(El Paso, Texas) Workforce Solutions Upper Rio Grande Board Chair Patricia Villalobos made history this afternoon in Washington, D.C. after she was elected Board Member for the National Association of Workforce Boards (NAWB). She is the first Board Member from Workforce Solutions to ever be elected to serve on the national board.

“I’m honored to be representing our region,” said an emotional Villalobos after the election. “As a native of El Paso and a successful small business owner, serving at this level is very rewarding; I never thought I would be in this position. I look forward to representing our needs, bringing back knowledge and making an impact through innovation and collaboration,” she added.

Mrs. Villalobos was one more than one dozen Board Members from across the United States nominated for three open seats on the NAWB Board of Directors. New Board Members were elected Sunday afternoon during the NAWB’s annual conference being held in our nation's capital. She will serve a three year term.

 “This is an honor for us,” said Workforce Solutions Upper Rio Grande CEO Lorenzo Reyes, Jr., “Mrs. Villalobos will be our voice at the national level, on issues related to education, employment and economic development. NAWB wanted someone representing a growing industry who understands the needs of businesses,” he added.

Chair Villalobos, owner of Barnhart-Taylor, Inc. is a Private Sector Representative on the 25-member Board of Directors for Workforce Solutions Upper Rio Grande. She has served on the Board since 2006 when she was appointed by the Mayor of the City of El Paso and confirmed by the three-member Texas Workforce Commission is Austin. She was elected Chair of the Board in October 2009.

About NAWB:
NAWB supports and promotes the work of its members through a comprehensive program of advocacy, technical assistance, and communications activities. Services are designed to help Board volunteers advance the public-private model among key policy makers, secure the role of the business sector in workforce development, enhance members' capacity and effectiveness, and learn from networking opportunities with the nationwide job training community. NAWB is the only group that advocates solely for Workforce Investment Boards.