Explore every episode of the podcast Ready for Work
| Title | Pub. Date | Duration | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62 Reaching for the STARs in Celebration of Workforce Development Month | 17 Sep 2025 | 00:22:24 | |
ACT celebrates Workforce Development Month with a powerful keynote from LaShana Lewis—technologist, advocate, and Chair of Opportunity@Work’s Stars Advisory Council. Recorded live at ACT’s Atlanta Summit, LaShana shares her personal journey and the systemic barriers faced by STARs—those Skilled Through Alternative Routes. Her story highlights the urgent need for inclusive, skills-based hiring and the role of ACT’s Work Ready Communities in building skills-driven pathways. | |||
| 61 - Employer Engagement for a Skills First Future | 13 Aug 2025 | 00:26:39 | |
Episode 61 features Isaac Agbeshie-Noye from the SHRM Foundation, who discusses the Skills First Future initiative and its role in helping employers adopt skills-drivenpractices and expand nationwide opportunities through Learning and Employment Records (LERs). The conversation explores common myths surrounding skills-firsthiring, the challenges employers encounter, and strategies to overcome them. Isaac highlights key tools available at SkillsFirstFuture.org, including the Skills Action Planner and SHRM’s new specialty credential. The episode provides practical insights for HR professionals and their collaborations with educators and workforce leaders aiming to build a high-performing talent ecosystem. Listeners will discover how small adjustments can lead to significant outcomes and why the shift toward skills-first hiring is gaining momentum across various industries. Voices of Excellence: Isaac Agbeshie-Noye, Program Director SHRM Foundation Widening Pathways to Work Resources from Episode 61 | |||
| 52 - Transforming Data to Destiny for Life-Changing Career Guidance | 21 Aug 2024 | 00:12:13 | |
Richard Portelance from EdGate discusses the importance of data in career planning and the need for a lifelong learning repository to support modern pathways with better integrations of profile details. Identifying the fractured nature of current career tools and the necessity for better visualization of career pathways, Richard highlights the role of educational standards and AI’s potential with machine learning to map career pathways efficiently, empowering both learners and advisors. | |||
| 51 - From Disparity to Prosperity - Transforming Minnesota’s Workforce | 21 Aug 2024 | 00:14:40 | |
Erin Olson, Senior Director of Strategic Research at Real Time Talent, discusses Minnesota’s educational and workforce challenges. Despite high labor force participation, Minnesota faces significant racial disparities in education and a talent shortage. Olson highlights the misalignment between workforce needs and available skills, emphasizing the need for strategic partnerships and data-driven solutions. Real Time Talent collaborates with various stakeholders to address these issues, focusing on aligning educational programs with labor market demands and promoting equity. Olson underscores the importance of employer involvement in creating effective workforce solutions and the role of Real Time Talent in facilitating these efforts.
| |||
| 50 - Work Readiness at the Speed of Motlow | 17 Jul 2024 | 00:15:54 | |
Known for his innovative approach to education, Dr. Michael Torrence of Motlow State Community College in Tennessee is a champion of emerging technologies, workforce development, and community engagement. He's passionate about creating scalable opportunities for students, fostering relationships with industries, and preparing the next generation for the future. From transforming homeless students into successful professionals, to pioneering digital credentialing systems, Dr. Torrence shares his dynamic FRED Talk from the ACT Workforce Summit stage. | |||
| 49 Employer-Driven Universities with Innovative Solutions for Adult Learners | 24 Jun 2024 | 00:12:28 | |
In Episode 49 of Ready for Work, we continue our series of FRED Talks from the ACT Workforce Summit. Tracy Robinson from the University of Memphis shares her experience working with adult learners and the challenges they face in balancing education with other life responsibilities. The University of Memphis has made significant changes to accommodate adult learners, just in time for employer giant FedEx to seek the university’s help. It’s a successful model that the University replicated with the City of Memphis, a regional hospital chain, and Nike, among others. | |||
| 48 Storytelling Accelerates Workforce and Economic Development | 12 Jun 2024 | 00:13:16 | |
Will Coppage is a creative community developer. From the main stage of the ACT Workforce Summit, Will helped us explore the concept of wonder in art and its power to draw us in repeatedly. Will shows us how this principle applies to community development, emphasizing the importance of fostering creativity, maintaining a positive community appearance, and promoting workforce skills. The episode concludes with exciting news of a storytelling event at the 2024 Workforce Summit in Atlanta. | |||
| 47 - Excellence in the Fusion of Economic and Workforce Development | 07 Mar 2024 | 00:23:42 | |
Episode 47 features Tonia Saunders, who leads both workforce and economic development in Lucas County, Ohio. This Work Ready Community (WRC) integrated the two disciplines, emphasizing the role of collaboration with neighboring counties to enhance the region's competitiveness. Tonia shares insights on tackling workforce challenges, leveraging community partnerships and innovative strategies to serve the manufacturing and healthcare industries effectively. The episode highlights the success of Lucas County's WRC initiative, showcasing how it drives economic growth and improves employment opportunities through targeted employer engagement and comprehensive support services. This conversation underlines the importance of synergy between workforce and economic development in achieving regional prosperity. Voices of Excellence in Episode 47: Tonia Saunders, Director Work Ready Lucas County and Lucas County, Ohio Planning and Development Show Notes and Resources:
| |||
| 46 - Braided Funding and Alignment for Program Sustainability | 29 Feb 2024 | 00:24:25 | |
Braided funding and alignment of partnerships are key when creating sustainable systems and programs for your community. Lyndsie Gibbs and Alex Lovrien from Metropolitan Community College in Omaha join us on Episode 46 of Ready for Work. The partnerships across this Work Ready Community grew a small, data-driven, proof of concept into a $10M venture that has eliminated financial barriers so individuals can access quality training, education, and gainful employment. Listen in for best practices on braided funding, opportunities and obstacles, tips to get started, and lessons learned. Voices of Excellence in Episode 46: Lyndsie Gibbs, Director of Career Skills and Workforce Metropolitan Community College of Omaha LinkedIn Alex Lovrein, Director of Workforce Training Metropolitan Community College of Omaha LinkedIn Links and Resources: | |||
| 45 - Skilled Through Alternative Routes - Why STARs Matter to the Workforce | 20 Dec 2023 | 00:31:03 | |
Join us in Episode 45 to discover a groundbreaking partnership between ACT and Opportunity at Work. Georgia Gillette, VP of Strategic Alliances at Opportunity at Work, shares insights on STARs (Skilled Through Alternative Routes) and the Tear the Paper Ceiling campaign. Discover the challenges faced by STARs, the impact of hiring misperceptions, and the mission to bridge the gap between job opportunities and workforce skills. Explore the data-driven strategies, success stories, and a comprehensive playbook aimed at closing skill gaps with STARs.
