Searching In San Diego

Walter Simmons, founding President & CEO of Employ Prince George’s and Executive Director of the Prince George’s County Workforce Development Board, joins the program to share his insights about how the workforce system can innovate to meet current and future challenges. Walter reveals the most significant changes needed in the public workforce system that will increase its relevancy over the next decade, particularly to the benefit of the nation's employers and marginalized communities. He also discusses how he has used unrestricted funds to modernize service delivery in Prince George's County.

This episode features a conversation with Cami Eakins, CEO of Career Path Services, as she provides an overview of her organization and discusses how Career Path Services is committed to serving underserved communities, including refugees, immigrants, underemployed individuals, and unhoused populations. Cami emphasizes the importance of recognizing who's already serving these communities and partnering with them to provide resources and support, as well as hiring from the communities they serve. She also shares takeaways for any organization looking for innovative ways to engage underserved communities.   

Jane Oates, President of WorkingNation, and former U.S. Department of Labor official, joins the program to share her reflections on the recent U.S. DOL Employment and Training Administration Vision 2030 Workforce Convening.  Jane covers topics including the need to focus on equity, career pathways to quality jobs, and building a strong care economy. She also reveals a shift in how workforce boards are approaching their work and the importance of sector partnerships. 

This episode features a conversation with Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) expert Jeri Perkins as she talks about the importance of DEI efforts for organizations. Jeri talks about how workforce organizations can keep a focus on DEI year-round and how to move beyond "check the box" inclusion. Discover how to create a work environment where all employees feel valued. 

Josh Davies, CEO of The Center for Work Ethic Development, joins the program to discuss and define work ethic and why it matters both for employees and employers. Discover whether there are generational differences in work ethic and the impact of the pandemic and remote work. Josh also shares advice for employers who want to ensure that their employees have a strong work ethic.   

Dr. Chris Laney, Director of Government Affairs & Workforce Strategy at Lightcast, joins the program to provide an update on the labor market and why we need to "expect the unexpected." Chris provides his reflections on current trends in the labor market and the implication of those trends on the workforce system. He also shares his thoughts on the possibility of a cooling of the job market and what workforce professionals need to keep in mind given the current labor market and economic trends.     

Sandy Mead, VP of Workforce Development at Metrix Learning, joins the program to discuss the changing nature and delivery of training programs for job seekers and to provide an overview of the Metrix Learning online platform. Sandy shares advice for workforce organizations who are trying to provide training and upskilling opportunities in an impactful way. Discover what workforce leaders and organization need to think about when it comes to the future of training.     

Joseph Seymour, Managing Director, Operational Excellence for KRA, joins the program to discuss his career journey and talk about current workforce trends. Discover what workforce organizations need to keep in mind in order to be prepared for current and future workforce challenges. Joseph also discusses his vision and goals for his new role as the incoming president of SETA (The Southeastern Employment & Training Association). 

Tune in for a conversation between Jonathan Overall, Director of Workforce Operations, Program Performance for KRA, and Andy Hall, President & CEO of Trailhead Strategies Inc. Andy reveals why workforce organizations should seek to diversify their funding sources beyond traditional WIOA funds, and how diversification of funds can allow organizations to be more flexible and creative. Andy shares tips for workforce leaders about how they can start diversifying their funding and how to create sustainable alternate funding streams. To learn more about Andy and Trailhead Strategies Inc, visit https://www.trailheadstrat.com/

Tune in for a conversation with Zaskia Ruiz, Executive Vice President, Administration & Finance at KRA, and Jonathan Overall, Director of Workforce Operations, Program Performance at KRA. Zaskia discusses her career journey and the experiences that led her to become the leader that she is today. She also reveals how KRA empowers its employees and shares thoughts about how to uplift women in the workplace. 

Ron Painter, President & CEO of the National Association of Workforce Boards (NAWB) joins the program to share his reflections on a recent executive order in Pennsylvania that allows most state jobs to be skills-based and not require a 4-year degree. Discover what this order means for other states, and how workforce boards can advocate for similar orders. Ron also shares details about the upcoming NAWB Forum and provides an overview of the speakers joining this year's Forum and some of the topics that will be covered.    3. What does this executive order mean for other states? Do you think this will become a national trend? What are the pros (are there any cons to it) 4. What policy recommendations might you have for boards when it comes to increasing access to federal jobs?  How might other states advocate for similar orders. 5. We know that the NAWB forum is coming up, and this is a great place for workforce board members to meet, share best practices, etc. Can you share some details about that for ou

This episode features a conversation with Maxine Suka, Director of Workforce Operations, Strategic Initiatives at KRA, and Bob Lanter, Executive Director of the California Workforce Association. Discover how workforce boards can access funding from new federal legislation and what workforce professionals can do to prepare for this funding. Bob discusses the importance of collaboration and engaging local political leaders, as well as the potential impact of this new funding on the workforce system.   

Maxine Suka, Director of Workforce Operations, Strategic Initiatives at KRA, returns to the program to discuss why it is important to diversify funding. Discover how to create impactful collaboration and hear examples of how organizations across the U.S. are diversifying funding and creating innovative opportunities. Maxine also shares tips about how to get started with diversifying funds.   

October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month, and in recognition of this, Patrick Boxall, Executive Vice President & Chief Strategy Officer for KRA, and Maxine Suka, Director of Workforce Operations, Strategic Initiatives at KRA, join the program for a discussion about advancing disability employment. Discover what businesses and workforce professionals should know about disability employment. You'll also hear about some of the misconceptions about employing persons with disabilities and how to take advantage of National Disability Employment Awareness Month to support disability inclusion and employment.  

Maxine Suka (Director of Workforce Operations, Strategic Initiatives) discusses the history of Workforce Development Month and creative ways that organizations can celebrate. Maxine gives examples of celebrations of Workforce Development Month from around the country and reveals how partnering with community organizations can help maximize visibility and success. Discover how to make Workforce Development Month a time of self-care for workforce professionals. 

In this episode, you'll hear from Director of Strategic Initiatives  Maxine Suka as she reveals what you can expect from the podcast as it transitions over to KRA's The Hub. Discover the topics that will be covered and the benefits of tuning in! 

In this episode, you'll discover how to build better communication in workforce development, and the importance of working across various systems to achieve positive outcomes. 

In this episode you'll discover a framework for making choices in business and life using a framework called "Just Two Choices." Discover how to apply the same process that pilots use to navigate planes can be used to help you make important decisions. 

In this episode, you'll hear from Dr. Patti Ashley, a psychologist who specializes in helping people recover from grief and loss. Discover how to bounce back from the grief of a job loss, and the multiple losses that everyone is feeling during the COVID-19 pandemic. Dr. Ashley also reveals how grief effects the brain and tips for self-car

Christopher Metoyer, Sr. Recruiting Logistics Specialist – R&D with Takeda Pharmaceuticals International Co., joins the program to discuss how to handle gaps on your resume during the COVID-19 pandemic. Christopher also shares his thoughts about how you can identify transferable skills for in-demand careers.