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Tune in for a conversation between Lisa Daugherty, the new President & CEO of Center of Workforce Innovations, and Dr. Vanessa Allen-McCloud, President & Chief Executive Officer Urban League of Northwest Indiana, Inc. for a conversation about diversity and inclusion. Discover how leaders can assess the state of their organization when it comes to diversity and inclusion, and how to get started with D&I efforts. You'll also hear what's going well in Northwest Indiana when it comes to diversity and inclusion efforts in the workforce and education sectors and and how to access training and support. 

Desila Rosetti, President & CEO of Organizational Development Solutions, joins the program to discuss trends that she is seeing when it comes to recruiting executive level talent, and overall recruiting and hiring trends. Discover what organizations can do to attract top talent, and how to ensure a good fit between a leader and an organization. 

As the world becomes increasingly digital, we are increasingly vulnerable to hackers. In this episode, you'll hear from Ron Bush, President of Ron Bush Consulting and cybersecurity consultant, as he discusses the importance of filling the talent pipeline in the cybersecurity field, and what you need to consider to keep your information protected. 

We are now a year into the COVID-19 pandemic and there have been many challenges as well as opportunities in Northwest Indiana. In this episode you'll hear from two leaders as they discuss the changes that have occurred over the past year, the challenges they faced, and how they have adapted and innovated to meet those challenges. 

In this episode, you'll hear about the importance of economic development and job development in Northwest Indiana. Discover what it takes to follow through on a vision for a region, and how to maximize partnerships for success. 

In this episode, you'll hear from a panel of experts on the efforts being made to fill the healthcare talent pipeline in Northwest Indiana. Discover the importance of partnerships in developing a healthcare talent pipeline, and some of the new and innovative training models. 

In this episode, you'll hear from Kitty Meyer, CWI Adult Education Manager, and John Schlatter, the Assistant Education Manager at CWI, as they discuss what adult basic education is, and why it's important. Discover some of the challenges and opportunities that have come from transitioning learning to a virtual format during the COVID-19 pandemic, and learn about some of the success that students have experienced after participating in adult education programs.   

Chancellor Ken Iwama from Indiana University Northwest joins the program to discuss how IU Northwest has met the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and reveals his main priorities. Discover the efforts that are being made to ensure job readiness and preparing talent for the workforce.

This episode features an interview with Dr. Thomas Keon, Chancellor of Purdue University Northwest. Dr. Keon reveals the unique approach that Purdue University Northwest has taken when it comes to their relationship with the surrounding community, and the crucial role that post-secondary education plays in economic development. Dr. Keon also shares some of the biggest challenges facing the University, and the efforts that are underway to meet future workforce needs.

This episode features an interview with R. Louie Gonzalez, Chancellor of Ivy Tech Community College, Lake County Campus. Discover the history of Ivy Tech Community College and the various programs and certifications available. You’ll also hear success stories about people who have launched their careers through Ivy Tech.

Secretary Blair Milo of the Indiana Office of Career Connections and Talent, and Heather Ennis, President and CEO of the Northwest Indiana Forum, join the program to discuss Northwest Indiana's designation as a 21st century talent region and what this means for the state of Indiana and specifically for the seven counties of Northwest Indiana.

This episode features an interview with Gary Johnson, President of Mortar Net Solutions, and Lorri Feldt, Regional Director of the Northwest Indiana SBDC (Small Business Development Center). Discover how the SBDC creates a positive and measurable impact on the formation, growth, and sustainability of Northwest Indiana’s small businesses by providing entrepreneurs expert guidance and a comprehensive network of resources.

In this episode, you'll hear from 2 community foundation directors, Maggi Spartz from the Unity Foundation of La Porte County and Carolyn Saxton from the Legacy Foundation in Lake County. Discover some of their most recent initiatives to help better their communities, and the ways in which the Unity Foundation and Legacy Foundation are working together to create a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship. 

In this episode, you'll learn about Calumet College of St. Joseph, a private Roman Catholic college in Whiting, Indiana. Discover enrollment trends and the benefits to obtaining a 4 year college degree. You'll also discover how educational institutions can celebrate diverse heritages and how to improve Hispanic recruitment and retention rates. 

Speros A. Batistatos, President and CEO of the South Shore Convention and Visitors Authority, joins the program to discuss the impact that the COVID-19 pandemic has had on the hospitality industry, as well as current trends. Discover the importance of the hospitality industry for the region, and a silver lining that is emerging during these challenging times. 

Fred Payne, Commissioner of the Indiana Department of Workforce Development, joins the program to discuss the current state of Indiana's employment environment. Discover how the Department of Workforce Development has quickly adapted to meet the needs of individuals effected by the economic disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as changes to Indiana's unemployment systems. 

Becky Fry and Shelley Bishop join the program to discuss the WorkOne initiative, and how they have continued to serve customers virtually during the COVID-19 pandemic. Discover the challenges that have come up due to the pandemic, how companies have pivoted in order to continue to work while social distancing, and the industries that are currently hiring. 

When we think about economic development, we often focus on large companies, but in this episode, we explore the impact that small businesses can have on workforce and economic development in a region. Carol Podolak from BNutty, joins the program to share the story behind the artisanal peanut butter company and the investments that they have made in their new manufacturing facility in Northwest Indiana. She also reveals how they sponsor soccer players and help them prepare for college and a career. 

In this episode, learn more about Indiana's new graduation pathways requirements for high school students, and steps many of the READY Northwest Indiana (NWI) education leaders have taken for a  successful launch of the requirements. 

Steve Corona, Executive Director of Latinos Count, joins the program to discuss the work that his organization is doing to prepare Latino youth with the skills that they will need to compete for jobs in the 21st Century. Discover some of the most recent initiatives that the organization is engaged in, and how a focus on career pathways can make a difference in the lives of Latino youth.