REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Appoint New Members to the NOVA Workforce Board
Report
BACKGROUND
The federal Workforce Investment Act (WIA) of 1998 stipulates the composition, roles and responsibilities of the local workforce board. The chief local elected official appoints the local workforce board; the Sunnyvale City Council serves as the Chief Local Elected Official for the NOVA consortium. The local workforce board determines how many seats are on the board, and is required to have a majority of representatives from business and representation from at least the following stakeholders:
· Business Executives (majority and chair)
· Education providers
· Labor Organizations
· Community-based organizations
· Economic development agencies
· One-Stop partners
The roles and responsibilities of NOVA Workforce Board members include (but are not limited to):
· Take a leadership role in forging a strong and vital partnership between business and the workforce development community, resulting in an entrepreneurial, market-driven, accountable and exceptional workforce investment system;
· Contribute specific expertise from key industries and articulate evolving industries' needs, critical to aligning our workforce with the jobs of the 21st Century;
· Develop and approve policy for workforce initiatives in the NOVA service-delivery area;
· Help create and provide oversight of a strategic plan;
· Evaluate and monitor program performance according to specified outcomes and measures; and,
· Promote the NOVA Workforce Board and workforce through collaboration and relationship building with other businesses, organizations and groups.
EXISTING POLICY
Council Policy 5.1.1 Socio-Economic - Goals and Policies, Goal 5.1F: Provide job training and employment services, within constraints of operative Federal regulations and available Federal funding, to address the locally-determined employment and training needs of economically disadvantaged residents and others with special needs.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
N/A
DISCUSSION
The NOVA Workforce Board Nominating Committee is comprised of Sunnyvale City Council member Tara Martin-Milius, and NOVA Workforce Board Co-chairpersons Steve Van Dorn and Dennis Cima and Board member Bruce Knopf. The Nominating Committee is charged with the responsibility of recommending candidates for appointment to the NOVA Workforce Board, for consideration by the Sunnyvale City Council. The Nominating Committee is recommending appointment of five candidates to the NOVA Workforce Board because of the individual strengths and assets each candidate can bring to the NOVA Workforce Board. In addition, these nominations will fill WIA-mandated seats.
About The Candidates
Ms. Sinead Borgersen, Senior Human Resources Business Partner
CA Technologies
CA Technologies is a global software company providing Information Technology (IT) management solutions for all IT environments from mainframe infrastructure to cloud computing for leading Fortune 500 companies. In business for more than thirty years, CA Technologies employs 13,600 employees worldwide, 423 employees in the local Santa Clara office. As Senior Human Resources Business Partner, Ms. Borgersen is responsible for employees in the Santa Clara office and serves as a global human resource relationship partner for two General Managers and three Senior Vice Presidents and their respective business units in North America. Ms. Borgersen brings to the NOVA Workforce Board a wealth of professional experience in a variety of disciplines, specific knowledge of the Information Technology sector, and a particular commitment to special needs populations through her community service. Ms. Borgersen's expertise will be invaluable to the Board in preparing today's diverse workforce for jobs in the 21st Century economy.
Mr. Julian Chu, Director of Global Customer Services
Google
Google's mission is to organize the world's information and make it universally accessible and useful, which is accomplished through its expanding range of products including its popular search engine, the Chrome browser, and Gmail that today serves millions of customers, worldwide. Founded in 1998, Google employs 40,000 employees globally, 15,000 employees locally. As Director of Global Customer Services, Mr. Chu oversees a team that provides education, services and account management for global advertisers who use Google's advertising products through social media, applications, and mobile platforms. Mr. Chu brings to the NOVA Workforce Board a diverse private sector background, extensive networks in the high technology and venture capital communities, and a specific commitment to youth through his community service. Mr. Chu's expertise will be invaluable to the Board in engaging Silicon Valley companies about their workforce needs and closing the skills-gap between employer requirements and the available talent pool.
Mr. Ben Field, Executive Officer
South Bay Labor Council
The South Bay Labor Council's goal is to promote policies and causes that benefit working families through a variety of activities including community organizing, leadership training, campaigning, issues advocacy, and labor market research through its affiliated Working Partnerships. Founded more than 50 years ago, the Labor Council employs 4.5 employees and represents 89 unions and over 100,000 union members in Santa Clara and San Benito counties. As Executive Officer, Mr. Field oversees all activities of the organization including internal governance, community organizing, union support efforts, public relations, fundraising, political campaigns, and lobbying. Mr. Field brings to the NOVA Workforce Board the perspective of organized labor and a commitment to increasing living wage jobs for all workers. Mr. Field's expertise will be invaluable to the Board in strengthening beneficial ties between the local workforce investment system and labor and in promoting career advancement for disadvantaged workers.
Ms. Anita Manwani, Founder and CEO
Carobar Business Solutions
Carobar Business Solutions is a small business providing a wide range of software and services in program management to address the needs of businesses in data analysis and reporting, website design and content, forms processing, forecasting analytics, market research, online solutions, and information technology support in implementing the federal Affordable Care Act. As Founder and CEO, Ms. Manwani is responsible for all aspects of the company's operations, business development, and its six employees. Prior to starting her own business, Ms. Manwani held senior positions with some of the leading technology companies in Silicon Valley. Ms. Manwani brings to the NOVA Workforce Board extensive experience working in the private sector, in both large companies and startups, and has served on community boards in education. Ms. Manwani's expertise and entrepreneurial approach will be invaluable to the Board in reinventing NOVA's services and in retooling the workforce for jobs in emerging industries.
Ms. Jennifer Morrill, Senior Commercial Counsel
LinkedIn Corporation
LinkedIn is the world's largest professional network on the Internet, with more than 225 million members, in over 200 countries. Through its proprietary platform, members are able to create and share their professional profile online, build their professional networks, and find employment opportunities enabling them to be more successful. Founded in 2003, LinkedIn employs more than 5,000 employees locally, with offices in 26 cities worldwide. As Senior Commercial Counsel, Ms. Morrill supports commercial deals for several business units in business development, marketing and publishing, and co-manages the company's pro bono legal services. Ms. Morrill brings to the NOVA Workforce Board in-depth knowledge of the online networking industry that will help NOVA reach a broader audience and assist its customers leverage resources to support their job search. Ms. Morrill's expertise will be invaluable to the Board in providing cutting-edge tools for workers to succeed in today's technology-driven economy.
These appointments comply with the requirements of the federal Workforce Investment Act.
FISCAL IMPACT
No fiscal impact.
PUBLIC CONTACT
Public contact was made by posting the Council agenda on the City's official-notice bulletin board outside City Hall, at the Sunnyvale Senior Center, Community Center and Department of Public Safety; and by making the agenda and report available at the Sunnyvale Public Library, the Office of the City Clerk and on the City's website.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
Appoint Ms. Sinead Borgersen, Mr. Julian Chu, Mr. Ben Field, Ms. Anita Manwani, and Ms. Jennifer Morrill to the NOVA Workforce Board.
Staff
Prepared by: Eileen Stanly, Analyst
Reviewed by: Kris Stadelman, Director, Nova Workforce Services
Approved by: Robert A. Walker, Interim City Manager