Amy Desjardins

As Executive Director of the Workforce Development Institute (WDI), Amy Desjardins provides direction and leadership for her team on workforce development grant programs, services, and workforce supports. Before joining WDI, Amy served as Assistant to the President for Internal Operations at the New York State AFL-CIO. She coordinated with Area Labor Federations and Central Labor Councils across the State to strengthen their effectiveness while implementing labor's programmatic goals. From her years working for the NY State labor movement, she has seen firsthand how labor standards can raise workers' pay, benefits, and safety on the job.

Amy joined WDI's Board of Directors and Executive Committee in 2011, where she acted as a liaison for labor to provide strategic coordination of workforce trends and opportunities across the State.

She will continue to guide WDI's work as a trusted partner with labor and collaborate with those in the business community who support high road family-sustaining jobs. Her expertise in addressing emerging workforce challenges and proposing innovative solutions will help bring people out of poverty, back into the workforce, and into the middle class.