Business

<< Previous   of   Next >>   ADVERTISEMENT   CONTACT THE HERALD Mike Benbow, Business Editor benbow@heraldnet.com   Published: Wednesday, March 21, 2007 Interim head hired to lead Workforce Sue Ambler says she's eager to move the employment and job-training council past its spending troubles of 2006. By Eric Fetters / Herald Writer EVERETT - The Snohomish County Workforce Development Council has hired Sue Ambler as its chief executive officer, completing a rebuilding process that began last year after auditors raised concerns about questionable spending. Ambler already had served as the interim leader since June. She said she's ready to keep moving the council forward. "It's something that I really wanted to do, so I couldn't be more pleased that they offered this to me," Ambler said. Her appointment by the council's board followed a three-month search that attracted 17 applicants from across the country. "Her broad experience and actual qualifications exceeded all the candidates that we interviewed," said Dale Peinecke, chairman of the workforce council's board. "Her passion for growing the global competitiveness of our local businesses and work force is incredible." Ambler's 27 years of working in the public and private sector include 16 years of teaching and advising. She's lived in Snohomish County for more than 20 years. The Workforce Development Council's main purpose is to distribute millions of federal and state dollars annually for local employment and job training. It also operates local WorkSource offices to help job seekers. Last spring, state and federal auditors raised questions about how hundreds of thousands of dollars were spent, suggesting that some of the spending seemed to violate guidelines. The concerns forced the resignation of the council's previous leader and some board members quit. The agency's recertification by the state even was in peril. But the council has since been recertified, and Ambler said a full board of 30 members is now in place. She credited County Executive Aaron Reardon for helping to rebuild the board. Reardon, in turn, said Ambler's an "excellent choice" to lead the council, and that he looks forward to working with her to help the council "rise to the next level."

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