The Future Of Work
Pasadena City College presents The Future Of Work. We are leading the conversation of how to begin closing the gap between what our students are learning and what the demands of the workforce will be once they enter. We’ll be talking to policy makers, business owners, educators and the students we are advocating for. We’ll explore topics like how education can partner with industry, how to be more equitable and how to attain one of our highest goals, more internships. This conversation impacts the future of all of us.
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Transcript- Episode 153: Why Apprenticeships Are The Pathway To A Sustainable Future Workforce Episode 153
09/02/2025
Transcript- Episode 153: Why Apprenticeships Are The Pathway To A Sustainable Future Workforce Episode 153
00:00:00 Salvatrice For the future, if we genuinely as a community care about the health, longevity, sustainability of our communities, of our local communities, the health of workforce, and I'm not talking about like physical health and mental health, I'm talking about wealth-health of our community, then I'm going to ask the employers to speak to us. 00:00:20 Salvatrice Tell us what is happening, why aren't they engaging? Is it because it doesn't make sense? Is it because it's just too much? Is it because, well, like I haven't been sold on the value? It's like let's dig in deep, so speak to us. 00:00:37 Christina The workforce landscape is rapidly changing, and educators and their institutions need to keep up. Preparing students before they enter the workforce to make our communities and businesses stronger is at the core of getting an education. 00:00:50 Christina But we need to understand how to change and adjust so that we can begin to project where things are headed before we even get there. So, how do we begin to predict the future? 00:01:02 Salvatrice Hi, I'm Salvatrice Cummo, Vice President of Economic and Workforce Development at Pasadena City College, and host of this podcast. 00:01:11 Christina And I'm Christina Barsi, producer and co-host of this podcast. 00:01:15 Salvatrice And we are starting the conversation about the future of work. We'll explore topics like how education can partner with industry, how to be more equitable, and how to attain one of our highest goals: more internships and PCC students in the workforce. 00:01:29 Salvatrice We at Pasadena City College want to lead the charge in closing the gap between what our students are learning and what the demands of the workforce will be once they enter. This is a conversation that impacts all of us. You the employers, the policymakers, the educational institutions, and the community as a whole. 00:01:49 Christina We believe change happens when we work together, and it all starts with having a conversation. I'm Christina Barsi. 00:01:56 Salvatrice And I'm Salvatrice Cummo, and this is the Future of Work. 00:01:59 Salvatrice Welcome back, this is Salvatrice, your host. I'm joined today by my friend and colleague in Economic and Workforce Development here at Pasadena City College, Ms. Leslie Thompson, who is our Director of Operations. Welcome to the show, Leslie. 00:02:16 Leslie Hello, thank you. 00:02:18 Salvatrice This is a really good time for us to pause and have some one-on-one dialogue. I think you and I are involved in this work so intimately and I have the honor and the privilege to interview so many individuals across this county and across the country. 00:02:34 Salvatrice You and I have never really talked about some of this stuff. I mean, we do outside of course, the podcast, but we never really take a moment to talk about some of the things that you and I face everyday within our work, and how it really influences the direction of the podcast. Real time, real talk. 00:02:53 Salvatrice So, you and I had attended the Future of Work Conference. First of all, we put on our own Future Work Conference, but what I meant to say is that we did attend the economic forecast not too long ago. 00:03:05 Salvatrice And a reoccurring theme that comes up at a federal level, at a state level, and at a local level are apprenticeships, and how valuable they are, not only to the student, but more importantly to the employer and their role in shaping our future talent. So, I kind of wanted to spend some time like you and I chatting about it. How do you feel about that? 00:03:27 Leslie I think that's great, I think apprenticeships are a fun topic. I mean, for a long time, everybody's talking about internships, but internships are also valuable. But apprenticeships are unique in a lot of ways and I think it's a worthwhile topic for sure. 00:03:37 Salvatrice We have seen some issues with apprenticeship. There's the obvious of the administrative part of itm and the coordination that involves the Department of Labor, but what else are we seeing? What is the root issue? Why aren't we doing more of it? 00:03:53 Leslie I think there's also issues with labor unions and trying to align apprenticeships within that structure so that it makes sense for everyone involved, that we're not trying to take away jobs or take away opportunities from folks. We're trying to create pathways into those trades, particularly the trades - just trying to create pathways into those arenas. 00:04:12 Leslie So, there's a labor component, not just department of labor - but like labor unions, if you're talking about certain trades. There may be issues there. 00:04:20 Leslie The flip side of it, like you said, administrative challenges for the colleges who are trying to navigate this work. Like with any new program, there are always a lot of, not just learning curves, but kind of roadblocks or things that look like roadblocks, but they're not really roadblocks, we just don't know yet. 00:04:36 Leslie So, there's a lot of learning that has to happen, but I know it's an area of focus across the region, across the state. At the state level, it's an area of focus and that's where we're headed and it's super important. 00:04:47 Salvatrice You were a former employer at one point in your career, technically. Had I come to you and said, "Look, we need to build an apprenticeship program with your organization." How would that sit with you? Erase the fact that you know what you know now, but at the time. 00:05:04 Leslie No, if I'm just like average employer, and I know we're talking about apprenticeships, but I also liken it to like even just internships. If someone were to come to you as an employer and say, "I would like to create a partnership with you whereby I provide you with students to do work for you, but here's a bunch of rules." 00:05:21 Leslie It has to be meaningful, it's not like you can't bring an intern in like go fetch coffee. It's like it has to be tied to program of study. You have to meet all these rules, you also have to have all these insurances in place because we can't just send our students out there if you don't have all your ducks in a row. " 00:05:35 Leslie It would depend on the size of the employer. I think in this scenario that you're describing, I would consider myself a small business at that point, I mean small to mid-size business at that point. And I don't know that I would've had all those ducks in a row. I think I would've because it was tied to the college at the time. 00:05:50 Leslie But your average small employer may not have all those ducks in a row that they need to accommodate that request. And it would depend on what the apprenticeship looks like. What's the ask? Like how are you tying it to a program of study? What am I going to get out of this when I complete this apprenticeship? I'm going to be certified or I'm going to have some sort of degree, and I'm pretty much guaranteed a job, I hope. 00:06:09 Leslie After I get out of it, it depends on if I'm the employer, if I can provide those things, those educational components, and if I can guarantee that trajectory, that would limit my engagement. I might be like, this is a lot. 00:06:20 Leslie That's why it's important for the practitioners at the colleges and other entities to be well-versed, to have the pitch on hand. When you're out there talking to employers, like this is why it's better, this is why it's great. And I don't know that that works the same for apprenticeships as it does for internships, but that's what I liken it too, the request to place interns. 00:06:40 Salvatrice I agree with you. I agree that it is overwhelming for an employer. I would imagine that it would be incredibly overwhelming because there's many moving parts. It's not as simple as what most employers might be used to as an internship or a paid internship. 00:06:54 Salvatrice Although, internships do have agreements and MOUs with employers, but they're not tied to the Department of Labor, they're not tied to potentially unions. And typically, within an apprenticeship program, you certainly could have one employer. If this one employer is securing (just throwing a number out there) - 50 placements. 00:07:19 Salvatrice Okay, then let's do an apprenticeship program with that solo employer. But typically, what we see is there are multiple employers in a cohort of an apprenticeship program. There could be four, there could be five, very specific to an industry, for example, plumbing or ... 00:07:37 Leslie An electrician. 00:07:38 Salvatrice An electrician, that's right. I mean there's so many different, what we like to call trades, very specific, high-skilled, high-certified occupations, well-paying. I'm going to underscore that as well - well-paying occupations. So, I think it merits us to pause and really talk about why is it important? Why does it matter? 00:07:58 Salvatrice Why does it matter that employers get involved in the apprenticeships and students do too? Why does it matter that colleges make a concentrated effort in developing apprenticeships? And lastly, why does it matter for our federal and state government to support the apprenticeship programs? 00:08:18 Leslie I think from a college perspective, obviously, it matters to colleges because for apprenticeship programs to be viable, you have to have a certain percentage of classroom component. So, you need the colleges to be partners, and I think, again, we've made the argument and had the conversation time and time again, why community colleges are the best place for all things workforce. 00:08:36 Leslie Like it makes sense that the community colleges are going to drive this, it makes sense that we're going to be integral partners because there is a component for classroom learning that enhances the on-the-job training that these students receive at the employer level, so the colleges have to be involved. 00:08:53 Leslie Why is it important for employers? Because they get a hand in actively kind of molding the workforce that they're going to be hiring from. And in many cases, they hire maybe the people that they have as apprenticeships and they get them and they've trained them and it's just great for them. 00:09:08 Leslie But again, they're going into this workforce that that employer and the next employer and two other employers in the industry, all employers in that industry are going to be pulling from, and it makes that pool that much better. So, it's just win-win for everyone. And then from the student perspective, it's paid on the job training that leads to, as you said, in many cases, high-paying occupations, it's win, win, win. 00:09:31 Salvatrice It really is, and I do want to acknowledge though, Leslie, that we've come to some barriers around apprenticeship in the cost associated in developing apprenticeships. 00:09:42 Salvatrice So, for us, yes the outcomes are all win, win, win, but there are real serious hiccups around the development of apprenticeships because of the high cost involved, and I think that's why we're seeing this influx of money coming from the state, and assisting the colleges. 00:10:01 Salvatrice I feel like the colleges have done a really good job in vocalizing like, look, we want to do it too, we're all in it. But A, we need the human capital first, and in order to have the human capital to fulfill these kinds of apprenticeship programs or our engagements, we need the capital itself. So, I just feel like we're in a really good sweet spot right now to do some serious work. 00:10:26 Salvatrice So, knowing that Leslie, what do we do from here? And what do we do from here when we know that the cost associated with these apprenticeship programs is really one of the biggest barriers. I feel like that's the biggest thing. Although the state's being super awesome right now and acknowledging that and providing more. 00:10:45 Leslie So, I think that yes, that funding is one of the primary barriers because without the money we can't do anything, but I think there are other barriers as well. The state is given money, I think when they're issuing for the grants that just came down, you get the planning grant, they're acknowledging that you're going to get money to spend time to do the planning, because that's going to take some effort. 00:11:05 Leslie And then you have execution, even the state seems to be acknowledging that this is going to take a minute. And it's not just about giving you money and telling you to hit the ground running, you have to plan this out and you have to do it because there's other barriers, like limited employer engagement. We have to figure out how to address that. And we've had this ongoing employer engagement issue, so that's one of the problems. 00:11:20 Leslie Another one of the barriers is the regulatory barriers. Meaning that regulations related to apprenticeship's vary by state to state, they're nuanced in some cases. And you have to learn all that, you have to know all that, that's another barrier you have to work with. 00:11:36 Leslie The education and training resources, the community colleges, again, are the best place to do it, and they have to be prepared to supplement that on-the-job training with relevant classroom experience and relevant curriculum. And the curriculum may have to be updated. 00:11:51 Leslie There's so many things that have to happen, it's not just money. The state is handling that component, it is a big component for sure because without the money we can't do all these other things, we can't even do employer engagement without some money, everything takes money. 00:12:02 Leslie So, there are a number of barriers, I think, that funding is just one. So, where do we go next? I think we start addressing each of those barriers as we can as we go. The funding is a big help, the state providing that funding and creating that kind of call to action by saying, "Hey, this is what we want to do and we want to have X number of apprenticeships by this year - giving that kind of goal for the community colleges I think is really great, and then funding that goal is also really great. 00:12:25 Leslie But in terms of next steps, we're in the planning phases, at least at PCC, we're in the planning phase. We need to be intentional about that and what does that mean, and how do we address all the other barriers? Because that's what the planning stage is about, addressing the other barriers. 00:12:44 Salvatrice That's right, I also wonder, when you were talking about program development and curriculum and curriculum redesign or implementation or fill in the blank - I wonder if there's elements of ed code that gets in the way. There are industries that are traditional, and curriculum design can wait a year. 00:13:06 Salvatrice And that individual that goes through that apprenticeship is still going to...
