Out West (Presented by the Western Governors’ Association)

Out West (#12): Bridging the Disability Employment Gap

To celebrate the 75th anniversary of National Disability Employment Awareness Month, WGA Policy Associate Lauren Cloward spoke with Bobby Silverstein, Legislative Counsel to the State Exchange on Employment and Disability (SEED), about the Work Matters policy framework, which serves as a repository of best practices for improving disability employment.

Lauren then explored the innovative ways the Work Matters framework is being used to achieve workforce inclusivity in states with Kristin Vandagriff, Executive Director for the Alaska Governor’s Council on Disabilities and Special Education; Elizabeth Gordon, Executive Director for the Washington Governor’s Committee on Disability Issues and Employment; and Rob Hines, Director of the Washington State Division of Vocational Rehabilitation.

Learn more about SEED’s ongoing work on disability employment by visiting their website.

Produced by: Tyler Losier

Out West (#11): Firefighting in the Era of COVID

WGA Senior Policy Advisor Bill Whitacre – himself a former wildland firefighter – and Aaron Thompson, State Fire Management Officer for the Bureau of Land Management in Montana and the Dakotas, discuss the challenges fire managers face during the 2020 wildfire season. In addition, they also explore new strategies and procedures to keep fire crews safe.

Produced by: Tyler Losier

Out West (#10): Exploring the 2020 Annual Report

This episode recaps the impactful, collaborative policy work of Western Governors over the past year and helps set the agenda for the year ahead. Join WGA Executive Director Jim Ogsbury in a conversation with Troy Timmons, WGA’s Director of Strategic Initiatives, Senior Policy Advisor Bill Whitacre, and Policy Advisors Ward Scott and Kevin Moss, about the wide-reaching impact Western Governors are having across the region.

Produced by: Tyler Losier

Out West (#9): Reimagining the Rural West Special Report

In this episode, WGA Executive Director Jim Ogsbury speaks with Policy Advisor Lauren DeNinno, who has led WGA’s work on the Reimagining the Rural West Initiative, to address the origins of Gov. Burgum’s policy effort and how it will inform Western Governors’ policy decisions moving forward. Ogsbury also talks with Troy Timmons, WGA’s Director of Federal Relations and Strategic Initiatives, who is leading WGA’s COVID-19 response, which includes a number of significant rural issues.

Produced by: Tyler Losier

Out West (#8): The Buzz About Murder Hornets – Separating Fact from Fiction

This episode highlights efforts by Washington state officials to control a dangerous new invasive species threatening the West, the Asian Giant Hornet, also known as the ‘Murder Hornet.’

These fearsome new invaders are known for their potentially deadly sting, which has the ability to pierce the protective clothing of even professional beekeepers. How many of these enormous hornets have been identified in the West? Can they spread across the country?

Join WGA Policy Advisor Bill Whitacre and Washington State Department of Agriculture entomologist Sven-Erik Spichiger as they explore the answers to these questions and more.

Produced by: Tyler Losier

Out West (#7): The Next Generation of Rural with Megan Laudenshlager, Ben Thomas, and Kevin Leier

Part 7 of a series on the Reimagining the Rural West Initiative discusses how rural youth can help shape their communities for decades to come. Join WGA Policy Advisor Laura Cutlip as she highlights the importance of listening to young people during the economic development process. Guests include Megan Laudenshlager, Executive Director of Strengthen North Dakota; Ben Thomas, Executive Director of the Rocky Mountain Youth Corps; and Kevin Leier, a teacher at Rugby High School in Pierce County, North Dakota.

Narrator: Laura Cutlip

Produced by: Tyler Losier

Out West (#6): Healthcare Innovations in the West with Jorge Guzman, Andrew Black, and Krista Stadler

Part 6 of a series on the Reimagining the Rural West Initiative explores how rural communities across the region are working to bolster healthcare access and overcome barriers to providing care. Join WGA Policy Advisor Laura Cutlip as she highlights how adequate physical and mental healthcare are integral parts of any successful community. Guests include Jorge Guzman, founder and Executive Director of Vive NW; Andrew Black, Public Lands Field Director for the National Wildlife Federation; and Krista Stadler, the Senior Director of Telehealth Services at St. Luke’s Health System.

Narrator: Laura Cutlip

Produced by: Tyler Losier

Out West (#5): Diversifying the Rural Economy with David Martin, Kate La Tour, and Shelly Fausett

Part 5 of a series on the Reimagining the Rural West Initiative explores how a variety of different business structures can provide stability to their respective communities. Join WGA Policy Advisor Laura Cutlip as she speaks with experts on small businesses, cooperatives, and remote work to learn how rural areas can use these models to strengthen their economies. Guests include: David Martin, Director of the North Dakota Small Business Development Network; Kate La Tour, Government Relations Manager at the National Cooperative Business Association; and Shelly Fausett, the Center Director for SoloWorks.

Narrator: Laura Cutlip

Produced by: Tyler Losier

Out West (#4): Growing Through Rural Partnerships with Megan Laudenschlager, Juta Guertsen and Andrew Black

Part 4 of a series on the Reimagining the Rural West Initiative highlights how forming partnerships is vital in promoting economic development across the West. Join WGA Policy Advisor Laura Cutlip as she explores how rural communities are teaming up to share knowledge, resources, and create collaborative infrastructure. She’s joined by Megan Laudenschlager, Executive Director of Strengthen ND; Juta Guertsen, Community Development Director for the Idaho Commission on the Arts; and Andrew Black, Public Lands Field Director for the National Wildlife Federation.

Narrator: Laura Cutlip

Produced by: Tyler Losier

Out West (#3): A Sense of Place with Daved Lundeen, Kim Konikow and Melvin Juanico

Part 3 of a series on the Reimagining the Rural West Initiative explores the use of “placemaking” by rural community leaders to capitalize on local assets and create environments where people want to live, work and play. Join WGA Policy Advisor Laura Cutlip in a discussion with: Daved Lundeen, Executive Director of the North Dakota-based Williston Downtowners Association; Kim Konikow, Executive Director of the North Dakota Council on the Arts; and Melvin Juanico, Operations Manager for the Sky City Cultural Center and Haak’u Museum in New Mexico.

Narrator: Laura Cutlip

Produced by: Tyler Losier