Workforce Consortium Members

Alleghany County:  John Irwin, Jr.

Ashe County:  Jerry D. Powers

Avery County:  Dennis Aldridge

Mitchell County:  Steve Pitman

Watauga County:  Larry Turnbow

Wilkes County:  Greg Minton, Chief Local Elected Official

Yancey County:  Stacey McEntyre Greene


What does the Workforce Development Consortium Do?

The Workforce Development Consortia were established under the Job Training Partnership Act of 1982, reauthorized in the Federal Workforce Investment Act of 1998, and reauthorized again under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2014. The Consortium:

  • Agrees on geographic boundaries for delivery of workforce services
  • Identifies an entity to serve as the fiscal agent for purposes of workforce development
  • Appoints members to the Workforce Development Board
  • The Chief Elected Official of the Consortium acts as signatory on designated documents, along with the Chair of the Workforce Development Board.

Who is the Workforce Development Consortium’s Chief Elected Official?

Consortium membership is comprised of the seven elected Chairs of our local area county Boards of Commissioners (or each Chair’s designee). The Consortium selects from among its members someone to serve as the Chief Elected Official (CEO). County managers are invited guests at the Consortium meetings and frequently accompany their Chairpersons to Consortium meetings.

How often does the Consortium meet?

The High Country Workforce Development Consortium is required to meet annually. Beyond the annual requirement, additional meetings are determined by the Consortium. In addition, Consortium members receive Workforce Development Board meeting agendas, attendance records, and other pertinent documents on a regular basis.

What is the Workforce Development Board?

The Workforce Development Board is responsible for developing and carrying out the region’s workforce development plan. The Board also has oversight of Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act services as well as the region’s NCWorks Career Center system.

Who serves on the Workforce Development Board?

Federal law requires that the majority of Board members be representatives of businesses in the area, and that they are owners, chief executives or operating officers, or other individuals with optimum policymaking or hiring authority. In addition, certain public sector organizations are represented on the Board. Consortium members appoint Workforce Development Board members for their respective counties in accordance with the legislation. The Chair of the Workforce Development Board must be a private sector representative.