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Why Apprenticeships Are The Pathway To A Sustainable Future Workforce Episode 153
09/02/2025
Why Apprenticeships Are The Pathway To A Sustainable Future Workforce Episode 153
Why don’t we hear about more apprenticeship opportunities for students? Today we’ll discuss the development of apprenticeships and cover what goes on behind the scenes when it comes to funding, planning, executing, and regulating these programs, and why they're so hard to come by. Digging in deep we’ll cover the barriers to apprenticeships and how we can engage and support local employers in order to create more long-lasting apprentice programming. Despite the administrative challenges, creating pathways to trades is crucial for the health, longevity, and sustainability of local communities and the future workforce. Connect with us: Visit Email: Facebook: LinkedIn: & : @pccewd Find the transcript to this episode To connect with us about the podcast visit our Please be sure to subscribe, rate and review us on apple podcasts or wherever you listen to your podcasts!
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Transcript- Episode 152: Powering the Future: Rebuilding Resilient Workforces for Tomorrow with Tracey Pierce, Chief People Officer at LADWP Episode 152
08/19/2025
Transcript- Episode 152: Powering the Future: Rebuilding Resilient Workforces for Tomorrow with Tracey Pierce, Chief People Officer at LADWP Episode 152
Tracey Pierce [00:00:00]: I always believe that people want to do great work. I don't think we get up every day saying, “What can I not do today”? I think people want to do great work, but I don't know that we necessarily take the time to explain, and evaluate, and share. This is what it looks like, and this is why we're doing it, and this is the return we hope to see. And, oh, by the way, if you give this a try and it doesn't work, I'll be the first one to go back to, you know, take the necessary steps to adjust. Christina Barsi [00:00:31]: The workforce landscape is rapidly changing, and educators and their institutions need to keep up. Preparing students before they enter the workforce to make our communities and businesses stronger is at the core of getting an education. But we need to understand how to change and adjust so that we can begin to project where things are headed before we even get there. So, how do we begin to predict the future? Salvatrice Cummo [00:00:56]: Hi, I'm Salvatrice Cummo, Vice President of Economic and Workforce Development at Pasadena City College and host of this podcast. Christina Barsi [00:01:05]: And I'm Christina Barsi, producer and co-host of this podcast. Salvatrice Cummo [00:01:08]: And we are starting the conversation about the future of work. We'll explore topics like how education can partner with industry, how to be more equitable, and how to attain one of our highest goals: more internships and PCC students in the workforce. We at Pasadena City College want to lead the charge in closing the gap between what our students are learning and what the demands of the workforce will be once they enter. This is a conversation that impacts all of us, you, the employers, the policymakers. Salvatrice Cummo [00:01:39]: The educational institutions and the community as a whole. Christina Barsi [00:01:42]: We believe change happens when we work together. And it all starts with having a conversation. I'm Christina Barsi. Salvatrice Cummo [00:01:50]: And I'm Salvatrice Cummo. And this is the Future of Work. Salvatrice Cummo [00:01:56]: Hi. Welcome back to the Future of Work podcast. I am your host, Dr. Salvatrice Cummo. Today, we're joined by Tracy Pierce, the Chief People Officer at the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power. Tracy brings a rare blend of public and private sector experience to one of the largest municipal utilities in the country. With over 30 years in HR and organizational leadership, from healthcare systems to global corporations, she's now helping guide LADWP's workforce through a time of huge change, innovation, and opportunity. We're talking about what it means to lead people through transformation at scale, especially in a city like Los Angeles that's actively rebuilding, whether it's recovering from natural disasters, keeping up with tech change, or tackling climate goals. Salvatrice Cummo [00:02:47]: Tracy's work is part of a bigger story about how we build stronger, more, more resilient systems from the inside out. Tracy, welcome to the show. Tracey Pierce [00:02:57]: Oh, thank you. I appreciate the invite, and I'm glad to be here. Salvatrice Cummo [00:03:00]: Thank you for joining our cal,l and thank you for being a part of this podcast. Tracy, I'd like to just jump right in and talk about your journey and what led you to LADWP. Tracey Pierce [00:03:12]: Well, I think it's a culmination of many things I've always followed. Big transformational work. I think that's what I enjoy the most. Areas that are looking to evolve from wherever they are. It's great learning for me. It's taken me to three continents, and the ability to say, yes, I'll give that a try, is kind of how I got here. My last Organization started at 55,000 and ended at 170,000 through acquisition and mergers. And so the opportunity here, although unexpected because I've never worked at a utility, it was really several interactions that took place, and I was so impressed with the CEO, Janice Canaroth, that I said, yes, I would want to work from that person because I think I could learn a lot from her. Tracey Pierce [00:04:02]: And I think what LADWP is facing is something I'd like to be a part of. So that's really kind of how I got here. Salvatrice Cummo [00:04:10]: Fantastic. Fantastic. Well, LADWP plays a vital role in keeping LA running. Right, we know that. And the city is in the middle of rebuilding across many focuses. Infrastructure, climate, resilience, and even equity. What does rebuilding LA look like for you in your seat? Tracey Pierce [00:04:32]: It's significant, but it's also something that's been planned and mindful anyway. We knew we were going to have the World Cup. We knew we were going to host the Olympics. We were. Tracey Pierce [00:04:44]: We know we have 4 million customers that we're trying to ensure that we give high-quality, low-cost water and power to. So, those things are always at the forefront with our customers and our community being probably the top priority. And this element of continuous improvement, where the complication comes of an unexpected, you know, the fire unexpected. And I think the Los Angeles, for the size of the city, has always had a capacity to show resilience and come out better and stronger. And quite frankly, that's what I suspect will come from this is that we're going to end up being better and stronger in the rebuild. It allows us to be innovative. It allows us to do things that we're on the project to do quicker. Is it a choice you would make? No. Tracey Pierce [00:05:33]: But again, with A community full of people that all their paths have led them to this great city and to be part of this community. We know how to take up where we are and progress forward. And I think that's one of the most impressive things that I've learned in the time that I've been here. That is what Los Angeles is made up of. A lot of migrants that have kind of come to America, made it great, and have made the city great. And we get the pleasure of being in service to those people. Salvatrice Cummo [00:06:00]: Yes, it's certainly like a community of collective impact. It's so large, it's considered a country. It's considered its own country at this point. You know, to have those impacts that are desperately needed. A utility like LADWP plays a critical role in all of that. And one of the major goals I think that I understand is around sustainability and clean energy. And I was wondering, what is your approach to those goals, and how are you building teams to kind of take that on? Tracey Pierce [00:06:34]: Yeah, we have significant goals around sustainability and clean energy. Things like delivering energy with net-zero kind of greenhouse effects. That's one of ours. Greenhouse gas emissions. That's one of our building local sources of water supply through water recycling, groundwater emissions, and all kinds of other projects that require skills that we have today and emerging skills that we need to recruit for tomorrow. All of these are really huge undertakings. And we're doing it with the idea that building a workforce that has the capacity today, but also the knowledge to grow with what we're facing. And so for an HR person, that means every time I look at a role, I look at the role of what the role can emerge to be. Tracey Pierce [00:07:21]: When you talk about alternative fuels, when you talk about hydrogen, and yet I have to meet our organization where they are, because we have a lot of great people that we also want to make sure that we take them along the journey. So that's a skill up. So identifying. Are you organically growing? Are you skilling up, or are you hiring quicker, faster in partnership with the city to bring that talent in space? It is daily work and regular discussions to make sure we prepare ourselves for. And we don't wait to deliver on those things. We have to be prepared to move quickly but wisely. Salvatrice Cummo [00:08:01]: Right. Salvatrice Cummo [00:08:01]: And speaking of that, being prepared quickly and wisely, and you mentioned something incredibly important, which is upskilling the existing workforce. And so we continue to have these conversations. Yes, those are two really big goals. But we're also being faced with how AI and automation play a role in executing and implementing some of these goals. And I'm curious to hear from you. As AI and automation become more embedded into the water infrastructure, how are you building your teams, or how are you acquiring new talent or upscaling the existing talent to be more comfortable with it and not be overwhelmed by these new tools? Tracey Pierce [00:08:40]: Probably the most important thing is to meet people where they're at. There's a lot of perceptions that are often wrong, that to accept and kind of use AI means someone's losing their job, when in actuality the reality is the use of AI will be for those kind of very simple repetitive things so that your team and staff can go on to more complex things. It's not about replacing people, it's really about ensuring when you do the work that you are able to do your work and get to the work that drives the, the deliverable to the ratepayer as opposed to those kind of simple reoccurring thing. That's number one. And where does it make sense to use AI? It's not a blanket slate. You have to be incredibly thoughtful as to where AI makes sense. We're never going to lose the desire and the need for the human touch as we interact with our community and our ratepayers. And I would not want anyone to think that we will be so automated that somebody can't have a conversation with a person if they're having difficulties with their service or something like that. Tracey Pierce [00:09:45]: So, first is to educate and make sure that people understand. The level of maturity that AI is today is not necessarily where we will use it. It is that we want to evaluate how it can further enable us to be more efficient, more accurate in the services that we render with whatever technology, frankly, not just AI, whatever technology. Most recently, we had a significant implementation of Workday, which just brings a lot of legacy platforms, different verticals into one integrated system. And with that technology, it requires that you just look at your work differently. It's no longer vertical divisions, it is a holistic, integrated. So I have to know what's going on in payroll, I