Gerken to join governor's work force board

6/1/2007

Lucas County Commissioner Pete Gerken has been appointed to Gov. Ted Strickland's Workforce Policy Advisory Board that works to keep the state's employers and work force competitive.

Mr. Gerken, a former administrator of the UAW DaimlerChrysler Training Center, said he has experience, both personal and professional, to serve on the board that will redistribute federal funds to promote work force development across Ohio.

"It's something I've done in my private industry career, and I'm excited to bring [that experience] over to the public side," Mr. Gerken said.

He said the success of The Source, the work force development agency at 1301 Monroe St., helped direct state attention to Lucas County. The Source has helped more than 4,000 Lucas County residents find a job and was named the best one-stop center in Ohio in 2006.

"We know how to do it up here, and we can contribute to making good policy about how the money gets allocated," Mr. Gerken said.

The work force policy advisory board meets quarterly, with the next meeting scheduled for June 27.