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Approve the new appointments of Coco House and Margie Poulos as Business Representatives, to the Workforce Development Board of Solano County, for a term beginning December 5, 2023, and expiring December 4, 2027, as required under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act
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Published Notice Required? Yes ___ No _X_
Public Hearing Required? Yes ___ No _X_
DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION:
The Workforce Development Board (WDB) of Solano County recommends that the Board of Supervisors appoint Coco House and Margie Poulos as Business Representatives to the WDB of Solano County, for a term beginning December 5, 2023, and expiring December 4, 2027, as required under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA).
SUMMARY:
The Board of Supervisors, as the local elected official authorized under §107(b)(1) of the 2014 Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) and as described on page 2 of the Bylaws of the WDB of Solano County, Article VI-Section C. Selection of Directors, appoint representatives to the Board of Directors of the WDB. The WDB Board of Directors approved the above-named nominees at their November 17, 2023, Board of Directors meeting.
Based on the technical certifications, membership nominations, and applications (Attachment A & B), as well as WDB Board action, Ms. Coco House, and Ms. Margie Poulos, can now be considered for formal ratification by the Board of Supervisors as the newest representatives on the Board of Directors of the WDB.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
This action has no financial impact. The WDB is fully grant funded and receives no County General Funds.
DISCUSSION:
Ms. Coco House - Solano County Farm Bureau
This appointment represents a board seat for the Solano County Farm Bureau as an industry under category of Business Representative. Ms. House is a Farm Bureau an at-large board member and was selected to be the representative of the Farm Bureau on the Board.
Ms. House has experience in the agriculture industry as a farmer and adjunct lecturer at UC Davis. As a Solano County farmer, she has breadth of experience as an employer, in which she has hired, trained, and managed both direct and contract employees, both hourly and salaried. She has experience developing employment initiatives for non-English speakers (generally Spanish speaking), African immigrants, Native Americans, local youth, and the homeless population.
Ms. House earned a degree in agriculture from UC Davis; she considers herself fortunate to have studied under many scientists who did foundational work supporting California agriculture. As an adjunct lecturer at UC Davis, she has taught farm management and related subjects to upper division students, supervised internships, and counseled students in defining and launching their careers.
Ms. Margie Poulos - Jelly Belly
Ms. Poulos received her Bachelor of Arts from Northern Illinois University and joined Jelly Belly Candy Company as a Human Resources (HR) administrative assistant in 1996 in North Chicago, IL. She went on to receive her Masters in HR Management from the Keller Graduate School of Management and was promoted to HR manager for the Midwest in 2003 at her company. In 2011, Ms. Poulos was promoted to Director of Human Resources and relocated to Fairfield, CA where she assumed responsibility for executive management of all HR functions for the company. In 2015, she was promoted to Vice President, Global Human Resources.
After a technical review of the application documents, the appointments brought before the Board of Directors have been found to be in compliance with the regulatory requirements governing the Business Representative categories for the Workforce Development membership appointments. Both terms of office will be from December 5, 2023, through December 4, 2027.
Attached for review is a copy of their respective Membership Applications and Recommendation Letters (Attachment A & B).
ALTERNATIVES:
The Board of Supervisors could choose not to ratify the appointments of Ms. House and Ms. Poulos, and a new search for Business Representatives could ensue. However, Ms. House and Ms. Poulos are considered to be excellent candidates to serve in the Business Representative category on the WDB.
OTHER AGENCY INVOLVEMENT:
Lisa Shipley, Executive Director of the Solano County Farm Bureau, provided a nomination on behalf of Ms. House. John Jamison, Executive Board member of Fairfield-Suisun Chamber of Commerce and Vice President of Retail Operations of Jelly Belly, provided a nomination on behalf of Ms. Poulos.
CAO RECOMMENDATION:
APPROVE DEPARTMENTAL RECOMMENDATION