Workforce Initiatives
Overview
The primary purpose of Kentucky’s postsecondary education institutions is to produce adaptive, highly skilled workers to fuel the economy. To strengthen the system’s outcomes, the Council’s Workforce Initiatives Unit focuses on aligning state workforce needs with higher education’s initiatives, programs and curriculums.
Currently, the Council is working with employers, postsecondary institutions, community organizations and government entities to increase the talent pipeline in the following areas:
Specialty Area/High-Need Professions
Healthcare-Focused Initiatives
- Healthcare Workforce Collaborative
- Healthcare Workforce Investment Fund
- Heroes to Healers
- CLIMB-Health
Recovery-Focused Initiatives
Reentry-Focused Initiatives
Community-Focused Initiatives
Bringing campuses together to improve career development
Campus career development services offer students the opportunity to receive assistance in various aspects of their academic and career journey, such as choosing a major, crafting a career path and more. CPE convenes the Career Development Officers (CDO) workgroup to improve collaboration, sharing innovative ideas, policies, best practices and strategies for student success. For more information about participating in the CDO workgroup, contact Mary Jackson at 502-892-3236 or by email at mary.jackson@ky.gov.
Staff Contacts
If you are an employer interested in creating partnerships with a postsecondary institution or learning about what grant opportunities exist to help us increase the talent pool in your region, contact us!
Leslie M. Sizemore, PhD, EdS, OTR/L
Assistant Vice President, CPE Workforce Initiatives
leslie.sizemore@ky.gov | 606-813-3212
Miles Feroli, Ph.D.
Senior Associate, CPE Workforce Initiatives
miles.feroli@ky.gov | 502-892-3124
Jan Goldman
Executive Director, Kentucky Community Learning Network
jan.goldman@ky.gov | 502-892-3193
Mary Jackson
Senior Associate, CPE Workforce Initiatives
mary.jackson@ky.gov | 502-892-3236
Michaela Steverson
Program Manager, CPE Healthcare Workforce Initiatives
michaela.mineer@ky.gov | 502-892-3040
Carl Wilson
Senior Fellow, CLIMB-Health/CPE Workforce Initiatives
carld.wilson@ky.gov | 502-892-3204
Last Updated: 7/3/2025