Director's Office

Governor Jay Nixon appointed Julie Gibson, formerly the Director of the Missouri Department of Economic Development's Division of Workforce Development, to serve as acting director of the department.

Gibson, of Jefferson City, served as Director of the Division of Workforce Development since March 2009. Under Gibson's leadership, the Division of Workforce Development has been instrumental in implementing Gov. Nixon's Show-Me Heroes program, which enlists Missouri employers in an effort to give first consideration to military veterans for job openings. Since the Governor launched the program in January 2010, more than 2,800 Missouri employers have taken the Show-Me Heroes pledge, and some 4,200 veterans have been hired by those employers.

Julie Gibson brings a national and state level perspective to her position as Missouri’s Director of the Department of Labor.  Having worked in the Clinton Administration as a special assistant to U.S. Labor Secretary Robert Reich and as Director of Job Development and Training during Governor Mel Carnahan’s administration, Gibson has extensive knowledge of employment and training policy and programs.  Gibson was involved in the early development and implementation of One-Stop Career Centers in Missouri.