Host Debbie Bowden presents a second featured insight with Crystal Dadds, Assistant Director of Codes, Caroline County Department of Planning & Codes. The Liquor Board for Caroline County operates through our Department of Planning & Codes. Crystal returns to tell us about the board, its processes and clarifies our county's laws.

Links:

• Caroline County Department of Planning and Codes website

Host Debbie Bowden presents a featured insight with Scott Evans, Executive Director of Benedictine. In operation for over 60 years, The Benedictine School and Foundation is one of Caroline County's largest employers. Benedictine offers a diverse range of services for children and adults with developmental & intellectual disabilities and autism. Exploring all facets of the organzation, and calling on local businesses to take a new look at Benedictine's employment program.

Linked below is the video "Dignity of Work" which celebrates the success and synergy of Benedictine's employment program.

Links:

• Benedictine: Home Page
• Employment Services & Information for Local Employers
• VIDEO: Dignity of Work
• Benedictine Foundation
• Join the Team: Career Opportunities at Benedictine

Host Debbie Bowden presents a featured insight with Laura Reeder, Assistant Vice President, Branch Manager at Shore United Bank in Denton. Laura shares an inside perspective of how a new committee at Shore United Bank supports Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion (DEI) in the workplace. Through employee education and outreach, the Culture Committee has introduced a new sense of belonging, shared purpose, and respect among employees. With thoughtful planning, Shore United Bank has refined their own DEI program that has already begun to attract positive experiences for their employees, customers, and our community.

Connect with Laura Reeder:

Links:

• Shore United Bank website

Host Debbie Bowden presents a featured insight with Eric Cook, Caroline County Public Schools Youth Apprenticeship Coordinator and Career & Technology Education Teacher Specialist. The Maryland Youth Apprenticeship Program is a new State program providing a tremendous opportunity for businesses to hire student-employees and develop their own highly skilled future workforce. Through on-the-job training and related classroom instruction, youth apprentices will acquire the knowledge and skills needed to become experts in your field and ready for full-time employment upon graduation. Listen in to hear more about Youth Apprenticeship from Eric and how to register your business in the program.

Contact Eric Cook directly by email: [email protected]

Links:

• Caroline Career & Technology Center - Apprenticeship page

Host Debbie Bowden presents a featured insight with Daniel Schneckenburger, Executive Director, Upper Shore Workforce Investment Board.

While continually assessing the needs of our regional job market, the WIB assists businesses to find qualified employees and workers to acquire the skills they need for employment opportunities. In this episode, hear about workforce training, individual career counseling, labor market trends, and how the WIB can help employers meet their present and future workforce needs.

Links:

• Upper Shore Workforce Investment Board website

Host Debbie Bowden presents a special episode featuring the Caroline County Recreation & Parks Summer Camp Leadership Program, with Nicole Scott, LIT/CIT Coordinator, Katie Beebe-Cunningham, Program Specialist along with 8th & 9th Grade Students! Listen in as Anthony, Makaela, Katrina, Austin C., Layla, Austin S., and Ryleigh give firsthand accounts of the valuable leadership skills they are acquiring through the Leaders in Training (LIT) and Counselors in Training (CIT) Programs.

Links:

• Caroline County Recreation & Parks Website

Host Debbie Bowden presents a featured insight with Heather Harding, Acting Supervisor of Caroline County Early Headstart and Judy Centers. Locally and nationally, the childcare sector is recovering much slower than others post-pandemic. Heather and Debbie talk about childcare programs in Caroline County, current challeges for the providers and working parents, and reveal a possible solution on the horizon.

Email: [email protected]

Links:

• LOCATE Childcare in Maryland
• MD State Dept. of Education: Division of Early Childhood
• Early Learning Caroline County Public Schools

Host Debbie Bowden presents a featured insight with Letitia Nichols, Deputy State Director, Delaware – Maryland State Office, Rural Development of USDA. Most people think the USDA only has programs for farms and Ag-based businesses. Hear about business development grants and loans available to non-Ag businesses located in rural communities.

Links:

• Homepage for Maryland & Delaware
• Resource Guide for Rural Entrepreneurs
• Rural Energy for America Program (REAP)
• Rural Energy for America Program (REAP): Inflation Reduction Act Changes

Host Debbie Bowden presents a featured insight with Chrissy Bartz, Director of Community Based Programs at Choptank Community Health Systems. As a federally qualified health center, Choptank Community Health not only provides a sliding fee program to their patients, CCH also offers extended hours at their three county locations, has mobile health units, a mobile dentist unit, and school-based health centers in every Caroline County school.

Links:

• Choptank Community Health Systems
• School-Based Locations and Services
• Choptank Community Health Facebook Page
• Article about the 2022 Produce Prescriptions for Students Program
• Careers at Choptank Community Health

Host Debbie Bowden presents a featured insight with Courtney Stewart, Director of Human Resources at Tri-Gas & Oil Company. The past few years have redefined the human resource industry in more ways than one. In this episode, Courtney shares innovative ideas and trends to help businesses hire new employees and retain the ones they have.