have to have conversations with people in benefits in order for the system to really benefit us. So AI is one component, but today the most important component I think, is making sure that our employee has a development plan, has a continuous improvement mindset, and is committed to ensuring that we give the best service to our rate payer. Tracey Pierce [00:11:02]: And in doing so, we'll identify how the other pieces integrate to that to make us better at what we do. That was probably very long winded. Salvatrice Cummo [00:11:11]: Oh no, it's perfect. It's Perfect. Because it kind of makes me think about, you know, you mentioned an integrated system across all areas, because that integration is essential to the development of people and the services that are being offered. And I wonder, it makes me think about innovation in general. Innovation within a legacy system like LADWP. What does that look like? How do you do that? And maybe even just the example of that integrated system across departments is a good example. But I often wonder because we struggle with it too, right? We're a huge system of community colleges, and it sometimes can become quite challenging to do innovation that's in an environment that's embedded with such heavy policy and culture that sometimes is resistant. So what does that look like in an organization as essential as LADWP? Tracey Pierce [00:12:05]: I think it's really critical that you have a lot of conversations with your employee based around what the goals of the organizations are. Help people understand what's in this. For me, I think one of the reasons that I'm sitting in the Chief People Officer role, a role that didn't exist before Janice, is to further the importance that none of this works without the human in the conversation. So innovation is a word that lots of people like to throw out. But innovation may be something as simple as why wait for a new employee to arrive before you start the onboarding process? What would it be like for that person to receive a welcome letter and have all their equipment ready to go, and to have a buddy when they arrive? Depending on where the organization is, that could be considered innovation all the way over to the ability to put in underground equipment to make sure that we lessen the burden and the danger of having overground wiring. There's different levels of innovation depending on where the organization is and what it is we're talking about. So I think the first thing to do is to identify what is innovation or what's the improvement with the situation and the condition that you're referencing. It's a very broad, applicable word. Tracey Pierce [00:13:33]: So speak and integrate it where it makes sense. You don't innovate for innovate sake and nobody uses the tool or nobody uses the process, then that was a waste. So getting an understanding and bringing people along is critical. Absolutely critical. You got to bring the staff along. I know, by the way, very clearly in all my years what I continue to learn. The subject matter experts are the people doing the job. My job as a leader is one, to listen more than I speak, and then two, to make sure people know that they've been heard. Tracey Pierce [00:14:06]: And if we are going to use a suggestion, galvanize people around it. And if we're not, which is as important, explain why they're not right so that people know they were heard, and this is why the decision was made. I think those are all critical to innovation and to get the innovation to stick within the organization. Salvatrice Cummo [00:14:26]: And how do you combat resistance to it? Tracey Pierce [00:14:30]: Resistance is often part of just a fear. I don't understand it. I don't know what we're doing, why we're doing it. And therefore, what I am comfortable with is what I will stay with, redefined as resistance. Why are you resistant? What is it? What could we do to make you more comfortable? And I always believe that people want to do great work. I don't think we get up every day saying, what can I not do today? I think people want to do great work, but I don't know that we necessarily take the time to explain, evaluate, and share. This is what it looks like, and this is why we're doing it. And this is the return we hope to see. Tracey Pierce [00:15:09]: And oh, by the way, if you give this a try and it doesn't work, I'll be the first one to go back to take the necessary steps to adjust, you know, to adjust. But articulating the why and what the impact is to those who have to conform to it I think is very, very critical. And so I don't like to use the word resistant or believe that they're not well informed. And so we need to do better in that space. Salvatrice Cummo [00:15:34]: Yeah, I really liked how you reframed that. Just in the reframing of words makes it more digestible and easy to hear. Because you're right, it's just information. And until we all have the appropriate information, then we can move forward with solving a problem, thinking differently about how we operate. Even the examples you used on onboarding, right? Tracey Pierce [00:15:58]: Yeah. It seems very simple when you hear it. Well, yeah, of course. Right. But that's not what you're doing. It's not that simple. Salvatrice Cummo [00:16:04]: That's right. That's right. I want to shift gears just a little bit on what we just experienced. We experienced the disasters, most recently the L A fires, unpredicted. Just an absolute heartbreak for the L A region. And with climate changes being what they are, we know that we're going to continue to see more, unfortunately, of some of these natural disasters. And so I'm curious, from your perspective about your workforce strategies, how does that impact or not the workforce strategies that you have in plan for LawDP? Tracey Pierce [00:16:39]: Oh, no, it absolutely impacts the approach. You know, first of All I should give a shout out to that incredible team that got so many people back up and running in a time frame that people are still talking about. The work that was done from the day one to day 14 was incredible. And so I say again, you don't wish for a fire, but I have to tell you, if a fire has to happen to la, they could not be in better hands with the emergency response team that we had from LADWP and you know, as much from the fire and other city organizations. They really came together and worked as a team and got the community back on track. So that was fantastic to be a part of under such a terrible situation. Salvatrice Cummo [00:17:24]: That's right. Tracey Pierce [00:17:25]: What it ends up doing as far as your workforce is the readiness. And frankly, it is not just. I think there was a tsunami warning this morning. So yesterday evening, all through the evening, we were having a chat to say, where are we? What do we need to do? When we look at the types of teams that we're building around emergency management, we have a whole office that's around emergency management and we're making sure that the office is populated with subject matter expertise, but also with a trained team horizontally across the organization where each department had to contribute personnel to be part of that team. So that when we are informing our staff, it's not because the emergency is here. So there's a lot of proactive preparation work that is occurring that I don't know would be occurring 15 or 20 years ago. Right. I think often on the back end of emergencies, fantastic minds get together, think and come up with responses so that anything in the future would not go that way. Tracey Pierce [00:18:38]: It would. That return would be faster, would be quicker, would be far more responsive. So what does that look like in work? I can tell you our customer service department, as an example, did not go down. We still had in multiple language service, and we were still delivering in minutes to the customer. So you train people for those situations that you hope never happen. Right, right. And I think we are far more conscious in a place like California. Everybody should have that out bag. Tracey Pierce [00:19:11]: If there's an emergency, it's in your car, and you go right. You don't you have an emergency exit plan with the family? I mean there's other places you would go that. That sounds like a foreign thing, but that shouldn't be a foreign thing. Today, just given we're speaking specifically about weather, but how people operate today, the sensitivities that we're all currently facing, you have to be empathetic and sensitive with your workforce. Not knowing what they had to go through to even get to the office. Salvatrice Cummo [00:19:40]: That's right. Tracey Pierce [00:19:41]: Right. So I'd like to think we have a huge sensitivity around that. We had employees that were impacted by the fires ourselves. And as a public entity, you well know, we took care of our own. We made sure people knew that we were in support of them. And I was so proud. That's all I can say. I was just really proud and very humbled how people came together. Tracey Pierce [00:20:03]: So our job now is to be proactive and have a workforce that understands emergencies can happen. Hope we never need these skills, but we are going to train to make...
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Powering the Future: Rebuilding Resilient Workforces for Tomorrow with Tracey Pierce, Chief People Officer at LADWP Episode 152
08/19/2025
Powering the Future: Rebuilding Resilient Workforces for Tomorrow with Tracey Pierce, Chief People Officer at LADWP Episode 152
In this episode of Future of Work, Dr. Salvatrice Cummo sits down with Tracey Pierce, Chief People Officer at the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP), to discuss the transformative work happening within one of the largest municipal utilities in the U.S. Tracey takes us behind the scenes on how LADWP is navigating change, innovation, and workforce development during a time of rebuilding for the city. From adapting to climate challenges to harnessing new technologies like AI, Tracey shares the strategies that are helping LADWP build a more resilient, efficient, and future-ready workforce. You’ll learn: How LADWP is preparing for the future through workforce training and development The role of AI and automation in transforming the water and power sectors How disaster recovery and emergency preparedness are integrated into workforce strategies Why LADWP prioritizes community involvement and values its civil service employees The importance of partnerships with community colleges in developing a workforce ready for tomorrow's challenges About the Guest: Tracey Pierce is the Chief People Officer at the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power (LADWP), the largest municipal utility in the U.S. She joined LADWP in August 2024, after serving as Senior VP of Learning & Development at CommonSpirit Health. With over 30 years of experience in Human Resources across healthcare, solar energy, semiconductors, and publishing, Tracey has led large-scale transformations, talent development, mergers, and crisis management initiatives. She oversees all HR functions at LADWP, focusing on workforce innovation, strategy, and union relations. Originally from England, she holds an MBA in International Relations and Marketing, a Master of Public Administration, and is a seasoned executive coach. Engage with us: , & : @PasadenaCityCollegeEWD Join our newsletter for more on this topic: Visit: More from Tracey Pierce & Los Angeles Department of Water and Power LinkedIn: Website: & : @LADWP & : @LADWP1 Partner with us! Contact our host, Salvatrice Cummo, directly: [email protected] Want to be a guest on the show? Click to inquire about booking Find the transcript of this episode Please rate us and leave us your thoughts and comments on Apple Podcasts; we’d love to hear from you!
