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The Workforce Development Board has been named Top Workforce Award Winner
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2004-2005 Board Members
Robert Dobson Chair
Carlene Anderson Dianne Barlar Earnestine Carswell Marjorie L. Cummins Barbara Griffin Sylvia Hanks Wayne Harris Jack Huggins David Miller Martha Miller Betty Nehring Kathleen O'Dell Tom Powell Kenneth Pridgen Mamun Rashied Paula Riggs Judy Byrne Riley Bill Robinson Ray Sansom Larry Sassano Pamela A. Tedesco Al Ward David Whalen Cal Wilson Bill Zell |
 The
Workforce Development Board of Okaloosa and Walton Counties earned the top
workforce award given at the state level by winning the second annual
George Kirkpatrick Innovation Award. Workforce Florida, Inc. board
chair, Ray Gilley, announced the award at the state board meeting held in
Orlando on November 18, 2004. A $50,000 cash award accompanied the
announcement.The late State Senator George Kirkpatrick was a champion of workforce initiatives and this award recognized the regional board that has provided services or activities that best exemplify the creative spirit of one of Florida's most dynamic and energetic authors and leaders of Florida's remarkable workforce system. The Workforce Development Board was recognized for its partnership with the Okaloosa County School Board to provide alternative education opportunities for at-risk and disadvantaged youth in the local community. Okaloosa County has implemented the CHOICE (Community High: Okaloosa Institutes for Career Education) program which provides students and their parents choices for student workplace and postsecondary education readiness. CHOICE provides clear academic course expectations and pathways to careers, either to immediate employment following high school graduation or to Workforce development programs, two-year postsecondary degree programs or four-year degree programs.
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