New Appointments at WORC

Workforce Opportunities and Residency Cayman’s (WORC) welcomes several new Caymanian hires as a part of their management team and a change in senior management.

Effective 3 May 2021, Laura Watler assumed the post of Acting Interim Director. Ms Watler, is on secondment from the Portfolio of the Civil Service. The holder of a Master of Science in Management Information Systems from the University of Surrey, Ms Watler is certified by the International Coach Federation as a Professional Certified Coach (PCC) and she previously led a team of professionally certified coaches in the delivery of several successful leadership development programmes.

Previously, Ms Watler was instrumental in a wide range of public service projects and initiatives that were born out of the COVID-19 environment. During this period, Ms Watler was seconded to Hazard Management Cayman Islands ("HMCI"). She was integrated as the NEOC Operations Liaison Officer, where she worked with almost every department or authority in some capacity during the 100 days it was in operation. Ms Watler was also seconded to SRIU as a part of their Programme Management Office to assist with the Soft Border Reopening Programme and the critical projects of the Quarantine at Residence Programme, which included the Technology, Monitoring and Compliance Teams.

“I welcome and look forward to working with the entire WORC team and especially with the passionate, driven and inspiring recently hired Caymanian women as we continue forward with the vision and mission of WORC in enabling employment for Caymanians whilst equally ensuring economic prosperity for our Islands”, shared Ms Watler.

The Customer Care unit also has a new Head of Customer Care with the recent hire of Ms Marshiene Juman.

Ms Juman is responsible for providing leadership, developing and implementing the Civil Service Customer Pledge DELIVER and related strategic plans to manage and continually improve and deliver outstanding customer care for both internal and external customers.

Ms Juman holds a Master of Business Administration with a focus in Management, International Business and Sustainability and a Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting from the University of South Florida. Her previous post as Front of House Manager at Health City Cayman Islands has provided her with experience in leading and mentoring teams daily. Ms Juman will be responsible for strategically delivering a customer service product as per the Customer Service Charter, a promise to both internal and external stakeholders. Leading the Customer Care Unit, Ms Juman will lead the efforts to continuously improve the processes and outcomes to ensure WORC delivers a quality customer experience.

With the new appointment of a Training & Development Manager, Ms Allison Lovinggood will primarily be responsible for developing, coordinating and delivering quality training programmes to equip staff at all levels effectively. She will offer supervisory and support to Administrative staff to achieve and maintain the required competency levels.

WORC’s National Training & Development unit also added Programme Co-ordinators, Ms Allison Anglin and Ms Sheena Whittaker and Kandie Hurlston-Ruiz. They have the responsibility to provide planning and implementation of programme activities that support specialised Employment Programmes. The Employment Services unit also added to their team, managed by Ms Tania Ebanks, bring the total number of officers and managers who assist Caymanians in finding employment to nine.

Wesley Howell, the Chief Officer in the Ministry of Employment and Border Control, shared his gratitude for the professional Caymanian Ladies who have taken up employment with WORC, “with these appointments, the mission of WORC continues, which is to provide opportunities for Caymanian workers, ensuring that Caymanian owned businesses have the human resources necessary to aid in their success, thereby, strengthening the economy and global competitiveness of the Cayman Islands“.

The leadership and support of Mr Jeremy Scott, the immediate past Interim Director (acting) was invaluable in continuing the transition of WORC. Mr Scott looks forward to resuming his substantive post as Deputy Director of Compliance, leading the effort to enforce the laws.

An open and transparent recruitment exercise for the Director of WORC will be conducted soon.