Innovation Unplugged

What does it mean for a college system to be more than a college system? In this episode of Innovation Unplugged , Charles Jones discusses how ACCS has expanded its role to become a trusted partner for employers, communities, and individuals across Alabama. Building on the lessons of personal growth and adaptability from Part One, this conversation explores how the system itself has developed a br...

Careers rarely follow a straight line—and that’s often where the greatest opportunities are found. In Part One of this two-part series, Charles Jones shares the lessons learned from a lifetime of saying yes to new challenges. Houston explores how leadership, hands-on work, education, certifications, and diverse experiences combined to create a foundation that could adapt to almost any situation. I...

Workforce development is about more than jobs—it’s about helping people believe their future can look different. In this episode of Innovation Unplugged , Houston Blackwood talks with Anthony Steele about overcoming addiction, finding recovery, and rebuilding his life through the support of Wallace State Community College and Skills for Success programs. Anthony shares how earning his CDL and GED...

Strong workforce systems are built when education, industry, and leadership move together. In this episode of Innovation Unplugged, Houston Blackwood and Matt Heaton welcome Andy Chamness for a discussion on career technical education, workforce partnerships, and the future of craft training in Alabama. As both an education leader and pastor, Andy shares how faith, mentorship, and service have sha...

What does it take to grow a business while also investing in people and communities? In this episode of Innovation Unplugged, Devoski Boyd joins Houston Blackwood and Matt Heaton for a candid conversation about entrepreneurship, workforce development, and long-term vision. As the leader of Boyd Walton Construction, Devoski discusses how field experience, operational discipline, and workforce train...

What happens when decades of experience in classrooms, career tech education, and workforce leadership all converge in one mission? In this episode of Innovation Unplugged, Houston Blackwood and Matt Heaton sit down with Dr. Chris Kennedy to discuss his transition from K-12 leadership into workforce development at Wallace Community College. From agriculture classrooms to statewide leadership roles...

Strong workforce systems aren’t built in isolation—they’re built through trust and collaboration. In Episode 101, Micheal Breland shares how Wiregrass Construction Company partners with Alabama’s community colleges to create meaningful training and hiring pathways. Houston and Matt explore the relationships, the shared ownership, and the real-world benefits that come from aligning industry needs w...

Episode 100 isn’t about looking back—it’s about understanding what it takes to build something that lasts. Chancellor Baker joins  Innovation Unplugged  to break down the problem the Innovation Center was designed to solve, the impact it’s already making across colleges and industries, and the shifts happening at a system level. This episode pulls back the curtain on how alignment, speed, and indu...

Career fairs inform. Simulation influences. Houston Blackwood presses Matt Heaton and Tom Chappell on how immersive mobile simulators move students from curiosity to commitment — and how colleges must follow through to convert exposure into credentials. If workforce development is about pipelines, this episode explains how early engagement creates real momentum.

Workforce training doesn’t fail because of demand — it fails because of capacity. In this episode, Perry Shields joins Houston Blackwood and Matt Heaton to explore how the Alabama Training Network and community colleges collaborate to meet industry needs with precision and consistency. They address the real questions colleges ask: Does partnership dilute control? How does revenue sharing work? Wha...

Workforce conversations often live in boardrooms. Results live on job sites and factory floors. In this episode, Chad Bryant joins Houston Blackwood and Matt Heaton to bridge the gap between the two. From automotive giants and shipbuilding to HVAC, weatherization, diesel, and customer experience pathways, Chad outlines how coordinated action — not isolated programs — drives stronger economic outco...

AI is not a disruption to fear — it’s a tool to master. In this episode, Randy Sparkman joins Houston and Matt to discuss how skilled trades professionals can use AI to enhance productivity, compress training timelines, and strengthen decision-making on the jobsite. They tackle the near-term credentialing gap, why AI literacy must become foundational in workforce training, and what uniquely human...

Tim McCartney’s journey from a family construction business to statewide workforce leadership offers a powerful lesson: real leadership builds people and systems that outlast you. In this episode, Houston and Matt explore Tim’s philosophy on servant leadership, competitive standards, competency-based hiring, and why Alabama’s community colleges are central to the state’s economic future. If you ca...

