MACNY, The Manufacturers Association, has added COLLEEN BLAGG as manager of apprenticeship & workforce development. In this role, she will work on an array of grants to expand registered apprenticeship programs throughout New York State. Blagg will utilize her vast knowledge and experience working with underrepresented populations, especially youth, to assist with MACNY’s Youth Pre-Apprenticeship Program. Blagg is an accomplished workforce-development professional with more than 12 years of experience. Prior to joining MACNY, she was the youth-workforce manager at CNY Works, where she managed youth-workforce services, instituted a work-readiness curriculum, and implemented several projects in partnership with other local organizations. Earlier in her career, Blagg also worked for Patriot Enterprises/AFSC as a career-readiness counselor, Northwestern Workforce Development Board as a youth training & employment specialist, and Workforce Alliance as a career consultant. Blagg holds a bachelor’s degree in international affairs from Florida State University.

Research & Marketing Strategies, Inc. (RMS) announced the recent promotion of MICHAEL WALLS to patient survey operations quality specialist. As an integral member of the RMS survey operations team, Walls’ primary responsibility is to ensure the quality of work being distributed from RMS. His growth of professional scope and his record for excellence makes this advancement a natural move for both Walls and RMS, the company said. Walls is responsible for maintaining strict quality adherence to Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) guidelines in preparation and management of survey mailing operations, managing data entry, and conducting survey distribution and data collection. In addition, his duties include assisting with client onboarding, addressing existing client needs, as well as conducting sampling for various Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS) lines of business while strictly adhering to all project planning deadlines and CMS mandated sampling protocol.