Governor appoints EDC-VC president/CEO to California Workforce Investment Board

PRLog (Press Release) - Sep. 11, 2012 - California Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. recently appointed Bruce Stenslie, president/CEO of the Economic Development Collaborative-Ventura County, to the state’s Workforce Investment Board. Stenslie is among 30 of the state’s leaders in business, labor and education to join the board. The board is tasked with advising the governor on jobs and workforce development and working with the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) to strengthen the state’s employment outlook.

The Workforce Investment Board was established by mandate of the federal Workforce Investment Act of 1998. The board has statutory responsibility for oversight of the state's allocation of federal Workforce Investment Act funds. These funds are distributed by the state to local Workforce Investment Boards for increasing workforce skills and creating and retaining jobs. In Ventura County, the funds are programmed through a partnership between the local Workforce Investment Board and the County Board of Supervisors.

“Workforce issues and connections between employers and workers have long been my personal passions and, not coincidentally, important pieces of our local economic competitiveness,” said Stenslie. “These issues are already the subject of our concentration in building the local economy, so this opportunity will enhance our work at EDC-VC and help us serve our businesses more effectively.”

Serving with the appointees are government leaders, including Health and Human Services Secretary Diana Dooley, Employment Development Department Director Pam Harris, Superintendent of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson, California Community Colleges Chancellor Jack Scott, Department of Apprenticeship Standards Director Diane Ravnik and Labor & Workforce Development Agency Secretary Marty Morgenstern.
Prior to joining EDC-VC in 2007, Stenslie was deputy director at the California Workforce Association and executive director of the Workforce Investment Board for the City of Los Angeles Mayor’s Office. Stenslie is a member of the California Association of Local Economic Development Executive Committee, the Community Action Ventura County Board of Directors and the California Enterprise Development Authority Board of Directors. He is also a Commissioner for First Five Ventura County.

EDC-VC is a private, nonprofit organization that serves as a business-to-government liaison to assist businesses in Ventura County by offering programs that enhance the economic vitality of the region. For more information about the Small Business Development Center, loan programs, manufacturing outreach and international trade programs or other services available to small businesses through EDC-VC, contact Stenslie at 805-384-1800 ext. 24 or bruce.stenslie@edc-vc.com. Or visit www.edc-vc.com.