St. Paul – The Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) has named two new workforce development leaders: Ama Eli Akakpo as Employment and Training Programs (ETP) Director and Mitzi Hobot as CareerOneStop Director.

Akakpo will oversee the following grantmaking initiatives: State Adult Career Pathways, Youth, Dislocated Worker program, Federal Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) Title I Formula, Senior Community Employment Programs, Federal Demonstration, Federal Rapid Response, Trade Adjustment Assistance, a workforce public private initiative and Capital Improvement projects. Hobot will oversee and direct the CareerOneStop (COS) program, funded by a U.S. Department of Labor grant. CareerOneStop provides a host of tools, information, and guidance on career exploration, education and training resources, and job search help.

"Both Ama and Mitzi have a strong understanding of workforce development and a demonstrated commitment to equity," said DEED Commissioner Matt Varilek. "We continue to hear from partners and employers around the state that workforce is a critical issue. These talented new colleagues will help us move the needle on supporting workers in finding jobs and employers in finding the workforce they need to thrive." 

"Both of these amazing leaders have exceptional work experience and impeccable credentials," said Marc Majors, Deputy Commissioner for Workforce Development. "Ama and Mitzi both have noteworthy commitments to community engagement and collaborative partnership building, and they share the similar goal of creating workforce opportunities so all Minnesotans can thrive in our state's economy."

Prior to joining DEED, Akakpo was the Director of Housing and Support Services with the Minnesota Department of Human Services (DHS). She has served in a variety of leadership roles at DHS for the past 21 years – directing statewide operational and administrative functions for community assistance and self-sufficiency programs, child support, housing stabilization, repatriation of American citizens stranded overseas, refugee student success, substance abuse prevention and other initiatives, and coordinating strategic partnerships at the federal, state and local level. She possesses deep knowledge of grantmaking and organizational development through an equity lens that will be instrumental in advancing ETP's key objectives.

Akakpo is pursuing a doctorate in education and holds a master's degree in international law and a bachelor's degree in public administration from the University of Reims Champagne-Ardenne (France) and the University of Lomé (Togo). She is a 2010 graduate of Minnesota Management and Budget's Emerging Leaders Institute and the recipient of a degree of advanced studies in Leadership and Organizational Development from St. Catherine University in St. Paul.

Hobot has extensive workforce development and public relations experience including 15 years of executive leadership. She has a background in developing career pathways, employer relations, social enterprises and training programs – earning national recognition for innovative workforce programming. She also has a track record of expanding connections by building community relationships, creating industry partnerships and increasing visibility through communications and marketing. Hobot will play a critical role in integrating and building alignment between CareerOneStop and DEED's other workforce development programs.

Hobot earned a master's degree in both Public and Business Administration from Hamline University.