ERC Fellowship
Economic Recovery Corps Fellowship
Leveraging AI and Technology for Learning & Workforce Solutions
Ben Williams
Economic Recovery Corps Fellow
Westmarc Welcomes
Ben Williams serves as the Economic Recovery Corps Fellow hosted by WESTMARC, where his expertise in convening, regional collaboration, and innovation help increase resilience, preparedness, and economic strength for businesses and partners across the West Valley. In this role, Ben is advancing initiatives that foster economic growth through digital transformation in one of the fastest-growing regions in the country.
Ben also serves as the Government Relations Manager for The Connective, Greater Phoenix's smart region consortium - bringing partners together in scalable smart city solutions bridging public, private, and academic sectors. Notable initiatives include the regional broadband task force, annual CONNECTED conference, and ongoing workshops on emerging technologies.
Prior to joining WESTMARC, Ben earned a Master of Public Administration from Arizona State University and participated in the Marvin Andrews Fellowship in Urban Management. He is also the host of the "Come, Unity" podcast, highlighting unique experiences of local residents.
Program Description
The West Valley of Metro Phoenix is one of the fastest growing regions in the nation. The fast growth of companies locating to this region has left many businesses struggling to keep pace with workforce demands. While WESTMARC has a strong coalition of government, business, education, and non-profit organizations working toward a regional solution, a fellow is needed to concentrate on integrating artificial intelligence and technology solutions into our ecosystem.
AI and technology adoption in critical roles offsets workforce shortages and creates opportunities for the development of new training and education pathways within emerging technology occupations. This shift also creates opportunities to upskill our existing workforce into higher wage occupations and improve the efficiency and capacity of our key industries.