Workforce development resources for the citizens and business community of Polk County, Florida

Polk Works is NOT conducting screenings for the Oil Spill Clean-up jobs. For more information about these positions, please visit the Employ Florida Marketplace website by clicking here.

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Annual Breakfast Meeting and
Best Places to Work Awards Ceremony
August 19, 2010
7:30 a.m. - 9:30 a.m.
First Presbyterian Church
175 Lake Hollingsworth Drive
Lakeland, FL 33801

$25 - per person
$250 - Company Table
$1000 - Community Sponsor
$1500 - Title Sponsor
$2500 - Partner Sponsor
$5000 - Corporate Sponsor

RSVP by August 13. Click here to register.

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How to File for Unemployment
Unemployment claims are handled by the State of Florida. To file a claim or check the status of an existing claim, please visit www.fluidnow.com or call toll free at800.204.2418. If you have questions about extended benefits you can call 888.896.0091.


Polk Works
Aces Golf Tournment

Friday, October 1, 2010
at The Club at Eaglebrook
For more information on this event
or to be a sponsor click ACES

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Professional Networking Group
August 10, 2010 
BB&T Bank Building
600 N Broadway Blvd
Bartow, Florida 33830
10:30am to Noon

Register Today

Flyer for Event 

History of Polk Works

    2010    

    2009

  • January 2009 – Polk Works hosts’ is first State of the Workforce Summit in partnership with Mid-Florida Society for Human Resource Managers (Mid-Florida SHRM) at the Lakeland Center with approximately 200 business professionals in attendance.
  • March 2009 – Polk Works receives $4.5 million dollars in American Recovery & Reinvestment Act (ARRA) Funds to fuel the economy, retain and create jobs.
  • March 27, 2009 – Polk Works hosts its’ Fifth Annual ACES Golf Tournament for Workforce Development and Literacy raising over $70,000 in funds. Keiser University took the lead as Title Sponsor. Tournament Chair for 4 consecutive years was Larry Miller of Spherion with co-chair Ed Chambers of United Food & Commercial Workers Union.
  • March 2009 – Polk Works hosts the Southeastern Employment and Training Association (SETA) Conference in Destin Florida. Polk Works President & CEO, Stacy Campbell-Domineck is installed as the 2nd Vice President of the SETA.
  • April 2009 – Polk Works WorkForce 2020 signs Recruiting Agreement with Lakeland Regional Medical Center.
  • April 2009 – Polk County Board of County Commissioners appoints 14 new Board members to the Polk Works Board of Directors to take position in July 2009. The newly appointed members included: James Barnes, International Brotherhood of Boiler Makers – Local 433, Larry Fairchild, Packaging Corporation of America, Tim Jackson, Nujak Construction, Michael LaPan, The Lakeland Center, Robert Lusa, RF Lusa & Sons, Inc., Michael A. Micallef, Jr., Community Southern Bank, Alice Murray, University of South Florida, Joe Oullette, Aldi, Inc., Jane Patton, Haines City Chamber of Commerce, Benny Robles, Bartow Ford, Anthony Rodriguez, The Ledger, Edna Rohland, Brighthouse Networks, Mark Thomas, Blackmon Roberts Group, Inc.
  • May 2009 – Polk Works WorkForce 2020 signs Recruiting Agreement with Polyglass.
  • May 2009 – Polk Works President & CEO, Stacy Campbell-Domineck is reappointed to the Lakeland Utility Commission for an additional 3-year term.
  • May 2009 – Polk Works announces its Summer Youth Employment & Training Program to place 300 young people into jobs for the summer at $8 per hour for up to 30 hours per week for 6 weeks. Polk Works allocated $1.2 million of the ARRA funds to support this initiative.
  • June 2009 – Polk Works graduated its members of Leadership Institute Class I. Graduates include Paula Bohnstedt, Gloria Hatchett, Luz Heredia, Jackie Small, Shela Stewart-Lucas, Nancy Vaughan. The graduating class presented the President & CEO with a check for $27,277.00 raised during the class project. Leadership Institute Class II was announced and the members include: Traci Agius, June Baptiste, Nilda Blanco, Mollie Brown-Ferrier, Candace Burns, Mike Carew, Lynda Crist, Alexis Echeverria, Rhona Garner, Traci Hall, Laurie McDonald, John Quinlisk, Greg Robinson, Mercedes Rubiano, Arlalia Wesley.
  • June 2009 – Spherion Staffing of Lakeland wins contract for Employer of Record for Summer Youth Employment & Training Program. Henkels & McCoy will serve as contracted Service Provider to oversee the program.
  • June 5, 2009 – Polk Works hosts its’ second Corporate Institute to train all of its staff and partners to ensure quality performance over the next program year.

