Senate Resolution 4 - Introduced SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 4 BY KRAAYENBRINK , SINCLAIR , ZAUN , JOHNSON , EDLER , SCHULTZ , ROZENBOOM , LOFGREN , KOELKER , ZUMBACH , GARRETT , GREEN , COSTELLO , BROWN , R. SMITH , DAWSON , SHIPLEY , REICHMAN , DRISCOLL , CARLIN , COURNOYER , WHITING , J. TAYLOR , DICKEY , KLIMESH , WHITVER , CHAPMAN , GUTH , SWEENEY , WILLIAMS , DOTZLER , GIDDENS , BOLKCOM , J. SMITH , CELSI , KINNEY , BISIGNANO , T. TAYLOR , BOULTON , JOCHUM , TRONE GARRIOTT , MATHIS , PETERSEN , LYKAM , RAGAN , WAHLS , and QUIRMBACH A Resolution honoring the achievements and 1 contributions of Steve Ovel. 2 WHEREAS, Steve Ovel worked at Kirkwood Community 3 College as the Executive Director of Governmental 4 Relations for 30 years; and 5 WHEREAS, after retiring from Kirkwood in 2013, Mr. 6 Ovel served as the legislative liaison and consultant 7 for the Iowa Association of Community College Trustees 8 until retiring from that position in 2018; and 9 WHEREAS, Mr. Ovel is recognized as the premier Iowa 10 community college expert in economic development and 11 workforce training; and 12 WHEREAS, several of Iowa’s community college 13 workforce programs crucial to the strength of Iowa’s 14 individual colleges were developed while Mr. Ovel 15 served in his capacity at Kirkwood, leading to 16 innumerable positive benefits to those who received 17 training at Iowa community colleges; and 18 WHEREAS, during Mr. Ovel’s tenure as a legislative 19 liaison, he played a key role in bringing focus to 20 -1- LSB 2796XS (4) 89 dg/rn 1/ 3

S.R. 4 workforce education programs at Iowa community colleges 1 by assisting in legislation and developing methods to 2 fund community college workforce development through 3 the use of gaming revenues; and 4 WHEREAS, the Iowa Skilled Worker Job Creation Fund, 5 the Pathways for Career and Employment Program, the 6 Kibbie Skilled Workforce Shortage Tuition Grant, the 7 Adult Basic Education and Adult Literacy Program, the 8 GAP Tuition Assistance Program, the Work-Based Learning 9 Intermediary Network, the Workforce Training and 10 Economic Development Fund, and the Accelerated Career 11 Education Infrastructure Program would not exist as 12 they do today if not for Mr. Ovel’s efforts; and 13 WHEREAS, Mr. Ovel assisted in the development of 14 Iowa law by helping to define a career academy and 15 developing the funding formula used by all 15 of Iowa’s 16 community colleges to equitably distribute state 17 general aid and workforce program funding; and 18 WHEREAS, Mr. Ovel was integral in the redesign of 19 Iowa’s workforce development delivery by ensuring 20 community college boundaries align with state workforce 21 service areas and that community colleges offer 22 training services to unemployed and underemployed 23 individuals across the state; and 24 WHEREAS, Mr. Ovel created a legislative summary each 25 year of all the actions taken during the most recent 26 legislative session in order to provide historical 27 content and information sharing to all Iowa community 28 colleges; and 29 WHEREAS, for Mr. Ovel’s efforts as a legislative 30 -2- LSB 2796XS (4) 89 dg/rn 2/ 3

S.R. 4 liaison, he was named a Pioneer Lawmaker on April 5, 1 2017; and 2 WHEREAS, Mr. Ovel played a unique role in providing 3 training and guidance on how to best implement 4 new programs he assisted in developing across 5 all 15 Iowa community colleges by sharing best 6 practices, supporting local control, and emphasizing 7 uniformity; and 8 WHEREAS, Mr. Ovel served on several community 9 college working groups and became a central point 10 of contact community college staff would turn to 11 for assistance with legislative and workforce 12 programming; and 13 WHEREAS, through this work, the community colleges 14 now have workforce programs that can assist all 15 populations from unemployed individuals seeking the 16 skills to achieve an occupation with a good salary, to 17 college students entering into a high-demand occupation 18 at their local community college, and to companies 19 trying to increase or reskill their workforce; NOW 20 THEREFORE, 21 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE, That the Senate honors 22 Steve Ovel for the numerous programs and legislation he 23 helped develop which have benefited, and will continue 24 to benefit, countless Iowans; and 25 BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That upon passage of this 26 resolution, the Secretary of the Senate shall transmit 27 a copy of this resolution to Steve Ovel. 28 -3- LSB 2796XS (4) 89 dg/rn 3/ 3