Great workforce systems aren’t built on programs—they’re built on infrastructure. Dr. Courtney Taylor breaks down how Accelerate Mississippi serves as a single point of coordination while empowering colleges, nonprofits, and industry partners to execute locally. The discussion explores career coaches in every high school, reconnect strategies for 18–24-year-olds, flexible funding mechanisms, and t...

What if students didn’t have to choose between education and income? In this episode of Innovation Unplugged, Houston Blackwood and Matt Heaton sit down with AudreyWebb to explore how FAME and Registered Apprenticeships are giving students real paychecks, real experience, and real career direction—while still in school. From manufacturing floors to healthcare systems, these work-based learning mod...

When workforce strategy aligns with real employer demand, everyone benefits. In this episode, Barry May shares how ACCS partners with industries across manufacturing, healthcare, construction, logistics, and beyond to deliver training that strengthens bothcompanies and communities. Houston and Matt explore how funding, alignment, and collaboration translate into employee advancement, business expa...

High-performing teams don’t fail because of effort—they fail because of misalignment. In this episode of Innovation Unplugged, Houston Blackwood sits down with WesChenault of Durbin Leadership to explore how great leaders diagnose invisible barriers,build relational equity, and align their teams for decisive execution. This Two-Part episode delivers a practical blueprint for leaders who want to mo...

High-performing teams don’t fail because of effort—they fail because of misalignment. In this episode of Innovation Unplugged, Houston Blackwood and Matt Heaton sit downwith Wes Chenault of Durbin Leadership to explore how great leaders diagnose invisible barriers, build relational equity, and align their teams for decisive execution. This Two-Part episode delivers a practical blueprint for leader...

What separates leaders who create momentum from those who create bottlenecks? In this episode of Innovation Unplugged, Houston Blackwood sits down with Dan Durbin ofDurbin Leadership to unpack the real work of leadership—building capacity, developing people, and creating systems that outlast any one individual.

Episode 88 of Innovation Unplugged explores how Flawless Delivery strengthens frontline workforce training by centering empathy, communication, and engagement—skills that elevate performance across the hospitality industry. Guests Dr. Ryan-Cate Gibson and Thea Harvey-Barrett discuss how this human-skills training pairs seamlessly with Skills for Success hospitality courses in food and beverage, ho...

This episode of Innovation Unplugged highlights how the City of Foley invested in its people through CDL training delivered in partnership with Bishop State CommunityCollege and Skills for Success. City employees share what it meant to commit to training during time off, the discipline required to succeed, and how earning a CDL strengthens both their careers and public service. It’s a powerful loo...

In this episode of Innovation Unplugged, Houston Blackwood and Matt Heaton talk with Ebony Horton Bradley about why leadership is less about position and more about thestories we tell. Drawing on her background in journalism and higher education, Ebony unpacks how presence, humility, and narrative shape culture, motivate teams, and bringmission statements to life. This conversation challenges lead...

In Episode 85, host Houston Blackwood and Matt Heaton sit down with Joseph Metz, Skills for Success Coordinator at Coastal Alabama Community College, to explore how workforce training is opening doors for students, job seekers, and individuals in recovery or correctional settings. Joseph shares his journey from recruiting to workforce development and the passion that drives his work. He discusses...

In Episode 84, host Houston Blackwood meets with Doug Layton, who shares his extraordinary journey from serving a 20-year prison sentence to rebuilding his life through hard work, humility, and second chances. Doug opens up about his struggles, the events that led to a life sentence, and the moment everything changed. After walking out of prison, he faced the challenges of reentry head-on like sec...

In Episode 83, hosts Houston Blackwood and Matt Heaton talk with Perry Goins, Staff Development Manager with the Alabama Department of Mental Health, about how Alabama is strengthening and preparing its mental health workforce through modern training and statewide partnerships. Perry highlights how the department is using the Skills for Success Mental Health Worker course offered through Shelton S...