E64: AI, Opportunity, and Empowerment: The Future of Career Services
Release Date: 08/19/2025
E65: Raising the Bar: Maryland’s Workforce System Celebrates and Innovates
KRA's The Hub
Maryland’s workforce system is rising to the moment—celebrating the people who make a difference every day, embracing innovation to meet new challenges, and adapting for a future full of change. In this episode, discover how workforce leaders and professionals are coming together at the Raising the Bar conference to honor frontline heroes, highlight the power of youth engagement, explore the role of AI and storytelling, and strengthen resilience across communities. Tune in for a conversation about connection, creativity, and the collective effort to shape a stronger tomorrow.
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E64: AI, Opportunity, and Empowerment: The Future of Career Services
KRA's The Hub
Discover how workforce development is evolving to meet the needs of diverse communities through innovation, inclusion, and resilience. In this episode, Lubna Hanif, WIOA Team Supervisor at Rubicon Programs, shares her journey from frontline career coach to team supervisor, reflecting on the power of mentorship, cultural responsiveness, and trauma informed care in supporting participants. She discusses how programs like WIOA are adapting to legislative change, the role of AI and virtual services in expanding access, and the importance of empowering both clients and staff. Listeners will gain...
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E63: Getting to Know KRA: Operational Excellence in Action
KRA's The Hub
In this episode of Getting to Know KRA, we sit down with Derrick Colbert and Shanavia Moore from KRA for a behind the scenes look at how the organization delivers on its mission to engage businesses, develop workers, and nurture strong communities. Derrick and Shanavia share their personal journeys into workforce development, the meaning of operational excellence, and how people first leadership and consistent execution create lasting impact. From building trust with job seekers and businesses to aligning strategy with local needs, they reveal how KRA balances performance with purpose to drive...
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E62: Reaching Jobseekers Where They Are: Innovation in Workforce Tech
KRA's The Hub
Tune in to this episode as we explore how workforce organizations are transforming the way they engage jobseekers, using texting and mobile tools to meet people where they are. Max Schelkopf from Engage by Cell breaks down how their platform helps streamline communication, increase accessibility, and close the digital divide. From addressing the skill gap to integrating AI for resume support and interview prep, you'll discover how human-centered technology is speeding up the path to employment and reshaping the future of workforce development.
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E61: Getting to Know KRA: People and Principles
KRA's The Hub
Tune in to this episode of The Hub for the first in our new series, Getting to Know KRA. Host Jonathan Overall kicks things off with an inspiring conversation on people and principles, joined by Kalandria Thompson, People and Culture Director, and Ryan Rand, Engagement & Development Specialist. Together, they explore how KRA’s values—knowledge, responsibility, and achievement—shape a thriving, people-centered workplace culture. You’ll learn about KRA’s holistic approach to employee development, innovative wellness initiatives, and the leadership programs that are...
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E60: Beyond the Numbers: Human-Centered Workforce Solutions
KRA's The Hub
In this episode of KRA's The Hub podcast, recorded live at the JFF Jobs for the Future Conference, Kim Tesch Vaught, mental health coach and business development manager, explores the conference's theme of "daring to be brave" in workforce development. Drawing from her experience as a mental health coach and workforce professional, she discusses reimagining career services through human connection, mental resilience, and personalized support. Kim shares insights on leveraging AI, supporting entrepreneurship, and creating more flexible workforce systems that truly understand job seekers' unique...
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E59: Hiring Reimagined: Voice Technology and the Fight Against Turnover
KRA's The Hub
In this episode, host Jonathan Overall sits down with Rich Simmerman, co-founder of Cantaloupe AI, at the JFF Horizons Summit in New Orleans to tackle a pressing challenge in the hospitality industry: outdated, resume-driven hiring that fails both employers and job seekers. Drawing from Rich’s own journey—from managing a coffee shop in Carrollton to pioneering voice interview technology—Cantaloupe AI is replacing traditional job applications with conversational voice interviews. This hands-on, candidate-first approach helps employers screen every applicant, reduce early quits by nearly...
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E58: Partnering for Progress: How KRA and Malcolm X College Empower Learners
KRA's The Hub
In this episode, host Jonathan Overall sits down with Dean Barbara Goodall Meschino, MSW, LSW, Dean of the West Side Learning Center at Malcolm X College, City Colleges of Chicago, to explore how strategic partnerships between KRA, the Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership, and community colleges are revolutionizing workforce development in Chicago. Dean Meschino shares her journey from social work to higher education leadership and discusses how real-world, hands-on training programs—like CNA, medical assisting, and specialized digital simulations—are boosting access, equity, and economic...
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E57: From the Ground Up: Redefining Workforce Development
KRA's The Hub
Discover how workforce development is being redefined from the ground up in this episode of KRA’s The Hub. Claudia Cattouse-Regalado, Director of Relationship Management at the Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership, shares her journey from frontline service roles to executive leadership and offers a powerful vision for workforce as a system of mentorship, preparation, and economic transformation. You’ll hear how building shared language, aligning service delivery, and elevating real client stories can drive collective impact. Claudia also discusses professional development, leadership...
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E56: Building Connections: Virginia’s First Workforce Development Conference
KRA's The Hub
In this episode, you’ll get an inside look at the inaugural Virginia Workforce Symposium—a first-of-its-kind event bringing together workforce professionals from across the Commonwealth. You’ll hear how the idea for the symposium came to life, what made it a sold-out success, and why collaboration across regions and roles is critical to the future of workforce development. From keynote speakers to breakout sessions on data, AI, and cross-agency partnerships, this episode offers a behind-the-scenes preview of the event’s goals, challenges, and long-term vision. KRA is proud to be a...
info_outlineDiscover how workforce development is evolving to meet the needs of diverse communities through innovation, inclusion, and resilience. In this episode, Lubna Hanif, WIOA Team Supervisor at Rubicon Programs, shares her journey from frontline career coach to team supervisor, reflecting on the power of mentorship, cultural responsiveness, and trauma informed care in supporting participants. She discusses how programs like WIOA are adapting to legislative change, the role of AI and virtual services in expanding access, and the importance of empowering both clients and staff. Listeners will gain insights into balancing technology with humanity while building inclusive pathways to employment and opportunity.