| |||
| 44 - Celebrating Manufacturing Month with ACT and MSSC | 11 Oct 2023 | 00:17:54 | |
In episode 44 of Ready for Work, LeeSa Page, a senior advisor with the Manufacturing Skill Standards Council, discusses the importance of Manufacturing Day and Manufacturing Month in October. She highlights the role of manufacturing in the American economy and the need to inspire various groups to pursue careers in the industry. From the stage of the recent ACT Workforce Summit in Nashville, LeeSa emphasizes the need for partnerships and initiatives to tap into untapped talent pools for a diverse manufacturing workforce. The episode concludes by acknowledging successful programs that have positively impacted manufacturing employment. | |||
| 43 - High Tech Meets High Touch to Engage Working Learners | 28 Sep 2023 | 00:26:28 | |
Change management enables working learners to acquire skills and adopt behaviors that maximize workforce and learning outcomes. On episode 43 of Ready for Work, guest Robert Feeney shares his personal journey that led him to develop Ringorang. Driven by overcoming severe mental health challenges in his family, Robert emphasizes the importance of behavior change in education and career development. The solution deploys drip advertising techniques to enhance training outcomes, change management, and participant engagement. Schools and workforce stakeholders send out information and actions to participants and collect actionable data on their responses. The conversation introduces the Future Ready program and explores intersections of work-based learning with participant engagement technology as well. Voices of Excellence in Episode 43 Robert Feeney, Chief Vision Officer Links and Resources | |||
| 60 - Put It Where the Goats Can Get It - How to Simplify AI in Workforce Development | 17 Jun 2025 | 00:26:29 | |
From the stage of ACT’s Workforce Summit in Atlanta, episode 60 brings humor, insight, and real-world wisdom on AI’s role in workforce development. Host Jasen Jones is joined by tech experts DJ Burrel, Joshua Cox and Davin Jackson to explore how AI is transforming cybersecurity, government, and education. From ethical hacking to gaming as a gateway to tech careers, the panel breaks down complex topics in a way “the goats can get.” If you’re tech-savvy or just curious, this episode offers practical takeaways and inspiration for navigating the future of work with AI. Voices of Excellence on Episode 60
Links and Resources | |||
| 42 - What's Next for the Skills-First Movement | 26 Sep 2023 | 00:12:14 | |
Two incredible champions in the field of competency-based education and the skills-first movement: Julian Alssid and Kaitlin Lemoine, join the conversation on Episode 42 of Ready for Work. Through their pioneering work at College for America, the duo emphasizes the importance of transparently naming and communicating skills to learners, bridging the gap between academic and workplace skills. Learn more about the challenges posed by legacy systems and the importance of breaking down silos. They also share insights from their new consultancy work, giving us a preview of What’s Next for the Skills-First Movement. Kaitlin Lemoine, Partner Links and Resources | |||
| 41 - Credentials As You Go Accelerates Career Pathways | 19 Sep 2023 | 00:18:39 | |
The current education system relies heavily on traditional degrees, limiting adult learners and disproportionately affecting people of color. Employers value 21st-century skills, but confusion persists due to the proliferation of diverse credentials. Guest Melissa Goldberg joins Episode 41 of Ready for Work to showcase Credentials As You Go. This framework provides the redesign needed for economic realities, equity, and clarification, with implications for politics and workforce preparation. Voices of Excellence on Episode 41 Melissa Goldberg, Director of Competencies and Credentials Links and Resources | |||
| 40 - Equity and Transparency for Education and Credentials | 05 Jul 2023 | 00:19:54 | |
Credential Engine is revolutionizing workforce career learning ecosystems by providing accessible data on credentials. Learn how equity plays a crucial role in reshaping pathways and empowering individuals. Here in Episode 40 of Ready for Work, Credential Engine CEO Scott Cheney helps us uncover the key information needed for informed decision-making and how it promotes fairness. Explore the transformative power of open data and modern tech in education and career guidance to enhance your region’s career learning workforce ecosystem.
