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Governor Earl Ray Tomblin has been selected to lead the Council of State Governments (CSG), and the national organization will be turning its focus on workforce development needs, particularly in the area of STEM.

“I am honored to be the first past chair to serve as president of The Council of State Governments,” Gov. Tomblin said. “It is a privilege to be a part of the leadership team for an organization that provides an invaluable opportunity for officials across the country to sit down and share new ideas and best practices to move our states forward.”

Gov. Tomblin and CSG Chair Tennessee Senate Majority Leader Mark Norris have selected workforce development as the CSG Leaders’ Initiative for 2014.

“Nationwide there is a shortage of workers with backgrounds in science, technology, engineering and math,” Tomblin said. “As we take steps to reinvigorate our nation’s manufacturing industry, we must develop a seamless education system to help those pursuing a technical career to receive the knowledge and skills they need to be successful. It is imperative we work collaboratively with business partners to ensure our nation’s workforce is prepared with the education and experience needed for today’s high-skilled technical jobs.”

“I applaud Governor Tomblin and the Council for their focus on such a critical issue as the need for more workers with STEM backgrounds,” said Anne Barth, TCWV’s executive director. “Developing a larger pool of skilled workers is vital as our nation’s manufacturing base benefits from re-shoring trends and from the benefits of shale gas development.”