Skip to main content
ABOUT THE

North Central Workforce Alliance

NCWA is a business-led partnership working to strengthen the workforce and support economic growth in North Central Ohio. We bring together local leaders, industry experts, and community partners to create real, lasting impact across the region.

History of NCWA

The North Central Workforce Alliance (NCWA) was formed in 2015 with support from state funding and the leadership of Executive Director Erv Howard. It was created in response to a clear need for more coordinated, collaborative efforts around workforce development. Since then, NCWA has worked to bring partners together across the region to strengthen the local workforce and support long-term economic growth in North Central Ohio.

How We Operate

NCWA is a business-led partnership that works through a clear and collaborative leadership model.

Our Executive Board helps set the overall direction and keeps things on track by overseeing our action plans. They’re supported by Action Teams that focus on the key priorities in our Strategic Plan. These teams include the right partners to move specific projects forward.

With eight industry-focused Sector Committees—covering areas like Manufacturing, Medical/Bio-tech, IT, and Welding—NCWA brings in hands-on expertise from professionals in the field. Each committee has a representative who reports back to the Executive Board, helping keep our work connected to what’s really happening in the field.

Ask a Question
Become a Member

Business Sectors

AGRICULTURE /
ANIMAL SCIENCE

CONSTRUCTION

HEAVY EQUIPMENT

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

MANUFACTURING

MEDICAL /
BIO-TECH

SERVICE /
RETAIL

WELDING

Our Leadership

The leadership team is dedicated to listening and responding to the workforce development needs of organizations across North Central Ohio.

Karen Alsop
President of NWCA of Ohio

Karen is Director of Human Resources at Centerra Co-op in Ashland, OH.

Dan Moore
Vice President of NWCA of Ohio

Dan is Vice President of Simonson Construction Services in Ashland, Ohio.

Erv Howard
Executive Director, NCWA of Ohio

Erv has experience as a former company president and has worked at State of Ohio Workforce Development, and Consultative Services at Heartland Technical Education Center.

Mindy Scurlock
Secretary, NWCA of Ohio

Mindy is CEO of Brethren Care Village in Ashland, Ohio.

Dennis Miller
Treasurer, NWCA of Ohio

Dennis is an Ashland City Council Member and is the Former Vice-President of Sutton Bank in Ashland, Ohio.

Our Member Network

Meet the executive board and officers of NCWA, explore our list of active members, and choose from four different levels of membership that best represent you and your organization.

Ask a Question
Become a Member

Please fill out the form below or feel free to give us a call at (560) 203-4500.
Please enable JavaScript in your browser to complete this form.
Name