Gerri Fiala, Class of 1967

Gerard “Gerri” F. Fiala, Administrator with the Office of Policy and Research in the Employment and Training Administration in Washington D.C., was born and raised in Mason City. She graduated from Mason City High School and then from NIACC in 1967. Gerri has fond memories of NIACC. “The college was small enough so you felt you were really part of a group,” she said. “You could exchange ideas with people as talented as anyone at any university.” After graduating with an Associate in Arts degree from NIACC, Gerri earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Iowa and a master’s degree in labor and industrial relations from Michigan Sate University.

She has lived in Washington D.C. since 1975, where she “provides policy makers with the best information and options to help them create new programs, changes in programs, and possible legislation.” Gerri guides activities such as the assessment of job training and employment policy options, the development and review of legislative proposals in this area, and design and implementation of the Agency’s research and demonstration program.

Prior to her promotion as Administrator of the Office of Policy and Research, she served as Deputy Administrator. Gerri has also been Director of the Division of Planning, Policy, and Legislation in this office. She operated her own management consulting business for several years in the 1980s, providing a variety of services concerning performance-based training design and evaluation and employability assessment. Gerri’s clients included the National Governors’ Association, Chicago Citywide Colleges, National Commission for Employment Policy, the Georgia Departments of Education and Labor, and the National Alliance of Business.

She was also Vice President of a private management consulting firm which involved corporate marketing, government relations, and project management. She directed many projects, including an evaluation of a nationwide demonstration to provide comprehensive, competency-based training to at-risk youth. Gerri also published several reports and articles in the training and employment area.

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