Saint Paul -- Governor Tim Pawlenty today announced the appointment of Sharon Bredeson, Kathleen Carney, Mary L. Nichols, Ph.D., Beverly O'Connor, Terance Smith, and Inez Wildwood and the reappointment of LaDonna Boyd, Don Gerdesmeier, Larry Mareck, and Sandra Peterson to the Governor's Workforce Development Council.

Boyd, of Farmington, is the economic development director for Dakota Electric Association and chair of the Dakota County Workforce Investment Board. She has been a member of the Governor's Workforce Development Council and its predecessor, the Governor's Job Training Council, since 1995. Boyd is appointed as a representative of community-based organizations for a three-year term that expires on June 30, 2006.

Bredeson, of Minneapolis, is owner and chief executive officer of Staff-Plus, Inc. and a member of the Minneapolis Workforce Investment Board. Bredeson is appointed as a representative of business to a three-year term that expires on June 30, 2006.

Carney, of Nevis, is chief executive officer of Teamworks, Inc., a private, non-profit provider of human resource services based out of Park Rapids. Carney replaces William Negaard as a representative of a community-based organization for a three-year term that expires on June 30, 2006.

Gerdesmeier, of Minneapolis, is a member of the Teamsters Union and is its D.R.I.V.E. representative. He has been a member of the Governor's Workforce Development Council and its predecessor, the Governor's Job Training Council, since 1995. Gerdesmeier is reappointed as a representative of labor to a three-year term that expires on June 30, 2006.

Mareck, of Albany, is president of the St. Cloud Building and Construction Trades Council and a member of the Carpenters Union #930. Mareck, who has been a member of the Governor's Workforce Development Council since 2000, is reappointed as a representative of labor for a three-year term that expires on June 30, 2006.

Nichols, of St. Paul, is the dean of the University of Minnesota's College of Continuing Education and a professor of strategic management and organization at the Carlson School of Management. Nichols replaces Robert Bruininks as a representative of post-secondary education for a three-year term that expires on June 30, 2006.

O'Connor, of Marshall, is a business education teacher with the Marshall Public Schools and represents education on the Southwest Minnesota Workforce Council. O'Connor replaces David MacKenzie as a representative of school-based service learning for a three-year term that expires on June 30, 2006.

Peterson, of New Hope, is vice president of Education Minnesota, the American Federation of Teachers and Minnesota AFL-CIO. She has been a member of the Governor's Workforce Development Council since 1999. Peterson is appointed as a representative of secondary vocational institutions for a three-year term that expires on June 30, 2006.

Smith, of Forest Lake, is a journeyman furniture refinisher and a member of Teamsters Local #638. Smith is appointed as a representative of labor for a three-year term that expires on June 30, 2006.

Wildwood, of Duluth, works in the human resources division at Minnesota Power/ALLETE, Inc. in Duluth and is currently chairperson of the Duluth Workforce Council. Wildwood replaces Wayne DeBruin, who resigned, as a representative of business to complete a three-year term that expires on June 30, 2005.

The Governor's Workforce Development Council coordinates the development, implementation, and evaluation of the statewide education and employment transitions system and Minnesota youth services programs. The council consists of 32 members, including 28 appointed by the Governor.