New Workforce Cabinet Head Confident in Revamped Agency

INDIANAPOLIS - The head of Indiana's revamped "workforce Cabinet" says the new board will make it easier to connect Hoosiers with careers.

Danny Lopez says the 21-member board will work to make sure students know what careers are out there and what they need to be qualified for them. And because his post reports directly to the governor, Lopez says he'll be better positioned not only to coordinate training programs, but to work with other agencies on issues which affect the workforce, from addiction to transportation.

Lopez says what actions those will be are still to be determined -- for one thing, 13 of the 21 Cabinet members still need to be appointed. Seven positions are predetermined, including the state school superintendent and the presidents of Ivy Tech and Vincennes. Governor Holcomb appoints the other 14 -- Lopez's selection is the only one of those made so far.

Lopez says the board won't be reinventing job training or developing new programs, but will seek to make existing ones function better and align with each other.