2017 Workforce Innovation Board of Ramsey County

Seated (l-r): Chad Kulas, Midway Chamber of Commerce; Patricia Brady, Ramsey County Workforce Solutions; Karin McCabe, McGough Construction; Butch Howard, HMSHost Middle row(l-r): Trixie Golberg, Lifetrack Resources; Michael Fondungallah, Fondungallah & Kigham; Mary Russell, HealthPartners; Jennifer Roettger, HealthEast; Larry Gilbertson, Ironworkers Local 512; Tracy Wilson, Saint Paul College Back row(l-r): Sean Mullan, 3M; Karen Gerdin, Saint Paul Public Schools; Ramona Wilson, Knutson Construction; Foster Hackett, Advanced Design Contracting; Kristin Guild, City of Saint Paul; Paul Nikstad, Hubert Humphrey Job Corps Not pictured: Toni Carter, Ramsey County Board of Commissioners, Michael Chanaka, CHS, Carrie Cisek, Granicus, Marie Ellis, Saint Paul Area Chamber of Commerce, Clarence Hightower, Community Action Partnership of Ramsey and Washington Counties, Chris Kondo, 3M, Mike Lang, DEED, James McClean, Regions Hospital, Donald Mullin, Saint Paul Building and Construction Trades Council, Tim O’Brien, Roseville Adult Learning Center, Sheila Olson, Goodwill Easter Seals MN, Kate Probert, Ramsey County Workforce Solutions, Joe Richburg, KCS, Danielle Taylor, 180 Degrees, Chris Tolbert, City of Saint Paul, Dee Torgerson, DEED, Jim Wrobleski, DEED, Anivuin Xiong, Atman Law Firm, Mike Zipko, Zipko Strategy

Featured WIB member

Sean Mullan, Reliability Engineer, 3M, WIB member

Last year, Sean found himself caught up in a reduction-in-force after a layoff from an employer for whom he had worked for almost 21 years. Being a WIB member, he was familiar with the services offered at the WorkForce Centers and took advantage of these services. The staff was helpful, and Sean started a new job within 10 weeks of his layoff. He found the Dislocated Worker Program, MinnesotaWorks.net and counseling services helped him focus on the job search and stay calm in a stressful time.

Sean is now a reliability engineer working as a human capital strategist. He began his career as an electrician in the U.S. Navy Submarine Force. The move to a reliability engineer was a natural progression as Sean has always been interested in helping others advance their careers. Sean accepted the opportunity to focus on human capital strategies with open arms.

Sean’s involvement with the WIB began seven years ago. Through his involvement in the creation and management of an apprenticeship program, a governmental affairs program with his previous employer and contacts with the Saint Paul Area Chamber of Commerce, Sean learned of the Ramsey County Workforce Innovation Board. "Before joining the WIB, I was unaware of all the great work the Ramsey County WorkForce Centers do. Veterans Assistance, Dislocated Worker Program, job seeking programs all in one center," said Sean. His desire to improve employment opportunities in the community and advance opportunities for existing employees is a good fit with the work of the WIB. Raising awareness about the need for technical education in our schools is one thing Sean advocates for while serving on the WIB.