Insight from Inside
October 2025 – Representative Brian Burnett has driven past the SkillSource sign on Mission Street many times through the years. Last week he was invited inside to learn exactly how SkillSource serves and impacts communities in North Central Washington as the local workforce development board for the region.
Burnett, newly elected to represent the 12th Legislative District, spent the morning connecting with participants, staff, and partners to learn how SkillSource equips people and businesses with the tools to grow and succeed. The visit reflected what workforce development looks like when it’s not just talked about, but lived — through conversation, curiosity, and shared purpose.
Representative Burnett met 18 year old youth program participant, Sahalee Dykes, who spoke about finding stability and confidence through SkillSource’s Title I Youth and Open Doors programs after experiencing homelessness. Sahalee has gained essential skills through project-based learning, paid work experiences, and received wraparound support like appropriate work attire. She is preparing to register at Wenatchee Valley College to continue her education.
He also heard from Nayeli Cabrera, a first-generation Mexican-American who was determined to break the cycle of generational poverty, received support from SkillSource, Economic Security for All (EcSA) and the Community Reinvestment Project (CRP), which helped her pay off her car and launch her own in-home childcare business — the first in her family to do either.
From the business side, Janet Bravo of Farmers Insurance shared how SkillSource’s Incumbent Worker Training helps her small agency upskill existing employees — a vital advantage when hiring and training costs are steep.
Between stories, Burnett asked questions that cut to the heart of the work: what makes training effective, how barriers are removed, and where systems can better align. He also shared some of his legislative priorities that are directly related to workforce development. His visit ended with a tour of the SkillSource Career and Learning Centers and the region’s only GED testing site, where instructors help learners rebuild confidence alongside credentials.
Before leaving, Burnett took home a copy of the new SkillSource Impact Report and — more importantly — a deeper understanding of how workforce development quietly shapes lives and livelihoods across the region, with success that is measured not only in a quantifiable return on investment, but in lives changed.
“Every conversation today reflected why local connections matter,” said CEO Lisa Romine. “When people come together — from classrooms to businesses to policymakers — we see what real opportunity looks like. We are so grateful to Representative Burnett for taking the time to meet with us, and to learn about the essential role of workforce development in our region.”
