Bridget Back, deputy director of Eastern Kentucky Concentrated Employment Program, Inc. (EKCEP), has been elected to a three-year term on the National Association of Workforce Boards (NAWB) board of directors, bringing Eastern Kentucky’s workforce development experience to the organization’s national leadership.
The election gives Eastern Kentucky a voice in the leadership of a national organization that helps shape workforce policy and supports workforce development boards across the country. NAWB works to strengthen the public workforce system through advocacy, education, research, and technical assistance, helping communities expand career opportunities and respond to employers’ workforce needs.
Back brings nearly 17 years of workforce development experience and a rural Appalachian perspective to the role. As EKCEP’s deputy director, she leads workforce strategy and service delivery across 23 Kentucky counties, working with local partners to help residents prepare for sustainable careers and connect employers with the talent they need.
“Eastern Kentucky has valuable experience to contribute to the national conversation about workforce development,” Back said. “I am honored to be elected and look forward to bringing that perspective to the board and supporting NAWB’s work to strengthen local workforce systems, expand access to meaningful careers, and help employers meet their workforce needs.”
Her experience includes aligning workforce services with the needs of communities where access to training and employment can be complicated by geography and limited resources. That work gives her a practical understanding of how national workforce policies translate into local services and how those services can better reach the people and businesses they are intended to support.
Back holds a Master of Business Administration degree, and in 2025, the National Association of Workforce Development Professionals recognized her as Workforce Professional of the Year.
Her election continues EKCEP’s involvement in industry leadership beyond the region. EKCEP Executive Director Becky Miller currently serves on the board of the National Association of Workforce Development Professionals and is Kentucky’s representative on the board of the Southeastern Employment & Training Association.
EKCEP, a nonprofit workforce development agency headquartered in Hazard, Ky., serves the citizens of 23 Appalachian coalfield counties. EKCEP is funded by the federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act, along with various federal and state grants and private donations, and is a proud partner in the American Job Center network. Learn more at ekcep.org.