|
|
|
Welcome to Our Newsletter,
We're Glad You're Here!
| | |
Get to Know KRA!
Leadership Spotlight
| | This month, we are excited to spotlight Heather Leach, KRA’s new Vice President of Operations, as she shares her 30-year workforce development journey, her servant leadership approach, and her vision for helping teams and communities thrive. Hear her insights on operational excellence, empowering people, and creating locally driven workforce solutions that deliver meaningful results! | | | |
Workforce Pell Grants and Registered Apprenticeships | |
ITA’s and Workforce Pell Grants…An Ideal Combination for Funding Registered Apprenticeships
In Part 1 of this article, KRA reports on the National Governors Association’s Center for Best Practices’ NGA Workforce Pell Implementation Lab convened in May 2026.
Part 2 of this article reports on how WIOA ITAs and Workforce Pell Grants create a practical, participant-centered funding strategy for Registered Apprenticeships .... Continue reading →
| | | |
E96: Leadership Spotlight: Heather Leach on Empowering People and Leading with Purpose | In this episode of KRA’s The Hub, host Jonathan Overall speaks with Heather Leach, KRA’s Vice President of Operations, about her nearly 30-year journey in workforce development and the experiences that shaped her approach to leadership. Heather shares how an unexpected career transition helped her discover her purpose, why effective leadership begins with humility and empowerment, and why people are the “secret sauce” behind successful workforce programs...Tune in → | | | |
E95: Beyond Compliance: Strengthening Workforce Outcomes Through Fiscal Stewardship | In this episode, we are joined by Laura Patton Watson, former Deputy Assistant Secretary at the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration, to explore how strong fiscal management and federal grant compliance contribute to better workforce outcomes. Drawing on decades of experience overseeing billions of dollars in federal grant funding...Tune in → | | | |
E94: Voices From The NAWB Forum: Conversations with Bharani Rajakumar and Maria Posey | Recorded live at the 2026 NAWB Forum, this episode features conversations with Bharani Rajakumar, founder and CEO of Transfr, and Maria Posey, founder and CEO of Viking Impact Advisors. Together, they discuss virtual reality’s role in creating accessible career pathways, how AI and technology are reshaping workforce development, and the partnerships, apprenticeships, and... Tune in → | | | |
Practice Makes Perfect for Medina County, Ohio Customer | |
Since September 2024, KRA has proudly delivered WIOA-funded Career, Business, and One-Stop Operator Services through the OhioMeansJobs (OMJ) Career Center Network in Medina and Summit Counties.
A recent success story comes from Career Coach Betty Holnapy about Matt Davis, who enrolled in the Medina program in June 2026. He had been gainfully employed as a Child Care Worker with a local agency that assists youth in crisis.
However, after 15 years, he was ready for a career transition... Continue reading →
| | | |
Community Job and Resource Fair Connects 220+ Jobseekers with Local Opportunities | |
Since November 2024, KRA has operated the Los Angeles County Rancho Dominguez American Job Center of California (AJCC) and a County-designated Center of Excellence (COE) for Justice-Involved Individuals, providing no-cost Business Services for employers and Career Development Services for WIOA-eligible Adult, Dislocated, and Youth jobseekers.
On July 30, the AJCC/COE convened a tremendously successful Community Job and Resource Fair... Continue reading →
| | | |
Empowered to Advance: Sherilyn’s Path to Practical Nursing | |
Since September 2024, KRA has delivered WIOA-funded Career, Business, and One-Stop Operator Services through the OhioMeansJobs (OMJ) Career Center Network in Medina and Summit Counties.
Recently, Betty Holnapy, OMJ Medina Career Coach, submitted a Customer Success Story about Sherilyn Dougherty, who enrolled as a WIOA-eligible Adult Worker jobseeker with the goal of becoming a Licensed Practical Nurse... Continue reading →
| | |
|
Last month, KRA’s Employee Engagement Committee (EEC) was ecstatic to bring staff together for a meaningful conversation on inclusion through our recent Live Learning Event, Disability Awareness: Confidence Through Understanding, featuring motivational speaker and accessibility advocate Jonathan Heider Laedtke.
From the moment the session began, Jonathan created an atmosphere that felt less like a presentation and more like a conversation. Drawing from his experiences as a congenital quad amputee, former Paralympic swimmer, professor, and accessibility consultant, he invited staff to examine disability through a lens of understanding rather than assumption. His message was simple but powerful: treat people as people first.
Jonathan challenged common myths about disabilities and reminded us that accessibility is often shaped by small decisions that can have a significant impact on someone's experience. In addition to the great education Jonathan offered, he provided a place for openness and discussion...Continue reading →
|
| | | |
2026 CWA Meeting of the Minds
Monterey, CA
| | | | | |
Ohio Annual Workforce Conference
Columbus, OH
| | | | | |
Maryland Workforce Raising The Bar
Baltimore, MD
| | | | | |
U.S. Conference of Mayors
San Diego, CA
| | | | | |
NAWB Workforce Impact Summit
Washington, D.C.
| | | | |
|
We're hiring for multiple roles across the U.S. Our mission is to provide businesses with a trained and reliable workforce by preparing jobseekers for today’s competitive workplace and global economy through our career and business services.
Become part of a dedicated team focused on changing lives and linking businesses with the talent they need to drive economic development. Apply today →
| | | | |
