Workforce in Action

In this episode, we're joined by Ann Werbach, Strategic Partnership Director, and Mo McKenna, Associate Vice President of Partner Success, at InsideTrack. Equus and InsideTrack are partnering on a new Young Adult Mentoring Pilot that uses an evidence-based mentoring framework delivered by InsideTrack Coaches in four workforce areas. Listen to hear about the value of this coaching model to help participants shape and define their long-term goals, build social capital and navigate the complexity of being a young adult. 

In this episode, we're joined by Lisa Patt McDaniel, CEO of the Workforce Development Board of Central Ohio. In honor of Women's History Month we tackle topics such as career advancement and real-world networking. Lisa also shares about the catalyst for the Woman at Work Career Accelerator Program, an innovative, cohort-based model implemented to support women disproportionately impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

In this episode, Equus' Bob Knight is joined by Clyde McQueen, CEO of the Full Employment Council, Inc. in Greater Kansas City, Missouri. The pair dives into public policy, the complexities of jobs of the future, economic development drivers, and more.

In this episode we're joined by Alyssa Burgess, Associate Director of Career Pathways at the Washington Association for Community Health. Listen to learn how the association is using innovative education and training programs to cultivate an equitable and sustainable community health workforce.

On this episode, we're joined by Vickie Miller, Director and Developer of the Training Assessment and Placement Program (TAPP) in Columbus, Ohio. Listen to hear about the wraparound model TAPP uses for second chance workforce development.

In this episode, we're joined by Mark Panciera, CEO, and Chris Scaffidi, Senior National Account Director, of The Pacific Institute. Listen to hear our discussion about the impact of beliefs and self-efficacy on individual, team and organizational performance and culture.

In this episode we sit down with Gris Bailey, President & CEO of the Latin American Chamber of Commerce of Charlotte, during Hispanic Heritage Month. Listen in to learn the innovative ways the Chamber is supporting its membership, including small businesses and college students, to navigate the current labor market and adapt for growth.

In this episode, we're joined by Robert Knight, Director of Government Relations and Workforce Policy at Equus Workforce Solutions, to celebrate Workforce Development Month. Listen for a lively discussion about how the current economic, legislative and political landscapes are impacting the workforce system today and into the future.  

In this episode, we're joined by Jill Hendrix, Director of Apprenticeships and Work-Based Learning at Gaston College in North Carolina. Listen to learn how this community college team is using the apprenticeship model to meet the needs of students and employers.

Listen in to this episode as Mychael Lee, Ph.D, Marketing and Business Development Coordinator is joined by Kathryn Castelloes, Director of ApprenticeshipNC. Mychael and Kathryn sit down to discuss how ApprenticeshipNC is working with employers in North Carolina to provide comprehensive administration and oversight of apprenticeship programs in the state.  Kathryn also talks about ApprenticeshipNC's partner system which helps employers connect with local resources to ensure sustainable talent pipelines and successful apprenticeship programs.

On this episode, Jâlie Cohen, Group Senior Vice President Human Resources for the Adecco Group Americas joins guest host Equus Vice President of Operations, Nicole Ganier. Jalie shares her insights on what the Adecco group has dubbed “The Great Re-evaluation”. She discusses prominent trends in the values of the current and future workforce including flexibility, wellness, and purpose and shares how companies can work to adapt to those priorities.  

On this episode of the Workforce of Action podcast, guest host Rudy Racine, Vice President of Operations for Equus is joined by Cathryn Nacario, CEO of National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) San Diego. Rudy and Cathryn discuss how NAMI San Diego is helping employers create a Stigma-Free Work Environment through education and advocacy. Cathryn also shares how the NAMI Clubhouse is helping individuals with mental health concerns on their journey back into the workforce. They also discuss how San Diego's Workforce Steering Committee is addressing labor shortages in the mental health industry.  

Guest host Mychael Lee, Ph.D, Marketing and Business Development Coordinator for Equus' Registered Apprenticeship Team sat down with Mary Hegerman, HR Business Partner and Cassidy Rutledge, Talent Coordinator from Mortenson Dental Partners to talk about their Registered Apprenticeship program. Mary and Cassidy share how the program is helping them to address the labor shortages in the field of dentistry by growing talent within their organization, while providing opportunities to untapped talent in their communities.

In this episode, we're joined by Erick Serrato, Director of the Merced County Department of Workforce Investment, to hear how human-centered design is being applied across a host of workforce priorities. Listen to learn the community impact of solutions like short-term loans for accelerated training and expanding home-based child care capacity.

