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February is Black History and CTE Month!
2026 marks the 100th anniversary of federal recognition for Black Americans. The architect of the movement was Dr. Carter G. Woodson. He launched Negro History Week (NHW) to coincide with the February birthdays of Abraham Lincoln and Frederick Douglass, the two figures whom he felt were symbolically tied to African American freedom.
This Black History Month is not simply a date on the calendar; it is a powerful reminder to recognize the generations who fought for inclusion in the historical record, even when the nation resisted acknowledging their humanity.
And as the world pauses in 2026 to honor a century of commemoration, the message remains as clear — and necessary — as ever:
Black history is American history. And remembering it strengthens us all. copied from Forbes 01/05/2026
February is also Career and Technical Education CTE Month, a time to celebrate ambition, ignite potential, and recognize the power of hands-on learning to transform lives.
Career and Technical Education (CTE) for high school juniors and seniors, provides specialized hands-on training and industry certifications in fields like IT, health science, manufacturing and the trades often while earning high school credit.
Through CTE, learners gain more than technical skills. They build confidence. They discover purpose. They step into real world experiences that prepare them for high demand careers and meaningful success.
On March 6th, the Pee Dee Regional Council of Governments welcomes Brianna Dennis, Indevo Spark Group, and CTE instructors and leaders from the Pee Dee Area as they develop their Comprehensive Local Needs Assessment (CNLA) for 2026. Parent, student and employer support of CTE programs in the region will be examined. This is important work as K-12 plays a role in career ladder development and the success of the emerging workforce.
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February 23, 2026
Greetings!
Welcome to Issue #8 of the expanded Pee Dee Workforce Update courtesy of the Pee Dee Regional Council of Governments' Workforce Department on behalf of the Pee Dee Workforce Development Board. In July, 2025, after a long history of updating workforce board members, we expanded the audience to include SC Works Partners. If you would like to add other readers, please send your additions to my attention by responding to this email.
We would love to include your news and success stories in the newsletter! Please know that content is always welcome as well as feedback! Let us hear from you!
Thank you for your partnership!
Bridgette Coates
Workforce Development Director
(843) 702-3148; b-coates@peedeecog.org
(This "Constant Contact" publication has a tendancy to land in junk e-mail files. Please move it so that you will receive it when published).
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MAMIE LEGETTE RETIRES 02/28/2026
Last month, we shared that Mamie Legette, Workforce System Coordinator, after 14 years at the Pee Dee Regional Council of Governments and 29 total years in Workforce Development, retires this week. Many of the organizations she has worked with have honored her over the past few weeks. Mamie has been an important part of our team for many years and she is irreplaceable. She has penned the following words for all of us who will miss her greatly:
Reflections on 29 Years of Service: A Calling Answered
"When I first stepped into workforce development, I did not even know what it was.
I had not studied it. I had not mapped out a career in it. I did not understand the acronyms, the policies, or the complexity of the system. I simply walked through an open door. Over time, I realized I had walked into purpose. What began as a job quickly became something much deeper. It became a mission. And that mission became a ministry.
I quickly came to understand that this work was never just about performance measures or reports. It was about people. It was about lifting someone who felt unseen and unheard. It was about restoring dignity where it had been worn down and reminding individuals that their circumstances did not define their worth. It was about helping people reconnect to their own potential and believe in possibility again. It was also about partnership.
Workforce development only works when we work together. I have had the privilege of standing alongside dedicated colleagues, committed board members, community organizations, educators, training providers, economic development leaders, and business partners who were willing to invest in people. Employers who opened their doors. Community agencies who filled gaps we could not fill alone. Educators who prepared individuals for opportunity. Together, we built bridges between talent and possibility.
The relationships formed across agencies, businesses, and communities were never just professional. They were foundational. They shaped the impact we made and the leader I became.
Yes, we met goals. Yes, we tracked outcomes. But what mattered most were the lives touched, the confidence restored, the second chances given, and the hope rekindled.
Like many who pour themselves fully into service, there were moments when I questioned my place. Yet time and again, the transformations I witnessed reminded me that I did not simply work in workforce development. I belonged here.
