Synopsis
The official podcast of the San Diego Metro Career Centers. Discover workforce topics, trends and tips you need to know on the go.
Episodes
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E89: Voices from the Forum: Conversations with Van Freeman, Sharon Bonney and Matt Weis
08/05/2026 Duration: 42minRecorded live at the 2026 NAWB Forum, this episode features conversations with Van Freeman of STRIVE, Sharon Bonney, CEO of the Coalition on Adult Basic Education (COABE), and Matt Weis, workforce and education leader focused on career pathways and talent development. Together, they explore the future of workforce education, adult learning, and innovative approaches to building stronger pathways to opportunity.
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E88: Voices from the Forum: Conversations with Darrell Andrews and Karla Coleman
08/05/2026 Duration: 23minRecorded live at the 2026 NAWB Forum, this episode features conversations with Darrell Andrews (Coach D), nationally recognized workforce development speaker and founder of Darrell Andrews LLC, and Karla Coleman, workforce development leader and advocate for community impact. Together, they discuss leadership, opportunity, and innovative strategies for empowering individuals and strengthening the future workforce.
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E87: Voices from the Forum: Conversations with Denise Reading, Anthony Murphy and Anthony Gagliano
08/05/2026 Duration: 36minRecorded live at the 2026 NAWB Forum, this episode features conversations with Anthony Murphy, CEO of Lead The Way, Anthony Gagliano, Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of CareerSource Suncoast, and Denise Reading, CEO of Future Plans. Together, they discuss leadership, workforce innovation, and the partnerships helping shape stronger career pathways and communities across the country.
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E86: Voices from the Forum: Conversations with Brent Balog and Thurman Roberts
08/05/2026 Duration: 31minRecorded live at the 2026 NAWB Forum, this episode features conversations with Brent Balog, Interim Executive Director of Clackamas Workforce Partnership, and Thurman Roberts, Tribal Career Navigator at Nevadaworks. Together, they share insights on workforce development, community partnerships, and the innovative ideas shaping the future of workforce systems across the country.
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E85: Getting to Know KRA: Turning Numbers into Impact: The Power of Data
15/04/2026 Duration: 22minIn this Getting to Know KRA episode of The Hub, we sit down with Kevin Mayo, Corporate Data Analyst at KRA Corporation, to explore the critical role data plays in driving performance, accountability, and impact across workforce programs. Drawing on his background in the U.S. Air Force and logistics management, Kevin shares how data integrity, strong team culture, and proactive quality assurance help transform numbers into meaningful insights that guide decision-making at every level. From connecting daily activities to big-picture goals to balancing compliance with client-centered service, this conversation highlights how managing for results isn't just about metrics—it's about telling a credible story of impact in the communities we serve.
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E84: Navigating Workforce Transformation: A Conversation with Ron Painter
03/04/2026 Duration: 23minRecorded live at the 2026 NAWB Forum in Las Vegas, this episode features a dynamic conversation with Ron Painter, former CEO of the National Association of Workforce Boards and current principal at Forbes Field Associates. Together, we explore what it takes to lead in today's rapidly evolving workforce landscape—from navigating policy shifts and leveraging data, to building agile, collaborative organizations that can respond to constant change. Ron shares insights on the importance of vision, the realities of labor force trends, and how leaders can stay relevant in the face of disruption, including automation and AI. Whether you're a workforce professional, policymaker, or organizational leader, this conversation offers practical wisdom and big-picture perspective on shaping the future of work.
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E83: Ignite, Innovate, Impact: Lessons from Las Vegas Workforce Leadership
17/03/2026 Duration: 30minIn this episode of KRA's The Hub, host Jonathan Overall sits down with Jaime Cruz, Executive Director of Workforce Connections in Southern Nevada, to discuss how Las Vegas is transforming its workforce system to meet a rapidly evolving economy. Jaime shares his journey from hospitality to workforce leadership and highlights how a demand-driven approach, strong business engagement, and innovative partnerships are building talent across key industries. As NAWB's 2026 Forum heads to Las Vegas, this conversation offers a preview of what's ahead and what it takes to ignite innovation and drive real workforce impact.