| |||
| 39 - Innovations in Career Navigation and Workforce Ecosystem Impact | 09 Jun 2023 | 00:20:13 | |
Discover how WorkBay®, a technology firm founded by CEO Mary Hayes and COO Alice Hayes, is making a difference in career navigation both regionally and nationally. WorkBay integrates the skills-first approach of the workforce ecosystem and their innovations in this area are revolutionizing career exploration and navigation. During a recent Work Ready Communities Live event, Mary and Alice shared insights about the latest pilots with ACT® and how WorkBay is integrating WorkKeys benchmarks into user-friendly platforms in regions and targeted initiatives across the U.S. WorkBay successfully tackled the technological challenges of serving returning citizens with pre-release activities. By combining high-tech solutions with a personal touch, WorkBay provides career navigation that truly matters. Voices of Excellence on Episode 39
Resources | |||
| 38 - Working to Solve Workforce Challenges in Longview | 31 May 2023 | 00:12:54 | |
As vice president of Longview Economic Development Corporation in Texas, Heather Malone shared her valuable insights on the workforce challenges that her community faces in a friendly and informative manner. One key point she highlighted was the importance of reliable transportation for workers to meet the demands of their employers. Additionally, she discussed the ongoing skills gap in the Longview region and the proactive measures being taken to support both the workforce and employers. Heather emphasized the current top workforce challenges and how employers are adapting their job descriptions to align with the specific skills required for open positions, rather than solely focusing on a bachelor's degree requirement. In the Longview region, employers are also exploring reentry programs that cater to their labor needs and finding innovative ways to provide employee support, such as offering childcare services, to help fill jobs and support their valuable workforce. Voices of Excellence Heather Malone, Vice President Longview Economic Development Corporation Show Notes and Resources
| |||
| 37 - Boosting Career Pathways with College Credit through WorkKeys | 15 Feb 2023 | 00:20:58 | |
Career Pathways are a special blend of training and job progression. When the training includes post-secondary learning, the WorkKeys National Career Readiness Certificate from ACT can translate to college credit that jumpstarts the learning journey. Awarding credit through Prior Learning Assessment, or PLA, for short, boosts confidence and increases the pace to program completion. Colleges increase enrollment while helping build the regional talent pipeline. The American Council of Education recently upgraded their recommendations on credit hours awarded for the NCRC. Join us on Episode 37 as we explore the benefits of PLA; make connections between WorkKeys levels and post-secondary performance; and examine how administrators and faculty can use WorkKeys Estimator to align their competencies to specific WorkKeys benchmarks. Voices of Excellence in Episode 37: Lynette Livingston, Executive Dean Chippewa Valley Technical College Dr. Cindy Hill, Principal Industrial-Organizational Psychologist ACT WorkKeys Profiling and Research Jenna Cohen, Senior Director Links and Resources: | |||
| 36 - National Apprenticeship Week with Success at Roy O'Martin | 12 Nov 2022 | 00:21:55 | |
2022 marks the 8th annual National Apprenticeship Week and celebrations November 14th through the 20th to showcase the success and value of apprenticeship to rebuild the economy, advance equity, and support under-served communities. On Episode 36 of Ready for Work, we take you to the recent ACT Workforce Summit in New Orleans for a keynote presentation featuring the Woodworks program at Roy O’Martin, a forestry-products leader in Louisiana and Texas. HR pro and Work Ready Communities ambassador, Donna Bailey presented a luncheon keynote on the three components that made Woodworks a success and some of the voices of excellence along the way. Episode 36 concludes with a quick introduction to the Apprenticeship Ambassador initiative from the U.S. Department of Labor. Guest: Donna Bailey, Vice-President of Human Resources at Roy O'Martin
| |||
| 35 - Closing Skill Gaps for Working Learners with Transit Support | 15 Aug 2022 | 00:09:08 | |
As workforce development typically focuses on skill and availability, other economic and community development practices can make or break those workforce efforts. Examples include housing, broadband internet, childcare, and today’s focus in Episode 35, transportation. Abigail Seldin from the Seldon-Haring-Smith Foundation (SHSF) brings us insight on the importance of transit for community college students. We’ll explore the impact of mapping efforts to boost transit options, the interface of public policy, and advice on how to connect these strategies to a Work Ready Community. Links and Resources
| |||
| 34 - Digital Badges Expand Reach and Impact of WorkKeys | 03 Aug 2022 | 00:32:14 | |
The release of episode 34 of Ready for Work marks a milestone at ACT® in the launch of Digital Badges for the WorkKeys® National Career Readiness Certificate® (NCRC®). Guests include Pat Leonard, the VP for Business Development at Credly®, and Neil Reddy, CEO of the Manufacturing Skill Standards Council (MSSC). Listen in for benefits to working learners, employers, and the full workforce ecosystem. Episode 34 gives a quick overview on the value of badging, best practices for integrating badges for educators and employers, and tips to maximize the online presence of employers and career seekers. Voices of Excellence on Episode 34
Links and Resources
| |||
| 33 - The Role of Occupational Identity for Early Career Professionals | 16 Apr 2022 | 00:19:24 | |
Personal journeys through education and career pathways are often filled with challenges and obstacles, making progress difficult and compromise frequent. Chelsea Williams of Reimagine Talent Co helps us discover the role of occupational identify for career pathway success with tips for job counselors, educators, and employers alike. Resources | |||
| 59 - From Cradle to Career: The Data-Driven Path to Community Transformation | 28 May 2025 | 00:10:41 | |