    2008

  • March 2008 – Polk Works WorkForce 2020 signs Recruiting Agreement with Cellynne Corporation.
  • May 2008 – Polk Works President & CEO begins her role as Chair of the Lakeland Chamber Leadership Lakeland Class XXVI.
  • June 2008 – Polk Works WorkForce 2020 signs Recruiting Agreement with Mosaic Company.
  • June 2008 – Polk Works launched its’ first ever State of the Workforce Survey to assess the workforce needs of Polk County Businesses. The survey is set to be completed and distributed at the August Annual Meeting.
  • June 6, 2008 – Polk Works hosts its’ newly created Corporate Institute. This Institute was created and designed to develop and upgrade the skills of the staff and partners of Polk Works and to enhance the quality of services provided by the Workforce System. The faculty of this Institute is charged to monitor each Divisions’ progress over the next year. The Division with the most significant improvement by December 2008 will be allowed to attend the SETA conference in March in Destin, FL.
  • July 2008 –Polk Works launches its first Leadership Class I of the newly created Leadership Institute. Class members include: Steve Thompson, Ed Holcomb, Marsha Leap, Luz Heredia, Shela Stewart-Lucas, Nancy Vaughan, Gloria Hatchett, Paula Bohnstedt, Jackie Small, Joyce Bentley.
  • August 21, 2008 – Polk Works Annual Meeting themed “Extreme Makeover, Polk Works Edition” brings over 320 to the Lake Mirror Center. Lakeland Regional Medical Center’s President *& CEO Jack Stephens receives the Workforce Champion Award for his outstanding leadership and support of Workforce Literacy. Dick Till of Till Office Equipment receives the Polk Works Hammer Award. Polk Works distributes its first State of the Workforce Survey.
  • August 21, 2008 – Polk Works bestows title “Employers of Distinction” to those who have won the Polk Works Best Places to Work Award for three consecutive years. The 2008 Employers of Distinction were: Lakeland Regional Medical Center, Polk County Board of County Commissioners, Bright House Networks, Keith & Schnars, Marriott Vacation Club International, Polk County Clerk of Courts, Winter Haven Hospital and W.S. Badcock Corporation.
  • September 2008 – Polk Works Corporate & Business Services (WorkForce 2020) offices move to a new home in Bartow in the Colonial Bank Building at 600 N. Broadway, Suites A & B on the first floor.
  • November 2008 – Due to a tough economy, Larry Miller, ACES Tournament Chair decides to postpone Polk Works’ Annual ACES Golf Tournament until March 2009.

    2007

  • March 1, 2007 – Success Rally Awards – close to 400 people shows up at the Lakeland Center to see who Polk Works will name as the Best Places to Work in Polk County.
  • April 2007 – Polk Works Full Board approves recommended revisions to its By-Laws. Long time Board Members, Mike Stedem, Neal Branch and Marvin Hammer resign from Polk Works.
  • June 1, 2007 – Polk Works Board staff host the Annual Gateway Conference. Staff partners of the One-Stop centers participate of a full day in-service training to enhance the quality of the services provided.
  • June 2007 – Polk Works President & CEO appointed to the Polk County Citizens Healthcare Oversight Committee.
  • July 1, 2007 – Polk Works Board elects new officers. Phyllis Watson, Chair, completes her term and welcomes new Chair, Rebecca Rodgers.
  • July 1, 2007 – Arbor Education & Training is selected to continue as the Board’s operator of One-Stop Centers and Henkels and McCoy, Inc. for service the Youth program.
  • July 25, 2007 – Polk Works welcomes eight new Board members: Ed Chambers, Irene Dobson, Hector Gonzalez, Marie Horton, Annette Howard, Elka Lopez, Katrina Lunsford and Lori Walsh.
  • July 2007 – Polk Works President & CEO, Stacy Campbell-Domineck selected as a member of Class 1 for Leadership Polk hosted by Polk Vision.
  • August 16, 2007– At the Polk Works traditional Annual Appreciation Breakfast Meeting, a “Deal or No Deal”-themed event, Phyllis Watson receives the Hammer Award for outstanding service to workforce development. Dean Boring receives Workforce Champion Award.
  • August 27, 2007– The Board receives a $260,500 WIN Grant, Workforce Investment Now Project/Employed Worker Training, to promote outcomes such as job retention, earnings gains and career advancement.
  • September 2007 – The Board renews its Workforce Services Plan for two additional years.
  • November 2, 2007– A total success! Polk Works hold its Fourth Annual Aces Golf Tournament raising $101,000 for workforce literacy.
  • December 2007 – Polk Works Board votes to discontinue funding the Citrus Cars Program. Phyllis Watson retires from Lakeland Regional Medical Center and resigns from the Board.
  • December 2007 – Polk Works President & CEO, Stacy Campbell-Domineck travels to Memphis, TN as a member of the Lakeland Economic Development Council’s High Skill Investor Group.

