2024 Workforce Innovation awards celebrate success
Perfetti Van Melle was awarded the first annual Talia Frye Workforce Investment Champion award as part of the Northern Kentucky Workforce Investment Board (WIB) Annual Awards and NKY Works Forum, held on September 10 at the St. Elizabeth Healthcare Education and Training Center.
Perfetti Van Melle’s Krizia Cabrera-Toro (center) accepted the Talia Frye Workforce Investment Champion Award on behalf of the company. She is shown here with KY State Representative Kim Banta (left) and NKADD Associate Director of Workforce Development Correy Eimer (right).
The Talia Frye Workforce Investment Champion was named in honor of the late Talia Frye, a 20-year veteran of the Brighton Center, where she led many workforce initiatives aimed at continually improving the workforce ecosystem in Northern Kentucky. Perfetti Van Melle was chosen from among the nominations by a committee comprised of local business leaders and workforce development professionals. Also nominated were CVG Airport and Gateway Community and Technical College.
BE NKY Growth Partnership was selected as the Workforce Team of the Year, an award recognizing a team that works tirelessly to understand the regional workforce ecosystem, recognize potential impactful collaborations and champion workforce initiatives that will "move the needle." The other nominees for the award were the City of Covington Economic Development Department and the Jefferson Community and Technical College Adult Education team.
BE NKY Growth Partnership was selected as the 2024 Workforce Team of the Year. Accepting the award were President/CEO Lee Crume (far right) and Vice President of Economic Development Kimberly Rossetti (second from right). The award was presented by Representative Banta and current WIB Chairperson Dean McKay of Skilcraft.
The Workforce Innovator of the Year award was presented to Bill Weier of Mazak, in recognition of multiple initiatives aimed at attracting and retaining new employees. Liz Crenshaw of Arlinghaus Plumbing and HVAC was also a nominee for the award, which is earmarked for an individual at a local employer who challenges the “status quo” related to workforce development.
The 2024 Workforce Innovation Award was presented to William (Bill) Weier (right), who leads Human Resources at Mazak. Representative Banta and Dean McKay presented the award.
NaviGo’s Lorraine O’Moore won the Workforce Professional of the Year award for her work connecting high-school students to employers for work-based learning experiences. NaviGo is a division of Learning Grove. Also recognized as nominees for the award were Sarah Rust Crider of the KY Office of Employer and Apprenticeship Services and Jerry Wallace from the Council of Christian Re-entry Ministry.
The 2024 Workforce Development Professional of the Year was presented to Lorraine O’Moore (right), NaviGo’s Career and College Connector. She is shown with Representative Kim Banta and WIB Chair McKay.
The fifth award for the Workforce Volunteer of the Year was presented to Michelle Cestaric of Staffmark. Michelle was recognized for the many hours of volunteer time she has dedicated to the workforce ecosystem, including leadership to the WIB and NKY Works. Other nominees for the award were Dean McKay of Skilcraft, the current NKWIB Chairperson, and Ken Wocher. Ken is a retired workforce professional who now volunteers as a career coach at the Kenton County Public Library.
Michelle Cestaric (center) was selected as the Workforce Volunteer of the Year for her many contributions to workforce development in Northern Kentucky. Cestaric is Director of Sales for Staffmark. Shown here with Representative Banta and NKADD Associate Director of Workforce Development Eimer.
The accomplishments of all the winners and nominees are applauded and appreciated by the leadership of the Northern KY Workforce Investment Board and its partners, NKADD and NKY Works.