Governor Tim Pawlenty today announced the appointment of Twyla Flaws, Jeffrey Johnson, and Terrence Leas, Ph.D., and the reappointment of Laura Beeth, Brenda Johnson, and Rhonda Sivarajah to the Governor’s Workforce Development Council (GWDC). All six are appointed to three-year terms that expire on June 30, 2010.

Beeth, of Bloomington, is the system director of talent management with Fairview Health Services in Minneapolis. She has over 25 years of experience in program development, workforce planning, and recruiting in the health care arena. Beeth has chaired the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MnSCU) Healthcare Education – Industry Partnership Council since its inception in 1997, is a member of the Minnesota Hospital Association Workforce Development Committee, Minnesota Career Development Association, and an advisory member for numerous college and university committees. She has published healthcare workforce articles in Minnesota Physician, and has been a national and state speaker at many conferences on workforce development, recruitment, and retention. She received the first Minnesota Vision Award for Workforce Development in 2004. Beeth, who has been a member of the GWDC since 2004, is reappointed as a representative of business.

Flaws, of Merrifield, is the human resources manager with Clow Stamping in Merrifield. She is president of Lakes Area Human Resources Association, a member of the Brainerd Lakes Chamber of Commerce where she chaired the Workforce Task Force, is a former member of Central Lakes College Trust Association, and served on the selection committee for the president of Central Lakes College. Flaws replaces Noreen Dunnells on the GWDC as a representative of a community-based organization.

Brenda Johnson, of Chatfield, is a member of the Chatfield City Council, serves as vice mayor, and is a member of the Chatfield Planning and Zoning Commission. She is an adjunct instructor in economics, business, and management with St. Mary’s University, and has taught at Rochester Community and Technical College. Johnson is the administrative staff person with the Southeastern Minnesota League of Municipalities, where she also serves on its Board of Directors, and of which she is a past president. -- more -- Brenda Johnson has also been a member of the League of Minnesota Cities Board of Directors and its Insurance Trust Board, a member of the Chatfield Economic Development Authority, Chatfield Heritage Preservation Commission, Chatfield Charter Commission, and chaired the Chatfield Sesquicentennial. She is the 2007 recipient of the Minnesota Women in City Government’s Leadership Award. Johnson, who has been a member of the GWDC since 2004, is reappointed as a representative of local-elected officials.

Jeffrey Johnson, of Plymouth, is the president of Midwest Employment Resources, a position he has held since 2001. He was also an attorney of counsel with the law firm Wessels and Pautsch in Minneapolis from 2003 to 2006. Prior to 2001, Johnson was an attorney with Cargill, Inc. in Wayzata from 1998 to 2001, an associate attorney with the Parsinen, Kaplan, Rosberg and Gotlieb law firm in Minneapolis from 1994 to 1998, and an associate attorney with the Lord, Bissell and Brook law firm in Chicago from 1992 to 1994. Johnson also served three terms in the Minnesota House of Representatives from 2001 through 2006, where he was an assistant majority leader and chaired the House Civil Law Committee. Johnson replaces Jack Wiley on the GWDC as a representative of business.

Leas, of Albert Lea, is president of Riverland Community College, a position he has held since 2003. Riverland Community College has campuses in Austin, Albert Lea, and Owatonna. From 1990 to 2003, Leas held a number of positions with Yakima Valley Community College in Yakima, Washington, including dean for student services, dean for basic skills and institutional effectiveness, and dean for the Grandview campus. He held a number of positions with Thomas College in Thomasville, Georgia from 1981 to 1988, including executive assistant to the president, dean of student services, and director of personnel. Leas was chair of the Douglass Middle School Department of Social Sciences in Thomasville, Georgia from 1978 to 1981, and began his professional career as a social science instructor at Douglass Middle School. Leas is the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MnSCU) representative to the Southeastern Minnesota Workforce Development Board, a member of the MnSCU Chancellor’s Leadership Council, a member of the MnSCU Committee on Finance and Administration, and co-chaired the MnSCU Committee on Human Resources. Leas replaces James Johnson as a representative of education.

Sivarajah, of Lino Lakes, is a member of the Anoka County Board of Commissioners, where she serves as chair of the Human Services Committee. Prior to her election to the Anoka County Board, Sivarajah worked for 12 years in the Anoka County Human Services Division, where she was a supervisor of welfare programs. She is a member of the Anoka County WorkForce Council, Minnesota Workforce Council Association, Free2Be Board, and is president of the Northern Voices Board of Trustees. Northern Voices is an oral school for the deaf. Sivarajah, who has been a member of the GWDC since 2004 and chairs its Public Relations Committee, is reappointed as a representative of local-elected officials.

The Governor’s Workforce Development Council coordinates the development, implementation, and evaluation of the statewide education and employment transitions system and Minnesota youth services programs. The council consists of 32 members, including 28 appointed by the Governor.