From The Desk of the Executive Director

A Note of Thanks & Celebration from the Workforce Development Board 

What a whirlwind the past few months have been – and what an incredible journey it’s been. With the uncertainty of not only a state, but federal budget for several weeks, we were happy to see both passed and thanks to all those who advocated for the workforce dollars to continue to flow to our organization. Even during those uncertain times, we continued to push forward thanks to the hard work and dedication of our team, we’ve hit ambitious targets and continued to strengthen our strategic initiatives and culture.  

Our momentum is building — and with it, our impact on the Lancaster County community. 

We were proud to sponsor a Career Exploration Workshop at the Marriott for the Pennsylvania Restaurant and Lodging Association, drawing 100 young people from across the county to explore their future opportunities. Soon after, we held our first-ever Youth Conference at Millersville University. The enthusiasm, engagement, and feedback from the students and teachers was truly inspiring. 

That very same day, our Career Ready Lancaster! community came together for the quarterly meeting. Our guest speaker, Mark C. Perna, delivered a powerful message about the importance of meeting youth where they are and showing up as a business community with opportunities for exploration. I’m still hearing from folks how much his words resonated. Many are already asking when we can have him back and how we can keep building the workforce ecosystem we’re shaping together. 

And thanks to the generosity of our donors, we achieved our ambitious Extra Give goal of $5,000! These funds will directly support our initiatives and provide critical resources to jobseekers in need via PA CareerLink®. 

None of this would be possible without our extraordinary team – a group of individuals deeply committed to living out our mission, vision, and core values every day. 

Mission: To lead the workforce development ecosystem by aligning fiscal and educational resources to support Lancaster County jobseekers and employers.  

Vision: A Lancaster County that fosters innovation, equity, and opportunity for all that creates measurable economic mobility.  

Core Values 

• Commitment starts within! Preserving a healthy culture of trust and accountability. 
• Building bridges to shared success through partner relationships. 
• Responsible stewards passionate about creating opportunities and access for all. 
• Sharing and advancing emerging industry trends. 

Thank you to everyone – our staff, partners, donors, and community — for your passion, support, and belief in this shared vision. Together, we’re doing great things — and the future is bright. 

KEEPING UP WITH LCWDB  

First-Ever Annual Youth Conference Welcomed Over 130 High School Students from Across the County

The Board proudly hosted our first-ever Youth Conference last November – an inspiring milestone designed specifically for high school students across Lancaster County. More than 130 students from multiple school districts came together for a full day of career exploration, personal development, and motivational speech. 

Throughout the conference, students engaged in interactive sessions on resume & interview preparation, soft skills, emotional well-being, career pathways, and post-secondary options. The event also featured dynamic keynote and guest speakers, including national speaker Mark C. Perna and Ripple Hub founder Alex Colon, who delivered motivational messages and an unforgettable interactive music experience. 

This inaugural conference marks a significant step in LCWDB’s commitment to preparing the next generation for success. With strong participation and enthusiastic feedback, LCWDB looks forward to continuing to create meaningful opportunities that support youth in building their futures. 

November Connections Meeting with National Keynote Speaker Sparked Inspiration on Youth Engagement and Collaboration 

Later that same day, Mark C. Perna joined the CRL! Connections Meeting, where business, education, and community leaders—along with parents—gathered to explore how we can better support youth in their career journeys. His message was compelling and consistent: we must meet young people where they are, not where we expect them to be. 

Among his key takeaways were: 

• Build human connection by answering the silent questions: Do you see me? Do you hear me? Do I matter? 
• Understand that career choices are lifestyle decisions—and those lifestyles may differ greatly from our own. 

Mark’s insights reaffirmed CRL!’s mission to build bridges to work by recognizing and activating the talent in every young person. As he reminded us, “Youth are untapped talent—if we look at their potential not from our lens, but from theirs.” 

Extra Give 2025: A Great Success with $5,000 Raised for Local Initiatives 

Our participation in this year’s Extra Give delivered incredible results. In just our second year joining Lancaster’s largest annual day of giving, the support from our community exceeded every expectation. 

We kicked off the day with a Breakfast Giving event, welcoming Board members, partners, and community advocates who stopped by to show their support. From dedicated Board representatives to passionate community members and staff, we are truly grateful for everyone who contributed. 

Because of your generosity, we achieved our $5,000 goal. These funds will directly support programs that give our workforce the extra boost they need to succeed. Thank you for helping strengthen opportunities for Lancaster County’s workers and families. 

Thanksgiving Volunteer Highlights

Thanksgiving is a time to express gratitude and give back to our community. During PA CareerLink® Lancaster County’s bi-monthly staff meeting, we stepped outside the office and into the community to serve where support is needed most.

Staff members volunteered at Blessings of Hope, helping stock shelves, prepare boxes, and sort donated items for families in need. Others lent their hands at the United Disabilities Services Foundation’s Holiday Gift Wrapping Booth at Park City Mall, assisting shoppers while helping raise funds for the organization’s mission.

As part of our ongoing outreach efforts, PA CareerLink® Lancaster County also sponsored a Christmas tree at Penn Medicine Park’s Christmas Tree Lane. During the staff meeting, staff decorated the tree with festive ornaments, lights, and a workforce development theme. Be sure to check it out when visiting the park this holiday season!

WORKFORCE ADVOCACY

L&I - New Employer Information Network Launching in 2026 

The Lancaster County Workforce Development Board is pleased to share a new initiative from the Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry (L&I) designed to better support employers statewide. Starting January 2026, the Department will launch the Employer Information Network (EIN)—a bi-monthly, one-hour virtual meeting series offering timely workforce and business-related information. 

Each session will feature guest speakers on topics such as untapped worker populations, labor law updates, Strategic Early Warning Network (SEWN) services, new hire reporting, and other employer-focused resources. Employers are encouraged to register and suggest future topics through the Employer Information Network Series 2026: Invitation Request link or by emailing RA-LI-BWPO-ESVCS@pa.gov. 

LCWDB encourages Lancaster County employers to take advantage of this new opportunity.

LCWDB OUT & ABOUT