A Message from the Director

We are integrity driven

Michigan Works! Southwest is committed to ensuring that our local workforce is trained, educated

and employment ready, and that our local employers are fully equipped with the talent needed to

succeed in the ever-changing economy. The approaches Michigan Works! Southwest utilizes

enable employers, along with employed, unemployed and underemployed workers to work

collaboratively to strengthen the communities where we work and live.

We are innovative problem solvers

As we continue to grow in our partnerships and in the services we provide in employment and training,

throughout the four county area of Branch, Calhoun, Kalamazoo and St. Joseph Counties, we have

strived to strengthen the existing workforce and talent pipeline by engaging the local school systems,

local employers, and education and training institutions to meet local demand.

We are customer focused

Michigan Works! Southwest continues to develop and implement numerous best practices creating

a customer centric system, evident by providing individualized job seeker preparation and customized

employer engagement and services. Customer success strategies were developed by fostering collaborative

partnerships and empowering a compassionate, respectful and knowledgeable team dedicated to the

continuous improvement of the services we offer.

We are collaborators

We want to thank our board members and partners for their commitment and the work they put in every

day to ensure the success of our community members and local employers.

We are dedicated to excellence

Michigan Works! Southwest is honored to be part of these great communities and part of the efforts

to advance Michigan’s economy, as a whole, by continually creating new opportunities for the people of

Southwest Michigan. Michigan Works! Southwest looks forward to a future of collaboration,

innovation and continued success.

Ben Damerow, Director, Michigan Works! Southwest