In this episode of The ChemekeTable Podcast, host JD Shinn sits down with “Big Tony” Blosser—a small-town city councilor whose life changed when he was invited to play basketball and attend Chemeketa Community College. What began as an opportunity on the court became a discovery of purpose, direction, and service.

Tony reflects on the life lessons he learned through the game, the lasting impact of his coach Rob Chaves, and how gratitude, mentorship, and community shaped his path from student-athlete to civic leader. This is a powerful conversation about opportunity, believing in others, and how Chemeketa changed the trajectory of a life.

https://www.peacefulwarrior.com/

Welcome back to The ChemekeTable, where we gather around the table to talk about learning, work, and the real paths people take to get where they are today.

On this episode, I’m joined by Buddy Puckett. Buddy’s learning journey didn’t stop at college—like many of us, some of his most impactful lessons came from life itself. By trade, Buddy is a mortgage lender, but at his core he’s someone who deeply cares about people, relationships, and the community he serves.

Our conversation goes beyond rates and numbers. We talk about learning through experience, showing up for others, and what it really means to build trust in both business and life. Whether you’re early in your career, changing paths, or simply interested in people who lead with purpose, this is a conversation you’ll want to lean into.

Let’s pull up a chair and welcome Buddy Puckett to The ChemekeTable.

https://www.chemeketa.edu/locations/center-for-business-industry/

https://branches.guildmortgage.com/or/salem/buddy-puckett-479-wgbp.html

In this episode of The Chemeketable Podcast, we sit down with Margaret Rothe, co-founder of CounselMore, a platform dedicated to guiding students and advisors through the complexities of college life.

Margaret shares her perspective on what it really takes to succeed in higher education—how to define success on your own terms, stay resilient through challenges, and use the right tools to make informed choices along the way.

Whether you’re a student navigating your path, the parent of a student or an educator helping others find theirs, this episode offers practical insights and inspiration for every stage of the college journey.

#Podcast #Chemeketable #CollegeSuccess #Education #StudentJourney #HigherEd #CounselMore #StudentSupport #AcademicAdvising #EducationInnovation

In this episode we sit down with local author Will Robertson, author of 20 True Things and the When We Listen series, to explore the art of writing with meaning. We talk about the creative process behind turning complex ideas—sometimes drawn from ancient wisdom—into stories that connect with everyday life. Will shares his approach to reflective writing, translating inspiration into clarity, and finding purpose through the written word.

Whether you’re a writer, reader, or curious thinker, this conversation will leave you seeing words—and the worlds behind them—a little differently.

#WritingCommunity #AuthorInterview #CreativeProcess #Storytelling #Podcast #Chemeketable #WritersOfOregon #WritingInspiration #Books #WhenWeListen

Customized training is all about creating learning that really fits — whether that’s for a business, an industry, or an individual looking to grow. Instead of a one-size-fits-all approach, it’s designed to meet people where they’re at and focus on the skills that matter most in the real world.

In this episode, I’m joined by Lori, a fellow customized training coordinator, to talk about how this work connects education with industry in meaningful ways. We’ll dig into what customized training looks like in action, share some stories from the field, and explore how the right training can help businesses thrive while opening new doors for learners.

When you're passionate about work it shows. Today's guest has a podcast discussing people who are passionate about their job. Dean Craig sat down at the Table to talk about his role at Willamette Workforce Partners and his podcast All in a Day's Work.

[email protected]

https://open.spotify.com/show/0mGoT8oA4eMwJtneVFFZ7P?si=3cc4f317c92f4688

How often do you get to interview your boss? Today we sit down at the Table with the Director of Chemeketa Center for Business and Industry to discuss what all goes on in our building. We got to know him a little bit and explored some of the cool things that go on here in the Center.

#communitycollege

#smallbusinessdevelopmentcenter

#SBDC #customizedtraining

https://www.chemeketa.edu/locations/center-for-business-industry/

What makes a leader a good leader and how can we upskill our leadership qualities? Today brings local leadership speaker and coach Jacob Espinoza to the table to chat about leadership. Stories and even insecurities show up as we gather around the table for this episode.

https://jacobespinoza.com/

Education indeed has a price on it. But is it daunting? Maybe. Today's guest, Howard Freedman, discusses some methods he uses as a financial aid consultant to help families find ways of getting the most bang for their buck when it comes to post-secondary education. Pull up a chair.

https://www.financialaidconsulting.com/

Chemeketa loves its partners. Since everyone has a seat at the Table we love sitting down with our partners. This episode we sat down with WorkSource Oregon's Neil Johnson. Neil came in to share about what WorkSource does for workers and employers to help ensure that workers at all levels are skilled to do their job well. Pull up a chair, there's always a spot for you at the Table.