KRA's The Hub

In this episode of Getting to Know KRA , we sit down with Patrick T.J. Boxall, Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer at KRA Corporation, to explore how strategic partnerships fuel workforce innovation. Patrick shares how KRA integrates mental health resources, strengthens business engagement, and adapts to an evolving labor market to align talent with business needs. Tune in to gain...

Tune in for a powerful conversation with Robert DeJournett, President and CEO of the Black Chamber of Commerce of Summit County, Ohio. Robert shares how the chamber is closing opportunity gaps, fostering collaboration, and empowering Black entrepreneurs to build sustainable businesses and generational wealth. Discover how community partnerships, workforce connections, and intentional resource shar...

Maryland's workforce system is rising to the moment—celebrating the people who make a difference every day, embracing innovation to meet new challenges, and adapting for a future full of change. In this episode, discover how workforce leaders and professionals are coming together at the Raising the Bar conference to honor frontline heroes, highlight the power of youth engagement, explore the role...

Discover how workforce development is evolving to meet the needs of diverse communities through innovation, inclusion, and resilience. In this episode, Lubna Hanif, WIOA Team Supervisor at Rubicon Programs, shares her journey from frontline career coach to team supervisor, reflecting on the power of mentorship, cultural responsiveness, and trauma informed care in supporting participants. She discu...

In this episode of Getting to Know KRA , we sit down with Derrick Colbert and Shanavia Moore from KRA for a behind the scenes look at how the organization delivers on its mission to engage businesses, develop workers, and nurture strong communities. Derrick and Shanavia share their personal journeys into workforce development, the meaning of operational excellence, and how people first leadership...

Tune in to this episode as we explore how workforce organizations are transforming the way they engage jobseekers, using texting and mobile tools to meet people where they are. Max Schelkopf from Engage by Cell breaks down how their platform helps streamline communication, increase accessibility, and close the digital divide. From addressing the skill gap to integrating AI for resume support and i...

Tune in to this episode of The Hub for the first in our new series, Getting to Know KRA. Host Jonathan Overall kicks things off with an inspiring conversation on people and principles, joined by Kalandria Thompson, People and Culture Director , and Ryan Rand, Engagement & Development Specialist. Together, they explore how KRA's values—knowledge, responsibility, and achievement—shape a thriving, pe...

In this episode of KRA's The Hub podcast, recorded live at the JFF Jobs for the Future Conference, Kim Tesch Vaught, mental health coach and business development manager, explores the conference's theme of "daring to be brave" in workforce development. Drawing from her experience as a mental health coach and workforce professional, she discusses reimagining career services through human connection...

In this episode, host Jonathan Overall sits down with Rich Simmerman, co-founder of Cantaloupe AI, at the JFF Horizons Summit in New Orleans to tackle a pressing challenge in the hospitality industry: outdated, resume-driven hiring that fails both employers and job seekers. Drawing from Rich's own journey—from managing a coffee shop in Carrollton to pioneering voice interview technology—Cantaloupe...

In this episode, host Jonathan Overall sits down with Dean Barbara Goodall Meschino, MSW, LSW, Dean of the West Side Learning Center at Malcolm X College, City Colleges of Chicago, to explore how strategic partnerships between KRA, the Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership, and community colleges are revolutionizing workforce development in Chicago. Dean Meschino shares her journey from social work t...

Discover how workforce development is being redefined from the ground up in this episode of  KRA's The Hub . Claudia Cattouse-Regalado, Director of Relationship Management at the Chicago Cook Workforce Partnership, shares her journey from frontline service roles to executive leadership and offers a powerful vision for workforce as a system of mentorship, preparation, and economic transformation. Y...

In this episode, you'll get an inside look at the inaugural Virginia Workforce Symposium—a first-of-its-kind event bringing together workforce professionals from across the Commonwealth. You'll hear how the idea for the symposium came to life, what made it a sold-out success, and why collaboration across regions and roles is critical to the future of workforce development. From keynote speakers to...

