(WASHINGTON, DC) – Today, Mayor Bowser announced the appointment of Todd Lang as the Executive Director of the Workforce Investment Council (WIC) and Antwanye Ford as the Chair of the WIC. The WIC is a private-sector led board responsible for advising the Mayor, Council, and DC Government on the development, implementation, and continuous improvement of an integrated and effective workforce development system.
“Todd Lang is a proven leader who brings more than a decade of economic and workforce development experience to the Workforce Investment Council. He has a track record of developing and implementing innovative programs, and we are confident that he will be able to help us continue creating pathways to the middle class for Washingtonians in all eight wards,”said Mayor Bowser. “Additionally, Antwanye is a native Washingtonian who remains deeply committed to our community and ensuring all residents get connected to the resources they need to find good-paying jobs. I want to thank Diane Pabich for leading the WIC over the past several months – with her continued guidance and Todd and Antwanye’s leadership, the WIC is well-positioned to continue meeting the needs of residents and employers.”
Lang has 15 years of experience managing workforce recruitment, training, and economic development initiatives for cities and states. For the past eight years, he worked for the New York City Department of Small Business Services, leading programs to empower workers and entrepreneurs, with a special focus on low-income and underserved populations. In this role, he managed business development efforts for the citywide system of Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act-funded job centers, driving more customers to job recruitment services, strengthening relationships with industry partners, increasing utilization of customized training grants, and developing metrics to measure system success. Prior to his tenure with the City of New York, Lang worked as an economic development consultant on behalf of more than 25 communities.
Diane Pabich has served as Interim Executive Director of WIC will resume her full-time duties as Deputy Director of the WIC.
Ford, who will take over Andy Shallal’s role as Board Chair, is President and CEO of Enlightened, Inc., a leading IT and management consulting firm founded in 1999. Ford also serves on the Board of the DC Chamber of Commerce, the Board of Directors of the U.S. Black Chambers, Inc., and is the Board Chair at On-Ramps to Careers, which focuses on the DC youth technology workforce. He previously served as the Director of Applications Support for INTELSAT, leading the development of applications, consulting projects, and document management infrastructure.
Today’s announcement is part of Mayor Bowser’s #pathwaystothemiddleclass Week. Throughout the week, the Mayor is highlighting the resources and programs the Administration is using to expand economic prosperity across all eight wards.