Who We Are
The National Association of Workforce Development Professionals (NAWDP) is a professional association representing individual workforce development and human resources practitioners, who connect jobseekers, educators and employers to advance the American economy. NAWDP provides the professional development, resources, and certification credibility to individuals seeking to thrive in the workforce development industry as thought leaders and innovators. As the leading advocate for workforce development professionals, NAWDP builds relationships and connections with other industry-leading organizations to challenge and collaborate for the advancement of the industry.
NAWDP is governed and managed by a Board of Directors who are elected to represent the views and the needs of the NAWDP membership of the geographic area they are elected to represent. Click here for more information on board composition.
Directors set the goals and objectives for the association, plan and approve the association’s budget, and develop new initiatives for the organization. Members of the Board serve as volunteers without compensation or reimbursement of expenses. They contribute their time and resources to advance the profession of workforce development.
NAWDP’s Board manages the organization using an active committee structure.
History
NAWDP’s origins can be traced back to the 1984 formation of the National Job Training Partnership, Inc. (NJTP), a 501 (c)3 organization with the mission of promoting cooperation and providing information in support of programs under the Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA) and related programs.
Based on recommendations by the JTPA Advisory Commission, and with a grant from the U.S. Department of Labor, NJTP launched the Partnership for Training and Employment Careers (PTEC) in 1989 as a project to help professionalize the field.
In 1992, PTEC was incorporated as a 501(c)6 non-profit association to offer workforce development professionals a national association for skill-building, recognition and standards. At the same time, the NJTP was renamed the Partnership Education Fund (PEF).
In 1994, members voted to change PTEC’s name to the National Association of Workforce Development Professionals (NAWDP). Today, NAWDP and PEF share the same Board of Directors and staff.