Each year, the Michigan Works! Association recognizes a staff person from each of the Michigan Works! agencies across the state. These individuals are those who go above and beyond their daily duties to make a difference. This year, the team at Michigan Works! West Central has selected a Talent Specialist who has stepped out of his comfort zone, become a leader among our frontline staff and strengthened his value to the organization.

“From outreach to impact, Andrew consistently delivers excellence to every job seeker who walks in the doors at Michigan Works! West Central,” said Shelly Keene, Michigan Works! West Central Executive Director. “Whether he’s engaging job seekers through weekly emails or helping to organize hiring events, he continually goes above and beyond as a Talent Specialist. His dedication, professionalism and collaborative spirit make him an invaluable asset to our team. I couldn’t be more proud of the positive impact he’s making in our region. Andrew’s passion and commitment truly make him a workforce champion.”

Middleton's calm demeanor and thorough knowledge of our programs and services has made him one of the go-to Talent Specialists for those who have questions. What’s more, he regularly is asking the right questions to managers on behalf of his coworkers to make sure everyone is sharing the same information and able to provide the best services possible to our participants.

It is for these reasons and more, Michigan Works! West Central is proud to select Andrew Middleton as its 2025 Shining Star Award winner! Below are what his coworkers have to say about him. Congratulations Andrew!

“Over the past year, Andrew has consistently gone above and beyond what is asked of him. He has taken initiative in reaching out to individuals by sending weekly emails to every register-to-work client, aiming to engage them and spark interest in the opportunities Michigan Works! has to offer. His dedication to growth is evident in his continuous efforts to improve his skills — attending trainings, asking thoughtful questions and actively learning all the programs available through Michigan Works! West Central. Andrew's commitment, proactive attitude and eagerness to contribute have made him a valuable asset to the team.”

“Andrew has really come out of his shell and has taken on any task that has been given to him. He has done great outreach with our hiring events (all year round) and has been enrolling clients into programs that he is not used to dealing with. He gladly takes on learning new trainings when available. Andrew works well with the Business Services team and communicates well with all staff.”

“Often quiet and reserved, Andrew is a Talent Specialist rockstar! He is great with his clients and regularly completes all his casework on time and correctly. He's been with the organization for four years, and it's clear he enjoys his job! One of his participants was selected as our annual 2024 Impact Award winner, which is a big point of pride for Andrew. As a result of this award, Andrew partnered to lead a presentation to other staff on how to successfully compile and submit better success stories.”

“Andrew consistently goes above and beyond to support workforce development in our communities. Through dedication, innovation and a strong commitment to helping others succeed, Andrew has made a measurable impact — whether it's helping job seekers overcome barriers, building strong employer partnerships or contributing to successful training initiatives. His dedication, passion and leadership truly makes him a shining star in our region.”

“Andrew should definitely be West Central's Shining Star! He cares about discouraged workers and helping them reconnect with training opportunities. He has for the past six months sent 100s of emails to connect with job seekers who were laid off resulting in our agency having a record amount of Dislocated Worker enrollments! In addition, he is always willing to provide constructive feedback when making changes.”

The awards were presented during the Michigan Works! Association’s annual conference in early-September. A total of 16 Shining Star awards were presented at the conference, which was held in Kalamazoo this year.

“The Michigan Works! system is successful because of frontline staff like Andrew and Amanda,” said Michigan Works! Association CEO Ryan Hundt. “They are Shining Stars for going above and beyond to support Michigan job seekers and employers every single day. We are proud to honor them.”