WASHINGTON, D.C, January 2, 2025 – Natcast, the purpose-built, non-profit entity designated by the Department of Commerce to operate the National Semiconductor Technology Center (NSTC) established by the CHIPS and Science Act of the U.S. government, today announced 18 inaugural members of the NSTC Workforce Advisory Board (WFAB).
Comprising U.S. leaders focused on growing the semiconductor workforce from the private sector, higher education, workforce development organizations, the Department of Commerce, and other federal agencies, the WFAB will support the efforts of the recently established NSTC Workforce Center of Excellence (WCoE). It will offer critical input on national and regional workforce development strategies to ensure WCoE initiatives are employer-driven and responsive to real-time industry challenges.
“Through the CHIPS for America Program, we’re seeing state-of-the-art fabs and critical expansion projects pop up across the nation. But to fill these fabs and ensure we’re successful in our goals, we need skilled workers on the job, which is why the Department is investing $250 million in the NSTC Workforce Center of Excellence,” said U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo. “These impressive leaders have the experience and track record necessary to advise the WCoE and hold it to the highest standards and will be critical to moving these efforts forward.”
“The NSTC Workforce Advisory Board will play a critical role in supporting the mission and work of the Workforce Center of Excellence,” said Deirdre Hanford, Natcast CEO. “Members of the WFAB will contribute their expertise and insights to inform workforce development strategies and programs, foster domestic workforce development ecosystems that can adapt to the ever-evolving demands of the industry, and ensure the U.S. remains at the forefront of semiconductor innovation.”
Selected from a broad-based pool of more than 300 applicants, inaugural WFAB members include:
- April Arnzen, EVP & Chief People Officer, Micron Technology, and President, Micron Foundation
- Marcia Ballinger, President, Lorain County Community College
- Danielle Mary Eckert, Assistant to the President for Government Affairs, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers
- Maria Flynn, President & CEO, Jobs for the Future
- Robert Geer, VP of Education & Workforce Development, NY CREATES, and Professor of Nanoscale Science, University of Albany, SUNY
- Dr. Azuri L. Gonzalez, Executive Director, Alliance of Hispanic Serving Research Universities
- Dr. Garrett C. Groves, Vice Chancellor, Austin Community College District
- Matt Hicks, Senior Director of Foundries, Test & Advanced Packaging, Northrop Grumman Microelectronics Center
- Surya Iyer, President & COO, Polar Semiconductor
- Jill Larsen, Chief People Officer, Synopsys
- Shari Liss, VP of Global Workforce Development & Initiatives, SEMI
- Vijay Raghunathan, VP of Global Partnerships & Programs and Director of Semiconductor Education, Purdue University
- Pradheepa Raman, Chief People Officer, GlobalFoundries
- Dr. Alyssa Reinhart, Director of Workforce Development, Texas Institute for Electronics
- Kwee Lan Teo, Head of Workforce Development, Samsung Austin Semiconductor
- Sandra Watson, President & CEO, Arizona Commerce Authority
- George Eugene White, Senior Director, Georgia Institute of Technology
- Jared Zerbe, Director of Engineering, Apple Inc.
“We are excited to welcome our inaugural WFAB members,” said John Ratliff, executive director of the NSTC Workforce Center of Excellence. “Each member brings years of relevant experience to the board and will provide an invaluable perspective into the needs of employers, educators, workers, and learners to ensure our programming remains aligned with best practices and industry needs. Their work will contribute to the development of innovative solutions to bolster the nation’s semiconductor workforce and to nurture the next generation of semiconductor talent. We look forward to kicking off our first WFAB meeting in the new year.”
Launched in September 2024 with a $250 million investment from the U.S. Department of Commerce, the WCoE is the dedicated anchor institution that brings together key stakeholders to better understand the nature of and find solutions to the workforce challenges facing the U.S. semiconductor industry. The WCoE’s programs are guided by real-time insights from the entire semiconductor value chain and include input from both the WFAB and NSTC members at large.
To learn more about the NSTC Workforce Center of Excellence, its initial programs, and the WFAB, visit natcast.org/workforce. To learn more about NSTC membership and to join the mission, visit natcast.org/nstcmembership.