As I approach retirement after 29 years of service, my heart is full. Full of gratitude for colleagues who became family. Full of appreciation for community and business partners who believed in shared responsibility. Full of respect for the individuals who trusted us during some of the most vulnerable seasons of their lives.
This was never just a career. It was a calling. And I am deeply thankful that I answered it.
To every colleague, board member, community partner, business leader, and participant who walked this journey with me, thank you. The work continues because of you. I carry your impact with me into this next chapter, confident that the mission of connecting people to opportunity will remain strong and steady for years to come."
With gratitude,
Mamie Legette
Workforce System Coordinator
A video tribute, containing farewell messages to Mamie from those she's worked with over the years, can be accessed here.
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Pee Dee COG is Hiring
With the acceptance of Mamie Legette's departure from our team, the Workforce Development Department has plans to reorganize and is seeking a team member who will provide administrative and compliance support for the Pee Dee Workforce Development Area. The new team member will assume a portion of Mamie's present administrative responsibilities, along with other administrative and compliance responsibilities for our workforce development programs.
Additional information and the full job description can be accessed at https://peedeecog.org/about_us/employment_opportunities.php. Applications due 02/27/2026 by 4:00 pm.
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Pee Dee Pathways Deemed an Overwhelming Success
Congratulations to Debbie Jones, Regional Workforce Advisor for SC Department of Employment and Workforce and a very strong committee of educators, community partners, businesses and workforce development! On Thursday, January 29th at the Southeastern Institute for Manufacturing Technology (SiMT) at Florence-Darlington Technical College, more than 2,000 8th graders converged to learn about Pee Dee businesses and industries. The event was an amazing success!
About 60 area businesses set up booths in the conference center and main lobby of Florence-Darlington Technical College’s SIMT building. Many of the stalls featured hands-on exhibits and demonstrations of on-the-job activities.
Ms. Jones, the Pee Dee Pathways de facto organizer, said in an interview that the event is “a collaboration between education, industry and community partners to help students connect what they're learning in school to real-world careers,” adding that it’s the first event of its kind hosted in and for the Region. She shared how local planning organization Pee Dee Regional Council of Governments organized a sector strategy team for the Region and one of the things that again surfaced as a need was to do a business and industry showcase for eighth-grade students.
Businesses represented such fields as manufacturing, healthcare, STEM, education, agriculture, finance, first responders, government and hospitality. These included some of the largest employers in the Pee Dee: American Honda Motor Co. Inc., Nucor Corp., Schaeffler Group USA Inc., Sonoco Products Co., McLeod Health, MUSC Health, and Duke Energy Corp., as well as Florence County, the City of Florence, Florence-Darlington Technical College, GE Healthcare, Pee Dee Regional Transportation Authority, Thermo Fisher Scientific and Smurfit Westrock. Even representatives from local sports teams - the Florence Flamingos and Pee Dee Icecats - participated. Each business was asked to bring an interactive activity to engage the students.
The project is part of a larger effort to strengthen the education-to-workforce pipeline across our region. The goal is to help students see their future right here at home, in local industries that are growing and hiring.
To access a video highlight the event, click here.
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BOARD MEMBER SPOTLIGHT
Lauren Odoms
Newly appointed to the board 11/2025
Employer: Northeastern Technical College (NETC)
Position: Chief of Staff
Hometown: West End, NC, moved to Cheraw, SC in 2020
Tell us about your family:
My husband is a police officer for the Town of Cheraw. We have two boys, a 3-year old and a 1.5 year old.
Hobbies: Spending time with my boys and deal hunting.
What is your most proud professional moment?: Having a voice at the table to help make decisions that truly impact employees, students and the community, and being the person others can turn to when they need the information, clarity, or support to keep their projects moving forward.
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What is your favorite aspect of serving on the board?:
Working collectively toward a common mission and helping make a positive impact on the region. As a new board member, I am excited to learn how we can better serve the region.
