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MiMfg Magazine
September 2019
Jeff Donofrio
Keynote
Michigan Department of Labor
Conversation and Economic Opportunity
1 1 Named director of the new Michigan Department
of Labor and Economic Opportunity (LEO) in June.
1 1 Previously served as the executive director of
Workforce Development for the City of Detroit.
1 1 Served as an executive at Ford Motor Company,
based in Washington, D.C.
the director of the newly
Q: As
created Department of Labor
and Economic Opportunity,
please share your vision of
the coming months and
years with manufacturers.
Donofrio: Thank you, I’m excited
credit: Jacob Lewkow,
1 1 Served as district director for Congressman Sander
Levin and Congressman John D. Dingell and
Transportation Policy Advisor to Governor Granholm.
to have this opportunity to serve the
Crains’ Detroit Business
people of Michigan and join Governor
sure everyone understands the great careers that
Whitmer’s cabinet. Over my almost 20-year
can be obtained, today, with a post-high school
career, I’ve focused on advancing economic prosperity
certificate or degree. We’ll also continue to address
for Michiganders both in the State and in Washington,
the skills gap through programs like the Going
D.C. Working for people like Congressman John
PRO Talent Fund, apprenticeships and MAT 2 ,
Dingell and for companies like Ford gave me a unique
each working to align resources for employers,
view into the needs of residents, communities and
students and job seekers with the tools they need
businesses, particularly manufacturing.
to attract, train and retain their skilled workforce.
For the last four years as head of workforce
Finally, we’ll continue to help empower local
development in the City of Detroit, a key focus
Michigan
Works! Agencies to help serve manufacturers
was meeting the talent needs of manufacturers by
by
providing
support services that remove barriers
developing training programs for companies like
to
employment
for jobseekers and programs like
Flex-N-Gate and FCA, revitalizing high school
business
resource
networks that help those
and adult career technical education programs and
employed
stay
employed.
putting supports like business resource networks in
place for those employed in manufacturing.
What is the future of the Going PRO Talent Fund?
With the launch of LEO, we’ll be working to
drive collaboration on workforce, community and
Donofrio: The Going PRO Talent Fund has been an
economic development to help expand opportunity
important tool in addressing the state’s skills gap.
and prosperity for businesses and people. I look
The program — which provides funds to train new
forward to working with manufacturers and other
hires and upskill existing employees to meet employer
stakeholders to understand the opportunities to
needs — is supported by Governor Whitmer’s
make that possible.
budget proposal as a key pathway to reach education
attainment goals. While we appreciate both the
House and the Senate signaling their support for
What talent policies and programs can we
the program so far through the Fiscal Year 2020
expect through the newly formed LEO?
budget process, we hope the legislature will work
Donofrio: Earlier this year, Governor Whitmer set
swiftly to pass a balanced budget that provides long-
a goal to increase the number of Michigan residents
term, permanent funding for this vital program.
ages 25-64 with a degree or industry-recognized
certificate to 60 percent by 2030. To get there, the
What other changes should manufacturers
Governor proposed Michigan Reconnect and MI
expect under the Department’s new structure?
Opportunity programs that provide a debt-free path
to community college or two years at a university,
Donofrio: LEO will focus on greater collaboration
ultimately preparing students and job seekers with
with stakeholders and taking a deeper dive into
the training they need to increase their earning
data that supports our programs and services. To
potential and quality of life by closing the talent
succeed, we need to understand the challenges and
gap Michigan residents and companies face.
opportunities you face in operating and growing
your business. I look forward to partnering with
In addition, the Department will look to address
the manufacturing community to build strong
awareness, skills and supports through efforts like
relationships that allow us to expand economic
the recently launched Going PRO campaign —
opportunity for all.
challenging old misconceptions head-on, and making
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