What if one $300 class could change your entire career?

What if your teenager could graduate high school and walk straight into a $25/hour job—no debt, no degree required?

In this episode, I sat down with Joy Callahan to uncover the hidden engine behind Johnston County’s workforce boom. From biotech labs to backroads apprenticeship programs, she’s helping thousands of people stay local and level up.

The question is: Are we doing enough to let them know it’s possible?

If you're interested in the economic growth of Johnston County or you're a small business owner in Johnston County, I think you will find this conversation with her interesting and fascinating. She really has her finger on the pulse of everything about workforce development and building a small business in Johnston County.

So listen in.

Welcome to another episode of Best of Johnston County, brought to you by Breeden Law Office. Our host, Jonathan Breeden, an experienced family lawyer with a deep connection to the community, is ready to take you on a journey through the area that he has called home for over 20 years. Whether it's a deep dive into the love locals have for the county or unraveling the complexities of family law, Best of Johnston County presents an authentic slice of this unique community.

Workforce training, which is crucial to bringing in new jobs. And she has just retired for the second time from Johnston Community College. So we'll talk to her about her time at Johnston Community College and the Workforce Development Center and being the I guess executive director of the Johnston County Community College Foundation for a while until just a few months ago.

Joy Callahan: Mm-hmm.

Jonathan Breeden: But before we do that, I would like you to like, follow, subscribe to this podcast wherever you see it. Whether it be on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, LinkedIn, TikTok X or any of the other social media channels of The Best of Johnston County Podcast.

The Best of Johnston County Podcast comes out every single Monday. And has now for over 18 months. We're well over 70 episodes now to go back and listen to some of our previous guests. I think you'll find it interesting. We had Representative Donna White, we had Chris Johnson, who's the head of the Economic Development Board for Johnston County.

If you love Johnston County as much as I do, this is the podcast for you. Welcome, Joy.

Joy Callahan: Thank you. Good to be here.

Jonathan Breeden: I got the intro outta the way. So anyway, you and I could talk for hours. We've been friends for a very long time.

Joy Callahan: Yes.

Jonathan Breeden: This podcast cannot go for hours. I'm not Joe Rogan.

Joy Callahan: So we'll just start

Jonathan Breeden: with what's your name and what do you do?

Joy Callahan: Okay, well, I'm Joy Callahan, like you said, and recently retired again. I retired back in 20 one from JCC and where I had about a 24 year career in workforce development. And then started working with Chris Johnson at Economic Development between my going back to the foundation at Johnston Community College where I was for the past year a little over year and a half.

And recently retired again in January. So now I'm back with Chris,

Jonathan Breeden: back with the good economic develop

Jonathan Breeden: Well, you've done a lot for Johnston County over the years, but I think you started out as a school teacher.

When they look over and they see the growth of Novo, because if you're standing in the Workforce Development Center and you look out the back window, you can see just the tremendous growth of that and, and and it continues to grow. But my first job there with Novo was to do a training program with them.

They had 147 employees. And with their newest announcement, you know, they're gonna be well over three, 4,000 just in our area alone. So it's just amazing how much they have grown. And I mean, the economy has just boomed in the Clayton area. I. Mainly because of all the people that have come into the town because of the growth of Novo.

Jonathan Breeden: They do continue to come here.

They keep coming here and, and I know you and Chris Johnson's number one job is to turn all those cars driving to Raleigh to work every day around. So they would work in Johnston County. And I know y'all have worked very, very hard to get more jobs at Johnston County, more high paying jobs in Johnston County.

Joy Callahan: Right. Quality jobs.

Jonathan Breeden: Well one of the things you did when you were at JCC is. You started the Workforce Development Center,

Joy Callahan: Right. Well,

Jonathan Breeden: we it sort of evolved outta what you were doing, but you ultimately were the first director of that I, what to call it?

Joy Callahan: I was actually, yeah. Was in very instrumental in the design and the build and then eventually I oversaw all the operations there and the programming and that Workforce Development Center.

Jonathan Breeden: Right.

Joy Callahan: Where we built a simulated work environment that students could come in and really get a good understanding of what it's like walking into a Grifols or a Novo and get that hands-on experience there so they wouldn't make the million dollar problems when they go next door to Grifols or Novo.

Jonathan Breeden: Oh. It's, It's unbelievable. I mean, and it is the reason. That we got the second, we got the first Novo expansion, which is right there across the street from the original Novo.

Joy Callahan: Mm-hmm.

Jonathan Breeden: And now we're getting a third expansion

Joy Callahan: Right

Jonathan Breeden: or a second expansion. Because they need to make Ozempic, which is the most popular drug there is.