We sit down with Matthew Nicol, Senior Talent Acquisition Manager at HNI Furniture Operations, to talk about evolving talent pipelines. Matthew shares insights on rural recruitment and employment branding strategies as keys to success. Matthew also digs into data-driven approaches, like the one that expanded HNI's apprenticeship program.  

Tune in as Nicole Ganier, Vice President of Operations, is joined by Adrineh Terantonians, Regional Director for Equus Workforce Solutions, for a conversation about how policy makers can help resolve the many barriers refugees face when finding employment. Adrineh shares her own journey as a refugee entering the American workforce and reveals the resources that are particularly helpful for the refugee population. Discover the important role that refugees can play in addressing the U.S. labor shortage and what workforce development professionals need to be mindful of when serving this population. 

Host Nicole Ganier, Vice President of Operations for Equus, sat down with Equus Regional Director Camille Padilla to discuss how job seekers and workforce professionals can take control of their destinies and design their futures. Camille shares how she decided to pursue a career in workforce development and how she overcame the obstacles she faced along the way. Camille also reveals how leaders can help their teams grow and climb the ladder to success. 

Equus Regional Director David Genaro joins the program to discuss the innovative and engaging techniques his team at New York City YouthPathways uses to effectively meet young adults where they are and help them find success. Learn how David's New York City YouthPathway's team successfully recreated their onsite service delivery model using virtual tools and technologies. David also shares innovative techniques his team uses to promote their programs and services while keeping young adults ages 18 to 24 engaged and providing them with a sense of belonging.    

Join Host Nicole Ganier, Vice President of Operations for Equus Workforce Solutions, as she discusses the life-changing work Equus Regional Director Stacia Peters and her team are doing to combat homelessness and help individuals become work-ready through California’s San Diego County emergency non-congregate sheltering program. Learn how Stacia and her team are helping high-risk individuals and their families become stable and self-sufficient and find placement in permanent or regular housing as well as connect them with workforce services and reunify them with family members during the pandemic. Stacia shares how her team is using the Housing First model from the National Alliance to End Homelessness that prioritizes providing permanent housing to individuals, thus ending their homelessness and serving as a platform from which they can pursue personal goals and improve their quality of life

Host Debra Giordano, Vice President of Service Delivery for Equus Workforce Solutions, is joined by Darnell Middleton, National Manager of Youth and Young Adult Programs for Equus Workforce Solutions, as they discuss strategies for engaging youth and young adults and helping them create a pathway for success. Discover how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted youth and young adults, and the types of programming Equus provides to young adults, ages 16 to 24. You’ll also hear about the new, more effective ways of connecting with youth and some of the youth-focused partnership opportunities available to employers. 

In this episode, host Debra Giordano, Vice President of Service Delivery for Equus Workforce Solutions is joined by Matt Waltz, Chief Operating Officer for the Wisconsin Regional Training Partnership and Building Industry Group and Skilled Trades Employment Program (WRTP/BIG STEP) to discuss why businesses and workforce boards should invest in Registered Apprenticeship Programs. Matt shares ways that workforce boards can support the expansion of Registered Apprenticeship by partnering with an industry intermediary to successfully navigate the system and how apprenticeships foster workplace equity. Discover funding resources available to businesses considering Registered Apprenticeship.  For more information about WRTP/BIG STEP, please visit www.wrtp.org.

In this episode, host Debra Giordano, Vice President of Service Delivery for Equus Workforce Solutions is joined by Todd Schmiedeler, Chief Engagement and Innovations Officer at Trilogy Health Services in Louisville, KY. Discover how Trilogy is using their FastTrack Apprenticeship Program to recruit, hire, train and retain employees in the healthcare and hospitality industries. Todd also shares the importance of partnering with an industry intermediary and how it can help employers and businesses develop or expand their Registered Apprenticeship Program. Todd Schmiedeler’s Email: todds@trilogyhs.com   Fast Track Apprenticeship Link: https://trilogyfasttrack.com/ 

In this episode, host Debra Giordano, Vice President of Service Delivery for Equus Workforce Solutions is joined by Tera West, Associate Regional Director for Equus Workforce Solutions and the Program Manager for the U.S. Department of Labor Registered Apprenticeship Expansion Contract Team. Discover the importance of Registered Apprenticeship Programs and how they benefit job seekers and businesses. Tera also reveals how Registered Apprenticeship Programs differ from Industry Recognized Apprenticeship Programs and how Registered Apprenticeships can help rebuild the workforce. 