What is your “Why?”: My "why" is making a positive impact in the lives of others and building people up to succeed. I believe everyone should have equal access and opportunity, and I'm passionate about empowering others to see what they're capable of. I want to provide the resources, support, and encouragement needed to help them succeed. At the core of everything I do is loving and caring for others, staying positive, and lifting people up!
| | | | | | | SC WORKS's
PARTNER PROGRAM
SPOTLIGHT
Chesterfield-Marlboro EOC, Inc., is a long time partner of the SC Works Pee Dee system. It graciously serves as the SC Works Pee Dee "Connection Point" in Chesterfield County, providing job seeking and wrap around services to citizens at NO cost to the system!
Ms. Wanda Joyner, SC Works Resource Room Coordinator, was recognized in PY'2024 as the Pee Dee's Workforce Hero. She is spotlighted in this edition as well! Ms. Wanda expertly assists all Resource Room customers with dignity and grace to be sure they can utilize the SC Works Online System (SCWOS) for job search assistance and be referred to other partners that can provide the assistance the individual needs.
Chesterfield-Marlboro EOC, Inc., has a mission, vision, purpose and heart that makes it a necessary partner in addressing the needs of many of the individuals that are served by SC Works.
Mission: Through a collaborative partnership, individuals and families move from dependency to self-reliance by providing direct and indirect services within our service area.
Vision: We envision communities of strong and stable families where every person has an equal opportunity to reach his or her full potential and where public policies and personal values give highest priority to education, adequate health care, adequate housing and, social and economic stability of all families.
In addition to access to SC Works services, CMEOC, Inc., provides Head Start programs for eligible pre-school children, rehab and weatherization assistance for low income homeowners, and assistance with home heating bills to low income families, among other beneficial programs.
The Pee Dee Workforce Development Board and SC Works Pee Dee are thankful for this strong community partnership serving Chesterfield and Marlboro County residents. Mr. Sam Bass, Executive Director, represented community-based organizations on the Pee Dee Workforce Development Board for 10 years.
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PEE DEE
WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT BOARD
STRATEGIC PLAN 2025-2028 and Employer Resource Guide
The Pee Dee Workforce Development Board adopted its 2025-2028 Strategic Plan at its board meeting on May 6, 2025. The Committees, including Business & Industry, Disabilities, SC Works and Youth, are hard at work accomplishing the goals assigned to them. Staff members are assigned to facilitate committee activities.
Again this year, from February to June, 2025, the board engaged Brianna Dennis, Indevo Spark Group, to work individually with the committees, at a board meeting and culminating at the Board Retreat.
Also, Ms. Dennis worked with employers and SC Works partners in the board's sector strategies project and developed the linked Employer Resource Guide. This guide is a "must have" for local employers making it easy to connect with the amazing resources available to them from SC Works partners.
For more information, contact Bridgette Coates at b-coates@peedeecog.org.
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Click below to view the plan and Employer Resource Guide:
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SC Technical College System 2025 Economic Impact Analysis
A recently published economic impact study conducted by the University of South Carolina's Darla Moore School of Business offers a clear answer and a compelling case for why technical education is a smart investment. According to the study, the SC Technical College System generates $6.4 billion in economic impact annually and supports more than 38,000 jobs statewide and $2.0 billion in labor income for SC residents. The largest driver of this impact is the alumni effect: graduates gain job-ready skills, earn higher wages, and spend more in their local communities. This effect accounts for nearly 75 percent of the System's total impact.
The Pee Dee Region is expertly served by Florence-Darlington Technical College (FDTC) and Northeastern Technical College (NETC). They offer education and workforce programs to our citizens and employers.
President Dr. Jermaine Ford represents FDTC and Lauren Odoms, Chief of Staff, represents NETC on the Pee Dee Workforce Development Board.
SC Works Pee Dee is greatly enhanced by its partnership with the SC Technical College System.
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SC WORKS'
TEAM MEMBER SPOTLIGHT
This month we are spotlighting Ms. Wanda Joyner with Chesterfield-Marlboro EOC. Ms. Joyner serves faithfully in the SC Works Connection Point graciously provided by CMEOC
Name: Wanda P. Joyner
Position: Community Services Resource Technician
Most Proud Professional Moment:
I was selected as the 2023 Workforce Hero for the Pee Dee Local Workforce Development Area. Winners from across the state were honored in Columbia during Workforce Development Week.