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Transcript- Episode 151: Leading a Thriving Region for All: How the LA Chamber is Reimagining Economic Growth with Maria S. Salinas, President & CEO of the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce Episode 151
08/05/2025
Transcript- Episode 151: Leading a Thriving Region for All: How the LA Chamber is Reimagining Economic Growth with Maria S. Salinas, President & CEO of the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce Episode 151
Maria Salinas [00:00:00]: There was a lot of conversation around technology, the advent of AI and just how jobs were changing. And I can tell you that at that time I was like, we cannot miss out on this moment. We cannot have a generation of students be left out of that opportunity of knowing that jobs are changing, that work is being impacted. Christina Barsi [00:00:27]: The workforce landscape is rapidly changing, and educators and their institutions need to keep up. Preparing students before they enter the workforce to make our communities and businesses stronger is at the core of getting an education. But we need to understand how to change and adjust so that we can begin to project where things are headed before we even get there. So, how do we begin to predict the future? Salvatrice Cummo [00:01:03]: Hi, I'm Salvatrice Cummo, Vice President of Economic and Workforce Development at Pasadena City College and host of this podcast. Christina Barsi [00:01:11]: And I'm Christina Barsi, producer and co-host of this podcast. Salvatrice Cummo [00:01:29]: And we are starting the conversation about the future of work. We'll explore topics like how education can partner with industry, how to be more equitable, and how to attain one of our highest goals: more internships and PCC students in the workforce. We at Pasadena City College want to lead the charge in closing the gap between what our students are learning and what the demands of the workforce will be once they enter. This is a conversation that impacts all of us. You, the employers, the policymakers, the educational institutions, and the community as a whole. Christina Barsi [00:01:34]: We believe change happens when we work together, and it all starts with having a conversation. I'm Christina Barsi. Salvatrice Cummo [00:01:52]: And I'm Salvatrice Cummo. And this is the Future of Work. Salvatrice Cummo [00:01:57]: Hi. Welcome back to the Future of Work podcast. I am your host, Dr. Salvatrice Cummoumo. Today's guest is Maria Salinas. Maria is the President and CEO of the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce. She made history as the first woman and the first Latina to lead the organization, bringing a wealth of experience from both the corporate world and the civic space. Today we'll be talking about what it means to rebuild Los Angeles, not just physically or economically, but in a way that supports long term opportunities for everyone who calls this region home. Salvatrice Cummo [00:02:33]: We'll also explore how public private partnerships and employer led workforce methods and models are shaping what's next for the work in LA. Maria, such a pleasure to have you here. Welcome back. Maria Salinas [00:02:47]: Thank you so much for having me. It's such a pleasure to be here with you. Salvatrice Cummo [00:02:51]: You bet, you bet. We're going to dive right in. I have the privilege of knowing who you are and your work and knowing about your journey. But for those who might be new to you, and the organization. Can you share a little bit about this is my favorite question, by the way, of all my guests, is how you got here. What led you to this point of CEO and president of the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce, if you could share your journey for us? Maria Salinas [00:03:16]: Oh, absolutely. I think, you know, a leadership journey sometimes is definitely not, at least in my case, not planned. I know a lot of times we talk about, you know, the importance of planning, and I would say it's more the importance about being intentional about the work that you do. And I think for me, my whole career, when I look at, you know, being intentional about being in business, have a finance background and wanting to make sure that I understood all the different elements of, you know, finance, accounting, and how that really moves decision makers in business by just understanding the numbers. So, you know, that's how I ended up in my job with organizations like Ernst and Young and the Walt Disney Company and even to go off on my own and do my own consultancy with major organizations and to be able to be, again, intentional about, you know, the work that I was doing and how that could lead to greater decision making by business leaders. So through the course of that, you know, I developed an expertise in an area that was highly sought after in terms of serving on nonprofit boards, community boards, with civic organizations. And at the core of who I am, I've always been a person that wants to do more in community, whether it was through education or through some other kind of civic work. And just wanting to see the communities being lifted up, I think is in its broadest sense. Maria Salinas [00:05:02]: And so to me, the leadership journey was about bringing those two pieces together. My professional expertise and then love for community, and before I knew it, you know, was serving on some pretty big boards here in Los Angeles, had the opportunity to do some really sophisticated work in the business space. Mergers, acquisitions, sales, transactions, I mean, that all is really led to me even taking leadership roles on boards. I was the chairwoman of a community bank in Los Angeles. I had been the board chair of my alma mater, the University at Loyola Marymount University. Really high profile roles that really, you know, test your leadership, right? Because when you're in those boardrooms, you need to make decisions that are in the best interest of the organization that you're serving. I think that caught the attention of the Chamber. And when I was initially having the conversation about the role, my first instinct was, well, I'm not a Chamber executive. Maria Salinas [00:06:17]: As I looked into it further, it really resonated with me, the impact that a role like this, leading an Organization as prestigious as the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce, the impact that that could have in the broader Los Angeles community in lifting that up, in lifting up members and communities together alongside each other for the benefit of having greater economic mobility in Los Angeles. Salvatrice Cummo [00:06:52]: I love that. I mean, you're leading a group of collective to create that impact. And your role in lifting up the community takes a strong effort to do a lot of the collaborative work of the Chamber. And again, you know, bringing thought leaders such as ourselves in one space to figure out how do we create greater impact, how do we have broader reach, how do we solve XYZ problem? And that leads me to kind of think about, of course, again, so I have my own lens, right through my lens, I know very well the work of the Chamber and the value and the impact and how wonderful the Chamber to have a Chamber of Commerce, LA Chamber of Commerce specifically within our community. And for those who may not understand or quite get the concept around chambers or, or sometimes, you know, we may think we have an idea of the work of a chamber and certain things get overlooked, it'd be really great for our audience to truly understand what the Chamber actually does. You know, again, I have a close look at it, but some of our audience members may not. It would be great to hear from you. You know, what does the Chamber actually do? Maria Salinas [00:08:02]: Absolutely. Yes. So the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce is actually a regional chamber. So it's one of the largest chambers by far in Los Angeles. Very influential across the state and also across the country. It's recognized as one of the chambers that oversees one of the largest economies that we have here in Los Angeles. I mean, the state is recognized now as the fourth largest economy. But when you really look at the greater Los Angeles area, it's a big driver of being that fourth largest economy. Maria Salinas [00:08:43]: So, you know, at its core, the Chamber is the business advocate. We represent the interests of businesses. But I think that the LA Chamber goes deeper than that. The LA Chamber is really about the broader Los Angeles region and everything that it includes. We have a vision that says a thriving region for all. It doesn't say a thriving region for business. It's a thriving region for all. And so when I think about that, and I think about all the great thought leadership that came into the Chamber to define that vision. Maria Salinas [00:09:23]: It was about realizing that we're the caretaker of this region and the caretaker of an economy as well as the caretaker of a community, of the well being of the community. So we define it a little broader than maybe others might be thinking of just, you know, strictly focused on that business lens. I think we go broader in that regard and understanding that every element of a community has an impact on the regional economy. So if you're in the education field, you are developing the workforce of the future, and that is something that is very critical to businesses. If you are in government, you are developing the policies that businesses need to operate in, so you become a very important constituent stakeholder for a chamber. So when I think of the role of the Chamber, it is in its broadest form as being a caretaker of this region. And I think we do it through ways that, you know, we always talk about our convening power. We can bring together multiple views and come to the table to provide a solution. Salvatrice Cummo [00:10:45]: I love that. You know, with that said, you and I have seen, and our audience, I'm sure our members have seen as well, that Los Angeles has gone through quite a bit between pandemic recovery, natural disasters, economic shifts. What role is the Chamber playing specifically in that regard in helping LA rebuild? Maria Salinas [00:11:05]: That is like our core work. It really is. You know, if everything that you just mentioned, the economic shifts, how are we making sure that we understand those shifts, that we understand how to respond to shifts that are happening? That to the extent there are policies that are enacted, how do we make sure that there's a good education of the broader ecosystem that understands and can implement policies that are enacted more recently? The wildfires, you know, itself on the rebuilding, there are so many different implications for an organization like the Chamber to be an advocate for home building, to be an advocate for the environment, and to be an advocate for preparedness in general. I mean, these wildfires really took a toll on the economic landscape of these particular neighborhoods. And so how do we make sure that we restore that as quick as possible? That may mean having policy changes. And that's where the Chamber comes in to weigh in, to speak to elected officials, to state organizations, to meet with local leaders and ensure that they are hearing the voice of maybe small businesses or maybe neighborhood associations or maybe residents that are seeing pain points. Insurance is one that comes up a lot. And organizations like a Chamber of Commerce lean into those pain points. Maria Salinas [00:12:57]: That's what we do. That's our job. Salvatrice Cummo [00:12:59]: Thank you for sharing how the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce is really aiding in the rebuild because of all these shifts that we have been faced with, as we mentioned earlier, pandemic recovery, natural disasters, and now the rebuild. And. And of course, our economic shifts. And we've had our attention taken away from what's right around the corner from us in exactly three years, maybe a little bit less, are the Olympics. And so big moments like the 2028 Olympics are just right around the corner for us. How are you thinking about these events not just as a global spotlight, but as an opportunity to build lasting infrastructure and create opportunities for la. Maria Salinas [00:13:43]: Yeah, thank you for asking that question because I think this is LA's moment, probably not the only moment, because we're LA, but LA28 is going to be one of the largest Olympics, the biggest Olympics by far in Olympic history. There will be five new sports that are introduced. There are 206 countries that will be participating in the Olympics. This is a no build Olympics. So meaning Los Angeles has all the venues and facilities that will be available for to carry out these Olympics. This will be the Olympics that will have more female athletes than in prior Olympics. So those are just a little, little few facts that I have garnered as I've met with the LA28 team. I think it's incredibly important for all of us to play a role in the preparation of the region to host the Olympics, to host visitors that are expected to be somewhere. Maria Salinas [00:14:54]: I think it was shared that we expect to host 15 million tourists that will be coming into the region for the Olympics. So I think that that's says a lot about the importance that Los Angeles is going to have on the world stage. The LA Chamber is committed to be a good partner with LA28, with the City of Los Angeles and all the ancillary groups involved to make sure that we have the best experience not only for the visitors, but for the residents of this region as well. That means that we want to make sure that people can participate, that people can attend, that people can go to activations that there are tickets that are affordable. I understand there'll be something like 13 million tickets and about a third of those will be under $100 that our businesses are ready to enter, contracting and to do work in preparation for the Olympics. And if those businesses aren't that, that they're ready to have the influx of visitors, that they've got the inventory and that they've got a little marketing and signage and that they understand the paths, the transportation paths to head into, you know, the