What does it take to dedicate over 30 years to changing lives?

In this episode of the iBuild America podcast, Lorraine Lane sits down with Roxanne Chin, Vice President at Bizzell Corporation, a global organization committed to transformation and impact.

Roxanne’s journey started with a simple newspaper ad in 1992:

“An exciting job to change lives.”

She answered—and never looked back.

This conversation is about more than workforce development. It’s about purpose.

Roxanne shares what has kept her passionate for decades—and what it will take to inspire the next generation of leaders to step into this work.

You’ll hear powerful insights on:

• Why this work is about service, not just employment

• How to inspire and retain the next generation of leaders

• The importance of meeting students where they are—emotionally and professionally

• Why innovation, creativity, and fun are essential to success

• How Job Corps must evolve for a tech-driven, post-pandemic world

One message stands out:

“We’re not giving a handout—we’re giving a hand up.”

If you care about people, leadership, and real transformation—this episode will stay with you.

🎧 Listen now, subscribe, and join the mission to build a stronger workforce.

What started as a $17,000-a-year counseling job turned into a 30+ year mission to change lives.

In this episode of the iBuild America podcast, Lorraine Lane sits down with Jeff Barton, Senior Vice President at Management Training Corporation (MTC)—one of the most influential leaders in Job Corps.

Jeff shares how he stumbled into the program straight out of college… and never left.

But this isn’t just a career story—it’s a powerful reminder of what happens when people believe in people.

From mentoring future leaders to building partnerships that expand opportunity, Jeff opens up about:

• Why leadership development is critical to student success

• The importance of investing in people—not just programs

• How Job Corps continues to transform lives every single day

• And why calling it a “best kept secret” needs to stop

One moment you won’t forget:

A student tells Jeff, “Two weeks ago, I was sleeping in the backseat of a car… I love my room.”

That’s the impact.

If you’ve ever wondered what real workforce development looks like—or why it matters—this conversation will stay with you.

🎧 Listen now, subscribe, and be part of building a stronger America—one life at a time.

Workforce development is more than training programs and job placements — it’s about creating real opportunities for people to transform their lives.

In this episode, we hear from Quasandria “Q” Curry, Director of Westside Works in Atlanta, whose work focuses on helping individuals gain the skills, support, and confidence they need to enter meaningful careers.

Raised on Atlanta’s west side, Q understands firsthand the barriers many people face when trying to access good jobs and stable opportunities. Through her leadership at Westside Works, she has helped build career pathways, training programs, and wraparound support services that empower individuals and families across the community.

In this conversation, she shares insights on:

– What workforce development really means beyond the buzzwords

– Why access and opportunity are often the missing link for talented people

– The reality of economic mobility and poverty in Atlanta

– How wraparound services help people not only get jobs but keep them

– Why helping one person can transform an entire household and community

At its core, this episode is about hope, opportunity, and the people working every day to open doors for others.

If you care about workforce development, economic opportunity, and building stronger communities, this is a conversation you don’t want to miss.

🎧 Watch now and subscribe for more conversations shaping America’s workforce.

What happens when someone spends more than three decades helping young people rewrite their futures?

In this episode, we sit down with Peni Webster-Lewis, a respected workforce development leader who recently concluded an extraordinary career with the Job Corps program. From her beginnings as an orientation specialist to serving as Acting Deputy Administrator for the national program, Peni’s work helped shape opportunities for thousands of young people across the country.

Drawing from both her military background and decades of leadership in youth development, she shares powerful lessons about resilience, opportunity, and what it really takes to prepare the next generation for the workforce.

This conversation explores:

— Why opportunity is often the missing ingredient in success

— The misconceptions people have about today’s youth

— Why soft skills matter just as much as technical skills

— How workforce development programs truly change lives

— What the future of workforce training needs to look like

At its heart, this episode reminds us that workforce development isn’t just about jobs — it’s about people, potential, and the chance to build a better future.

If you care about education, workforce development, mentorship, or the future of America’s workforce, this is a conversation you don’t want to miss.

🎧 Listen now and subscribe for more stories shaping America’s workforce.

Some people cook meals. Others build movements.

Chef Simone Byron is doing both.

In this powerful episode, we explore how one woman turned her culinary legacy into a national workforce initiative that’s changing the trajectory of hundreds of young lives each year.

Inspired by her great-grandfather — the Bronx’s first African American caterer and head chef for Marcus Garvey’s Black Star Line — Chef Simone built Navigate Foundation to bridge the gap between untapped talent and real opportunity. Through paid internships, professional development, financial literacy, and industry partnerships, she’s proving that there is no workforce shortage — only a preparation gap.

From launching Chef’s Academy in Atlanta to building international pathways for students, this conversation dives into:

• Why representation matters in professional spaces

• The power of mentorship and intentional partnerships

• How soft skills open real doors

• What it means to “hone your steel” in life and business

• Why young people are worthy of success — even if they’ve never seen it modeled before

If you care about workforce development, entrepreneurship, education, or creating access where it didn’t exist before — this episode will challenge and inspire you.

🎧 Listen. Subscribe. Share.

Because opportunity should never be accidental.