Scott Jensen: 20 Who Made a Difference in 2020

Scott Jensen: 20 Who Made a Difference in 2020

Generally, being the head of the Department of Labor and Training is not a high profile position.

But, during a pandemic when nearly a fifth of the workforce is nearly instantaneously thrust out of work and you are the head of the agency to try and get them economic support, then your name recognition goes up.

Scott Jensen, the Director of RIDLT was moved up to the forefront when more than 100,000 Rhode Island workers were impacted.

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He overcame an outdated computer system, a lack of staffing to meet the demand, and fast-changing federal laws and regulations.

Did we mention the massive international fraud cartel that raided Rhode Island and other states?

In May, GoLocal reported that the U.S. Secret Service reportedly uncovered a massive fraud ring that hit Rhode Island and at least seven other states, according to multiple reports.

The depth of the impact on Rhode Island is unknown yet. To date, more than 218,000 have filed for unemployment insurance in Rhode Island.

“Investigators from the Secret Service said they had information implicating a well-organized Nigerian fraud ring, and that stolen information such as social security numbers had allowed the network to file claims on behalf of people who in many cases had not lost their jobs,” reported the New York Times.

During the chaos and carnage, Jensen answered every question, worked to create a new technology infrastructure, and most importantly helped people receive their much-needed support.

It wasn’t always pretty, but Jensen made a difference in 2020.