Planning Career Paths
Leaders in education and workforce development are offering perspectives on career planning for young people in a new blog at Your Future: Make It Your Own.
Developing Tomorrow’s Talent Today
Northeast Indiana Works, the region’s non-profit workforce development organization, provides public and private financial and employment resources for education and skills training to meet the needs of regional industries.
Each year, we serve more than 20,000 individuals and more than 1,700 employers in Adams, Allen, DeKalb, Grant, Huntington, LaGrange, Noble, Steuben, Wabash, Wells and Whitley counties.
We oversee and staff northeast Indiana’s 11 WorkOne Northeast career centers; oversee two youth-oriented career development programs; fund and manage employer-focused training programs to enhance the skills of existing workers; and help facilitate community-based career awareness and pathway initiatives.
We are governed by a board of directors, which includes regional educators, business representatives, economic development officials, state and local government leaders, and organized labor. Our operational, funding and service delivery policies are guided by the federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), which seeks to increase access to employment, education, training and support services for youth and adults. WIOA promotes work-based learning opportunities, such as apprenticeships and internships, and encourages the development of career pathway strategies. (See our federal performance measures here.)

Leadership Team

Edmond O'Neal
President & CEO

Lori Rice
Chief Financial Officer

Kim Tempel
Senior Director of Business Services / Human Resources

Rick Farrant
Director of Communications

Erica Lillie
Director of Quality Initiatives & EO Officer

Rafat Halboob
Director of Technology

Cindy Neal
Director of WorkOne Services
Board of Directors
JORDI DISLER, Chair
Parkview LaGrange Hospital
Rebecca Schroeder, Chair Elect
Whiteshire Hamroc
Leroy Jackson, Secretary/Treasurer
Liuna Local 213
Rich Beck, Regional Chief Elected Official
Allen County Commissioner
Kim Barnett-Johnson
Ivy Tech Community College
Phil Brown
Real Alloy
Patrick Buesching
80/20
Dale Buuck
Whitley County EDC
Angie Dane
STAR Financial Bank
Darryl Esterline
Sheet Metal Workers Local 20
Lance Halsey
Indiana Department of Workforce Development
Richele Orn
Univertical
James Phillips
General Motors
Corey Schoon
Ashley Industrial Molding
Alan Siepker
Teijin Automotive Technologies
Shelly Stearns
FSSA, Bureau of Vocational Rehabilitation
Chris Straw
Team Quality Services
Michael Venturini
DOT America
Jim Walmsley
Impact Institute
Tonya Weaver
Garrett-Keyser-Butler Community Schools