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In this episode of I Live Here: Westchester, host Jim Jockle sits down with Thom Kleiner, Executive Director of the Westchester-Putnam Workforce Development Board, for a dynamic conversation on how local initiatives are shaping the future of work across the region.

Thom shares the mission of the Workforce Development Board and how strategic partnerships—with community colleges, employers, nonprofits, and even platforms like Indeed—are helping people not only find jobs, but build lasting careers. From training hundreds of residents for in-demand healthcare roles to pioneering clean energy workforce pipelines, Thom discusses the power of collaboration in driving economic opportunity.

Highlights include:

• How workforce training programs like the Healthcare Talent Pipeline and Jobs Waiting have placed hundreds into employment
• The role of AI and virtual career tools in reshaping job search and upskilling
• Programs aimed at youth employment and gun violence prevention
• Focused outreach to underserved communities including those with disabilities and reentry populations
• The growing opportunity in clean energy and the challenge of aligning job seekers, employers, and educators
• Thom’s reflections on public service and what gives him hope for the future of work in Westchester

Whether you're a job seeker, employer, policymaker, or simply a neighbor who cares, this episode offers a hopeful and practical look at how workforce development touches every aspect of community life.

Learn more: https://www.westchesterputnamonestop.com

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