    2006

  • February, 2006 –Polk Works receives Lakeland Chamber’s 2006 Corporate Spirit of Diversity Award at their annual Community luncheon.
  • May, 2006 – Polk Works’ own Stephanie Campbell receives the ‘She Knows Where She's Going’ award by Girl’s Inc. at their annual awards luncheon.
  • May, 2006 – Approximately 1,500 job seekers attend first-ever Polk Works youth job fair at Lakeland Center
  • June, 2006 –Nancy Thompson announces her resignation to become Arbor Education & Training’s Vice President of Florida Operations; Tom Hornack named Interim Director.
  • June, 2006 –Polk County Commissioners declared June 21st as Nancy Thompson Day.
  • July, 2006 – Nancy Thompson resigns for position with Arbor Education & Training, LLC.
  • July 2006 – Polk Works moves it’s Lakeland One-Stop Center to 309 N. Ingraham Ave. facilities.
  • July 1, 2006 – Polk Works celebrates its 10th anniversary.
  • September 11, 2006 – Polk Works welcomes its new Executive Director, Stacy Campbell-Domineck.
  • September 16, 2006 – Polk Works Administration office moves to its new home at 500 East Lake Howard Drive, Winter Haven, FL.
  • October 2006 – Polk Works President & CEO appointed to Early Learning Coalition Board of Directors.
  • October 13, 2006 – Polk Works third Annual Aces Golf Tournament sets a new mark, raising $108,400 for workforce literacy.
  • November 2006 – Polk Works President & CEO, Stacy Campbell-Domineck is elected President of the Mid Florida Society for Human Resource Managers for 2007.
  • December 2006 – Polk Works President & CEO, Stacy Campbell-Domineck travels to Jacksonville as a member of the Lakeland Economic Development Council’s High Skill Investor Group.

    2005

  • December 2005 – Polk Works receives a Verizon grant for workforce literacy.
  • February 2005 - Board members and staff from workforce regions in Tennessee visit Polk Works to research best practices. The second annual Polk County School Board Guidance Counselor training is conducted at the Lakeland One-Stop.
  • April, 2005 – ACS is selected to continue as the Board’s operator of One-Stops and Henkels and McCoy, Inc. wins the bid for services to drop-out youth. Board staff is recognized nationally: Stacy Campbell-Domineck is elected to the Board of SETA and Joyce Bentley to the board of NAWDP.
  • June, 2005 – Polk Works hosts the first meeting of the United Community Alliance Network (U-CAN), a faith based partnership for workforce development.
  • August, 2005 – at the Polk Works annual meeting, a Polk Works Idol-themed event, Larry Miller receives the Hammer Award for outstanding service to workforce development.
  • October, 2005 – the second annual Aces for Workforce Literacy golf tournament raises an unprecedented $105,000!
  • November, 2005 – over 400 people show up at the Lakeland Center to see who Polk Works will name as the Best Places to Work in Polk County.