In this episode, host Nicole Ganier, Vice President of Operations for Equus Workforce Solutions, is joined by Bernie Derible, Vice President of ResCare Workforce Services Canada, to discuss the role that leadership plays in creating an inclusive and supportive company culture. Bernie shares his own journey of becoming a leader and reveals how organizations can ensure that leaders are equipped to provide the support, guidance and coaching necessary to maximize the individual growth and development of their employees. Discover how companies can help prevent burnout and create collaborative work environments. 

Did you know that white workers are 50 percent more likely than workers of color to hold good jobs and that eliminating racial inequities in income could boost the U.S. economy by $2.3 trillion a year, and as the workforce approaches a people-of-color majority that toll will only grow in the absence of bold, equity-focused solutions? Bradley Williams, Chief Customer Officer and Vice President of Operations for Equus Workforce Solutions, sat down with Amanda Cage, President and CEO of the National Fund for Workforce Solutions, and Matt Sigelman, CEO of Burning Glass Technologies, to discuss research that led to a report titled, “Race and the Work of the Future: Advancing Workforce Equity in the United States.” Learn about the key findings from the report and discover some of the top public policy issues that need to be addressed regarding employment, education and employer practices. Learn more about Burning Glass Technologies: https://www.burning-glass.com/ Learn more about the National Fund for Workforce Solutions: https://nationalfund.org/ Learn more about Policy Link: https://www.policylink.org/research/race-and-the-work-of-the-future

Dr. Heather Myers, Chief Psychology Officer at Traitify, the world’s fastest personality assessment, joins the program to reveal how workforce professionals can use Traitify to build a positive and personalized experience for the job seeker. Dr. Myers also discusses how job seekers who have had to pivot in their careers due to the COVID-19 pandemic are using Traitify to recover and explore new careers. You’ll also learn about a pilot that is underway using Traitify’s assessment to screen applicants to select the right candidates for open positions. 

Dr. Shannon Block, Executive Director and Chief Operations Officer for Skillful, an initiative of the Markle Foundation, joins the program to discuss the future of hiring and staffing trends. Shannon shares her thoughts about how businesses can build trust with their communities and the skills and qualities needed to successfully navigate through the pandemic. To learn more about the Rework America Alliance, visit https://markle.org/alliance. Resume builder for job seekers: https://markle.org/rework-america-alliance-resume-builder Job posting generator for employers: https://markle.org/job-posting-generator-employers   Connect with Shannon on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/businessdevelopmentnow/

T.J. Griffin, Chief Pharmacy Officer at PharMerica, joins host Tim Foster, Vice President, Customer and Market Development at Equus Workforce Solutions, to talk about his thoughts on the most effective way to rollout the COVID-19 vaccine. From the facts and figures to hope for the future, T.J. provides insights based on his decades of experience. Learn more about how several different industries are coming together to bring the vaccine to life and hear his thoughts on the pharmacy industry's future.

This episode features an interview with Ron Painter, CEO of the National Association of Workforce Boards, to discuss how workforce boards can drive development and change in the current climate. From apprenticeships to skills-based hiring, discover the role workforce boards play in helping our communities thrive.

Join us for a special Veterans Day edition of Workforce In Action. In this episode, you'll hear from Ethan Arguello, a Talent Development Specialist with Equus Workforce Solutions and a Marine Corps Veteran, and Keisaun Jones, an Army Reserve Veteran who used Equus Workforce Solutions services to help him transition into civilian life and find meaningful employment. Discover some of the unique skills that veterans bring to the workforce and advice for transitioning military members. 

Susan Sender, RN, and William Mills, M.D., join the program to discuss the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on healthcare employment and what BrightSpring Health Services is doing to create jobs. Discover the investments that have been made for onboarding, recruiting, and retaining talent in the healthcare industry and the opportunities for healthcare jobs in a virtual service delivery platform. Susan and Dr. Mills also share recommendations for anyone interested in entering the healthcare industry.

Rexanne Domico, President of Home Health Care and Rehabilitation Services for BrightSpring Health Services, joins the program to discuss the importance of direct care workers and the many job opportunities available in the homecare industry. Rexanne reveals the efforts that her organization has made to ensure the safety of employees during the COVID-19 pandemic. She also discusses the challenges around attracting qualified talent and the potential career pathways available for direct care workers.

Jaime Cruz, Executive Director at Workforce Connections, joins the program to discuss the positive effect that business hubs can have on the economy. He also discusses how local businesses have survived during the COVID-19 pandemic and his team's efforts to provide businesses with much-needed relief.

