Maryland Department of Labor Announces New Executive Director of the Governor’s Workforce Development Board
The board leads a business-driven workforce system serving Maryland employers and job seekers
BALTIMORE, MD (August 15, 2023) – The Maryland Department of Labor today announced Rachael Stephens Parker as the new Executive Director for the Governor’s Workforce Development Board. Ms. Parker brings more than a decade of experience in workforce development policy and programs at the local, state and national levels.
"Rachael Stephens Parker is a highly skilled leader in state workforce development policy and implementation,” said Maryland Department of Labor Secretary Portia Wu. “Her experience in workforce policy that supports economic dynamism, quality job growth, and accessible learning opportunities for job seekers and employers will make her a tremendous asset to the Moore Administration.”
The Governor's Workforce Development Board is the governor’s chief policy-making body for workforce development and is responsible for developing strategies, policies, and partnerships that support Governor Moore’s vision for a thriving economy that lifts up every Maryland family.
Ms. Parker was most recently the program director of workforce development and economic policy for the bipartisan National Governors Association, where she provided workforce and economic policy guidance to governors and state workforce system leaders. She led projects that assisted states on issues including workforce system governance and strategic planning, work-based learning and apprenticeships, digital skills, and economic mobility. She began her career in workforce development as a manager of career mentorship and employment programs for adults experiencing poverty.
“I have committed my career to advancing economic justice and opportunity,” said Rachael Stephens Parker. “I am especially honored to serve the people of my home state of Maryland in this capacity. Under the leadership of Governor Moore and Secretary Wu, and with strategic collaboration driven through the board and our local partners, Maryland will ensure its workforce development system supports a vibrant economy that leaves no one behind.”
Ms. Parker is an Anne Arundel County native. She holds a master’s degree in public policy from the John F. Kennedy School of Government at Harvard University and a bachelor of arts in economics from Bryn Mawr College.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Jamie Mangrum