Mission: Employable

Mission: Employable continues its series on National Disability Employment Awareness Month by talking with Tami Jewell, Administrative Specialist with Iowa State University Surplus. Jewell partners with Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation and Project:Search to hire Iowans with disabilities who are looking for a path to employment.  Find out how this unique partnership is helping Iowans find rewarding w...

October marks National Disability Employment Awareness Month and the Mission: Employable Podcast will be talking about the subject all month long.  Eric Evans, who has done a little bit of everything at Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation Services (IVRS), stops by the podcast studio to chat about how his department is continuously helping Iowans with disabilities find rewarding work and what it means n...

We've talked a lot about registered apprenticeship programs on the podcast, but did you know there are ways to get students ready for that apprenticeship before they even step through the door?  Samantha Groark, Executive Director at the Central Iowa Building & Construction Trades Council, is back on Mission: Employable to talk about how pre-apprenticeship programs are helping high school students...

Mass layoffs at companies like Yellow Corp. often affect hundreds of employees.  Iowa Workforce Development plays a major role in getting those people back to work.  Lacie Kraft, Manager for IWD's Rapid Response Program, and Chad Pierce, Business Engagement Consultant, talk about the services IWD provides to both employers and employees during these incidents, and how IWD can help companies avoid...

Work-based learning can be a light bulb moment for businesses as they work to develop their talent pipeline. We're joined by MUSCO Lighting Talent Outreach Manager Paula Wright as she talks about how their programs are creating a 60% retention rate for students who are joining their work-based learning programs.  Find out how you can be successful with one of these programs even if it doesn't look...

The Iowa State Fair is right around the corner and our workforce team will be there to me e t with Fairgoers! IWD Director (and State Fair super fan) Beth Townsend joins the show to talk about why she believes it's so important to be out in the community a t one of Iowa's largest events . Find out what you can expect when you meet our team in person, a s well as what State Fair food we look forwar...

Hiring Veterans and their spouses is one of the workforce priorities at Iowa Workforce Development.  Iowa now has a job portal that makes it easier for this talent pool to connect with Veteran-ready employers across the state! Jamie Norton, Director of Veteran Workforce Services, talks about the new IowaWORKS for Veterans portal and how it connects Veterans and their spouses to great employment op...

Ever thought about starting your own business? Iowa is the perfect state for entrepreneurs to set up shop. Diana Wright, Start-up Community Builder at the Greater Des Moines Partnership, stops by the studio to talk about all the resources available to someone looking to start their own business in Iowa. From grant funding to investors , this episode has it all!  

Work-based learning is gaining momentum in Iowa , making the way to help high school students explore careers before they graduate . Grant Hegstad, Career Experiences Coordinator at MOC-Floyd Valley Community School Distric t , explains how they created a program where student s can get professional experience with local employers. Find out how the school district is supporting the local workforce...

Sometimes a temporary position can lead to a long-term job opportunity. Christine Salem, Client Relations Manager at Aventure Staffing, explains how a hiring agency can help with   staffing needs , ranging from temporary hires to executive -level hiring. Find out more about how staffing agencies work closely with businesses to find both short-term and long-term solutions to their workforce needs....

Women make up about 11% of the construction workforce nationally and Iowa is working to add to that number. Steph Reed, Director of Operations at Embarq Signature Homes, disc u sses how the construction industry can create more opportunities and how mentorship plays a big role in both developing and retaining talent from underrepresented populations.     

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 to gether to solve local child care challenges . Find out how members of a small Iowa community ha ve worked together to raise their child care worker s' pa...

A pprenticeships 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 Loc al 33 is working to encourage women and underrepresented populat...

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 Care G ivers 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...

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, share s 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 networkin...

Community h ealth care w orkers can help bridg e 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.  

  Women only make up 4% of the  trades workforce nationally, but Iowa is trying to grow that number. Samantha Groark, Executive Director of Central Iowa Building Trades, joins the show to talk about the upcoming Women in Trades Conference on March 4. Find out what makes event s like th is on e so valuable and hear her pitch to women who are considering a career in this high-demand industry.     

The new year provides new opportunities for Iowans looking for their dream job and w e're here to help!  Listen in as Career Planner Team Lead Jennifer DiOrio share s 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 Iowa WORKS 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 pre...

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 successe...

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...

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 oppor t unities , and how recruitment has changed for them over the years.  

We continue our celebration of National Apprenticeship W eek by highlighting one of the most innovative apprenticeships in the nation : the Storm Lake Teacher / Para e ducator program . The program provides an alternative route toward a career in educati on , especially at a time when the need for teachers is greater than ever. Storm Lake Superintendent Stacey Cole joins the show to explain how th...