Our Leadership
Paul Kirk, Vice President of Workforce
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Paul Kirk serves as the Vice President of Workforce at Michigan Works! Berrien, Cass, Van Buren, where he leads the services that connect individuals of all ages to education, training, and employment.
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Paul has extensive experience in government relations, team development, grant funding, and strategic planning. With a bachelor's degree from Bethel University, Paul excels in creating partnerships that result in community impact and sustainable funding models. As the CEO of Harbor Shores Consulting Group, LLC since 2009, he has secured millions of dollars in diverse funding and provided executive leadership training to non-profit organizations worldwide. His diverse background includes restructuring organizations, turnaround planning and implementation, championing major grants, creating significant private/public partnerships, resulting in multiple awards for community impact, and operational excellence.
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In addition to his role at Harbor Shores, Paul's career highlights include successful leadership as Chief Program Officer at the Boys and Girls Clubs Alaska, Chief Business Officer Volunteers of America Oregon, and Director of the Jimmy and Rosalynn Carter Work Project at Habitat for Humanity. His commitment to affordable housing and community development has made a significant impact on organizations and communities alike. With core competencies in operations, government relations, and strategic planning, Paul continues to drive positive change and growth.
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Paul enjoys cycling and spending time with his wife Kelly, three daughters and nine grandchildren.
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“The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn.”
- Alvin Toffler
Mark O’Reilly, Director of Business Solutions
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Mark O’Reilly serves as the Director of Business Solutions at Michigan Works! Berrien Cass Van Buren, where he leads a dynamic team that serves local employers, working in partnership to develop workforce solutions that sustain and grow their business operations in the tri-county region. Originally from Belfast, Ireland, Mark joined our organization in February 2017 and has served in a variety of roles in both workforce and economic development, helping to positively impact the communities we serve.
Before relocating to Southwest Michigan, Mark had previously lived in South Korea for 5 years. Mark worked at the University of Suwon as a Business faculty member and led workforce training programs for a variety of multi-nationals including SAP, Samsung and Hyundai.
Mark holds a Masters in Business from the University of Ulster, Ireland and a Bachelors in Marketing from University College Dublin, Ireland. He has experience working across many industries, but his passion for public service led him to focus on a career in economic and workforce development. He has over 10 years experience in the field working across multiple continents.
On a personal level, Mark now resides in SW Michigan with his wife, dog Keano and one year old son. As a family they love to travel, and upon leaving South Korea, Mark and his wife took a 12 month vacation backpacking around SE Asia, touring Europe and living in Ireland. It was an amazing experience and one which they often dream of recreating. In his spare time Mark is often watching his beloved Manchester United and is an avid football (soccer) fan.
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“Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better.”
- Samuel Beckett
Lauren Tizedes, Director of Youth Programs
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​Lauren Tizedes is the Director of Youth Programs at Michigan Works! Berrien, Cass, Van Buren. In this role, she oversees programs and services that offer young adults aged 14-24 access to education, training, and employment opportunities.
She is a dynamic leader with experience in both local and international settings, specializing in program development and implementation, community building, and enhancing resource accessibility. She completed her MBA at Western Michigan University before joining the United States Peace Corps as an Agribusiness Advisor in Uganda. There, she led StartUp Uganda, a national program focused on improving youth education and training and reducing youth unemployment. This experience solidified her direction to improve access and programming for young adults in her own community.
Her commitment to youth workforce development brought her to Kinexus Group, where she served as Manager of Workforce Pathways with Youth Solutions. She now applies her expertise and passion at Michigan Works! where she drives initiatives to inspire youth to pursue their career and education goals.
Lauren enjoys cooking, gardening, and spending time exploring the beautiful state of Michigan. She also enjoys visiting her family on the east side of the state to attend a Tigers or Lions game whenever she has the opportunity.
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"Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do."
- Steve Jobs
Chris Abel, Program Performance Manager
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Chris Abel serves as the Program Performance Manager at Michigan Works! Berrien, Cass, Van Buren, where he ensures all programs meet or exceed funder requirements. When performance issues arise, he develops systems to get programs back on track.
With over 16 years of experience in the Michigan Works! system, Chris has held roles as a Case Manager, Service Center Manager, and Program Performance Manager. He is also a veteran, having served in the US Navy and as a reservist in the US Air National Guard, and has previous experience as a Police Officer.
Chris graduated with honors from Tri-State University (now Trine University) with a 3.97 GPA in Criminal Justice. He plans to pursue a master's degree in business.
As a father of three boys, Chris is an avid traveler, often found on a Caribbean beach, in the Rocky Mountains, or on an Alaskan cruise. He enjoys football, baseball, and coaching youth sports. Recently, he started sailing and hopes to retire in the Caribbean aboard a sailboat.
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"If your actions inspire others to dream more, learn more, do more, and become more, you are a leader."
- John Quincy Adams
Allegra Hulsey, Manager, Workforce Operations
Allegra Hulsey is the Manager of Workforce Operations at Michigan Works! Berrien, Cass, and Van Buren, where she plays a key role in overseeing the Service Center staff and the Talent Team with a focus on delivering exceptional front-line service and obtaining positive outcomes. In this role, Allegra ensures that jobseekers receive personalized and comprehensive assistance, working closely with other teams in the organization to match individuals with services that address their unique needs. Her leadership is instrumental in creating a seamless and responsive experience for all jobseekers, promoting positive engagement and successful outcomes.
With 12 years of Customer Experience (CX) and operational leadership, and a passion for helping others, Allegra brings a wealth of expertise in optimizing service delivery and enhancing client interactions. Her background spans across small business, corporate, and private equity environments. She specializes in process implementation, service excellence, and fostering a strong company culture. Allegra's ability to develop and implement efficient processes has consistently contributed to improved operational performance and customer satisfaction in various sectors.
Allegra is also an avid golfer and enjoys spending time with close friends and family, camping, and traveling the great state of Michigan to find new adventures.
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"You have not lived today until you have done something for someone who can never repay you."
- John Bunyan