This episode of the Mission: Employable podcast dives into an Earn and Learn program that’s saving one Iowa organization money while reinvesting in its workforce, Goldfinch Laboratory plays an important role in Iowa’s medical industry, testing samples and biopsies sent over by other healthcare providers. However, the lab felt they were spending too much money on temporary hires. The solution? Find and train their own staff with an Earn and Learn program. Stephanie Allen, Director of Laboratory Operations, and Nancy Leiva, Shift Lead, joins us to share how they made the decision to start this program from the ground up. Find out how the program is not only solving their staffing problem but saving them a ton of money in the process.

Mission: Employable is back in Le Mars to find out more about how the Le Mars Fire Department is using work-based learning to get students interested in becoming EMTs. Le Mars Battalion Chief John MacGregor joins the show and shares an emotional story about why he cares so much for teaching the next generation, including his son, who also joins the podcast.

Join hosts of the Mission: Employable podcast Ben Oldach and Kathy Leggett as they take a trip to Le Mars, IA. On their visit, they met with the local fire department to find out more about a Work-based Learning program that skills up high schoolers and gets them real world experience in the world of Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT). Dr. Mark Iverson, Principal of Le Mars Community High School, joins the show and shares how his school got the program up and running, why it’s near and dear to his heart, and the benefits of taking learning outside the classroom.