In this special Women's History Month episode, we continue with a compelling conversation featuring Carrie Amann, Executive Director of the PA Workforce Development Association. Carrie shares her journey from local workforce boards to policy work in the Governor's office, offering thoughtful reflections on leadership, authenticity, and resilience. She discusses the importance of staying grounded t...

In this special Women's History Month episode, host Jonathan Overall speaks with JaVette Pettaway, Program Director of KRA's Rancho Dominguez AJCC. JaVette shares her inspiring career journey from probation counseling to workforce development, highlighting her leadership philosophy centered on compassion, integrity, and accountability. She discusses KRA's recent initiative operating the Rancho Dom...

In this special Women's History Month episode, host Jonathan Overall sits down with Melissa Robbins, CEO of the National Association of Workforce Development Professionals (NAWDP), to explore her inspiring journey from local-level fiscal assistant to national leader. Melissa shares how mentorship, resilience, and a commitment to lifelong learning shaped her path, and offers candid insights on lead...

In this special Women's History Month episode of  KRA's The Hub podcast, host Jonathan Overall welcomes Yolanda Johnson, Executive Director of CASA of Prince George's County, Maryland. Yolanda shares her inspiring journey from cosmetology to leadership in child advocacy and offers an in-depth look at CASA's mission to support foster youth through volunteer advocacy, transitional programs, and comm...

In this special series spotlighting women leaders in workforce development, we welcome MacKenzie (MacK) Garvin, Director of the Mayor's Office of Employment Development (MOED) in Baltimore City. This engaging conversation explores the challenges and opportunities women face in leadership positions, with candid insights about the journey from practicing law to workforce development. Listeners will...

Join us as Derrick Colbert, Managing Director of Operational Excellence at KRA, shares his expertise on engaging returning citizens in the workforce. Derrick explains how this labor pool represents committed employees when given opportunities. He discusses challenges faced during incarceration and reentry, along with strategies for successful reintegration—including pre-release planning, family re...

Tune in for another episode of KRA's The Hub as Rick Beasley, Executive Director of CareerSource South Florida, shares his workforce development journey from Missouri to Florida. Rick discusses his philosophy that employers are the workforce system's customers while job seekers are the product to be developed and brokered. He explains how CareerSource South Florida transformed from an underperform...

In this episode, host Jonathan Overall sits down with Jesse McCree, CEO of SCPa Works, following their meeting at the winter U.S. Conference of Mayors. Jesse shares insights about South Central Pennsylvania's diverse economic landscape, highlighting the region's strengths in manufacturing, healthcare, IT, and logistics. The conversation delves into the critical relationship between workforce and e...

This episode features an interview with Felicity Williams, the deputy chief of staff for the mayor's office of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. As the first black woman to hold this position, Felicity shares her journey from law school to local politics, driven by her commitment to racial justice and community development. The conversation delves into Pittsburgh's transformation from a steel industry hub...

 In this episode of KRA's The Hub, host Jonathan Overall sits down with Cory Vojack, Project Director for KRA's operations in Summit and Medina Counties, Ohio. Recording on-site in Northern Akron, they discuss Cory's extensive background in workforce development and his current role leading KRA's innovative workforce initiatives in the region. Cory shares insights about KRA's approach to developin...

In this fifth episode of a special series, recorded live at the 2024 NAWDP Youth Symposium in Phoenix, Arizona, host Jonathan Overall sits down with Rick Record, an experienced workforce development consultant whose journey began as a youth program participant. Rick shares his remarkable career progression from working in retail management to overseeing statewide programs for California's Employme...

In this fourth episode of a special series, recorded live at the 2024 NAWDP Youth Symposium in Phoenix, Arizona, host Jonathan Overall engages in two insightful conversations with innovators in workforce development technology. First, Geoff Crawford, Vice President of Virtual Reality at Vehicles for Change, discusses how their organization is revolutionizing automotive technician training through...

In this third episode of a special series, recorded live at the 2024 NAWDP Youth Symposium in Phoenix, Arizona, host Jonathan Overall sits down with Darrell "Coach D" Andrews, a workforce development consultant and trainer. Drawing from his background as a former college football player, Coach D shares insights on engaging the "technology generation" and addressing mental health concerns in a post...