Workforce Wisdom is a podcast brought to you by The Workforce Connection Board. In every episode, Dr. Lisa M. Bly-Jones interviews leaders and professionals across the workforce, informing your path to career success.

In this episode, Dr. Bly-Jones is joined by Danielle Angileri, Executive Director of the Northern Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) of Northern Illinois. NAMI is the nation's largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness. Danielle discusses the care-giving stresses, the rising levels of domestic violence, NAMI's mission, and the affect loneliness has on one's self.

In this episode, Dr. Bly-Jones is joined by Mayor Thomas McNamara. Elected in 2017, Mayor McNamara serves Rockford, Illinois and got his start as a politician serving as alderman of Rockford's 3rd ward. Throughout the episode, McNamara shares his insights into government, leading through crisis, wisdom he received from his father - former Mayor of Rockford, Illinois - and the value of the people around you. 

In this episode, Dr. Bly-Jones is joined by President and CEO of the National Association of Workforce Board (NAWB), Ron Painter. In his capacity as CEO of NAWB, Painter has traveled the country meeting with State and Local workforce leaders in an effort to identify cutting-edge practices and programs and understand how best to spread innovative trends in human capital development throughout the nation-wide job training system. As leaders of workforce development, the two discuss the value of workforce boards, the survival of small businesses amid a pandemic, and ongoing conversations on The Hill. 

In this episode, Dr. Lisa Bly-Jones is joined by Ed Wood, Vice President of Human Resources for Berner Food and Beverage, to discuss his workforce sector: food processing manufacturing.

Ed discusses the many ways HR keeps employees top of the mind, the way his sector is responding amid COVID-19, and of course, his piece of workforce wisdom.

In this episode, Melinda Mack, Executive Director for New York's Workforce Association (NYATEP) joins to discuss the elements pertinent to workforce and business strategy during COVID, the future of the workforce and the potential positive impacts on low-wage earning workers.

You will hear the epitome of workforce wisdom, as Melinda dives right into some of the most provoking words of advice she has received and offers as a professional leader in her field. 

In this episode, Pam Clark Reidenbach from Northern Illinois Center for Nonprofit Excellence (NICNE) joins to discuss the COVID-19 impact on the nonprofit sector of the workforce. Pam has given the majority of her adult career to the service of others and leads training sessions for those interested in pursuing a career in philanthropy.

Pam and Dr. Bly-Jones also discuss the leadership skills of those that give their lives to helping other and what organizations in the nonprofit sector can do to in order to manage and recover amid these times.