LIMA — Ryan Burgess, director of the Governor’s Office of Workforce Transformation, will give the commencement address to the Rhodes State College Class of 2017.

The college will confer degrees at 2 p.m., May 6, during the its 47th annual commencement in Lima’s Veterans Memorial Civic & Convention Center.

Burgess works with the Governor’s Executive Workforce Board to identify workforce needs of Ohio’s businesses, align training to meet those needs and connect businesses and workers to ensure the development of a skilled and productive workforce in Ohio. Burgess previously served as assistant director of the Ohio Development Services Agency. He managed the day-to-day operations of the economic development agency in its mission to provide transparency and accountability when taxpayer resources are used for economic and community development across the state.

Burgess joined the Ohio Development Services Agency after 20 years at Fifth Third Bank. During his tenure at Fifth Third, he held numerous executive leadership positions within the corporate banking and investment adviser divisions and was appointed to the Ohio Banking Commission by Gov. John R. Kasich. His commitment to community service has included service with a number of nonprofit organizations, including City Year, United Way Young Leadership Group, the College of Wooster Alumni Board, German Village Society and the Columbus Literacy Council.

In addition to Burgess’s address and conferring of degrees, the 2017 outstanding alumni will be recognized during the ceremony.