Mission: Employable

The Mission: Employable podcast heads to Sioux Center, Iowa, to speak with Kent Heronimus, Technical Training Manager at Interstates. This episode is dedicated to telling the story of how they've grown from one to several Registered Apprenticeship programs. Find out how the company has navigated building programs across several industries and how they're working to retain their apprentices when hiring them after their Registered Apprenticeship has been completed.  

Hosts Ben Oldach and Kathy Leggett are still on the road in Sioux City as they continue to tell stories throughout Iowa. This episode is dedicated to a summer camp for 15-to-18-year-olds who are ready to rock a future career in the trades. Jennifer Stanwick-Klimek, Manager of Learning and Development at Thompson Solutions, returns to the show to talk about the Heavy Metal Summer Experience. While there might be a lack of amps and guitars, there's no shortage of knowledge and hands-on experience for students who are looking for a way to jumpstart their career.   

This week, the hosts of the Mission: Employable podcast hit the road for more conversations about Iowa's workforce! Ben Oldach and Kathy Leggett head out for a multi part series highlighting different employers and programs in Sioux City, IA! The first episode features Jennifer Stanwick-Klimek, Manager of Learning and Development at Thompson Solutions. With more openings than employees to fill them, Stanwick-Klimek shares how their internship program is helping fill electrical and mechanical contractor roles. The company is all in, seeing this not just as a solution for the short term, but a tool to help them build their future roster of employees.

Ben is here with a quick update about some changes to the podcast schedule in March and April. 

The Harkin Institute, a non-partisan think tank established at Drake University, is a leader in developing disability workforce policy.  Daniel Van Sant, Director of Disability Policy, joins the podcast to talk about an international summit the institute held in Washington D.C. and how some of the topics of discussion coming from that summit can help Iowa businesses lead the way on hiring Iowans with disabilities.

Des Moines' Ironworkers Union is hard at work across the metro building the structures that will eventually turn into the buildings where we live, work, and hang out.  However, they're also using an apprenticeship program to build lifelong careers from the ground up.  Ironworkers local 67 Apprenticeship and Training Coordinator Ed Bleimehl drops by the podcast to talk about how his apprentices develop throughout the program, and how some of their experiences can help other industries that might just be starting an apprenticeship program of their own.  

The YSS Rooftop Gardens program is producing thousands of heads of lettuce, but its' more important export is the employability skills young adults need to change their lives.  Started in 2024, the garden employs several groups of at-risk youth to grow hydroponic romaine lettuce which is then sold at farmers markets and select Hy-Vee stores. Hear from program founder Samanthya Marlatt as she disccuses how they use a combination of real world experience and classroom learning to teach these young adults about employability, and find out how they've already seen results after students graduate the program.  For more information on the program go to https://www.yss.org/rooftopgardens/

 A New healthcare grant designed to help employers develop or expand their earn and learn programs is open for applications!  Kathy Leggett, title, sits across the table with Mission: Employable podcast host, Ben Oldach, to discuss the ins and outs of the grant. Who can apply? How much money is available? And how can earn and learn programs help employers grow their staff for years to come? Get answers to these and more along with information about applying to the new healthcare grant in this episode.

Mission Employable celebrates its 200th episode with a brand-new face! Newly hired Iowa Workforce Development Deputy Director Georgia Van Gundy joins the pod to introduce herself to the state and discuss what her past experiences will bring to the department.  Find out why the former Executive Director of the Iowa Business Council tells us the unemployment rate isn't the only number we should be paying attention to. 

Learning English can be a challenge, but learning career specific terminology and slang can be even more challenging.  Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) is here to help solve some of those problems with its Jumpstart program. Michelle Schott, Integrated Education and Training Coordinator at DMACC, joins the Mission: Employable podcast and shares about the program that is helping English language learners talk the talk in their career fields. Find out how employers can use the program to help set their staff up for success and how Jumpstart works to specialize language learning for specific career fields.

Iowa Workforce Development has been a champion for Registered Apprenticeship Programs for years now, but now IWD will be even more involved in how these programs operate across the state.  Kolby Knupp, Program Manager at the Iowa Office of Apprenticeship joins the podcast to talk about how the state is taking over Registered Apprenticeships from the Federal Department of Labor, and what that means for employers and future apprentices in Iowa.  

Grant funding is helping the push for economic equality in Iowa. Iowa Blueprint for Change is a federally funded program that Iowa is using to help workers who are disabled find Competitive Integrated Employment (CIE). Brandy McOmber, Deputy Division Administrator for Iowa's Vocational Rehabilitation, and Ashley Banes, Project Director at Iowa Blueprint for Change, join the Mission: Employable podcast to discuss how CIE helps Iowans who are disabled find equal benefits and wages, and how the grant is affecting change in the state.