    2004

  • March 2004 – The Board awards all of its youth services (in and out of school) to Henkels and McCoy, Inc. ACS continues as the Board’s One-Stop Customer Services provider.
  • July 2004 - Chantee Roberts, Citrus Cars recipient was featured on Citrus Cars story aired on Channel 13 News.
  • August 2004 – As hurricanes begin hitting Polk County, the Board receives 5.2 million dollars over the next several months to employ people dislocated by the storms in hurricane recovery jobs. 350 people begin working. At the Polk Works annual meeting featuring ‘Men in the Workforce’ themed event, Carl Strang receives the Hammer Award for outstanding service to workforce development
  • October 2004 – Polk Works holds first Aces for Workforce literacy golf tournament, raising over $78,000 for workforce literacy.
  • November 2004 – Larry Miller, former board chair, is recognized by WFI as a Florida Workforce Development Hero.

    2003

  • January 2003 – The Board receives $330,000 in incentive funds from the state for high performance in the previous program year.
  • April 2003 – Citrus Cars contracts to administer the Working Wheels program in Hillsborough County.
  • May 2003 – Polk Works Executive Director Nancy Thompson is elected President of the Florida Workforce Development Association.
  • July 2003 – Polk Works receives a US Department of Labor competitive grant for $298,000 to improve access and services for residents with disabilities.
  • November 2003 - Polk Works Career CD Rom is released providing employment, labor market and education information that targets high school students.
  • May 2003 - Due to budget cuts, Polk Works downsizes their Bartow and Lake Wales One-Stop Centers to Service Centers for Food Stamp Employment & Training and welfare transition program participants.
  • July 2003 - The second annual state of the workforce report is published on CD Rom as part of the Polk Works annual report.
  • August 2003 -at the Polk Works annual meeting Mike Stedem receives the Hammer Award for outstanding service to workforce development.
  • October 2003 - Polk Works was named one of the top 3 performing regions in the state and honored for maximizing workforce development resources for their Workforce Literacy program. Mike Stedem is also named Workforce Champion by Workforce Florida Inc.
  • November 2003 - Polk Works WorkForce 2020 names their first Best Places to Work employers honoring 8 businesses in Polk County for best workforce practices during the Success Rally. Polk Works WorkForce 2020 also recognized 4 employers during their Workforce Literacy roundtable for hosting on-site GED prep classes.
  • November 2003 - The Board earned over $189,000 in incentive dollars for outstanding performance in rapid re-employment of dislocated and unemployed workers at good wages. Also Polk Works did well in helping former welfare clients not to return to welfare.

    2002

  • January 2002 – The Board takes on comprehensive strategic planning activities. Training is conducted for High School Guidance Counselors related to career issues.
  • April 2002 – The Board adopts the strategic plan and begins developing strategies. The Board selects ACS, State and Local Solutions to continue as its One-Stop Operator. Contracts are awarded to a consortium of local agencies for the operation of comprehensive, year-round youth services.
  • August 2002 – Polk Works declares this “Workforce on Parade Month” and conducts an event nearly every day to improve the community’s understanding of workforce development issues. The first annual “State of the Workforce” report is published and distributed at the Board’s annual meeting and “Academy Awards”. Polk Works is notified that they are once again one of the top performing regions in the state. The first ‘Hammer Award’ is received by Marvin Hammer who was selected as the board member who had given the most outstanding service to the Board during the prior program year.
  • October 2002 – Polk Works is one of three workforce boards in Florida recognized for best practices in workforce development during the annual Florida Summit.
  • November 2002 – Polk Works and WorkForce 2020 host the first annual Literacy Forum to discuss issues with a broad base of community and business leaders.

    2001

  • January 2001 – US Department of Labor regional staff from Atlanta visit Polk’s One-Stop Career Centers. They announce that Polk is the only region they have visited in the Southeast with all required elements in place.
  • March 2001 – The Polk County School Board and Workforce Development Board being hosting a series of three summits to address youth employment and education issues. The Workforce Board enters into a partnership with the Tampa Bay Regional Workforce Boards to develop customized labor market information.
  • April 2001 – The Workforce Development Board awards a contract to Lockheed Martin IMS for three more years of quality customer services.Chair Tom Clark establishes a Social Entrepreneur committee to explore revenue generation opportunities.
  • July 2001 –The Board receives a competitive USDOL Sectoral Planning Grant and begins analyzing employment within the health care industry sector.
  •  August 2001 – At its annual meeting, the Workforce Development Board unveils the new logo and brand name, “Polk Works”. Polk County is recognized as one of the top four performing regions in the State. Lockheed Martin IMS is purchased by ACS, State and Local Solutions. The Board assigns its contracts to the new company.
  • October 2001 – Polk Works Executive Director, Nancy Thompson, is tapped by the state workforce board (WFI) to spend 6 months in Miami providing technical assistance. The Board receives a $354,000 IT training grant from WFI to operate in partnership with Polk Community College.

