Keidrian Kunkel is a nationally recognized leader in workforce development and serves as the Chief Executive Officer of CareerSource Tampa Bay, the unified workforce development board serving Hillsborough and Pinellas Counties. With more than 15 years of experience in workforce systems, operations, and strategic planning, Kunkel is known for building results-driven teams and launching forward-thinking programs that align talent development with business needs.
Before stepping into her role at CareerSource Tampa Bay, Kunkel served as Senior Director of Operations at Eckerd Connects, where she led multi-state workforce initiatives. Her leadership strengthened operational performance, increased program innovation, and deepened community partnerships. Kunkel’s expertise spans WIOA compliance, youth employment programs, and employer engagement, all of which continue to shape her vision for workforce development in the region.
Kunkel previously spearheaded Louisiana’s largest Summer Youth Work Experience program, forging partnerships with top healthcare systems, universities, and more than 200 employers. She also led successful expansion efforts through competitive procurements that brought new funding and pilot initiatives to underserved communities.
Her work has earned national acclaim, including being named the 2020 Workforce Professional of the Year by the National Association of Workforce Development Professionals (NAWDP) for her outstanding innovation and impact. Additional honors include NAWDP’s 2017 New and Emerging Professional Award and recognition as a 2016 “40 Under 40” honoree by the Charleston Regional Business Journal. Kunkel holds a Bachelor of Arts in English from the College of Charleston and is a certified Global Career Development Facilitator (GCDF). Under her leadership, CareerSource Tampa Bay is positioned to be a national leader in workforce solutions, advancing economic mobility and talent development throughout the Tampa Bay region.