How early should we begin career development in a child’s life? It’s earlier than you might think. Heidi shares how Strive-Together is helping communities nationwide align around seven key educational milestones—from kindergarten readiness to career entry. Discover how data becomes a flashlight, not a hammer, and why systems thinking, equity, and authentic collaboration are essential for sustainable change. Voices of Excellence and Resources for Episode 59: Heidi Black, Vice President of Training | LinkedIn | |||
| 32 - Preparing Workforce Ecosystems for Returning Citizen Success | 20 Mar 2022 | 00:24:28 | |
Unprecedented skill shortages in labor markets across the U.S. often intersect with a desire for Justice System reform that provides pathways for Returning Citizens to thrive. When optimized in a regional workforce ecosystem, Returning Citizens are a high-performing group of working learners to boost a regional talent pipeline. Episode 32 is the second in our two part series on Preparing Workforce Ecosystems for Returning Citizen Success. We’ll look at a five P’s framework of partnerships, planning, preparation, pathways, and performance with tips to launch or optimize regional re-entry initiatives. Guest Contributors
Resources
| |||
| 31 - Life-Changing Asset and Skill-Based Solutions in Alternative Sentencing | 20 Mar 2022 | 00:15:44 | |
Episode 31 of Ready for Work is the first of a two-part episode on Preparing Workforce Ecosystems for Returning Citizen Success. Charles Elliot is the Presiding Circuit Judge in Morgan County, Alabama. Partnerships with the community college and economic development leaders across their Work Ready Community help with the pillars of education and career. The drug court’s alternative sentencing model thrives on integrating mental health with a record-breaking positive impact.
| |||
| 30 - Linking WorkKeys to Adult Education College and Career Readiness Standards | 16 Mar 2022 | 00:23:48 | |
Federally funded Adult Basic Education (ABE) helps more than a million and half adults each year earn a high school equivalency, increase basic and employability skills, or improve their English language proficiency. The National Reporting Service governs the College and Career Readiness Standards (CCRSAE) inside Adult Ed. Through an accountability and performance system of Educational Functioning Levels and Measurable Skill Gains, these standards guide learning and assessment in Adult Ed. A group of nine subject matter experts in Adult Education formed a panel to align the CCRSAE to the benchmarks of WorkKeys. The panelists represent four states across the South, Midwest, and Northeast regions of the U.S. Results of the study help demonstrate a crosswalk with the Educational Functioning Levels to help ABE programs optimize performance as working learners meet both career and education goals. The report is available now. Enhancing the detail of the crosswalk are best practices from the Mississippi Community College Board, Hagerstown Community College in Maryland, and Metropolitan Community College of Omaha, Nebraska. Each guest contributes their perspectives on the importance of the alignment work and how it helps improve ABE programming. The panelists share what they gained in unique insights from the research that also helps demystify Strength of Link. Episode 30 concludes with tips to read and interpret the crosswalk along with a briefing on the new Move Ahead with Adult Ed campaign. Guest Contributors
Resources | |||
| 29 - Nine Elements to Improve Apprenticeship Quality and Completion | 26 Nov 2021 | 00:35:23 | |
With increased investment in apprenticeship comes increased expectations. ACT joined forces with local apprenticeships successful in skills-based hiring and national thought leaders on what’s needed to boost quality and completions in apprenticeship. Coming out of this collaboration is a new toolkit from ACT. We packed the toolkit with resources and scalable options of good, better, and best to provide apprenticeship coordinators flexibility in how to organize their efforts. The toolkit is organized into nine elements to boost quality and apprenticeship, across the domains of learning, working, and thriving. Contributors
| |||
| 28 - The Role of Humor in Workforce Development - How Roy's Job Fair Reaches Working Learners | 05 Nov 2021 | 00:28:20 | |
One part humor, one part inspiration! Episode 28 kicks off our third season of Ready for Work with a fun perspective on the role of humor in workforce development. Our guest is comedian Roy Wood Junior, a correspondent on Comedy Central's hit, The Daily Show, and host of Roy's Job Fair, a podcast that explores the human condition through the prism of employment. Roy's famed humor is matched by his true empathy and curiosity for people. Roy helps us share the very serious topic of unemployment with an injection of comedy so the workforce ecosystem can be as relatable as possible to working learners. Show Notes and Resources | |||
| 27 - Joplin's Road to Recovery as a Work Ready Community - Ten Years After Devastating Tornado Disaster | 21 May 2021 | 00:29:44 | |
One of the nation's deadliest tornados struck Joplin, Missouri ten years ago this week. On episode 27 of Ready for Work, we take a closer look at Joplin's recovery through the lens of the workforce ecosystem and the nation's first ACT-certified Work Ready Community. A recurring theme is the priceless value of partnership connectivity and innovation. The workforce ecosystem was fortunate to have integrated partnerships with education and economic development that helped respond directly to the needs and urgency required. Check out interviews with a few of those partners, such as Dave Rockers from Franklin Technology Center, Julie Gibson, a former state workforce development director, and Rob O’Brian, the developer at the helm of the Joplin Area Chamber of Commerce during the recovery effort. This edition showcases clips from participants and leaders in Joplin's Disaster Recovery Jobs Program. Guests and Featured Resources
| |||
| 26 - Training Workforce Ecosystem Leaders for Success | 20 Mar 2021 | 00:13:21 | |
