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On this final episode, host Dr. Lisa Bly-Jones is joined by Workforce Wisdom's editor and producer, Amanda Sink, to close out the series. Lisa sits in the interviewee seat for a change, reflecting on her career, accomplishments at The Workforce Connection (TWC) over the past four years, discussing the impact of the pandemic on equity, and Lisa's own workforce wisdom as she closes out her chapter at TWC.   Dr. Bly-Jones has been a true change agent for equity, and has taken our organization to new heights. We are so appreciative of all her hard work and the impact she has made on our region’s workforce. We wish her all the best in her new endeavor! She will be missed!

To kick off this new season of Workforce Wisdom, Dr. Lisa Bly-Jones is speaking with career professionals in law enforcement as a series of episodes.   In this episode, Dr. Bly-Jones is speaking with Andre Taylor, a current member of the U.S. Army and future police officer. The discussion revolves around why Mr. Taylor is pursuing a career in law enforcement when his five years with the military concludes, which character attributes will transfer from the military to becoming a local police officer, and of course, Mr. Taylor shares his workforce wisdom on making a career change.

In this episode of Workforce Wisdom, Dr. Lisa Bly-Jones validates labor market information and data by actually speaking with local employers. This panel discussion will provide insight from healthcare, IT, manufacturing, retail, and non-profit about workforce trends we're seeing as we move towards economic recovery.

Workforce Wisdom is a podcast brought to you by The Workforce Connection Board. In every episode, Dr. Lisa M. Bly-Jones interviews leaders and professionals across the workforce, informing your path to career success. Can you believe the final episode of season two is already here? Don’t worry – we will be back just after Labor Day, but to close this season out, we wanted to recap the tremendous leaders I interviewed this season who embody the theme of “Stepping Up”. The past year+ has been an emotional and uniquely challenging year, from racial inequity to the new workforce trends affecting women and wages. Listen to this episode, share it with your colleagues, friends and family, and leave us a 5 star review on Apple Podcasts!

In this episode, Lisa Bly-Jones, Ed.D. speaks with the Social Equity Committee of Keller Williams Realty Signature in Illinois and Wisconsin. This rock-star team making equity strides in the real estate industry consists of Toni VanderHayden, the Operating Principle for Keller Williams Realty Signature. She, alongside a fantastic board of leaders and real estate agents, have realized the founding vision of their launch in 2008 to be a real estate company where all real estate agents can learn to build wealth, so they can turn around and help the next person do the same; Nastasia 'Staci' Brown, Realtor and Chair of Social Equity Committee, Lead Buyer Specialist, and Lifetime Nomination as Cultural Ambassador of the entire Keller Williams region; Joey Krutza, who focuses on social equity training, education and development; and Bryant Chandler, who leads the mentorship aspect of this work.   Keller Williams Realty Signature is hosting a Social Equity Wine & Cheese night on Thursday, June 10 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at their Loves Park address. You are invited to a gathering of highly successful professionals to discuss a strategy to promote and ensure social equity in our local business community. Your ideas and input are welcome while we enjoy a wine tasting with Artale Wines and plentiful charcuterie boards!

In this episode, Lisa Bly-Jones, Ed.D. speaks with Sharon Bush, the Executive Director of Grand Victoria Foundation, only the second person to lead the Foundation in its 20-year industry. She has over 20 years of nonprofit and business experience. As proponents of equality and equity with experience professionally and personally, Dr. Bly-Jones and Bush heavily focus on equity in the workplace, the progress that's been made and how there is still much work to be done.  Sharon is a recognized leader in the field who strongly values the economic and social contributions of the nonprofit sector. Throughout her career she has worked to ensure that the sector is strong, equitable, sustainable and highly capable of serving individuals and families throughout the Chicago region. She has launched, led and participated in innovative collaborations that have resulted in thousands of people securing employment and millions of dollars to support the regional workforce system.

In this episode, Dr. Lisa Bly-Jones speaks with Fred DeLaRosa, General Manager of Embassy Suites Rockford, about the hospitality industry before and amid the pandemic, how Embassy Suites remains competitive with lodging options like Airbnb, and insight into his own career pathway and motivation. Fred has over 20 years of experience in the industry and with the Embassy Suites brand, serving various roles throughout his career.

In this episode, Lisa M. Bly-Jones, Ed.D. speaks with Illinois State Representative for the 68th District, Dave Vella, who was recently elected to serve after narrowly winning "in a district (he) wasn't really supposed to win", as he put it. Prior to his election, Dave earned his Law Degree at NIU and served as a Public Defender for 3 years after law school representing indigents in criminal, juvenile, and civic court. He joined the family law firm in Rockford, which he and his brother later took over as partners. Vella's grandfather, E.J. "Zeke" Giorgi served as a representative for over 30 years until his death in 1993.

In this special episode, Lisa M. Bly-Jones, Ed.D. speaks with Dick Rundall of Eliminate Racism 815, a non-profit organization in the Rockford, Illinois area devoted to eliminating racism through education, advocacy, and partnerships. Through the interview, Dr. Bly-Jones learns more about Eliminate Racism 815: their mission, their accomplishments, and how our two organizations can partner together to make change to the economic mobility in our community.

In the conclusion of our two-part series, Lisa M. Bly-Jones, Ed.D. speaks with four of The Workforce Connection’s women Board of Directors members, all of which have earned a key spot as a leader for their organization. Featuring interviews with Pamela Lopez-Fettes of Growth Dimensions, Suzanne Fisher of OSF Healthcare, Michelle Cassaro of the Chicago-Rockford International Airport, and Karen Brown of Highland Community College, these incredible and empowering women share their pieces of wisdom – in a general sense and what they would share with aspiring female leaders.

In this first of two-part series, Lisa M. Bly-Jones, Ed.D. speaks with three of The Workforce Connection's women Board of Directors members, all of which have earned a key spot as a leader for their organization. Featuring interviews with Amy Ott of Boylan Catholic High School, Vanessa Hughes of Hughes Resources, and Kathy Crandall of Crandall Stats & Sensors, these incredible and empowering women share their pieces of wisdom - in a general sense and what they would share with aspiring female leaders.

In this episode, Lisa Bly-Jones, Ed.D. speaks with Sara Dorner, President of Rockford United Labor AFL-CIO. She is the first woman President in the organization's 66 year history. In addition to being the President of Rockford United Labor AFL-CIO, Sara is a labor representative with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees. Prior to her now 7 years with AFSCME, she was a labor representative with the Minnesota Nurse's Association, and an organizer with the Service Employees International Union in Wisconsin. Her real union education came during her tenure as a flight attendant with United Airlines, where she became active with her union - the Association of Flight Attendants - and remained active throughout her near decade career there. Rockford, Illinois is her hometown where she now lives happily with her husband and two young children. Sara holds a Bachelor degree in English from the University of Illinois-Chicago, she was listed in the Rockford Register Star as "people to watch" in 2019, and was named as one in the Rockford Chamber's 40 leaders under 40 in 2020.