(The latest information will be at the top)
Questions regarding the Hillsborough/Pinellas County merger can also be emailed to the following:
Hillsborough County Questions:
Pinellas County Questions:
We will update the FAQ as new information becomes available. Look at the updated date for the latest version.
Updated Letterhead
This is the latest higher resolution logo to use.
What is the update on the CEO Search for the new Combined Workforce Development Board?
On 5/14/24 the Advisory Committee voted unanimously to pause the CEO search until the new Hillsborough Pinellas Workforce Development Board meets. During that meeting, two candidates selected to move to the Board of Directors for approval removed their names from consideration.
Who is the current CEO of CareerSource Pinellas?
-Steve Meier, CEO
Who is the current CEO of CareerSource Tampa Bay (Hillsborough County)?
-Sheila Doyle was appointed interim CEO on May 16, 2024
CareerSource Tampa Bay Board of Directors Appoints New Interim CEO – CareerSource Tampa Bay
What immediate changes can we foresee affecting the team initially?
-The most immediate change will be collaborating with your partners in Pinellas or Hillsborough County to provide premier customer service to the constituents of both counties
After the first year of the status quo, will staff need to re-apply for their jobs?
-Applications may need to be completed but it would be for documentation purposes only. Titles, duties and responsibilities may change after the new organizational structure is redesigned by the new CEO.
After the first year of the status quo, do you anticipate there will be layoffs?
-There will most likely not be layoffs but through organizational analysis and redesign there may be new department designs, redesigned job descriptions and duties.
Will we be subject to interviews and qualification tests as a condition of employment?
-Not in your current position, however if you apply for a different position that becomes open, then interviews and any applicable qualification tests do apply?
Are there opportunities to change positions, such as promotions?
-That will be determined when the new CEO is hired and we look at organizational design and structure. If there are open positions, everyone is welcome to apply and interview.
Will staff have the opportunity to change offices from Pinellas to Hillsborough and vice versa?
-That will be dependent on staffing needs within the programs and at each location as well as organizational redesign.
The merger of the two regions might increase the workload for some staff. If workloads increase, will compensation be reviewed?
-Yes, this would be evaluated as part of the review of organizational design and structure. The Goal will always be to make sure staff are fairly compensated and workloads are manageable.
What is going to happen with EDSI employees?
-Employees of Tampa’s outsourced service provider, EDSI, will become employees of CareerSource Tampa Bay effective July 1, 2024.
Will the position title change to ensure that we are one unison team?
-Position titles will be reviewed once the organizations are merged and a review of the organizational structure and design is performed.
Will our medical benefits package change?
-All health and welfare plans for both Hillsborough and Pinellas will be reviewed by an HR consultant who will bring forward a recommendation of what the new benefit structure should look like.
Will there be opportunities for Pinellas and Hillsborough team buildings or Sunshine events?
-Absolutely, as the two entities merge, employee engagement practices from both entities will be evaluated and combined. All employees will be eligible to participate in the collective activities.
Read a joint letter from Pinellas and Hillsborough Assistant County Administrators to Pinellas and Hillsborough County Team Members.
Where can I find the information regarding the consolidation of the Pinellas and Hillsborough County Workforce Boards?
Where can I see the FAQ regarding the consolidation from CareerSource Florida and from the state of Florida perspective?
What is the recent history of the Hillsborough and Pinellas County Workforce Boards?
Why are the two Workforce Boards merging?
When will the two counties merge into one workforce board?
-The anticipated effective date is July 1, 2024, however the new Board for the consortium could meet before this date to approve a new CEO.
What is the name going to be for the new entity?
Currently, both Workforce Boards are using their active DBAs
-Hillsborough: CareerSource Tampa Bay
-Pinellas: CareerSource Pinellas
-Once the new Board Officially merges the new name of DBA will be CareerSource Hillsborough Pinellas
What is the Hillsborough/Pinellas Workforce Development Consortium?
-The Hillsborough/Pinellas Workforce Development Consortium is the delegation of Chief Local Elected Officials (in this case, county commissioners) appointed by each county in the newly consolidated workforce development board to make policies and appoint board members to lead the new consolidated CareerSource entity.
Who are the Lead Local Officials of the Hillsborough/Pinellas Workforce Development Consortium?
-The Board of County Commissioners for Hillsborough and Pinellas Counties separately elected two Commissioners from each county to be on the Consortium. They are as follows:
-Hillsborough County Commissioner Gwen Myers (Chair)
-Hillsborough County Commissioner Joshua Wostal
-Pinellas County Commissioner Rene Flowers (Vice Chair)
-Pinellas County Commissioner Chris Latvala
-During the December 12, 2023, Consortium meeting, it was decided that Hillsborough County Commissioner Gwen Myers will serve as the Chair, and Pinellas County Commissioner Rene Flowers will serve as the Vice Chair. The Chair and Vice-Chair will serve for one-year terms and must alternate between the county of representation every one-year term.