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E82: Getting to Know KRA: Strengthening Workforce Systems Through Consulting
17/03/2026 Duration: 25minIn this Getting to Know KRA episode, we turn the tables and interview KRA's The Hub host Jonathan Overall, Director of Communications and Innovation at KRA, to explore the organization's expanding work in consulting. Jonathan shares how KRA is building on its deep experience in workforce services to help agencies, boards, and nonprofits navigate complexity, strengthen performance, and translate policy into practice. The conversation highlights KRA's relationship-driven, solution-focused approach—grounded in listening, collaboration, and implementation—and offers insight into when organizations should seek consulting support, what success truly looks like, and how KRA is preparing partners for the future through data, AI, and strategic innovation.
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E81: Leading Workforce Boards into the Future: A Conversation with NAWB CEO Andrew Bercich
05/03/2026 Duration: 27minTune in for a conversation with Andrew Bercich, Chief Executive Officer of the National Association of Workforce Boards (NAWB), as he shares his vision for the future of the workforce system and the leadership needed to navigate a rapidly changing economy. Drawing on more than two decades of experience in talent operations with companies like Amazon and IBM, Andrew discusses how workforce boards can adapt to accelerating technological change, including the growing impact of artificial intelligence on jobs and skills. He also reflects on stepping into his new national leadership role, the priorities shaping NAWB's next chapter, and how workforce leaders can build more responsive, innovative systems that support both employers and job seekers in the years ahead.
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E80: Getting to Know KRA: Knowlton Atterbeary, President & CEO, on 45 Years of Leadership, Mission, and Impact
17/02/2026 Duration: 25minIn this special episode of Getting to Know KRA, we sit down with Mr. Knowlton Atterbeary, Founder, President, and CEO of KRA, to celebrate the organization's 45th anniversary and reflect on the vision that launched KRA in 1981. Hosted by Jonathan Overall, the conversation explores Mr. Atterbeary's early inspiration to strengthen disadvantaged communities through workforce development, the core values that have guided KRA through decades of economic change, and the leadership lessons learned through growth and national expansion. Mr. Atterbeary also shares defining milestones, including national recognition from NAWDP, and offers a forward-looking perspective on how KRA is positioned to lead through today's evolving workforce challenges—from technology and labor shortages to long-term economic mobility and resilience.
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E79: Getting to Know KRA: Zaskia Ruiz on Operational Leadership and Organizational Excellence
21/01/2026 Duration: 27minIn this episode of Getting to Know KRA, we sit down with Zaskia Ruiz, Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer, for a behind-the-scenes look at how KRA's operations support its mission and nationwide impact. Hosted by Jonathan Overall, the conversation explores operational strategy, fiscal oversight, compliance, and internal systems that ensure programs run effectively across diverse regions. Zaskia shares insights on leading through complexity, strengthening organizational infrastructure, and aligning people, processes, and resources to support workforce programs that serve communities with integrity and accountability.
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E78: Work With Dignity: Designing Pathways That Matter
13/01/2026 Duration: 28minIn this episode, we're joined by Jermaine Donaldson, Director of Business Development for Genesys Works, to explore how human-centered leadership and intentional workforce design can turn access into real opportunity—and jobs into sustainable careers. The conversation examines the critical role employers play in building equitable talent pipelines, the importance of meeting young people where they are, and how thoughtful partnerships can create long-term career mobility. Tune in to gain insight into how people-first strategies, strong employer engagement, and intentional program design can drive meaningful outcomes for both individuals and the workforce ecosystem.
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E77: Turning Uncertainty into Opportunity: Employer Solutions from the Front Lines
06/01/2026 Duration: 22minRecorded live at the 2025 Raising the Bar Conference, this episode features Fahim Karim, Manager of Business Services for Employ Prince George's, sharing insights on how effective employer engagement drives stronger workforce outcomes. Fahim discusses how his team supports businesses through economic uncertainty, responds to federal workforce disruptions, and helps employers recognize transferable skills and emerging talent. Listeners will also learn how Prince George's County is approaching recruitment, business partnerships, and the practical integration of AI to improve efficiency and growth. This conversation highlights how listening, collaboration, and innovation can turn workforce challenges into real opportunity.
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E76: Getting to Know KRA: Reena Singh on Building a Client-Centered Workforce System
16/12/2025 Duration: 21minIn this episode of Getting to Know KRA, we sit down with Reena Singh, Program Director for KRA's Northern Nevada region, to take a closer look at the role of one-stop operations in delivering a seamless, client-centered workforce experience. Hosted by Jonathan Overall, the conversation explores how EmployeeNV Career Hubs coordinate partners, community resources, and referral systems to meet individuals where they are and support meaningful job placement and career growth. Reena shares insights on serving a rapidly evolving regional economy, strengthening customer experience, and using continuous quality improvement to drive impact across Northern Nevada.
