TAFT APPOINTS ALVARADO CHAIRPERSON OF THE OHIO WORKFORCE POLICY BOARD

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 3, 2004

Columbus, OH -- Governor Bob Taft today announced the appointment of Donna Alvarado as chair of the Governor’s Ohio Workforce Policy Board. Alvarado has served as the vice-chair of the Board since its inception in 1999, and will take on her new duties immediately.

"Donna possesses the expertise, skills and vision necessary to guide the Workforce Policy Board in preparing Ohio’s workers for the job opportunities of today and tomorrow,” Taft said. “Her varied experiences on the state, national, and international levels will be beneficial in addressing the workforce needs of employers and job seekers and connecting Ohio’s workforce development resources with state and local economic development goals.”

The Ohio Workforce Policy Board promotes policies that increase the employment, retention and earnings of all Ohioans. The Board regularly assesses Ohio's employment needs and assists in developing performance goals and priorities to continually improve the State’s workforce development system. It will play an integral part in Taft’s Jobs Cabinet goal of creating an overall worker training program that is transparent, seamless and focused on the needs of employers and job seekers.

Alvarado is the founder and managing director of Aguila International. Based in Columbus, the company is a consulting firm that helps businesses, educational institutions and not-for-profit organizations achieve greater effectiveness and competitive advantage in increasingly diverse and global markets. Aguila specializes in the areas of strategic planning and leadership development.

Alvarado serves on a variety of national and international boards of directors and commissions in both Fortune 500 and public policy environments. Additionally, she has received numerous awards including: the Department of Defense Medal for Distinguished Public Service; the OSU Alumni Associations’ Ralph Davenport Mershon Award; VISTA Magazine Corporate Achievement Award; and the OSU College of Humanities Alumni Award of Distinction.

A resident of Granville (Licking County), Alvarado holds BA and MA degrees from Ohio State University where she graduated Phi Beta Kappa and cum laude. She pursued doctoral studies in Latin American literature at the University of Oklahoma and completed postgraduate coursework in business at the Wharton School.