(Midland) – After 14 years as Chief Executive Officer of Great Lakes Bay Michigan Works!, Ed Oberski will retire July 1, 2018. His replacement, Christopher Rishko, is scheduled to start shortly after April 1 and transition into the role of CEO after Oberski departs.

Under Oberski’s leadership, Great Lakes Bay Michigan Works! evolved into a high impact, employer-focused talent development agency. In the last year alone, the organization helped employers in the region fill over 7,500 job openings and helped nearly 50 of the region’s employers secure more than $2 million in funding for training. In addition, during Oberski’s time as CEO, Great Lakes Bay Michigan Works! collaboratively designed several accelerated training programs to meet critical hiring needs of area employers, using its vast network to recruit trainees and fund training. Because of its dedication to hiring solutions, Great Lakes Bay Michigan Works! has been recognized by the National Association of Workforce Boards as the most innovative workforce agency in the entire country.

“Our team makes measurable impact on our region, its employers and talent,” Oberski notes. “A great team deserves a great leader. I’m really happy that we were able to attract a new CEO with Christopher Rishko’s credentials.”

Rishko is a 15-year veteran officer of the United States Air Force and previously worked as a high level program management consultant for a national consulting firm. He has overseen as many as 400 team members in both combat and non-combat roles, led the development of multinational operational procedures for the Air Defense of the U.S. and Canada and was honored as Officer of the Year for his unit of over 2,000 air men and women. He has been called upon to brief the Secretary of Defense and the President of the United States.

Great Lakes Bay Michigan Works! is a consortium of Saginaw, Bay, Midland, Gratiot and Isabella Counties, established to operate workforce development programs for this region. It is one of 16 separate and independent Michigan Works! agencies and one of about 550 similar agencies nationwide.
 
Great Lakes Bay Michigan Works! operates a total of five sites in Saginaw, Bay, Midland, Gratiot and Isabella counties. Michigan Works! strengthens the local economy 1) by assisting regional employers in finding and retaining qualified employees; and; 2) by assuring that the labor force meets the needs of regional employers.