Ramsey County names Catrice O’Neal director of Ramsey County Workforce Solutions and the executive director of the Workforce Innovation Board
Ramsey County names Catrice O’Neal director of Ramsey County Workforce Solutions and the executive director of the Workforce Innovation Board. O’Neal was selected through a competitive hiring process that began in October.
Workforce Solutions, in partnership with the Workforce Innovation Board of Ramsey County, focuses on strengthening the economic vitality of Ramsey County residents and businesses through the delivery of workforce development programs and services. The department director oversees a budget of $23 million and a team of approximately 80 to provide an array of eligibility-based employment service programs delivered by county staff and community-based partners as well as employer services in alignment with the county’s Community & Economic Development department.
“We are excited to welcome Catrice O’Neal to Ramsey County,” said Deputy County Manager of Economic Growth and Community Investment Kari Collins. “Her proven leadership in workforce development, commitment to equity, and ability to drive innovative solutions will be invaluable as we continue to expand opportunities to create meaningful outcomes for our residents, businesses and communities.”
O’Neal joins the county from the city of Brooklyn Park, where she has served as the Workforce Development program director since 2021. While in this role, she spearheaded transformative workforce development initiatives, including launching a Workforce Development division for Brooklyn Park and Brooklyn Center, increasing revenue from $300,000 to over $1 million, and securing a $500,000 legislative appropriation in 2024. She improved hiring practices to advance equity, directed $300,000 in ARPA funding to expand job training, and partnered with the Brooklyn Bridge Alliance for Youth to connect over 3,000 low-income families to affordable college opportunities.
Prior to this role, O’Neal served as a program manager for BrookLynk, a youth workforce development program at Brooklyn Park. Before joining the city, she served as the director of Out-of-School-Time Programs for the Plymouth Christian Youth Center, and she currently serves as an adjunct professor at the University of St. Thomas.
O’Neal holds an Associate of Science in criminal justice from Minneapolis Community and Technical College, a Bachelor of Science in social work from Saint Catherine University and a Master of Social Work from Augsburg University.
"I am truly excited about the opportunity to join the Workforce Solutions team to continue making a meaningful impact on our local workforce,” said Catrice O’Neal. “I am particularly energized to continue fostering new and existing partnerships and work toward building a more inclusive and equitable workforce across Ramsey County."
O’Neal will start at the county on Jan. 6, 2025.