In her job, Amy Allen talks to a lot of people. Language, in fact, is an important part of her background. “I was a foreign-language major, and I was in international business earlier in my career. I think language is so tied in with culture,” she says.
Communication is critical in her highly visible role, which focuses on building the economic viability of the region. Before being promoted to vice president in 2015, Allen served as the WCA’s managing director for advocacy and international business, during which time she attracted global investment to Westchester and forged partnerships with government leaders and the international business community. She helped the WCA get the project-management role for Jobs Waiting, a federally funded, $9.8 million program designed to train unemployed individuals for key positions in the region’s fastest-growing sectors, including healthcare and life sciences.
“I am proud of the work that I’ve done at WCA.”
In June 2018, Jobs Waiting matched its 300th candidate with a new job and career path. “It has been incredible to watch what that means to these people and their families,” she says. It means a lot for the businesses that employ them, as well. “I am proud of the work that I’ve done at WCA,” Allen adds. “I am able to focus on things that are important to the whole community, like healthcare workforce development and employment, or better access to broadband — things that matter for the business community at large.”
