– Bruce England to Retire After Leading SWN for 20 Years –
(Havre de Grace, MD) – August 10, 2022 – Susquehanna Workforce Network (SWN) announced today that Kimberly Justus has been appointed as its new Executive Director. Justus has served 10 years in various roles at SWN and was selected from a large field of candidates after a national search. She will succeed Bruce England, who is retiring after 20 years as Executive Director.
Justus rose from Employment Specialist in 2012 to Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act Operations Manager in February 2020 at the beginning of the pandemic. She led SWN’s switch to telework status and made Harford and Cecil counties one of the first regions in the state to serve jobseekers and businesses with fully remote employment services. During the time that Justus has been with SWN, the organization has provided an average of over 7000 services to job seekers and over 5000 transactions with area businesses each year.
“Kimberly has the vision and experience SWN needs to fulfill its mission and grow,” said Mary Ann Bogarty, President of the SWN Board of Directors. “I expect the organization to flourish under her leadership.” The Susquehanna Workforce Network serves individuals with career planning and training, and helps businesses grow by providing workforce attraction, retention, and development services.
“As SWN’s new Executive Director,” Justus said, “I’ll work to create a smoother process for presenting newly trained job seekers to fill open positions with the businesses in our region. I also want to grow our Youth/Young Adult program to reach more young people in need of help.”
Justus earned her BA in Mathematics with a minor in Economics cum laude from Temple University. She holds certifications as a Certified Workforce Development Professional from the National Association of Workforce Development Professionals and as a Global Career Development Facilitator from the Center for Credentialing and Education.
About Susquehanna Workforce Network
The Susquehanna Workforce Network is a private, nonprofit corporation that oversees, coordinates, and plans workforce development programs and services for businesses and individuals in Harford and Cecil counties in Maryland. SWN Business Services operations help businesses attract, develop, and retain employees. The Susquehanna Workforce Centers assist residents in achieving their career and employment goals. SWN’s Youth Services connect the emerging workforce to entry-level employment opportunities and funds services to specialized populations.
SWN began its search for a new Executive Director in late April when Executive Director Bruce England announced his intention to retire. Bogarty led the Search Committee, which was comprised of SWN’s Executive Committee and Committee Chairs. The committee cast a wide net at the national, regional, and local levels and considered 53 candidates before selecting Kimberly Justus as the best qualified to lead SWN as its new Executive Director. Justus will begin her new role on August 15.
