John sits down with Daren Strunk, COO of St. Joseph the Worker, to explore how real wraparound support—resumes, tools, transportation, soft skills, and the 90-day Workforce Villages housing program—helps people move from “a job” to “a career.” They talk budgeting and food planning under 5 dollars per meal, why soft skills drive promotions, and how employers can fill roles faster by partnering directly with community organizations. John shares how these partnerships helped PHP Commercial Painting scale from a small team to 100 employees without running ads.

Highlights:

• Workforce Villages: save 80 percent for 90 days and graduate with 5,000 dollars for housing

• Free resources that remove day-one barriers: boots, tools, gas cards, bus passes, interview clothing

• Soft skills that employers actually promote for: communication, reliability, teamwork, leadership

• A practical employer playbook: culture fit, feedback loops, and retention beyond day 22

Guest: Daren Strunk, COO, St. Joseph the Worker — theworkeraz.org

John gets real about tough personnel decisions and why “change” must be your default setting. From early-morning logistics and a single missed paint delivery that derailed a night job, to creating a true dispatch function that stops waste and saves thousands in fuel, this episode is a masterclass in operations discipline. He breaks down chain of command without ego, the value of a coachable mindset, fixing mistakes immediately, and why raises follow performance—not rent hikes. If you want to grow with a fast-moving company instead of being left behind, this one’s for you.

Key takeaways:

• Create a real dispatch role to cut crisscrossing and save time and fuel

• Communication beats chaos—align PMs, supers, and field crews daily

• Coachable, teachable, trainable beats “experienced but stubborn”

• Fix mistakes now; they cost 10x later

• Promotions and raises follow production, ownership, and initiative

• Grow with the company or the company will outgrow you

In Episode 81 of Workforce Skills with John Morris, John opens up about a hard day at the office—spotting relapse, acting on instinct, and balancing compassion with accountability. He talks candidly about the “three-year mark” where many people in recovery hit turbulence, what leaders can watch for, and how to build a culture that protects sobriety without abandoning second chances. You’ll hear a tough departure, a hopeful return, and a clear call to create support networks that help people stay on the path.

In this episode:

• The three-year crossroads: why setbacks often cluster around it

• Signs you can’t ignore—and why you should act on your gut sooner

• How to address relapse while protecting your team and business

• Second chances done right: re-entry, expectations, and growth

• Building a social support network that actually works

Takeaway: You can’t save everyone—but you can lead with clarity, care, and timely action.

In episode 80 of the Workforce Skills Podcast, John Morris gets real about the challenges of running a business when cash flow is tight. From dealing with slow-paying general contractors to the reality of making payroll, John shares his philosophy on persistence, leadership, and why employees must always come first. He opens up about his own struggles as an employer, the importance of cutting expenses without cutting corners, and why staying positive in difficult times creates stronger leaders and stronger teams. This is a raw, honest conversation about resilience, leadership, and building a company that thrives—even when times get tough.

In this episode of Workforce Skills with John Morris, John opens up about the challenges of addiction in the workplace and the importance of accountability, sobriety, and second chances. From pickle juice pops to keep crews healthy in the Phoenix heat, to the difficult conversations around employee substance use, John shares his experiences leading by example and holding his team to higher standards.

Special guest Mike Nightingale joins the conversation, reflecting on his own journey from addiction to five years sober and his growth within PHP Commercial Painting. Together, they discuss the reality of recovery, the importance of community support, and why lasting change only happens when someone is ready to make it.

This is a raw and powerful episode about responsibility, leadership, and the fight to be stronger than addiction.

In this episode of Workforce Skills, John Morris talks about how to thrive during slow periods at work, the value of taking any opportunity you can get, and why being “selfish” for your own growth is the key to long-term success. From hustling side jobs to taking on work outside your comfort zone, John challenges you to focus solely on yourself and your career for the next six months — and watch how your life changes.

The job market is wide open — are you ready to show up or sit out? In this episode, John Morris fires off some truth about the 4.18 million people retiring this year, the one million open construction jobs, and the 192 million job openings expected over the next decade. He shares the inspiring story of DJ — a former employee and second-chance hire who went from prison to owning his own painting company — and challenges listeners to stop blaming and start grinding. Whether you’re new to the trades or thinking about the next generation taking over your business, this episode is a wake-up call to take a long, honest look at your attitude, your work ethic, and your future.

In this powerful episode of Workforce Skills, John Morris sits down with Chasity—a new team member at PHP—whose story of grit, growth, and second chances will inspire anyone facing adversity. After spending 13 years incarcerated, Chasity taught herself full-stack development through The Last Mile program and later became a TA helping others inside. Now working in data entry for PHP, she shares her incredible journey of reentry, the barriers women face after incarceration, and the determination it takes to rebuild a life with purpose. If you’ve ever questioned whether change is possible, this episode proves it is.