Abilities, Opportunities, and the Future of Work

Jan 23 2024 1
Abilities, Opportunities, and the Future of Work Podcast artwork

Abilities, Opportunities and the Future of Work (AOFOW) is a podcast intended to showcase best-in-class practices on burning issues related to disabilities and employment. Each episode, we will be having conversations with employees, employers, firms, community organizations, not-for-profits and other state organizations that are doing outstanding work in integrating individuals with disabilities into the workforce and allow them to share their experiences and stories. This production is a collaboration between the Department of Supply Chain Management in the Eli Broad College of Business at Michigan State University and Michigan Rehabilitation Services.

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Episode 11: Conversation with Bill Krieger - VFW National Home

Jan 23 2024 38 mins  
Bill Krieger recently retired as the Veterans Program Manager at Consumers Energy and host of the popular Me You Us podcast. He served ten years in the United States Navy achieving the rank of Petty Officer First Class. During his tenure he was awarded the Navy Achievement Medal, Navy Commendation Medal and earned the Enlisted Surface Warfare Badge. He also served in the Michigan A

Episode 12: A Discussion with Robin Jones on the Americans with Disabilities Act

Jan 23 2024 48 mins  
Robin Jones is the Principal Investigator/Project Director/Instructor, Great Lakes ADA Center. Robin Jones is the Director of the Great Lakes ADA Center and an Instructor at the University of Illinois at Chicago. The Center serves the States of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Wisconsin. The Center provides training and technical assistance on the Americans with Dis

Episode 10: A Conversation with Alan Hejl - Spark Access

Nov 12 2023 39 mins  
In this episode, we talk to Alan Hejl, who shared perspectives of General Motors around disability inclusion. At the time of this interview (May 2023), Alan Hejl was the Accessibility Strategy Manager and Co-President of GM Able. Since the interview, Alan has founded Spark Access, where he is the Founder and Lead Consultant.

Episode 9: MSU Project SEARCH - Academia State Collaboration Series

Jan 29 2023 48 mins  
In this episode, we focus on "Spartan Project Search." This is a joint project between Michigan State University, Ingham Intermediate School District, Michigan Department of Health and Human Services, Michigan Rehabilitation Services, Community Mental Health, and Peckham Inc. A short description of Spartan Project Search from the website is below: "Spartan Project SEARCH’s inaugu

Episode 8: Careers Collaborative - Academia State Collaboration Series

Jan 29 2023 39 mins  
In this episode, we focus on the Careers Collaborative. This is a joint project between Michigan State University and the Michigan Rehabilitation Services. A short description of the collaborative from the website is below: "Careers Collaborative was launched in 2014 through private gifts from Michael and Kathy Bosco matching state and federal funds in partnership with Michigan Reh

Episode 6 - Michigan Career And Technical Institute

Oct 26 2022 46 mins  
In this episode, we feature an in-depth discussion with Jennifer Zuniga, Director of the Michigan Career & Technical Institute (MCTI). The MCTI, a one of its kind institute in the country, is a post-secondary vocational and technical training center for adults with disabilities in Michigan. It is the 2nd largest rehabilitation training center in the country. MCTI is supported by th

Episode 7 - Bureau of Services for Blind Persons, Michigan

Oct 26 2022 45 mins  
In this episode, we feature an in-depth discussion with Juan Ortiz, Director of the Bureau of Services for Blind Persons (BSBP). The BSBP is a one of its kind organization that provides training and services that empower visually impaired individuals to achieve their goals. The organization works closely with individuals in identifying appropriate vocational training and services i

Episode 5: A conversation about the Talent Acquisition Portal (TAP) - Part 2

Mar 01 2022 26 mins  
In this second part of the two part episode, we discuss with Kathleen West-Evans, Director of Business Relations, National Employment Team @ Council of State Administrators of Vocation Rehabilitation, and Mike Corso President and co-Founder of DisABLEDperson, Inc in discussing The Talent Acquisition Portal®(TAP). Tap is a leading site for listing employees with disabilities that p

Episode: 4 - A conversation about the Talent Acquisition Portal (TAP) - Part 1

Mar 01 2022 32 mins  
In this first part of the two part episode, we discuss with Kathleen West-Evans, Director of Business Relations, National Employment Team @ Council of State Administrators of Vocation Rehabilitation, and Mike Corso President and co-Founder of DisABLEDperson, Inc in discussing The Talent Acquisition Portal®(TAP). Tap is a leading site for listing employees with disabilities that pr

Episode 3 - A conversation with Patrick Romzek, Founder of Michigan Bridge Academy

Aug 11 2021 42 mins  
The Abilities, Opportunities and Future of Work Podcast is co-produced by the Michigan Rehabilitation Services (MRS) and the Eli Broad College of Business with the objective of providing an opportunity to showcase best-in-class practices on burning issues related to how workforce with disabilities can be integrated highlighting firms, community organizations, not-for-profits and ot