The region's workforce ecosystem is only as strong as its leadership. Joining us on episode 25 of Ready for Work, author and consultant Dr. Anthony Edwards helps guide us from new book, Building a Winning Workforce: A Playbook for Employers, Government Entities; Colleges & Schools; Workforce Development Agencies, Economic Development Organizations ... & Chambers of Commerce; & Nonprofits. Later in the podcast, we'll listen to this leadership in action as Missouri's governor celebrates job creation and growth in Certified Work Ready Communities. | |||
| 25 - Rebooting Economic and Workforce Development for 2021 | 03 Feb 2021 | 00:17:38 | |
Keeping the future in mind is a necessary function for persisting through disaster recovery. As regions continue to overcome the pandemic, there is a balance in preparing for future opportunities and obstacles at the same time. Episode 25 features Chad Chancellor, Co-Founder and CEO of the Next Move Group. Listeners can gain insight on the ever-changing skills marketplace in economic development and how that translates to expectations for workforce development and career education leaders. Chad explains how smaller markets and rural areas could see increased viability. Prospects and investors appreciate a simple, user-friendly approach with the buckets of recruit, screen, and train. Chad helps listeners find the right balance in wage competitiveness as well. Rounding out episode 25 are recaps from Mark Arend of Site Selection magazine as new rankings are out for 2021. Preble County, Ohio’s economic development chief, Brenda Latanza, shares her experience in the site selection process as a Work Ready Community. Guests and Contributors
Resources
| |||
| 24 - Deploy and Analyze Recovery and Resiliency Initiatives | 30 Sep 2020 | 00:19:45 | |
In our third of three episodes dedicated to Skills-Based Recovery and Resiliency, episode 24 brings us to the Deploy and Analyze phases in the five-part ALEDA framework. Sean McCoy from Public Consulting Group shares some factors worth considering in the deployment of recovery services remotely. We’ll check out some best practice examples in remote work-based learning with Kelly Dyer in Missouri, and remote instruction with Brownwyn Robertson in Mississippi. Mike Longo and Mary LeFebvre are back with us to share tips and perspectives in analyzing recovery and resiliency efforts. Episode 22 covers the Adapt phase while 23 explores the Lead and Engage phases. Guests and Contributors
Resources
| |||
| 23 - Leading and Engaging Recovery and Resiliency | 29 Sep 2020 | 00:24:12 | |
Workforce ecosystem leaders encounter plenty of challenging layers to disaster recovery and economic resiliency. ACT curated a five-part toolkit with a framework we call ALEDA. We covered the Adapt phase in Episode 22. In this installment, we explore the Lead and Engage phases. We have an interview with Lisa Rice, a former Workforce Director turned leadership consultant. Lisa offers perspectives on three qualities of a leader in disaster recovery, and advice for those new to skills-based recovery systems. Mike Longo, a workforce director in the certified Work Ready Community of Lorain County, Ohio. Through the OhioMeansJobs centers, Mike’s team deployed the Make Your Lay Off Pay Off initiative. Mike shares lessons learned from the last economic downturn, and how they reformed training and quality standards in their deployment. Guests and Contributors
Resources
| |||
| 58 - From Gridlock to Growth – Better Pathways to Partnership Impact | 21 May 2025 | 00:16:22 | |
What does it take to transform education and workforce systems in a way that truly reflects local needs? In this episode, we explore the Talent Hub designation—a model-agnostic standard recognizing excellence in cross-sector partnerships at the local, regional, and state levels. Born from Lumina Foundation’s work with 75 pioneering partnerships, Talent Hubs represent a new way of thinking about collaboration. National thought leader Dakota Pawlicki joins us to share lessons learned, practical strategies for scaling what works, and bold ideas for the future of talent development partnerships. Voices of Excellence in Episode 58: Dakota Pawlicki, Director of TalentHubs at CivicLab | LinkedIn Resources for Episode 58:
| |||
| 22 Adapting for Recovery with Data, Skills, and Systems | 28 Sep 2020 | 00:16:08 | |
Ready for Work episode 22 is the first of three on the ALEDA Framework using Skills-Based Hiring for Disaster Recovery and Economic Resiliency. The five-part framework is Adapt, Lead, Engage, Deploy, and Analyze. We focus this episode on the Adapt phase in Data, Skills, and Systems. The Adapt phase helps us re-position traditional disaster recovery models to meet the needs of your local economy. We must adapt our local data to be current and actionable in order to address each issue organically. Skills for the jobs that remain or return often change dramatically based on the pivots employers make to adapt to their new market realities. Disaster recovery often requires unbundling of your current services to create the flexibility needed to convert options for remote access and other safety protocols. Guests and Contributors
Resources
| |||
| 21 Resilient Workforce Ecosystems Leading Skills-Based Economic Recovery | 24 Apr 2020 | 00:26:36 | |
As a pandemic impacts communities everywhere, regional workforce ecosystems must implement reemployment strategies to become more adaptable. Hear stories of resilience happening real-time. Join the Conversation Will Coppage: Twitter Washington County Economic Alliance: Twitter Mary LeFebvre Twitter: Twitter LinkedIn First Tennessee Development District: LinkedIn Facebook Instagram Jasen Jones Twitter: @JasenCJones ACT Twitter: @act ACT Workforce Solutions: LinkedIn Resources Request the Toolkits on Disaster Recovery and Economic Resiliency or Proposal Development Resilient Workforce Ecosystems Webinar Work Ready Communities COVID-19 Resource Page ACT Workforce Newsletter Signup | |||
| 20 Adult Education Success in Mississippi with Guest Bronwyn Robertson | 28 Feb 2020 | 00:16:28 | |
