Westmoreland-Fayette WIB

Cali is the Grants and Marketing Manager at the WFWIB and has been on the team for about 18 months. She supports programs in Westmoreland and Fayette Counties through grant development and marketing communications. As she explains her “why”: “I came to the WFWIB to help secure resources that expand opportunity, and I remain committed to this work because it directly advances Westmoreland and Fayette Counties through programs people can feel in their day-to-day lives.” She appreciates the colleagues she works with each day, and the kind of teamwork that is steady, encouraging, and mission-driven. #WFWIB #Marketing #Grants #WorkforceDevelopment #westmorelandcounty #FayetteCounty #wfwib25years

Janet and Ryan from the WFWIB took part in the Business Roundtable Event on Friday, March 20. Thank you to Jill Cooper for bringing together local business and community leaders for a discussion on workforce needs, job creation, and opportunities for local businesses. As the local public workforce system, the WFWIB is here to support our business community, job seekers, and partners across our counties. We are proud to be part of conversations that strengthen our workforce and create new opportunities in our community.

For 25 years, the WFWIB has helped employers turn workforce planning into long-term business success. Employer Spotlight: General Carbide Corporation Through its partnership with the Westmoreland-Fayette Workforce Investment Board, General Carbide Corporation has used On-the-Job Training, Incumbent Worker Training, Apprenticeship, and Upskilling to strengthen its workforce and support long-term business stability. As a manufacturer in a highly technical industry, General Carbide knows workforce development is about more than filling immediate openings. It is about preparing for the future, transferring knowledge from experienced employees, and building career pathways for the next generation of skilled workers. Over the last year, the impact of this partnership has been clear: 👏15% of the workforce advanced along defined career pathways 👏5 employees graduated from registered apprenticeship programs 👏 technical training was expanded to support production, retention, and upward mobility Through partnerships like this one, the WFWIB helps employers build talent pipelines, strengthen succession planning, and invest in the skilled workforce needed for long-term success. Jessica Gardner, Director of Human Resources at General Carbide, described that impact this way: “Workforce development is a long-term business strategy for General Carbide, not a reaction to vacancies. As experienced employees retire, we have a responsibility to intentionally transfer knowledge and prepare the next generation of skilled talent. This partnership has allowed us to formalize what many manufacturers struggle with: structured training, defined career pathways, and real future planning. We are building a workforce that is prepared not just for today’s production demands, but for the next decade and beyond.” Has the WFWIB helped your business grow, hire, or train workers? As we celebrate 25 years of impact, we invite employer partners to share their success stories at info@westfaywib.org. #WFWIB25 #WorkforceDevelopment #EmployerSuccess #Apprenticeship #OJT #Upskilling #ManufacturingJobs #WestmorelandFayette #WorkforceSolutions

Register now for the next Westmoreland-Fayette Healthcare Industry Partnership meeting. Join the WFWIB and the Westmoreland-Fayette healthcare community for Better Together: Building Strong Coworker Relationships and discover practical tools to strengthen connections and collaboration that support our local communities. Wednesday, April 8, 2026 | 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Westmoreland County Community College Advanced Technology Center Sign up today: https://lnkd.in/emiU3EC5

🌟 Staff Spotlight: Kerry Fagan 🌟 Thank you, Kerry, for 7 years of commitment to the WFWIB (including her internship) and for the work she does today as our Contract/Data Coordinator. Kerry shared, “The WFWIB provides our community with the opportunity for individuals to grow professionally when they may have thought it was not possible.” She also shared what motivates her: “Knowing that we are making a difference in a person's life.” – Kerry Fagan #WFWIB25Years #StaffHighlight #WestmorelandCounty #FayetteCounty

Business Spotlight: Heartland Fabrication | Strong employer partnerships are at the heart of 25 years of workforce impact. Through the WFWIB and PA CareerLink®, Heartland Fabrication, LLC accessed On-the-Job Training (OJT) support to meet hiring needs and reduce the high cost of onboarding in a specialized industry. Over the last six months, Heartland Fabrication has: 👏onboarded 8 eligible new employees 👏filled approximately 12.5% of all new hires through OJT 👏retained 100% of those hires 👏supported wage growth from $22 per hour to $28 per hour, with opportunities to advance to $34 per hour For 25 years, the WFWIB has helped employers solve workforce challenges by connecting businesses with qualified candidates, offset training costs, and supporting long-term growth and retention. “Working with the West-Fay WIB and PA CareerLink® has allowed us to hire and retain a skilled workforce that positively contributes to our company culture. Our ability to hire and sustain our workforce through on-the-job training allows us to meet our production goals and remain competitive in our market.”- John Aliveto, Director of People Operations Has the WFWIB helped your business grow, hire, or train workers? As we celebrate 25 years of impact, we invite employer partners to share their success stories at info@westfaywib.org. #WFWIB25 #WorkforceDevelopment #EmployerSuccess #OJT #BuildBackBetter #WestmorelandFayette #WorkforceSolutions

Thank you to “Coach D” Darrell Andrews for energizing our PA CareerLink® Partners and Title I team along with WFWIB staff during a powerful Motivational Rally last week focused on self-care, emotional intelligence, teamwork, and self-motivation. Investing in staff development strengthens workplace culture, builds resilience, and helps ensure we are prepared to serve our communities. We truly appreciate Coach D for empowering our team. #WFWIB #PACareerLink #WorkforceDevelopment #ProfessionalDevelopment #WorkplaceCulture #EmotionalIntelligence #Teamwork #ThankYouCoachD

Did you know nearly half of Pennsylvania’s youth live in just TWO metro areas? 48.9% of PA’s 16–24-year-olds reside in the Philadelphia and Pittsburgh metros while only 15.6% live in rural counties. That concentration matters. Workforce challenges — and solutions — look very different across regions. Urban hubs, college towns, and rural communities require tailored strategies. Local Workforce Development Boards are uniquely positioned to respond, but they need sustained, flexible support to do it. 🔎 Explore the data: www.pawork.org/reports. #StrongerTogether #PAWorkforce #JobsForPA #YouthWorkforce #WorkforceDevelopmentPA #EconomicDevelopment

We appreciate Ryan Butter’s leadership and problem-solving across the WFWIB. As our Workforce Development Director, now serving in the role for more than two years, his work supports nearly every program area. Ryan shared, “I help connect people to the skills, training, and opportunities they need to build stable, meaningful careers, and I help employers find the talent they need to grow. In practice, that means I’m constantly bringing partners together, identifying gaps in our local workforce, and designing programs that remove barriers so people can access the training and support they need.” He added, “The WFWIB helps people find good jobs and helps employers find skilled workers by connecting our local community to training, funding, and real workforce opportunities.” #WFWIB25Years #WorkforceDevelopment #WestmorelandCounty #FayetteCounty

Our WFWIB team was excited to support the 2026 BotsIQ Prelims! Janet attended on March 5, and Caitlyn, Kerry, and Cali attended on March 11. It was an incredible event showcasing student talent, hard work, and innovation, while supporting opportunities to connect youth with hands-on skills and work directly with local employers. Thank you to BotsIQ for a great event. We’re looking forward to more excitement during the Final Competitions next month! #WFWIB #BotsIQ #WorkforceDevelopment #STEM #StudentSuccess #CommunityEngagement #FutureWorkforce