Summary: Seven Months of Iron Will…From the Hospital Back to My Manufacturing Job<br> NOTE: To listen to the podcast, click the play icon above.<br> Show Notes<br> Rick Sizemore is the Director of the Wilson Workforce and Rehabilitation Center Rick’s Contact info: rick.sizemore@wwrc.virginia.gov @rickwwrc 540-332-7214.<br> Anne Hudlow is the Director of the WWRC Foundation. Anne’s Contact info: <a href="mailto:annehudlow@comcast.net">annehudlow@comcast.net</a> or WWRCF.org.<br> Vanessa Rastberger is the Workforce Solutions Manager at the Virginia Manufacturers Association. Contact Vanessa at 804-643-7489 ext. 123.<br> Special thanks for Sally Murphy (vocals) and Richard Adams (recording and production) of the VR Workforce Jingle, composed by Rick Sizemore.<br> <br> Transcribed by Doug Council.<br> Transcript for Rod Early Story.<br> This is the VR workforce studio, inspiration, education and affirmation “AT WORK.” The workforce and disability employment podcast from the Wilson Workforce and Rehabilitation Center, A Division of the Virginia Department for Aging and Rehabilitative Service. The VR Workforce Studio is published by our Foundation at wwrcf.org and is available in iTunes and at vrworkforcestudio.com. You are listening to the vrworkforcestudio.<br> ¯Powering music transition¯<br> And I broke down because that was the day that I knew I was going to be up. That I was going to get back up a get walking.<br> ¯ VR workforce studio ¯<br> ¯Music transition¯<br> Rick: On today’s episode of the VR Workforce Studio we are on the Career Pathway to manufacturing with individuals with disabilities. I’m Rick Sizemore, Director of the Wilson Workforce and Rehabilitation Center.<br> Anne: And I’m Anne Hudlow, Director of the WWRC Foundation and together we are…<br> ¯Rewind Sound effect¯<br> Rick: Uh, got to stop you Anne.<br> Anne: Oh, Ok.<br> Rick: Little quick story, Anne: Ok, This week I was at the Performance Management Summit in Richmond, VA with all the data analytics and VR leadership of the country and they had one central theme and that is to tell the story of vocational rehabilitation so I look in my pocket at your brand new, very flashy business card and I see this phrase and it hits me. The opening of our program where we say and together we are, you got to share this new phrase you came up with.<br> Anne: Oh, ok. It’s sharing the courageous stories of vocational rehabilitation and don’t you think that’s fitting?<br> Rick: That is the very essence of this podcast. You get the award for phrasing our podcast this week so, Anne: Aw well thank you, way cool, way cool so we have Rod Early talking about manufacturing on deck with his unbelievable story a 7 month journey from the hospital back to his manufacturing job and guess who rejoins us today, Vanessa Rastbeger from the manufacturing skills institute.<br> Anne: Oh great, so Rick it’s been almost a year since Vanessa has been here talking about manufacturing.<br> Rick: So let’s to a little rehab rewind.<br> Anne: Yes let’s go back to what she said.<br> ¯Rewind Sound effect¯<br> Vanessa: If we don’t increase the productivity of our workforce, industry is saying we won’t be here for the long term. That is very scary to me. If we don’t change our mindset and take action to insure our workforce has critical thinking and troubleshooting skills across a range of areas that we can validate. We are jeopardizing our global competitiveness<br> ¯Rewind Sound effect¯<br> Rick: She talked about reducing the skills gap and the interest gap for youth and getting them excited about manufacturing jobs.<br> Anne: Oh great, now we have two bright, young VR consumers who just completed the “Dream it. Do it.” academy. We’ll talk with them to see if we accomplished our goals with the academy.<br> Rick: We’ll we are also going to check in with Brett Vassey head of the Virginia Manufacturers Association as we look ahead to the 20...
