NAWB Taps Veteran Leader Bercich to Steer Workforce Through AI Era

WASHINGTON, DC – January 05, 2026 – The National Association of Workforce Boards (NAWB) has appointed Andrew Bercich, a long-serving board member with extensive experience in both public workforce systems and private sector technology, as its new Chief Executive Officer. The move comes at what many describe as a critical inflection point for the American labor market, which is grappling with profound shifts driven by artificial intelligence, persistent skills gaps, and economic uncertainty.

Bercich, whose appointment is effective today, brings a wealth of institutional knowledge to the role, having served for 11 years on the NAWB Board of Directors, including a term as Board Chair. His selection is seen as a strategic move to install a leader with a comprehensive, ground-up understanding of the nation’s complex workforce development ecosystem.

“Andrew’s long-standing commitment to NAWB, combined with his experience across every level of the workforce system, make him uniquely suited to lead the organization forward,” said Al Searles, Chair of NAWB’s Board of Directors, in the official announcement. “His ability to see the system from multiple stakeholder perspectives will strengthen NAWB’s value to members and elevate our voice nationally.”

Bercich steps into the leadership position at a time when workforce boards are under increasing pressure to be conveners of innovation, connecting employers with skilled talent while helping jobseekers navigate a rapidly evolving landscape. His stated mission reflects this urgency.

“I’m deeply honored to step into the role of CEO at NAWB,” Bercich stated. “I’ve seen what’s possible when we align strategy with execution. I’m excited to help elevate NAWB’s standing, strengthen the value we deliver to members, and ensure the workforce system is leading, not following, the changes ahead.”

An Insider with a 360-Degree View

Bercich’s career represents a rare cross-section of the entire workforce development field. His 11-year tenure on the NAWB board provides him with a national policy perspective, but his experience is deeply rooted in local and state-level execution. He has served on multiple local workforce development boards, including Arapahoe/Douglas Works! in Colorado, and was appointed by the governor to the Colorado Workforce Development Council, providing him with firsthand knowledge of the challenges and opportunities at every tier of the system.

This multi-level experience—as a national board member, state-level advisor, and local board participant—gives him a unique vantage point. He has seen how federal policy translates into on-the-ground programs and understands the distinct needs of the employers, educators, and community partners that workforce boards convene. This deep institutional knowledge is expected to be a significant asset as NAWB continues its advocacy for the reauthorization of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA), where the organization is pushing for greater local flexibility and increased support for skills-based hiring initiatives.

His past work as a one-stop operator and a consultant for workforce boards through his firm, SummitWorX Solutions, further rounds out his profile, giving him insight into operational challenges and strategic system design. It is this 360-degree view that supporters believe will enable him to effectively champion the interests of NAWB’s diverse membership.

Confronting a Pivotal Moment in the Workforce

The backdrop for Bercich’s appointment is a labor market in flux. The term “pivotal moment,” used in NAWB’s announcement, is not hyperbole. The U.S. workforce system faces a confluence of powerful disruptors. Recent studies show that nearly 70% of business leaders report a skills gap in their organizations, a problem exacerbated by the accelerating pace of technological change. The World Economic Forum has estimated that half of all employees will require reskilling by 2025 just to keep up with shifts in core job functions.

At the forefront of this disruption is artificial intelligence. Generative AI is projected to automate tasks equivalent to a significant portion of the U.S. labor market, displacing some roles while creating new ones that demand advanced digital and AI fluency. The demand for workers proficient in using AI tools has grown sevenfold in just two years, yet a considerable gap remains between workers' perceived ability and their actual proficiency. This creates an urgent mandate for workforce boards to facilitate rapid upskilling and reskilling at an unprecedented scale.

Compounding these issues are an aging workforce leading to labor shortages in key sectors, persistent economic uncertainty, and systemic barriers like the lack of affordable childcare and housing that prevent many from fully participating in the labor force. NAWB itself has recently published reports on these pressures, including “A System Under Strain,” which detailed the impact of funding uncertainty on local boards.

Bridging Private Sector Innovation and Public Service

Perhaps Bercich’s most compelling qualification for navigating this new era is his extensive private-sector background, particularly his recent experience at the heart of the AI revolution. Before founding his consultancy, Bercich served as the Head of Talent Acquisition for Amazon's Alexa and Artificial General Intelligence (Gen AI) organizations. This role placed him at the forefront of identifying and recruiting the talent needed to build the very technologies that are now reshaping the world of work.

This experience provides him with an intimate understanding of the skills modern employers need and the speed at which those needs change. It positions him to be a credible and effective bridge between the public workforce system and the nation's most innovative companies. His career demonstrates a practical understanding of how to meet hiring needs by partnering with local workforce areas, a core function of the system he now leads.

His leadership arrives as the workforce system is already exploring more agile and responsive training models. Innovations like reimagined apprenticeships, sector-based partnerships, and a national push toward skills-based hiring over degree requirements are gaining traction. Bercich’s background in aligning talent strategy with business execution is expected to help NAWB and its members scale these models and foster new ones, ensuring that public training initiatives produce workers with the in-demand skills that employers like Amazon seek.

A Vision for a Proactive Workforce System

Bercich inherits an organization that has been actively laying the groundwork for change. In late 2024, NAWB began a comprehensive strategic planning process and has been a vocal advocate on Capitol Hill for policies that support a modern workforce. The association has also focused on the impact of AI, releasing analyses to help its members prepare for the technology's integration into the labor market.

Bercich’s vision appears to be one of building on this momentum to create a more proactive and influential workforce system. His goal for the system to be “leading, not following” suggests a shift from a reactive posture—responding to layoffs and economic downturns—to a forward-looking one that anticipates future skills needs and proactively builds the talent pipelines to meet them.

Strengthening the value NAWB delivers to its members will likely involve enhancing professional development, providing cutting-edge data and insights, and fostering powerful partnerships between boards and industry. By leveraging his unique blend of public service, private-sector insight, and consulting expertise, Bercich is positioned to guide the nation's workforce development boards as they work to build a more resilient, skilled, and equitable American workforce capable of thriving amidst the transformative changes ahead.