Labor Lounge Podcast

In this special episode, Labor Lounge Podcast goes live from the 12th Annual Women Business Leaders Forum by NJBIA. Hosts Anthony Abrantes and Cyndie Williams are joined by Lauren Nathan-LaRusso, Arlene Q. Perez, and Maggie Moran for a candid conversation about building a career in leadership.

Drawing from their experiences across public affairs, law, government, organized labor, and major-event management, the panel explores the qualities that have shaped their careers, the mentors and allies who opened doors along the way, and the importance of preparation, relationships, reputation, and knowing when to take the lead.

https://eascarpenters.org/

https://cctmarketing.org/

Episode highlights:
(3:49) What helped these leaders stand out early in their careers  
(7:10) Saying yes to major opportunities before feeling fully ready  
(11:30) Staying grounded in your values while building your career  
(15:14) Leadership, fear, accountability, and creating a lasting impact  
(18:40) Mentors who open doors and create opportunities  
(27:56) Why allies and strong relationships matter  
(28:48) Career advice for anyone ready to advance  
(33:18) Stop asking for permission and start taking action  
(35:52) Reputation, integrity, and keeping your word  
(36:56) Audience Q&A on fear, confidence, and knowing you are ready  
(40:21) How preparation builds confidence and courage  
(41:55) Taking control of your own career and future

Morris County Commissioner John Krickus joins Anthony and Cyndie to talk workforce development, infrastructure investment, and the role skilled labor plays in strengthening communities across New Jersey. Krickus reflects on his time serving on the Morris County Board of County Commissioners, highlighting efforts to reduce property taxes while expanding investment in public infrastructure and career-focused education. He shares updates on the expansion of the Career Training Center and the upcoming Center for Health Professions, emphasizing the growing demand for vocational training and skilled trades careers. Krickus also discusses the success of project labor agreements in delivering cost savings and high-quality workmanship on major county projects, while underscoring the broader importance of workforce training to economic stability, national security, veteran support, and combating issues like homelessness and opioid addiction.

https://eascarpenters.org/

https://cctmarketing.org/

https://www.morriscountynj.gov/Home

Episode highlights:
(2:31) Commissioner John Krickus on public service and the skilled worker shortage
(7:08) Why investing in infrastructure and people creates long-term value
(14:03) Workforce development, manufacturing, and County College of Morris
(17:36) Project labor agreements and major Morris County construction projects
(22:20) Union apprenticeship training and career education opportunities
(27:34) Rebuilding American manufacturing and protecting domestic workers
(35:42) Investing in workers as a solution to affordability challenges
(40:51) Apprenticeships, college credits, and debt-free career paths
(48:01) How union construction can deliver quality work under budget
(52:16) Veteran homelessness, opioid recovery, and community support

Michael V. Fina, Founder and Executive Director of the ULA Network and the ULA Network Charitable Foundation, sits down with Anthony and Cyndie to discuss his work promoting union labor and workforce development through the ULA Network, a platform connecting unions, industry leaders, and workforce organizations. Fina shares how initiatives like the Vets for Vets program are supporting veterans through hands-on community projects while creating pathways into meaningful careers in the skilled trades. He also explores the power of storytelling, media, and social platforms in changing perceptions around union careers and reaching younger generations with opportunities in vocational training. Throughout the conversation, Fina highlights how union jobs continue to provide family-sustaining wages, healthcare, retirement benefits, and long-term career stability as the workforce evolves and demand for skilled labor grows.

https://eascarpenters.org/
https://cctmarketing.org/
https://ulanetwork.com/

Episode highlights:
(2:50) How the ULA Network began
(6:39) Common myths about union careers
(9:47) Using media to promote skilled trades
(12:42) Connecting schools, CTE programs, and apprenticeships
(16:08) Turning social media interest into career opportunities
(17:57) The story and mission behind Vets for Vets
(25:01) Positive labor stories in modern media
(28:04) Building a lasting workforce development legacy

New Jersey Department of Labor & Workforce Development Acting Commissioner Kevin D. Jarvis joins Anthony and Cyndie to discuss the evolving future of work, worker protections, and workforce development across the Garden State. Drawing on his background in labor law and public service, Jarvis explains how the Department of Labor and Workforce Development is modernizing systems, strengthening enforcement, and building partnerships with unions, employers, and educational institutions to support workers and businesses alike. He also addresses the growing challenges of worker misclassification, the rise of gig work and AI-driven technology, and why continuous education and collaboration are critical to protecting workers while preparing New Jersey’s workforce for the jobs of tomorrow.

Episode highlights:
(1:13) Introducing Acting Commissioner Kevin Jarvis
(3:23) Growing up in a union family and serving workers
(7:09) How organized labor helps shape workforce policy
(11:42) Misclassification, wage theft, and the impact on workers and employers
(16:24) Protecting vulnerable workers and anonymous reporting
(20:23) Educating employers while enforcing labor laws
(25:02) AI, apps, and the future of work
(29:35) Why apprenticeships still work
(30:12) Acting Commissioner Jarvis on legacy, fairness, and helping people
(33:21) Investing in working-class families and opportunity

Elliot Washor, co-founder of Big Picture Learning, joins Anthony and Cyndie to share his five-decade journey transforming education through real-world, hands-on learning. Washer explains how Big Picture Learning’s innovative model connects students with internships, mentorships, and meaningful workplace experiences that prepare them for long-term success beyond the classroom. He highlights the organization’s impact in underserved communities, the recent $18 million investment from Bloomberg Philanthropies to expand these programs, and why building social connections, practical skills, and purpose-driven learning is critical for the future workforce. Washor also shares inspiring success stories of students excelling in skilled trades, returning as mentors, and helping reshape what education can achieve.

https://www.bigpicture.org/

(1:19) Introduction to Dr. Elliot Washor and Big Picture Learning
(2:39) Why Dr. Washor began questioning traditional schooling
(5:15) What schools miss when preparing students for real jobs
(7:28) Why internships, mentorship, and relationships matter
(9:33) The Bloomberg Philanthropies grant with Big Picture Learning and the Carpenters Union
(12:20) Connecting students to paid work, college credit, and career pathways
(16:25) Redefining success beyond graduation or getting a job
(19:24) Why middle school and high school career exposure matters
(22:31) Reaching communities furthest from opportunity
(37:16) A student success story that shows the power of this model

A message from Labor Lounge Podcast Co-Hosts Anthony Abrantes and Cyndie Williams. 

