Mesa City Council passes resolution to create Education and Workforce Development Roundtable, announces appointees

At their Study Session meeting on April 22, City Council approved appointments to the Mesa Education and Workforce Development Roundtable. The resolution (passed on April 5) established a centralized body to streamline and coordinate efforts to advance Mesa’s education and workforce development goals. Appointees include experts in education, business leaders, nonprofit organizations and Mesa residents.

“We are a community that puts education first, and this Roundtable cements our efforts to empower residents through education and create a talented workforce for businesses,” said Mesa Mayor John Giles. “The expertise and input represented on the Roundtable is remarkable, and I’m eager to get to work with the appointees to drive Mesa’s education and workforce strategies forward.”

The Roundtable will be a standing advisory body similar to other City boards and commissions and will report to Mesa City Council with recommendations to advance education and workforce development goals, including but not limited to: increasing and maintaining enrollment in education and early learning programs; improving completion rates of education, vocational, and trade programs; achieving higher educational attainment, including increased attainment of professional certifications and licenses and postsecondary degrees; expanding job opportunities and new resources to upskill workers; and building successful careers, a competitive workforce, and a strong local economy.

The following representatives have been named to the inaugural Roundtable. Standing appointments are ongoing and based on position while community and business members are appointed to three-year terms. Meetings will be held quarterly or as needed beginning spring 2021.

Standing Positions:

Dr. Lori Berquam, Interim President, Mesa Community College

Dr. Perry Berry, Superintendent, Queen Creek Unified School District

Kevin Broeckling, Chief Executive Officer, Benedictine University at Mesa

Dr. Dawn Foley, Incoming Superintendent, Higley Unified School District

Dr. Andi Fourlis, Superintendent, of Mesa Public Schools

Sally Harrison, President and CEO, Mesa Chamber of Commerce

Dr. Shane McCord, Superintendent, Gilbert Public Schools.

John Schmitt, Assistant Vice President of Educational Outreach & Student Services, Arizona State University’s Polytechnic Campus

Dr. Chad Wilson, Superintendent, East Valley Institute of Technology

Education and Business Community Appointees:

Toni Morales Broberg, President of Arizona & New Mexico External & Legislative Affairs, AT&T

David DiDomenico, Teacher and Coach, Mesa High School 

Francisco Heredia, Mesa City Councilmember, District 3

Katie Lohec, Government and Community Affairs Manager, Apple, Inc.

Rich Nickel, President and CEO, College Success Arizona

Dr. Joe O’Reilly, Member, Mesa Public Schools Governing Board

Julie Spilsbury, Mesa City Councilmember, District 2

Vince Yanez, Senior Vice President of Arizona Community Engagement, Helios Education Foundation