Shernita Taylor is the Workforce Development Manager at Austal USA, serving as the organizational lead for workforce development strategy, labor planning, and skilled trades initiatives supporting advanced manufacturing and shipbuilding operations. She leads the company’s registered apprenticeship and talent pipeline programs. In this role, she works closely with internal stakeholders, workforce partners, and educational institutions to recruit, assess, and prepare talent for long-term careers at Austal.
With more than a decade of experience in workforce development, program design, and partnership engagement, Shernita has built and managed large-scale training and career pathway programs in high-wage, high-demand industries. She previously led the development and expansion of the MAEF Workforce Center, securing grant funding, developing skilled trades pipelines, and supporting youth and young adult learners in earning industry-recognized credentials and employment. She is known for her strategic, employer-driven approach to talent development and her commitment to aligning education with workforce needs to create sustainable career opportunities.