Aric Meares is again at the helm of the Pima County Workforce Investment Board (WIB), embarking on his second term with a drive to nurture the local economy by bridging the gap between job seekers and employers. With his first term spanning August 2018 through July 2020, Meares has been a part of the WIB since September 2014, demonstrating a sustained dedication to the community's workforce development.
His predecessor, Mark Vitale, received praise for his leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic. "Mark did a phenomenal job helping us pivot through the pandemic and did a lot of great things on the WIB," Meares said. Engaging the business community remains a top priority for Meares, who stresses its importance in creating a dynamic and responsive labor market.
The WIB, which Meares rejoined as chairman on July 1, is a consortium of 45 business leaders, educators, and nonprofit representatives. Together, they shape workforce policy and oversee the Pima County One-Stop Career Center, operated by the Department of Community & Workforce Development (CWD). This collective aims to forge career pathways and meet businesses' hiring demands, effectively responding to the evolving economic landscape post-pandemic.
In a career spanning over 25 years in business, manufacturing, and technology, Meares has stood as a figure of local industrial competence. "Aric has been a valuable leader and contributor to the Workforce Investment Board," Dan Sullivan, director of Community & Workforce Development told Pima County. Meares' expertise extends to navigating company layoffs utilizing One-Stop's business services, highlighting a practical understanding of the challenges facing today's workforce.
Tapping into his experience in the biosciences, Meares recounted an instance where the One-Stop supported an adult transitioning from construction to nursing, signifying the tangible impact of the WIB's initiatives. As the panel returns to hybrid meetings, the hope is that fostering engagement through in-person connections will again become the norm. "Community gets built by people’s relationships, and those relationships are not going to be fostered virtually," Meares stated. Under Meares' leadership, the WIB is poised to continue its vital role in strengthening the workforce fabric of Pima County.
