Northwest Wisconsin Concentrated Employment Program, Inc. (Northwest Wisconsin CEP or CEP), a federally designated 501(C)(3) private non-profit corporation, has administered federal, state, and private foundation funded workforce development programs for over 50 years with a history of excellence, innovation, and accountability.
OUR MISSION:
Our mission at Northwest Wisconsin CEP is to create connections that will empower individuals and groups to drive workforce and community growth.
OUR HISTORY:
CEP was developed out of the 1960s “Great Society” legislation called the Comprehensive Employment and Training Act (CETA). In 1982, experience with CETA led to the enactment of the federal Job Training Partnership Act (JTPA), which replaced CETA. In 1998, JTPA was replaced by the federal Workforce Investment Act (WIA). In 2015, WIA was replaced by the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) which CEP currently maintains in our region. There are only three CEPs remaining in the nation. Although there have been many changes in federal workforce legislation, the primary focus of CEP has remained to provide employment and training services to unemployed and underemployed adults and youth.
OUR SERVICES:
CEP serves an area with a population of 175,000 individuals in Ashland, Bayfield, Burnett, Douglas, Iron, Price, Rusk, Sawyer, Taylor and Washburn counties of Northwest Wisconsin, encompassing a 10,000 square mile area. CEP has built positive partner relationships in northern Wisconsin through services provided at four main locations and additional outreach locations.
The primary focus of CEP is to assist consumers in reaching work, training, and education goals by implementing the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) through the guidance set forth by the Department of Labor and the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development. WIOA is designed to help job seekers access employment, education, training, and support services to succeed in the labor market and to match employers with the skilled workers they need to compete in the global economy. CEP also receives funds from Vocational Rehabilitation (VR) that provides funding to work with individuals with disabilities and impairments.
CEP also administers numerous other programs from state, federal, and private funds, including programs that reach ex-offenders, individuals in transition from foster care, community programs or corrections, consumers with disabilities working through vocational rehabilitation programs, and various youth work programs. Through our Health Insurance Initiatives program, we also provide enrollment assistance for Marketplace Insurance, Medicaid, and CHIP insurance programs and education on using insurance benefits to promote health and wellness.
CEP connects consumers of all backgrounds to the resources they need to obtain sustainable employment. These needs may include transportation assistance, childcare assistance, financial assistance to obtain school certifications or degrees or work to make meaningful connections between these consumers and the local business community. Furthermore, CEP employees can help connect these consumers to other community assistance, depending on their individual needs, to help them succeed in their communities as well-rounded and successful individuals and employees.
OUR BOARD:
Bill Kacvinsky, Chairman, Private Business Representative
David Willingham, Vice Chairman, Community Service Agency Representative
Bob Kopisch, Secretary, At Large Position
Emmett Byrne, Burnett County Representative
Larry Fickbohm, Bayfield County Representative
Elizabeth Franek, Ashland County Representative
Charlie Glazman, Douglas County Representative
Dee Gokee-Rindal, Education Representative
Thomas J. Gordon, Native American Representative
Steve Kariainen, Sawyer County Representative
Bob Olsgard, Washburn County Representative
Patricia Stephan, Price County Representative
Rollie Thums, Taylor County Representative
Terry Wedwick, Rusk County Representative
Larry Youngs, Iron County Representative
The CEP Board of Directors generally meets on the third Wednesday every other month or at the call of the Chairperson.
Past Meeting Minutes:
(Minutes are approved at the following meeting)
April 16th, 2025 (To be approved at next meeting)
February 19th, 2025
December 18th, 2024
November 20th, 2024
October 16th, 2024
August 21st, 2024
August 1st, 2024
May 15th, 2024
March 20th, 2024
October 18th, 2023
August 16th, 2023
June 23rd, 2023
April 19th, 2023
Minutes from previous meetings are available by request.
Minutes from the Northwest Wisconsin Chief Local Elected Officials (CLEO) Consortium meetings can be found on the CLEO website.
OUR STAFF:
Northwest Wisconsin CEP is led by Executive Director, Skyler Dural-Eder. For a detailed list of all CEP staff, visit our Contact page.