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Breakout Speakers
Breakout #6 - The Future of Work: Workforce trends and “future proofing” Washington’s workers and businesses
MODERATOR: Lewis McMurran
Co-Manager, Future of Work Task Force Report, Workforce Training & Education Coordinating Board
Lewis A (Lew) McMurran comes to the Workforce Board with over two decades of experience in government relations, advocacy, and external affairs for a wide range of employers in the private, public and non-profit sectors. Lew has extensive experience with policy development, lobbying, and policy implementation across a wide range of issue areas including education, economic development, financial services, insurance, intellectual property, privacy, security, technology, utilities, water, workforce and more.
Since 2013, Lew has been involved in a range of entrepreneurial ventures, mostly recently as COO of software startup MaxSet Worldwide Inc. He was instrumental in the recent award of an SBIR grant from the U.S. Air Force. He was a key member of the founding team responsible for administrative, business development, financial, marketing, operations and more.
Lew was the first Director of Government Relations for the Washington Software Alliance (now WTIA), rising to Vice President of Government and External Relations, (2000-2013). While there, he was involved in and led a number of initiatives, including Tech and Telecom Committee Chair for the Prosperity Partnership, Education Committee Chair for the AG Youth Internet Safety Task Force, Advisory Council of the Trade Development Alliance and remains Chair of the Career and Technical Education Foundation.
MODERATOR: Joe Wilcox
Co-Manager, Future of Work Task Force Report, Workforce Training & Education Coordinating Board
Joe has substantial private sector experience spanning 13 years in dozens of countries around the world, having analyzed a wide range of industries across North America, Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia. Through the course of this work, Joe has researched, analyzed and presented assessments on a variety of topics, including K-12 and higher education, workforce development, economic development, labor and industries, and health and human services. These detailed reports were heavily focused on gathering qualitative and quantitative data for analysis, with input gathered from all relevant databases, stakeholders, government officials, industry experts, think tanks and non-government organizations. This helped ensure a non-partisan, independent assessment of pertinent issues.
Prior to his role as co-manager of the Future of Work project, Joe was a country editor for the Oxford Business Group, managing a team to conduct extensive business intelligence projects in Bulgaria, Romania, and Jordan. Joe also acted as a senior analyst for Oxford Business Group, during which time he researched and analyzed hundreds of diverse sectors with a specialization in economic development of emerging economies. His primary regions of focus consisted of Eastern Europe and Asia. He was also a regular contributor to S&P Global Platts, a leading independent provider of energy and commodities information.
Born and raised in Olympia, Joe graduated from Western Washington University with a bachelor’s degree in International Business and later from Colorado State University with a bachelor’s degree in Editorial Journalism. He is currently undertaking a master’s in public administration degree at The Evergreen State College. Joe lives in Olympia with his wife and two sons.
Sally Zeiger Hanson
Principal, TrainingConnections, LLC
Sally is the Principal of TrainingConnections, LLC which works primarily with the Boeing Co to bring together education and training expertise to help solve skill gap and training issues.
Sally uses labor market data, economic trends and job task analyses to create curriculum and training programs that meet workforce needs with a focus on multi-generational work teams.
She has experience as a Chamber of Commerce director in addition to more than 15 years of policy and program development for K-12, college, university and proprietary education systems.
Hanson holds a B.A. from the University of Washington and a M.Ed. in student development administration from Seattle University.
Nate Humphrey
Workforce Education Director, Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges
As the Workforce Education Director with the Washington State Board for Community and Technical Colleges, Nate provides leadership and direction in advancing workforce and economic development strategies for Washington’s system of 34 community and technical colleges. His work involves fostering and maintaining pivotal partnerships and connections across Washington’s workforce development system to produce a robust pipeline of highly skilled workers that meet the needs of employers while growing Washington’s economy.
Nate earned his baccalaureate degree in political science and public administration from UNC Wilmington and Master of Public Affairs from UNC Greensboro. Previously, he served as State Director of Workforce Development and Continuing Education with the NC Community College System, Assistant State Auditor with the NC Office of the State Auditor, and in workforce education at both Wake Technical Community College and Guilford Technical Community College.
Michael Meotti
Executive Director, Washington Student Achievement Council
Michael was appointed Executive Director of the Washington Student Achievement Council (WSAC) by Governor Jay Inslee in December 2016. He previously served as Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Higher Education and Executive Vice President of the Connecticut Board of Regents for Higher Education.
Michael has extensive experience in higher education policy, finance and innovation. Prior to joining WSAC, he consulted on a number of national higher education initiatives supported by foundations and worked on regional and state strategies to increase student access and success.
Michael served in leadership positions in both the nonprofit and corporate sector. He was the President of the United Way of Connecticut and President of the Connecticut Policy and Economic Council. He is an attorney and worked in private firms and the law department of The Travelers Insurance Companies.
Michael holds a bachelors and law degree from Georgetown University.
Gayla Stoner
Associate Provost, Extended Learning and Outreach, Central Washington University
In her role as Associate Provost for Extended Learning and Outreach at Central Washington University, Gayla leads adult learning and workforce initiatives, including online, and center operations. She oversees the Office of Multimodal Learning and coordinates Dual Admission, Continuing Education, and Running Start programs. Gayla provides coordination of statewide and community college academic program contracts. She also directs community outreach efforts to inform programming and operations.
Gayla previously served as Executive Director for UIC Extended Campus at the University of Illinois – Chicago campus. Her prior university service includes oversight and leadership of online academic programs, professional development, workforce training programs, English as a Second Language, youth programs, as well as summer and winter session offerings. Gayla has also supported university and program accreditation efforts, in addition to program reviews.
Gayla has a doctorate degree in Workforce Education and Development from Southern Illinois University Carbondale.
Jenée Myers Twitchell
Impact Director, Washington STEM
Jenée serves as the Impact Director at Washington STEM and is an adjunct for the University of Washington (UW) College of Education’s Leadership in Higher Education program.
She develops, analyzes, and applies cross-sector, longitudinal data and research on systems changes and student outcomes to help drive Washington STEM’s business plan and strategic initiatives.
Jenée has her PhD in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies from UW and has led research studies on policy changes for secondary to postsecondary transitions for underserved students, regional collective impact network leadership, and regionalized supply-demand gaps for education-to-workforce pathways across Washington State.