And you know, Novo is one of the two or three biggest companies in all of Europe.

Joy Callahan: Mm-hmm.

Jonathan Breeden: I don't know if people realize that, I mean, European business I guess is not a thing, but like when you read about the largest companies in all of Europe, Novo Nordisk is either first or second

Joy Callahan: Okay

Jonathan Breeden: depending on what metrics you're looking at.

Joy Callahan: Right.

Joy Callahan: Yeah,

Jonathan Breeden: Yeah. And I'm not a sorry chemist, I'm a lawyer but they have. And this new develop in the workforce, they have the different machines that the people would work on that they have to work on. They have to wear the outfits. I used to call 'em space suits. So when you work at Novo or Grifols, because you're working in Biopharmaceuticals and everything has to be a clean room and you have, everything has to be clean.

You have to have shoes that never leave, the place you put on these suits and hats and it looks like you're going into outer space because you can't contaminate what you're working with.

Joy Callahan: Right.

Jonathan Breeden: They have all of that there. And so those students come over there now and they go through the whole thing and they work on the equipment and they practice making it and spooning it out and all the stuff they have to do.

And that's phenomenal to have that kind of, they don't have that really in other places.

Joy Callahan: Yeah.

Jonathan Breeden: Which is one of the reasons why I think. We keep getting these extra expansions and stuff.

This building a reality. The land sits on property that was donated by Nova Nordisk and they actually have what's called the RTZ. It's a research training zone that was zoned such that the companies that are in this zone tax themselves to pay for the operations and maintenance of that building.

So it's a very great win-win situation. And thousands of students have gone through what we call the Bioworks certificate program. That's a statewide certification that was developed back in the late nineties. So we have been offering that we were the first to offer that as a community college, and we have been offering it for the last 25 years.

And so it has been extremely beneficial for our students to get that certificate and then go to work at either Grifols, Novo or any of the other pharmaceutical manufacturing facilities.

Jonathan Breeden: Well, and these are extremely high paying jobs, and you don't have to have a ton of education. Literally, the Bio Works certificate.

Joy Callahan: Mm-hmm.

Jonathan Breeden: You don't have to quit your job.

Joy Callahan: Mm-hmm.

Jonathan Breeden: And you, know there's the second semester as well, and usually after the first semester, you know enough that they'll hire you and like like almost any job there starts at $25 an hour.

Joy Callahan: Mm-hmm.

Jonathan Breeden: With full benefits.

So I mean, it's a really good thing.

Joy Callahan: So, and that was one of the things I was gonna say if you're out there and you're looking for a really good career opportunity, the Bioworks certificate program is one semester, it's a hundred and I think 58 hours.

It's about $300 for the class and the book. And once you get through it the folks out there at the Workforce Development Center bring the folks from Grifols and Novo on site to interview you. So it's something that you could go ahead and get and walk right into a wonderful good paying career.

Jonathan Breeden: Right.

Jonathan Breeden: I mean, that's, that's unbelievable and that's tremendous for us. And we're very fortunate for that. The workforce also offers business coaching entrepreneurs and small business. Well for free.

Joy Callahan: Yeah.

Jonathan Breeden: They have classes of social media and marketing and branding yourself.

Joy Callahan: Yeah.

Jonathan Breeden: And how to make a budget and how a business plan. So you get a loan from a bank, they do all of that for free.

They're right there in Clayton on Palatine Road. So if you think about starting a business or want some information on how to do it. Reach out. They'll be glad to help.

Joy Callahan: Absolutely.

Jonathan Breeden: I didn't bring that program forever. You and I worked together very closely there when I was on the community college board.

Joy Callahan: Yeah.

Joy Callahan: Right.

Jonathan Breeden: And you came to work there with Chris Johnson,

Joy Callahan: Right

Jonathan Breeden: the economic development director for Johnston County.

Joy Callahan: Right.

Jonathan Breeden: And at that point you started working on this new project that you're still working on.

Joy Callahan: Right.

Jonathan Breeden: And I listening in and trying to put my 2 cents in. So tell the people about that, about how we gotta have a workforce for these employers.

Joy Callahan: So we hired Ted Abernathy's group back in 22 to start to look at a strategic plan around workforce development for our county. Because with a county that has less than 3.5% unemployment, as you can tell, it's gonna be difficult to make sure that we can assure these companies that are coming in that we've got the talent when we have a huge number of people, like you said earlier, that turn and go out of the count out of the county to work.