Where can I find the Agenda and Minutes for the Consortium and related committees?
The meetings are listed as:
-Hillsborough/Pinellas Workforce Development Consortium
-Hillsborough/Pinellas Workforce Development Advisory Committee
-The Agenda and Minutes can be found here.
What is the Consolidation Working Group and who is on the group?
-The Consolidation Working group made up of representatives from both counties and their respective workforce boards was created to facilitate discussion items related to the consolidation. Members of this group are as follows:
Pinellas County:
-Dr. Cynthia Johnson, Assistant County Administrator
-Corey McCaster, Economic Development
-Cody Ward, Pinellas County Attorney’s Office
-Stephanie Marchman, GrayRobinson Attorneys
Hillsborough County:
-Ron Barton, Assistant County Administrator
-Ken Jones, Economic Development
-Jonathan Wolf, Economic Development
-Mary Helen Farris, Hillsborough County Attorney’s Office
-Katherine Benson, Hillsborough County Attorney’s Office
CareerSource Pinellas:
-Steve Meier, CEO
CareerSource Tampa Bay:
-Sheila Doyle, interim-CEO
Where can I find the Agenda and Minutes for the Consortium and Advisory Committee?
The meeting packets and minutes for these meetings are available with other board documents for CareerSource Tampa Bay and CareerSource Pinellas in chronological order at this LINK:
How will the Consortium decide on the next CEO for the new entity?
On December 5, 2023, the Consortium approved an Advisory Committee; the Chair and Treasurer of each County’s Local Workforce Development Board will also serve as a resource to the Consortium. These Officers will provide recommendations and guidance to the Consortium, primarily in the Director/CEO recruitment process, structuring Bylaws for the new Regional LWDB (Local Workforce Development Board) and assisting Consortium staff in preparing a recommendation for appointments to the new Regional LWDB’s Board of Directors.
Newland Associates has been appointed to lead the CEO search for the soon-to-be merged Hillsborough/Pinellas CareerSource entities. The Newland Associates Team was introduced, and decisions were made regarding the CEO search and interview process at the February 19, 2024 Advisory Committee meeting.
Consortium Advisory Committee:
As approved by the Consortium at their December 5, 2023, meeting, the Advisory Committee was created and tasked with being a resource to the Consortium by providing guidance and recommendations along several key areas. One area specifically being the recommendation for appointments to the new regional Local Workforce Development Board (LWDB).
Consortium Advisory Committee Members:
-CareerSource Tampa Bay, Chair: Sean Butler, President, Titan Technologies
-CareerSource Tampa Bay, Treasurer: Gary Hartfield, President/CEO, Serenity Village
-CareerSource Pinellas, Chair: Scott Thomas, Regional HR (Human Resources) Manager, ProMedica Senior Care-
-CareerSource Pinellas, Treasurer: Barclay Harless, SVP Market Executive, Valley Bank
This Advisory Committee met for the first time on December 12, 2023. They elected Scott Thomas as the Chairperson of the Committee.
CEO Search
The Advisory Committee is working on the following timeline for in the CEO search. See Tasks, Time Frame and Dates below:
-Created the position ID, sourcing strategy, salary and final timeline, 2 weeks, February 19-26th
-Posted position, sourcing and recruiting of candidates, 3 weeks, February 26-March 18th
-Assessment & in-depth interviews by search firm, 3 weeks, March 18th – April 8th
-Present panel of candidates to Advisory Committee, 1 week, April 8th – April 15th
-Candidate interviews with Selection Committee, 2 weeks, April 15th – April 29th-
-Assist in background & reference checks, 2 weeks, April 29th – May 6th
-Approval of Finalists, assist with offers and negotiation, 2 weeks, May 6th – May 13th
-Sending Conditional Job offers and Rejection letters, 1 week, May 13 – May 20th
Will my contract change for vendors with either CareerSource Pinellas or CareerSource Tampa Bay (Hillsborough)?
The contracts will be carefully reviewed to understand the terms and conditions, including the rights and obligations of both parties, to include but not limited to, payment terms and termination clauses.
After reviewing the contracts, the consolidated entity will communicate with vendors to inform them of the consolidation and potential changes to existing terms and/or conditions.
If possible, contracts may be consolidated if it simplifies the vendor management process, reduces costs, and enhances efficiency.
Contracts may be renewed if they align with the consolidated entity’s strategic objectives.
Contracts will be reviewed for transferability of goods and/or services to the consolidated entity.
Contracting opportunities will be announced through email notification to prospective bidders or by following website this link.
Vendors who have an interest in potential contract opportunities should email [email protected] the following information:
Where can news organizations obtain information regarding the merger?
Reporters with questions regarding the merger can contact the following:
Hillsborough County (Doug Tobin, VP Marketing/PR, [email protected] or 813.397.2054)
Pinellas County (Steven Meier, CEO, [email protected])
CareerSource Hillsborough Pinellas is dedicated to keeping our Tampa Bay residents up-to-date with all of the resources necessary to find their career.
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