Purpose Is to Develop an Action Plan on Long Island
The Long Island Association (LIA) and Institute for Workforce Advancement have partnered to form the Long Island Workforce Development Roundtable. The roundtable will be co-chaired by Stacey Sikes, acting president and CEO of the Long Island Association, and Phil Rugile, president of the Institute for Workforce Advancement, and is supported by funds from JPMorganChase and The New York Community Trust-Long Island.
Together, the cross-sector group of leaders — including employers, educational institutions, workforce training providers, community-based organizations, organized labor, government, and social services providers — will develop an action plan and pilot a new workforce program that helps strengthen Long Island’s workforce long-term.
The roundtable, which first began meeting in late 2025 and finalized its participants this month, will focus on identifying the highest-in-demand skills that will open career pathways for Long Islanders in various high-growth industries. By equipping individuals with the skills and hands-on experience needed to move directly into well-paying jobs, the roundtable will also help build a workforce that meets the evolving needs of Long Island’s businesses and economy.
Additionally, the research and planning team of James Lima Planning + Development (JLP+D) and the Regional Plan Association (RPA) have been engaging in interviews with various stakeholders, including industry representatives, across the Long Island region to inform the development of the Action Plan. This has allowed the research team to identify potential pilot programs focused on developing specific skills for Long Island’s workforce.
The members are as follows:
- Elizabeth Ajasin, workforce development planner for the Town of Hempstead Department of Occupational Resources
- Sol-Marie Alfonso Jones, the senior program director of The New York Community Trust
- Maria Arianas, the chief workforce development officer of Island Harvest Food Bank
- Leah Arnold, director of Eastern Suffolk BOCES
- John D’Addario, CEO of D’Addario & Company, Inc.
- Peter Dalton, workforce development coordinator of Nassau BOCES
- Rosalie Drago, community economic and workforce development manager of the Haugland Group
- Amy Erickson, interim center director of the Long Island Manufacturing Extension Partnership at Stony Brook
- Liz Gallo, chief executive officer of WhyMaker
- Rebecca Grella, K-12 coordinator of science and technology of the Brentwood Union Free School District
- Robert Kufner, president and CEO of Designatronics Inc.
- Gail Lamberta, associate dean of community development, professor and chair of St Joseph’s University
- Dan Lloyd, founder and president of Minority Millennials
- Chad Marvin, clean energy workforce development manager of the Long Island Clean Energy Hub
- Derek O’Connor, workforce development manager of the Advanced Energy Research and Technology Center at SUNY Stony Brook
- Erica Rechner, director of Opportunities Long Island
- Theresa Regnante, president and CEO of United Way of Long Island
- Brian Sapp, director of external affairs at National Grid
“At JPMorganChase, we’re proud to help power Long Island’s workforce through true partnership,” said Alan Petrilli, Long Island regional manager of J.P. Morgan Commercial Banking. “By supporting workers in gaining the skills for well-paying jobs right here at home, and connecting businesses with top local talent, we’re investing in the region’s collective strength. Together, we’re building an ecosystem where opportunity and success are shared—and where Long Island’s vision for growth becomes a sustained, consistent reality.”
“Through our work with local nonprofits, employers, and community leaders, The New York Community Trust’s Long Island office heard a clear message: our region needs a more coordinated, skills–focused approach to workforce development,” said David M. Okorn, vice president of The New York Community Trust-Long Island. “Launching this Roundtable was a natural response. By centering transferable skills and aligning training with community needs, we can open meaningful career pathways for residents while strengthening Long Island’s economic foundation. We’re grateful to partner with so many committed leaders dedicated to expanding opportunity for all.”
“The LIA is proud to be a part of this data-informed initiative to cultivate a robust workforce talent pipeline for our region’s business community,” Sikes said. “Communication is key, and through the support of JPMorgan Chase and The New York Community Trust-Long Island, the cross-sector input during the Workforce Development Roundtable process will advance an action plan that is focused on results.”
“I am very hopeful that the approach this roundtable has taken to focus on transferable skills, not industry segments, will be a game changer for employability for individuals, and provide expanded hiring options for employers,” Rugile said. “The output from this effort, a training template created through collaboration, will be repeatable and scalable, regardless of industry.”
“Long Island’s economic strength depends on ensuring that opportunity is accessible to everyone who wants to participate in our workforce,” said Cara Longworth, regional director of the Long Island office of Empire State Development. “The Long Island Workforce Development Roundtable brings together leaders across industry, education, and government to better understand the transferable skills employers need and to connect more New Yorkers to good-paying careers. By working collaboratively, we can help open doors for individuals entering or re-entering the workforce while supporting the continued growth of Long Island’s key industries.”
“Long Island has a lot of things going for it – dedicated employers, growing industry sectors, and hardworking residents,” said Moses Gates, vice president for Housing and Neighborhood Planning at RPA. “By identifying and providing the skills needed to access good jobs in multiple industries, we can make sure that Long Island residents have pathways to steady careers, and employers have the workforce they need to be competitive.”
“As the economic landscape changes rapidly with new technology, international and regional competitions, and demographic shifts, it is more important than ever to expand access to opportunities in an equitable and effective way,” said James F. Lima, president of JLP+D. “This effort will leverage the collective wisdom of those who know Long Island best and care deeply about the communities – employers, labor, educational institutions, and nonprofit partners. By combining these localized insights with innovative practices, we can deliver an Action Plan that creates clear, sustainable pathways to high-growth careers for all Long Islanders.”
The timeline for the Workforce Development Roundtable is as follows:
- Fall 2025 — first convening of the LI Workforce Roundtable; initial research with employers and refining roundtable members and database of key transferable skills
- March 2026 — Public kick-off
- Spring 2026 — reconvening the roundtable to develop Action Plan drafts and Action Plan release
- Summer 2026 — pilot program launch