VERDUGO WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BOARD
FULL BOARD MEETING MINUTES
6/25/2025
9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
VWDB Full Board Minutes 6/25/2025 Page 1 of 3
MEMBERS PRESENT: Jose Barba, Sonya Kay Blake, Vicki Brannock, Alexis Carter, Marisol Espinoza, Nick Hacopian, Caroline Lett, Iskra Martinez, Kathy McIntyre, Nicole Miller, Stephanie O’Keefe, Terry Walker
MEMBERS ABSENT: Ara Aslanian, Luiza Balyan, Onnig Bulanikian, Mary Hamzoian, Steve Kaplan, Debbie Kukta, Pamela
Marcello, Michael Ritterbrown, Veronica Romero, Soua
Vang
COMMUNITY &
OTHER AGENCY
REPRESENTATIVES:
Monica Casas, Eliza Dzhaneryan, Karine Grigoryan
STAFF PRESENT: Diana Montecino, MaryAnn Pranke Judith Velasco, Melissa Younesian
CALL TO ORDER: 9:35 am by Vice Chair Marisol Espinoza
I. Introductions
A. Vice Chair Marisol welcomed and introduced Nicole Miller from IATSE Local B-132.
II. Minutes of February 12, 2025, April 09, 2025, and May 21, 2025 A. Minutes presented and reviewed. M OTION: Nick Hacopian 2nd: Veronica Romero ABSTAIN: Jose Barba
Action: APPROVED
III. Action Items
A. Approval of the recommendation for Jamie Keyser Thomas to be appointed to the Verdugo Workforce Development Board (VWDB), in compliance with State and Federal requirements under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) of 2014
MOTION FOR CONSENT ITEM A Motion: Stephanie O’Keefe 2nd: Vicki Brannock Abstain: Jamie Keyser Thomas
B. Approval of the recommendation for Caroline Lett to be appointed to the Verdugo Workforce Development Board, in compliance with State and Federal requirements under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2014
MOTION FOR CONSENT ITEM B Motion: Nick Hacopian 2nd: Vicki Brannock
C. Approval of the recommendation for Kathleen McIntyre to be appointed to the Verdugo Workforce Development Board, in compliance with State and Federal requirements under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2014
MOTION FOR CONSENT ITEM C Motion: Sonya Kay Blake 2nd: Veronica Romero
Exhibit 1
VERDUGO WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BOARD
FULL BOARD MEETING MINUTES
6/25/2025
9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
VWDB Full Board Minutes 6/25/2025 Page 2 of 3
D. Approval of the recommendation for Nicole Miller to be appointed to the Verdugo Workforce Development Board, in compliance with State and Federal requirements under the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act of 2014
MOTION FOR CONSENT ITEM D Motion: Stephanie O’Keefe 2nd: Veronica Romero Abstain: Nicole Miller
E. Approval of the VWDB’s Local Workforce Development Plan 2025- 2028 and the Los Angeles Basin Regional Planning Unit’s Regional Workforce Development Plan 2025- 2028 and their submission to the California Workforce Development Board and the State of Californi a Employment Development Department
F. Approval of the allocation of $145,500 to City of Burbank’s Job Connect to provide services in Burbank as the Verdugo Jobs Center Affiliate Site for Fiscal Year 2025-2026
G. Approval of contract amendment with Glendale Youth Alliance for the Student Training and Employment Program grant to extend the end date from June 30, 2025 to June 30, 2026 and increase funding by$183,327 for an amended contract amount not to exceed $601,341, to continue administration of work experience services
H. Approval of contract amendment with Glendale Community College’s Professional Development Center for the Student Training and Employment grant to extend the end dates from June 30, 2025 to June 30, 2026, and increase funding in an amount of $13,600 for a total contract amount of $27,200
I. Approval of the Verdugo Workforce Development Board’s Preliminary Budget for Fiscal Year 2025-2026
J. Approval to designate Glendale Youth Alliance as the board’s youth provider for Fiscal Year 2025-2026 and to enter into contract with Glendale Youth Alliance for Fiscal Year 2025-2026 in an amount not to exceed $703,428 in Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act funding for Youth Services
K. Approval to accept anticipated preliminary funds from the Los Angeles County Department of Economic Opportunity for Fiscal Year 2025- 2026 for the Youth@Work program and to enter into contract with Glendale Youth Alliance to provide Youth Services
L. Approval to release the Verdugo Workforce Development Board’s America’s Job Centers of California Operator Application for July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2029 for public review and comment
M. Approval of Fiscal Year 2025-2026 Slate of Officers for the Verdugo Workforce Development Board
MOTION FOR CONSENT ITEM E – M Motion: Vick Brannock 2nd: Alexis Carter
IV. Director’s Report
A. Executive Director Judith Velasco introduced Denise Hayes, a successful participant of the Verdugo Jobs Center (VJC), who obtained her Class A D riving License through Hi -Desert Trucking School and is currently working as a long-haul driver. Ms. Hayes provided a summary of her experience with the services that VJC provided to her.
VERDUGO WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BOARD
FULL BOARD MEETING MINUTES
6/25/2025
9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
VWDB Full Board Minutes 6/25/2025 Page 3 of 3
1. The VWDB applauded Ms. Hayes on her accomplishments.
2. Ms. Hayes emphasized the importance of marketing and letting the community know about the services available at VJC. If her training provider had not mentioned VJC to her, she never would have known about the services available.
B. Ms. Velasco announced the VWDB’s staff goals for the upcoming fiscal year which are:
1. Alignment with industries and partners in apprenticeships with a manufacturing focus,
2. Identify business champions,
3. Regular communication with elected local officials,
4. Diversify revenue, and
5. Develop career pathways.
a. Discussion: The board members provided feedback on the goals. i. Sonya Kay Blake advised that it is strategic to align with prevailing priorities and create an action plan for the sectors the VWDB has in mind.
ii. Stephanie O’Keefe mentioned that the concept of apprenticeships is somewhat dated and needs to be rebranded.
iii. Terry Walker added that apprenticeships can help offset expenses, if the employer took on the responsibility of training expense.
iv. Nicole Miller emphasized that constant communication with elected officials will help as well as sharing the available resources more publicly. v. Jose Barba recommended documenting the client’s story; as they meet their milestones, referencing their timeline.
vi. Vicki Brannock stated that Biocom has been trying to pitch the apprenticeship model to employers in the Biotech world, but employers are not interested. A challenge is that employers are more familiar with the internship model and are hesitant to change.
C. Ms. Velasco shared that the VWDB received an 18% increase in allocation for WIOA Adult, Dislocated Work and Youth funds.
D. Ms. Velasco disclosed that WIOA remains as status quo.
1. The Make America Skilled Again (MASA) Initiative brings the p ossibility of grant funds being consolidated into a block grant.
i. Currently WIOA funds flow to the state and then allocated to the boards.
E. Ms. Velasco announced that she will be reaching out to board members to schedule meetings with Local Elected Officials on MASA, request Letters of Support, and meet with board members to discuss apprenticeship models and new opportunities.
V. Other Business and Announcements
A. Ms. Velasco shared the recent awards the VWDB and VJC have received for services provided through successful partnerships.
B. The next VWDB meeting will be held in-person at the VJC on Wednesday, September 24, 2025 at 9:30 am.
II. Public Comments: None
III. Adjournment: 10:33 am