The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) of 1990 helped change the landscape for employees with disabilities across the country. As Iowa Workforce Development continues to celebrate National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM) it's important to show employers how they can make improvements to their businesses and become more accessible to Iowans with disabilities. Ashlee Cummings, Disability Workforce Manager with Iowa's Vocational Rehabilitation division, joins the Mission: Employable podcast sharing how her team is making on-site visits to employers and organizations across the state in order to help them make changes to their building or hiring practices in order to become a welcoming place for employees with disabilities. The biggest standout to this effort is that it comes at no cost to the employer.

Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation (IVRS) Director Dr. James Williams returns for the second part of our series on IVRS and National Disability Employment Awareness Month (NDEAM).  In part two we look towards the future and see what the next 365 days will entail for IVRS and how that work will impact Iowans with disabilities. 

It's been a year since Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation Services has joined Iowa Workforce Development.  Since then, IVRS has eliminated their waitlist for services. As we start our month of celebrating National Disability Employment Awareness Month, IVRS Director Dr. James Williams stops by the podcast for part one of a two part series on IVRS. Join us as we take a look back at what IVRS has accomplished since joining IWD, and how the merger has helped them accomplish their goals. 

A quick update for the end of September and a look ahead at a special series during October.

The Skill Bridge program creates a pathway from the end of military service to the civilian job market, and it is expanding in Iowa. Hear from one of IowaWORKS' Local Veterans Employment Representative (LVER) about how the program is adding employers to its roster, and from a current Skill Bridge intern who is finishing up his service in the Navy by working a civilian job.  Find out how the program helps service members acclimate to life outside the military, and how it can create a pipeline of veteran talent for employers who join Skill Bridge.  

You're not hearing double! There are Two Trevors on the Mission: Employable Podcast.  Trevor Zielinski and Trevor Stevens from the Skilled Trades Academy at Central Campus in Des Moines pair up to tell us about how their electrician apprenticeship program is sparking interest in high school students. Find out how the pair formed a unique partnership that got the program off the ground. 

Iowa's TPRA (Teacher Paraeducator Registered Apprenticeship) Program serves as an alternate route for Iowans to become educators. Hear from recent TPRA graduate Trevor Zielinski on how the program prepared him for his new role as a full-time teacher and why he thinks TPRA is such a viable way for others to pursue their career path in education. 

While school may be out the learning doesn't stop for students enrolled in IVRS' Summer Pre-Employment Transition Services program.  Hundreds of students with disabilities across the state are exposed to several different careers to learn hands on, and see what it takes to enter in those career fields. Mary Jackson, Bureau Chief for Transition Services at IVRS , talks about the ever expanding program and how employers who are interested in partnering can get involved. 

Iowa's Teacher Paraeducator Registered Apprenticeship program (TPRA) is helping to fill classrooms across the state with teachers who can't wait to educate our students. Jennifer Gray, Iowa Office of Apprenticeship Program Coordinator, joins the Mission: Employable podcast and talks to us about how the unique program can help future teachers get certified to teach with on- the- job experience. Find out why now is the perfect time for Iowans interested in becoming an educator to reach out to their school district about the TPRA program.

On average, Iowans are spending less time unemployed than ever before in our state's history. IWD Director Beth Townsend has returned from Washington D.C. where she testified before a House subcommittee on the success Iowa has had helping find unemployed Iowans a new career. On this episode of Mission: Employable, find out how individualized career coaches are helping Iowans earlier than ever in the unemployment process, and why the U.S. House of Representatives want to know more about it.

An Iowa Veterans organization inspired one Iowan to help fellow veterans connect with each other and employers who could provide them careers after the military. Frank Sposeto founded the River Valley Veterans Networking Group and is calling on Veterans and employers in Central Iowa to get together and create partnerships that will last for years to come. Find out how the group works, where they meet, and how employers can get involved in finding talented Veterans in search of long-term employment.   For more information on the River Valley Veterans Networking Group, find them on Facebook by visiting:  https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61553038048289 

Immigrants and Refugees are often thought of as one group of people, but there are several differences when it comes to employing them. Edgar Ramirez, Refugee Workforce Liaison for Iowa Workforce Development, talks to us about the unique circumstances these populations can face, and how employers can access this talent pipeline. Additionally, hear how Ramierz's personal story of immigration has shaped his identity as an American citizen.  

Yvette Clausen wasn't supposed to be here.  Sentenced to life in prison following a crime she committed at the age of 17, Clausen was granted parole following an Iowa Supreme Court case that overturned sentencing minors to life without parole.  Now, as a self-employment counselor for Iowa's Vocational Rehabilitation, she tells us how she was able to get an education while incarcerated and how she used IowaWORKS programs helped her find employment after her release. Hear more about her current journey obtaining her second master's degree, and how she's putting her skills to use in helping fellow Iowans achieve their self-employment dreams.

