Innovation Unplugged

Careers rarely follow a straight line—and that’s often where the greatest opportunities are found. In Part One of this two-part series, Charles Jones shares the lessons learned from a lifetime of saying yes to new challenges. Houston explores how leadership, hands-on work, education, certifications, and diverse experiences combined to create a foundation that could adapt to almost any situation. It’s a conversation about preparing for opportunities before they arrive, building confidence through competence, and understanding why every skill you gain today may become the key to tomorrow’s success.

Workforce development is about more than jobs—it’s about helping people believe their future can look different.
In this episode of Innovation Unplugged, Houston Blackwood talks with Anthony Steele about overcoming addiction, finding recovery, and rebuilding his life through the support of Wallace State Community College and Skills for Success programs. Anthony shares how earning his CDL and GED opened doors to employment, stability, and renewed confidence as a husband, father, and professional.
This conversation is an honest look at resilience, personal accountability, and the powerful role community colleges can play in helping people move from survival to purpose-driven success.

Strong workforce systems are built when education, industry, and leadership move together.In this episode of Innovation Unplugged, Houston Blackwood and Matt Heaton welcome Andy Chamness for a discussion on career technical education, workforce partnerships, and the future of craft training in Alabama. As both an education leader and pastor, Andy shares how faith, mentorship, and service have shaped his leadership philosophy and commitment to helping students succeed.The conversation highlights the opportunities ahead for skilled trades, the importance of apprenticeship-style learning, and why meaningful impact starts with investing in people and communities.

What does it take to grow a business while also investing in people and communities?In this episode of Innovation Unplugged, Devoski Boyd joins Houston Blackwood and Matt Heaton for a candid conversation about entrepreneurship, workforce development, and long-term vision. As the leader of Boyd Walton Construction, Devoski discusses how field experience, operational discipline, and workforce training shaped his approach to leadership and business growth.The discussion also highlights the importance of Skills for Success training, the opportunities emerging across Alabama, and why sustainable development must be connected to workforce readiness and community impact.

What happens when decades of experience in classrooms, career tech education, and workforce leadership all converge in one mission?In this episode of Innovation Unplugged, Houston Blackwood and Matt Heaton sit down with Dr. Chris Kennedy to discuss his transition from K-12 leadership into workforce development at Wallace Community College. From agriculture classrooms to statewide leadership roles, Dr. Kennedy reflects on the lessons learned serving students, supporting teachers, and building career pathways that create real opportunity.The conversation explores the future of workforce development in the Wiregrass region, the importance of partnerships between education and industry, and why helping students discover purpose still drives the work today.