MCWDB-ANNUAL-REPORT-PY23 (2).PDF

T i t l e I I I : E m p l o y m e n t S e r v i c e s
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T i t l e I V: Vo c a t i o n a l Re h a bi l i t a t i o n
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T i t l e 1 B
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T i t l e I I : A du l t E du c a t i o n
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M a r i c o p a Co u n t y a t a G l a n c e
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F Y 2 3 F i n a n c i a l Re v i e w
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M CWD B G o a l s
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M CWD B M i ssi o n & V i si o n
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L e t t e r f r o m t h e Ch a i r
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M a r i c o p a Co u n t y A RI ZO N A@ WO RK
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WI OA P u r p o se
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Co m m u n i t y I m p a c t S t o r y
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M CWD B M e m be r s

I would like to express my sincere appreciation to Maricopa County’s Workforce 
Development Board (MCWDB), our Elected Officials, Maricopa County leadership and 
staff, the ARIZONA@WORK Council, our core partners, the jobseekers whom we have 
served, and the employers who have benefited from great people looking for work. 
The past year was one of significant progress.  Together, we have accomplished the 
following: reviewed and approved six in-demand industries, held the first Youth 
Apprenticeship Accelerator, continued to be the #1 apprenticeship program in the 
Country, and recertified our county career centers. Additionally, in June 2023, we jointly 
hosted a two-day Arizona Workforce Summit with our regional partners (Arizona Office of 
Economic Opportunity, City of Phoenix, and Pinal County) with over 300 in attendance. 
We welcomed four new members to the board and four new staff members. Wow! With 
that foundation, we now look to the future. 
Additionally, we created a new subcommittee focusing on innovative regional solutions to 
workforce issues. This Regional Workforce Initiatives Committee includes staff and board 
members from the City of Phoenix, Pinal County, and other community partners, a highly 
engaged board, and a renewed commitment to drive regional relationships. Out of this 
committee, the Central Arizona Regional Apprenticeship Coalition was born. This coalition 
will research ways to expand and diversify Central Arizona's Registered Apprenticeship 
Programs, ensuring that all workers have access to quality training and reliable pathways 
to sustainable employment in in-demand industries. 
The Board’s focus remains steady on advancing and adapting our Vision, Values, and Goals 
with our pursuit to be a best-in-class workforce system that connects jobseekers to career 
opportunities, employers to skilled talent, stimulating economic prosperity and enhancing 
the quality of life for all. 
I extend my heart-filled gratitude and appreciation to everyone who accomplished so 
much this past year. I appreciate you and all you do. I look forward to prospering together 
in the upcoming year.
Leah Hill
Chair | Maricopa County Workforce Development Board
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Maricopa County was established as a County in 1871. It is located in south-central 
Arizona and covers 9,224 square miles. It is the most populous county in Arizona and 
makes up more than half of the State's population. With its 4,496,588 residents, it is 
the fourth most populous county in the United States. The governor has designated 
two workforce areas within Maricopa County, one serving the City of Phoenix 
exclusively and the other the balance of Maricopa County.
ARIZONA@WORK Maricopa 
County is one of Arizona's 12 
regional Local Workforce 
Development Areas (LWDAs) and 
serves Maricopa County, excluding 
the City of Phoenix. 
ARIZONA@WORK Maricopa 
County, in collaboration with local 
community-based organizations, 
makes up the current workforce 
network of business and 
employment-related service 
providers for the Maricopa County 
LWDA.  
The system is responsible for 
providing services to 2.8 million 
residents within the 8,707 square 
mile area. The City of Phoenix, 
which jointly serves Maricopa 
County, serves nearly 1.68 million 
people within its 517 square mile 
boundary. 
The Maricopa County Workforce Development 
Board (MCWDB) is a policy-making entity 
empowered by the Workforce Innovation and 
Opportunity Act that works to ensure that 
Maricopa County residents have the skills, 
training and education to achieve their career 
goals, and Maricopa County employers are able 
to hire, develop and retain qualified employees.
The MCWDB partners with local businesses and 
educators to create and educated workforce 
capable of sustaining economic prosperity in the 
future. The 20-member board represents all 
facets of the workforce system in the Maricopa 
County LWDA, including the business 
community, and leaders from education, labor, 
public service and community-based 
organizations. 
The MCWDB has established it mission, vision, 
goals and strategies to ensure that integrated 
service delivery in the region is aligned with 
federal and state goals for implementing the 
Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act. 
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Increasing access and opportunities for the employment, 
education, training and support services to succeed in the 
labor market. 
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Supporting the alignment of workforce investment, 
education and economic development systems in support of 
a comprehensive, accessible an high-quality workforce 
development system. 
03
Improving the quality and labor market relevance of 
workforce investment, education and economic 
development efforts to provide workers with the skills and 
credentials necessary to secure and advance in employment 
with family-sustaining wages and to provide employers with 
the skilled workers the employers need to succeed in the 
global economy.
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Promoting improvement in the structure of and delivery of 
services to better address the employment and skill needs 
of workers, job seekers and employers. 
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Increasing the prosperity of workers and employers, the 
economic growth of communities, regions and states and 
the global competitiveness of the United States.
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Providing workforce investment activities that increase the 
employment, retention and earnings of participants and 
increase attainment of recognized postsecondary 
credentials by participants. 
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Total Expenditures for FY24: $16,478,094
74%
20%
Occupational 
Skills Training
Work
Experience
2%
WDB Admin & Oversight   
ARIZONA@WORK Services: 
Staffing & Operations                      
Direct Participant Services
4%
Total Funding 
Expended
Fiscal Years
2020-2024
Thousands ($) 
 $1,062,489
$9,291,689
  $6,123,916
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Population
4.58M
Median Age
37.1
Median 
Household 
Income
$80,675
Families in 
Poverty
10.9%
Unemployment 
Rate
3.8%
Median 
Property Value
$371,400
Number of 
Employees
1.9M
Number of 
Businesses
107,648
* D at a o b t ain ed fr o m t h e U S C en su s B u r eau & A r iz o n a C o m m er c e A u t h o r it y
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Program Participation
3,007
1,857
109
1,857
739
586
3,855
3,255
4,000
2,000
0
Adult
Dislocated
Worker
Youth
Total (All
Programs)
PY22 (thru Q4)
PY23 (thru Q4)
There are four major WIOA
Title 1B programs including:
 
