Workforce Central

In this episode, NAWB President and CEO, Brad Turner-Little, is joined by Leila Melendez, CEO of Workforce Solutions Borderplex, in El Paso, Texas. Leila shares her organization's innovative approach to adapting national workforce mandates to meet local needs in the diverse Borderplex region. She discusses creative initiatives like NextForce, HerForce, and CareForce, which are designed to engage different workforce segments more effectively. Leila also highlights the importance of strong community partnerships in providing accessible and comprehensive services, including their successful program for transitioning military personnel.

In this episode, CEO of South Central PA Works, Jesse McCree, joins us for an illuminating discussion on workforce development innovation. Leading an influential board that spans eight counties in central PA, Jesse offers insights from his nearly eight-year tenure. The conversation delves into South Central PA Works' pioneering strategies, including fair chance hiring initiatives and community access points. Jesse also recounts his path into the workforce development field and outlines how his organization is harnessing data, fostering agility, and embracing technology to address future labor market challenges.

In this episode, NAWB President and CEO, Brad Turner-Little, is joined by President and CEO of CareerSource Central Florida, Pam Nabors. Pat shares insights on leading a large workforce board and preparing for the future of workforce development and discusses her organization's role in serving a diverse five-county region surrounding Orlando, including efforts to inspire career journeys for youth and to support emerging industries like semiconductors. Learn about CareerSource Central Florida's innovative programs, including High School Career Express, partnerships with businesses and educational institutions, and the need to embrace technology and rethink service delivery models.

Tune in for another episode of Workforce Central, as NAWB President and CEO, Brad Turner-Little speaks with Anthony Featherstone, the new Executive Director of WorkSource Montgomery, about workforce development initiatives in Montgomery County, Maryland. They discuss the county's diverse demographics, major industries, and workforce challenges. Anthony also shares details about the Blueprint for Maryland's Future legislation and WorkSource Montgomery's innovative MoCo CAP program, which provides innovative career counseling for 6th-12th graders in partnership with local schools. He also highlights the board's community workforce network and mobile job center aimed at expanding access to workforce services. Discover the importance of community engagement, listening to feedback, and building relationships to effectively navigate future workforce challenges.   

In this episode of Workforce Central, Brad Turner-Little, President and CEO of NAWB, is joined by Billy Francis, Executive Director of the Coconino County Workforce Development Board in Flagstaff, Arizona. They discuss the unique challenges and opportunities of workforce development in rural Coconino County, which has a large landmass and significant Native American population. Billy shares his experience coming in as a new Executive Director and undertaking a year of discovery to assess the workforce ecosystem, leading to transformative changes such as implementing a virtual referral system and rebranding the board's message. Discover the importance of building relationships with partners like community colleges, overcoming barriers, and championing workforce development in the community.

Welcome back to an all-new edition of Workforce Central! In this episode, NAWB President and CEO, Brad Turner-Little, talks with Executive Director and CEO of Pikes Peak Workforce Center, Traci Marques. They discuss the vital role that workforce boards play in connecting businesses with job seekers and fostering economic vitality in their communities. Traci shares insights on how her organization serves the diverse needs of urban and rural areas, collaborates with economic development entities, supports small businesses, and helps military veterans transition into the civilian workforce. She also touches on exciting developments on the horizon, such as the integration of artificial intelligence to enhance the efficiency and impact of workforce boards.

Tune in for this special episode as Mike Fazio, Co-President of Workforce180 and Metrix Learning, interviews Brad Turner-Little, the new CEO of NAWB. Brad talks about his career journey and outlines his vision for NAWB.   

John R. Blosnich, Assistant Professor and Director of the Center for LGBTQ+ Health Equity at the Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work at USC, joins the program to discuss the impact of mental health in the workplace. Discover the impact of the pandemic on workers’ mental health and the life disruptions that can lead to suicidal ideation. John also reveals why workforce professionals often come in contact with individuals who may be experiencing a life crisis and how to best support job seekers who may have mental health challenges.

Jay Dixon, an economist for Statistics Canada, joins the program to discuss the research that his organization has conducted about robots and the impact of robots on various industries. Jay reveals three major takeaways from the study and the impact of robots on middle-skill jobs. Discover the correlation between robot adoption and worker shortages in different countries.    

This episode features a conversation with Janice Fidalgo, Product Marketing Manager for Grow with Google, as she provides an overview of the tools and resources available to help job seekers grow their skills. Discover some of the career certificates available through Grow with Google and their partnership with NAWB. You’ll also learn about how the career certificates can help employers identify top talent.

Author and consultant Oreste D'Aversa joins the program to discuss the phenomenon of "quiet quitting" and the impact that it has on the workforce. Oreste reveals the definition of quiet quitting and some of the reasons behind it. Discover the importance of communication between employees and employers, and how employers can address quiet quitting if it is occurring in their organization. You'll also hear about the importance of mental wellness in the workplace and learn a meditation exercise that can be done in any location in only a few minutes. 

Dr. Paul Harrington, Professor, and Director of the Center for Labor Markets and Policy at Drexel University, returns to the program to provide an updated look at the economy and the labor market. Paul discusses the shift of the regional labor markets, the impact of remote work and the changing dynamics of labor relationships. Discover labor participation rates among youth.

Arti Finn, Co-Founder of American Prison Data Systems (APDS), joins the program to discuss the work that her organization does to promote free and ethical education options for incarcerated learners. Discover some of the biggest challenges in the US around preparing people for employment and a successful transition out of incarceration. Arti also reveals why this should be an issue of focus for workforce boards and how to more intentionally engage this population. 

This episode features an interview with Walter Simmons, CEO of Employ Prince George's and Kyle Marinelli, Manager of Government Relations and Policy for NAWB, as they discuss what workforce boards need to know about the American Recovery Plan Act, or ARPA. You’ll hear details about an exciting new Workforce Program Training Guide, created in partnership between NAWB, the Prince George's County Workforce Development Board and Employ Prince George's (EPG) outlining American Rescue Plan Act policies, definitions and procedures. For more information on the ARPA Guide, contact Kyle Marinelli at MarinelliK@NAWB.org

This episode was originally recorded on the WorkforceRx Podcast by Futuro Health, a podcast where Futuro Health CEO Van Ton-Quinlivan interviews future-focused leaders in education, workforce and healthcare to explore new innovations and approaches. Ron Painter joins the program to discuss the vital role that workforce boards play in advancing economic opportunity, and the importance of bringing together key stakeholders including housing, transportation and community-based organizations. Ron reveals how communities are leveraging their networks and why he is optimistic about the unprecedented challenges facing employers and workers.

Kevin Kelly, Director of AWS Education Programs at Amazon Web Services, joins the program to discuss the importance of cloud computing for the future of work and the work that AWS Education Programs does to help prepare diverse learners to pursue in-demand cloud roles. Kevin reveals details about a recent global digital skills study and the growing need for technical knowledge due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

This episode features an interview with Eshwar Eswaran, Director, JFFLabs LEAD (Leading Economic Advancement through Data). Eshwar discusses the work that JFF is doing to find new and innovative ways to lead workforce and education systems to achieve equitable economic advancement for all, through data and data-driven solutions.​ He also reveals how timely, accurate and reliable data can help workforce boards increase their impact and responsiveness.

Dr. Paul Harrington, Professor, and Director of the Center for Labor Markets and Policy at Drexel University, returns to the program to discuss the current state of the labor market. Dr. Harrington shares insights about the impact of the Great Resignation, youth participation in the labor market, as well as his thoughts about immigration and education.

Kamal Ahluwalia, president of Eightfold.ai, joins the program to provide an overview of his organization, share his thoughts about the Great Resignation, as well as his work with veterans and the Transition Assistance Program (TAP). Discover the promise of AI and the importance of creating a succession plan for every individual in an organization. Kamal also discusses what organizations need to think about when working with transitioning veterans.

Andi Phillips, Founder and Managing Partner, the Community Outcomes Fund at Maycomb Capital, joins the program to discuss her thoughts about how workforce boards and local governments can make the most of record stimulus dollars. Discover how to access flexible funding and how to use outcome-based contracts to align spending with the mandated reporting requirements from Treasury.