Partners In Actions: New WC Podcast

NEW WC Podcast

Produced By Southern Nevada’s Local Workforce Development Board, Workforce Connections (WC).

Vegas Chamber President and CEO Mary Beth Sewald is among the first guests on the new WC Podcast, produced by Southern Nevada’s Local Workforce Development Board, Workforce Connections (WC). Sewald also sits on the Workforce Connections board representing businesses in Southern Nevada.

The WC Podcast was launched in September during National Workforce Development Month and can currently be found on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, BuzzSprout, and YouTube.

Hosted by Workforce Connections Executive Director Jaime Cruz, the first six podcasts feature Workforce Connections board members discussing how workforce development impacts economic development. The interviews also dive into how industry sector partnerships are being convened in Southern Nevada to develop strategies and partnerships to meet the talent needs of business and industry.

“When one of our board members first brought the idea to us about starting a podcast, our goal was to use it as a tool to introduce new board members,” said Cruz. “Then we quickly realized the topics we want to discuss have broad appeal, particularly given the unprecedented collaboration happening now in Southern Nevada on everything from securing federal recovery funding to diversifying the local economy.”

Each podcast is about fifteen minutes long and the video versions on the YouTube channel include a light-hearted “Against the Wall” bonus segment after the interview to help listeners get to know the guests better.

Initial episodes feature:

• John “Jack” Martin, Clark County Department of Juvenile

Justice Services, Director.

Martin shares his vision for Workforce Connections and integrated services for “at opportunity” youth.

• Mary Beth Sewald, Vegas Chamber, President & CEO

Sewald discusses the importance of business-led workforce development strategies and the new employer-focused One-Stop Centers, the Employ NV Business Hubs.

• Dr. Federico Zaragoza, College of Southern Nevada (CSN)

President Zaragoza shares his vision for the community college meeting the needs of business and industry.

• Dan Giraldo, Bank of America, Senior VP-Market Manager

Giraldo discusses the importance of businesses having a voice when investments are being made in workforce development for the region.

• Cecil Fielder, Keolis Transit America, LLC, Director of Safety, Training, and Security

Fielder shares his experience on the Workforce Connections board and his new leadership role.

• Jared Smith, Las Vegas Global Economic

Alliance (LVGEA), COO

Smith discusses how economic diversification is taking place in Southern Nevada. Additional episodes of the WC Podcast will be released regularly and cover a variety of workforce and economic development issues.

If you have a topic you would like discussed on the WC Podcast, or if you would like to be a guest, please email Jaime Cruz at jcruz@nvworkforceconnections.org.