>> FROM OUR STATE HOUSE STUDIO IN MONTGOMERY, I'M TODD STACY.

WELCOME TO "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

THIS WEEK IS LEGISLATIVE SPRING BREAK, THE ANNUAL TIME WHEN THE LEGISLATURE TAKES A WEEK OFF BEFORE THE HEAT OF THE SESSION BEGINS.

IT'S ALSO A TIME FOR STAFF TO REST AND RECALIBRATE GETTING READY FOR THE LONG HAUL THAT BEGINS NEXT WEEK.

THAT IS TO SAY THAT THE CAPITAL CITY HAS BEEN PRETTY QUIET THIS WEEK, WITH NO LEGISLATIVE ACTION TO REPORT.

HOWEVER, OUR NATION'S CAPITAL HAS BEEN BUSTLING WITH ACTIVITY, AS CONGRESS WORKED TO FINISH BUDGET PREP WORK AHEAD OF THE EASTER PASSOVER RECESS.

BUT THE REAL STORY OUT OF WASHINGTON THIS WEEK WAS THE REACTION TO THE INDICTMENT OF FORMER PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP BY A MANHATTAN GRAND JURY.

THE EXACT NATURE OF THE CHARGES REMAINS UNCLEAR BECAUSE THE INDICTMENT IS UNDER SEAL, BUT THEY STEM FROM PAYMENTS MADE DURING THE 2016 PRESIDENTIAL CAMPAIGN TO SILENCE CLAIMS OF AN EXTRAMARITAL SEXUAL ENCOUNTER WITH AN ADULT FILM STAR.

PRESIDENT JOE BIDEN REPEATEDLY TOLD REPORTERS HE HAD NO COMMENT, BUT MANY MEMBERS OF CONGRESS WEIGHED IN ON THE FIRST EVER INDICTMENT OF A FORMER PRESIDENT.

THAT INCLUDES SOME REPUBLICANS IN ALABAMA'S CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION.

CONGRESSMAN MIKE ROGERS, WHO CHAIRS THE ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE CALLED THE PROSECUTION A "“SHAM"” AND A "“FRAUGHT ATTEMPT BY THE FAR LEFT TO WEAPONIZE THE AMERICAN JUSTICE SYSTEM.

"” CONGRESSMAN ROBERT ADERHOLT SAID THE CASE WAS A POLITICAL STUNT AND THAT "“TO USE OUR JUSTICE SYSTEM AS A WEAPON IS TO TEAR DOWN THE SYSTEM THAT WE ALL HOLD DEAR.

"” CONGRESSMAN GARY PALMER SAID THE CASE SHOULD BE DROPPED AND THAT IT RISKS "“INCITING MORE DISTRUST OF OUR JUDICIAL SYSTEM AND UNDERMINING THE FUTURE OF OUR DEMOCRACY.

"” THE NEWEST MEMBER OF ALABAMA'S DELEGATION, CONGRESSMAN DALE STRONG, CALLED THE CASE A WITCH HUNT AND SAID, "“WE MUST NOT STAND FOR THE POLITICIZATION OF OUR NATION'S JUSTICE SYSTEM TO INFLUENCE ELECTIONS.

"” CONGRESSMAN BARRY MOORE MADE POLITICAL HAY OUT OF THE SITUATION, HANDING OUT HAM SANDWICHES ON CAPITOL HILL TO DEMONSTRATE THE OLD SAYING THAT EVEN A HAM SANDWICH COULD GET INDICTED BY A GRAND JURY.

MOORE HIMSELF WAS CHARGED AND TRIED FOR FRAUD AND PERJURY DURING HIS TIME IN THE STATE LEGISLATURE, BUT WAS ACQUITTED OF THE CHARGES.

HE SPOKE TO FOX NEWS.

>> I THINK WE HAVE NO CHOICE.

AT SOME POINT, WE HAVE TO UNITE BEHIND HIM BECAUSE OF LIBERTY.

OUR JOB IN CONGRESS IS TO STAND FOR YOUR LIBERTY.

WHETHER YOU STAND WITH HIM OR NOT WE HAVE NO CHOICE TO COME TO HIS RESCUE, BECAUSE OF THE COUNTRY.

>> ALABAMA'S LONE DEMOCRAT CONGRESSWOMAN TERRI SEWELL DID NOT HAVE A STATEMENT ON THE TRUMP INDICTMENT.

ALSO IN WASHINGTON, U.S.

SENATOR TOMMY TUBERVILLE CONTINUED HIS PUSH TO OVERTURN A RECENT DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE POLICY PAYING FOR THE TRAVEL AND TIME OFF FOR SERVICE MEMBERS OR THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS SEEKING ELECTIVE ABORTIONS.

TUBERVILLE, WHO SERVES ON THE ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE, HAS MAINTAINED THAT THIS POLICY CONFLICTS WITH LONGSTANDING LAW PREVENTING TAXPAYER DOLLARS FROM BEING USED TO FUND ABORTION.

HE HAS PLACED A HOLD ON ALL MILITARY GENERAL AND FLAG OFFICER NOMINATIONS BEFORE THE SENATE, A PROCEDURAL TACTIC MEANT TO FORCE THE PENTAGON TO CHANGE COURSE.

THIS STAND HAS LED TO INTENSE CRITICISM FROM DEMOCRATS THAT TUBERVILLE HAS BEEN PLAYING POLITICS WITH MILITARY PROMOTIONS.

THIS WEEK, TUBERVILLE TOOK TO THE SENATE FLOOR TO DEFEND HIS TACTICS AND EXPLAIN WHY HE'S MAINTAINING THE HOLD.

>> EARLIER TODAY, SENATOR SCHUMER SAID THIS IS ABOUT WOMEN MAKING THEIR OWN CHOICES.

THAT'S NOT TRUE.

THAT'S EXACTLY NOT TRUE.

THIS IS ABOUT TAXPAYER FUNDED -- THAT'S WHAT WE ARE TALKING ABOUT.

WE HAVE STRICT LIMITS ON TAXPAYER FUNDING FOR ABORTION IN THIS COUNTRY.

IT'S GONE THROUGH THIS BUILDING RIGHT HERE.

THESE HAVE BEEN BIPARTISAN CONSENSUS FOR 40 YEARS.

YET, ALL OF A SUDDEN, DEMOCRATS ARE SAYING MILITARY CAN'T WIN WARS WITHOUT EXPANDING ABORTION.

IT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE.

FRANKLY, WE ALREADY HAVE POLICIES FOR ABORTION IN THE MILITARY.

OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS THERE HAVE BEEN 20 ABORTIONS A YEAR PERFORMED IN THE MILITARY.

THESE HAVE BEEN IN CASES OF RAPE, INCEST AND THREAT TO THE LIFE OF THE MOM.

OVER THE 40 YEARS, I DON'T RECALL THE MILITARY EVER ONCE COMPLAINING THAT WE WEREN'T PERFORMING ENOUGH ABORTIONS, NOT ONE TIME HAVE I HEARD THAT, NOT ONE TIME.

ACCORDING TO ONE REPORT, CITED BY THE PENTAGON OFFICIALS FROM MY STAFF, THE NEW POLICY WILL EXPAND TAXPAYER-FUNDED ABORTION FROM 20 ABORTIONS A YEAR TO 4,000.

4,000. WHO'S GOING TO PAY FOR THAT?

>> U.S.

SENATOR KATIE BRITT THIS WEEK HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO QUESTION FEDERAL BANKING REGULATORS ABOUT THE HIGH PROFILE FAILURE OF SILICON VALLEY BANK AND OTHER BANKS.

DURING A MEETING OF THE SENATE BANKING COMMITTEE, BRITT EXPRESSED CONFIDENCE IN THE HEALTH OF ALABAMA'S BANKS, BUT HAD TOUGH WORDS FOR FEDERAL REGULATORS WHO SAID THEY WANTED MORE AUTHORITY FROM CONGRESS.

IN AN EXCHANGE WITH MICHAEL BARR, THE FED'S VICE CHAIRMAN FOR SUPERVISION, BRITT SAID THERE FIRST NEEDS TO BE AN ACCOUNTING OF HOW CURRENT OVERSIGHT AUTHORITY WAS USED OR UNUSED.

>> YOU HAVE TALKED ABOUT YOUR REVIEW, WHICH IS ONGOING.

IN THAT REVIEW, WILL YOU LOOK AT IF YOU HAVE USED ALL OF THE TOOLS IN YOUR TOOL BOX TO PREVENT THAT BEFORE AND AFTER?

WILL THAT BE PART OF YOUR REVIEW?

>> YES, SENATOR.

THE STAFF ARE REVIEWS THE STEPS SUPERVISORS TOOK AND WHETHER THEY SHOULD HAVE TAKEN MORE AGGRESSIVE ACTIONS.

>> AT THE CURRENT RATE, YOU CAN'T SPEAK TO WHETHER YOU UTILIZED ALL OF THE POWERS GIVEN TO YOU?

>> I'D LIKE TO WAIT FOR THE FORMAL REVIEW AND THE STAFF TO MAKE AN ASSESSMENT BUT WE ARE FOCUSED ON THAT QUESTION AND IF WE DIDN'T DO THE RIGHT STEPS WE ARE GOING TO SAY THAT.

>> YES.

I FIND IT CONCERNING WHEN YOU WERE ASKED, EACH OF YOU WERE ASKED WOULD YOU LIKE TO SEE MORE POWERS, MORE STRENGTH.

EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU SAID YES.

WHEN YOU DON'T KNOW IF YOU UTILIZED THE TOOLS IN YOUR TOOL BOX CORRECTLY OR IF THE PEOPLE UNDER YOUR SUPERVISION WERE SUPERVISING APPROPRIATELY.

