FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 11, 2008

Columbus, OH -- Lieutenant Governor Lee Fisher today announced the creation of the Workforce and Talent Division within the Ohio Department of Development and the appointment of a veteran employee as director. Lisa Patt-McDaniel served as Manager of the Office of Workforce Development before its elevation to division status and will continue serving now as director.

"The elevation of the Workforce Office to a new division helps to establish workforce development as a key priority within our Department and broaden the reach of our workforce development initiatives," said Lt. Governor Fisher, who also serves as Director of the Ohio Department of Development. "Lisa has extensive experience in several capacities at the Department of Development, giving her the broad-based understanding of economic development and the workforce needs of Ohio businesses. She will be an outstanding leader of our efforts to increase interaction with a broad range of businesses in order to identify, understand, and direct resources to their workforce needs."

The Workforce and Talent Division manages the Ohio Investment in Training Program, Workforce Guarantee Program, and the Governor's Workforce Investment Act Discretionary funds as well as staffs the Governor's Workforce Policy Advisory Board. The office is currently engaged with the Strickland/Fisher Administration's vision for an Ohio workforce system that is competitive in the 21st century's demand-driven economy.

Lisa Patt-McDaniel began her career in state government as a Researcher for the State and Local Government Commission before joining the Department of Development in 1990. She served in several roles in the Office of Local Government Services and the Office of Business Development before joining the Office of Housing and Community Partnerships as Office Chief. There she managed the Distress Grant Program, providing grants of up to $300,000 to communities with low and moderate-income populations. During her tenure as Office Chief, the Council of State Community Development Agencies appointed her to the Federal Task Force on Performance Measures for Housing and Urban Development Programs and she also served on its Board. Patt-McDaniel also co-chaired the Interagency Council on Homelessness and Housing Policy Team, a collaborative effort of state government to develop policies and strategies to end homelessness in Ohio.

Before joining the Division of Workforce and Talent, she was Assistant Director of the Community Development Division, where she managed the administration of more than $300 million in federal and state funds.

Lisa earned her BA in Public Policy from Miami University and her MPA from The Ohio State University. A photo of Lisa Patt-McDaniel is available by clicking here.

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Media contacts: Nikki Jaworski at (614) 466-9161 or Kimber Perfect at (614) 466-2609