Bronwyn Robertson shares how Mississippi Community College Board’s Smart Start adult education equips adult learners with workforce credentials (including the WorkKeys NCRC) and ultimately them for success. What more can adult education programs be doing to prepare participants for career success? As the job market continues to evolve, more and more learners rely on these programs to educate them on financial literacy, career awareness skills, class management systems, sector strategies, and countless other workforce-related topics. Smart Start, a program of the Office of Adult Education at the Mississippi Community College Board, is taking the initiative by equipping its participants with vital career readiness skills and credentials. Smart Start Project Specialist Bronwyn Robertson is hopeful that this program will continue to close the gap between worker supply and demand. Founded upon ACT® WorkKeys® Curriculum, Smart Start is a 45-hour intensive course that teaches participants how to apply their specialized skills beyond high school. Students also have the opportunity to earn their ACT WorkKeys National Career Readiness Certificate® (NCRC®). Robertson and her team agree that earning these credentials is critical—particularly for those 350,000 Mississippi residents who do not have their high school diploma. “The Smart Start program through the Office of Adult Education is a career pathway,” shares Robertson. “At the end of the day, we are all trying to provide every Mississippian the opportunity to secure employment.” With over 6,200 Smart Start credentials offered since 2016, it’s clear that Mississippi’s adult education initiative has made a lasting impact on the success of its participants. Tune in to Episode 20 and hear more about how Mississippi’s Smart Start plan is empowering current and future jobseekers. Join the Conversation Skill UP Mississippi: Facebook and Twitter Mississippi Community College Board: Twitter Jasen Jones Twitter: @JasenCJones ACT Twitter: @act ACT Workforce Solutions: LinkedIn Resources Implementation of ACT WorkKeys Curriculum in Adult Education Presentation from ACT Workforce Summit Office of Adult Education at the Mississippi Community College Board ACT WorkKeys® National Career Readiness Certificate® (NCRC®) | |||
| 19 Making the Most of Second Chances with Guest Shelly Jacobs | 14 Feb 2020 | 00:18:40 | |
The Missouri Department of Corrections’ reentry program is equipping returning citizens with career credentials, barrier removal supports, and the WorkKeys NCRC. Reentry Coordinator Shelly Jacobs joins us to share the impact on their workforce. As employers across the nation are expanding their outreach efforts in search of a dedicated workforce, the Missouri Department of Corrections (DOC) has developed new ways to prepare returning citizens for steady employment upon release. Since implementing the reentry program two years ago, Missouri’s prison population has decreased by 7,000 individuals—a shift that Shelly Jacobs, a reentry coordinator with the Missouri DOC, believes is an encouraging sign for the future.
With approximately 19,000 men and women released from prison each year in the state of Missouri, reentry programs are vital to building up credentials and reinforcing basic skills. Administering ACT® WorkKeys® Assessments and giving them the chance to earn their ACT® WorkKeys® National Career Readiness Certificate® (NCRC®), says Jacobs, is the best way to represent the prison population as a viable workforce opportunity. “These men and women have got the skills,” Jacobs shares. “They just need that second chance. So the NCRC is proof to these employers that these people do have basic skills that, really, can be valuable in any position, regardless of the position.” Join us as we learn more about the exciting ways that prison reentry programs are changing today’s economic landscape, and how Missouri’s prison population may yet be the next professional development network. Missouri Department of Corrections: Twitter and Facebook Jasen Jones Twitter: @JasenCJones ACT Twitter: @act ACT Workforce Solutions: LinkedIn Missouri Department of Corrections (DOC) ACT WorkKeys National Career Readiness Certificate® (NCRC®) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 18 Site Selection and Workforce Development with Guest Mark Arend | 03 Feb 2020 | 00:15:56 | |
Work Ready Communities (WRC) from ACT is a framework for community-based workforce development to drive economic growth. Regions improve their workforce and compete on quality for location consultants, investors, and other decision-makers using data powered by the WorkKeys® National Career Readiness Certificate. Episode 18 of the Ready for Work podcast showcased Site Selection Magazine’s annual State of the States reports and the Regional Workforce Development Climate rankings. The WRC website has a helpful article on economic development as well. Why does an organization invest millions of dollars in one area versus an another? It very well may come down to the area’s workforce. A lot of factors go into choosing a site, and a smart, skilled workforce is right at the top of the list. That’s why Site Selection magazine delivers relevant data/information on the topic for over 44,000 readers, including corporate executives, site selection consultants, and real estate professionals. According to Mark Arend, Editor in Chief of Site Selection, it’s one thing to say, “We have a terrific workforce.” It’s another thing to prove it—and by publishing unbiased data, that’s what Site Selection does. On this episode, we cover:
Economic development impacts us all—in urban and rural areas across America. Listen as Mark Arend discusses more about this topic, along with some of the challenges he sees ahead. Join the Conversation Mark Arend: LinkedIn Site Selection Magazine: LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook Jasen Jones Twitter: @JasenCJones ACT Twitter: @act ACT Workforce Solutions: LinkedIn Resources Site Selection Magazine: State of the States Site Selection Magazine: Regional Workforce Rankings Economic Development in Work Ready Communities ACT WorkKeys® National Career Readiness Certificate® (NCRC®) | |||
| 17 Career Pathway Readiness with ACT Researchers Mary LeFebvre and Jeff Steedle | 14 Jan 2020 | 00:12:16 | |
Career readiness is a hot topic these days. An updated report from ACT has a wealth of data on the subject that you won’t find anywhere else.
