Linda Woloshansky, founding president of the Valparaiso-based Center of Workforce Innovations, is retiring from the post.
A Oct. 29 statement from the organization said Woloshansky will step down during the first quarter of 2021 but did not provide a specific date. She has served the post since CWI launched in 2000.
The CWI board has contracted with Organizational Development Solutions to search for a new CEO. Woloshansky will work with the transition team and if the search continues beyond March, Miche Grant, chief operations officer at CWI will serve as interim president, the organization said.
Community leaders said Woloshanky provided the vision and laid the groundwork for CWI to lead community and business investment in workforce, education, and economic development.
“The organization has grown significantly the last 20 years, providing support to the Northwest Indiana Workforce Board, operating WorkOne Centers, and 15 adult community learning centers,” said Glen Todd, chair of the CWI board. “Linda added a consulting division, co-founded and spearheaded READY NWI, a talent alignment coalition of k-12 systems, and her support extended to Career and Technical Education centers, post-secondary schools, and employers in the seven counties of Northwest Indiana.”
Todd said Woloshansky’s knowledge and experience on workforce issues has been sought by people and organizations around the county.
Jim Jorgensen, an attorney with Hoeppner, Wagner and Evans and long-time CWI board member, said Woloshansky encouraged collaboration and is “an extraordinary leader and difference maker.”
“Mrs. Woloshansky believes in partnerships and collaborative efforts, working with others to create opportunities to improve college and career readiness of students, and supporting the work of economic development and our employer community,” he said. “She has always advocated that developing talent is not only a workforce development issue but is also a community and economic development responsibility.
Barbara Sacha with ArcelorMittal, speaking on behalf of the Northwest Indiana Workforce Board, said Woloshansky’s leadership will be missed.
“Her spirit, positivity, and endless enthusiasm has inspired me in my role as Northwest Indiana Workforce Board chair,” Sacha said. “I will personally miss her mentorship and I know that CWI, together with the NWIWB, will miss her leadership.”
Woloshansky has served on numerous national, regional, state, and local boards in leadership roles. Her contributions to advancing workforce development have been recognized by the Department of Labor, National Association of Counties, Jobs for Americas Graduates, the Great Lakes Employment and Training Association, NIPSCO, Ivy Tech Community College, and state of Indiana.
Woloshansky was inducted as a fellow in the Society of Innovators and has made more than 100 presentations to workforce boards, human resource professionals, and economic developers across the country during her career.
