South Dakota Department of Labor
700 Governors Drive
Pierre, SD 57501
For Immediate Release: Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2009
Media Contact: Dawn Dovre, 605.773.3094
Gov. Rounds appoints two Workforce Development Council members
PIERRE, S.D. – Gov. Mike Rounds has appointed two new members to the Department of Labor’s (DOL) Workforce Development Council: Tom Bohnet (BOH’-nay) of Yankton and Jack Warner of Pierre.
Bohnet represents the private sector and replaces George Cook, whose appointment termed out. Warner represents the Board of Regents as the executive director, replacing former Executive Director Tad Perry who retired this summer.
“Council members represent business, education and labor, and they play an important role in development of South Dakota’s workforce,” Gov. Mike Rounds said. “This collaboration is effective in making sure training funds are allocated appropriately to best serve those people who are seeking jobs and the businesses that hire them.”
Most of the Council’s 16 members are from the private sector. Council membership also includes representatives of the state departments of Labor, Education, Human Services, Tourism and State Development, and the Board of Regents.
In addition to the new appointments, three others were re-appointed by Gov. Rounds: Dave Mertens of Kennebec, Wallace Meyers of Sioux Falls, and Helen Wegner of Pierre all accepted additional three-year terms.
The Council’s main function is to select service providers and evaluate DOL program goal progress in following the state plan for Workforce Investment Act activities. The Council is also tasked with ensuring fiscal responsibility and accountability of those funds.
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