venues that you have. These venues are not concentrated just in the downtown LA area. It's, you know, Pasadena will be a venue here. Maria Salinas [00:16:30]: There are many, many opportunities for members of this region to participate. And at the end of the day we believe that it's an economic opportunity for many. And again, how do we lift up communities to take advantage of being on the world stage? So it's going to be a very exciting time. And I tell my team, I'm like, this is a moment in history. And to be part of the Chamber during this moment, moment in history, is very important for us to play a role, and we will play a role. Salvatrice Cummo [00:17:10]: Thank you. There's so many moments, so many moments that the Chamber is playing an incredible role in the history of Los Angeles as a region. And I'm glad you mentioned the small vendor community and the small businesses that are being impacted. I mean, this is going to be another example of how an event, anything massive happening to Los Angeles creates economic shifts, creates lasting infrastructure, and probably calls out some of the things that we thought, well, it's going to call out areas of improvement. Right. And that's okay. And that's okay. That's the natural part of evolving as a region. Salvatrice Cummo [00:17:48]: And then kind of tying the loop around private public partnerships is, if I'm not mistaken, I believe our Women's Business Center is working collaboratively with your team on a vendor stadium accelerator so that we can prepare the small business community to compete for spots within the stadium. Oftentimes, you know, you and I see it all the time. We see the small business community wanting to participate in such large, beautiful events, and it's the greatest thing for them in all areas of business. However, it requires a certain amount of access to capital, it requires a certain right amount of employees, it requires efficiencies in their processes, and the list goes on and on. So we thank you, too. Thank you for allowing the team to work with our team on that accelerator. I think it's going to be fantastic. Maria Salinas [00:18:39]: And you know, the other thing to mention, you know, you talked about the public private partnership, the get in the game. We launched the game initiative to help specifically those small businesses, those local small businesses that are looking to understand what that procurement process is. So we wanted to be a little fun about it and we said, we want you to get in the game. And we know that training is important, that technical assistance is key, and the access to capital that you mentioned, all those elements are really important. Salvatrice Cummo [00:19:15]: Yeah, thank you for doing that. I mean, that's a huge thing. I mean, the procurement process in itself is complex for those who are in it day to day, like you and I. But then you have a vendor small business who wants to get in the game, and it's layered with so many different variables and processes, and it's like, how do we navigate this thing? Maria Salinas [00:19:35]: You know, absolutely. And I think a lot of that, what we're trying to do with our get in the Game initiative is to make sure you're clear on what the rules are, like, what your compliance requirements are. But to also understand that it's not just these Olympic items. There's so many other things that are mentioned, like all those countries, all the sponsors that will be doing activation will need support. That's right, the supply chain here in Los Angeles, so. Salvatrice Cummo [00:20:07]: That's right. I mean, it takes a community. Well, this full circle, full circle. It's going back to what you started with, which is it takes a community to uplift a community. And you're leading that effort for the region. And. And it's beautiful. Thank you. Maria Salinas [00:20:22]: Exciting. Salvatrice Cummo [00:20:23]: Very exciting. Incredibly exciting. And I've seen it in action and have been a part of some of those conversations. And it goes without being said that the LA Chamber does impressive work around advocacy like no other organization I've ever seen, to be quite honest. And I'm not biased, I'm not just saying that because you're sitting here in front of me and as a member of your board. But I'll tell you what, I mean, anytime we, as a city, as a region, Los Angeles region, have stumbled across a pain point, the LA Chamber has always been there, front and center, trying to figure things out, specifically around the arena of policy. And so we thank you very much for those efforts because it creates strides, it solves problems. Maria Salinas [00:21:09]: Thank you for saying that. Because I think it's important that there's an organization and there are several others that can lean in to things that are hard and rebuilding is hard, global are hard. There's so many things that are hard. But you need an organization that can kind of be your firefighter, you know, in the context of the public policy landscape. Because some of these things are not easy to figure out. But when you know that, okay, this is a state issue, so we need to follow up at a state level that's important for us to recognize. Salvatrice Cummo [00:21:55]: Yes. Speaking of complexities, you and I have been in this conversation about workforce development, which is very different from economic development and the Chamber, you specifically talk about employer led workforce development. And so what I thought what we talk about a little bit is really what that means. I've seen you advocate for employer led workforce development. Let's talk about, you know, really what that means and how it's really helping people prepare for jobs, for the jobs of tomorrow. Maria Salinas [00:22:26]: Yeah, no, definitely. And I think I completely enjoy working with our educational institutions. I think a lot of people know that I have a special...
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Leading a Thriving Region for All: How the LA Chamber is Reimagining Economic Growth with Maria S. Salinas, President & CEO of the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce Episode 151
08/05/2025
Leading a Thriving Region for All: How the LA Chamber is Reimagining Economic Growth with Maria S. Salinas, President & CEO of the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce Episode 151
What does it take to rebuild one of the most complex regional economies in the world, while also preparing for the 2028 Olympics and a rapidly evolving workforce? In this episode of Future of Work, Dr. Salvatrice Cummo sits down with Maria S. Salinas, President & CEO of the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce, to explore how LA’s business community is leading through disruption, rebuilding with intention, and reimagining what workforce development can look like. Maria shares why she believes the Chamber must be a “caretaker of the region,” how public-private partnerships are critical to long-term resilience, and what an employer-led approach to workforce development means in practice. You’ll learn: What the LA Chamber actually does and how it balances business needs with community well-being Why rebuilding LA means investing in policy, preparedness, and people How the “Get in the Game” initiative is helping small businesses compete for Olympic contracts What employer-led workforce development looks like Where business and education leaders still need stronger alignment to support the future of work About the Guest: Maria S. Salinas is the President & CEO of the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce, the largest business association in LA County, representing over 235,000 businesses. Since becoming the first woman and first Latina to lead the Chamber in its 132-year history, she has championed a reimagined vision: “A Thriving Region for All.” Under her leadership, the Chamber focuses on advocacy, global engagement, and community collaboration to drive inclusive economic growth. A seasoned business leader and advocate, Ms. Salinas serves on numerous boards and commissions, including appointments by Governor Gavin Newsom and Mayor Eric Garcetti, and represents LA in state and national policy efforts. Engage with us: , & : @PasadenaCityCollegeEWD Join our newsletter for more on this topic: Visit: More from Maria S. Salinas & Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce LinkedIn: Website: , , : @LAAreaChamber LinkedIn: Partner with us! Contact our host, Salvatrice Cummo, directly: [email protected] Want to be a guest on the show? Click to inquire about booking Find the transcript of this episode Please rate us and leave us your thoughts and comments on Apple Podcasts; we’d love to hear from you!
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Transcript- Episode 150: When Goods Move, the Economy Works: Rebuilding L.A. Through Ports, Policy, and People with Dr. Noel Hacegaba, Chief Operating Officer at the Port of Long Beach Episode 150
07/22/2025
Transcript- Episode 150: When Goods Move, the Economy Works: Rebuilding L.A. Through Ports, Policy, and People with Dr. Noel Hacegaba, Chief Operating Officer at the Port of Long Beach Episode 150
Dr. Noel Hacegaba [00:00:00]: If we want to be better in the future, if we want to be bigger in the future, we need to make sure we don't leave the workforce behind. We need to make sure that we're preparing today, the workforce and the leaders that we're going to need tomorrow. Christina Barsi [00:00:18]: The workforce landscape is rapidly changing and educators and their institutions need to keep up. Preparing students before they enter the workforce to make our communities and businesses stronger is at the core of getting an education. But we need to understand how to change and adjust so that we can begin to project where things are headed before we even get there. So how do we begin to predict the future? Salvatrice Cummo [00:00:43]: Hi, I'm Salvatrice Cumo, Vice President of. Salvatrice Cummo [00:00:46]: Economic and Workforce Development at Pasadena City College and host of this podcast. Christina Barsi [00:00:52]: And I'm Christina Barci, producer and co host of this podcast. Salvatrice Cummo [00:00:55]: And we are starting the conversation about. Salvatrice Cummo [00:00:57]: The future of work. Salvatrice Cummo [00:00:59]: We'll explore topics like how education can partner with industry, how to be more equitable equitable and how to attain one of our highest goals, more internships and pcc. Students in the workforce. We at Pasadena City College want to lead the charge in closing the gap between what our students are learning and what the demands of the workforce will be once they enter. This is a conversation that impacts all of us. You, the employers, the policymakers, the educational institutions, and the community as a whole. Christina Barsi [00:01:30]: We believe change happens when we work together. And it all starts with having a conversation. I'm Christina Barci. Salvatrice Cummo [00:01:37]: And I'm Salvatrice Cumo. And this is the Future of Work. Salvatrice Cummo [00:01:42]: Hi. Welcome back to the Future of Work podcast. I am your host, Dr. Salvatrice Cumo. Today I am speaking with returning guest Dr. Noel Hasegaba, Chief Operating Officer at the Port of Long Beach. Dr. Hasegaba has been a key leader in shaping the port's sustainability strategy, guiding digital transformation and driving infrastructure investments that connect global trade with local economic development. Salvatrice Cummo [00:02:09]: With over a decade at the port and prior experience in both public and private sectors, he brings a wide lens view of the supply chain's evolving role in LA's resilience. In this episode we'll explore the port's role in rebuilding the Los Angeles's economy, the insights gained from the supply chain crisis and what it will take to modernize logistics and prepare Future Ready workforce. Dr. Hasegaba, welcome back to the show. It's a pleasure to have you again. How are you? Dr. Noel Hacegaba [00:02:39]: I'm doing very well, Dr. Kumo. And thanks again for having me. It's always a pleasure to talk to you. Salvatrice Cummo [00:02:44]: Thank you so Much. We're going to dive right in. I mean, you're a returning guest. We had such a great conversation at the first round, this second round, diving a little bit deeper into some of the work that you've been focusing on. And I want to just to remind our audience about who you are and how you came about this work. How did you find your way into this world of supply chain and what kept you here? Dr. Noel Hacegaba [00:03:06]: Well, it's a story I'd like to tell because I hope it inspires those who are watching to pursue careers in supply chain logistics. I fell into the industry like so many others when I was in college and even in graduate school. Supply chain, logistics, distribution, management, they weren't career paths that were well known or promoted. I was working at the time in the private sector after having served in public service at the municipal level. And I stumbled across this opportunity this way. I was attending an event that was hosted by the Port of Long beach, and I had purchased my ticket online. I showed up the day of the event, picked up my seating assignment. I walked to the table where I was assigned and every seat was taken. Dr. Noel Hacegaba [00:03:54]: So there was either a mix up or someone took my seat by mistake. And so I ended up not complaining or doing anything. I simply looked for another seat at another table. And at that point in the program, there were only a few tables that had open seats and they were tables furthest away from the podium. So I found the seat and sat down. Lo and behold, the person sitting right next to me happened to be the director of human resources for the port. And we did some small conversation. She asked me about my career path and I told her. Dr. Noel Hacegaba [00:04:24]: And I had to leave a little early, so I excused myself politely and she asked me for another business card, which I thought was a little interesting, but I gave her my business card. And 10 days later, in my mailbox at my work office, I received the job bulletin for what eventually became my first job at the board. So it was not. It was not something I was planning for. I mean, I think it's providential, but it's been an amazing run. I've