The Adult Program provides 
workforce services that 
increase  the employment, 
retention, earning and attainment 
of recognized post-secondary 
credentials for adults ages 18 and 
older. 
The Dislocated Worker (DW) 
Program provides services to 
individuals who have been 
terminated, laid off, or have 
received notice of termination or 
layoff from employment, generally 
due to employer downsizing or 
plant closures.  Self-employed 
individuals who are unemployed 
due to economic conditions as well 
as displaced homemakers may also 
receive DW program services. 
The Rapid Response (RR) Program 
is the cooperative effort of 
ARIZONA@WORK-Maricopa 
County staff and other partner 
programs. RR provides assistance 
and services to workers affected 
by layoffs, plant closures, natural 
or other disasters resulting in 
mass job dislocation. The intent of 
RR activities is to aid affected 
workers and help them transition 
to a new employment opportunity 
as quickly as possible. 
The Youth Program provides a 
comprehensive array of services 
(i.e. occupational skills training, 
work experiences, basic academic 
skills education, adult mentoring, 
etc.) the goal is for program 
participants to obtain a job in a 
career pathway, enroll in post-
secondary education or register in 
an apprenticeship prior to the end 
of their participation in the 
program.  Youth programs offer 
services to in-school and out-of-
school youth ages 14-24. 
812
Apprentices 
Supported
(12 Training Providers)
659
New 
Apprentices
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We track the 
median earnings of 
participants who 
are in unsubsidized 
employment during 
the second quarter 
after exit from a 
program.
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Rate (%)
Rate (%)
Rate (%)

WIOA strengthens the Title II Adult Education and Family Literacy Act (AEFLA) 
program by positioning adult education services provided by the Arizona 
Department of Education as a key component of the workforce development 
system in local communities and improving alignment among adult education 
programs, post-secondary education providers and employers.
ESL Participation by Level
46%
37%
17%
ESL Level 1-2 46
ESL Level 3-4 37
ESL Level 5-6 17
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The Employment Service Program provides employment services and career counseling to job 
seekers.    This program also provides labor exchange services to job seekers and employers.    These 
services are available to all job seekers, regardless of employment status, though Veterans receive 
priority and disabled Veterans receive highest priority.    Any employer seeking workers are eligible 
for employer services from this program. 
Services include job search and placement assistance for job seekers, recruitment services and 
special technical services for employers, re-employment services for unemployment insurance 
complaints, labor exchanges services for workers who have received notice of permanent or 
impending layoff, referrals and financial aid application assistance for training and educational 
resources and programs and the development and provision of labor market and occupational 
information. 
The Vocational Rehabilitation 
Administration (VR) assists 
individuals with disabilities to 
meet their goals for 
employment and 
independence. Individuals who 
have a physical or mental 
impairment that results in 
substantial employment 
barriers and who require VR 
services to "prepare for, secure, 
retain, advance in, or regain 
employment that is consistent 
with the applicant's strengths, 
resources, priorities, concerns, 
abilities, capabilities, interests 
and informed choice."
Average Number of 
Customers Served (Quarterly)
Number of Job Placements
Average Hourly 
Wage
13,492
Clients 
Served
Total 
Exited
4,003
609
$17.92
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12,616