Favorite Hobby: Sisterly bonding with my AKA Sorors
Favorite Food: Pizza/Soul Food
Favorite thing about your job: I enjoy meeting and helping clients file for unemployment, apply for online jobs, create or update resumes, email address and providing updates on job fairs or any other soft skill workshop or training. I also enjoy assisting my co-workers at EOC with their clients and headstart parents' needs.
How long have you worked in the Workforce Sector? I have been the SC Workforce Resource Officer for 15 years.
How long have you worked with your current employer? 19 years
What’s your “Why”?: This is a job where you meet people looking for assistance in applying for a job or unemployment. It can be a dislocated worker due to their company shut down, youth, adult, disabled person or someone ready for a career change or continued education. I am here to help them in any way that I can. The success stories include hearing I got the job, unemployment or college acceptance, or "Mrs. Wanda, thank you for being so patient with me."
We are glad to have Ms. Joyner as an SC Works teammate! Reach out to Ms. Wanda at wanda.joyner@cmeoc.org.
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Wanda
Joyner
Position: Community Services Resource Technician
Hometown: Cheraw
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Latest SC Employment Information
Pee Dee Unemployment - December 2025
Chesterfield County 5.9%
Darlington County 5.6%
Dillon County 6.3%
Florence County 5.2%
Marion County 6.9%
Marlboro County 8.6%
State of SC 4.8%
Mr. William Floyd, Executive Director of the SC Department of Employment & Workforce, provides a monthly statement about South Carolina's employment situation:
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For Release
January 27, 2026
Columbia, S.C. – Today’s publication of the December data is due to last year’s federal government shutdown, which delayed monthly employment reporting for the last four months of 2025. In February each year, the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) conducts its annual revision of national estimates from the Local Area Unemployment Statistics (LAUS) and the Current Employment Statistics (CES) monthly surveys. For that reason, numbers for January and February 2026 will also be delayed as BLS uses this benchmarking period to revise or adjust estimates. Some statistics may therefore be adjusted to reflect revised numbers once the process is completed, which is expected each year.
“December’s employment report shows that South Carolina’s labor market remains stable. Although the unemployment rate ticked up slightly to 4.8 percent, this was primarily driven by an influx of new entrants to the labor force,” said S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce (DEW) Executive Director William Floyd. “South Carolina’s labor force grew by 64,500 individuals over the past year, which can be attributed to the state’s population growth. The total labor force for December was estimated to be 2,614,214.”
“There has also been steady job growth across most industries in the state with the highest increases recorded in Accommodation and Food Services, Health Care and Social Assistance, and Professional, Scientific, and Technical Services compared to twelve months ago. Overall, South Carolina continues to have a robust economy and a competitive talent pipeline,” continued Floyd.
“2025 was a year of many exciting accomplishments at our agency, including major job fairs and the expansion of activities, having hosted over a thousand recruitment events across the state with almost 39,000 jobseekers in attendance. DEW’s SC@Work: Rural Connections team held 395 events and supported over 17,000 of our state’s most rural jobseekers by bringing career resources, the SC Works Career Coach, and employers directly to their communities,” said Floyd.
“In 2026, we will continue enhancing awareness of employment programs, including reemployment opportunities for unemployment insurance claimants, such as the Workforce Re-employment Assistance Program (WRAP) and Reemployment Services and Eligibility Assessment (RESEA) programs, which provide one-on-one job match support and personalized referrals with employers to help participants return to work quickly. For any jobseeker – regardless of age, experience, industry, or region – there is an SC Works program or service to take advantage of that can connect you with your next job. All you have to do is visit scworks.org and speak to a DEW representative, in person or virtually, to get started,” concluded Floyd.
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The S.C. Department of Employment and Workforce is putting South Carolinians to work. The agency has four missions: (1) workforce development; (2) free job match employment services; (3) unemployment insurance; and (4) labor market information. All four missions contribute to workforce development. The agency is dedicated to advancing South Carolina through services and programs that meet the needs of our businesses, jobseekers, and those looking to advance their careers.
For the latest news from SCDEW's Labor Market Information visit here.
