The Workforce Connection Inc
Donations deductibleThe Workforce Connection Inc's network
36 people23 organisationsi36 people and 23 organisations on this map.The large node is the subject of this page. Solid lines are what the register itself records (36). Violet dotted lines (26) are likely: the same full name sits on the current board of another organisation in the same register and region. Form 990 filings give names without a person identifier; SEC insider filings carry a CIK. It may be a different person.The board
36 listediTime on the board is observed from the annual filings: the IRS files no appointment date, so the bar counts years from the first filing the person appears on - a lower bound, not a filed start date. Names are exactly as filed. The IRS publishes no person identifier, so this edition does not yet link a person across organisations in the tables. The network map shows same-name matches as likely links only, never as confirmed.Time served and departures are observed across annual filings. Observed time served is a lower bound - a member may have joined before the first year on record. The organisation reported 33 voting members of its governing body on its latest Form 990 Part VI; we list 36 in Part VII (Part VII does not always name every voting member).| Name | Role as filed | Since | On the board |
|---|---|---|---|
| Michelle Cassaro Chair | Chair | 2018 | 8 yrs |
| Amanda Stewart Thru 07032024 | Board Member | 2025 | 1 yr |
| Amy Nord | Board Member | 2023 | 3 yrs |
| AMY OTT | Board Member | 2018 | 8 yrs |
| Ben Bernsten | Board Member | 2019 | 7 yrs |
| Casey Schwebke | Board Member | 2023 | 3 yrs |
| Dan Ross | Board Member | 2022 | 4 yrs |
| Dr Brant Hulsebus | Board Member | 2023 | 3 yrs |
| Dr Howard Spearman | Board Member | 2021 | 5 yrs |
| Dr Sheila Hill | Board Member | 2023 | 3 yrs |
| George Gaulrapp | Board Member | 2023 | 3 yrs |
| Greg Harle | Board Member | 2018 | 8 yrs |
| James Pirages | Board Member | 2018 | 8 yrs |
| Jamie Proctor | Board Member | 2023 | 3 yrs |
| Jeff Fahrenwald | Board Member | 2023 | 3 yrs |
| Jeff Zeal | Board Member | 2018 | 8 yrs |
| Jeremy Grayewski | Board Member | 2023 | 3 yrs |
| Karen Brown | Board Member | 2018 | 8 yrs |
| Kathy Crandall | Board Member | 2021 | 5 yrs |
| Kris Machajewski Thru 07302024 | Board Member | 2025 | 1 yr |
| Len Carter | Board Member | 2019 | 7 yrs |
| Mark Krupke Thru 05202025 | Board Member | 2025 | 1 yr |
| Marlena Nelson | Board Member | 2025 | 1 yr |
| Matthew Montalbano | Board Member | 2023 | 3 yrs |
| MAX Salazar | Board Member | 2025 | 1 yr |
| Micheael Dunn | Board Member | 2023 | 3 yrs |
| Pamela Fettes | Board Member | 2018 | 8 yrs |
| Paul Nolle | Secretary/Treasurer | 2025 | 1 yr |
| Robert Guirl (also filed as Bob Guirl) | Board Member | 2018 | 8 yrs |
| Scott Bloomquist | Board Member | 2020 | 6 yrs |
| Suzanne Fischer | Board Member | 2020 | 6 yrs |
| Todd Cagnoni | Board Member | 2018 | 8 yrs |
| Todd Wells | Vice-Chair | 2021 | 5 yrs |
| Tricia Wagner | Board Member | 2025 | 1 yr |
| Troy Primus | Board Member | 2018 | 8 yrs |
| Zachary Rotello | Board Member | 2025 | 1 yr |
Officers and senior leadership
4 listediNamed in Part VII as officers, key employees or highest-compensated staff - not board members, shown for completeness.| Name | Title as filed | On the filings |
|---|---|---|
| Darcy Bucholz | Executive Director (Through 12/15/17) | 2018 |
| Dr Lisa M BLY | Executive Director | since 2018 |
| Dr Lisa M BLY-Jones | Executive Director (Thru 12/31/21) | since 2020 |
| Gina Caronna | Executive Director | since 2022 |
Pay and hours
year to 30 June 2025iFrom Part VII of the Form 990: compensation reported for each officer, director, trustee, key employee and highest-paid staff member, and the average hours a week they report. Most board members are unpaid; a blank means nothing was reported. Pay from related organisations is shown separately.| Name | Title as filed | Hours a week | Pay from the organisation | Related organisations | Other |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Michelle Cassaro | Chair | 1 | $0 | ||
| Todd Wells | Vice-Chair | 0.25 | $0 | ||
| Paul Nolle | Secretary/Treasurer | 0.5 | $0 | ||
| Ben Bernsten | Board Member | 0.25 | $0 | ||
| Scott Bloomquist | Board Member | 0.25 | $0 | ||
