(WASHINGTON, DC) – Today, Mayor Vincent C. Gray named Allison Gerber as Executive Director of the Workforce Investment Council.

“The Workforce Investment Council has a vital role to play in providing robust and stringent oversight of local job-training programs,” said Mayor Gray. “It must be reinvigorated to provide improved oversight and better outcomes for programs that invest in our workforce. Allison is exceedingly well-qualified to serve as Executive Director of this effort.”

Gerber has national expertise on workforce issues, serving most recently as a Senior Associate for the Workforce Strategies Initiative at the Aspen Institute. Aspen is one of the best-regarded organizations in the country focusing on workforce development. She also served as Staff Counsel & Director of Special Projects at American Community Partnerships and oversaw ACP's Camden, N.J. and Philadelphia, Pa. workforce-development programs focused on creating employment and small business development opportunities for low-income urban residents in the construction, health care and hospitality industries. Gerber's areas of expertise include strategic planning, local coalition building, policy development and technical assistance delivery.

Mayor Gray previously appointed Michael N. Harreld to serve as chair of the council, and Joslyn Williams to serve as vice chair. The first meeting of the Workforce Investment Council will take place on Tuesday, October 11, 2011.

“The private sector is poised to create thousands of jobs in the District and region,” said Harreld. “The work we are about to embark on with Ms. Gerber will help safeguard the city’s investment on job readiness programs and will better position District residents to be competitive in securing those jobs.”

Gerber received her undergraduate degree from Sweet Briar College and a J.D. from Tulane Law School. Ms. Gerber is a Ward 6 resident.