Thom Kleiner to Lead Workforce Development Board

Thom Kleiner has been named as the new executive director of the Westchester-Putnam Workforce Development Board, an organization that connects Westchester’s talented workforce to local businesses through hiring opportunities, training, workshops and other programming.

The BCW works closely with the Westchester-Putnam Workforce Development Board throughout the year, but especially so in organizing the annual Westchester-Putnam Youth Summit. Each year during Spring Break, more than 250 young adults between the ages of 16 and 24 gather for the event, which this year will take place on April 4, 2018.

“We welcome Thom and look forward to a continued close relationship with the Workforce Development Board,’’ said BCW President and CEO Marsha Gordon. “Developing talent for Westchester’s workforce is one of the BCW’s top initiatives and we are excited to work with new leadership on the Youth Summit and many other initiatives.”

In announcing Kleiner’s appointment, Westchester County Executive George Latimer said Kleiner’s understanding of the private and public sector – and how they interact – will go far in continuing to make Westchester a premier destination for businesses large and small.

Kleiner served as Supervisor of Orangetown in Rockland County from 1996-2009, where he oversaw over 300 employees and a budget of over $60 million. After that, he served as the Hudson Valley representative for the New York State Commissioner of Labor and as the Deputy Director of the Mid-Hudson Regional Economic Development Council. As deputy director, he oversaw the strategic economic plan for the seven-county region of the state.

Kleiner replaces Donnovan Beckford, who is now executive director of Westchester Community Opportunity Program (WestCOP).