Acting Alabama Community College System Chancellor Jimmy Baker on Wednesday introduced Jeff Lynn as the system’s Senior Executive Director of Workforce and Economic Development.
Lynn began working in Alabama on Oct. 3 with businesses, industries, economic development organizations, and communities to ensure that students, adults, and current employees receive the proper training, behaviors, and technical skills that are needed to secure and perform rewarding and in-demand jobs.
He is the former executive director of Louisiana’s LED FastStart, an award-winning and customized workforce development program. LED FastStart provides customized workforce and recruiting solutions to new and expanding companies.
Baker referred to Lynn as the “Warren Buffett” of workforce development.
“He is great at what he does and he is known for getting results,” Baker said. “We are thrilled to welcome him to Alabama and eager for him to hit the ground running.”
Business Council of Alabama President and CEO William J. Canary said successful workforce development efforts will prepare the next generation of Alabamians for rewarding and productive careers by attracting and retaining good jobs that will increase the net worth of Alabama households.
“Workforce development is an important segment of our overall education efforts beginning with opportunities offered by dual-enrollment in high schools and later in our two-year schools,” Canary said. “Alabama’s workforce development efforts will continue to show business and industry stakeholders and economic developers that Alabama will remain a very attractive place to do business.”
Baker said the two-year system is creating programs and services that will allow the system to respond to ever-changing employment opportunities for skilled workers. He said Lynn will work closely with regional workforce development councils and others in public and private sectors to ensure that college programs are aligned with industry needs.
“Our success depends on our ability to work together to meet the collective needs of our state – residents who need good jobs, employers who need skilled workers, and communities that need business and industry in order to thrive,” Lynn said. “We must listen to the needs of our industries and provide world-class workforce solutions.”
Lynn, a graduate of Auburn University, is a certified economic development trainer with more than 30 years of experience in manufacturing, corporate headquarters, IT technology centers, customer support centers, and other business operations. He specializes in large-scale manufacturing startups, recruitment processes, technical assessments, training programs, leadership development, and other workforce initiatives.
Prior to becoming Louisiana’s executive director of workforce development programs in 2008, Lynn served as technical director of regional project operations for Georgia Quick Start, which is part of the Georgia Technical College System. He built a workforce program that maintained a No. 1 or No. 2 ranking during his 10-year tenure, Baker’s office said.
Lynn’s workforce development projects have included clients such as Kia Motors, GM, Ford, Honda, Siemens, Toyo Tires North America, Sasol, Northrop Grumman, Lockheed Martin, IBM, GE Capital, and CenturyLink.
Lynn is a member of the International Development Council and has served on the National Manufacturing Skills Standards Committee in Washington, D.C.