Puppolo

The Maui News

Maui County’s Linda Puppolo has been honored as the Workforce Professional of the Year by the National Association of Workforce Development Professionals.

Puppolo, the executive director of Maui County’s Workforce Development Board in the Mayor’s Office of Economic Development, will be recognized at the association’s 38th annual conference on May 16-18 in Las Vegas.

“Linda truly deserves this national honor,” Maui County Mayor Michael Victorino said in a news release Thursday. “She is one of those rare individuals who can turn compassion for others into practical action. We are very proud of her and grateful for her persistent commitment to excellence.”

According to Melissa Robbins, CEO of the association, the award recognizes an influential thought leader and innovator who transforms workforce systems to improve employment opportunities in their communities.

During the COVID-19 pandemic, Puppolo created the Keiki and Kupuna Program that allowed youth to teach seniors how to use their smartphones to file unemployment claims and participate in virtual meetings.

Puppolo also decided to place all partners of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act into a central location at the Maui American Job Center. She grew Maui County’s Eligible Training Provider list from three to 60 and then connected job seekers with employers so residents could develop the skills needed to get back to work.