I THINK THAT'S WHAT PEOPLE HATE ABOUT WASHINGTON.

WE HAVE A CRISIS AND YOU COME IN HERE WITHOUT KNOWING WHETHER OR NOT YOU DID YOUR JOB.

YOU SAY YOU WANT MORE.

THAT'S NOT THE WAY THIS WORKS.

YOU NEED TO HELD ACCOUNTABLE EACH AND EVERY ONE I DON'T HAVE YOU.

I'M A BIG BELIEVER YOU HAVE TO OWN YOUR SPACE.

>> THE ENTIRE CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION HAS BEEN INVOLVED IN TRYING TO RECTIFY THE MEXICAN GOVERNMENT'S SEIZURE OF A VULCAN MATERIALS QUARRY AND PORT ALONG THE YUCATAN PENINSULA.

THIS WEEK, MEXICAN POLICE AND MILITARY FORCES WITHDREW FROM THE FACILITY, A DEVELOPMENT VULCAN OFFICIALS CONFIRMED TO ME ON MONDAY.

FOR TWO WEEKS, ALABAMA'S DELEGATION HAS BEEN URGING THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION TO GET MORE AGGRESSIVE AGAINST MEXICO FOR WHAT THEY CALLED AN ILLEGAL LAND GRAB.

SECRETARY OF STATE ANTHONY BLINKEN EVENTUALLY WEIGHED IN ON THE SITUATION SAYING IT COULD HAVE A CHILLING EFFECT ON MEXICO ATTRACTING AMERICAN BUSINESS.

BACK HERE IN ALABAMA, FLAGS REMAIN AT HALF STAFF TODAY IN MOURNING FOR A HUNTSVILLE POLICE OFFICER KILLED IN THE LINE OF DUTY.

OFFICER GARRETT CRUMBY WAS SHOT AND KILLED BY A SUSPECT AFTER RESPONDING TO REPORTS OF A SHOOTING.

OFFICER ALBERT MORIN WAS ALSO SHOT BY THE SUSPECT AND REMAINS IN THE HOSPITAL.

>> AS YOU KNOW WE HAD TWO OFFICERS RESPOND TO THE CALL TODAY, BOTH OFFICERS WERE SHOT AND TRANSPORTED HERE WITH LIFE-THREATENING INJURIES.

ONE HAS DIED.

THE SECOND IS IN CRITICAL CONDITION AFTER EMERGENCY SURGERY.

THE OFFENDER AND THE VICTIM, THE ORIGINAL VICTIM, WERE ALSO INJURED AND ALSO TRANSPORTED HERE AND RECEIVED MEDICAL ATTENTION.

>> THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION WILL RESUME ON TUESDAY, WHEN LAWMAKERS WILL RETURN TO MONTGOMERY FOLLOWING THIS SPRING BREAK WEEK.

THERE IS A LONG LIST OF PRIORITIES AWAITING ACTION, AND AT THE TOP OF THAT LIST IS REAUTHORIZING THE STATE'S ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INCENTIVE "CAPITOL JOURNAL'S" RANDY SCOTT REPORTS.

>> THE HOUSE CHAMBER WILL WELCOME LAWMAKERS BACK TO WORK FOR REGULAR SESSION PART TWO.

THEY WILL HIT THE GROUND RUNNING WHEN THE GAVEL DROPS.

>> WE HAVE THE INCENTIVE COMING BACK.

WE WILL MEET WITH THE GOVERNOR THE WEEK AFTER NEXT AND TRAVELING ACROSS THE STATE AND TRYING TO TALK TO FOLKS ABOUT THOSE PACKAGES.

IT MEANS A LOT TO OUR STATE AND HAS BEEN SUCCESSFUL IN THE PAST.

I THINK THE CHANGES WILL MAKE IT MORE HOUSE.

>> SPEAKER LEDBETTER SAID THEY WILL HAVE THEIR WORK CUT OUT FOR THEM.

>> WE HAVE THE JOBS ACT AND GROWING ALABAMA ACT AND TRANSPARENCY ACT.

YOU WILL SEE THOSE.

THE BILLS ARE COMPLETE AT THIS TIME.

I THINK THEY ARE ALL BUT, SO BY THE TIME WE GET BACK WE WILL PUT THEM OUT TO THE MEMBERS AND HAVE AMPLE OPPORTUNITY TO ASK QUESTIONS.

>> MEMBERS OF THE HOUSE DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS ARE EYEING SEVERAL TOPICS FOR DISCUSSION.

>> MENTAL HEALTH IS INCLUDED BECAUSE IT'S IMPORTANT.

WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT EDUCATION TO HEALTHCARE TO ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN THE STATE, WE'RE AT THE BOTTOM OF THE LIST ON ALL OF THEM AND STAND TO REASON WHY WE CAN'T RECRUIT TO THIS STATE.

EVERY ELEMENT IN OUR AGENDA HAS A MENTAL HEALTH PORTION ATTACHED TO IT.

ESPECIALLY IN EDUCATION.

>> WITH THE GROCERY TAX, SURE, THERE'S GOING TO BE A LOSS THERE.

WE ARE WORKING ON A STRATEGY TO REPLACE THAT.

ONE OF THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE TO DO IS LOOK AT THE ENTIRE BUDGET AND FIND OUT WHERE WE CAN MAKE THOSE ADDITIONS TO REPLACE THAT.

>> ALSO, EDUCATION CONCERNS AND ABORTION GUIDELINES.

>> MAKING SURE THE SERVICES FOR CHILDREN THAT HAVE PROBLEMS THOSE SERVICES SHOULD BE AVAILABLE TO THEM AND MAKING SURE THE INDIVIDUALS TEACHING YOUNG PEOPLE HAVE PAID A GOOD SALARY.

SO THEY WANT TO REMAIN IN THE CLASSROOM.

>> WE HAVE A PIECE OF LEGISLATION THAT WE WILL BE INTRODUCING TO PROVIDE AN EXEMPTION FOR RAPE AND INCEST.

IT WILL BE INTRODUCED.

WE HAVE LEGISLATION THAT DEALS WITH PROTECTING DOCTORS AND THE DEFINITION OF, YOU KNOW, OF ABORTION.

>> THE REGULAR SESSION RESTARTS ON APRIL 4th.

FOR "CAPITOL JOURNAL," I'M RANDY SCOTT.

>> ONE ISSUE THAT HAS BEEN DISCUSSED IN THE STATE HOUSE LATELY IS A SHORTAGE OF NURSES IN ALABAMA.

IN HER RECURRING SERIES, THE STORY BEHIND THE STORY, "CAPITOL JOURNAL'S" KAREN GOLDSMITH LOOKS HOW THIS ISSUE IS IMPACTING THE STATE.

>> AT THE WESLEY GARDENS ASSISTED LIVING FACILITY IN EAST MONTGOMERY, THE BANNER IN FRONT OF THE BUILDING SAYS IT ALL AND THEIR NEED FOR MORE NURSES EXPANDS TO ALL 13 FACILITIES IN ALABAMA AND NORTHWEST FLORIDA.

THERE PRESIDENT AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER CHRISTOPHER TOMLIN SAID THE MONTGOMERY LOCATION ONLY NEEDS ONE LICENSED PRACTICAL NURSE BUT -- >> IN ONE LOCATION, FOR EXAMPLE, WE CURRENTLY HAVE AROUND 12 LPN OPENINGS.

IT'S A VERY LARGE CAMPUS.

ANOTHER LOCATION, WE HAVE A FAR FEWER NUMBER OF LPN OPENINGS, BUT CERTIFIED NURSING ASSISTANT VACANCIES, WE HAVE AS MANY AS 25.

>> TOMLIN SAID THE ALABAMA BOARD OF NURSING IS DOING ALL IT CAN TO MOVE PEOPLE INTO THE WORKFORCE.

HE SAYS, FOR EXAMPLE, THE MEDICATION ASSISTANT CERTIFICATION PROGRAM IS NOW MORE WIDELY USED.

>> THAT'S WHERE SOMEONE CAN ASSIST WITH MEDICATIONS OR EVEN ADMINISTER MEDICATIONS -- CERTAIN MEDICATIONS AND THE REQUIREMENT FOR LICENSURE IS NOT PRESENT.

CERTAIN THINGS THEY CANNOT DO BUT THEY CAN CERTAINLY PROVIDE A LOT OF ASSISTANCE THAT'S REQUIRED.

>> IRONICALLY, HE SAID, COVID HAD THE MOST SIGNIFICANT IMPACT ON THE NURSING SHORTAGE.

>> THE LARGEST NUMBER OF PERSONS WHO LEFT THE FIELD WERE UNDER THE AGE OF 35 WITH A SIGNIFICANT NUMBER OF THOSE PERSONS COMPLAINING THAT THEY WOULD HAVE CHOSEN ANOTHER FIELD.

OF COURSE, IT'S A CHALLENGE WHENEVER YOU HAVE A VACANT ROLE BECAUSE THAT REQUIRES OTHER PERSONS TO PERHAPS PULL MORE OF A LOAD THAN THEY MIGHT OTHERWISE BE DOING.

>> WHAT'S THE NURSING PROFESSION'S NATIONAL FORECAST?

>> NATIONALLY, THE SITUATION IS EXPECTED TO DETERIORATE OVER THE NEXT TEN YEARS FROM 2021 TO 2031 THERE'S AN EXPECTATION OF A 6% GROWTH OF RNs, BUT YET DURING THAT SAME PERIOD OF TIME IT IS ESTIMATED THAT 203,000 RN POSITIONS WILL BE AVAILABLE EVERY YEAR.