And in making those jobs here. Really great paying jobs that you don't have to sit in traffic going to RTP every day. And you get to see your kids' baseball game and you know, those kinds of things. So let's see how we can do. And so we've been working on that. But part of the strategic plan was that we just wanted to make sure that we were doing everything we can to make sure that we've got the talent here.

And out of that plan came a few things that we were to work on. One was work-based learning. Work-based learning, for those of you that don't know, is something that is very important to, especially our high school students because they're not quite sure what they want to do. And it can be anything from job shadowing to an internship, to apprenticeship to just a part-time job.

This summer because we have a lot of students in what are called academies throughout the public schools, they have different types of academies, whether it be engineering academy or hospitality academy, that part of their requirement is for them to do some type of internship. So that was a big thing in making sure that work-based learning piece.

The other is apprenticeship. And some of you say, well, what's the difference between internship and apprenticeship? Well, apprenticeship is a longer term work-based learning opportunity where you get training that is associated with what you're doing on the job. So that's an apprenticeship program.

That's something that the Clayton Chamber has focused on. And just any, just yesterday, our Rotary Club. I'm a member of the Central Johnston Rotary Club in Smithfield, and our rotary club had a shadow day, so there was about 30 students there that shadowed different types of our Rotarians professions.

Jonathan Breeden: No, and that's, and that's very important and I think you're doing a good job. And, And there's the, Oh, there's a thing at the community college every November for eighth graders.

Joy Callahan: Joco works. Yeah.

Jonathan Breeden: Joco works where you have all the industry set up and the kids.

Joy Callahan: Yep.

Jonathan Breeden: You have to educate the children and the parents about the jobs that are here in Johnston County.

Joy Callahan: Absolutely.

Jonathan Breeden: And there are a lot of really good jobs and high paying jobs right here, and I don't think people realize that particularly, you know, some of the people live on the edges out here in Cleveland who sort of just sleep here. They shop and work in Raleigh and they don't realize all the things that we have from our community college to our great hospitals.

Joy Callahan: Mm-hmm.

Every year internship, if people are interested in gonna law school, they come here they, they help us with filing and doing some of the stuff here. And you know, I've always enjoyed having them and trying to convince 'em to go to NC State. So go to NC State. The last two have gone to Chapel Hill.

I was unable to talk 'em out of it.

Joy Callahan: Oh.

Jonathan Breeden: But, But you know, it's but I think that's, I think that's important that kids have. They just need to know.

Joy Callahan: Right.

Jonathan Breeden: You know what I mean? And then they need to know that you don't have to have a four year degree to make a lot of money.

Joy Callahan: Exactly.

Jonathan Breeden: And the one thing I learned on the board of the community college is how many people were coming back to take classes at the community college who had a four year degree that wasn't worth a whole lot in the free market.

Joy Callahan: Mm-hmm.

Jonathan Breeden: That were coming back to become nurses and ultrasound technicians

Joy Callahan: Yeah

Jonathan Breeden: and maybe be HVAC or welders or whatever, because they needed a skillset that would pay them more money than whatever degree they'd gotten at a four year school.

Joy Callahan: Right.

Joy Callahan: Yep

Jonathan Breeden: and y'all had the numbers and it was, I don't remember, but it was staggering the number of people that were taking classes at Johnston Community College that already had four degrees.

So you don't have to get a four degree, you don't have to go into debt to go work at these things. We just told you. You can go work at Grifol Novo. Great jobs, make great money, great benefits from the leading companies in the world with a one semester bioworks certificate.

Joy Callahan: Yep.

Jonathan Breeden: Which is chemistry. So anyway, so what else are you working on?

Joy Callahan: It's not really chemistry. I mean it's,

Jonathan Breeden: it's kind of chemistry

Joy Callahan: it's, there may be a little bit of that.

Jonathan Breeden: Yeah.

Joy Callahan: But I mean, it's a lot about, you know, metrics. The things that you will use while you're on the job. How? How to make sure that you are in a sterile environment, working in a sterile

Jonathan Breeden: That's true

Joy Callahan: those kinds of things. That's so, so don't let that scare you.

Jonathan Breeden: Right. I know. Chemistry, I think of it because they somehow, they make it grow into a yeast and then that's where the medicine comes from. And I've taken the tour and I forgot high school biology. In chemistry, like how they make that work and they grow the organisms and all that stuff.

Jonathan Breeden: Right?

Joy Callahan: But it's not as heavy as you would think. So I would say if it's something that interests you go and just check it out because like I said it's, it's affordable and it's a short class and you won't waste a lot of time.

And the really cool thing about the buy work is that if you take that certificate, they will give you credit for the degree program if you wanted to continue on. So that's, you're not wasting time, you're getting something that, that could also lead you into an associate's degree or a bachelor's degree. So great program

Jonathan Breeden: And they'll pay for you to get those degrees, if I'm not mistaken.

