DEPARTMENT: Office of the City Clerk
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Tina J. Flores
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: Citywide
SUBJECT:
Consideration of Applicants the San Antonio Ready to Work Advisory Board (9 seats) [Tina J. Flores, City Clerk]
SUMMARY:
The Governance Committee will interview applicants for the SA: Ready to Work Advisory Board. The Board consisting of 9 (nine) members appointed by the full Council and 2 (two) Council Liaisons appointed by the Mayor charged with providing input to the Mayor and City Council on in-demand occupations, workforce training alignment and training targets, and wraparound support in connection with the SA: Ready to Work Program.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
On December 17, 2020 City Council approved the creation of a City-appointed 9-member SA: Ready to Work Advisory Board, with two additional City Council liaisons. The Governance Committee will consider applicants to the SA: Ready to Work Advisory Board. The Advisory Board will include representatives from four local employers with in-demand occupations, two current/previous participants of City of San Antonio workforce programs, one trade or labor organization, one community organization, and one training provider or higher education institution. Additionally, the Board will include two City Council liaisons appointed by the Mayor.
Although this Board is advisory in nature, to prevent actual or perceived conflicts of interest, no appointed members may have direct relationships with entities that contract with the City for implementation of the SA: Ready to Work program. The Advisory Board will meet quarterly, although a faster meeting cadence may occur during initial program development. Members will serve a two-year term and will provide feedback on:
• In-demand occupations eligible for tuition assistance;
• Qualitative input regarding necessary skill sets and alignment with training programs;
• Annual allotment of workforce certificate vs. college degrees slots;
• Levels and quality of wraparound support; and
In addition, this Advisory Board will serve as community program ambassadors, promoting resident participation and employer hiring of participants.
ISSUE:
On February 1, 2021 the SA: Ready to Work Advisory Board Applicant Subcommittee reviewed 31 (thirty-one) applications. The Subcommittee was comprised of Councilwoman Rebecca Viagran, Councilwoman Dr. Adriana Rocha Garcia, Councilwoman Jada Andrews-Sullivan and Councilman John Courage and recommended the following applicants be interviewed by the Governance Committee for the corresponding categories:
Local Employers/In-Demand Occupations:
• Aaron Asel (Asel and Associates)
• Karen Bryant (CHRISTUS Health)
• Douglas Carlberg (M2 Global Technology LTD)
• Sheridan Chambers (Denim Group)
• Sonia Garza (WellMed Medical Management)
• Peter J. Holt (HOLT CAT)
• Amanda Keammerer (Javilud LLC)
• Benjamin Peavey (Accenture Federal Services)
• Rosa Santana (Santana Group, Integrated Human Capital and Forma Automotive)
Training/Higher Education:
• Dr. Thomas Evans (University of the Incarnate Word)
• Ann Islas (U.T. Health San Antonio)
• Dr. Cynthia Teniente-Matson (Texas A&M San Antonio)
Additional applicants for the remaining categories will be interviewed during a future Governance Committee meeting.
ALTERNATIVES:
The Office of the City Clerk will continue to promote vacancies.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no fiscal impact.
RECOMMENDATION:
The recommendation of the Governance City Council Committee will be presented to the full City Council for approval at a future City Council Meeting.