In Episode 127 of the Workforce Skills Podcast, John Morris sits down with Maryanne “Kenner” Kenner, whose life has been completely transformed through recovery, hard work, and a willingness to embrace opportunity.

Maryanne shares how she never intended to join a painting program at New Freedom, but a last-minute decision led her to discover a career she never imagined. Less than a year after being hired by PHP Commercial Painting, she’s already worked her way from painter to crew lead and is now stepping into the estimating department—achieving four of the five goals she originally set in her five-year plan.

John and Maryanne discuss:

• How recovery creates new opportunities
• Why personal responsibility matters more than second chances
• The importance of mentorship and company culture
• Building trust with family after addiction
• Learning to be “selfish” in recovery
• Why promoting from within creates stronger leaders
• The power of surrounding yourself with the right people
• How businesses can successfully hire individuals in recovery

This episode is an inspiring conversation about resilience, growth, leadership, and proving that your past does not determine your future.

Stay Hungry.

Every business owner, manager, and leader eventually faces days where everything seems to go wrong at once. In Episode 126 of the Workforce Skills Podcast, John Morris shares a raw look into the realities of running a growing commercial painting company—from chaotic construction schedules and costly change orders to managing employee attitudes and leading through difficult conversations.

John explains why the biggest challenge in business often isn’t the project itself—it’s the people involved. He discusses how positive leadership, clear communication, and a solution-first mindset can turn seemingly impossible situations into opportunities to strengthen relationships and build stronger teams.

This episode also dives into:

• Managing construction projects when schedules completely fall apart
• Handling expensive change orders without damaging client relationships
• Why attitude spreads throughout an entire company
• Learning to separate one problem from the next
• Leading with positivity during chaos
• Helping employees grow into leaders instead of giving up on them
• Why great leaders stay calm when everyone else is panicking

If you’re a business owner, supervisor, project manager, or anyone responsible for leading people through difficult situations, this episode is packed with practical leadership lessons you can apply immediately.

Stay hungry. Stay positive. Lead through the storm.

In Episode 125 of Workforce Skills with John Morris, John is joined by PHP Commercial Painting Digital Operations Specialist Chasity Choate to pull back the curtain on a real hiring process happening inside their company.

After reviewing applications, conducting interviews, and narrowing down candidates, they share exactly what separated the finalists from everyone else—and the common mistakes that cost applicants the opportunity.

Whether you’re searching for your first job, changing careers, or trying to build a stronger team, this episode is packed with practical advice you can use immediately.

In this episode you’ll learn:

• Why generic resumes rarely stand out
• The importance of researching the company before applying
• Why every question on an application matters
• How personality and culture fit influence hiring decisions
• The interview mistakes that immediately raise red flags
• Why teamwork matters more than technical skills alone
• How employers evaluate potential—not just experience
• The questions every applicant should ask during an interview

John also shares lessons from hiring through New Freedom and explains why people who truly want a second chance often become some of the strongest employees.

If you’re looking for a job—or looking to hire great people—this episode offers real-world insight from the employer’s side of the table.