The Workforce Summit

The Governor's 2008 Summit on Workforce Solutions

The 2008 Workforce Award Winners

This year's winner of the Innovation in the Workplace Award was Trihydro Corporation in Laramie, Wyoming. This award recognizes an employer that is committed to investing in the development and well-being of their employees and Wyoming's workforce Employers should demonstrate practices that improve the workplace such as employee retention best practices, employee training, career development, work-life balance policies, encouraging diversity in the workplace including generational diversity, provides market competitive wages and benefits and addressing child care and workforce housing needs.

The Workforce Partnership Award was awarded to the Community Housing Partnership of Campbell County . This award recognizes a project that has demonstrated a unique collaboration between businesses and community organizations that include, but are not limited to, the workforce system, economic development and education that results in addressing a workforce issue.

The winner of the Outstanding Individual Performance Award was Fred Bronnenberg of Groathouse Construction in Cody, Wyoming. The award recognized Bronnenberg as an individual who has made significant contributions to the workforce development profession through the development or enhancement of public or private workforce systems, or the building of strategic alliances and partnerships.

The 2008 winner for Outstanding Investment in Older Workers was Gene and Joann Schrader of Schrader Metal & Design in Cody, Wyoming. The Schraders have taken initiative to hire older workers and help keep them in Wyoming's workforce. By offering flexible schedules along with other great benefits, Schrader Metal & Design has become a leader of example of how employers can benefit from hiring older workers.

The final award, Outstanding Investment in Young Workers was awarded to Chris Tarantola of Colour Graphics in Cheyenne, Wyoming. Tarantola is committed to investing in young workers. He provides opportunities for young workers to grow and succeed, connect with them in their community, provides for a work and life balance and intentionally embed young worker friendly practices into their framework.