IowaWORKS has a brand new tool to help serve Iowans no matter where they are. The Mobile Workforce Center is an IowaWORKS office on wheels, featuring 10 computer workstations, TVs for presentations, and accessible access lift located in the rear.  Career Planner Joseph Nobile stops by to talk about where we've been, plans for our next stop, and how you can request a visit from the Mobile Workforce Center!

When COVID hit, IowaWORKS had to take their career workshops online to best serve Iowans.  What started as a solution to a worldwide problem has become a valuable tool for Iowans who are searching for a career.  IowaWORKS staff Joseph Pittman and Corey Stevens drop by the podcast studio to talk about what you can learn by signing up for a Virtual Career Workshop, how to do it, and why participation continues to grow across the state. 

Des Moines, and Central Iowa as a whole, is on the upswing. The Greater Des Moines Partnership President and CEO Tiffany Tauscheck stops by the Mission: Employable podcast to tell us all about the surprising ways Des Moines, IA, continues to grow, and what kind of industries continue to lead the way. Additionally, Tauscheck explains why the Greater Des Moines Partnership supports expanding work-based learning opportunities for students in central Iowa.

Summer Youth Internship Programs are a great way for employers and non-profits to build a talent pipeline that will help both train and retain employees for years to come.  Program Coordinator Melanie Johnson and Grants Administrator Patrick Rice join the Mission: Employable podcast to discuss more details about what the grant can be used for, how businesses can apply, and why Summer Youth Internship Programs make sense for Iowa employers to create. 

Home Base Iowa is one of Iowa Workforce Development's resource for Veterans and their family members, and, there's new leadership to guide the future of the program. Retired Marine Harrison Swift takes over as manager for the program that aims to make Iowa the state of choice for Veterans, service members, and their families.  Find out more about Swift's background when it comes to serving those who have served, and why he's so passionate about making sure Veterans have meaningful employment after they leave the military.

In the first Mission: Employable podcast episode of 2024, we explore how the partnership between Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation Services and Iowa Workforce Development (IWD) will grow in the coming year. Business Engagement Disability Bureau Chief Michelle Krefft joins the show to discuss how her new division will help businesses become more proactive in hiring Iowans with disabilities. She dives into how being a part of IWD will help increase efficiency of services for Iowans.  

Come for the workforce conversation, stay for Chicago Cubs talk with Director Beth Townsend!  Take a listen as we reflect on some of IWD's accomplishments in 2023 and get a sneak peek at what the agency has planned for 2024.

One Iowa high schooler is helping lead the charge on issues surrounding youth employment in the state. Ottumwa sophomore Oliver Hernandez Norris is joined by Krista Tedrow from Iowa's South Central Workforce Development Board to tell us about how they secured a meeting with the Federal Department of Labor in Washington D.C. to discuss youth employment.  Find out what Oliver says are some of the main concerns employers should be looking at when it comes to hiring youth, and how a first-of-its-kind survey conducted by Iowa State University will help shape youth workforce solutions.  

Iowa Workforce Development's Labor Market Information Division is hard at work crunching Iowa's workforce numbers. On today's episode we sit down with LMI Bureau Chief Donna Burkett to talk about how they collect their information, and why a survey that goes out to employers twice a year is crucial to employment decisions for both employers and job seekers.

National Apprenticeship Week is a time to celebrate the employers and apprentices who have helped create a new pathway towards employment across the country. Here in Iowa, Dane Sulentic, is now Iowa Workforce Development's new State Apprenticeship Director. Sulentic stops by the Mission: Employable podcast to talk about the viability of Registered Apprenticeship programs, and how they can help employers keep the knowledge of their veteran workforce in-house.  Find out what makes Registered Apprenticeship Programs a great choice for students and recent high school graduates, or even how apprenticeship can supplement a college degree. 

Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation Services has a new leader and he comes all the way from Texas. Division Administrator, Dr. James Williams, joins the Mission: Employable podcast to talk about how he plans to lead the department over the next few years. Find out what he has in store for Iowa's Vocational Rehabilitation Services, and how his experience in special education and vocational rehabilitation in Texas has prepared him to lead the division in Iowa and especially after the statewide realignment under Iowa Workforce Development. 

Mission: Employable continues its series on National Disability Employment Awareness Month by talking with Tami Jewell, Administrative Specialist with Iowa State University Surplus. Jewell partners with Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation and Project:Search to hire Iowans with disabilities who are looking for a path to employment.  Find out how this unique partnership is helping Iowans find rewarding work, and how one Iowan in particular is making a difference at ISU Surplus.   

