LANSING, Mich. — Three Capital Area Michigan Works! team members and volunteers were honored by the Michigan Works! Association at its annual conference in Kalamazoo.

Capital Area Michigan Works! Business Services Team Leader Teri Sand was awarded Michigan’s “Shining Star” Award for her above-and-beyond efforts to support employers in Clinton, Eaton and Ingham counties. Workforce Development Board Member Rey Guzman was named the 2019 Collaborator of the Year for his role as talent development liaison. Workforce Development Board Member and Teach. Talent. Thrive. co-Chair Chris Holman was recognized as the 2019 Volunteer of the Year for his many years of service and leadership.

Teri Sand ( Shown Left in the middle ) has spent the bulk of her career supporting job seekers and employers at CAMW!. Under her leadership, the Business Services Team served 497 unique employers last program year and led the charge to have over $3 million awarded to the region under the Going PRO Talent Fund (formerly known as Skilled Trades Training Fund), which resulted in 3,819 individuals being trained. The Going PRO Talent Fund makes awards to employers to assist in training, developing and retaining current and newly hired employees.

“The ‘Shining Star’ Award recognizes one individual within the Michigan Works! network who truly goes above and beyond,” said Edythe Copeland, CEO of CAMW!. “Teri puts her all into everything she does to strengthen, grow and support our region.

In his role as talent development liaison for the Michigan Department of Labor and Economic Opportunity, Rey Guzman ( Shown Right in the middle ) is responsible for engaging employers and educators to comprehensively address
talent needs focused on mid- and long-term development skill gaps in key industries in each region statewide. Guzman is also a member of the CAMW! Workforce Development Board where he actively engages with private and public sector board members to discuss talent-related topics. His tireless work to bring together diverse parties to enhance the workforce development system in Michigan earned him the Collaborator of the Year recognition.

Chris Holman ( Shown Left with his wife Louise ) is the founder and CEO of Michigan Business Network. For over 40 years, Holman has used his skills as an entrepreneur to successfully start businesses, launch magazines, run companies, serve on community boards and host various talk show programs on both radio and the internet. During much of that time, he has dutifully served the region through his involvement with CAMW!, as a Workforce Development Board Member, chair of the T3: Teach. Talent. Thrive. Career Educational Advisory Council, sponsor and volunteer. In 2018, he was recognized with CAMW!’s Leonard Peters Lifetime Achievement Award. Holman’s recognition as the statewide Volunteer of the Year is the culmination of decades of service to CAMW! and the state of Michigan.

“We are fortunate at CAMW! to be surrounded by team members and board members committed to continually bettering the organization,” said Copeland. “Teri, Rey and Chris are dedicated, hard-working, generous and innovative. We’re thrilled they’re being recognized for all the work they put in to strengthen our community. They each deserve every bit of recognition they’re receiving.”

Capital Area Michigan Works!, a proud partner of the American Job Center network, connects with businesses to develop recruiting and retention strategies and strengthens the local workforce by enhancing education and career opportunities for job seekers.

Learn more at www.camw.org.