$100 Billion on the Table — Is Your Business Ready?

$100 Billion on the Table — Is Your Business Ready?

Ever heard someone say, “The dream is free, but the hustle is sold separately?” That’s not a quote from a motivational poster — that’s the lived philosophy of Walter L. Simmons, the Secretary of the newly-created Maryland Department of Social and Economic Mobility (DOSM) — the first cabinet-level agency in America dedicated to social equity and economic mobility.Walter didn’t start in a boardroom. He started on a football field in rural South Carolina, chasing a scholarship and a dream of law enforcement. But somewhere between criminal justice classes and real-world reality, he had a realization that changed everything: by the time someone touches the criminal justice system, the trauma has already happened. So instead of responding to the problem, he decided to prevent it.That shift in mindset set Walter on a path that took him from managing economic mobility centers with the United Way, to the 2014 White House Summit for Working Families under President Obama, through Prince George’s County where he grew a workforce organization to a $30 million annual budget with 150 employees — and ultimately to the office he holds today, leading a system designed to give Maryland’s small, minority, women-owned, veteran-owned, and disadvantaged businesses access to over $100 billion in annual state commerce.In this episode, Walter sits down with host Lorraine Lane to unpack what economic mobility actually looks like in practice — from the difference between being eligible and being suitable for a contract, to the five-level ecosystem DOSM is building across all 24 Maryland jurisdictions. He breaks down why public-private partnerships are the backbone of economic change, why workforce development isn’t about entitlement but about opportunity, and why R&D in this field stands for something entirely different than you’d expect.Key Takeaways from This Episode:• Why poverty and the criminal justice system are dangerously intertwined — and how workforce development breaks the cycle• The three stages of economic mobility: instability, stability, and prosperity — and where you are right now• What Maryland’s $100 billion procurement landscape means for minority and small businesses• The real difference between being eligible and being suitable for a contract• Why “life is written in pencil” — and how to keep erasing and rewriting your story• Walter’s mantra: “You can never be ready, but you can always be prepared”Subscribe, share, and drop a comment — because conversations like this one are exactly how we build a workforce that works for everyone. iBuild America Podcast — Building Workforce Success, One Podcast at a Time.

Half the Time, Twice the Impact: Rethinking Apprenticeship for a New Generation

What happens when two women who've spent careers in the trenches of workforce development sit down and just… tell the truth? Host Lorraine Lane is joined by Meghan Burke, Director of School Employment Programs for Metro South/West Workforce Board, and Apryl Simmons, Consultant for Workforce Development, Healthy Homes Repair Manager, Sussex County Habitat for Humanity. What starts as a conversation about WIOA and apprenticeship quickly turns into something much bigger — a real, unfiltered look at what's broken, what's possible, and what's at stake for America's next generation of workers. The hard questions don't get avoided here: Why is Job Corps so siloed from the community resources right outside its fence? Why are students still being set up to train for careers their records will never let them enter? And why aren't young people in these programs being treated like college students instead of high school students? But it's not all problems. Meghan and Apryl bring ideas that cut through the noise — from crediting Job Corps training toward apprenticeship hours (cutting training time in half), to building apprenticeship programs for Job Corps staff, to partnering nationally with mental health platforms to meet a youth mental health crisis that the field can no longer afford to ignore. This is the kind of conversation that makes the complicated feel solvable. Subscribe to the iBuild America Podcast wherever you listen — new conversations every week on the people, programs, and ideas building America's workforce from the ground up.

From Job Corps Counselor to CEO: A Journey of Purpose

What happens when someone believes in you before you believe in yourself? What started as a role helping students at Job Corps became a lifelong mission. Korey Adams reflects on his journey from Job Corps counselor to CEO of Distinction, LLC—and the purpose that guided him every step of the way. But this conversation goes deeper than business. It’s about risk. Resilience. Purpose. And the power of truly seeing people—not just for where they are, but for who they can become. From life lessons at a gas station to leading a growing federal contracting company, Korey opens up about: Why belief changes lives * The realities of leadership and entrepreneurship * What makes Job Corps transformational * Why students succeed when people genuinely care One message stands out: People don’t care what you know until they know that you care. 🎧 Listen now, subscribe, and hear why purpose-driven leadership still matters.

From Rural Roots to Limitless Possibilities: Inside Talking Leaves Job Corps

What if the life you want is waiting—just outside of what you’ve always known?At the Talking Leaves Job Corps Center, located in the heart of the Cherokee Nation, that’s exactly what’s happening. In this episode, Jill Zimmer shares how this unique center is helping young people—many from rural and tribal communities—step into new opportunities while staying connected to their culture, identity, and community. From open spaces and hands-on training to cultural traditions like Cherokee stickball, Talking Leaves is more than a training center—it’s a place where students begin to see a bigger future for themselves. Because for many, this is the first time they’ve stepped outside what they’ve always known. And that’s where everything changes. Take a chance. Give yourself a chance. Listen now, subscribe, and discover how opportunity and culture come together to shape the next generation.

Every Student Counts: Inside the Heart of Job Corps

Sometimes, all it takes is one person to see something in you. Lorraine Lane sits down with Rodney Butler, Executive Director at Adams and Associates, to talk about a 25-year journey shaped by leadership, growth, and opportunity through Job Corps. Rodney didn’t start where you might expect—from bowling alleys to finance, and eventually into leadership—his path is proof that careers aren’t always linear… but they are full of possibility. What makes this conversation powerful isn’t just his story—it’s what it represents. You’ll hear insights on: • How Job Corps helps young people discover their leadership potential • Why being “seen” can change the trajectory of someone’s life • The importance of culture, communication, and continuous improvement • How leadership skills can transfer across any path • Why “every student counts” isn’t just a phrase—it’s a mindset One message stands out: Opportunity is everywhere—you just need someone to help you see it. If you’ve ever wondered how leadership is built, how lives are changed, or why this work matters—this episode delivers. Listen now, subscribe, and be part of building the next generation of leaders.