The Alabama Workforce Council formally presented its latest recommendations to Gov. Robert Bentley today, capping months of work and research aimed at better preparing Alabama's workers and students for a competitive, global economy.

In January 2015, the 40-member advisory council presented its first findings and recommendations to the governor, which included expanding funding for career coaches at public high schools; streamlining the coordination and management of the state's workforce development programs; reviewing the structure of the state's Workforce Investment Boards and Regional Workforce Development Councils; and creating a more data-driven process for measuring the effectiveness of workforce initiatives.

Since then, expanded career coach funding has allowed the state to almost double the number of career coaches - from 36 to 68. State lawmakers also approved the consolidation of the state's workforce development operations into the new Workforce Development Division within the Department of Commerce. They also established an independent governing board for Alabama's community colleges, which is expected to help improve workforce development efforts.

on February 03, 2016 

BIRMINGHAM, AL-(Marketwired - February 03, 2016) - Harbert Management Corporation ("HMC") has announced the promotion of John W. McCullough from Senior Vice President to Executive Vice President, and additionally, he has been elected to the Executive Committee of HMC. He will continue in his roles as General Counsel and Secretary of HMC.

Mr. McCullough joined HMC in 2006 as a Vice President and Associate General Counsel. He was appointed to Senior Vice President and General Counsel effective March 9, 2009 and was elected to serve on the Board of Directors in 2014. Before joining HMC, Mr. McCullough was a partner in the law firm of Balch & Bingham LLP and Associate General Counsel of a publicly traded client of that firm.

Mr. McCullough is active in the community, currently serving as a member of the Board of Directors of the Economic Development Partnership of Alabama, the United Way of Central Alabama and a member of the Board of Trustees of McWane Science Center, a science museum and early learning center in Birmingham, Alabama. Mr. McCullough received a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Washington and Lee University and received a law degree from the Cumberland School of Law of Samford University.