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Billy Francis

Executive Director, Coconino County Workforce Development Board, Coconino County, Ariz.

About Billy Francis

Billy C. Francis has dedicated his career to serving diverse communities in workforce development. His experiences include serving as Director of Career Pathways at Arkansas Three Rivers Technical College; Corporate Director of Community Development and Placement at Unitech Training Academy; Director of Workforce Development at South Louisiana Community College; Sr. Administrator of Programs and Compliance for the St. Landry Parish Local Workforce Development Board (LWDB 40): and Interim Executive Director for the LWDB 40. In his current role as Executive Director of the Coconino County Workforce Development Board, Mr. Francis provides oversight for the Local Workforce Development Area that serves all of Coconino County. As a forward-thinking leader with a keen sense for strategy, he has successfully worked with local colleges, economic development, and county executives to create innovative opportunities that lead to high wage/high demand opportunities through partnerships and collaboration.  As an executive leader in Coconino County and manager of pathways and job placement at SLCC and Three Rivers, respectively, Mr. Francis has brought great energy and commitment to establishing innovative strategies and successful programs for engaging prospective, new, and continuing students in the college and workforce experience. He has successfully connected and partnered with local school districts, business and industry, chambers, community members, correctional units, and staff to increase high wage/high demand awareness and engagement within their respective communities that promoted clear pathways for participant and employers’ success. He earned a BA in sociology from Ouachita Baptist University and an MBA from the University of Phoenix.