2008 7th Annual Conference (Nov 30 - Dec. 1, 2008 - Tampa, FL) Register Now The 2008 NWA Conference is a tremendous opportunity for Workforce Development stakeholders to address the vast range of issues that will shape the direction of workforce development and human services programs in our country for years to come. It will focus on the important themes which dominate the key discussions in our national capitol, state capitols and our local communities. Nationally recognized policy makers will detail the transient nature of the reauthorization process and the potential impacts on state and local areas. Local workforce directors and One Stop center administrators from all over the country will share promising practices designed to assist you in coordinating your local activities in the context of the new consolidated Workforce System. Senior congressional staff will provide an insiders view of the congressional budget process and the finer points of the appropriations process. Learn about the new performance measures that have been proposed by the Department of Labor. Hear from prominent national politicians about what to expect in the 1st session of the new Congress. Also get first hand information from a leader in the United Sates Senate about their views of the congressional budget process and the funding challenges facing many domestic programs. The 7th Annual NWA Conference will be held on Nov. 30 - Dec. 2, 2008 in Tampa, FL at the Waterside Marriott Hotel. Register Now 2008 Speaker Highlights Sunday, November 30th David Bradley, CEO of the National Workforce Association For nearly three decades, David has been one of the preeminent advocates in Washington, D.C. to ensure federal policies related to major social service programs make a difference in the lives of low-income Americans. In a town full of corporate lobbyists, David’s government relations firm Moss, McGee, Bradley and Colbert, has carved a unique niche, specializing in assisting low income programs and nonprofit organizations with their legislative and regulatory needs. In addition, David serves as the CEO of both the National Workforce Association and USA Works!, organizations focused on working with Congress and the Executive branch to design and fund a world class job training system for America. John Colbert, Partner, Moss, McGee, Bradley & Colbert John has an extensive background in the Executive Branch, of the U.S. Government and Congress. He served as a senior official in the Clinton Administration as Chief of Staff of the Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration, helping oversee an $11 billion annual budget. Prior to becoming Chief of Staff, John was a legislative liaison with Congress for the Clinton Administration on a number of major reauthorization bills and their implementation, including the Workforce Investment Act. John works closely on behalf of NWA and USA Works! with Congressional authorizers and appropriators in the both the reauthorization of WIA and the expansion of funding for the workforce system. Chairman George Miller (D – California, 7th District) Chairman, House Education and Labor Committee Congressman George Miller is a leading advocate in Congress on education, labor, the economy, and the environment. He has represented the 7th District of California in the East Bay of San Francisco since 1975. His district includes portions of Contra Costa and Solano counties, including Richmond, Concord, Martinez, Pittsburg, Vallejo, Benicia and Vacaville. He is a life-long Democrat and Californian. He is part of the Democratic Leadership, appointed by Speaker Nancy Pelosi to serve as chairman of the House Democratic Policy Committee, a position he has held at her request since 2003. In that role, he is responsible for helping Democrats develop and articulate a wide range of policies of benefitting all Americans. One of Chairman Miller’s key priorities for the Education and Labor Committee in the 111th Congress will be the reauthorization of the Workforce Investment Act. Congressman John Tierney (D – Massachusetts, 6th District) Congressman John Tierney is in his sixth term representing the 6th District of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Congressman Tierney has emerged as a leading voice on behalf of workers on the Education and Labor Committee and is one of the strongest advocates in Congress supporting the local workforce system. Congressman Tierney has been a forceful proponent for reauthorizing WIA and will play a leading role in its reauthorization in the 111th Congress. He has actively worked to raise the visibility of workforce issues with his colleagues in the House of Representatives and has also led the effort in working with Congressional appropriators to reject the Bush Administration’s proposed funding cuts to WIA and expanding overall funding for the workforce system. Monday, December 1st Monday, December 1st Akhtar Badshah, Senior Director of the Global Community Affairs, Microsoft Akhtar Badshah has more than 22 years of experience as an internationally recognized development expert. Before joining Microsoft, Badshah was the CEO and president of Digital Partners Foundation, a Seattle-area nonprofit organization whose mission is to utilize the digital economy to benefit the poor. Badshah currently manages Microsoft’s Unlimited Potential, a global initiative to promote increase access to technology skills training in underserved communities. Badshah also oversees programs aimed at helping nonprofit organizations improve their effectiveness through increased technology capacity. Mark Mellman, Leading Public Opinion Researcher and Communication Strategist Mark Mellman is one of the nation’s leading public opinion researchers and communication strategists. He is CEO of The Mellman Group, a polling and consulting firm whose clients include leading political figures, Fortune 500 companies, and some of the nation’s most important public interest groups. Mellman has helped guide the campaigns of some sixteen U.S. Senators, eight Governors and over two dozen Members of Congress, as well as numerous state and local officials. As a consultant to the Democratic Congressional Leadership, Mellman plays a central role in developing Democratic strategies on a variety of issues. The U.S. Departments of Labor, State and Justice have all turned to The Mellman Group for critical studies, as has the World Bank. In addition, Mellman works with some of the nation’s most important public interest organizations ranging from the American Cancer Society to the AFL-CIO, the Leadership Conference on Civil Rights, the National Environmental Trust, and the League of Women Voters. John Kasich, Best-Selling Author and FOX News Contributor John Kasich is a former Republican Congressman from Ohio who served 9 terms and was the Chairman of the House Budget Committee. He worked with the Clinton administration and negotiated the first balanced Budget in 30 years. Mr. Kasich ran for president in 1999 and currently chairs a nonprofit association, The Century Project Issues Forum. His mission is to issue a challenge for us to use our talents, our gifts, and our determination to make a difference, no matter how small, in other people’s lives – and ultimately in our own. He has two New York Times bestsellers, Courage is Contagious and Stand for Something: The Battle for America’s Soul. He is also a frequent guest host of The O’Reilly Factor and contributor to several Fox News shows. Tuesday, December 2nd Larry Chimerine, President, Radnor International Consulting Dr. Lawrence Chimerine is president of Radnor International Consulting Inc. and partner and member of the investment committee of Miller Investment Management, both in Pennsylvania. He is the former chairman, chief executive, and chief economist of Chase Econometrics and The WEFA Group. Widely regarded as one of America’s best known and most influential economists, Chimerine speaks from his vast experience working at IBM and as the chief economist at Chase Econometrics, a top-ranking economic forecasting association. Chimerine has earned a valued reputation as a leader in the economic arena. He has served on numerous governmental advisory boards, including the House of Representatives Task Force on International Competitiveness, the Census Advisory Committee, and the Economic Policy Board of the Department of Commerce. He is frequently called to testify on key economic issues before Congressional committees, including the House and Senate Budget Committees, Joint Economic Committee, Senate Finance Committee, Senate Banking Committee, and the House Committee on Monetary Policy. Register Now For more information visit the NWA Conference web site.