YOUNGWOOD, PA (June 23, 2020) – The Westmoreland-Fayette Workforce Investment Board (WFWIB) has selected Janet Ward to serve as its new Executive Director. Formerly, Ward served as the Youth Services Manager at the WFWIB overseeing, developing, and coordinating multiple youth initiatives.

Ward will succeed William Thompson, whose retirement will be effective June 26, 2020. Thompson served the WFWIB as Executive Director for 20 years, during which he led the local workforce development efforts through the last two major overhauls of the nation’s workforce system.
“Our Board of Directors is eternally thankful for Bill’s foresight, knowledge and efforts over the last 20 years to make the Westmoreland- Fayette WIB an instrumental key in helping to develop the talent and skills of our workforce in western Pennsylvania,” stated Board Chairperson Brian Edmiston. “We are very excited to parlay Janet’s previous experience at our WIB to make an even larger impact on the business climate in western Pennsylvania.”
The WFWIB engaged Non-Profit Talent to conduct the Executive Director search. The decision to select Janet Ward to serve as the new Executive Director took place on May 27, 2020.

“The WIB’s Executive Director Search Committee worked for almost 6 months to reach a recommendation on a new Director. Our Committee included a cross-section of Board Members from the business, education and labor sectors of our community. Under the leadership of Board Chairperson Brian Edmiston, over 100 applications were received and finalists were scrutinized through written submissions and multiple ZOOM interviews organized by Non-Profit Talent. In spite of the challenges created by the COVID-19 pandemic, we adapted and participated in the most comprehensive candidate search in our WIB’s history. We are extremely pleased with our process and with the Board’s unanimous selection of Janet as our new Executive Director,” reflected Charlie Datz, Executive Board Member and Search Committee participant

Janet Ward is an experienced leader and manager with over twenty years of directing various workforce development projects, services, and programs. In her role as WFWIB Youth Services Manager, she exceeded and met all WIOA Youth program performance requirements and led WFWIB’s U.S. Department of Labor’s Customer Center Design Initiative, presenting it at the White House Learning Exchange and Celebration. Starting her career as the Project Manager at Steel Center AVTS, Ward built her educational background building the Fortune Magazine recognized Manufacturing 2000 Program. Additionally, Ward’s innovative and critical thinking skills resulted in her receiving several federal, state, and private grants, through which she built her proposal writing experience. Ward later served as Director of NCC Services at New Century Careers and then as the Assistant Director of Education at the Private Industry Council of Westmoreland/Fayette. In these roles, Ward collaborated with various partners and employers to develop successful workforce programs, to create opportunities for individuals to begin or improve their career pathways, and to build a stronger workforce in our region. Ward is an Outstanding Leadership Award recipient from the Pittsburgh Chapter of NTMA. Janet Ward

holds a BS in Secondary Education from Edinboro University of Pennsylvania and a Leadership & Management Certificate from Duquesne University.

In her new role as Executive Director, Janet Ward will oversee the WFWIB’s operations, maintain the quality and performance of programs and services, and will continue to build strategic partnerships internally and externally to increase the competitive advantage of Westmoreland and Fayette counties through workforce development.

Contact: Janet Ward, Executive Director | 724-755-2145

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About the Westmoreland-Fayette Workforce Investment Board
The Westmoreland-Fayette Workforce Investment Board (WFWIB) is a non-profit entity consisting of appointees from the business, education, and labor sectors of Westmoreland-Fayette counties. The board is empowered to lead workforce development activities in Fayette and Westmoreland counties. The WFWIB is funded by the Workforce Innovation & Opportunity Act (WIOA), which provides funding to federal workforce programs and local Workforce Development Boards. The WFWIB oversees the three PA CareerLink® centers that are located in Westmoreland and Fayette county: PA CareerLink® Westmoreland County at Youngwood, PA CareerLink® Fayette County, and PA CareerLink® Alle-Kiski. For more information about the Westmoreland-Fayette Workforce Investment Board, please visit www.WestFayWIB.org.