June 7, 2005

For Immediate Release

Headline: Debbie Petree Leads the ETHRA TennesseeCareerCenter and Families First Team

Debbie Petree has accepted the position of Workforce Development Director for the East Tennessee Human Resource Agency (ETHRA). Ms. Petree will be responsible for the overall management of the Workforce Investment Act Program at the Tennessee Career Centers in the nine counties of Local Workforce Investment Area (LWIA) Four and the Families First Core Services, Transportation and Support in twenty-nine counties.

Gordon Acuff, ETHRA Executive Director, recently announced the appointment and said, “Debbie brings a wealth of experience to the ETHRA Workforce Development program including over ten years of experience in Workforce Development and Welfare-to-Work Programs as well as extensive education including a Masters in Education, Educational Specialist Advanced Degree and nearing completion of her doctorate degree.” Ms. Petree along with her management team of Deb Miller and Sarah Sexton bring over 30 years of experience to ETHRA Workforce Development and have been integral to the many past successes including leading LWIA 4 to number one status in the state the last three years

For more information about ETHRA and the Tennessee Career Centers, please contact ETHRA at (865) 590-1052 ext. 102 or view the websites at www.ethra.org and www.tncareers.org .