    2000

  • May 2000 – The Florida Legislature passes the Florida Workforce Innovation Act, which reorganizes State and local Board structure and re-assigns leadership of several Department of Labor functions to local workforce development boards. >
  • June 2000 – The Board completes its three years of One-Stop Career Center implementation. Three full-service and over a dozen satellite locations have been developed and are fully functioning.
  • August 2000 – The Board forms a partnership with the Central Florida Development Council to educate employers about how to recruit and retain quality workers. Known as WorkForce 2020, a series of employer seminars and roundtables begin throughout the county.
  • September 2000 – Workforce Florida, Inc. certifies that the Board is in compliance with all provisions of the new state law and new committees begin to address their assigned tasks.
  • November 2000 – The Board receives two competitive grants from Workforce Florida, Inc.: One to pass on to Polk Community College to train information technology workers and one to Lockheed Martin IMS for the Step-Up Challenge Grant under welfare-to-work.
  • December 2000 – The Board submits to the state a Memorandum of Understanding outlining how they will assume responsibility for former Department of Labor functions for labor exchange, veterans services and other programs.

    1999

  • January 1999 – Florida becomes one of seven states to implement WIA early, on July 1, 1999. As a result, the Board enters into a fast-paced re-organizing and planning phase.
  • July 1999 – The Board has met all requirements under WIA and begins operating under the new law.
  • July 1999 – The Board partners with Lakeland area businesses to develop and submit for funding a program, Skills for Life, to train manufacturing workers. It was subsequently awarded.

    1998

  • March 1998 – The Board approves several contracts designed to achieve a reduction in the rate of teenage pregnancy. They also vote to consolidate all workforce and WAGES services into a single contract.
  • April 1998 – Polk County receives recognition as the Outstanding School-to-Work partnership in the State.
  • May 1998 – The Board awards the consolidated contract for customer services to Lockheed Martin, IMS. The total Board budget is nearly 12 million dollars and over 4 million is awarded to Lockheed.
  • August 1998 – The Board begins operation of its subsidiary corporation, Citrus Cars of Polk County. Designed as a low-income car ownership program, it helps working welfare recipients lease used cars. This is one of only 5 similar programs in the country.
  • September 1998 – The Board selects Lockheed Martin IMS as its One-Stop Operator under the new Workforce Investment Act. The Board also receives a national Welfare-to-Work program allocation to begin serving the hardest to serve of those still on the welfare rolls.
  • October 1998 – The Board selects the Polk County School Board to head up a coalition of community-based agencies engaged in preparing young people for the workplace.
  • November 1998 – Citrus Cars of Polk County issued the first vehicle to Ruby Philpot, single parent & welfare recipient.

    1997

  • February 1997 – The State WAGES Board designates the Polk County Workforce Board as the combined WAGES and Workforce Board for Polk County. Planning begins to take on this new responsibility.
  • April 1997 – The Board selects Lockheed Martin IMS as its primary provider of welfare reform services.The Board’s budget more than doubles to nearly 9 million dollars.
  • October 1997 – One year after it was passed into law, the welfare reform (WAGES) program has decreased welfare caseloads in Polk County by more than 60%.

    1996

  • July 1996 – The Polk County Workforce Development Board officially begins doing business under the Chairmanship of Marvin Hammer. The Board was formed in response to an Executive Order from Governor Lawton Chiles that replaced former Private Industry Councils (PICs) with Workforce Boards. Polk split from a five-county consortium to become a single county region. Leaders agree to operate as a nonprofit corporation and for the Board to be its own administrative entity and fiscal agent. The annual budget is 4.1 million dollars. Henkels and McCoy, Inc. is selected as the Board’s workforce service provider.
  • December 1996 – The Board votes to pursue designation as the county’s WAGES Coalition (Welfare reform board).