Ventura County Works

What can workforce development do for businesses beyond helping them hire? This episode explores how Ventura County employers can connect with no-cost support for recruiting, training new hires and current employees, planning for future workforce needs, and navigating layoffs or major transitions. You'll learn how services such as on-the-job training, incumbent worker training, and rapid response can help address immediate challenges while building a stronger workforce over time—and why starting a conversation early can lead to a lasting partnership.

In this episode, we explore how Ventura County Works helps residents take the next step toward meaningful employment with support that goes well beyond a job search. From personalized career guidance and training to assistance with transportation and childcare, discover the services available at no cost to eligible participants and how they help remove barriers to lasting success. Whether you're returning to work, changing careers, or unsure where to begin, you don't need to have everything figured out before reaching out.

In this episode of Ventura County Works, leaders from the Workforce Development Board of Ventura County reflect on receiving the 2026 WIOA Trailblazer Award at the NAWB Forum and explore what it takes to build a high-performing workforce system. The conversation highlights the power of strategic planning, employer engagement, community partnerships, and human-centered design in helping job seekers and businesses thrive. Listeners will discover how workforce boards can serve as critical connectors between education, industry, and economic opportunity, while also addressing challenges like talent shortages, leadership development, housing, childcare, and the future impact of AI on the workforce.

Tune in to explore how advanced manufacturing is evolving into one of the most dynamic and opportunity-rich industries in Ventura County. In this episode of Ventura County Works, host and Executive Director of the Workforce Development Board of Ventura County, Rebecca Evans, sits down with Sarah Christopher Falk of Scientific Cutting Tools, Inc. to break down what modern manufacturing really looks like today—driven by technology, precision, and highly skilled talent. Together, they unpack the workforce challenges employers are facing, the in-demand skills shaping the future, and how partnerships between industry, education, and workforce organizations can help close the gap. Whether you're a job seeker curious about careers in manufacturing or an employer looking to strengthen your team, this conversation offers practical insights and a fresh perspective on an industry that continues to power innovation and economic growth.

Tune in for a conversation with Celia Daniels, Founder and CEO of Rebekon Consulting, about the evolving healthcare workforce and the many opportunities within one of Ventura County's most vital industries. Drawing on more than 30 years of experience in healthcare and life sciences, Celia shares insights on the growing demand for talent, why compassion and people skills remain essential in healthcare roles, and how careers in the field extend far beyond traditional clinical paths. The conversation explores workforce challenges facing employers, strategies for recruiting and retaining talent, and the importance of partnerships between employers, educators, and workforce organizations to create pathways into meaningful healthcare careers. Celia also reflects on the importance of health equity and reminds us that at its core, healthcare is human care.

In this episode of Ventura County Works, Executive Director Rebecca Evans sits down with Port of Hueneme leader and Workforce Development Board member Miguel Rodriguez for a special installment of the "Board Member Minutes" series. Miguel shares his professional journey and what drew him to community relations and workforce development, offering an inside look at how the Port of Hueneme serves as a major economic engine for Ventura County. The conversation explores how his role bridges economic development, community engagement, and workforce strategy, along with the unique challenges and opportunities facing the maritime and logistics sector.

In this episode of Ventura County Works, host Rebecca Evans is joined by Laura Martinez and Natalie Lehman to discuss leadership, community connection, and innovation in workforce development. They share how their work on the Workforce Development Board helped inspire InsideTrak: FutureReady Workforce and explain its concierge-style approach to aligning strategy, funding, and partnerships to help employers build sustainable, future-ready workforce systems.

In this episode of Ventura County Works, Executive Director Rebecca Evans sits down with small business owner and past Board Chair Stephen Yeoh for a special installment of the "Board Member Minutes" series. Stephen shares his journey as an entrepreneur in Ventura County, reflecting on what inspired him to start his business and how local partnerships support economic growth. He discusses his experience serving on—and leading—the Workforce Development Board of Ventura County, offering insights into the region's most pressing workforce challenges and opportunities. Together, Rebecca and Stephen explore how small businesses fuel innovation, create jobs, and strengthen community ties, while highlighting the shared vision for a vibrant, inclusive local economy.

In this Board Member Minutes episode of Ventura County Works, Executive Director Rebecca Evans sits down with nonprofit leader Lisa Safaeinili to explore how service and equity drive workforce innovation. Lisa shares her journey into nonprofit leadership, the mission of her organization, and what inspired her to join the Workforce Development Board of Ventura County. Together they discuss the workforce challenges that matter most right now, moments of impact since Lisa joined the board, and her hopes for the future of work—offering listeners an inside look at how dedicated community leaders are building inclusive career pathways for all.

Tune in to this episode of Ventura County Works as we kick off our new segment, Board Member Minutes, with Ken Wiseman—business owner, community leader, and long-time advocate for lifelong learning. Ken shares his journey from leading a large corporate operation to revitalizing historic spaces in Piru, and how his experiences fuel his passion for workforce development. Discover why small business perspectives are essential on the workforce development board, the challenges facing Ventura County's labor market, and how resourcefulness, collaboration, and nimbleness are shaping the future of work in our region.