been with the Port of Long beach now 15 years, have held four different leadership positions with increasing responsibility. And I love what I do, I love the organization and the fact that I can sit down with folks like you to talk about all the exciting things that I get to do here at the port. Salvatrice Cummo [00:05:06]: That's amazing. What a beautiful story to remind us about how things just happen. They happen for a reason. And you were there. It was an Alignment. It was your purpose and alignment. And I love that story. And while your time there, you've had some time through your leadership roles and kind of thinking through the economy from when you started and now. Salvatrice Cummo [00:05:25]: Right. And just major issues and opportunities as well. Right. Like we've had some real significant highlights in the last decade. What would you say during your time where you told yourself like something major has to change here in how we conduct ourselves or just business in general? Dr. Noel Hacegaba [00:05:41]: A great question. Because it forces us to reflect on what's working, what's not, and to think about the future in a thoughtful way, which sometimes we're too busy to do. I will tell you that the supply chain crisis that was triggered by the pandemic forced us all to rethink how we do business here at the port of Long beach, but also across the supply chain. And I like to say, Salvatrice, that prior to the supply chain crisis, ports in general, they were invisible. And no one really thought about ports. They didn't really give much thought to what a port does. But when folks started going to the store to buy appliances or to buy apparel or footwear, and the store shelves were completely empty and the excuse they were given by the store clerks was stuck somewhere at the port, it forced people to understand what a port does and more broadly what supply chain is. So I like to say that during the supply chain crisis, ports went from being invisible to being infamous because everyone was blaming us for the shortages, for the delays, and all of a sudden we became important. Dr. Noel Hacegaba [00:06:49]: And so today I think most people understand what a port does. So that's one thing, but the other thing we learned is how to collaborate and coordinate better logistics and supply chain. It's a team sport and it's a system of systems. And we're all better together to the extent that we can collaborate, share information, share data, and put each other in the best position to optimize our operations. And for that reason, last year, for example, calendar year 2024, that was our all time best in terms of container volumes. Would you believe that we handled more cargo than ever in our 114 year history with zero congestion, zero delays? And that's because we learned during the supply chain crisis how to work better, how to be more efficient, how to, how to share information. So I think that's certainly one area that we have learned from one area that is going to help us build into the future. Because during that timeframe we also continue to invest aggressively in our infrastructure. Dr. Noel Hacegaba [00:07:53]: I mean, we've invested more than $5 billion in the last 15 years. And we're on track to invest another $3.2 billion. And that's just the Port of Long beach alone. So as we build out our infrastructure, we're also enhancing our operating practices, our operating procedures, to make sure that we're maximizing the benefits and advantages of our infrastructure. Salvatrice Cummo [00:08:15]: Would you say there were any other wake up calls to change? I mean, you gave a really great example of when grocery stores are saying, well, our shelves are empty, blame the poor. You know, what were some other wake up calls that you can say, Salvatore? This was a moment where I said to myself, this had to change. Dr. Noel Hacegaba [00:08:34]: Well, during the supply chain crisis, we experienced a significant shortage in the workforce all throughout the supply chain. And I'm not just talking about dock workers, truck drivers, rail operators, I'm talking about warehouse workers, those who work for companies that provide critical services to ports like ours. And it was a wake up call in the sense that if we want to be better in the future, if we want to be bigger in the future, we need to make sure we don't leave the workforce behind. We need to make sure that we're preparing today the workforce and the leaders that we're going to need tomorrow. And that is why here at the Port of Long beach, we have industry leading programs and initiatives to support our partners across the supply chain in the area of workforce development. Salvatrice Cummo [00:09:24]: Excellent. Would you say those are something that an initiative or a programming that you've led? Because I'm kind of curious about what are some of the changes that you particularly have led or have witnessed where you say to yourself at this moment, because we've done this, it makes the port stronger and more prepared for the future of work. Dr. Noel Hacegaba [00:09:44]: So it's evolving. Salvatrice Cummo [00:09:45]: Okay. Dr. Noel Hacegaba [00:09:46]: When I first joined the port back in 2010, we had a very strong education program where we endeavored to collaborate with our local school district, in this case Long Beach Unified School District, our community college, our state university, and create a pathway, a pipeline to expose young students to port and logistics and supply chain. And we started with one high school, Cabrillo High School in Long Beach. And that program is now about nine years old. It's the Academy of Global Logistics and it is now a district wide pathway so students who are in high school and can choose that pathway. And what that does is that it sets them on a path to explore careers and logistics at the community college level and at the state university level as well, whether it's Long Beach, State or other universities. Well, today we have three other pathways. Salvatorese, partnering With Jordan High School, for example, in Long Beach Poly High School and others. And we're developing different pathways focused on stems, focused on sustainability, careers and automotive repair. Dr. Noel Hacegaba [00:10:56]: And this is all in an effort to broaden our efforts as a port authority and get as many of our youth in our local community to benefit from careers in logistics. So that's one area. The other thing we're doing, and I think we're doing fairly well, is we're also partnering with our trades and our unions, and we're asking them, what are your needs? What do you forecast in the future you will need in the form of skills? And we're partnering with them, as well as a community college to develop curriculum and programs to start attracting youth into those career paths. So we're taking a very comprehensive approach. It's not something that you would expect a port of 40 like ours to do, but we believe that if we want to be successful in the future, we got to invest in our workforce. And they may not end up working for our port, but they may end up working for a terminal operator, a shipping line, a rail company, a trucking company. And we want to do our part to make sure we have that workforce ready to do that. Salvatrice Cummo [00:12:01]: Thank you. Thank you for doing that. That's. That's a big lift. It's a big lift, and it's a big commitment, especially for an entity as large as a Port of Long Beach. And. But you mentioned something very important where you said, we're also partnering and we're also talking with the local unions to identify the needs gap so that we can build a comprehensive program. So typically, when we hear employers talking about programming, it's very singular, focused in their area. Salvatrice Cummo [00:12:32]: Right. Whereas you're saying. No, we recognize that while, yes, we're preparing the upcoming workforce into pathways such as the Port of Long beach, there are other areas of expertise that are needed out in the industry as a whole. And so congratulations. Kudos on that. Because it is difficult to do. Everyone thinks it's really easy to do those kinds of comprehensive programming and integrated work. That it's very, very difficult. Salvatrice Cummo [00:13:00]: It takes. Right? It takes. There's a lot of moving parts layered with policy and all that good stuff that we follow. So thank you. Thank you for doing that. I want to congratulate you on that because that's a big lift, but it's a lift worth, especially preparing for the future of work. So thank you. Thank you for that. Dr. Noel Hacegaba [00:13:17]: Well, that's very kind of you, Salvatrice. And I will say we have an amazing team Here at the port, who focuses on that entirely. We have a workforce development team under our government relations division, and they're really the ones who are moving the needle and establishing those critical partnerships. So thank you for recognizing that. Salvatrice Cummo [00:13:35]: Excellent, excellent. I want to shift gears just a little bit and talk about public perception. Right. We all face that as entities. Community colleges do, too. The perception has definitely shifted in the recent years. And you kind of alluded to that moments ago with the story about the grocery stores. But how have you seen it change, even from, you know, let's just say five years ago. Salvatrice Cummo [00:14:00]: Okay, five years ago to now? How have you seen the public perception change, and how has it affected collaboration across sectors? Dr. Noel Hacegaba [00:14:08]: I love the question because when I first joined the port back in 2010, the world was different. And I'm not exaggerating. Right. The world itself was different. The industry was different. And so much has changed. And throughout that time, I'm pleased to say that based on the surveys that we have done, perception, the community perception of a port like ours has actually improved. And the reason for that is because we've become much more responsive to the needs of our surrounding communities and neighborhoods. Dr. Noel Hacegaba [00:14:38]: For example, this year, 2025, marks the 20th anniversary of our green port policy. And Salvatrice, back in 2005, when the port of Long beach made that bold declaration that it was going to be a green port, there was so much resistance. There were so many naysayers that were saying and were suggesting that that would never be possible. Well, here we are, 20 years later. Every category of emissions has decreased significantly. I mean, it's been an extraordinary run, all thanks to the collaboration of our industry partners, the ships, the operators, our dock workers, everyone pulling together to invest in cleaner equipment. We invested in cleaner infrastructure. So that's one reason why perception of a port like ours has improved. Dr. Noel Hacegaba [00:15:28]: In general, though, as you noted, people in general are more knowledgeable about ports and logistics. They now understand that most of the products that we buy from stores like Walmart, Home Depot, Target, et cetera, those products weren't manufactured in the U.S. they came from overseas. Asia in most cases. And so those goods have to get here somehow. And that's how people start making the connection between what they buy from the store and how it gets here. And that has been an incredible lift for us because now it's easier to explain to the public who we are, what we do, and how we support them. For example, we just released our economic study. Dr. Noel Hacegaba [00:16:12]: The Port of Long beach alone supports 1 in 17 jobs in the region. That's over 700,000 jobs, Salvatore. That's over a million jobs in California. California. And that's almost 3 million jobs across the United States. So we're a massive economic engine, and we want to promote that. Right. We want the public, we want the Los Angeles region to know that their port assets are working for them. Salvatrice Cummo [00:16:40]: You say 1 in 7 or 1 in 17. Dr. Noel Hacegaba [00:16:42]: 1 in 17 across Southern California. And that's just the Port of Long Beach. Right. When you combine Long beach and Los Angeles together, the numbers are essentially doubled. Salvatrice Cummo [00:16:52]: Wow. Salvatrice Cummo [00:16:52]: Spectacular. Well, speaking along that same thread of local jobs and the workforce, how have the recent tariffs or trade policy impacted these local jobs now? And how do you see them being impacted or not for future? Dr. Noel Hacegaba [00:17:09]: That deserves its own program. Salvatrice Cummo [00:17:12]: It sure does. Dr. Noel Hacegaba [00:17:13]: That has certainly been top of mind for us. It's been an unprecedented, uncertain time. When President Trump was campaigning last summer and when it was looking like he was going to be reelected, there are a lot of people who are thinking as it relates to trade policy and tariffs, we've seen that movie before, right? We lived it back in 2018, 2019. But I will say this. When you compare what happened in 2018 and 2019 and what's going on this year, just in the. In the last six months, it's vastly different. I mean, this is not just a rerun of that movie. It's not even a sequel. Dr. Noel Hacegaba [00:17:51]: It may include the same characters, but it's a completely different approach to trade policy and tariffs in terms of scope and scale. I mean, think about this. The retaliatory tariffs announced on Liberation Date applied to virtually every single trade partner that the U.S. has. So back in 2018, 2019, it was primarily focused on certain key trade partners. For example, China. And by the way, that was an important fact. We were disproportionately impacted back then because China at the time, they accounted for about 70% of our business here in Long Beach. Dr. Noel Hacegaba [00:18:25]: Today, that's down to 60%. Salvatrice Cummo [00:18:27]: Okay? Dr. Noel Hacegaba [00:18:28]: And so we're keeping a close eye on tariffs because they certainly influence. They certainly impact cargo flows, they affect consumption. Right. So far, we haven't seen the brunt of it. I mean, as a matter of fact, we've seen the opposite effect, because a lot of shippers motivated to get their product in before tariffs go into effect, they've been doing what we call a lot of front loading. So they've been advancing their shipments. So for that reason, for the...