SO THE GAP BETWEEN AVAILABLE INDIVIDUALS AND JOBS THAT ARE AVAILABLE WILL CONTINUE TO WIDEN.

>> FOR ALABAMA, THE ISSUE IS ON THE LEGISLATURE'S RADAR.

>> WE WILL HAVE SEVERAL PIECES OF LEGISLATION RELATED TO NURSES.

WE KNOW THERE'S A NURSING SHORTAGE.

WE NEED TO STAY FOCUSED ON THAT, ESPECIALLY NURSES IN RURAL AREAS, AS WELL AS ADVANCED PRACTICE NURSES.

>> FOR "CAPITOL JOURNAL," I'M KAREN GOLDSMITH.

>> WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK WITH TONIGHT'S GUESTS.

>> YOU CAN WATCH PAST EPISODES OF "CAPITOL JOURNAL" ONLINE ANYTIME AT ALABAMA PUBLIC TELEVISION'S WEBSITE APTV.ORG.

CLICK ON THE ONLINE VIDEO TAB ON THE MAIN PAGE.

YOU CAN ALSO CONNECT WITH "CAPITOL JOURNAL" AND LINK TO PAST EPISODES ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL'S" FACEBOOK PAGE.

>> GETTING MY HANDS DIRTY IS THE BEST PART OF MY JOB.

MY NAME IS HANNA ROGERS AND I'M AN AIR AND POWER FRAME MECHANIC.

I CAN WORK ON ANYTHING FROM GENERAL AVIATION TO HELICOPTERS.

I WAS A YOUNG MOTHER.

I WAS 18 WHEN I BECAME PREGNANT.

I NEVER THOUGHT I COULD FINISH SCHOOL, WORK, AND RAISE MY SON.

BUT WITH THE GOVERNMENT ASSISTANCE WITH FOOD STAMPS, SECTION 8, CHILD CARE, ALL OF THOSE PROGRAMS HAVE HELPED ME ACHIEVE THIS GOAL TO WHERE I DON'T HAVE TO LIVE OFF ASSISTANCE ANYMORE.

I WAS ABLE TO GRADUATE DEBT FREE BY THE PELL GRANT, THE WIOA PROGRAM AND ALSO A SCHOLARSHIP.

I ACTUALLY HAD FRIENDS TELL ME ABOUT THE PROGRAM, THE WIOA PROGRAM AND THEN I ALSO SPOKE WITH THE FSS INSTRUCTOR AT OUR SCHOOL AND SHE TOLD ME TO CONTACT THE CAREER CENTER.

I WAS ABLE TO SET UP AN APPOINTMENT AND FILL OUT THE APPLICATION AND ALL OF THE PRE-REQs FOR THAT.

WITH THE WIOA PROGRAM PROVIDING FOR MY SCHOLARSHIP FOR SCHOOL ALONG WITH THE PELL GRANT, THAT ALL GAVE ME AN OPPORTUNITY THAT I WOULDN'T HAVE BEEN ABLE TO REACH MY GOALS AND BE WHERE I AM TODAY WITHOUT THESE PROGRAMS.

YOU DON'T HAVE TO JUST STAY IN POVERTY BECAUSE YOU WERE BORN IN POVERTY.

YOU CAN MOVE UP IN LIFE.

JUST BECAUSE YOU DON'T HAVE THE MONEY DOESN'T MEAN YOU CAN'T GET THERE.

THERE'S A LOT OF OPPORTUNITIES OUT THERE.

THERE'S SCHOLARSHIPS.

THERE'S PROGRAMS.

THERE'S PEOPLE.

YOU JUST HAVE TO SHOW YOU ARE WILLING TO DO THE HARD WORK.

I WAS DETERMINED.

I REFUSED TO ALLOW ANYTHING TO STOP ME.

>> JOINING ME NEXT IS JIMMY BAKER, CHANCELLOR OF THE ALABAMA COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM.

CHANCELLOR, THANK YOU FOR COMING ON THE SHOW.

>> THANK YOU, TODD.

I ALWAYS ENJOY COMING TO VISIT WITH YOU AND I THINK IT'S DOING A GREAT JOB.

YOU ARE DOING A GREAT JOB GETTING THE NEWS OUT.

>> THAT'S VERY KIND OF YOU TO SAY.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

IT IS A PLEASURE TO HAVE YOU ON.

IT'S BEEN A WHILE SINCE WE HAVE HAD YOU ON BUT WE SAW AND REPORTED ON YOUR PRESENTATION TO THE BUDGET COMMITTEES DURING THESE BUDGET HEARINGS.

ALL OF THE AGENCY HEADS WILL CAME AND GAVE THEIR UPDATE.

YOURS WAS MORE SUBSTANTIAL THAN MOST.

I WAS GOING TO MAYBE ASK FOR A CLIFF'S NOTES VERSION OF THAT, AN UPDATE ON HOW THE SYSTEM IS DOING, SORT OF WHAT YOU TOLD LAWMAKERS ABOUT THE HEALTH AND THE SITUATION RIGHT NOW WITH THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM.

>> TODD, I THINK, TO BEGIN WITH, I NEED TO SAY THIS -- THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM IS EXPERIENCING INCREASE IN ENROLLMENT.

WE'RE GROWING AT A TIME WHEN NATIONALLY COMMUNITY COLLEGES, AS WELL AS MANY FOUR-YEAR COLLEGES ARE DECLINING IN ENROLLMENT.

>> THAT'S INTERESTING.

>> I THINK IT'S SIMPLY BECAUSE WE HAVE DEVISED A SYSTEM -- WE HAVE A METHODICAL PLAN TO PURSUE GETTING MORE STUDENTS INTO PROGRAMS.

WE HAVE ALSO TOLD A STORY YOU DON'T JUST HAVE TO PLAN TO GET A BS DEGREE.

YOU MAY JUST NEED TO GET A SKILL, TO LEARN A SKILL, AND YOU CAN BE VERY SUCCESSFUL AND GET A DEGREE WHEN YOU CHOOSE TO.

WE HAVE OPENED UP THE DOORS TO A VARIETY OF CAREER PATHS THAT I THINK MANY STUDENTS ARE RESPONDING TO.

>> IT'S INTERESTING BECAUSE YOU CAN GO BACK 15, 20 YEARS WHEN TALK REALLY STARTED ABOUT THAT.

LOOK, NOT EVERYBODY NEEDS A COLLEGE DEGREE, LIKE YOU SAID, A BS.

BUT IT TOOK DECADES TO SORT OF CHANGE THAT MENTALITY.

DO YOU THINK IT HAS CHANGED OR IS THERE STILL WORK TO DO THERE?

WE STILL HAVE WORK TO DO THERE.

WE HAVE STAFF WE HAVEN'T CONVINCED WE ARE DOING THE RIGHT THINGS, BUT I THINK, AS A WHOLE, PEOPLE ARE BEGINNING TO UNDERSTAND THAT.

AND BEGINNING TO SEE THE VALUE AND THE QUALITY OF LIFE THAT IS AFFORDED WHERE OTHERWISE IT WOULD HAVE NEVER HAPPENED.

AS WE BECOME MORE TECHNICALLY SKILLED AND WE DO MORE TO PROVIDE OPPORTUNITIES FOR TRAINING, I THINK GRADUALLY IT'S CHANGING THE ENTIRE ENVIRONMENT.

>> THE WORKFORCE IS CHANGING.

I THINK A LOT OF THIS IS SOCIETAL AND JUST GENERATIONAL, BUT I THINK COVID HAD A LOT TO DO WITH IT.

IT CHANGED THE WORKFORCE DRAMATICALLY.

EVERY MONTH WE LOOK AT THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE.

WE ARE ALWAYS THE FIRST TO REPORT IT AND THESE ARE HISTORICALLY LOW UNEMPLOYMENT NUMBERS.

HURRAY FOR THAT BUT THE OTHER SIDE OF THAT COIN THAT MAYBE WE DON'T TALK ABOUT AS MUCH IS THE WORKFORCE PASTER WHICH IS PRETTY LOW.

THE LAST WAS 56.8%, SOMEWHERE IN THAT NEIGHBORHOOD.

IF YOU FLIP THAT OVER, THAT MEANS 44% AREN'T PARTICIPATING IN THE WORKFORCE.

THAT'S A SCARY NUMBER.

I KNOW YOU ALL PLAY A ROLE IN TRYING TO REMEDY THAT.

>> I USUALLY PAY LITTLE ATTENTION TO THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE.

PEOPLE LIKE TO BRAG ABOUT THAT AND I'M NOT SAYING IT'S NOT IMPORTANT BUT ON THE OTHER HAND, I SPEND A LOT OF TIME TALKING TO BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY WHO CANNOT FIND ENOUGH WORKERS TO KEEP THEIR BUSINESS RUNNING AT THE LEVEL THAT IT SHOULD RUN.

WHY?

WHY DO WE HAVE SO MANY PEOPLE WHO ARE NOT IN THE LABOR FORCE THAT SHOULD BE IN THE LABOR FORCE?

WE ARE UNDERTAKING A PROCESS TO TRY TO BEGIN TO IDENTIFY A LOT OF THAT, AND THEN IDENTIFY PEOPLE AND APPEAL DIRECTLY TO THEM.

IF YOU WOULD COME, TAKE THIS TRAINING, SHORT PERIODS OF TIME, THEN YOU CAN GO INTO THIS BUSINESS AND WORK IN THIS BUSINESS.

