Two Southwest Michigan workforce leaders were honored this week for their service, dedication to and long-time support of the state’s talent and economic development efforts.
Ben Damerow, a Southwest Michigan leader in workforce development for more than 20 years was honored as the 2022 Michigan Works! Champion for Workforce Development. He was honored for exemplifying the highest standards in leadership in multiple roles, including most recently serving as Michigan Works! Southwest’s director. His contributions to workforce development include his tenure as chair of the Michigan Works! Directors Council, his work as a member of the Great Lakes Employment and Training Association, and his dedication to leading a statewide effort to create a regional approach to the delivery of Michigan Works! services. He also played a critical role in restructuring the governance of the Michigan Works! Association.
Ben now serves a leader at the W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research where he is working to further expand service delivery for job seekers, employers and the Southwest Michigan region.
“Ben is a true champion of workforce development in Southwest Michigan and for the entire state,” said Ryan Hundt, Michigan Works! Association CEO. “He has made countless contributions and developed innovative ideas to improve workforce development by creating more opportunities to connect job seekers with employers.”
The Advocate of the Year award was presented to Orrin Bailey, chief financial officer at Kinexus. Bailey has been with Kinexus since 2017 and has been an executive in the workforce development industry since 1978. He is one of the pioneers of the business service and demand-driven approach to workforce development and has had a huge impact on the Michigan Works! network.
“Orrin’s incredible work and career in workforce development have served as an inspiration to many of us in our field and this recognition is long overdue,” Hundt continued. “His passion for Michigan Works! and the people in it is unmatched and few people have had a greater impact on our system than him.”
They received their awards at the association’s annual conference in Mt. Pleasant.
