Montana Governor Selects Winners of the Desiree Taggart Memorial Award

The Governor’s appointed State Workforce Investment Board
announced the following award recipients for the Governor’s Desiree
Taggart Memorial Award for Workforce Development:

* Outstanding Business of the Year for Profit: Sage Spa Salon http://www.sagespasalon.com
(Bozeman), Jobs by Design program, for providing complimentary makeovers
to workforce system graduates. http://www.matr.net/article-17783.html

* Outstanding Business of the Year Not for Profit: Student
Assistance Foundation http://www.safmt.org/SAFHOME/ (Helena), for demonstrating their continuing
commitment to serve the students of Montana.

* Individual Workforce Development Achievement – Public Sector:
Linda Beck (Billings) for her leadership, creativity and expertise –
having a positive impact on workforce and economic development.

* Individual Workforce Development Achievement – Private Sector:
Liz Marchi (Kalispell) for creating jobs that allow Montanans’ an
opportunity to use their skills or learn new marketable skills and
provide support for their families. http://www.dobusinessinmontana.com/

* Quality Program – Public Sector: Bitterroot Workforce System
Community Management Team (Hamilton) for their work to reduce barriers
and efforts to make services seamless and accessible through many
venues.

"The values and abilities embraced by the Desiree Taggart awardees
showcase the best of Montana’s Workforce System," said State Workforce
Investment Board Chairman Dan Miles.

The State Workforce Investment Board is currently soliciting 2006
nominations. Montana workforce development organizations, businesses
and individuals are eligible for the awards based on outstanding
achievement or contributions to employment and training efforts in
Montana, including: improved productivity, creativity, economy and
efficiency in Montana’s workforce system.

Award nominations are due to the State Workforce Investment Board by May
31, 2006, and should be mailed to PO Box 1728, Helena, MT 59624. For
more information, visit the State Workforce Investment Board’s website
of: http://boards.mt.gov/swib/ (Resources link), or contact Chris
Wilhelm at (406)444-4480.

Department of Labor and Industry – State Workforce Investment Board
Desiree Taggart Memorial Awards Fact Sheet

Award History

The Governor’s State Workforce Investment Board (SWIB) in cooperation
with the Montana Council for Workforce Quality developed the award.
The awards provide an opportunity to publicly acknowledge outstanding
businesses, programs and individuals who participate in the public
workforce development system.
The awards are given in memory of Desiree Taggart, the first Director of
Workforce Development in the Governor’s Office of Economic Development.
Taggart, who died in 2002, is remembered for her:

Inspiring dedication to Montana’s workforce development efforts

Abundant energy and willingness to go the extra mile

Inquisitive mind and creative solutions

Passion for quality and excellence in workforce development

Fostering positive relationships among workforce development
professionals, businesses and Montana’s workforce

Categories

* Outstanding Business of the Year – For Profit

* Outstanding Business of the Year – Not for Profit

* Quality Program – Private Sector

* Quality Program – Public Sector

* Individual Workforce Development – Private Sector

* Individual Workforce Development – Public Sector

Eligibility

Montana workforce development organizations, businesses and individuals
are eligible for the awards based on outstanding achievement or
contribution to employment and training efforts in Montana, including:
improved productivity, creativity, economy and efficiency in Montana’s
workforce system.

Selection and Presentation

* Nominations for 2006 are due May 31, 2006

* A selection team individually scores nominees based solely on
nomination paperwork.

* Scores are presented to SWIB’s Executive Committee.

* The SWIB Executive Committee compiles recommendations of award
winners for submission to the Governor.

* The Governor selects one winner in each category.

* The SWIB presents the award annually.