I THINK WE HAVE TO CHANGE OUR MINDSET ABOUT JUST BECAUSE YOU GO TO SCHOOL AT A COLLEGE, IT DOESN'T NECESSARILY TAKE YOU SIX OR EIGHT MONTHS OR A YEAR TO FIND A WAY TO BE TRAINED TO DO SOMETHING THAT IS VERY PRODUCTIVE.

THEN IT ALSO IS SOMETHING THAT MANY OF OUR SMALL BUSINESSES ARE JUST STRUGGLING WITH ON A DAILY BASIS.

IF WE CAN HELP FIND THAT PERSON AND PUT THEM IN THE LABOR FORCE, TO HELP SMALL BUSINESS, AS WELL AS LARGE BUSINESS, THEN I THINK WE ARE DOING A GOOD JOB.

>> THERE'S BEEN SO MUCH TALK ABOUT THIS.

I KNOW THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE HAS FOCUSED ON THIS IN TERMS OF REMOVING BARRIERS, OF FOLKS GETTING INTO THE WORKFORCE.

THERE ARE THESE SORT OF BARRIERS, WHETHER SOCIETAL OR MAYBE GOVERNMENT AND RESEARCHING HOW TO GET RID OF THOSE.

I WILL BE TALKING TO NEAL WADE LATER TODAY ABOUT HIS FOUNDATION AND THEY ARE REALLY LOOKING INTO THAT, TOO.

YOU ARE RIGHT, IT DOESN'T MATTER HOW LOW THE UNEMPLOYMENT RATE IF WE DON'T HAVE ENOUGH WORKERS TO FEED THE ECONOMY WE WILL HAVE A HARD TIME GROWING THE ECONOMY.

>> I THINK THE IMPORTANT PART OF THAT, HARD TIME GROWING, IS TRUE.

AND WHY WE HAVE BEEN VERY SUCCESSFUL IN THIS STATE BRINGING IN MAJOR INDUSTRY.

THEY COME TO WORK.

THEY COME TO TOWN.

THEY TAKE SOME OF THE BEST EMPLOYEES SMALL BUSINESS HAS.

IF WE AREN'T GOING TO STEP UP AND FIND A WAY TO HELP SMALL BUSINESS REPLACE THOSE WORKERS, EVENTUALLY WE ARE NOT GOING TO BE BRINGING THE BIG BUSINESSES TO TOWN.

I JUST THINK IT IS AN IMPORTANT ROLE.

BILL AND HIS GROUP ARE REALLY WORKING HARD AT HELPING TO SOLVE THAT PROBLEM.

>> YEAH.

I'M EAGER TO HAVE THE CONVERSATION.

SWITCHING GEARS.

I WANT TO TALK ABOUT BUDGETS.

WHEN THE GOVERNOR INTRODUCED HER BUDGET AND HAD SOME SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS AND EVERYTHING.

YOU GUYS IN THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE SYSTEM HAD SOME SET ASIDE FOR CAPITAL PROJECTS WHICH SOUNDS EXCITING.

DO YOU KNOW WHAT THAT LOOKS LIKE OR IS THAT STILL IN THE PLANNING PHASE?

>> I THINK I WOULD KNOW IF WE HAD THE MONEY.

>> IT HASN'T PASSED YET.

>> BUT IT IS STILL OUR LONG-TERM GOAL.

YOU REALIZE THE SYSTEM HAS BEEN IN EXISTENCE FOR 60 YEARS.

MANY OF OUR WORKFORCE TRAINING, SKILLS TRAINING PROGRAMS WERE BUILT 40, 50, 60 YEARS AGO.

THEY WERE EQUIPPED THAT FAR BACK.

VERY LITTLE HAS CHANGED IN THAT ENVIRONMENT.

THE WORLD OF WORK HAS CHANGED SIGNIFICANTLY.

EQUIPMENT HAS CHANGED SIGNIFICANTLY.

WE HAVE PUT TOGETHER WHAT WE FEEL IS AN IMPORTANT IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM.

IT MAY MEAN NEW FACILITIES, IT DOES IN MANY INSTANCES.

WE ARE BUILDING NEW WORKFORCE CENTERS AROUND THE STATE IN AREAS THERE'S BEEN NONE BUT IT ALSO MEANS REHABBING THE OLD AND EXISTING AND REESTABLISHING THE SHOP EQUIPMENT SO IT IS CURRENT.

SO THAT WHAT WE ARE TRAINING STUDENTS ON WOULD BE THE SAME PIECE OF EQUIPMENT THEY WOULD BE OPERATING IF THEY WENT TO WORK IN A NEW BUSINESS.

>> YOU DON'T WANT IT TO BE SOME OUTDATED, OUTMODED PIECE OF EQUIPMENT.

WHO'S THAT HELPING?

>> YEAH.

>> THAT'S INTERESTING.

PLUS, YOU MENTIONED THE AGE OF THE BUILDINGS AND THAT'S SIGNIFICANT.

THERE WAS WAVE IN THE '60s AND '70s COUGHING UP BUT THAT'S A LONG TIME AGO.

I IMAGINE FACILITY MAINTENANCE AND UPKEEP IS AN ISSUE.

>> GIVEN THE FACT THERE'S NO FUND THAT IS COMMITTED TO ONGOING MAINTENANCE AND UPKEEP OF THE BUILDING.

>> THAT JUST COMES FROM GENERAL.

>> FROM GENERAL BUDGET OPERATIONS.

AS CONTRASTED WITH IN K-12.

I HAPPEN TO KNOW THIS BECAUSE I WAS THE FINANCE DIRECTOR AT THE TIME WE DID THE FOUNDATION PROGRAM AND WERE EARMARKED STATEWIDE 3 MIL AD VALOREM TAX.

THAT GOES TO EACH SCHOOL DISTRICT BASED ON AVERAGE DAILY MEMBERSHIP.

THEY HAVE A SOURCE -- IT'S NOT ADEQUATE BY ITSELF ALONE.

THAT'S A BIG OPERATION, BUT WE HAVE TO TAKE OUT OF OUR BUDGET OPERATING FUNDS AND COMMIT IT TO THAT.

HOWEVER, IN MANY INSTANCES, OUR LOCAL SCHOOLS ARE ABLE TO CONTRIBUTE ALONG WITH THAT.

IT'S JUST ALWAYS A PIECE.

HOW DO WE PIECE THIS FINANCING TOGETHER SO THAT WE CAN SUCCEED IN FOLLOWING THROUGH WITH OUR RESTORE AND BUILDING PLAN.

>> I'M SURE YOU WERE HAPPY TO SEE THAT IN THE SUPPLEMENTAL?

>> ABSOLUTELY AND STILL WANT MORE BUT WE'RE WORKING WITH THE LEGISLATURE TO SEE THAT THAT HAPPENS.

>> WHEN I SEE YOU PRESENT BEFORE THE LEGISLATURE, YOU SEEM TO HAVE A RAPPORT.

OBVIOUSLY YOU HAVE BEEN AROUND THIS BUILDING AND TOWN FOR A LONG TIME.

THIS IS A BRAND NEW LEGISLATURE WITH A LOT OF NEW MEMBERS.

HOW ARE YOU FINDING YOUR MEETINGS AND CONVERSATIONS WITH THEM?

IS SOME OF IT BRINGING THEM UP TO SPEED ON WHAT THE SYSTEM DOES AND MAYBE IN AREAS THEY ARE NOT FAMILIAR WITH?

>> I THINK A LOT OF IT IS BRINGING THEM UP TO SPEED.

I WILL TELL YOU, HOWEVER, THAT OUR PRESIDENTS ACROSS THE STATE HAVE DONE A VERY GOOD JOB MEETING WITH LOCAL DELEGATIONS AND DOING A LOT OF THAT.

BUT I WOULD TELL YOU THAT MANY OF THE NEW MEMBERS HAVE A COMMON INTEREST OF SEEING THE STATE OF ALABAMA MOVE FORWARD.

I KNOW THAT SOUNDS CLICHE BUT I REALLY BELIEVE THEY FEEL THAT WAY.

THEY WANT TO BE A PART OF THE OPPORTUNITY AT A TIME THE STATE HAS NEVER SEEN.

THE STATE HAS NEVER SEEN THIS MUCH MONEY AVAILABLE TO BE DEVOTED TO STATE GOVERNMENT.

>> THAT'S TRUE.

>> THEY WANT TO SEE THAT UTILIZED IN A WAY THAT A FEW YEARS DOWN THE ROAD YOU CAN LOOK BACK AND SAY, HEY, WE DID THIS.

I FOUND A VERY STRONG FEELING OF A LOT OF THE NEW MEMBERS OF THE LEGISLATURE THAT THEY WANT TO BE A PART OF THAT.

>> YEAH.

IT SEEMS TO ME -- YOU KNOW, YOU GO BACK DECADES AND THERE SEEMS TO BE A LOT OF FEUDING, ESPECIALLY ON THE EDUCATION SIDE BETWEEN HIGHER ED, K-12, COMMUNITY COLLEGES.

MAYBE TO SOME EXTENT BECAUSE EVERYONE WANTS THEIR PIECE OF THE PIE BUT I DON'T SEE THE FEUDING.

IT SEEMS MORE COALESCE THAN DAYS OF THE PAST.

AM I READING THAT RIGHT?

>> THAT'S MY SENSE.

I CAN'T SPEAK FOR EVERYBODY ELSE BUT IN MY RELATION AND WORKING WITH THE OTHER SEGMENT OF EDUCATION, I FIND THAT TO BE THE CASE.

YOU KNOW, THERE'S ONE ISSUE, TODD, THAT I SO DESPERATELY WANT SOMEBODY TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO CHANGE.

