Joe Thiry

Joe Thiry has been consistently at the intersection of training, career development, and employer engagement, with experience spanning both public and private sector settings and regional workforce partnerships. 

He brings expertise in connecting industry and government through public-private partnerships, grounding workforce solutions with business priorities, and building capacity for state and local workforce practitioners. Thiry specializes in sector strategies, employer engagement, and scalable workforce initiatives that create mutual benefit for employers, government, and communities. 

Thiry has supported the creation of a sector strategies framework for the U.S. Department of Labor, led employer engagement projects through Job Corps, and worked directly with employers through Apprenticeships for Tech, helping them understand the benefits of apprenticeship and operationalize programs within their organizations.

Prior to joining AIR, Thiry served as business solutions manager for West Michigan Works!, where he managed a team and multiple functional areas, leading workforce initiatives across high-demand industries. His responsibilities included:

• Sector Partnerships: Developed and maintained dedicated partnerships across five high-demand industries, managing over 30 projects annually, including career exploration events.
• Apprenticeship Development: Served as a USDOL apprenticeship intermediary, acting as the “easy button” for employers to implement apprenticeship programs.
• Youth Programs: Engaged employers to create summer youth employment opportunities and career pathways.
• Labor Market Information: Oversaw staff managing labor market data, including the creation of the annual Hot Jobs list in West Michigan.