Maine Senate Confirms New Member to Maine's State Workforce Board

April 13, 2022

For Immediate Release: April 13, 2022

Maine Senate Confirms New Member to Maine's State Workforce Board

AUGUSTA - The Maine Senate confirmed a new nominee to the State Workforce Board (SWB) in a vote held Tuesday morning. The new SWB member, nominated by Governor Janet Mills, is Bruce Noddin of Auburn.

"With yesterday's confirmation vote by the Maine Senate, the State Workforce Board has gained a leader with deep knowledge of the challenges faced by - and the untapped skills of citizens returning to the community after incarceration," said Labor Commissioner Laura Fortman. "I look forward to working with Mr. Noddin and the rest of the Board to continue the important work of connecting employers with a skilled workforce and workers with meaningful career paths."

Bruce Noddin founded the Maine Prisoner Re-Entry Network (MPRN) in 2017. Noddins work has focused on assisting justice-involved individuals reconnect with the workforce. MPRN employs a community by community approach drawing organizations together around the mission of supporting citizens returning from prison & jail. MPRN travels the state, convening monthly community meetings, developing relationships between non-profits, community leaders, faith-based organizations, Department of Corrections, mental health & substance use professionals, County jails, recovery advocates, formerly incarcerated, family, and all interested in assisting returning citizens. This will be Noddins first term on the State Workforce Board.

The State Workforce Board (SWB) is an employer-led board whose purpose is to ensure that Maines workforce development system helps Maine people and businesses compete successfully in the global economy. The SWB advises the Governor on workforce policy and the development and evaluation of the Workforce Development System (WDS), which includes other state agencies such as Department of Education and the Department of Health and Human Services along with the Community College System, University of Maine System, and Maine employers.