Lien Dastgir, President and CEO of KAD Engineering, joins the program to talk about her journey from growing up in Southern China and subsequently moving to the United States, becoming a licensed professional engineer, and starting her own business. Lien discusses the services that her business provides and the events that led her to decide to start her own business. She also reveals the services that she has utilized to help support her as a business owner. To learn more about KAD Engineering, visit https://kadengineeringgroup.com/ 

This episode features a conversation with Rita Ernst, owner of Ignite Your Extraordinary, as she discusses the work that she does helping distressed and toxic teams return to their positive, happy, committed, high-performing selves. Discover the importance of culture in an organization and what a healthy workplace culture looks like. Rita also reveals three essential needs that help to support optimal performance. 

In this episode you'll learn about the Corporate and Community Services department at Joliet Junior College, and how they connect the local and regional community with JJC. Discover some of the classes, programming and events available through Corporate and Community Services and why it is important to offer non-credit offerings in addition to for-credit courses. You'll also hear about how the department uses data to bolster and improve their offerings and reach. 

In this episode, you'll learn about the Connect to Your Future career scholarship program and the Career Certified program. Discover details about each program, who they serve, and eligibility requirements. You'll also hear about the benefits of participating in each program and how the programs can help individuals connect with employers. 

Dr. Brian Hite, Founder and CEO of Begin Again Performance Psychology, joins the program to discuss his career journey, which includes being a professional stuntman for film and television. Dr. Hite shares tips for how to optimize your performance at work and in your life. Discover the lessons that we can learn from sports psychology and how they relate to performance in the workplace. 

Author and speaker Judy Balloff joins the program to discuss overcoming adversity in your career. You won't want to miss Judy's amazing story of facing serious health issues and then starting a new career in her 60's! Judy shares actionable tips to achieve success in your personal and professional life. 

This episode features an interview with coach, consultant and author Oreste J. D’Aversa as he discusses the phenomenon of "quiet quitting" and "quiet firing." Discover what these terms mean, the problems that they create in the workplace and how address them.

This episode, recorded in recognition of Disability Employment Awareness Month, addresses the benefits for employers of hiring people with disabilities. Discover some common misconceptions that employers often have about people with disabilities and how employers can attract and retain this largely untapped labor pool. 

In part two of this two-part podcast series, you'll hear from Priscilla Cordero, Executive Director of the Joliet City Center Partnership, as she provides an overview of the work that the Partnership does to improve all aspects of the traditional downtown central business district. 

In part one of this two-part podcast series, you'll hear from Priscilla Cordero, Executive Director of the Joliet City Center Partnership, as she provides an overview of the work that the Partnership does to improve all aspects of the traditional downtown central business district. Priscilla reveals the importance of collaboration and her vision of what downtown Joliet might look like in 5, 10, and 15 years.