In this episode of KRA's The Hub, host Jonathan Overall sits down with Jaime Cruz, Executive Director of Workforce Connections in Southern Nevada, to discuss how Las Vegas is transforming its workforce system to meet a rapidly evolving economy. Jaime shares his journey from hospitality to workforce leadership and highlights how a demand-driven approach, strong business engagement, and innovative partnerships are building talent across key industries. As NAWB's 2026 Forum heads to Las Vegas, this conversation offers a preview of what's ahead and what it takes to ignite innovation and drive real workforce impact.

In this Getting to Know KRA episode, we turn the tables and interview KRA's The Hub host Jonathan Overall, Director of Communications and Innovation at KRA, to explore the organization's expanding work in consulting. Jonathan shares how KRA is building on its deep experience in workforce services to help agencies, boards, and nonprofits navigate complexity, strengthen performance, and translate policy into practice. The conversation highlights KRA's relationship-driven, solution-focused approach—grounded in listening, collaboration, and implementation—and offers insight into when organizations should seek consulting support, what success truly looks like, and how KRA is preparing partners for the future through data, AI, and strategic innovation.

Tune in for a conversation with Andrew Bercich, Chief Executive Officer of the National Association of Workforce Boards (NAWB), as he shares his vision for the future of the workforce system and the leadership needed to navigate a rapidly changing economy. Drawing on more than two decades of experience in talent operations with companies like Amazon and IBM, Andrew discusses how workforce boards can adapt to accelerating technological change, including the growing impact of artificial intelligence on jobs and skills. He also reflects on stepping into his new national leadership role, the priorities shaping NAWB's next chapter, and how workforce leaders can build more responsive, innovative systems that support both employers and job seekers in the years ahead.

In this special episode of Getting to Know KRA, we sit down with Mr. Knowlton Atterbeary, Founder, President, and CEO of KRA, to celebrate the organization's 45th anniversary and reflect on the vision that launched KRA in 1981. Hosted by Jonathan Overall, the conversation explores Mr. Atterbeary's early inspiration to strengthen disadvantaged communities through workforce development, the core values that have guided KRA through decades of economic change, and the leadership lessons learned through growth and national expansion. Mr. Atterbeary also shares defining milestones, including national recognition from NAWDP, and offers a forward-looking perspective on how KRA is positioned to lead through today's evolving workforce challenges—from technology and labor shortages to long-term economic mobility and resilience.

In this episode of Getting to Know KRA, we sit down with Zaskia Ruiz, Executive Vice President & Chief Operating Officer, for a behind-the-scenes look at how KRA's operations support its mission and nationwide impact. Hosted by Jonathan Overall, the conversation explores operational strategy, fiscal oversight, compliance, and internal systems that ensure programs run effectively across diverse regions. Zaskia shares insights on leading through complexity, strengthening organizational infrastructure, and aligning people, processes, and resources to support workforce programs that serve communities with integrity and accountability.

In this episode, we're joined by Jermaine Donaldson, Director of Business Development for Genesys Works, to explore how human-centered leadership and intentional workforce design can turn access into real opportunity—and jobs into sustainable careers. The conversation examines the critical role employers play in building equitable talent pipelines, the importance of meeting young people where they are, and how thoughtful partnerships can create long-term career mobility. Tune in to gain insight into how people-first strategies, strong employer engagement, and intentional program design can drive meaningful outcomes for both individuals and the workforce ecosystem.

Recorded live at the 2025 Raising the Bar Conference, this episode features Fahim Karim, Manager of Business Services for Employ Prince George's, sharing insights on how effective employer engagement drives stronger workforce outcomes. Fahim discusses how his team supports businesses through economic uncertainty, responds to federal workforce disruptions, and helps employers recognize transferable skills and emerging talent. Listeners will also learn how Prince George's County is approaching recruitment, business partnerships, and the practical integration of AI to improve efficiency and growth. This conversation highlights how listening, collaboration, and innovation can turn workforce challenges into real opportunity.

In this episode of Getting to Know KRA, we sit down with Reena Singh, Program Director for KRA's Northern Nevada region, to take a closer look at the role of one-stop operations in delivering a seamless, client-centered workforce experience. Hosted by Jonathan Overall, the conversation explores how EmployeeNV Career Hubs coordinate partners, community resources, and referral systems to meet individuals where they are and support meaningful job placement and career growth. Reena shares insights on serving a rapidly evolving regional economy, strengthening customer experience, and using continuous quality improvement to drive impact across Northern Nevada.

In this episode, we're joined by Kirkland Murray, President & CEO of the Maryland Workforce Association and Executive Director of the Anne Arundel Workforce Development Board, for a wide-ranging conversation recorded live at the 2025 Raising the Bar Conference. Kirkland reflects on a year marked by rapid change—federal layoffs, AI disruption, shifting economic conditions—and highlights how Maryland's workforce system continues to respond with resilience, collaboration, and innovation. He discusses the vital role workforce professionals play as the "superheroes" of their communities, the importance of self-care in a demanding field, and the expanding partnerships between workforce boards, schools, and businesses to build future talent pipelines.

In this episode, we're joined by Dr. Erin Anderson Williams for a powerful conversation about what it truly takes to support and engage youth in a rapidly changing world. Dr. Williams breaks down how workforce leaders can meet young people where they are—through fun, relevance, co-creation, and authentic connection—while also confronting the "superhero complex" that so often leads to exhaustion and burnout in our field. She invites us to pause, reflect, and reset, reminding leaders that caring for themselves is essential to doing meaningful, sustainable work. From the accelerating pace of innovation to shrinking resources, Dr. Williams offers wisdom, practical strategies, and a refreshing mindset shift for anyone committed to helping the next generation thrive without sacrificing their own wellbeing.