Contact LMICustomerService@dew.sc.gov with questions.
| | MOU IFA Negotiation Meeting set for 2026 | | |
On 03/10/2026, the Pee Dee Regional Council of Governments, representing the Pee Dee Workforce Development Board, will meet with the SC Works Center Operator and other workforce partners. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss the "State of the Centers" in 2025 and to coordinate programs and resources to support a comprehensive workforce system that seamlessly provides integrated services, accessible to all jobseekers, workers and businesses in 2026.
The Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) requires workforce boards, with the agreement of the chief elected officials, to develop and enter into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) and Infrastructure Agreement (IFA) with all partners concerning the operations and funding of the local SC Works system. Sharing SC Works Center costs empower partners to build a robust workforce delivery system that can increase customer access, enhance performance outcomes, and reduce operational cost burdens.
Beginning in PY'26, the MOUs must be reviewed and renewed on a three-year cycle, in line with the SC Works Certification Standards. The center operating budget and staffing roster must be reviewed annually.
In PY'2025, partners are sharing costs of around $200,000 to support five SC Works Centers. The Pee Dee Workforce Development Board is grateful to all of its core and additional partners that work together professionally to provide excellent services to job seekers and employers every day.
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Workforce Development
in the News
copied from NAWB News, 02/20/2026
The Pee Dee Workforce Development Board staff receives updates from National Association of Workforce Boards (NAWB) on a regular basis. We are excited to be engaged with the organization as it represents over 500 workforce boards from across the country.
Congressional and Administration Updates
NAWB Endorses the Lifelong Learning Act
U.S. Senator Gary Peters (D-MI), along with Senators Ted Budd (R-NC) and John Hickenlooper (D-CO) have reintroduced the bipartisan Lifelong Learning Act, legislation that would give states and Local Workforce Development Boards greater flexibility to respond to local workforce needs. The bill updates the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) to allow more adaptable use of federal resources—supporting upskilling, addressing talent shortages, and helping individuals reconnect to the labor market.
The National Association of Workforce Boards (NAWB) is proud to endorse this legislation. Workforce boards need flexibility to meet rapidly changing labor market demands, and this bill reflects what local leaders need to deliver effective, community‑driven solutions.
Multiple Additional Marker Bills Introduced Related to WIOA
NAWB continues to engage in discussions with key policymakers and staff on WIOA related policy proposals. As such, we are tracking recently introduced bills, including the Workforce Development Modernization Act, Employer-Directed Skills Act, and Lifelong Learning Act (referenced above). It is important to note that these bills are unlikely to pass on their own. The language in each of these bills was previously included in the A Stronger Workforce for America Act (ASWA) last Congress. Their re-introduction is a signal that there will be a similar push to have them considered again in a WIOA Reauthorization package.
House Committee to Examine Career and Technical Education Session
The House Small Business Committee is also holding a hearing next week, Career and Technical Education: Developing the Future of Main Street Success. The Committee held similar hearings in recent years to highlight program impact to small businesses – while the prime focus is CTE we expect that WIOA and workforce development programs will be mentioned.
DOL Publishes AI Literacy Framework
The U.S. Department of Labor’s (DOL) Employment and Training Administration (ETA) released a new Artificial Intelligence (AI) literacy framework designed to guide workforce and education systems nationwide in building foundational AI skills and knowledge. The framework outlines core content areas and delivery principles to help educators, employers, and training providers integrate AI literacy into programs across industries while allowing flexibility for local needs. Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer said the guidance supports broader efforts to equip American workers for the evolving AI-driven economy, advancing skills development aligned with national talent strategies. Learn more here.
Learn more at NAWB's website
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PARTICIPANT SUCCESS STORY
Carolina Gaillard
Carolina Gaillard’s dedication to helping others was evident throughout her participation in the Level UP H-1B program. Prior to receiving services, she faced challenges accessing education and advancing her career in healthcare and would not have been able to achieve her goal without the financial assistance provided through the H1B program. With this support, Carolina successfully completed the Associate Degree in Nursing (ADN) program at Central Carolina Technical College.
At the Pee Dee Workforce Development Board meeting on 02/10/2026, Charity Gerald, PDWDB member, and Associate Vice President, Talent Strategy at McLeod Health, celebrated Ms. Gaillard's contribution to McLeod Health.