I WAS SOMEWHAT DISAPPOINTED.

I DON'T LIKE SEEING ALABAMA ON THE BOTTOM WITH TEST SCORES.

I JUST DON'T LIKE THAT.

AND I THINK WE HAVEN'T DONE THE JOB THAT WE SHOULD DO IN CHANGING THAT.

I DON'T KNOW THE ANSWER TO THAT, BUT MOVING FORWARD IF WE ARE GOING TO MOVE FORWARD AS WE SHOULD BE ABLE TO, STUDENTS COMING UP IN THE LOWER GRADES ARE GONNA HAVE TO BE ABLE TO COMPETE.

>> RIGHT.

WELL, THOSE LOWER GRADE STUDENTS END UP BECOMING YOUR STUDENTS AND HIGHER ED STUDENTS AND EVENTUALLY WORKERS.

SO IT ABSOLUTELY MATTERS TO THE WHOLE SYSTEM.

>> IT IS IMPORTANT AND IF WE DON'T UNDERSTAND THAT, WE NEED TO FIND A WAY TO CURE THAT PROBLEM.

>> WELL, I AM PLEASED THAT THEY HAVE BEGUN TO ADDRESS THE LITERACY AND NUMERACY ACT.

THEY HAVE REALLY STARTED TO ATTACK THOSE PROBLEMS BUT YOU ARE RIGHT.

IT TAKES A WHILE TO TURN THAT AROUND.

SO WE WILL HAVE MORE CONVERSATIONS ABOUT THAT.

CHANCELLOR, THANKS FOR COMING ON.

IT'S A PLEASURE TO HAVE YOU ON.

>> ALWAYS.

APPRECIATE YOU.

>> LOOK FORWARD TO HAVING YOU BACK.

>> WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> YOU CAN WATCH PAST EPISODES OF "CAPITOL JOURNAL" ONLINE ANYTIME AT ALABAMA PUBLIC TELEVISION'S WEBSITE APTV.ORG.

CLICK ON THE ONLINE VIDEO TAB ON THE MAIN PAGE.

YOU CAN ALSO CONNECT WITH "CAPITOL JOURNAL" AND LINK TO PAST EPISODES ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL'S" FACEBOOK PAGE.

>> MY NAME IS JACOBY AND I'M A WELDER HERE.

I WORK ON THE EXPEDITIONARY FAST TRANSPORT.

IT IS LIKE A PICKUP TRUCK USED TO TRANSFER EQUIPMENT.

THE WAY I GOT THIS JOB.

I MET A RECRUITER IN HIGH SCHOOL.

I MET THEM MY TENTH GRADE YEAR.

I WENT TO A SUMMER INTERNSHIP.

IT WAS A SIX-WEEK PROGRAM.

ENTERING MY 12th GRADE YEAR WHEN I CAME BACK DURING THE APPRENTICE PROGRAM AND THEY PAID ME TO COME AND LEARN ABOUT WHAT I LOVE TO DO EVERY DAY.

YOU HAD TO BE ON TIME AND SHOW UP AND BE ACCOUNTED FOR EVERY DAY.

AFTER I FINISHED I HAD TO GO TO ANOTHER INTERVIEW AND THEY OFFERED ME A JOB.

I'M HAPPY TO BE A PART OF THIS TEAM.

I CAN BUILD A CAREER AND A LIVING AND TAKE CARE OF THE PEOPLE I LOVE.

WHEN I HAVE A PASSION FOR IT.

I LOVE COME GETTING UP AND COMING TO WORK EVERY DAY.

I LOVE WELDING EVERY DAY AND I WOULDN'T CHANGE IT FOR ANYTHING IN THE WORLD.

>> YOU ARE WATCHING ALABAMA PUBLIC TELEVISION.

>> JOINING ME NEXT ARE NEAL WADE AND PATTY HUGHSTON OF THE PATHS FOR SUCCESS FOUNDATION.

THANK YOU FOR COMING ON THE SHOW.

>> THANK YOU, TODD.

APPRECIATE IT.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING US.

>> CAN YOU SHARE A LITTLE MORE ABOUT PATHS FOR SUCCESS AND WHAT IS BEHIND THE FOUNDATION AND WHAT YOUR GOALS ARE.

NEAL, I WILL START WITH YOU.

>> WE ARE TRYING TO HELP WITH THE WORKFORCE SITUATION IN ALABAMA.

43% OF ALABAMA'S WORKFORCE ARE ON THE SIDELINES.

WE HAVE HELP WANTED SIGNS EVERYWHERE.

MANUFACTURERS AND RETAIL AND OTHERS ARE LOOKING FOR WORKERS.

SO, WE WANT TO TRY TO HELP ATTACK THAT AND GET MORE PEOPLE OFF THE SIDELINES AND INTO A CERTIFIED PROGRAM THAT TEACHES THEM A TRADE, TEACHES THEM A SKILL AND THEN THEY GO IMMEDIATELY INTO THE WORKFORCE.

SO, THE PATH FOR SUCCESS FOUNDATION WAS SET UP SPECIFICALLY TO TRY TO REMOVE BARRIERS THAT KEEP PEOPLE FROM GETTING THE SKILLS TRAINING AND CERTIFICATE TRAINING THEY NEED AND SO THAT'S WHAT WE ARE TRYING TO DO.

WE ARE JUST REALLY AT THE BEGINNING OF THIS FOUNDATION.

>> WELL, LOOK, THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT'S BEEN AROUND FOR A LONG TIME.

HOW DO WE GET FOLKS OFF OF THE SIDELINES.

GOVERNMENT HAS TRIED TO ATTACK THIS IN MANY ITERATIONS OVER THE YEARS BUT THIS IS DIFFERENT, THIS IS A PRIVATE, NONPROFIT.

SO YOUR GOAL IS ESSENTIALLY TO RAISE MONEY TO HELP FUND THIS PRIVATELY.

TALK ABOUT THE NATURE OF THAT, HOW THAT IS DIFFERENT.

>> LET ME SAY THIS BECAUSE IT IS A STATEWIDE FOUNDATION.

I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT TO MENTION THAT IT HAS A STATEWIDE GOVERN BOARD.

WE ARE A 501 (C) 3.

THE BOARD MEMBERS HAVE A STATEWIDE VISION.

THEY ARE INDUSTRY LEADERS AND KEY MEMBERS AROUND THE STATE AND THEY WANT THIS TO BE A STATEWIDE EFFORT.

THAT'S ONE THING WE ARE TRYING TO DO.

YES, WE ARE ABOUT TO REALLY EMBARK ON A BIG CAMPAIGN TO RAISE FUNDS.

WE HAVE GONE THROUGH A FEASIBILITY STUDY TO ANSWER A LOT OF QUESTIONS OF CAN WE DO THAT HOW MUCH DO YOU THINK WE CAN RAISE BECAUSE AS NEAL MENTIONED WE HAVE BIG GOALS.

WORKFORCE TRAINING IS ONE OF THEM.

WE'RE GOING TO FOCUS ON PUTTING PEOPLE INTO HIGH DEMAND AREAS AND DO THAT BASICALLY THROUGH NON-CREDIT TYPE FAST TRACK TRAINING THAT'S TIED TO TRAINING PROGRAMS.

THE OTHER TWO AREAS THAT COME TO MIND ARE CHILD CARE ISSUES.

THAT'S A STATE FOCUS AND THERE ARE A LOT OF LEADERS ON IN AND IN TRANSPORTATION.

ONE THING WE ARE TRYING TO DO AT THE STATEWIDE LEVEL IS PARTNER WITH INDIVIDUALS.

WE HAVE DONE PILOT PROGRAMS AND TRAINING IN THE FALL AND RIGHT NOW IN CHILD CARE IN WEST ALABAMA TO TRY TO ESTABLISH HOW WE DO IT AND HOW WE DO IT WELL AND HOW TO REPLICATE THESE THINGS AROUND THE STATE.

I THINK THE KEY WORD TO THAT IS PARTNERSHIP.

>> THAT TAKES ME BACK TO THE POLL YOU ALL CONDUCTED.

I GUESS YOU ALL DIDN'T CONDUCT IT.

SOMEBODY ELSE DID.

IT HAD TO DO WITH WHAT IS KEEPING YOU ON THE SIDELINES.

WHAT'S KEEPING YOU FROM ENTERING THE WORKFORCE.

AND TRANSPORTATION WAS REALLY HIGH UP ON THERE.

>> WHICH IS A SHIFT.

IT WAS CHILD CARE.

>> I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE CHILD CARE.

>> THAT HAS BEEN AN INTERESTING CHANGE.

IT HAS BEEN PRETTY RECENT.

>> WHEN YOU SEE NUMBERS LIKE THAT -- I GUESS SOME OF THE NUMBERS, WE CAN THROW THE OLD POLL ON THE SCREEN SO WE HAVE THE ACCURATE NUMBERS.

IT WAS CHILD CARE AND CARING FOR AN ELDERLY PARENT AND THINGS LIKE THAT.

THE TRANSPORTATION THING SHOCKED ME.

WHEN YOU SEE NUMBERS LIKE THAT DOES IT SHIFT YOUR FOCUS TO SAY THAT'S A NEED WE CAN PLAY A PART IN TACKLING?

>> WE KNOW WE CAN PLAY A PART IN THE CHILD CARE AND THE TRANSPORTATION AND TUITION.

SO THOSE AREAS WE KNOW WE CAN.

