June 26, 2018
March 29, 2018
Jan. 3, 2018 - meeting cancelled
Dec. 7, 2017
Oct. 25, 2017
June 29, 2017, Annual Report 2016 - 2017
April 27, 2017 - meeting cancelled
March 30, 2017
Jan. 27, 2017
Nov. 17, 2016 - meeting cancelled
Sept. 22, 2016
June 24, 2016, Annual Report 2015 - 2016
May 20, 2016
April 15, 2016
Jan. 29, 2016
Nov. 13, 2015
Sept. 29, 2015
Feb. 13, 2015
April 16, 2015
May 29, 2015
June 29, 2015
Nov. 13, 2014
Sept. 24, 3014
June 16, 2014, Annual Report 2013 - 2014
March 27, 2014
Jan. 30, 2014
Nov. 7, 2013
Oct. 3, 2013
Strategic and Local Plans
Strategic Plan 2015 to 2019
We highly recommend you read the Westchester-Putnam Workforce Development Area Three-Year Strategic Plan 2015-2019 to fully appreciate the stakeholders' commitment to the local area's economic progress. Below are three paragraphs from the plan's Executive Summary.
Implementation of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) brings both opportunity and challenge to the workforce development system. The current strategic plan reflects the challenges and opportunities presented by WIOA, which was signed into law by President Barack Obama on July 22, 2014. The first legislative reform of the public workforce system in 15 years, WIOA begins to take effect on July 1, 2015, with full implementation scheduled to begin in July 2016.
The WPWDB welcomes the new WIOA legislation as it validates several initiatives and strategies it has pursued. The legislation calls for a stronger Workforce Development Board. The legislation also preserves the private sector majority of the WDB and the private sector chair. It further calls for the establishment of industry sectors and regional strategies. The WDB has operated sector partnerships for over six years and has led or participated in an active role in the Hudson Valley Regional partnerships and is experienced with many of the coming changes.
Strategic planning has guided the Westchester-Putnam Workforce Development Area's activities since the first plan was developed in 2000. Planning for both Westchester and Putnam counties requires responsiveness to geographic, demographic, and economic needs.
Local Plans
Local plans are required to present a variety of background and data, including but not limited to: (i) an overview of the labor market, (ii) performance measures, (iii) planned services and expenditures, and (iv) procurement.
Local Plan for July 2017 to June 2021
WIOA requires local workforce boards, such as the WPWDB, to develop local strategic plans outlining how it intends to carry out WIOA policies. Our plan, which encompasses the next three years, outlines procedures and activities designed to address workforce issues and formulate solutions to create and strengthen partnerships to best serve businesses, the unemployed, the under-employed, and especially, individuals and populations that are underserved in this region.
These are the plans for the three previous planning years:
