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. Ant…

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 significa…

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 communiti…

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 …

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…

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…

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 i…

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 partic…

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 r…

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 partne…

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 econ…

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…

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 ho…

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 educat…

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. …

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 repor…

Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi joins the program to share his thoughts about the importance of investing in skill development for the U.S. labor force. Congressman Krishnamoorthi reveals how being a small business owner has shaped his thoughts about workforce and talent development and the challenges that the U.S. is facing when it comes to skilli…

Coursera CEO Jeff Maggioncalda joins the program to discuss the important role that his company has played during the pandemic, and how online learning can help increase the accessibility of education and decrease inequality. Discover some of the biggest learning and education trends that have occurred over the past year and the changing nature of …

Jason Tyszko, VP of the Center for Education and Workforce at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, joins the program to discuss the work of the Foundation, and the urgent need for skilling and reskilling the U.S. Labor Force. Jason reveals his thoughts about the need to reimagine what it looks like for the public sector to engage with the busin…

Widely acclaimed workplace expert, speaker, strategist and innovator Mika Cross joins the program to discuss FlexJobs, a leader in the remote and flexible employment space for employers and job seekers. Discover what employers need to think about when onboarding remote workers, as well as how to attract a newer and wider segment of talent. Mika als…

Gorick Ng, first-gen college student, Harvard grad, management consultant and author of The Unspoken Rules, joins the program to discuss the rules that employees aren’t taught in school, including how to navigate a new role, take ownership, manage expectations, or handle workplace politics. Discover what top performers do and don’t realize, and how…

Martha Kanter, CEO of College Promise and former Under Secretary of Education, and Jane Oates, President of Working Nation, and former Assistant Secretary for the Employment and Training Administration, join the program to discuss the changes that they have seen regarding education and workforce. Martha and Jane share their thoughts about the impac…

Clare Bertrand, Director at JFFLabs. joins the program to discuss the importance of career navigation technology in 2021 and beyond. Clare shares her thoughts about how career development technology fits into virtual service design, and what workforce boards should think about when investigating different tech tools. Discover where investments are …

In this episode, you’ll learn about the 100 Questions Initiative, which seeks to map the world’s 100 most pressing high impact questions that could be answered if relevant data sets were leveraged in a responsible manner. Discover why the future of work is a critical focus for the 100 Questions Initiative, and how to create a common understanding o…

Susan Gross Sholinsky, a labor and employment attorney at Epstein Becker & Green, P.C. and Vice Chair of the firm’s National Employment, Labor & Workforce Management Steering Committee, joins the program to discuss COVID-19 compliance requirements for employers. Discover resources to stay informed about changing laws and what employers need to thin…

Richard Lum, CEO of Vision Foresight Strategy, LLC, returns to the program to discuss why a global pandemic is something that could be anticipated, but not necessarily predicted, and what it takes to do quality foresight and strategy work. Discover the key building blocks to foresight work, the industries that are most likely to continue to be impa…

Michael Simpson, CEO of PAIRIN, joins the program to discuss the work that his company is doing to make everyone’s journey personally relevant and equitable. Discover how PAIRIN’s science-based technology and personalized approach to client services ensures not only the success of clients’ programs, but also the success of people in their communiti…

Christian Michael, Program Manager for Grow with Google, joins the program to discuss the work that Google is doing to create opportunities for nontraditional talent to kickstart their careers in high demand fields, including IT. Christian reveals why Google created their own career certificates and shares why Google is looking to partner with loca…

Mark Douglass, President of Equus Workforce Solutions, joins the program to discuss the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the economy and labor needs. Discover some of the skills that will be increasingly important in the new workplace, and what employers are looking for when evaluating talent. Mark also shares his thoughts on why the workforce sy…

Eric Seleznow, Senior Advisor at JFF and Former Deputy Assistant Secretary for the US Department of Labor, joins the program to discuss trends in apprenticeships, as well as the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on apprenticeship programs. Discover the various benefits of apprenticeships for employers and job seekers, and the need for strategic partn…

Congresswoman Elise Stefanik from New York's 21st District in the House of Representatives, joins the program to discuss her advocacy for Fort Drum and the challenges that the COVID-19 pandemic has created at the U.S.- Canadian border. She also discusses Elevating America’s Workforce Act, legislation that establishes personal reemployment accounts …