Season 2 launches on June 10, 2026! Same honesty. Same curiosity. Bigger conversations. 

This is Labor Lounge. Let’s get into it.

Dr. Benjamin Dworkin, founding director of the Rowan Institute for Public Policy and Citizenship (RIPPAC), joins Anthony and Cyndie to discuss the importance of civic engagement in sustaining a healthy democracy. He shares how RIPPAC works to counter political cynicism, encourage informed participation, and foster respectful, nonpartisan dialogue in an increasingly polarized landscape. Dr. Dworkin looks ahead to how education and dialogue can help restore confidence in democratic institutions.

https://www.rowan.edu/ric-edelman-college/centers/rippac/

(2:05) The purpose behind the Rowan Institute for Public Policy and Citizenship
(5:54) Why civic education matters for voters and workers
(7:49) Connecting students and the public with elected officials
(10:03) Misconceptions about civic engagement and political power
(12:19) Reading, writing, and listening as key leadership skills
(14:22) Rebuilding trust through transparency and respect
(17:46) Civic engagement wins: marriage equality and minimum wage
(21:42) Making politics feel human, respectful, and even fun
(33:06) How labor unions shape strong public policy
(36:13) The internet, algorithms, and the future of democracy
(42:29) Why people must take ownership of democracy

Frank V. Radomski & Sons, Inc. Chairman Philip Radomski and President Mary Kate Radomski join Anthony and Cyndie to share the 100+ year evolution of their family-founded construction firm - from Depression-era coal hauling to major institutional and industrial projects across the region. They discuss a thoughtful generational transition of leadership, the company’s deep commitment to union labor, and why safety, training, and “knowing how to build” remain core to their success. The conversation also explores how apprenticeships create long-term, high-paying careers, why union contractors outperform on safety and efficiency, and how reframing construction as a lifelong profession is critical to the future of the industry.

https://radomski-builders.com/

Episode highlights:
(1:19) Meet Philip and Mary Kate Radomski
(2:14) The 100-year history of Radomski & Sons
(5:40) Why knowing how to build still matters
(9:00) Passing leadership to the next generation
(11:09) Why the trades are a real career path
(15:31) Why union labor, quality, and safety matter
(19:39) Community impact and long-term careers
(25:05) Advice for young people entering construction
(30:23) Closing thoughts on partnership and legacy

In this episode, Anthony and Cyndie sit down with New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill to talk about how unions and workforce development can shape the state’s economic future. Sherrill shares her approach to expanding apprenticeships, aligning education with industry, and preparing workers for a rapidly changing economy. She reflects on the role of organized labor in protecting jobs, wages, and dignity, and why staying “at the table” will be essential for New Jersey’s working families.

(2:39) Workforce development priorities for New Jersey
(3:21) Infrastructure jobs and the Gateway Tunnel Project
(4:06) Aligning labor, higher education, and industry
(5:29) Governor Sherrill’s personal union family story
(7:40) Why labor plays a key role in affordability and the middle class
(10:54) Job growth strategies and expanding apprenticeship programs
(12:25) How labor benefits the entire workforce
(15:16) Pension investments and economic impact
(16:33) Key industries driving New Jersey’s future
(17:54) AI and the future of work
(19:55) Measuring workforce development success in New Jersey
(21:01) Why labor must have a seat at the table

Pennsylvania Lieutenant Governor Austin Davis joins Anthony and Cyndie to discuss how unions power the middle class and why the state is investing heavily in apprenticeships and workforce development. Raised in a union family, Davis shares how organized labor shaped his path and how it continues to drive economic opportunity and community stability across the Commonwealth. He outlines new funding for career-technical education, the $20B Amazon data-center project with $10M in targeted workforce development, and Pennsylvania’s approach to balancing business growth with worker protections.

https://www.pa.gov/ltgovernor

https://eascarpenters.org/

https://cctmarketing.org/

00:00 – Opening and show setup with Anthony and Cyndie
07:41 – Introduction of Pennsylvania Lieutenant Governor Austin Davis
08:23 – Austin shares how his union upbringing shaped his values and opportunities
09:55 – How unions create generational wealth and family stability
11:57 – The origins of workers’ rights: weekends, work hours, and safety from union advocacy
12:42 – The ongoing fight to protect organized labor and resist “right to work” efforts
13:38 – Growing up in McKeesport and seeing how unions built stable communities
14:40 – Pennsylvania’s investment in workforce development and apprenticeships
15:48 – Expanding career and technical education to meet the state’s labor demand
16:38 – Balancing business growth with worker protections under the Shapiro administration
17:05 – The $20B Amazon data center investment and workforce development funding
18:27 – Pennsylvania’s commitment to clean and renewable energy projects
19:07 – Bipartisan efforts to speed energy and infrastructure development
20:22 – Bringing both parties together under a shared “Pennsylvania jersey”
21:32 – How cooperation across political lines benefits workers and families
22:22 – The future of organized labor and new union movements across industries
23:46 – Rising union popularity and rebuilding the middle class across all sectors
24:09 – Closing remarks and appreciation for Austin Davis’s leadership