WHAT WE ARE FINDING OUT, PARTICULARLY WITH CHILD CARE, IS IF WE GO OUT AND SAY, OKAY, TODD, WE'LL HANDLE THAT FOR YOU AND YET YOU CAN'T FIND A SEAT, THERE'S NOT ONE AVAILABLE, THEN WE MADE A HOLLOW OFFER AND YOU ARE NOT ABLE TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF IT.

THAT'S WHAT WE ARE ALSO ABOUT IS HOW CAN WE WORK WITH, AS PATTY SAID, THE PARTNERS OUT THERE FOCUSED ON CHILD CARE AND THE SOLUTIONS, HOW CAN WE HELP WITH THAT?

ALL WE WANT TO DO IS SAY WE'LL REMOVE THE BARRIER AND GET YOU TRAINING AND GET YOU INTO THE WORKFORCE.

>> I'M TRYING TO THINK OF SOME HYPOTHETICALS.

MAYBE CHURCHES AND GROUPS LIKE THAT THAT COULD PLAY A ROLE.

>> NO QUESTION.

>> IN ALLOWING A CHILD CARE BUSINESS TO EXIST THERE AND MAYBE THERE'S REGULATORY ISSUES YOU ALL COULD PLAY A ROLE IN BREAKING DOWN THOSE BARRIERS.

>> THAT'S A BIG PIECE OF THE PARTNERSHIP.

THE PILOT WE ARE WORKING ON, THERE IS A COMMUNITY COLLEGE THAT IS ONE OF THE PARTNERS.

THE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE IN TUSCALOOSA IS A PARTNER, DHR, YOUR CERTIFICATION AGENCY IS A PARTNER, KEY COMPONENT BECAUSE YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE THE FACILITIES ARE OPERATING AT A CALIBER WHERE PEOPLE CAN BE COMFORTABLE WITH LEAVING THEIR CHILDREN THERE.

ALREADY A LOT OF PARAMETERS AND SOME DIFFERENCES IN IN-HOME CHILD CARE REQUIREMENT AGENCY THEN A FACILITY SUCH AS FAITH-BASED CHURCHES OR STAND-ALONE, LIKE KINDERCARE OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.

SO IT IS DIFFERENT BUT EVERY COMMUNITY IS DIFFERENT, AS WELL AND WHAT CAN WE DO WITHIN A COMMUNITY THAT WILL MAKE THE BIGGEST IMPACT A MAKE A DIFFERENCE FOR THE PEOPLE THAT LIVE IN THAT AREA.

>> PATTY, I KNOW YOU HAVE A BACKGROUND IN EDUCATION, ESPECIALLY ON THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE LEVEL.

>> THAT'S TRUE.

>> DOES THAT INFORM WHAT YOU ARE DOING NOW LEADING THIS ORGANIZATION IN TERMS OF, YOU KNOW, WHAT KNOW CERTIFICATION PATHS THERE ARE AND WHAT PATHS THERE NEED TO BE?

>> FROM THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE SIDE OF IT BECAUSE I RETIRED AFTER 35 YEARS IN AGO, AS YOU MENTIONED, BUT I UNDERSTAND THE COMMUNITY COLLEGES AND THEY ARE PARTNERS IN ALL OF THIS, PARTICULARLY IN THE WORKFORCE TRAINING PROGRAMS MOSTLY BECAUSE THEY HAVE A STATEWIDE FOOTPRINT.

THERE ARE 24 COLLEGES BUT 130 SITES AROUND THE STATE.

SO, IT IS HARD TO GO INTO A COUNTY OR COMMUNITY WHERE THERE'S NOT A FACILITY THERE THAT WE CAN OFFER TRAINING THROUGH THAT COLLEGE AND HELP INDIVIDUALS TO GET INTO THOSE TRAINING PROGRAMS AND PAY WHATEVER FEES MIGHT BE FOR THEM TO GET THE TRAINING.

AGAIN, WE'RE NOT LOOKING AT TWO-YEAR ASSOCIATES DEGREE OR ANYTHING THAT IS FEDERAL PELL ELIGIBLE OR TRANSFER TO A UNIVERSITY.

WE ARE LOOKING AT SKILLS TRAINING TO PUT PEOPLE IN THE WORKFORCE AT A MUCH FASTER PACE AND GIVES THE CREDENTIALS TO EARN A LIVING WAGE REALLY.

>> NEAL, A LOT OF OUR AUDIENCE IS FAMILIAR WITH YOU FROM YOUR WORK LEADING WHAT WAS THEN THE ALABAMA DEVELOPMENT OFFICE.

FOLKS KNOW IT AS COMMERCE NOW.

BUT BASICALLY THE STATE'S LEAD ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT RECRUITER.

I HAVE TO SAY THAT INFORMS -- I HAVE TO THINK THAT IS WHAT INFORMS YOUR WORK HERE.

WHEN RECRUITING COMPANIES, WORKFORCE IS A HUGE COMPONENT TO THAT?

>> IT HAS BECOME THE NUMBER ONE CRITERIA FOR SITE SELECTION TO EXPAND OR LOCATE.

IF YOU ARE GOING TO BRING A COMPANY IN, YOU HAVE TO PROVE TO THEM YOU CAN GET THE WORKFORCE.

WE HAVE SEEN SINCE THE PANDEMIC THAT THE WORKFORCE ISSUE HAS BECOME MUCH BIGGER.

SO, FORMING THIS FOUNDATION IS PROBABLY ONE OF THE BEST THINGS WE COULD DO TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE FOR THOSE WHO DO WANT TO GET THE TRAINING AND GET OFF OF THE SIDELINES.

WE WILL REMOVE THE BARRIERS.

THAT'S WHAT WE ARE ALL ABOUT.

AS PATTY'S TALKED ABOUT, AS WE RAISE THOSE FUNDS, WE ARE GOING TO BE ABLE TO HELP MORE PEOPLE GET IN THE WORKFORCE AND HELP MEET THE GOVERNOR'S NEED, GOAL OF 500,000 NEW WORKERS BY 2024.

>> WHEN YOU ARE TALKING WITH COMPANIES -- I KNOW YOU HAVE A BOARD FULL OF EXECUTIVES FROM SOME OF THE STATE'S TOP COMPANIES, THAT SHOWS ME THERE'S STARTING TO BE BUY IN ON THIS.

DO EXISTING COMPANIES THAT WANT TO SEE GROWTH, ARE THEY UNDERSTANDING HOW IMPORTANT THIS IS AND ARE YOU GETTING BUY IN FROM THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY AT LARGE?

>> I THINK THAT IS STARTING TO HAPPEN.

A LARGE PART BECAUSE THE FEASIBILITY STUDY.

THERE WERE ALMOST 50 INTERVIEWS DONE AROUND THE STATE AND A LOT OF THEM ARE LARGE COMPANIES, KEY BUSINESS LEADERS, SOME SMALL COMMUNITIES.

WE WANTED TO HAVE A FULL VOICE FROM THE STATE AND I THINK WE HAVE GOTTEN THAT.

THAT FULL REPORT WILL GO TO THE BOARD IN JUNE WHEN WE HAVE THE NEXT BOARD MEETING.

IT LITERALLY SAYS YES, YOU CAN AND THIS FOUNDATION, ITS MISSION IS CRITICAL TO THE SUCCESS OF THIS STATE BECAUSE IT IS A STATEWIDE FOUNDATION AND BECAUSE -- WE HIRED A FIRM TO DO THAT AND THEY SAID THEY HAVE NEVER SEEN ANY KIND OF FEASIBILITY STUDY SHOW SUCH POSITIVE REPORTS BEFORE AND FEEDBACK AND HAVE SUCH BUY-IN INTO THE MISSION OF WHAT WE CAN DO AND TALKED ABOUT HOW NEEDED IT WAS.

I THINK, YES.

I THINK YOU'LL SEE US WORK MORE CLOSELY WITH BUSINESS AND INDUSTRY AND I THINK THE BOARD WILL HAVE A MAJOR PART IN OPENING THE DOORS AND CONNECTING THE DOTS WITH US, AS WELL.

>> THAT'S GOOD TO KNOW.

WHAT ABOUT THE STATE?

FROM THE GOVERNOR ON DOWN TO THE CABINET HERE IN THE LEGISLATURE, ARE YOU STARTING TO HAVE THOSE INITIAL CONVERSATIONS ABOUT HERE'S WHAT WE ARE DOING, HERE'S WHAT OUR GOAL IS AND HOW IS THAT FEEDBACK GOING?

>> WE ACTUALLY HAVE HAD SEVERAL MEETINGS AND CONVERSATIONS WITHIN THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE AND WE HAVE SOME OTHER MEETINGS WITH AGENCIES THAT CAN POTENTIALLY PARTNER WITH US BECAUSE ONE OF THE THINGS OUR BOARD SAID IS WE WANT TO SEE A PUBLIC-PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP APPROACH TO THIS.

SO, WE WILL BE LOOKING AT ALL OF THOSE AREAS AND MEETING WITH ALL OF THEM.

AS A NEW FOUNDATION, ADDRESSING THESE ISSUES, THIS IS SOMETHING WE ARE INTRODUCING AND WE WANT EVERYBODY IN THE STATE TO UNDERSTAND THIS IS A FOUNDATION THAT CAN REALLY HELP ATTACK THE ISSUE OF WORKFORCE IN ALABAMA.

>> SO, IF I'M A BUSINESS OWNER OR I'M INTERESTED IN FIGURING OUT A WAY THAT I CAN BE A PART OF THIS AND HELP, WHAT'S THE BEST WAY TO DO THAT?

IS IT THE WEBSITE?

>> YEAH, I WOULD THINK SO.

BECAUSE ALL OF THE CONTACT IS THERE ON THE WEBSITE.

