E251: North Coast Careers: Immersive Futures: How VR is Revolutionizing Workforce Development
Release Date: 08/07/2024
E270: Y.O.U.T.H. Power Podcast: Polishing Pebbles: Empowering Girls for Leadership and Success
WORKFORCEPODS
Kelly Fair, Founder and Executive Director of Polished Pebbles Girls Mentoring Program, joins the program to discuss her organization's mission to help girls become effective communicators at home, school, and in the workplace. She shares the origins of Polished Pebbles, which began with monthly Saturday sessions and has grown to serve over 50 communities in schools each year. The conversation explores their four core programs, including the Every Girl's A CEO initiative that provides career readiness skills and paid work experience, the Pink Hard Hats program introducing girls to...
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E269: Boldline: Epic Opportunities: Universal's New Theme Park and Job Market Impact
WORKFORCEPODS
Tune in for a conversation with Brinkley Ruffin, Vice President of Talent Acquisition at Universal Parks & Resorts. Brinkley discusses his 20-year career in human resources, his transition from political science to HR, and his decade at Universal. He also shares insights on diverse career opportunities within the theme park industry and highlights the upcoming Epic Universe theme park, set to open in 2025. Discover Universal's approach to creating immersive guest experiences and meaningful employee careers. Brinkley also offers advice for job seekers and information on exploring...
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E268: Dignity of Work: Good at Work: The Career Playbook for Leaders and Teams- Intro Episode
WORKFORCEPODS
Tune in to hear from organizational researcher and professor, Anna Valiavska, in the introductory episode of "Good at Work: The Career Playbook for Leaders and Teams." Drawing from Anna's expertise as both a corporate innovation researcher and university professor, this comprehensive guide explores the four crucial phases of organizational socialization - from anticipating your next career move to making a graceful exit. Whether you're a leader shaping workplace culture or an employee navigating career transitions, each episode delivers practical strategies and actionable insights to help you...
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E267: Getting to Work: Leading with Flexibility: A Conversation with Erika Montgomery of Three Girls Media
WORKFORCEPODS
Ready for a fresh take on workplace culture? Join host John Spencer as he sits down with Erika Montgomery, CEO-President of Three Girls Media, Inc., for an enlightening conversation about transforming traditional work environments. From her fascinating journey as a San Francisco morning show host to becoming an award-winning CEO, Erika shares practical insights on creating a thriving virtual workplace. Learn how she implements flexible schedules, builds team connectivity through virtual celebrations, and maintains productivity while prioritizing work-life balance.
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E266: Inside Will County's Interactive Career Exposition
WORKFORCEPODS
In this episode, host Patrick Hall speaks with Will County Workforce Services staff including John Hall (Business Services and Special Projects Supervisor), Andrew Pajak (Career Planner), Michelle Stiff (Director), and Pam Rodriguez (Special Projects Manager) about Pathways to Professions (P2P), an innovative career exposition now in its third year. Taking place on March 11, 2025, at the Romeoville Athletic and Event Center, P2P connects high school students with local employers through interactive, hands-on activities that showcase diverse career pathways. The event will feature over 119...
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E265: Ventura County Works: Upskilling for Success: How SkillUp Ventura County is Changing Lives
WORKFORCEPODS
Tune in as we explore SkillUp Ventura County, an innovative program offering residents free online skills training and certification opportunities. In this episode, Rebecca Evans, Executive Director of the Workforce Development Board of Ventura County, leads a discussion with key partners. Joining her are the team from Managed Career Solutions (MCS) and special guest Kerry Twomey from Metrix Learning. Discover how this two-year-old program has already helped nearly 1,800 residents complete over 13,000 courses, representing more than 4,000 hours of training. Learn about success stories of...
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E264: Workforce on the Mic: Mentorship That Matters: Building Youth Career Confidence
WORKFORCEPODS
In this episode of "Workforce on the Mic," you'll discover powerful insights on youth mentorship from Dr. Scott Brewster, co-founder and Director of Partnerships at Hats & Ladders. Listen as he shares with host Alexis Franks how to effectively guide young people through career decisions. You'll learn practical strategies for active listening, building networks, and helping youth gain confidence in their career choices. Dr. Brewster reveals how his path from music teacher to workforce development leader shaped his approach to mentoring. You'll also discover the importance of early work...
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E263: Hire Frequency: Flipping the Pyramid: A New Approach to Chicago's Community Safety
WORKFORCEPODS
In this episode, Chicago’s Deputy Mayor of Community Safety Garien Gatewood joins host and CEO of the Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership George Wright to discuss Chicago's innovative approach to violence reduction and its intersection with workforce development. The deputy mayor outlines his office's strategy of empowering neighborhoods to participate in sharing their priorities and thoughts in developing local safety initiatives, working block by block to address unique local needs. The conversation explores the vital link between employment and safety, showcased by a recent hiring fair...
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E262: Will Works: Clean Jobs Initiative: Building Illinois' Green Energy Workforce
WORKFORCEPODS
In this episode of the Will Works podcast, host speaks with Lauren Kmetz-Weisman, JJC manager of the Clean Jobs Initiative (CEJA). Lauren shares information about the state-funded program, which aims to develop Illinois' clean energy workforce through training and job placement. The discussion covers CEJA's focus on residential energy audits and electric vehicle technology, the program structure, eligibility requirements, student stipends, and support services. Lauren explains that participants can complete an 8-week bridge program followed by job-specific training, with opportunities...
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E261: KRA's the Hub: Building Success from the Ground Up: Rick Record on Youth Workforce Development
WORKFORCEPODS
From KRA's the Hub: In this fifth episode of a special series, recorded live at the 2024 NAWDP Youth Symposium in Phoenix, Arizona, host Jonathan Overall sits down with Rick Record, an experienced workforce development consultant whose journey began as a youth program participant. Rick shares his remarkable career progression from working in retail management to overseeing statewide programs for California's Employment Development Department and Medicaid services. Drawing from his extensive background, Rick offers valuable insights into performance management, youth program development, and...
info_outlineFrom North Coast Careers: This episode delves into the innovative world of virtual reality simulators in career exploration and training. Guest Dan Risko, Senior Director of Government Engagement at TRANSFR Inc., discusses how VR technology is transforming the way people discover and prepare for various career paths. The conversation covers the benefits of virtual simulators, including increased retention rates, safety in training, and the ability to experience a wide range of occupations before committing to a career path. Dan also shares insights on how schools, universities, and organizations are implementing these tools in their career counseling programs and discusses the future potential of VR in professional training and education.