E129: Meet Brad Turner-Little, CEO of NAWB

Tune in for this special episode as Mike Fazio, Co-President of Workforce180 and Metrix Learning, interviews Brad Turner-Little, the new CEO of NAWB. Brad talks about his career journey and outlines his vision for NAWB.

John R. Blosnich, Assistant Professor and Director of the Center for LGBTQ+ Health Equity at the Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work at USC, joins the program to discuss the impact of mental health in the workplace. Discover the impact of the pandemic on workers’ mental health and the life disruptions that can lead to suicidal ideation. John also reveals why workforce professionals often come in contact with individuals who may be experiencing a life crisis and how to best support job seekers who may have mental health challenges.

Jay Dixon, an economist for Statistics Canada, joins the program to discuss the research that his organization has conducted about robots and the impact of robots on various industries. Jay reveals three major takeaways from the study and the impact of robots on middle-skill jobs. Discover the correlation between robot adoption and worker shortages in different countries.

This episode features a conversation with Janice Fidalgo, Product Marketing Manager for Grow with Google, as she provides an overview of the tools and resources available to help job seekers grow their skills. Discover some of the career certificates available through Grow with Google and their partnership with NAWB. You’ll also learn about how the career certificates can help employers identify top talent.

Author and consultant Oreste D’Aversa joins the program to discuss the phenomenon of “quiet quitting” and the impact that it has on the workforce. Oreste reveals the definition of quiet quitting and some of the reasons behind it. Discover the importance of communication between employees and employers, and how employers can address quiet quitting if it is occurring in their organization. You’ll also hear about the importance of mental wellness in the workplace and learn a meditation exercise that can be done in any location in only a few minutes.

Dr. Paul Harrington, Professor, and Director of the Center for Labor Markets and Policy at Drexel University, returns to the program to provide an updated look at the economy and the labor market. Paul discusses the shift of the regional labor markets, the impact of remote work, and the changing dynamics of labor relationships. Discover labor participation rates among youth.

Arti Finn, Co-Founder of American Prison Data Systems (APDS), joins the program to discuss the work that her organization does to promote free and ethical education options for incarcerated learners. Discover some of the biggest challenges in the US around preparing people for employment and a successful transition out of incarceration. Arti also reveals why this should be an issue of focus for workforce boards and how to more intentionally engage this population.

This episode features an interview with Walter Simmons, CEO of Employ Prince George’s and Kyle Marinelli, Manager of Government Relations and Policy for NAWB, as they discuss what workforce boards need to know about the American Recovery Plan Act, or ARPA. You’ll hear details about an exciting new Workforce Program Training Guide, created in partnership between NAWB, the Prince George’s County Workforce Development Board and Employ Prince George’s (EPG) outlining American Rescue Plan Act policies, definitions and procedures. For more information on the ARPA Guide, contact Kyle Marinelli at MarinelliK@NAWB.org