THE WEBSITE WILL BE CHANGING AND EVOLVING OVER THE NEXT THREE TO FOUR MONTHS.

IT'S GOING TO HAVE FEATURES ON IT WHERE INDIVIDUALS AROUND THE STATE WILL BE ABLE TO LOOK UP COLLEGE OPPORTUNITY OR TRAINING MAP, PUT IN THEIR ZIP CODE AND FIND PROGRAMS THAT WE AS A FOUNDATION SUPPORT, IF THEY FIND SOMETHING THEY ARE INTERESTED IN AND WANT TO BE A PART OF, THEY CAN FILL OUT THE APPLICATION ON THE WEBSITE.

IT IS NOT THERE YET BUT IT WILL BE IN THE NEXT TWO OR THREE MONTHS.

>> YOU ARE STILL IN THE RAMP UP.

>> IT IS JUST ONLY A YEAR OLD.

THAT MAY SOUND LIKE A LOT BUT THERE IS A LOT OF WORK GOING INTO IT.

WE TALK ABOUT HOW DIFFERENT THE BOARD MEETING WILL BE COMPARED TO THE ONE LAST YEAR AND SO, IT'S TAKING WINGS AND STARTING TO FLY BUT IT TAKES TIME TO DO IT RIGHT, PARTICULARLY WHEN YOU ARE TRYING TO DO AN ENTIRE STATE AND NOT JUST ONE COMMUNITY OR ONE REGION.

>> TRUE.

>> YOUR OTHER INTERVIEW WITH CHANCELLOR DEMONSTRATES THEY ARE ONE OF OUR KEY PARTNERS.

WHEN YOU RECOGNIZE THOSE CAMPUSES TOUCH ALMOST THE ENTIRE STATE OF ALABAMA AND THESE CERTIFICATE PROGRAMS OF TRAINING ARE MOSTLY DONE ON A COLLEGE CAMPUS.

WE REALLY ARE NOT ONLY GOING TO RAISE FUNDS BUT IDENTIFY EVERY PARTNER WHO WANTS TO ADDRESS THESE ISSUES AS WE CAN.

>> I HAVE HAD.

>>> JUST IN CONVERSATIONS, HAVE YOU HEARD WHAT THEY ARE DOING IN THE PATH FOR SUCCESS, A LOT OF ENTHUSIASM.

FOLKS IN THIS BUILDING YOU HAVE GOT THIS PROBLEM THAT IS A NEBULOUS PROBLEM OF WORKFORCE PARTICIPATION.

IT CAN FEEL LIKE IT IS UNSOLVABLE, CERTAINLY FROM A GOVERNMENT PERSPECTIVE BUT YOU ALL ARE COMING IN FROM THIS DIFFERENT PERSPECTIVE, FROM THE PRIVATE SECTOR AND NONPROFIT SECTOR.

I THINK THAT HAS A LOT OF FOLKS EXCITED.

ONE THING I'M INTERESTED IN IS ALMOST DISPELLING THIS MYTH THAT FOLKS WANT TO BE ON THE SIDELINES.

THEY DON'T WANT TO WORK.

I THINK THERE ARE SOME SORT OF MISPERCEPTIONS OUT THERE THAT IF FOLKS ARE CHOOSING NOT TO WORK IT'S JUST THEIR CHOICE AND NOT UNDERSTANDING THAT THERE ARE SERIOUS BARRIERS, SOLVABLE BARRIERS, THAT ARE KEEPING THEM FROM THE WORKFORCE.

>> I THINK IF WE CAN RAISE THAT AWARENESS, WE CAN USE THAT ARGUMENT.

IT IS A VALID ARGUMENT.

PEOPLE DO WANT TO WORK.

WE THINK IF WE CAN CONVINCE THEM WE CAN HELP TAKE AWAY THOSE BARRIERS, WE CAN GET YOU A SKILL AND YOU CAN BASICALLY TAKE CARE OF YOUR FAMILY.

YOU CAN MAKE ENOUGH TO WHERE YOU CAN HAVE A LIVABLE WAGE AND AN ENJOYABLE LIFE.

THAT'S WHAT I WANT TO SEE HAPPEN WITH THIS FOUNDATION.

THAT WE NOT ONLY ATTACK THE NUMBERS BUT WE REALLY INFLUENCE THE LIVES OF A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO RIGHT NOW NEED THAT KIND OF INFLUENCE.

>> IT'S LAUDABLE WORK.

I WANT TO HAVE YOU ALL BACK SOON TO SEE THE EVOLUTION OF THIS FOUNDATION BUT THANK YOU FOR TAKING THE TIME TO HELP EDUCATE ME AND OUR AUDIENCE ABOUT PATHS FOR SUCCESS.

>> THANKS FOR HAVING US.

APPRECIATE IT.

>> WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> YOU CAN WATCH PAST EPISODES OF "CAPITOL JOURNAL" ONLINE AT VIDEO@APTV.ORG.

"CAPITOL JOURNAL" EPISODES ARE ALSO AVAILABLE ON APTV'S FREE MOBILE APP.

YOU CAN ALSO CONNECT WITH "CAPITOL JOURNAL" AND LINK TO PAST EPISODES ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL'S" FACEBOOK PAGE.

AND YOU CAN LISTEN TO PAST EPISODES OF "CAPITOL JOURNAL" WHEN YOU ARE DRIVING OR ON THE GO WITH "CAPITOL JOURNAL" PODCASTS.

KEEP UP WITH WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

>> JOINING ME NEXT IS WAYNE REID, THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF ALABAMA PUBLIC TELEVISION.

THANK YOU FOR COMING ON "CAPITOL JOURNAL."

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME TODD.

>> I SHOULD SAY NEW EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.

>> I STARTED FEBRUARY 1st.

>> GREAT.

BRAND NEW ON THE JOB, WHAT'S BEEN YOUR FIRST -- I'M SURE YOU ARE STILL GATHERING ALL KINDS OF INFORMATION, DRINKING FROM A FIRE HOSE.

>> ABSOLUTELY FEEL LIKE I'M DRINKING FROM A FIRE HOSE.

THANKFULLY WE HAVE REALLY GOOD PEOPLE AT ALABAMA PUBLIC TELEVISION HELPING ME.

I SPENT 30 PLUS YEARS ON THE COMMERCIAL BROADCAST SIDE.

SO A LOT OF THINGS ARE SIMILAR BUT SOME THINGS REALLY DIFFERENT THAT ARE NEW TO ME AND I'M LEARNING AND ENJOYING.

PART OF THE REASON I CAME TO APT, THE EDUCATION DEPARTMENT WE HAVE AND WHAT WE WITH OFFER TO THE CITIZENS ON AIR AND ONLINE WITH OUR DIFFERENT PROGRAMS.

SOMETHING I HAVE NEVER HAD TO DO BEFORE AND NEVER BEEN ABLE TO DO BEFORE.

EXCITED WE ARE ABLE TO DO THAT.

AND IT IS A GREAT RESOURCE THE STATE PROVIDES FOR US.

>> I WAS GOING TO ASK ABOUT YOUR BACKGROUND.

YOU SAID 30 YEARS ON THE COMMERCIAL SIDE.

OTHER STATIONS.

I KNOW YOU CAME FROM 3340 IN BIRMINGHAM.

>> I WAS RECENTLY WITH SINCLAIR IN BIRMINGHAM IN 3340, BUT I HAVE BEEN ALL OVER THE COUNTRY.

FIRST JOB WAS IN MONTGOMERY AT WHOA WHICH WAS CHANNEL 32 AND I THINK WNCF, THE ABC AFFILIATE.

THAT'S WHERE I STARTED MY TV CAREER AND FROM THERE TO ST. LOUIS.

I WAS THERE A COUPLE OF YEARS.

I HAVE BEEN IN ORLANDO AND JACKSONVILLE, MOST RECENTLY BEFORE COMING BACK TO ALABAMA AND MY WIFE IS FROM SELMA AND I GRADUATED FROM SELMA HIGH.

FOR US IT WAS RETURNING BACK TO THE STATE WE LOVE AND WE ARE GLAD TO BE HERE.

CAN'T WAIT TO WORK AND DO ALL OF THE STUFF WE ARE ABLE TO DO TO SERVE THE CITIZENS OF ALABAMA.

>> TALK ABOUT AROUND THE COUNTRY.

YOU HAVE SEEN A LOT IN THE COMMERCIAL NEWS BUSINESS.

HOPEFULLY WE CAN LEARN FROM SOME OF THAT, SOME OF YOUR EXPERIENCE HERE ON THE NEWS SIDE OF APT.

>> A LOT OF THINGS, ONE WAS A SPORTS NETWORK, I DID INDEPENDENTLY A LOT OF SPORTS WHICH WE ARE EXCITED.

WE ARE CLOSE TO SIGNING A DEAL.

WE WERE ABLE TO BRING THE HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS TO APTV.

WE ARE CLOSE TO DO THAT AGAIN FOR THE 23/24 SEASON AND REALISTICALLY I'M LOOKING TO DO THAT LONG TERM AND HAD SOME OTHER CONVERSATIONS WITH SOME OTHER SPORTS THAT THE STATE DOES THAT POTENTIALLY WE MIGHT PUT ON APTV, AS WELL.

>> IT MADE SENSE FOR THE CHAMPIONSHIPS TO BE ON APTV.

EVERYBODY WAS ABLE TO SEE IT.

EVERYBODY GETS PUBLIC TELEVISION.

>> I WOULD SAY THERE WAS SOME FANTASTIC GAMES.

I DIDN'T GET TO JOIN BEFORE FOOTBALL STARTED BUT I WAS AT THE BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS AND THERE WERE OUTSTANDING STORIES AND GAMES THERE.

