Bob Knight of Arbor E&T and Byron Zuidema of the US Department of Labor will speak at the “Dessert and Spirits” session during the 2008 Heartland Professional Development Conference. The two will discuss the important issues facing the workforce system in the upcoming year. Find out how your state and local area fared in the rescission as compared to others. Debate the impact of the upcoming presidential election. Learn about key provisions that may be included when WIA is (finally) re-authorized. You will be welcome to ask questions and to voice your opinions during this informative session on Monday, April 7, 2008 at 8:30 p.m. The Heartland Professional Development Conference, sponsored by GLETA and NAWDP, will be held April 6–9, 2008, at the Hilton at the Ballpark in St. Louis, Missouri.

Bob Knight is the Managing Director of the Arbor Workforce Institute. This analytical arm of Arbor E&T, LLC monitors congressional thinking and legislative trends and spotlights emerging new executive branch policies relating to economic development and workforce development. The Institute uniquely positions Arbor to provide expert capacity-building services to WIBs, One-Stop Partners, and Elected Officials.

Byron Zuidema is the Regional Administrator for US Department of Labor (Region 5), whose ten-state area includes Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, and Wisconsin. Currently, he is on assignment in Washington DC as the Acting Director for the Office of Financial and Administrative Management for the Labor Department.