WCAA Director Joins Tomorrow’s Workforce Coalition
WCAA is proud to announce that our Executive Director, Renee Gurganus, has been asked to sit on the Tomorrow's Workforce Coalition. This coalition supports the Freedom to Invest in Tomorrow’s Workforce Act (S. 722 / H.R. 1477).
About Renee Gurganus, Executive Director
After becoming the Executive Director of the WCAA six years ago, Renee began working with the Board of Directors on a new Strategic Plan, as well as rebranding the organization. These accomplishments have led to membership and Industry Partner growth.
Renee is a native of Augusta, Georgia, and now lives in beautiful Wilmington, North Carolina. With over 20 years of leadership experience in the non-profit and for-profit sectors, she brings a wealth of knowledge to the WCAA.
About the Tomorrow’s Workforce Coalition
Tomorrow’s Workforce Coalition is composed of over 500 associations and businesses and is led by the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE) and the Professional Certification Coalition (PCC).
The goal of this coalition is to increase the number of skilled workers across all industries by providing resources for those who want to start new careers that are outside the typical college degree paths.
About the Freedom to Invest in Tomorrow’s Workforce Act
The Freedom to Invest in Tomorrow’s Workforce Act is a bipartisan bill being represented in U.S. Congress by Representatives Rob Wittman (R-Va.) and Abigail Spanberger (D-Va.) in the U.S. House of Representatives and Senators Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and Mike Braun (R-Ind.) in the U.S. Senate.
If passed, this bill will allow workers to use their 529 educational savings to pay for the training and certifications needed in order to become skilled tradespeople, adding value to the American economy while giving them the opportunity to enter a new career field without additional, or any, college degrees.
Why the WCAA Has Chosen to Champion this Bill
Degrees don’t automatically make for successful contributions to our society, nor do degrees always promise employment. The shortage of skilled workers in the United States has provided a unique and lucrative opportunity for those looking to step away from academia in the traditional sense and focus more on experience-based learning and skills certification.
As stated by the ASAE, “The Freedom to Invest in Tomorrow’s Workforce Act would transform 529 accounts from college savings plans into career savings plans...” [Emphasis added.]
The Window Coverings Association of America has a vested interest in doing our part to ensure that more people know about and are able to create wealth for their own families while pursuing much-needed positions in our labor market. WCAA is working with several organizations to promote the opportunities in our industry through work-based learning and apprenticeships.