Joy Callahan: Usually, yes. You go to work

Jonathan Breeden: doing a good job they will pay for it

Joy Callahan: no gratefuls they'll they do have tuition assistance and that's one of their benefits, so.

Jonathan Breeden: Right.

Jonathan Breeden: So now you're back working with Chris and you're working on I mean, you have this group that meets to try to solve

Joy Callahan: We do

Jonathan Breeden: the number one problems. And when you talk about Ted Abernathy, Ted Abernathy is an eco, he's an economist. He's in Raleigh. He studies growth patterns and workforce needs for the entire country. I think he may actually live in Shallotte now.

Joy Callahan: Mm-hmm.

Jonathan Breeden: But he's a fascinating man. I've heard him speak for 20 years.

Joy Callahan: Mm-hmm.

Jonathan Breeden: And I, I find it absolutely I mesmerized at the stuff he knows and the patterns. And because he studies the whole country, he knows what's good. He knows what's bad. He knows what's gonna happen.

Joy Callahan: Yeah.

Jonathan Breeden: As much as he can, always economists know what happens, but he's been a big help. So what is this group that meets and what are they called and what are y'all trying to solve?

The capillary workforce board, NC Works. We have folks from every area that we can pull together. JCI next gen. So anybody that we know that will help us move the needle a little bit further in making sure that we are or making the talent right for the county. Another area that we found that we needed to work on was making sure that what we're offering in the high schools and the college were aligned with what the industry needed.

And so, you know, we at the college, we've always been really good at talking with our industry and making sure, like bio work was something that came out of those discussions with those pharmaceutical manufacturing plants across North Carolina. Because like I said, it is a statewide certification, but we have always sat down with our industry and made sure that what we're offering is what the, what is needed.

But it's going to house a lot of the JCC. Things like welding and machining and robotics and those kinds of things. Anything that's advanced manufacturing just because we've listened to what they have said to us that these are the things that we need and we need more space and we need more students.

And we're very space limited for those programs at the college. So that's another area that we are really working with the public schools as well as to what they offer for career and technical education, CTE and for you old people like me, it used to be vocational education, so, no.

Jonathan Breeden: Yeah.

Jonathan Breeden: Well, and we need that. And you're right, with unemployment at 3.5% basically is zero if you go back to your college economics class.

'cause a certain percentage of people who are getting unemployment are not, actually, weren't looking for work.

Joy Callahan: Mm-hmm.

Jonathan Breeden: And so you do have to have. The workforce to be able to work in these plants and provide it. And that's the number one thing. You know, when I was on the JCC board of Trustees, you were there.

Joy Callahan: Mm-hmm.

Jonathan Breeden: You know, we had one of the HR directors from Novo Nordisk that was there.

Joy Callahan: Mm-hmm.

Jonathan Breeden: And he was talking about how hard it was to fill these positions and

Joy Callahan: Oh, yeah

Jonathan Breeden: how hard they were having to look and we were trying to figure out how we could train the people here 'cause we knew the talent was here.

We just needed to educate the public that this was here and how to do it.

Joy Callahan: Mm-hmm. Right.

Joy Callahan: Right.

Joy Callahan: Yeah. And I think, when we were growing up, our parents told us four year degree, you've gotta have a four year degree. You've gotta in

Jonathan Breeden: right.

Joy Callahan: And I think we did a disservice to our trades areas that actually you don't need a four-year degree. You might need additional training, but not quite a four-year degree. And so I think parents are beginning to see that, and you're seeing, I think a turnaround.

Homeschool charter school, private school, it doesn't matter. We are gonna pay your tuition and fees to go to Johnston Community College. Right? If you go right outta high school, we're gonna pay that. And it is a last dollar scholarship. So the requirement is that the students complete what they call the FAFSA.

And the FAFSA is the financial aid. Thing that you get money from the federal government and some of a lot of people qualify, so you just have to fill that out and the, if you don't get a dime, they still will pay for your tuition and your fees to go to JCC. And that's for a whole two years. I mean, it's such a game changer for people that never thought they would go to college.

Jonathan Breeden: Right.

Joy Callahan: Or people that wanted to go to college but couldn't afford it.

Jonathan Breeden: Right.

Jonathan Breeden: Yeah. It's great. And a lot of other counties have gone to that as well. And that's been really good because

Joy Callahan: lemme tell you a quick story, I mean. So my daughters, both my daughters took advantage of what we call the Career and College Promise classes.