Chair
HR Manager, Workforce 
Education Investments
Mayo Clinic
Leah Hill
Second Vice Chair
Training Director
Phoenix Electrical JATC
Shawn Hutchinson
Member
Arizona Public Affairs Manager
Intel
Angela Creedon
Member
Talent Management Director
Salt River Project
Tina Drews
Member
Director of Training & Talent
Habitat for Humanity
Kathryn "Che" Collins
Member
State & Local Gov Affairs Director
Verizon
Matt Clark
Member
Senior Customer Service Manager
Tango Health
Eddie Baldenegro
Vice Chair
Vice President
Tivity Health
Bonnie Schirato
Member
Executive Director
Arizona Finance 
Authority
Greg Ghelfi
Member
Senior Director
Healthcare Careers
Banner Health
Dr. Noelle Trinder
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Member
Workforce Developmt Instructor
Maricopa County Adult Probation
JakinDee Kosaka
Member
Human Resources Senior 
Recruiter
Wells Fargo
Loren Granger
Member
CEO
Concord General Contracting
Grenee Martacho
Member
RN Director Clinical 
Education
Banner Health
Konrad Robichaud
Member
Program Manager
AZ Dept. of Economic Security
John Soto
Member
Chief Operating Officer
Junior Achievement of Arizona
Anne Landers
Member
VP Product Management
Brenntag North America -
Scottsdale
Tim Willenborg
Member
President/CEO
SSC Underground
Marcia J. Veidmark
Member
Vocational Rehabilitation 
Program Supervisor
AZ Dept. of Economic Security
Elizabeth Valdez
Member
Business Manager
Boilermakers - Local 627
Jacob Evenson
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Before Victoria enrolled with the ARIZONA@WORK-Maricopa County Youth Program, she had moved back to Arizona 
because her father in Colorado had passed away. Once she moved back to Arizona, she was working a warehousing job, 
working over nights, and getting paid minimal pay. Victoria always had a dream of becoming a dental assistant but wasn’t sure 
how she would be able to complete schooling financially and with her current job schedule.
I enrolled Victoria into the youth program knowing that she had been enrolled before but her completion in the youth program 
was unsuccessful due to loss of contact with her previous career advisor. She had confided in me that her father had fallen ill 
and she needed to move out of state to help take care of him. After her father passed, she felt it was time to move back to 
Arizona and continue her journey to becoming a dental assistant. Victoria took a chance and asked to re-enroll in the 
ARIZONA@WORK youth program.
When I first met Victoria, she was very shy and soft-spoken. I could tell this youth had the weight of the world on her shoulders 
at the young age of twenty. I knew right away that Victoria really needed someone in her corner to help her succeed and I was 
determined to help her succeed in any way that I could. During her eight months in the youth program, Victoria endured 
another loss in her family; her grandmother fell ill and was hospitalized. Afterward, she was in a very bad car accident that 
totaled her car, and she had to claim bankruptcy because of the medical and funeral bills she endured for her father. 
Nonetheless, Victoria persevered and continued to work overnight shifts at her job and then school in the daytime, often 
running off 2 to 3 hours of sleep. Even though services were offered to Victoria (i.e., transportation assistance), Victoria was 
determined to continue to help herself and move forward through her darkness. I made sure to check in with Victoria often 
and remain available if she ever needed any additional services or just needed a listening ear. Victoria successfully graduated 
from dental assisting school. Victoria then  a dental assisting job.
Now, after Victoria’s time in the program, she interviewed for a dental assisting position with a local dental office and was 
offered a position on the spot with better pay and benefits. Victoria is now working in the industry of her dreams and plans to 
buy a new car in the future.
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