LONG BRANCH — Monmouth County Freeholder Director Thomas A. Arnone, Deputy Director Serena DiMaso and the county’s Workforce Development Board (WDB) recently honored six leaders in workforce and community development at the WDB’s 25th Anniversary Partnership Awards Dinner held at McLoone’s Pier House.
Proceeds from the April 20 dinner supported the WDB’s Scholarship Fund, which provides scholarships to assist low-income students attending Brookdale Community College.
The WDB directs the delivery of education, employment and training programs to county residents and businesses. It builds partnerships in the public and private sectors to maximize resources to build a high-quality and competitive workforce.
The six honorees this year include Stephen C. Hornik Sr., who received a special honorary recognition as a member of the WDB and chairman of the Awards Committee; Benjamin Waldron, executive director of the Monmouth-Ocean Development Council; Donna M. Blaze, executive director of the Monmouth Housing Alliance; Marie Lucier-Woodruff, associate vice president in the Office of Continuing and Professional Studies at Brookdale College; Aaron Fichtner, deputy commissioner of the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development; and James Moran, an IBEW delegate to the Monmouth-Ocean Central Labor Council.
“The silver anniversary of honoring partners who have dedicated themselves to training a skilled workforce that is in demand is a testimony to the success of the program,” said DiMaso, liaison to the county’s Division of Workforce Development, in a press release.
“Each of our recipients has demonstrated their awareness of the importance to develop a labor pool that possesses the skill set employers need. The honorees represent a cross-section of the public and private sectors, each of which plays an integral role in matching employers looking to hire with qualified applicants,” she said.
For more information about the WDB, contact Eileen Higgins at 732-683-8850, ext. 2011 or eileen.higgins@dol.state.nj.us.