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E75: Raising the Bar 2025: How Maryland's Workforce System Responds, Adapts, and Leads
09/12/2025 Duration: 17minIn this episode, we're joined by Kirkland Murray, President & CEO of the Maryland Workforce Association and Executive Director of the Anne Arundel Workforce Development Board, for a wide-ranging conversation recorded live at the 2025 Raising the Bar Conference. Kirkland reflects on a year marked by rapid change—federal layoffs, AI disruption, shifting economic conditions—and highlights how Maryland's workforce system continues to respond with resilience, collaboration, and innovation. He discusses the vital role workforce professionals play as the "superheroes" of their communities, the importance of self-care in a demanding field, and the expanding partnerships between workforce boards, schools, and businesses to build future talent pipelines.
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E74: Guiding the Next Generation—and Yourself: A Blueprint for Sustainable Leadership
02/12/2025 Duration: 18minIn this episode, we're joined by Dr. Erin Anderson Williams for a powerful conversation about what it truly takes to support and engage youth in a rapidly changing world. Dr. Williams breaks down how workforce leaders can meet young people where they are—through fun, relevance, co-creation, and authentic connection—while also confronting the "superhero complex" that so often leads to exhaustion and burnout in our field. She invites us to pause, reflect, and reset, reminding leaders that caring for themselves is essential to doing meaningful, sustainable work. From the accelerating pace of innovation to shrinking resources, Dr. Williams offers wisdom, practical strategies, and a refreshing mindset shift for anyone committed to helping the next generation thrive without sacrificing their own wellbeing.
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E73: Getting to Know KRA: Mike Longo on Elevating Career Services and Expanding Community Impact
17/11/2025 Duration: 26minIn this episode of Getting to Know KRA, we are joined by Program Director Mike Longo, as he highlights how his decades of experience in workforce development inform the way his team meets job seekers with empathy, structure, and personalized support. You'll learn how career coaches, business services staff, and community partners work together to make the OhioMeansJobs centers in Summit and Medina counties accessible, welcoming, and effective for anyone seeking employment. From innovative outreach tools to real success stories that show the impact of strong relationships, this episode offers a behind-the-scenes understanding of how KRA's values, people, and processes come together to support both job seekers and employers across the region.
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E72: Augmenting, Not Replacing: Using AI to Empower Workforce Professionals
04/11/2025 Duration: 17minIn this episode, host Jonathan Overall speaks with Brandon Tigges, CEO and Co-Founder of Job Machine, an AI-powered platform transforming how workforce organizations place people in jobs. Recorded live at the CWA Meeting of the Minds Conference in Monterey, they explore how Job Machine automates key parts of the job search—creating resumes, applying to positions, scheduling interviews—so career services teams can focus on human connection rather than data entry. Brandon shares how AI can augment, not replace, workforce professionals, the impressive placement results achieved with partners like Goodwill Southern California, and his company's big, audacious goal: making it possible for any American who wants a job to get one.
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E71: Fearless Forward: Redefining Workforce Pathways with Nia Ford
27/10/2025 Duration: 14minIn this episode of The Hub, recorded live at the CWA's Meeting of the Minds conference, host Jonathan Overall sits down with Nia Ford, Workforce Services Specialist for the Alameda County Workforce Development Board. Nia shares how her team is advancing innovation through apprenticeships, medical assistant training, and a groundbreaking wellness and job-quality initiative that puts people at the center of workforce development. Reflecting on the conference theme "Fearless Forward," she opens up about stepping beyond her comfort zone, embracing new challenges, and redefining what career growth means in a rapidly changing world.
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E70: Getting to Know KRA: Donna Eissoh and Thomas Thornton on Building Authentic Partnerships and Driving Business Success
13/10/2025 Duration: 31minIn this episode of Getting to Know KRA, we sit down with Donna Eissoh, Business Services Manager for KRA’s AJCC Rancho Dominguez program in Los Angeles County, and Thomas Thornton, Business Services Manager for Summit and Medina Counties in Ohio. Together, they offer an inside look at how KRA’s business services teams are helping employers thrive in two very different regions—one rooted in manufacturing and polymers, the other in logistics and healthcare. Tune in for a rich conversation about employer engagement, building authentic relationships, and workforce development strategies that embody The KRA Way.