About Us
History
The National Work Readiness Credential was developed through
a five-year, national consensus-building process that included
businesses, unions, chambers of commerce, education and training
professionals, and state workforce investment boards in the founding
states of Florida, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Washington,
the District of Columbia, as well as JA Worldwide.
Our Vision
The Entry Level Workplace is a platform of individual worker success, business
innovation and enhanced customer value.
Our Mission
To assure excellence and inspire innovation in the
entry level workplace by producing quality work readiness
standards and assessments.
Our beliefs:
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We Believe Entry Level employees are part of
the service, knowledge and innovation
economy, simply in
the first rungs of its career ladders. |
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Excellence in the entry level workplace provides
opportunity for employees
and growth for business. |
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The entry level workplace is a key source of business innovation. |
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Excellence and innovation occur when entry
level workers and frontline managers
work together to deliver
customer value. |
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Workers and managers need a common understanding
of the skills necessary
to deliver customer value. |
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A common understanding of skills is based on
standards that respect both worker
desire for meaningful
work and management performance. |
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Entry level workers and frontline managers learn by doing
and reflecting. |
Board Members
Henry Plotkin, Member, Executive
Director, NJ State Employment/Training Commission (www.njsetc.net)
Henry
holds a PhD from Rutgers University and has been involved in
workforce policy development for the past 15 years. As Executive
Director of the NJSETC, New Jersey’s Workforce Investment
Board, Henry has developed workforce policies and programs that
have been adopted by the Governor and the Legislature. Henry
has been instrumental in creating New Jersey’s One-Stop
Career Center system, developing on-line career information for
students and the entry-level workforce a major state priority.
Maggie Moree, Member, Director, NY
State Workforce Board (www.workforcenewyork.org)
Margaret Moree is the Deputy Commissioner for Federal Programs
at the New York State Department of Labor, overseeing the divisions
of unemployment insurance, employment services and workforce
development. She brings to this position an extensive background
in public service working for Congress, the New York State
Senate and the New York State Governor.
Connie Spinner, Secretary, Director, Univ. of Dist. of Columbia,
State Agency of Adult Education
Connie Spinner manages an annual budget of over 6 million and
funds over 30 community based organizations in the District of
Columbia that comprise the network of adult education and training
services. She has served in this capacity for the past three
years. Prior to this Ms. Spinner served as a senior administrator
in the Office of the Mayor of the District. She founded the Children
and Youth Investment Trust Corporation where she granted more
than 30 million in public dollars.
Kip Bergstrom, Treasurer, Executive
Director, RI Economic Policy Council (www.ripolicy.org)
Kip Bergstrom has served since May 1998 as Executive Director
of the Rhode Island Economic Policy Council. Prior to joining
the Policy Council, Kip was Economic Development Director in
Stamford, Connecticut from 1993 to 1997, where he helped to reduce
Stamford's office and industrial vacancy rates by 80% and closed
a total of 45 deals representing over 6,000 jobs, including the
2,200-employee North American headquarters of UBS Warburg Dillion
Read, the investment banking arm of the world's second largest
bank.
Darrell Luzzo, PhD, Chair, SVP, Education,
JA Worldwide (www.ja.org)
Darrell serves is the Senior Vice President of Education for
JA Worldwide, a position he has held since July 2002. Prior
to his tenure at JA Worldwide, Darrell’s professional
assignments have included senior management roles at National
Career Assessment Services, Inc. (2000-2001), Mt. Hood Community
College (1999-2001), and ACT, Inc. (1997-1999). From 1990-1997,
Darrell held full-time teaching assignments with several universities,
including Auburn University and Texas A&M University.
Staff Bios
Louis Soares, Executive Director, National Work Readiness
Council
Louis has over 15 years experience managing workforce and economic
development programs. Most recently he served Director of Business
Development for the State of Rhode Island managing its business
attractions and financing programs. Over the last 8 years, he has
raised over $11 million for workforce programs from public and
private sources.
Joe Mizereck, Assessment Site Manager, National Work Readiness
Council
Joe has over 20 years of experience in workforce and education
programs. Prior to joining the NWRC, Joe developed and managed
a network of WorkKeys job profiler centers for the State of Florida.
Investing Partners
State of New Jersey
State of New York
State of Florida
State of Washington
District of Columbia
Rhode Island Economic Policy Council
JA Worldwide
Annie E. Casey Foundation
Fannie Mae Foundation
Dollar General Foundation |
