INDIANAPOLIS — Today, October 11, 2022, EmployIndy, Marion County’s Workforce Development Board, has named Marie Mackintosh as its new president and CEO. Effective immediately, Mackintosh succeeds Angela Carr Klitzsch who has led the organization under Mayor Joe Hogsett and his administration since June 2016. Mackintosh joined EmployIndy alongside Carr Klitzsch in June 2016 when she was appointed as the chief operating officer, most recently serving as the organization’s chief strategy officer.

“An Indianapolis native, Marie is keenly aware of the challenges residents face accessing good jobs in a post-pandemic economy with disproportionate opportunity,” said Mayor Hogsett. “She brings deep and valued relationships with key community stakeholders, officials, employers and funders who will pursue thoughtful and equitable workforce solutions for our community.”

Most recently, Mackintosh has led implementation of pivotal investments to improve the local workforce ecosystem, including talent development strategies aimed at addressing systemic barriers for employers and job seekers, including the New Skills Ready Network, Modern Apprenticeship, Talent Bound and Rapid Re-Employment Response. These integrated investments are aimed at ensuring students and job seekers have equitable postsecondary options – informed through career-connected learning – that offer economic mobility through good jobs and good wages, providing a diverse and well-prepared talent pool for Indianapolis employers to grow and thrive.

“I am incredibly proud of innovative solutions that EmployIndy and its partners have created for employers and workers alike during my first six years at EmployIndy,” said Mackintosh, “but our most important work continues to be ensuring a diverse and skilled workforce has equitable access to economic mobility through good jobs.”

In Marion County, the median income of white households is almost twice that of Black households, affirming that all opportunities are not created equal and that a concerted effort must continue to ensure we are building up our communities, households, and residents of color. From July 2021 to June 2022, EmployIndy assisted 50,000 Indianapolis residents, and of those who self-identified, 75% were people of color.

“New EmployIndy initiatives like Choice Employers and Good Wages are helping employers implement hiring and employment practices that will close this opportunity gap as job access, performance, satisfaction, and retention improve,” said Jay Styles, senior director, business partnerships. “Job quality boosts talent attraction in a big way and has currency when filling skilled positions.”

The Good Wages Initiative certifies, celebrates, and showcases Marion County employers that have voluntarily committed to providing full-time employees with a living wage – $18 per hour – and health insurance benefits, and is a recommended hiring and promotions strategy of Business Equity for Indy. Launched just this year, 58 local employers, representing 18 industries and over 23,400 workers are already committed to increasing worker wages by $4.2 million annually.

“As a Good Wages employer with a commitment to diversity, inclusion and belonging, EmployIndy sets the highest equity standards for itself as an employer in our community,” said Aman Brar, EmployIndy board chair. “In her new position, Marie will continue to drive thoughtful and equitable solutions through data- and partner-informed processes that further our goal of increasing racial equity.”

Mackintosh brings over 20 years of relevant experience to this role, having worked immediately prior to EmployIndy in various leadership roles at the Indiana Department of Workforce Development, in marketing at a global manufacturer, and in advising and program development at Butler and Depauw universities, respectively. She holds an MBA from Butler University and a BA from Indiana University, she was named one of Indy’s Best and Brightest in 2017 and has served on committees and boards convened by the U.S. Conference of Mayors, Indy Chamber, Ascend Indiana, Business Equity for Indy, Far Eastside Collective Impact Council, Thomas Gregg Neighborhood School, and IndyFringe.