0: Introducing Ready for Work
We all have a stake in making our country more competitive. Closing the skills gap and driving economic growth starts at the grassroots level. Episode Zero delivers what to expect from the Ready for...
View Article1: Role of Economic Development in the Workforce Ecosystem with Will Coppage
Dig deep into the role that economic development plays in the workforce ecosystem. In this episode, Will Coppage from the Washington County Economic Alliance shares how his community continues to...
View Article2: Credentialing and Competency as Currency with Guest Katie Hall
Tune in to see the impact that credentials have on education and workforce and economic development. Learn how The Competency Project is on a mission to use underlying competency as currency in...
View Article3: Awarding Credit for Prior Learning and Curriculum Profiling with Guest...
One technical college in Wisconsin is blazing a new trail by offering college credit for core courses using prior learning assessment (PLA) – credits typically reserved for electives. Awarding PLA...
View Article4: Getting Strategic About Doing with Guest Ed Morrison
Guest Ed Morrison applies the approach of “Strategic Doing” to workforce and economic development. Applying this newer model of strategic planning opens the door to solve complex challenges through...
View Article5: Manufacturing Career Pathways with Guest Neil Reddy
Guest Neil Reddy, CEO of the Manufacturing Skill Standards Council (MSSC), shares how MSSC blazed the trail and created the gold standard for manufacturing skills. From career pathways to stackable...
View Article6: Creating an Industry Career Map with Guest Joe Sarubbi
Guest Joe Sarubbi from the Interstate Renewable Energy Council shares why and how IREC created an interactive career map for the solar energy and climate control industries. Such tools can demonstrate...
View Article7: Empowered Reentry and Essential Skills with Guest Tina Manus
Guest Tina Manus took her experience as an educator and researcher to apply experiential problem-solving and interactive community building to build work readiness skills for individuals facing reentry...
View Article8: Intentional Diversity and Inclusion with Guest Sherrell Dorsey
Guest Sherrell Dorsey, founder of The Plug Newsletter and BLKTECH Interactive, shares strategies to make diversity and inclusion initiatives intentional – from employment and culture in an organization...
View Article9 Convergence of Education and Workforce Policy with Guest Dr. Jeff McCord
Dr. Jeff McCord has unique insight following a decades-long career of straddling the worlds of business and education. After 20 years in the private sector working for Fortune 300 companies and then as...
View Article10 The Work Ready Communities Journey to Regional Prosperity
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,...
View Article11 Next Level Apprenticeship and Work-Based Learning
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,...
View ArticleWorkforce Summit 2019 Preview (Bonus Episode)
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...
View Article12 Workforce Mythblasters - Debunking the Myths of Skills-Based Hiring
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,...
View Article13 Workforce Response to Opioid Crisis in Tennessee
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...
View Article14 Career Connected Learning with Guest Hans Meeder
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...
View Article15 Work Ethic for the 21st Century Workforce with guest Josh Davies
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...
View Article16 Connecting Rural Development Strategies and Resources with guests Joe T....
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...
View Article17 Career Pathway Readiness with ACT Researchers Mary LeFebvre and Jeff Steedle
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...
View Article18 Site Selection and Workforce Development with Guest Mark Arend
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,...
View Article19 Making the Most of Second Chances with Guest Shelly Jacobs
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...
View Article20 Adult Education Success in Mississippi with Guest Bronwyn Robertson
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...
View Article21 Resilient Workforce Ecosystems Leading Skills-Based Economic Recovery
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...
View Article22 Adapting for Recovery with Data, Skills, and Systems
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,...
View Article23 - Leading and Engaging Recovery and Resiliency
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...
View Article24 - Deploy and Analyze Recovery and Resiliency Initiatives
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...
View Article25 - Rebooting Economic and Workforce Development for 2021
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...
View Article26 - Training Workforce Ecosystem Leaders for Success
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...
View Article27 - Joplin's Road to Recovery as a Work Ready Community - Ten Years After...
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...
View Article28 - The Role of Humor in Workforce Development - How Roy's Job Fair Reaches...
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...
View Article29 - Nine Elements to Improve Apprenticeship Quality and Completion
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...
View Article30 - Linking WorkKeys to Adult Education College and Career Readiness Standards
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...
View Article31 - Life-Changing Asset and Skill-Based Solutions in Alternative Sentencing
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....
View Article32 - Preparing Workforce Ecosystems for Returning Citizen Success
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...
View Article33 - The Role of Occupational Identity for Early Career Professionals
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...
View Article34 - Digital Badges Expand Reach and Impact of WorkKeys
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...
View Article35 - Closing Skill Gaps for Working Learners with Transit Support
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...
View Article36 - National Apprenticeship Week with Success at Roy O'Martin
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...
View Article37 - Boosting Career Pathways with College Credit through WorkKeys
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...
View Article38 - Working to Solve Workforce Challenges in Longview
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...
View Article39 - Innovations in Career Navigation and Workforce Ecosystem Impact
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...
View Article40 - Equity and Transparency for Education and Credentials
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...
View Article41 - Credentials As You Go Accelerates Career Pathways
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...
View Article42 - What's Next for the Skills-First Movement
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...
View Article43 - High Tech Meets High Touch to Engage Working Learners
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...
View Article44 - Celebrating Manufacturing Month with ACT and MSSC
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...
View Article45 - Skilled Through Alternative Routes - Why STARs Matter to the Workforce
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...
View Article46 - Braided Funding and Alignment for Program Sustainability
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...
View Article47 - Excellence in the Fusion of Economic and Workforce Development
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...
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