Mission: Employable

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.  

Community health care workers can help bridge the gap when it comes to Iowa’s health care workforce.  Angie Doyle Scar from the Iowa Department of Health and Human Services, and Deb Kazmerzak, Program Director at the Iowa Chronic Care Consortium, help define what a community health care worker is, and how they are using a federal grant to train workers in Iowa. 

The new year provides new opportunities for Iowans looking for their dream job and we’re here to help!  Listen in as Career Planner Team Lead Jennifer DiOrio shares some of her favorite tips for resume writing, virtual interviews, and more! Find out just how many helpful career resources are available at no cost to you at our IowaWORKS Centers across the state. 

Sometimes a second chance is what it takes for someone to jumpstart their career journey.  We sit down with Joseph Johnson, Founder and CEO of Change Course, a new Des Moines-based non-profit that helps those who want to leave addiction, incarceration, or other barriers to employment in their rear-view mirror. Find out why Joseph says this mission is personal to him, and how Change Course is preparing its participants to enter the workforce. 

Employers looking for a fresh start in the New Year can find what they're looking for with our Business Engagement Team. Maria Morales, a Business Engagement Consultant, discusses how Iowa employers can meet with IowaWORKS' team of experts to find hiring and training solutions. Maria also shares how the Business Engagement services are customized for every employer and shares some of the successes she has seen first-hand. 

It’s a new year with new voices on the Mission: Employable Podcast! As we welcome 2023, we also say thank you to host Ryan West, who is handing over the podcast to Ben Oldach and Kathy Leggett. Ben has been with Mission: Employable since the beginning as the producer. Kathy has been with Iowa Workforce Development for five years leading the Future Ready Iowa initiative and shifting into the new Business Engagement team. They are joining forces to continue the conversation on all things workforce here in Iowa.  

As the year comes to an end we want to wish a very special thank you to all of the guests who appeared on the Mission: Employable Podcast. We have some exciting changes planned for 2022 including two new hosts and new workforce success stories! Thanks for being with us this year and we'll see you in January!

Iowa needs construction workers and a new training school can make it easier than ever to join the growing career field. Perlla Deluca and Joseph Cichowski, founders of the Iowa School of Construction, talk about how their pilot program will help usher in the newest crop of construction talent in Iowa! 

Bridgestone Firestone is looking to grow their workforce with more than 100 openings ranging from production line workers to salaried employees at their Des Moines location. HR Specialist Trevor Brothers discusses how the company is getting the word out about job opportunities, and how recruitment has changed for them over the years.  

We continue our celebration of National Apprenticeship Week by highlighting one of the most innovative apprenticeships in the nation: the Storm Lake Teacher/Paraeducator program. The program provides an alternative route toward a career in education, especially at a time when the need for teachers is greater than ever. Storm Lake Superintendent Stacey Cole joins the show to explain how the apprenticeship is recruiting and training the teachers of tomorrow.  

We’re celebrating Registered Apprenticeship week by discussing how Mid-American Energy is building their workforce of the future through the Earn and Learn model. Stephen Simmons, Director of Trades and Craft Training, joins us to talk about how their Registered Apprenticeship program has become a huge benefit to their company, and how a brand-new training center is impacting their culture.  

Thinking of hiring a service member who is in the Iowa Guard or Reserve? Home Base Iowa program manager Jathan Chicoine and Becky Coady, State Chair of the Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve, share how their programs have partnered up to help employers reach out to the military members in their communities. 

There are various programs designed to help Veterans and their families find employment post-service. Steve Olsen from the Department of Labor and Jamie Norton, Iowa Workforce Development Veterans Workforce Programs Coordinator, discuss everything from reemployment services to support programs for veterans experiencing homelessness. Learn how Iowa is working to serve those who have served our country.  

Interacting with the Veteran community doesn’t always come naturally to most businesses. Thankfully, Iowa Workforce Development is partnering with Psych Armor, a global training platform, to help employers become experts at working with Veterans and their families. We’re joined by Carole Turner, VP of Strategic Communications for Psych Armor, and Jamie Norton, IWD Veterans Workforce Programs Coordinator, to discuss how Psych Armor can help Iowa become a top destination for Veterans and their spouses. 

Transitioning into the civilian workforce after military service can sometimes be challenging for Veterans. Vander Haag’s Human Resources Director Brad DeBoer shares how the trucking company is working with the Department of Defense’s SkillBridge program to help Iowa’s Veterans navigate their transition and train into rewarding careers.  

Iowa Western Community College is partnering with companies in growing sectors like manufacturing and healthcare to provide pathways for young workers to get hired right out of high school. IWCC Executive Director of Economics and Workforce Development, Matt Mancuso, shares how their training programs and employer partnerships help build Iowa’s workforce from the ground up.