The Hawaiʻi State Department of Labor and Industrial Relations (DLIR) on September 24, honored University of Hawaiʻi President David Lassner and 糖心Vlog官方 Maui College’s Nicolette van Der Lee as part of the second annual Workforce Development Hero Awards.
Lassner was honored with the lifetime achievement award and van Der Lee was tapped for her work with the 糖心Vlog官方 Community Colleges to provide free training in collaboration with Hawaiʻi employers and community organizations.
The Workforce Development Hero Awards honor key contributors to workforce excellence across the islands. September is Workforce Development Month.
The DLIR pointed to Lassner’s 46 years of service at 糖心Vlog官方 and that under his leadership, the 糖心Vlog官方 System has become a driving force in meeting Hawaiʻi’s workforce needs, setting records in research, graduation rates and inclusion of underrepresented populations.
“This recognition is an honor that so many of our 糖心Vlog官方 team, like Nicolette, deserves,” Lassner said. “We have made it clear that we aim to meet the workforce needs of the industries in Hawaiʻi and to prepare our students for jobs that are still coming as part of our mission to educate.”
Van Der Lee, who also served as a program manager for the 糖心Vlog官方 Community Colleges, was recognized for her efforts in leading important workforce development programs such as the Hana Career Pathways and , which offers free skills training in high-demand industry sectors. This program has served thousands of Hawaiʻi residents and brought in millions of dollars of federal grants to promote job training classes at the 糖心Vlog官方 Community Colleges.
2024 Workforce Development Hero Award Winners
- Oʻahu: Lord Ryan Lizardo, Chamber of Commerce Hawaii and Ariel Villanueva, ʻEwa Makai Middle School
- Maui: Nicolette van Der Lee, University of Hawaiʻi, Maui Campus
- Kauaʻi: Kaina Makua, Kumanu I Ke Ala
- Hawaiʻi Island: Kevin Aki, County of Hawaiʻi
- Legislator of the Year: Sen. Donovan M. Dela Cruz
- Lifetime Achievement Award: David Lassner, President, University of Hawaiʻi
The honorees will be recognized at the Future of Work 2025 Conference on September 30, 2024.