Last Updated: October 29, 2020
The Center of Workforce Innovations (CWI) Board announced today that Linda Woloshansky, President and CEO, is retiring from her role in the first quarter of 2021.
Woloshansky has served in her current role as the founding president since 2000 when CWI began operations.
During Woloshanky’s tenure, she laid the groundwork and strategy for CWI to serve as a catalyst for community and business investment in the workforce, education, and economic development, building and enhancing the capacity to succeed in a new global economy. CWI aligns workforce skills to meet the needs of employers and elevates talent for emerging next generation jobs.
“The organization has grown significantly in the last twenty years, providing support to the Northwest Indiana Workforce Board, operating WorkOne Centers, and 15 adult community learning centers. Linda added a consulting division, co-founded and spearheaded READY NWI, a talent alignment coalition of k-12 systems, and her support extended to Career and Technical Education centers, post-secondary schools, and employers in the seven counties of Northwest Indiana,” said Glen Todd, newly elected Chair of the CWI Board. “Her knowledge and experience on workforce issues has been recognized not only locally but she has been sought out by others throughout the country,” added Todd.
“Mrs. Woloshansky believes in partnerships and collaborative efforts, working with others to create opportunities to improve college and career readiness of students, and supporting the work of economic development and our employer community,” said Jim Jorgensen, an attorney with Hoeppner, Wagner and Evans and long-time board member of CWI. “She has always advocated that developing talent is not only a workforce development issue but is also a community and economic development responsibility. She has been an extraordinary leader and difference maker.”
Barbara Sacha with ArcelorMittal commented on behalf of the Northwest Indiana Workforce Board (NWIWB) saying Linda’s leadership will be missed. “Her spirit, positivity, and endless enthusiasm has inspired me in my role as Northwest Indiana Workforce Board Chair. I will personally miss her mentorship and I know that CWI, together with the NWIWB, will miss her leadership,” Sacha said.
Woloshansky has served on numerous national, regional, state, and local boards in leadership roles. She has received recognition for her work by entities such as the Department of Labor, National Association of Counties, Jobs for Americas Graduates, the Great Lakes Employment and Training Association, Times Media, NIPSCO, Ivy Tech, the state of Indiana, and was inducted as a fellow in the Society of Innovators. During her tenure, she has made over 100 presentations to workforce boards, human resource professionals, and economic developers across the U.S.
Prior to her work at CWI, Woloshansky served as the founder and CEO of Kankakee Workforce Development and previously administered The Discovery Alliance.
The CWI board has contracted with Organizational Development Solutions, (ODS) led by Desila Rosetti to search for a new CEO. Mrs. Woloshansky will work with the transition team. If the search extends beyond Woloshansky’s tenure, Miche Grant, current COO will serve as interim President.
The Center of Workforce Innovations is a multi-management non-profit focusing on workforce, education, and community development to meet the economic growth needs of regional labor markets.