Now, these are the high school classes that the college actually teaches. They'll either go onsite and teach it at the high school, or they'll do it online. So my oldest daughter took advantage of it when she graduated from high school. She had a whole year of college classes. Completely free books and everything completely free.

Jonathan Breeden: Correct.

Joy Callahan: And saved us just a buku of money to send her away to a school. And she was, unfortunately, it was during COVID, so she was home for one year of that. So really in all total, it was a little less than $20,000 for a four year degree.

Jonathan Breeden: It's phenomenal. Can't that Right?

Joy Callahan: You can't beat,

Jonathan Breeden: cannot beat that.

You can't beat it. And that leads us to, one of the last questions we'll ask is you just, were the head of the foundation and one of the things the Johnston Community College Foundation does is provide scholarships for students to go to the community college and help out and it's got, it does tremendous work.

Just briefly tell me what the foundation does and how people can give to that, because that makes a difference as well. They also we'll fix your car if you need to get to, if you're almost about ready to graduate and your car breaks down like they do so many things you don't even think about would stop a kid from finishing the foundation's there to help.

And that really helps students to get their degrees. We do have the student emergency support fund, like you were talking about, that if a student has an emergency while they're in class, they can come to the foundation and we help them to make sure that they can fix that car or have transportation, or pay that medical bill or pay that electrical bill, those kinds of things.

I mean, and it's not just, even though. Even though the county commissioners have given that money for the, you know, the, the,

Jonathan Breeden: but that's just for the high school kids.

Joy Callahan: That's just the high school kids.

Jonathan Breeden: Right? That's not for adults coming back.

Joy Callahan: The majority of our students are adults.

Jonathan Breeden: Correct.

Joy Callahan: And so when they come back to school they do need those supports, especially when they've got kids and they've got a family and they've got working full time and they've got so many things that they've got that are going against.

And one thing that we can help them with is tuition. So that I would.

Jonathan Breeden: Well, it's great. It's great. And the foundation's done a great job and it does a big help.

Joy Callahan: Absolutely.

Jonathan Breeden: And I'm happy you went back and helped after Twyla Wells left and hopefully by the time this airs, we'll have a new director of the foundation.

We'll be glad to work with you if you'd like to give money and if you just go meet these young people and adults as well.

Joy Callahan: Yeah.

Jonathan Breeden: And the stories they tell, it's just unbelievable what they've overcome to be there to get an education.

Joy Callahan: Absolutely.

Joy Callahan: Mm-hmm.

Jonathan Breeden: So don't forget about that. Like it's, I mean, they need that too and it helps fund the food bank as well.

Joy Callahan: Yes.

Jonathan Breeden: It's there's a lot of food insecurity out there in this world that many people may not realize. The last question I ask everybody is. What do you love most about John County?

Joy Callahan: So that's probably it.

Jonathan Breeden: Well, the people.

Joy Callahan: Yeah.

Jonathan Breeden: The people. These are the best people.

Joy Callahan: They are.

Jonathan Breeden: They're the best people.

Joy Callahan: They're good folks.

Jonathan Breeden: Right? People like you and your husband are some of the absolute best people

Joy Callahan: Thank you

Jonathan Breeden: in Johnston County. So anyway, and most everybody, it's the people and the community

Joy Callahan: mm-hmm

Jonathan Breeden: and everything. And that's what's so great about this. Well, we'd like to thank Joy Callahan for being our guest on today's episode of The Best of Johnston County Podcast. As we, well, I guess before I forget. Is there any way they can reach out to you and, and the economic development board? I forgot that.

Joy Callahan: Yeah, they, and if you have any questions about anything I've talked about today my email is callahanconnections21@gmail.com. I am a contractor with Chris Johnson at the economic development or you can call Chris at Johnston County Economic Development. But I do want to just remind you just few things. One is don't forget about Joco Commissioner's Promise. All you high school students getting ready to graduate, that is something that you need to do.

That is a wonderful paying job, a short term training opportunity. Joco works. If you are a company and you want to be a part of Joco Works, I beg you, please do. Because these students need to see this. They're eighth graders. You might say, why are you doing eighth grade? But they're gonna be your pipeline.

It only grows by you sharing it and commenting on it and giving us those five star reviews, which we really appreciate. Until next time, I'm your host, Jonathan Breeden.

That's the end of today's episode of Best of Johnston County, a show brought to you by the trusted team at Breeden Law Office. We thank you for joining us today and we look forward to sharing more interesting facets of this community next week. Every story, every viewpoint adds another thread to the rich tapestry of Johnston County.

If the legal aspects highlighted raised some questions, help is just around the corner at www. breedenfirm. com.