Lynne Bansemer

Lynne Bansemer

Greater Seattle Sector Skills Academy, Class of 2016, Economic Opportunities Program

Coordinator - TERO Vocational Training Center, Tulalip Tribes, Seattle, Washington

Lynne has had the good fortune to work for the Tulalip Tribes for 36 years, in which the last 12 have been with the Tribal Employment Rights Office (TERO). While in this department, she was appointed to lead their TERO Vocational Training Center (TVTC).

TVTC, now in its fifth year under TERO, is a Washington State recognized pre-apprentice construction training program, which runs two, 4-month cohorts yearly. Their accreditation comes from both Renton Technical College and Seattle Community College-Georgetown. Under these institutions, they have the opportunity to train Native Americans in construction trades, securing the opportunity to work family wage jobs.

Working with Natives as well as their families, they recognized that if the home place is not stable (e.g., children having trouble in school, personal problems, or childcare), they will work diligently to find resources that can assist the concerns, and in turn allow the parent to find success in the workplace. This is their unique Second Generation program and Whole Family approach. The ability to work with a program that addresses the entire family has been made available to them through a very generous WK Kellogg Foundation grant, as well as continued support from the Tulalip Charitable Foundation.

Lynne Bansemer is a member of the Greater Seattle Sector Skills Academy Class of 2016, one of several Workforce Leadership Academies in localities across North America.

The Workforce Leadership Academies are part of the Economic Opportunity Fellows Network, a network of leadership and fellowship programs run by the Aspen Institute Economic Opportunities Program. Within this Network, EOP connects national and local leaders from across sectors — nonprofit, government, business, philanthropy, academia, and more — to advance policies and practices with the potential to help low- and moderate-income Americans thrive in today’s economy. Learn more at as.pn/eofn.