IT IS SOMETHING WE WANT TO CONTINUE TO DO AND POSSIBLY EXPAND ON WHAT WE DO FOR SOME SPORTS THINGS FOR THE STATE.

>> YOU ARE COMING IN AS THE FULL-TIME PERMANENT EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR REPLACING PHIL HUTCHINSON WHO FILLED IN AS INTERIM EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.

HE IS NOT YET RETIRED.

>> HE'S STILL WITH US.

HE'S THE CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER AND IN-HOUSE LEGAL COUNSEL AND WAS DOING THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR JOB.

HE SAID NOBODY WAS MORE EXCITED TO SEE ME COME THAN HE WAS.

BUT HE HAS BEEN A BLESSING HELPING ME EVERY DAY.

AS I SAID, COMING IN AND LEARNING THE ASPECTS OF ALABAMA PUBLIC TELEVISION, HE HAS A WEALTH OF KNOWLEDGE FOR ME TO PULL FROM.

HE HAS BEEN SPECTACULAR AND THANK HIM FOR EVERYTHING HE HAS DONE AS WELL AS EVERYBODY ON THE STAFF.

THEY HAVE BEEN ALL GREAT TO GET TO KNOW.

>> I WAS CURIOUS WHAT LED TO THIS JOB.

LIKE YOU SAID YOU HAVE BEEN IN THE COMMERCIAL SIDE SO LONG.

WHAT LED TO YOU THE CONVERSATIONS THIS LED THE BOARD TO HIRE YOU?

>> I WAS APPROACHED BY THE BOARD LAST FALL.

I STARTED TO LOOK AT IT AND REALLY WASN'T SOMETHING ON MY RADAR AT THE TIME.

THE MORE I FIND OUT ABOUT APT AND EVERYTHING WE DID, I'M NOT A SPRING PUP ANYMORE.

ONE OF THE THINGS I WANTED TO DO IS GIVE BACK MORE AND SERVE MORE.

THIS ALLOWS ME TO DO THAT.

IT GIVES ME AN OPPORTUNITY TO IN PROGRAMMING THROUGH PROGRAMS THAT WE DO FOR EDUCATION, A BUNCH OF MY FAMILY, MY MOM WAS A TEACHER, GRAND FATHER WAS A TEACHER.

I HAVE PROBABLY 20 TEACHERS IN MY FAMILY.

THAT'S IN MY BACKGROUND AND I HAVE BEEN RAISED WITH THEM AROUND ME ALL THE TIME.

FOR THE FIRST TIME IN MY LIFE I ACTUALLY GET A CHANCE TO DO SOMETHING THAT INVOLVES EDUCATION, OUR EDUCATION DEPARTMENT IS VERY GOOD IN HELPING THE TEACHERS ACTUALLY HAVE STUFF THEY CAN TEACH IN THE CLASS PRE-K TO COLLEGE TO ADULT EDUCATION, TOO, AND GEDS WE DO.

A LOT OF COOL WAYS TO GIVE BACK, THAT APTV CAN GIVE BACK AND I'M EXCITED TO BE PART OF THAT.

>> I KNOW ONE CHANGE TO YOUR NORMAL ROUTINE IS BEING PART OF THE FUNDRAISING EFFORTS BECAUSE SUDDENLY YOU ARE THE ONE SENDING EMAILS AND ON TV DOING THE FUNDRAISING PITCH.

I'M SURE THAT'S BEEN NOTICED FROM TIME TO TIME.

>> WHEN I FIRST GOT STARTED, IT WASN'T LONG THAT WE CARRIED THE HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL -- EXCUSE ME, THE BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIPS.

I WAS GETTING TEXTS FROM A BUNCH OF PEOPLE I KNEW BEFORE SAYING I JUST SAW YOU ON THE GAME.

IT WAS A LITTLE EMBARRASSING.

I WAS AT ONE GUY AND ONE GUY CALLED ME THE COMMERCIAL GUY A COUPLE OF TIMES.

HE SAID YOU ARE THE GUY ON THE COMMERCIAL TELLING PEOPLE TO DONATE.

OH, YEAH, THAT'S ME.

BUT IT IS IMPORTANT.

ONE OF THE THINGS -- WE ARE FUNDED THROUGH THE STATE AS WELL AS THROUGH VIEWERS.

THE SUPPORT OF VIEWERS OF DONATING AND BEING ABLE TO HELP US IN THAT WAY, HELP US TO GET THE PROGRAMMING WE GET FROM THE DISTRICT DRAMAS AND THE DOCUMENTARIES AND THE SPORTS.

EVERY BIT HELPS.

IT IS GREAT.

WE LOVE TO GIVE PEOPLE ACCESS TO PASSPORT WHICH IS ALL OF OUR PROGRAMMING.

IT'S A REALLY GOOD DEAL IF YOU WANT TO GET ANOTHER STREAMING SERVICE.

FOR $5 A MONTH YOU CAN GET PASSPORT ON APTV AND GET ACCESS TO ALL OF THE PROGRAMMING WE HAVE.

>> PASSPORT IS AWESOME.

SO UNDERRATED.

WELL WORTH THAT.

>> AND YOU ARE SUPPORTING APTV.

>> THAT'S RIGHT.

>> SPEAKING OF FUNDING AND THINGS LIKE THAT, YOU HAVE BEEN DOWN HERE IN MONTGOMERY QUITE A BIT AS THE LEGISLATURE HAS COME INTO SESSION GETTING TO KNOW STATE AND BUDGET LEADERS BECAUSE WE ARE IN PART FUNDED BY THE STATE LEGISLATURE.

>> WE ARE.

WE THANK THEM FOR THEIR SUPPORT.

SOMETHING I THOUGHT I'D NEVER DO IN MY LIFE.

IT IS SURREAL WALKING AROUND THE STATEHOUSE.

I HAVE GOTTEN TO KNOW THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE AND NATHANIEL LEDBETTER AND SENATOR ORRIN IN DECATUR AND GETTING TO KNOW THESE GUYS HAS BEEN FUN AND THEIR SUPPORT MEANS THE WORLD TO US.

I'M EXCITED TO GET TO KNOW MORE PEOPLE AND WORK WITH THEM AND LET US SERVE THE PEOPLE BETTER.

>> YEAH.

IT IS GREAT TO BE ABLE TO VISIT WITH ALL OF THEM BECAUSE THEY ARE VIEWERS I THINK THEY SEE MORE THAN MOST WHAT APTV HAS TO OFFER BEYOND NEWS.

WELL, LOOK, WE'RE OUT OF TIME.

IT IS RARE YOU GET TO INTERVIEW YOUR BOSS.

THIS HAS BEEN A FUN OPPORTUNITY.

AGAIN, WELCOME.

WE ARE REALLY GLAD YOU ARE NOW OUR NEW LEADER AND LOOK FORWARD TO MANY YEARS WORKING TOGETHER?

>> I HOPE SO.

THANK YOU.

>> WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.

>> YOU CAN WATCH PAST EPISODES OF "CAPITOL JOURNAL" ONLINE ANYTIME AT ALABAMA PUBLIC TELEVISION'S WEBSITE APTV.ORG.

CLICK ON THE ONLINE VIDEO TAB ON THE MAIN PAGE.

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>> MY SON'S NAME IS NATHAN.

HE IS A WELDER.

HE ENJOYS IT, LOVES IT.

SO, MY PLAN THAT HE WOULD GRADUATE FROM PRIVATE HIGH SCHOOL AND GO ON TO AUBURN UNIVERSITY, WHICH IS WHERE EVERYONE ON HIS DAD'S SIDE OF THE FAMILY GOES TO COLLEGE.

IT WAS OBVIOUS NOW THAT I HAVE THE ABILITY TO STEP BACK HE DOES MUCH BETTER HANDS-ON LEARNING.

NATHAN HAD TAKEN A TOUR AT A LOCAL CAREER TECHNICAL SCHOOL AND WAS VERY INTERESTED IN THE WELDING PROGRAM.

MY INITIAL REACTION ABOUT A CAREER TECHNICAL SCHOOL WAS PROBABLY THE FARTHER FROM THE TRUTH.

I WAS PROJECTING MY THOUGHTS ON TO HIM AND MY EXPECTATIONS ON TO HIM, AND IT REALLY TOOK A LOT OF MOM MATURITY TO STEP BACK AND JUST STEP UP AND BE THERE FOR HIM.

AFTER HIGH SCHOOL, NATHAN FOUND A WELDING JOB VERY QUICKLY.

I'D SAY WITHIN THREE WEEKS OF GRADUATION HE WAS WORKING FOR A LOCAL CONTRACTOR.

I REMEMBER HAVING A CONVERSATION WITH MY OWN MOTHER AND SHE SAID, IS THERE ANY MONEY IN WELDING?

WHAT EXACTLY DO WELDERS DO?

AS AN 18-YEAR-OLD HE IS MAKING $47 AN HOUR.

RIGHT.

SO I THOUGHT I WAS RAISING A CEO AND AS IT TURNS OUT I WAS RAISING A WELDER.

WHO KNEW.

NATHAN KNEW.

>> THAT'S OUR SHOW FOR THIS WEEK.

THANK YOU FOR WATCHING.

WE'LL BE BACK TO OUR REGULAR NIGHTLY COVERAGE OF THE LEGISLATIVE SESSION BEGINNING MONDAY NIGHT AT 10:30 HERE ON ALABAMA PUBLIC TELEVISION.

FOR OUR "CAPITOL JOURNAL" TEAM, I'M TODD STACY.