Frequently Asked Questions

General Merger Questions

Hillsborough County Questions: merger@careersourcetb.com. Pinellas County Questions: merger@careersourcepinellas.com  . We will update the FAQ as new information becomes available.

On 5/14/24, the Advisory Committee voted unanimously to pause the CEO search until the new Hillsborough Pinellas Workforce Development Board meets.  During that meeting, two candidates selected to move to the Board of Directors for approval removed their names from consideration.

Steve Meier, CEO

Sheila Doyle was appointed interim CEO on May 16, 2024

Read the Press Release

Click on this LINK to read the letter.

Tampa Bay Workforce Alliance, Inc. dba CareerSource Tampa Bay and WorkNet Pinellas, dba CareerSource Pinellas are and have always been separate legal entities. From July 1, 2011, to August 31, 2018, the organizations operated under a shared services arrangement, whereby, certain leadership and other roles were shared between the two organizations. During this time, CareerSource Pinellas was the employer of record. This agreement terminated on September 1, 2018, partially due to an investigation by the U.S. Department of Labor.

Currently, both Workforce Boards are using their active DBAs

-Hillsborough: CareerSource Tampa Bay

-Pinellas: CareerSource Pinellas

-Once the new Board Officially merges the new name of DBA will be CareerSource Hillsborough Pinellas

The Board of County Commissioners for Hillsborough and Pinellas Counties separately elected two Commissioners from each county to be on the Consortium. They are as follows:

  • Hillsborough County Commissioner Gwen Myers (Chair)
  • Hillsborough County Commissioner Joshua Wostal
  • Pinellas County Commissioner Rene Flowers (Vice Chair)
  • Pinellas County Commissioner Chris Latvala

During the December 12, 2023, Consortium meeting, it was decided that Hillsborough County Commissioner Gwen Myers will serve as the Chair, and Pinellas County Commissioner Rene Flowers will serve as the Vice Chair. The Chair and Vice-Chair will serve for one-year terms and must alternate between the county of representation every one-year term.

The meetings are listed as:

  • Hillsborough/Pinellas Workforce Development Consortium
  • Hillsborough/Pinellas Workforce Development Advisory Committee

The Agenda and Minutes can be found here.

The Consolidation Working group made up of representatives from both counties and their respective workforce boards was created to facilitate discussion items related to the consolidation. Members of this group are as follows:

Pinellas County:

  • Dr. Cynthia Johnson, Assistant County Administrator
  • Corey McCaster, Economic Development
  • Cody Ward, Pinellas County Attorney’s Office
  • Stephanie Marchman, GrayRobinson Attorneys

Hillsborough County:

  • Ron Barton, Assistant County Administrator
  • Ken Jones, Economic Development
  • Jonathan Wolf, Economic Development
  • Mary Helen Farris, Hillsborough County Attorney’s Office
  • Katherine Benson, Hillsborough County Attorney’s Office

CareerSource Pinellas:

  • Steve Meier, CEO

CareerSource Tampa Bay:

  • Sheila Doyle, interim-CEO

The meeting packets and minutes for these meetings are available with other board documents for CareerSource Tampa Bay and CareerSource Pinellas in chronological order at this LINK:

On December 5, 2023, the Consortium approved an Advisory Committee; the Chair and Treasurer of each County’s Local Workforce Development Board will also serve as a resource to the Consortium. These Officers will provide recommendations and guidance to the Consortium, primarily in the Director/CEO recruitment process, structuring Bylaws for the new Regional LWDB (Local Workforce Development Board) and assisting Consortium staff in preparing a recommendation for appointments to the new Regional LWDB’s Board of Directors.

Newland Associates has been appointed to lead the CEO search for the soon-to-be merged Hillsborough/Pinellas CareerSource entities. The Newland Associates Team was introduced, and decisions were made regarding the CEO search and interview process at the February 19, 2024 Advisory Committee meeting.

Consortium Advisory Committee:

As approved by the Consortium at their December 5, 2023, meeting, the Advisory Committee was created and tasked with being a resource to the Consortium by providing guidance and recommendations along several key areas. One area specifically being the recommendation for appointments to the new regional Local Workforce Development Board (LWDB).

Consortium Advisory Committee Members:

  • CareerSource Tampa Bay, Chair: Sean Butler, President, Titan Technologies
  • CareerSource Tampa Bay, Treasurer: Gary Hartfield, President/CEO, Serenity Village
  • CareerSource Pinellas, Chair: Scott Thomas, Regional HR (Human Resources) Manager, ProMedica Senior Care-
  • CareerSource Pinellas, Treasurer: Barclay Harless, SVP Market Executive, Valley Bank

This Advisory Committee met for the first time on December 12, 2023. They elected Scott Thomas as the Chairperson of the Committee.

CEO Search

The Advisory Committee is working on the following timeline for in the CEO search. See Tasks, Time Frame and Dates below:

  • Created the position ID, sourcing strategy, salary and final timeline, 2 weeks, February 19-26th
  • Posted position, sourcing and recruiting of candidates, 3 weeks, February 26-March 18th
  • Assessment & in-depth interviews by search firm, 3 weeks, March 18th – April 8th
  • Present panel of candidates to Advisory Committee, 1 week, April 8th – April 15th
  • Candidate interviews with Selection Committee, 2 weeks, April 15th – April 29th-
  • Assist in background & reference checks, 2 weeks, April 29th – May 6th
  • Approval of Finalists, assist with offers and negotiation, 2 weeks, May 6th – May 13th
  • Sending Conditional Job offers and Rejection letters, 1 week, May 13 – May 20th

Vendor Questions

The contracts will be carefully reviewed to understand the terms and conditions, including the rights and obligations of both parties, to include but not limited to, payment terms and termination clauses.

After reviewing the contracts, the consolidated entity will communicate with vendors to inform them of the consolidation and potential changes to existing terms and/or conditions.

If possible, contracts may be consolidated if it simplifies the vendor management process, reduces costs, and enhances efficiency.

Contracts may be renewed if they align with the consolidated entity’s strategic objectives.

Contracts will be reviewed for transferability of goods and/or services to the consolidated entity.

Contracting opportunities will be announced through email notification to prospective bidders or by following website this link.

Vendors who have an interest in potential contract opportunities should email rfp@careersourcetb.com the following information:

  • Company Name and DBA, if applicable
  • Company address, City, State, Zip and Country
  • Company website
  • Federal Employer Tax ID
  • Contract person name, title, email address and phone number
  • Proposed service or good

Media Questions

Reporters with questions regarding the merger can contact the following:

Hillsborough County (Doug Tobin, VP Marketing/PR, tobind@careersourcetb.com or 813.397.2054)

Pinellas County (Steven Meier, CEO,  smeier@careersourcepinellas.com)