Ms. Gaillard works full-time nights' shifts in the Surgical Progressive Care Unit at McLeod Regional Medical Center. She started in September 2025.
| | | Ms. Gerald shared a comment from Carolina's Director:
"Carolina's passion for nursing comes from caring for her son who became ill at a very young age. She is a great nurse. So much so that she has been asked to attend and speak at patient funerals by family members. We have a patient now who has a picture of Carolina in a frame in her room. She makes meaningful connections with her patients and their families. I worry about her getting to attached but so far, she is handling it well."
Congratulations, Carolina Guillard! We are so proud of your accomplishments!
The H-1B Rural Healthcare Grant expired 09/30/2025, but WIOA Title I programs support individuals earning credentials in healthcare occupations and meaningful employment in the healthcare sector.
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SCDEW has launched a podcast to spotlight the strategic efforts of the Coordinating Council for Workforce Development (CCWD), workforce leaders, and exciting workforce development activities in South Carolina, while providing helpful labor market information (LMI). The host will be William Floyd, Chair of the CCWD and Executive Director of the SC Department of Employment and Workforce.
Watch/Listen to the premiere podcast here.
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Northeastern South Carolina reports over $426 million in capital investment and over 400 jobs in 2025
STAFF REPORTS copied from NESA website
FLORENCE, S.C. – Counties in South Carolina’s northeastern region reported more than 426 million dollars in new industrial capital projects with over 400 jobs created based on public announcements.
“These wins reinforce that our region is a great area to invest and grow,” said Yancey McGill, former S.C. lieutenant governor and North Eastern Strategic Alliance (NESA) executive committee chairman. “The jobs and capital coming into our region will help strengthen the economy and create more opportunities,” he continued.
According to NESA – the non-profit regional economic development group serving Chesterfield, Darlington, Dillon, Florence, Georgetown, Horry, Marion, Marlboro and Williamsburg counties – the region had over $426 million in new investment as well as the creation of over 400 jobs in 2025.
The regional unemployment rate was 6% as of December 2025. Employment in the NESA region as of December was over 340,000.
Regionally, there were 13 announcements: seven were existing industry expansions and six were new locations.
“We’re proud to welcome these companies into our communities, and we’re grateful to everyone who helped make these projects possible,” McGill said, “It takes teamwork, and our region continues to deliver.”
Looking forward, McGill said, “We’re optimistic about the year ahead and remain committed to supporting county economic development efforts across the region. We’ll keep strategically recruiting and collaborating to bring more jobs and investment to our community.”
McGill noted that the NESA staff provide tools to make it easier for searching and virtually touring available sites in the region. These tools, along with NESA’s 2025 Annual Report, can be found at nesasc.org. NESA held their annual meeting on February 5, 2026.
READ FULL STORY
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JOB FAIR Photo Gallery
On 02/11/2026, the Marion County Adult Education and SC Works Pee Dee partnered for a Job Fair. Congratulations on a successful event!
127 Job seekers (5 Veterans)
17 Employers
5 Service and Support Organizations
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Hiring Events and Job Fairs
Thanks to SC Works Pee Dee Team members for their dedicated efforts to support the hiring needs of our local employers and jobseekers.
Upcoming Event
Tuesday, March 3rd, Regional SC Works, Florence Darlington Technical College & SC National Guard Spring Job Fair, at FDTC/SIMT Building, 1951 Pisgah Road, Florence, 10:30 am - 1:00 pm. Veterans only 10:00 am-10:30 am.
Businesses interested in participating in any of the SC Works job fairs, having
SC Works host a hiring event, and/or are in need of other business services should contact Dianne Herrington at d-herrington@peedeecog.org/ (843)687-0091 or their assigned SC Works Business Services Representative.
The SC Department of Employment and Workforce, on behalf of the State Workforce Development Board and South Carolina's 12 local workforce development areas, has purchased a virtual job fair platform that any SC business can use to hold hiring events.
Businesses interested in hosting a virtual hiring event may contact Hugh Stanton at hstanton@dew.sc.gov or (843) 519-1228.
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Upcoming Board/Committee Meetings
The full meeting schedule for the Board and its Committees can be accessed by clicking here: PY '25 Board Meeting Schedule
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