For career navigation, or for counselors, students, or folks looking for a job change, The Condition of Career Pathway Readiness in the United States 2019 report—and this podcast—will provide some great insight.
You can take a look at the report here.
The updated report looks at the progress of the ACT®-tested 2019 U.S. high school graduating class relative to college and career readiness. Specifically, the report includes data tables broken out for all 16 Career Technical Education Career Clusters. More than numbers and figures, the report offers some method behind the madness of trying to figure out what different types of career readiness could mean for different individuals and use cases. Mary LeFebvre: @MaryLeFebruary Mary LeFebvre: LinkedIn Jeffrey Steedle: LinkedIn Jasen Jones Twitter: @JasenCJones ACT Twitter: @act ACT Workforce Solutions: LinkedIn ResourcesThe Condition of Career Pathway Readiness in the United States 2019 research report Presentation at 2019 ACT Workforce Summit (PowerPoint) What’s Important for Success in Future Jobs? (Press Release) Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 16 Connecting Rural Development Strategies and Resources with guests Joe T. Wood and Jim Tracy | 31 Dec 2019 | 00:19:40 | |
Rural America is facing some incredible challenges. When rural students graduate high school many of them move away to urban areas. The up-and-coming generation tends to overlook their opportunities in rural areas. This hurts the economy of local communities, including those in Southwest Tennessee. The Southwest Tennessee Rural Workforce Readiness Collaborative is working to reverse this problem. By building a comprehensive approach to help bridge the skills gap, they’re beginning to show students the opportunities around them for meaningful employment in great-paying careers—like manufacturing and construction—and then providing the path. In order to strengthen the workforce across four rural counties, the collaborative pursued—and received—a first-of-its-kind $250,000 grant from the USDA. It will likely serve as a national model for similar programs across the nation seeking to build on the success of ACT® Work Ready Communities and generate investment in the talent pipeline. On this episode of Ready for Work, we’re joined by Joe T. Wood and Jim Tracy. They discuss the importance of workforce development in rural areas, the technology that the USDA’s grant is making possible, the implementation of ACT programs, and what’s happening next. Join the Conversation Jim Tracy Twitter: @JimTracy Joe T. Wood LinkedIn: Joe T Wood Jasen Jones Twitter: @JasenCJones ACT Twitter: @act ACT Workforce Solutions: LinkedIn Resources Presentation from Joe T. Wood and Jim Tracy at ACT Workforce Summit Tennessee School Board Association Career Cluster Dashboard USDA Rural Community Development Initiative ACT WorkKeys® National Career Readiness Certificate® (NCRC®) | |||
| 15 Work Ethic for the 21st Century Workforce with guest Josh Davies | 07 Dec 2019 | 00:12:56 | |
Josh Davies, CEO of the Center for Work Ethic Development is passionate about helping others make a difference in their lives, jobs, and community. We were fortunate to have Josh deliver one of the FRED Talks as well as a breakout session at the recent ACT Workforce Summit. By using employer-based research, defining the seven behaviors of work ethic, and innovative teaching, participants discover how to make lasting behavior change. On episode 15 of Ready for Work, we feature Josh’s FRED Talk with trends in social-emotional learning and some insights on millennials and generational decline that may surprise you. Join the Conversation Josh Davies Twitter: @ResultsDriver Center for Work Ethic Development: @WorkEthicCenter Center for Work Ethic Development: Facebook Jasen Jones Twitter: @JasenCJones ACT Twitter: @act ACT LinkedIn: ACT Workforce Solutions Resources FRED Talk at 2019 ACT Workforce Summit (PowerPoint) The Center for Work Ethic Development | |||
| 14 Career Connected Learning with Guest Hans Meeder | 26 Nov 2019 | 00:21:55 | |
Why are so many well-educated and well-supported American youths struggling to make successful transitions to adult life? It’s an important question and the first that Hans Meeder asks on Episode 14 of our Ready for Work podcast, which was recorded at our recent ACT Workforce Summit. Hans works at the National Center for College and Career Transitions (NC3T), which he founded in 2012. His organization believes in a simple concept: every young American should have a dream and a plan. The problem? Millions of students don’t. Hans argues that the missing piece is Career Connected Learning, which is defined as a range of activities that help students connect learning to the real world to develop the knowledge, skills, and mindset they’ll need to successfully enter the world of work, careers, and community life. This concept isn’t only for some students. It’s for all students. The harsh reality is that so many students—regardless of location or demographic—are struggling to make the transition to adult life, even with a great high school education. Hans also discusses elements of Career Connected Learning that are often overlooked, including hands-on learning and career navigation skills. Listen as Hans provides his passionate insight on the successful profile of a career and life-ready graduate, how the design of a career development model engages students, families, and community members, and much more. Hans Meeder Twitter: @HansMeeder Hans Meeder LinkedIn Jasen Jones Twitter: @JasenCJones Jasen Jones LinkedIn ACT Twitter: @act ACT LinkedIn: ACT Workforce Solutions National Center for College & Career Transitions NC3T Career-Connected Learning (PDF) NC3T CareerSmart-Classrooms (PDF) NC3T Pathways Services (PDF) NC3T Seamless Work Based Learning (PDF) More Ready for Work podcast episodes on career development:
