STEM Education and Workforce Development Panel

Wendi Secrist is the Executive Director of the Idaho Workforce Development Council overseeing implementation of an industry-led statewide strategic workforce development plan. Governor Brad Little appointed Wendi to continue the transition of the Council to an independent agency under the Office of the Governor which began in November 2017. The Council also serves as the State Workforce Investment Board and oversees the Idaho Workforce Development Training Fund. Ms. Secrist came to the Council with a wealth of experience in workforce development, economic development and education. Immediately prior to joining in 2017, Ms. Secrist built bridges to industry to inform Idaho’s career and technical education system through its secondary, postsecondary and workforce training programs as the Director of Business Outreach for Idaho Career & Technical Education. She also oversaw development of a statewide micro-certification/badging platform, Idaho SkillStack® to improve communication around the skills and competencies Idaho’s citizens’ possess. From 2011 to 2014, Ms. Secrist served as Senior Director for ManpowerGroup Public Sector, the world leader in innovative workforce solutions. Ms. Secrist directed the company’s strategy to serve federal, state and local government agencies and leverage ManpowerGroup’s business relationships and cutting-edge assessments, training tools, and staffing methods to improve outcomes through a partnership with the United States’ public workforce system. Ms. Secrist served on the Board of Directors of the National Association of Workforce Boards and was secretary from 2013-2015. Ms. Secrist is a past-president of the Idaho Economic Development Association. She was the vice president of the 2007-2009 Leadership Boise class and also served as the 2009 chair of the Boise Young Professionals. In 2008, Idaho Business Review recognized her as one of Idaho’s “Accomplished Under 40.”