2026 State Election Candidates

The National Association of Workforce Development Professionals Board of Directors is elected by NAWDP membership and serve in three-year terms.

2026 State Candidates

Candidates for each of the 15 eligible states are listed below and sorted by state. Click candidate’s names to review their campaign page.

Arizona

Kathy Johnson
Workforce Development Manager
Mortenson Construction Training Program

Vickie Simmons
Deputy Director
ARIZONA@WORK-Southeastern Arizona

California

Jonathan Overall
Director of Communications and Innovation
KRA Corporation

Jose Pelayo
Director of Workforce Development
Los Angeles Economic Development Corporation

Maxine Tolenoa
Vice President, Workforce Services
Career Team

Colorado

Tami Grant
RMWDA President & Deputy Director – Weld County Department of Human Services
Workforce Colorado – Weld County 

Connecticut

Daniel Garewski
Career and Business Administrator
Capital Workforce Partners

Florida

Julia Dattolo
CEO
CareerSource Palm Beach County

Tony Chan
Economic Development Specialist
City of St. Petersburg

Illinois

Claudia Cattouse-Regalado
Director
Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership

Indiana

Michelle Ginder
Regional Program Manager
JobWorks

Maryland

Audrey Nwaze


Anne Arundel County Government

Walter Simmons
Acting Secretary
Maryland Department of Social and Economic Mobility

Michigan

Brenda Motley-Aikens
Vice President
Ross Innovative Employment Solutions

Natasha Allen
Director of Strategic Initiatives
Michigan Works! Association

Missouri

Dana Keller
Executive Director
Gamm, Inc

James Swift
Chief Operating Officer
Great Jobs KC

Shanise Johnson
Executive Director, Career & Workforce Readiness
BGCSTL: St. Louis Internship Program

North Carolina

The state of North Carolina did not receive nominations during the nomination period. Per the NAWDP bylaws, this seat will be filled by appointment by the NAWDP Board of Directors Chair. 

Oregon

The state of Oregon did not receive nominations during the nomination period. Per the NAWDP bylaws, this seat will be filled by appointment by the NAWDP Board of Directors Chair. 

Pennsylvania

Carissa Pinkard
President and CEO
Excellence4Life Consulting

Lauren Holubec
Executive Director
Pennsylvania Workforce Development Association

Paul Pappasergi
Director
Eckerd Connects/Montgomery County WDB

Texas

Jared Porritt
Sr. VP of Strategic Initiatives
Workforce Solutions of Central Texas

Manuel Ugues
Regional Director
SERCO of Texas, Inc.

Michael “Shane” Shepard
Director of Economic Development
City of Lancaster

Myriam Guerrero
Chief Financial Officer
Workforce Solutions Borderplex

Virginia

The state of Virginia did not receive nominations during the nomination period. Per the NAWDP bylaws, this seat will be filled by appointment by the NAWDP Board of Directors Chair.