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When Goods Move, the Economy Works: Rebuilding L.A. Through Ports, Policy, and People with Dr. Noel Hacegaba, Chief Operating Officer at the Port of Long Beach Episode 150
07/22/2025
When Goods Move, the Economy Works: Rebuilding L.A. Through Ports, Policy, and People with Dr. Noel Hacegaba, Chief Operating Officer at the Port of Long Beach Episode 150
When global tariffs go into effect, how long before the impact hits workers in Los Angeles? In this episode of Future of Work, Dr. Salvatrice Cummo welcomes back Dr. Noel Hacegaba, Chief Operating Officer at the Port of Long Beach, to discuss how one of the country’s busiest ports is helping to rebuild L.A.’s economy. He unpacks how the supply chain crisis pushed ports from being practically invisible to absolutely essential, and what lessons are driving the next chapter. From zero-emissions goals to workforce pipelines, Dr. Hacegaba shares how the supply chain crisis turned ports from invisible to essential, and how the port is now investing in people, partnerships, and innovation to keep the economy moving. You’ll learn: What the supply chain crisis taught port leaders about resilience, visibility, and coordination How the Port is investing $3.2 billion in clean infrastructure and digital modernization How tariff policy and global trade decisions ripple through local jobs and LA’s economy Why “goods movement is the economy in motion,” and what that means for every Angeleno About the Guest: Dr. Noel Hacegaba is the Chief Operating Officer at the Port of Long Beach, the nation’s second-busiest seaport, where he oversees daily operations and long-term strategy. He led the Port’s response to global supply chain disruptions and is currently spearheading its digital transformation through the Supply Chain Information Highway. With over 26 years of experience in both public and private sectors, including managing a $200 million portfolio at a Fortune 500 company, Dr. Hacegaba brings deep expertise in logistics, infrastructure, and economic development. He holds degrees from USC and a doctorate from the University of La Verne, and serves on multiple national industry boards. Engage with us: , & : @PasadenaCityCollegeEWD Join our newsletter for more on this topic: Visit: More from Dr. Noel Hacegaba & Port of Long Beach LinkedIn: Email: Websites: , , , :@PortOfLongBeach Linkedin: Partner with us! Contact our host, Salvatrice Cummo, directly: [email protected] Want to be a guest on the show? Click to inquire about booking Find the transcript of this episode Please rate us and leave us your thoughts and comments on Apple Podcasts; we’d love to hear from you!
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Transcript- Episode 149: Building Belonging: How the YMCA Shapes Community Recovery with Victor Dominguez President and CEO of the YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles Episode 149
07/08/2025
Transcript- Episode 149: Building Belonging: How the YMCA Shapes Community Recovery with Victor Dominguez President and CEO of the YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles Episode 149
Victor Dominguez [00:00:00]: Nonprofit organizations are truly, are truly the heartbeat of community because we are serving communities every single day and are truly in tune of what is happening and the resources that are so desperately needed. And if we're really going to look at creating that overall economic stability, to create that long sense of belonging, the nonprofit organizations have to work together. Christina Barsi [00:00:27]: The workforce landscape is rapidly changing, and educators and their institutions need to keep up. Preparing students before they enter the workforce to make our communities and businesses stronger is at the core of getting an education. But we need to understand how to change and adjust so that we can begin to project where things are headed before we even get there. So, how do we begin to predict the future? Salvatrice Cummo [00:01:03]: Hi, I'm Salvatrice Cummo, Vice President of Economic and Workforce Development at Pasadena City College and host of this podcast. Christina Barsi [00:01:11]: And I'm Christina Barsi, producer and co-host of this podcast. Salvatrice Cummo [00:01:29]: And we are starting the conversation about the future of work. We'll explore topics like how education can partner with industry, how to be more equitable, and how to attain one of our highest goals: more internships and PCC students in the workforce. We at Pasadena City College want to lead the charge in closing the gap between what our students are learning and what the demands of the workforce will be once they enter. This is a conversation that impacts all of us. You, the employers, the policymakers, the educational institutions, and the community as a whole. Christina Barsi [00:01:34]: We believe change happens when we work together, and it all starts with having a conversation. I'm Christina Barsi. Salvatrice Cummo [00:01:52]: And I'm Salvatrice Cummo. And this is the Future of Work. Salvatrice Cummo [00:01:54]: Welcome back to the Future of Work podcast. I am your host, Dr. Salvatrice Cumo. Today, we're joined by Victor Dominguez, the first Latino President and CEO of the YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles. With over 24 years of service in the organization, Victor has held roles spanning from Executive Director to Chief Mission Advancement Officer. Under his leadership, the LAY has expanded programs like the Foster Youth Initiative, launched the Center for Community Well-being, and led powerful regional responses during times of crisis. We will be talking about how the YMCA redefines its role in Los Angeles as a central force in rebuilding community post crisis, especially through youth development, nonprofit collaboration, and systemic support. Victor, welcome to the show. Victor Dominguez [00:02:45]: Thank you. Salva Terese. Really appreciate being here. Thank you for having me. Salvatrice Cummo [00:02:49]: You know, I want to start our conversation by first thanking you and all of the work that you put into our response here with the Eaton fires. You were the first one to come aboard with us and respond to our crisis and we are incredibly grateful for that work. You were here with us every single day. And so thank you. Thank you for jumping in and helping out. Victor Dominguez [00:03:12]: Thank you so much, Reece, that the feeling is mutual. You were the first partner we called and the first partner to say yes and to stay committed to this work. I'm so forever grateful to PCC and the care that you have for your students, for your faculty, for your staff, but also for those who have been impacted by the fire. Salvatrice Cummo [00:03:30]: Thank you. Thank you. And you know, I like to always start the podcast with how did you get here? And so if you don't mind, let's dive right in, and then we'll circle back to how you've helped us here at PCC and helped our communities. You know, you've been with the YMCA now for over two decades, from what I understand, and I'm always curious about what drew someone to this work. So what drew you to this work initially, and what has kept you committed to the work? Victor Dominguez [00:03:58]: Great question, and thank you for that. When you say two decades, it's a long time to look back on why I'm here. But as I look back, it brings such joy to my heart because I can remember myself as a second-grade student at Bushnell Way Elementary School in Highland Park, California. Here, just here in Southern California, the teacher asked the question of what do you want to do as a career? Or essentially, the question was, who do you want to be when you grow up? And as she asked me that question, I looked right at her and I said, I want to be you. I want to be a teacher. I want to help kids. And as I gone through my school career, as I got to high school and I looked at a school, a college to attend, the first thing that I looked for was who's best at producing teachers. And that is why I applied at Cal State Fullerton and to train and to study to be an elementary school teacher. Victor Dominguez [00:04:47]: And during that time, there was another incredible human being who was my supervisor and said, Victor, you are great at student teaching, but I feel that your potential to and your heart could do really good work in working with community-based organizations. And that is in what started my career in working in the nonprofit sector. Been in the Y for 24 years. It has probably been the best decision that I've ever made. With the exception of saying or asking my wife to marry her, as well as the two kids, we decided to ensure that we can have a great family unit. But professionally, the why isn't a career. Professionally, the why has been a calling it's been a calling because as I look and read, and particular as we look at today with the fires, we look at some of just the things that are around us that are happening, that at times are out of our control. But as I look at the hurt, as I look at the opportunities and the potential of every child, it fills my heart, which is why I am still doing what I'm doing today. Victor Dominguez [00:05:45]: But most importantly, why I can still see myself for another couple of decades being there to support families. Hopefully, when this is all said and done, there'll be less stories of whether it be chronic disease or whether it be learning gaps or whatever it may be. I just hope that one day in the LA Y in particular, as we set our vision to show that everyone has a positive Y experience. I just hope that everyone has a positive experience, period. Salvatrice Cummo [00:06:10]: What a beautiful story. That's quite the journey. And the fact that you knew so young that this is what you wanted to be of service. And the theme is just being of service to the community. And you've, you know, you've taken that to heart. And speaking of being of service to the community, I shared earlier, you know, how impactful the Y was with us in responding to this devastating fires not too long ago. You know, I know what it looked like at ground level. Our audience may not. Salvatrice Cummo [00:06:36]: And so I wanted to ask if you could walk us through what did that look like at ground level when the Y comes in and assists with such a devastating crisis that we had, such as the Eaton fires. And how does that change, really, the lens and the perspective, how people see. Victor Dominguez [00:06:52]: The YMCA for many people that were not on the ground to see the devastation and to see the need, but to visualize it on television. Television said one story in regards to the devastation, being on the ground and being able to have conversations and to see the hopelessness, to see the resources that were so desperately needed, to see the confusion, but also to see individuals that gave of themselves, gave their time, their resources, or the opportunity to give a hug to those who were confused, to those who did not know what tomorrow is going to look like or where they were going to live or for their kids, when's that next meal? And being on the ground really demonstrated and illustrated so much why the importance of institutions like PCC and the YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles, how we can be conveners of bringing people together from different backgrounds, from different segments of life to be of service to others, not just in the moment of devastation, but just in the moments of realities that we face every single day. And so Salvatrice, as I reflect back the why, that is who we are. That is who we are today and every day moving forward. We're an organization that is focused on the overall well being of our community. That is why within the new vision of our organization being the center for Community well Being, it is important that we are place based. It is important that we are community-centered. But it's critically important that we are people-focused so that we ensure that everyone in Los Angeles has a sense of belonging. Salvatrice Cummo [00:08:37]: I'm glad you mentioned that because that is a shift from perhaps maybe the traditional lens or mindset of our community when they think about the YMCA as a facility, as a central hub of a facility. But rather, you said it beautifully, just the center for Community Wellbeing and how the YMCA showed up for the community as an example in response to the fires. You know, that shift in mindset on how the community views the YMCA. Really curious kind of thinking through what that transformation might look like for communities moving forward in this vision of the Center for Well-Being. Victor Dominguez [00:09:14]: The YMCA Metropolitan Los Angeles. Today, we are the oldest and largest youth and family-serving nonprofit in the county of Los Angeles. About a half a million people in our 28 operating centers and our 210 program sites. But here's the challenge to that. In our service area of LA County, there's 10.1 million people who reside here, and we are impacting 500,000 individuals. There are so much opportunities that if we do not meet the community where they're at, the community then is not going to change their perception of the YMCA Metropolitan Los Angeles of being that traditional gym and swimming. We are a swimming gym in this sense; we have an incredible impact in our gymnasiums. We literally save lives in our swimming pool. Victor Dominguez [00:09:59]: But the why is so much more. The work we do with faith-based organizations, the work we do in community centers, in senior centers and teen centers, the work we do on the street with