About Us

The East AlabamaWorks Story

In the fall of 2015, the Alabama Workforce Council undertook a statewide effort to understand the structure, function, organization and perceptions of the Alabama workforce system. The results showed that Alabama is endowed with plentiful state, educational, business support and other service organizations that provide training, placement and informational resources that could better serve business, industry and the public if they were organized in an effective network and unified under a common vision, mission and brand.

This new and unified system resulted from hundreds of hours of input from workforce and educational professionals, industry leadership, families and students. Thousands of Alabamians participated in-person and online in developing the charter for AlabamaWorks.

AlabamaWorks stands for opportunity, innovation, accountability and inclusion with the vision of a better future for Alabama in which communities, business, and industry are supported in a collaborative process to build prosperity through the opportunity of meaningful work and a growing economy. Our mission is to recruit, train, and empower a highly skilled workforce driven by business and industry needs and to be the competitive advantage for Alabama’s economic growth. Whether you’re an employer, a job seeker or a student, AlabamaWorks is the springboard for your success and promises to provide profitability and economic growth by creating opportunities for success and an improved quality of life for Alabamians.

East AlabamaWorks represents a seven-county region covering Calhoun, Cherokee, Clay, Cleburne, Etowah, Randolph and Talladega. We are led by local businesses and industry leaders and are one of seven regional councils in the state of Alabama. The council is a coalition of leaders in business and industry, education providers and trainers, and municipalities. Providing short-term and long-term solutions for closing the skills gaps is one of our most important goals. Council members work together to maximize workforce efforts throughout the region and to ensure alignment of resources to address local priorities. The mission of East AlabamaWorks is to ensure there is a pipeline of a skilled and ready workforce to meet the demands of business both now and in the future.

East AlabamaWorks Mission Statement

We provide every person with the opportunity and motivation to develop and expand their skills to create a quality workforce and enhance economic prosperity.

East AlabamaWorks Vision Statement

People have discovered their potential and have gained skills to participate in a productive and successful workforce which meets the evolving needs of businesses and community.

East AlabamaWorks Values Statement

• Business Driven •
Guided by
• Integrity •
• Effectiveness •
• Inclusiveness •
• Collaboration •
• Commitment •
• Accountability •
• Credibility •
• Forward Thinking •

East AlabamaWorks Strategic Plan

Meet Our Team

Lisa Morales
Lisa MoralesExecutive Director
Carl Brady
Carl BradyWorkforce Program Manager
Abby Howle
Abby HowleModern Manufacturing Project Manager
Kayla Bowman
Kayla BowmanWorkforce Program Coordinator
Todd HurstHurst Construction Company
East AlabamaWorks, Board Chair
Clay County
Jed LockridgeFirst Southern State Bank
East AlabamaWorks, Board Vice Chair
Cherokee County
Craig BurgessB.R. Williams Trucking
East AlabamaWorks, Secretary / Treasurer
Calhoun County
Kelvin WrightBridgewater Interiors
East AlabamaWorks, Immediate Past Chair
Calhoun County
Warren BurbankHonda Manufacturing of Alabama
East AlabamaWorks, Board Member
Talladega County
Steve HildebrantAlabama Power Company (Ret.)
East AlabamaWorks, Board Member
Etowah County
Christy KnowlesCoosa Valley Medical Center
East AlabamaWorks, Board Member
Talladega County
Steven LinesWM Grocery
East AlabamaWorks, Board Member
Randolph County
Tanya Maloney Main Street Alabama
East AlabamaWorks, Board Member
Cleburne County
Steve MarloweAlabama Power Company
East AlabamaWorks, Board Member
Talladega County
Joy PerryCherokee County Chamber of Commerce
East AlabamaWorks, Board Member
Cherokee County
Cotina TerryQuality Beverage
East AlabamaWorks, Board Member
Randolph County
Jimmie Thompson IIICarillon Oaks
East AlabamaWorks, Board Member
Cleburne County
Jocelyn WelchInteva Products
East AlabamaWorks, Board Member
Etowah County

Our Initiatives

  • We monitor the workforce needs of business and industry in the seven county region, then develop/implement practical solutions.
  • Regional job fairs for immediate hiring needs
  • Addressing short term and long term training needs
  • Host Worlds of Work Career Expo
  • Key mechanism in helping to ensure there is an available pipeline of highly trained workers with relevant skills that Alabama companies want and need

Meet our Fiscal Sponsor