To commemorate the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th amendment and celebrate Women's Equality Day, Equus Workforce Solutions hosted the "Workforce Industry Women In Leadership Virtual Roundtable."    Join Host and Vice President of Service Delivery Debra Giordano and three women leaders in the workforce industry for a special three-part episode where they’ll discuss their journey to their current roles, barriers that they've faced and overcome in their careers, and the impact of the pandemic on women. Panelists include Danielle Frazier, President and CEO of Charlotte Works in North Carolina; Karin Norington-Reaves, Chief Executive Officer for the Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership; and Laurie Bouillion Larrea, President and CEO of Workforce Solutions Greater Dallas.

To commemorate the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th amendment and celebrate Women's Equality Day, Equus Workforce Solutions hosted the "Workforce Industry Women In Leadership Virtual Roundtable."    Join Host and Vice President of Service Delivery Debra Giordano and three women leaders in the workforce industry for a special three-part episode where they’ll discuss their journey to their current roles, barriers that they've faced and overcome in their careers, and the impact of the pandemic on women. Panelists include Danielle Frazier, President and CEO of Charlotte Works in North Carolina; Karin Norington-Reaves, Chief Executive Officer for the Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership; and Laurie Bouillion Larrea, President and CEO of Workforce Solutions Greater Dallas.

To commemorate the 100th anniversary of the ratification of the 19th amendment and celebrate Women's Equality Day, Equus Workforce Solutions hosted the "Workforce Industry Women In Leadership Virtual Roundtable."    Join Host and Vice President of Service Delivery Debra Giordano and three women leaders in the workforce industry for a special three-part episode where they’ll discuss their journey to their current roles, barriers that they've faced and overcome in their careers, and the impact of the pandemic on women. Panelists include Danielle Frazier, President and CEO of Charlotte Works in North Carolina; Karin Norington-Reaves, Chief Executive Officer for the Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership; and Laurie Bouillion Larrea, President and CEO of Workforce Solutions Greater Dallas.

Karin Norington-Reaves, CEO at the Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership, joins the program to share how her organization has responded to the "twin pandemics" of COVID-19 and civil unrest. Karin reveals what The Partnership is doing to support their employees during these challenging times and discusses a recent grant award that will create 600 contact tracing jobs to combat the spread of COVID-19. 

Byron Garrett, President/CEO of the National Job Corps Association, joins the program to discuss how criminal justice, education, and economic policies need to adjust to current social changes. Byron also discusses his thoughts about the disruption that COVID-19 has  created and how to help marginalized communities. 

David Conway joins the program to discuss how Partner4Work in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, has joined forces with IBM to provide training and employment resources to job seekers, small businesses, and non-profits.  For more information about the IBM Service Corps Reignite Program, please visit: https://www.partner4work.org/programs/ibm-service-corps-reignite/

Ronnie Aroesty and Mary Mercurio Santos join the program to discuss the importance of education and training and how they play a vital role in the success of individuals in the workforce. Discover how to encourage young people to find their own career path and how to help them broaden their thinking about what it takes to achieve success. Ronnie and Mary also share their thoughts about the role that families and schools play in encouraging students to continue their education and the role of technology in the learning process. 

Tim Chambers, Vice President of Job Corps and Career Center Operations for Equus Workforce Solutions, and Patty Lankford, Vice President of Job Corps Service Delivery for Equus Workforce Solutions, join the program to discuss how Job Corps is evolving and changing in the face of the coronavirus pandemic. 

Rudy Racine, Vice President of WeCARE Operations for Equus Workforce Solutions, and Rochelle Brown, Regional Director, Atlantic South Region, joins the program to discuss the challenges and opportunities that the workforce system faces when assisting marginalized populations as well as the importance of workforce services for those populations. 

Mark Douglass, President of Equus Workforce Solutions, and Brad Williams, Chief Customer Officer and Vice President of Operations, join the program to discuss the thinking behind the rebranding to Equus Workforce Solutions, and the recent advances and innovation that they have seen within the workforce development industry. They also share their thoughts on how the recent disruption will continue to shape the industry moving forward and Equus’ role in influencing positive change in the workforce environment. 

In this first episode of Workforce in Action, Bob Knight, Director of Workforce Policy & Government Relations at Equus Workforce Solutions, and Daryn Demeritt, Senior Vice President, Government Relations for BrightSpring Health Services, join the program to discuss the current state of workforce policy and government relations. Discover the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on funding for workforce development and how to leverage upcoming funding opportunities. You can contact Bob at rknight@equusworks.com and Daryn at ddemeritt@brightspringhealth.com