Episode 218 – Going Above and Beyond for Iowans with Disabilities

Employers around the metro are finding out that high school students can be capable members of their cyber security divisions. Des Moines Public Schools instructor Michael Tierney stops by the podcast to tell us how his cyber security class is working hand in hand with employers to prepare students for summer internships.  Tierney is joined by his student Lincoln Kessel who talks about his experience interning for Casey's, and how he feels it has prepared him for the future.  

Anthony Hartman spent almost three decades in the military with the latter half of his career as an Army recruiter. In this episode, Hartman shares recruiting tips that you can use to have more luck finding and hiring talent similar to what he used recruiting for the United States Army.  

Four businesses in Iowa are being recognized for going above and beyond in their efforts to hire Iowans with disabilities.  Tyler Hansen, Business Engagement Resource Manager for Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation Services (IVRS) joins the show to not only highlight these four companies but also talk about how IVRS is working to employ more Iowans with disabilities in 2026.  Find out what made these four companies successful, and how other companies can copy their winning strategies.

Molly Gil and Tracy May are both mom's on a mission. The two are managers at John Deere Financial and know firsthand how challenging it can be for Iowans with disabilities to find rewarding employment.  Both are mothers to children with disabilities, and the two have made it their mission to make their company a place where people like their own kids can find a career. Learn how the two connected John Deere Financial with Iowa Workforce Development's Vocational Rehabilitation team to fill important positions by using the often-overlooked talent pool. 

Iowans who own their own businesses are vital to the workforce. But, for those interested in entrepreneurship, the path ahead might be overwhelming. For Iowans looking to own their own business, many wonder: where do you start? One place might be Entrepreneurship Professor Malinda Shultice's classroom at Iowa State University. Mission: Employable podcast hosts Ben Oldach and Kathy Leggett as they learn what it takes to launch your own business from Professor Shultice. Learn from Shultice how the experience of running her own business helps keep the class practical and relevant to new students. 

The Mission: Employable podcast is dedicated to telling the stories of all Iowans in the workforce. These stories often include sharing real world experiences of Iowans with disabilities as they overcome workforce barriers and find meaningful employment. In this episode, the Mission: Employable team sits down with the Iowa State Treasurer's Office to highlight Iowa's Achieving a Better Life Experience (IABLE) savings plan. This federal savings program allows Iowans with disabilities to save money without the risk of losing benefits. In January of 2026, nearly 130,000 Iowans will qualify for one of these plans. Learn more about this program with an open discussion from Mission: Employable host Ben Oldach and Deputy State Treasurer, Alicia Callanan

IowaWORKS has offices all across the state, but sometimes it's easier for workforce services to come to you; enter the IowaWORKS Mobile Workforce Center.  This one-stop shop on wheels travels across Iowa making it easy for job seekers to learn about unemployment benefits, openings, and how to navigate through Iowa's largest online job bank. Hear from Driver and Career Planner Edgar Ramirez about what the mobile center has to offer, and the stories of Iowans he's served on the road. 

Rural hospitals are innovating to find their future workforce.  For Crawford County Memorial Hospital, that means hosting a summer camp for kids in their area who think they may be interested in a career in healthcare!  Dana Neemann, Director of Education and Patient Experience returns alongside hosts Ben Oldach and Kathy Leggett to show how the hospital created a program that has already turned young campers into full-time employees. Find out how they made navigating the complicated world of healthcare easy for kids to understand, and how you can create a similar program in your industry.   

How do rural hospitals find the staffing in today's day and age? That's the question hosts Ben Oldach and Kathy Leggett are looking to answer in part one of a two-episode series at the Crawford County Memorial Hospital in Denison, Iowa.  Joining them are Dana Neemann, Director of Education and Patient Experience, and Macy Webb, Director of Human Resources to talk about their internship program, as well as the extra effort they make to retain employees once they have them hired.  

Iowa has always been a major supporter of Registered Apprenticeships, but that commitment grew even further when the state took over apprenticeship oversight from the U.S. Department of Labor in June of 2024.  Iowa Office of Apprenticeship Program Director Dane Sulentic joins the podcast to talk about what the IOA has accomplished in the last year, lessons learned, and what Iowan's can expect from the IOA in the next 365 days.