New Chair and Vice Chair Announced for Workforce Development Board of Ventura County (WDBVC)

Laura Martinez and Byron K. Ward took office as the Chair and Vice Chair, respectively, during the June 27th WDBVC Board Meeting. End Quote

Ventura, CA (1888PressRelease) July 10, 2024 - The most recent Workforce Development Board Meeting featured an election of new officers with Laura Martinez, elected as Chair, and Byron K. Ward, elected Vice Chair by their fellow Board Members.

Martinez has a strong background in Business Development, HR, and Strategic Planning across multiple business sectors, as well as having served in the US Air Force. She is the Founder & CEO of HR Force, her consulting firm specializing in HR architecture and serving as strategic partners in building HR departments from inception to alignment with organizational vision and strategic objectives.

“I am excited about the opportunities ahead for us as a team [the Workforce Development Board],” Martinez said. “Together, we can continue to make a real difference in our community by fostering economic growth, addressing workforce challenges, and creating meaningful opportunities for workforce development.”

Ward also has an extensive history of serving small businesses and workers and is the CEO of Action Human Technologies. Throughout his career, he has focused on empowering his communities and workplaces through various leadership roles. He is also the current Chairperson of the Board for the Central Coast Minority Enterprise Resource Affiliates, advocating for Black, African American, and other underserved small businesses and economic development initiatives.

"I am honored to have been elected Vice Chair of the Workforce Development Board,” Ward said. “This role allows me to support businesses in meeting workforce challenges and contribute to county economic development. I look forward to collaborating with board members, industry leaders, and the community to drive growth and prosperity in our region. I appreciate this opportunity to serve."

“We are pleased and proud to have two local community leaders who are also experts in the fields of business development, recruitment and hiring to serve as officers for the Workforce Development Board,” said Rebecca Evans, Executive Director of the WDBVC. “Laura Martinez originally joined our Workforce Development Board with experience as a local employer and a customer of our services. She immediately focused on continuous improvement, business and customer engagement. Having served as Vice Chair for the Workforce Development Board with our outgoing Chair, Stephen Yeoh, this is a natural progression for our board's leadership. Both Laura and Byron have been serving as Chair and Vice Chair of the WDBVC Performance and Evaluation Committee and bring a deep understanding of our services, programs and partner organizations to their new roles.”

About Workforce Development Board of Ventura County
The Workforce Development Board of Ventura County administers federal funds to support America's Job Center of California locations and other free programs and services for job seekers, youth, and employers in Ventura County. The Workforce Development Board of Ventura County is a proud partner of America's Job Center of California network. Equal opportunity employer/program. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities. If you have limitations in hearing or speaking, dial 711 to reach the California Relay Service (CRS). For more information, call 805-477-5306 or visit http://workforceventuracounty.org.

For Federal Funding Disclosure visit https://workforceventuracounty.org/about-us/funding/

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