| Karen Brown | Board Member | 0.25 | $0 | ||
| Todd Cagnoni | Board Member | 0.25 | $0 | ||
| Len Carter | Board Member | 0.25 | $0 | ||
| Kathy Crandall | Board Member | 0.25 | $0 | ||
| Micheael Dunn | Board Member | 0.25 | $0 | ||
| Jeff Fahrenwald | Board Member | 0.25 | $0 | ||
| Pamela Fettes | Board Member | 0.25 | $0 | ||
| Suzanne Fischer | Board Member | 0.25 | $0 | ||
| George Gaulrapp | Board Member | 0.25 | $0 | ||
| Jeremy Grayewski | Board Member | 0.25 | $0 | ||
| Robert Guirl | Board Member | 0.25 | $0 | ||
| Greg Harle | Board Member | 0.25 | $0 | ||
| Dr Sheila Hill | Board Member | 0.25 | $0 | ||
| Dr Brant Hulsebus | Board Member | 0.25 | $0 | ||
| Mark Krupke Thru 05202025 | Board Member | 0.25 | $0 | ||
| Kris Machajewski Thru 07302024 | Board Member | 0.25 | $0 | ||
| Matthew Montalbano | Board Member | 0.25 | $0 | ||
| Marlena Nelson | Board Member | 0.25 | $0 | ||
| Amy Nord | Board Member | 0.25 | $0 | ||
| Amy Ott | Board Member | 0.25 | $0 | ||
| James Pirages | Board Member | 0.25 | $0 | ||
| Troy Primus | Board Member | 0.25 | $0 | ||
| Jamie Proctor | Board Member | 0.25 | $0 | ||
| Dan Ross | Board Member | 0.25 | $0 | ||
| Zachary Rotello | Board Member | 0.25 | $0 | ||
| Max Salazar | Board Member | 0.25 | $0 | ||
| Casey Schwebke | Board Member | 0.25 | $0 | ||
| Dr Howard Spearman | Board Member | 0.25 | $0 | ||
| Tricia Wagner | Board Member | 0.25 | $0 | ||
| Amanda Stewart Thru 07032024 | Board Member | 0.25 | $0 | ||
| Jeff Zeal | Board Member | 0.25 | $0 | ||
| Gina Caronna | Executive Director | 40 | $0 |
No pay was reported for anyone in Part VII on this return.
About
- Legal name
- The Workforce Connection Inc
- EIN
- 320010994
- Address
- 303 N Main St Ste 200, Rockford, IL, 61101-1025
- State
- Illinois
- Mission
- The mission of the workforce connection board is to create a competitive, skilled and educated workforce by providing a system for individuals to gain meaningful employment responsive to the needs of business. (as filed on the Form 990)
- Activity (NTEE)
- J20 Employment
- IRS classification
- 501(c)03 (tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) where shown)
- Classified purpose
- Employment
- Size band
- 6 (IRS master file code)
- Formed
- 2002
- Principal officer
- Michelle Cassaro (as named on the Form 990)
- IRS ruling date
- 1 July 2002
- Status
- Code 01 (unconditional exemption)
- Form 990 filings on record
- 8, latest 2025
- IRS Publication 78
- PC (contributions deductible)
Most connected
Longest observed on the filings
≥8years on the filingsMichelle Cassaro
≥8years on the filingsAMY OTT
≥8years on the filingsGreg Harle
≥8years on the filingsJames Pirages
Latest return
year to 30 June 2025iFigures from the newest Form 990 or 990-EZ in the IRS e-file releases of 2025 and 2026, for the year ending 30 June 2025. US dollars, as filed.- Total assets
- $1.5m
- Total liabilities
- $1.5m
- Net assets or fund balances
- $74k
- Contributions and grants received
- $2.7m
- Program service revenue
- $19k
- Grants and similar paid out
- $2.4m
- Employees
- 0
- Volunteers
- 36
Filed finances
1 yeariTotals as filed on the IRS Form 990 (revenue and expenses), by tax year.| Tax year | Total revenue | Total expenses | Surplus or deficit |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | $214k | $214k | $201 |
As filed on the IRS Form 990. US dollars.
Grants paid
5 listediFrom Schedule I of the Form 990: grants and assistance to organisations in the United States, largest first (up to 25). Schedule I is filed only by organisations that gave more than $5,000 to any one recipient.| Recipient | Purpose | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Aar Aircraft Services Rockford | The grant was awarded to provide assistance with funding for the job training project. | $743k |
| Zion West Enterprise NFP | The grant was awarded to provide assistance with funding for the job training project. | $587k |
| Goodwill of Northern Illinois and Wisconsin Stateline Area Inc | The grant was awarded to provide assistance with funding for the job training project. | $554k |
| Awaken Foundation | The grant was awarded to provide assistance with funding for the job training project. | $475k |
| Rock Valley College | The grant was awarded to provide assistance with funding for the job training project. | $90k |