Van Ton-Quinlivan named as “Workforce Hero” for making life-changing differences through innovation.
[Sacramento, CA] —National Association of Workforce Development Professionals (NAWDP) recognized Futuro Health CEO Van Ton-Quinlivan among national leaders who have stepped up to the challenge during the pandemic and developed innovative services for helping others find jobs and support.
“Workforce development plays an important role in driving economic growth through assisting individuals financially struggling and looking for help navigating the roadblocks of gaining sustainable employment,” states Melissa Robbins, CEO of NAWDP, in a press release about the awards. “Everyday workforce development professionals touch the lives of those seeking employment and a new life. The National Association of Workforce Development Professionals thought it was time to recognize these hardworking, dedicated and skilled individuals.”
Ton-Quinlivan’s experience span the private, public and nonprofit sectors. She served as the executive vice-chancellor of the California Community Colleges, the nation’s largest higher education system of 116 colleges, where she grew public investments in career education significantly to develop the skilled workers needed by regional economies. Today, her leadership as CEO of Futuro Health has led the organization to address the allied health worker shortage, weaving together best practices in creative ways. Example occupations range from medical assistants, sterile processing technicians, patient care representatives, health IT technicians, to telehealth coordinators and more. Futuro Health’s students are 80% ethnically and racially diverse, 73% female, an average age of 30, and 51% are bilingual.
In the two years since Futuro Health’s launch in 2020, over 5,000 diverse adults have enrolled in an education path leading to a healthcare credential of value to employers. “During a moment in time when post-secondary enrollment dramatically dropped across the country, we seek to connect people with economic opportunity by easing them back into higher education in adult-friendly ways,” states Ton-Quinlivan.
Futuro Health’s innovative approach in workforce development has been covered by NPR, Forbes, The Job, The Evolllution, Univision, and other publications and podcasts.
NAWDP is an organization dedicated to providing education, resources, and certifications to individuals seeking to thrive as leaders in the workforce development industry. Its Workforce Heroes award recognizes the diligent and dedicated professionals who make a difference in their communities and advance the workforce industry. Download a full list of the 2021 Workforce Development Heroes at the NAWDP website.
About Futuro Health: Futuro Health improves the health and wealth of communities by growing the largest network of credentialed allied health workers in the nation starting in California. We make education journeys into allied health careers possible by growing the talent that employers need and creating a path to opportunity that workers want. For more information on best practices in workforce development, visit https://futurohealth.org/.