Ronnie Bryant, Founder of Ronnie L. Bryant, LLC and former CEO of the Charlotte Regional Partnership, joins the program to share tips for how leaders can survive and succeed in tumultuous times. Discover the first questions that leaders need to ask, the characteristics of effective leaders, and the metrics by which leaders are measured.…

Dr. Paul David Spradley, CEO of Care Based Leadership, LLC, joins the program to discuss the work that his company does collaboratively designing specific solutions around improving organizational climate and equitable and inclusive outcomes. Discover the power of mentoring, how to engage young African-American men, and how to create a culture of c…

Dr. Paul Harrington, Professor and Director of the Center for Labor Markets and Policy at Drexel University, joins the program to discuss the impact of the economic downturn caused by the COVID-19 pandemic on young people and the emerging workforce. Dr. Harrington also shares his thoughts on the impact that the current disruption may have on the ed…

In this episode, you'll learn about Operation Next, and the work that they are doing preparing military personnel careers in advanced manufacturing. Launched as a pilot at Fort Campbell, Kentucky in early 2018, Operation Next is an innovative, manufacturing-focused training and credentialing initiative. Operation Next provides a blended learning pr…

Dr. Jerry Paytas, Economic Development Pracademic, Vice President of Analytics at the Fourth Economy, joins the program to share his perspective on the effect of the COVID-19 pandemic on the U.S. economy. Discover what workforce boards need to keep in mind when it comes to economic development, and what we can learn from the response from other cou…

Leo Reddy, CEO of the Manufacturing Skill Standards Council, joins the program to discuss the importance of a strong national industrial base and the emerging technologies that are impacting the industry. Discover the changing perception and reality about modern manufacturing and the innovation that occurring in the manufacturing sector.…

Dr. Alexandrea Ravenelle, author of Hustle and Gig: Struggling and Surviving in the Sharing Economy, joins the program to discuss the costs, benefits and social impact of freelance work and the gig economy. Discover the economic forces that have led to an increase in freelance work, and why some freelance workers do well in the gig economy while ot…

Scott Stump, the Assistance Secretary of Career, Technical and Adult Education at the U.S. Department of Education, joins the program to reveal the work that the DOE is doing to ensure that all students have the education and skills that they need to find meaningful employment. Discover the acceleration towards digital learning and the changing nat…

Musician and freelance worker Jastin Artis joins the program to discuss the challenges and opportunities of being a gig worker. Discover the skills needed to be successful in the gig economy, and lessons for workforce boards. To hear learn more about Jastin and hear his music, visit: https://www.justapuppet.com/…

By NAWB

Kimberly L Bodine, Executive Director for CareerSource Gulf Coast, joins the program to discuss the vital role that workforce boards play in preparing for and responding to disasters. She also discusses the upcoming event, Beacon of Resiliency: Setting the Standard for Workforce Development Boards’ Disaster Response, which will be held January 8-9,…

Sanaz Arjomand, Federal Policy Director at the National Young Farmer’s Coalition, joins the program to discuss the challenges and opportunities facing young farmers. She reveals the policy priorities for the Young Farmer’s Coalition and the various industries that are impacted by the agriculture industry.…

Mark Plunkett, Senior Director of Business Development at CompTIA, joins the program to discuss the current state of careers in technology, the need for talent, and what employers are looking for. He also reveals what workforce boards need to think about when it comes to helping to attract individuals into tech careers, and how to make tech jobs ac…

This episode features an interview with Sheree Utash, President of WSU Campus of Applied Sciences and Technology, and Vice President of Workforce Development for WSU. Sheree discusses the creation of the National Center for Aviation Training, and the need for the technical education system to prepare students for high demand jobs. She also reveals …

This episode features an interview with Earl Anthony Wayne, An accomplished diplomat and executive, Ambassador Wayne has served in a wide variety of positions during his career, including as U.S. Ambassador to Mexico and Argentina, Deputy Ambassador in Afghanistan, Assistant Secretary of State for Economic and Business Affairs, and Principal Deputy…

This episode features an interview with Earl Anthony Wayne, An accomplished diplomat and executive, Ambassador Wayne has served in a wide variety of positions during his career, including as U.S. Ambassador to Mexico and Argentina, Deputy Ambassador in Afghanistan, Assistant Secretary of State for Economic and Business Affairs, and Principal Deputy…