Former city manager Joyce Wilson named permanent CEO for Workforce Solutions Upper Rio Grande
Joyce Wilson, former city manager of the City of El Paso, has been named the permanent CEO for Workforce Solutions Upper Rio Grande.
Her contract is effective Jan. 1 and runs through Dec. 17, 2017.
Wilson has served as interim CEO since June 2014 and was El Paso’s city manager from 2004 to June 2014.
Workforce chairwoman Bertha Gallardo stated that Wilson had dramatically improved the relevance and visibility of the organization over the past six months.
In a news release, officials with Workforce Solutions stated staff morale and performance is high, relations with Texas Workforce Commission are improved, and the organization has expanded its partnerships with critical education, business and other community stakeholders.
“I am grateful to the Board for their confidence in me and look forward to continuing the important work of assisting job seekers with employment and training opportunities and businesses with their recruitment needs. It is exciting to work with such a dedicated board and staff – who all are genuinely committed to improving the local economy and elevating the economic status of our citizens,” Wilson said in a news release.
Wilson oversees employment, education and economic development programs and up to $50 million of federal and state grants.
Wilson answers to Workforce Solution’s 23-member board which is overseen by seven regional elected leaders.
Wilson had to get permission from El Paso City Council to take the interim CEO job at Workforce Solutions in June because she was to be a paid City employee with full benefits through Sept. 3, 2014. She ended up having to give up about a month’s salary with the City to take the interim job with Workforce Solutions.
Once her contract with the City ended, her pension from retirement was approximately $60,000 annually.
Wilson was offered the interim CEO job at Workforce Solutions on June 4 after the sudden resignations of then CEO Lorenzo Reyes Jr. and then Chief Operating Officer Teofilo Ugalde were accepted by the board of managers.
Workforce officials said in June that Wilson’s salary would be about $142,000 a year, significantly less than her salary at the City, which was about $240,000 a year.
