Dakota County Government: New Members Join Dakota-Scott Workforce Development Board

Press release from the Dakota County Government:

9/23/2021

The Dakota County Board of Commissioners on Sept. 7 appointed three new members to the Dakota-Scott Workforce Development Board. Jim Sloan will represent the public-labor sector. Heather Felderman will represent the public-rehabilitation section, and Pratip Goswami will represent the private sector.

Sloan is the business representative for the Steamfitters-Pipefitters Local 455. He negotiates contracts and helps coordinate community service events and outreach for apprenticeship and training programs. Sloan has been a member of the Local 455 for 19 years. He earned a two-year degree in automotive repair from Dakota County Technical College and completed the six-year pipefitters apprenticeship training program at Saint Paul College.

Felderman is a rehabilitation area manager for the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development's Vocational Rehabilitation Services in Burnsville and Shakopee. She focuses on expanding programs to increase employment opportunities for people with disabilities. Felderman graduated from St. Cloud State University with a bachelor's degree in psychology and master's degrees in rehabilitation counseling and clinical mental health counseling.

Goswami is a change management specialist with the Patterson Companies in St. Paul. He works with senior human resources leaders to implement human resources systems for all U.S. and Canadian Patterson Companies. Goswami previously worked at Wells Fargo Bank, Target, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota and CHS, Inc. He has a bachelor's degree in hospitality management and a master's degree in business administration.

​The Dakota-Scott Workforce Development Board oversees employment and training programs in Dakota and Scott counties. It is a state leader in developing innovative programs administered through CareerForce locations in Burnsville, Shakopee and West St. Paul.

This press release was produced by the Dakota County Government. The views expressed here are the author’s own.