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. | |||
| 13 Workforce Response to Opioid Crisis in Tennessee | 14 Nov 2019 | 00:30:43 | |
A high prevalence of prescription drug abuse has created an unhealthy workforce in northeast Tennessee. As a result, the region has high instances of addiction, neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS), and overdose deaths. The region is learning how to contend with the impact that the opioid crisis has on its workforce. Rather than sweep the issues under the rug, the First Tennessee Development District (FTDD) took a lead role in bringing partners together to tackle the epidemic and is building a system of support for the lifecycle – from babies suffering with NAS to senior adults. FTDD’s Lottie Ryans and Mark Stevans outline how they are working toward a healthier workforce for a brighter tomorrow. They share practical ways to educate, boost awareness, and build solutions the entire community can embrace. This episode features sound bites from their presentation at the 2019 ACT Workforce Summit in Charlotte, North Carolina. Join the Conversation First Tennessee Development District: LinkedIn First Tennessee Development District: Facebook First Tennessee Development District: Instagram Jasen Jones: @JasenCJones ACT Twitter: @act ACT LinkedIn: ACT Workforce Solutions Resources NE Tennesse Regional Response to Opioid Crisis presentation at 2019 ACT Workforce Summit (PDF) First Tennessee Development District Creating a Community of Trauma Informed Community System of Care in Northeast Tennessee ACEs Connection Nationwide Gateway on Trauma Informed Care | |||
| 57 - Conquering New Dimensions of Workforce Challenges for Competitive Economic Development | 05 Dec 2024 | 00:15:29 | |
The disconnect between skilled workers and employers is wider than ever, with access to affordable housing and childcare now among the top challenges preventing new commercial investment and job creation. Collaborative workforce ecosystems, like those in Work Ready Communities, are uniquely equipped to tackle these issues, according to Chad Chancellor of the Next Move Group. Chad examines two crucial elements to succeed in the post-pandemic reality of economic development - expanding the scope of workforce ecosystem collaboration and enhancing the role of work-based learning in skills-driven pathways. | |||
| 12 Workforce Mythblasters - Debunking the Myths of Skills-Based Hiring | 12 Oct 2019 | 00:16:02 | |
On Episode 12 of Ready for Work, we seek to debunk some common myths of skills-based hiring with a Top Ten List of Workforce Mythblasters. We’ll cover some common misconceptions that employers, educators, and communities might have about skills-based hiring. We’ll also hear from leading employers on how they use ACT Workforce Solutions and the ACT® WorkKeys® system to help overcome these challenges. You’ll hear several different examples of employer success stories, and we provide a link to each featured resource. Top Ten Myths of Skills-Based Hiring
Join the Conversation Jasen Jones Twitter: @JasenCJones ACT Twitter: @act ACT Linkedin: ACT Workforce Solutions Resources | |||
| Workforce Summit 2019 Preview (Bonus Episode) | 03 Oct 2019 | 00:09:43 | |
This bonus episode of Ready for Work includes information on the 2019 ACT Workforce Summit in Charlotte, NC, October 28-30. We chat with some of the presenters to give a sneak peek at the conference content. This episode wraps up with feedback from attendees of last year's summit. | |||
| 11 Next Level Apprenticeship and Work-Based Learning | 28 Sep 2019 | 00:31:29 | |
Work-based or “on-the-job” learning through apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs benefits learners from all education and socioeconomic levels and put them on a fast track to high-wage, nationally portable careers. In this episode of “Ready for Work," we talk to leaders in postsecondary education and business about the use of work-based learning programs at the community level and the personal and economic results that can be gained from creating such programs. Among the topics:
Join the Conversation Jasen Jones Twitter: @JasenCJones ACT Twitter: @act Resources ACT webinar: Leveraging National Certifications in Apprenticeship Apprenticeship resources from ACT Southwest Ohio Region’s CPT apprenticeship success Episode Guests
| |||
| 10 The Work Ready Communities Journey to Regional Prosperity | 12 Sep 2019 | 00:26:27 | |
Work Ready Communities from ACT helps local areas align their resources and leadership for a competitive workforce that meets employer needs and generates regional prosperity. Today on Ready for Work, we’re covering the journey to become a Work Ready Community. | |||