October marks National Disability Employment Awareness Month and the Mission: Employable Podcast will be talking about the subject all month long.  Eric Evans, who has done a little bit of everything at Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation Services (IVRS), stops by the podcast studio to chat about how his department is continuously helping Iowans with disabilities find rewarding work and what it means now that IVRS is under the Iowa Workforce Development umbrella.    

We've talked a lot about registered apprenticeship programs on the podcast, but did you know there are ways to get students ready for that apprenticeship before they even step through the door?  Samantha Groark, Executive Director at the Central Iowa Building & Construction Trades Council, is back on Mission: Employable to talk about how pre-apprenticeship programs are helping high school students and beyond prepare to become an apprentice, and how schools and non-profits can easily create these classes to help give students a leg up.   

Mass layoffs at companies like Yellow Corp. often affect hundreds of employees.  Iowa Workforce Development plays a major role in getting those people back to work.  Lacie Kraft, Manager for IWD's Rapid Response Program, and Chad Pierce, Business Engagement Consultant, talk about the services IWD provides to both employers and employees during these incidents, and how IWD can help companies avoid mass layoffs before they even happen. 

Work-based learning can be a light bulb moment for businesses as they work to develop their talent pipeline. We're joined by MUSCO Lighting Talent Outreach Manager Paula Wright as she talks about how their programs are creating a 60% retention rate for students who are joining their work-based learning programs.  Find out how you can be successful with one of these programs even if it doesn't look exactly like MUSCO's.

The Iowa State Fair is right around the corner and our workforce team will be there to meet with Fairgoers! IWD Director (and State Fair super fan) Beth Townsend joins the show to talk about why she believes it's so important to be out in the community at one of Iowa's largest events. Find out what you can expect when you meet our team in person, as well as what State Fair food we look forward to each year! 

Hiring Veterans and their spouses is one of the workforce priorities at Iowa Workforce Development.  Iowa now has a job portal that makes it easier for this talent pool to connect with Veteran-ready employers across the state! Jamie Norton, Director of Veteran Workforce Services, talks about the new IowaWORKS for Veterans portal and how it connects Veterans and their spouses to great employment opportunities in Iowa.  

Ever thought about starting your own business? Iowa is the perfect state for entrepreneurs to set up shop. Diana Wright, Start-up Community Builder at the Greater Des Moines Partnership, stops by the studio to talk about all the resources available to someone looking to start their own business in Iowa. From grant funding to investors, this episode has it all! 

Work-based learning is gaining momentum in Iowa, making the way to help high school students explore careers before they graduate. Grant Hegstad, Career Experiences Coordinator at MOC-Floyd Valley Community School District, explains how they created a program where students can get professional experience with local employers. Find out how the school district is supporting the local workforce with innovative projects in and out of the classroom. 

Sometimes a temporary position can lead to a long-term job opportunity. Christine Salem, Client Relations Manager at Aventure Staffing, explains how a hiring agency can help with staffing needs, ranging from temporary hires to executive-level hiring. Find out more about how staffing agencies work closely with businesses to find both short-term and long-term solutions to their workforce needs.    

Women make up about 11% of the construction workforce nationally and Iowa is working to add to that number. Steph Reed, Director of Operations at Embarq Signature Homes, discusses how the construction industry can create more opportunities and how mentorship plays a big role in both developing and retaining talent from underrepresented populations.    

It's no secret that a strong child care system is key to supporting a strong workforce. Sheri Penney, Employment Engagement Director for the Iowa Women's Foundation, talks about some of the creative ways employers and communities are working together to solve local child care challenges. Find out how members of a small Iowa community have worked together to raise their child care workers' pay by over two dollars an hour, and how your community can get started on similar solutions.  

Apprenticeships are an integral part of how trade unions recruit, train, and retain skilled workers. Andy Roberts, Business Director for the Plumbers and Steamfitters Local 33, joins the show to talk about training and employment opportunities available in high-demand careers. Find out what exactly a “steamfitter” is and how the Local 33 is working to encourage women and underrepresented populations consider an apprenticeship in the trades.

Direct Care workers are a vital part of Iowa's health care industry because the need for them is expected to grow 19% by the year 2040.  Di Findley, Executive Director of the Iowa CareGivers Association, talks about how this high-demand career impacts Iowans who need some of the most personalized care.  Find out how the Iowa CareGivers Association can help employers hire direct care workers to fill gaps in various health care positions.  

Veterans and their spouses are part of a skilled talent pool that can be the perfect match for employers.  Kandi Tillman, Director of 50 Strong, shares her personal connection to the Veteran community and how it inspired her to establish an organization that helps match Veterans and their spouses with rewarding career opportunities. Find out how the Arizona-based organization promotes networking opportunities to help Iowa businesses find skilled workers.