Statewide Workforce Leaders Honored as 2025 Shining Stars by Michigan Works! Association
LANSING, Mich. (Sept. 19, 2025) – Sixteen local workforce development leaders were awarded Michigan Works! ‘Shining Star’ awards by the Michigan Works! Association for going above and beyond to help job seekers and employers across the state.
The Shining Star awards celebrate Michigan Works! frontline staff who, through dedication and outstanding contributions to workforce development, personify the Michigan Works! mission.
This year’s statewide honorees include:
Mohibullah “Mo” Israr, New Americans Navigator at Capital Area Michigan Works!
Patty Sudbay, Employment Counselor at Michigan Works! Southeast
Kimberly Schultz, Business Services Assistant at Michigan Works! Northeast Consortium
Kate Stolarski, Business Success Coach within the Business Resource Network at Northwest Michigan Works!
Allegra Hulsey, Manager of Workforce Operations at Michigan Works! Berrien Cass, Van Buren
Kathy Olsen, Quality Assurance Coordinator and Workforce Development Board Liaison with Michigan Works! Southwest
Sarah Micheau, Talent Specialist with Upper Peninsula Michigan Works!
Andrew Middleton, Talent Specialist at Michigan Works! West Central
Amanda Balcom, WIOA Career Coach at West Michigan Works!
Hollie Papist, Youth Specialist at Great Lakes Bay Michigan Works!
Connie Williams, Career Coach at GST Michigan Works!
Robert Shimkoski, Director of Planning and Resource Development at Detroit Employment Solutions Corporation
David Straka is an employment training manager at Oakland County Michigan Works!
Bridgette Harris, Employment Facilitator at Macomb/St. Clair Michigan Works!
Louis Sterling, career specialist at SEMCA Michigan Works! (posthumously)
The awards were presented at the association’s annual conference in Kalamazoo.