homeless population, the work we do with foster care, the work we do in regards to newcomer immigration population. There's so much incredible work that the only difference from then and now is that we're sharing it, we're telling our story, and we want to ensure that everyone in Los Angeles understand that the why is there for them. Salvatrice Cummo [00:10:33]: Thank you for sharing all of those examples of how YMCA is embracing the community and expanding beyond the Jim and Swim vision and original intent of the organization. And you have so many examples and so many initiatives. One that stands out the most to me is the initiative around foster youth can you share with the audience programs such as that? What does it reveal about the role of nonprofits and how it really kind of shapes more than just the future of the specific youth? Victor Dominguez [00:11:05]: There are 20,000-plus kids in the foster care system in Los Angeles County. In an average year, a foster child could move three times. And so when we look at consistency, when we look at opportunities for kids to have that sense of belonging, to have a home, to have a place they know that is stable and that they can attend and go there when they need a resource or may have a question, that's the reason why we, the YMCA Metropolitan Los Angeles having 28 operations, 210 program sites, all of that is great, but if we do not leverage that for good to meet a need in regards to foster care, kids here in Los Angeles so desperately need in regards to that consistency. So when a child now starts in Boyle Heights, East Los Angeles and they move to the South Bay or they then move to the Anaha Valley, the one consistency that will be there is their local Y. And that the promise we have made that a child between the ages of 12 to 26 that is currently in the foster care system will have free YMCA membership, free YMCA programs, no questions asked. And the whole purpose behind this is to ensure that integration happens, to ensure the fact that a kid can learn to swim, they can learn about civic engagement, they can learn about leadership, they can have resources such as mental health, food, and other essential items that may be needed. But the power behind this, to get to your question in regards to the role of nonprofits, this initiative will also be very intentional in partnerships. I often say that nonprofit organizations are truly, are truly the heartbeat of community because we are serving communities every single day and are truly in tune of what is happening and the resources that are so desperately needed. Victor Dominguez [00:12:56]: And if we're really going to look at creating that overall economic stability to create that long sense of belonging for the 20,000 individuals that are currently in our foster care systems, the nonprofit organizations have to work together. So I am opening up all of our doors. And so any nonprofit in this space or a nonprofit that can bring a youth program or service into our YMCA buildings are now open and we have currently 40 plus confirmed partners, our main partners being right now DCFS. I held a press conference with Director Brandon Nichols to make this commitment as well as Superintendent of LAUSD Alberto Carvalho. The three of us, with the 40 other partners, are committed to working together. Salvatrice Cummo [00:13:44]: What a beautiful example, and thank you for answering it in that way. It's about collective impact. It's about how the collective responds. And this is a beautiful example of how partners come together for a mutual outcome by leveraging each other's resources and assets and talent. Those types of initiatives are successful, you know, and I'll get into a little bit later on how you measure success outside of numbers. But you know, this is the Future of Work conference. And the YMCA is very invested clearly, in people and in community. So thinking about those two things, the future of work and how the YMCA invests in people and community, how is the YMCA outside of what you just shared with the Foster Youth Initiative, assisting and nurturing young people in building confidence and resilience and true pathways into success of whatever that pathway might be, whether it's through their career development, whether it's through personal development. Salvatrice Cummo [00:14:46]: Tell me a little bit more about that. Victor Dominguez [00:14:48]: Today, being the oldest and largest youth and family serving organization, the Y is uniquely positioned to be in front of many youth. Whether that be a day camp experience, whether that be sleepaway camps, we have the ability to create memories to last a lifetime. Today, the YMCA Metropolitan Los Angeles is the largest childcare and after-school provider. We also have unique initiatives, such as, as I just discussed, the Foster Youth Initiative or the Summer Get Teen Initiative, where every teenager in the county of LA has complete free access to all of our whys. Our camps today engage thousands of young people for free because they were impacted by the fires. As I mentioned, what we are currently offering to those who have been impacted by the fires, we also have the opportunity for young people to be civically engaged, to have that community pride through our youth and government program. And so there's so much Salvatrice that the Y doesn't provide. We have the facilities, we have the scalability, we have the people, we have the trust in our brand with all communities throughout Los Angeles County. Victor Dominguez [00:15:57]: So that's all there to be able to leverage to ensure that all kids in the county of Los Angeles has that positive experience, but most importantly, that sense of belonging. Salvatrice Cummo [00:16:07]: Thank you. Those are all incredible examples of the YMCA and its programs. And the YMCA has shown proven track records that yes, there's a cultivating around the youth and nurturing the youth, but also our adult community as well. We are all one community. Again, thinking about the future of work, what does the future of work look like when you think about it through the lens of community? And how does the Y fit into that grand vision? Victor Dominguez [00:16:35]: As I think of the why and I think of our future and I think of where our communities are today and where they're going, the why has to be a part of the entire fabric of our community. As mentioned, we're in 210 program sites have impact in nearly every neighborhood throughout the county of Los Angeles. We have to play a role in how we are advancing and supporting our local governments, our local school districts, our local community-based organizations, work in partnership with our faith-based organizations as well as community groups. We also, as I look into the future, can also support the community and where we're going because we are on the ground, because we're in tune to many of our constituencies throughout the county of LA. I also feel that together we can be a solution or part of a solution to some of the significant issues that are trending in our community. Whether that be homelessness, whether that be hunger, whether that be learning gaps, whether that be work around civic engagement. I think the why has a significant role. We can't be one of the most trusted brands with such scale if we're not going to leverage that to do good. Victor Dominguez [00:17:46]: So as the community goes, the why will be there right alongside of it. But I hope when we put the two of us together, there are some healthy solutions long term that are coming away from the why. Truly being a partner to all segments of community. Salvatrice Cummo [00:18:04]: I love how you responded that because what caught my attention the most is when you said the YMCA is the fabric of the community and that speaks volumes. I think that the YMCA has had a history and a brand that demonstrates that, but also has been leaders in many different spaces within our community that is assisting and partnering and solving complex issues within our community and being committed to it as well. Like some of these complexities and in our future of work, using that as one of the examples or in response to a crisis or in education, government, the why has been point center in a of those conversations and solution based programming. And so I thank you, thank you for sharing that because sometimes again it goes back to what we talked about earlier. The YMCA is a community of well being. Part of that well being is the YMCA kind of positioning themselves in these spaces of complexities because, because of all the reasons of who YMCA is and what they've been able to do for our community, what they continue to do for our community. And I really appreciate you saying it in that way and through that lens. I think it's our listener to understand that as well. Salvatrice Cummo [00:19:19]: I mean you play a huge role in education as well, you know, as a practitioner in the space, and you know, when we think about a lot of these programs and our positions within These programs, we like to measure success. Right. And so I'm also thinking about how does a YMCA measure success? Right. Not...
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Building Belonging: How the YMCA Shapes Community Recovery with Victor Dominguez President and CEO of the YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles Episode 149
07/08/2025
Building Belonging: How the YMCA Shapes Community Recovery with Victor Dominguez President and CEO of the YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles Episode 149
What if rebuilding a community starts with belonging? In this episode of Future of Work, Dr. Salvatrice Cummo sits down with Victor Dominguez, the first Latino President and CEO of the YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles, to explore how the Y is redefining itself as a Center for Community Well-Being. With over two decades of service, Victor shares how the YMCA responded to the Eaton fires, expanded programs like the Foster Youth Initiative, and is measuring long-term impact through powerful social indicators. Victor unpacks how nonprofits can anchor recovery efforts, why youth development and civic engagement go hand in hand, and how the Y is building more than community programs, it’s building futures. You’ll learn: Why the YMCA’s fire recovery response goes beyond immediate aid—and is still ongoing How the Foster Youth Initiative provides stability, consistency, and a sense of belonging across 28 YMCA centers What it means to serve 500,000 Angelenos—and what’s next for reaching millions more How the YMCA is measuring its impact through five social determinants: belonging, civic engagement, education equity, health equity, and economic stability Why nonprofits must move beyond transactional service to transformational, data-driven community change About the Guest: Victor Dominguez is the President and CEO of the YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles and the first Latino to lead the organization. With over 24 years of service, he has championed community-driven initiatives like the Foster Youth Program and the Center for Community Well-Being, positioning the Y as a vital force in disaster response, youth development, and regional resilience. Known for his commitment to equity and belonging, Victor leads with the belief that nonprofits should not only serve but transform the communities they represent. Engage with us: , & : @PasadenaCityCollegeEWD Join our newsletter for more on this topic: Visit: More from Victor Dominguez & YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles Websites: , , & : @ymcala : @ymcalosangeles Partner with us! Contact our host, Salvatrice Cummo, directly: [email protected] Want to be a guest on the show? Click to inquire about booking Find the transcript of this episode Please rate us and leave us your thoughts and comments on Apple Podcasts; we’d love to hear from you!
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Transcript- Episode 147: Mindset Over Skillset: Preparing Students for an AI-Powered Future with Tara Chklovski, founder and CEO of Technovation Episode 147
06/10/2025
Transcript- Episode 147: Mindset Over Skillset: Preparing Students for an AI-Powered Future with Tara Chklovski, founder and CEO of Technovation Episode 147
Tara Chklovski [00:00:00]: I would recommend to everyone, firstly, learn how to code, play along, and actually build technology. Don't just do the chatbot like prompt engineering, but actually build something with code so that you build your own confidence. Honestly, number two, I would say read more about all of this stuff of what is happening, because the more you know, the less you're afraid of what's coming, because you have time to process it. And trying to look ahead takes so much energy, but that's a very important thing to be doing right now. Christina Barsi [00:00:33]: The workforce landscape is rapidly changing, and educators and their institutions need to keep up. Preparing students before they enter the workforce to make our communities and businesses stronger is at the core of getting an education. But we need to understand how to change and adjust so that we can begin to project where things are headed before we even get there. So, how do we begin to predict the future? Salvatrice Cummo [00:01:03]: Hi, I'm Salvatrice Cummo, Vice President of Economic and Workforce Development at Pasadena City College and host of this podcast. Christina Barsi [00:01:11]: And I'm Christina Barsi, producer and co-host of this podcast. Salvatrice Cummo [00:01:15]: And we are starting the conversation about the future of work. We'll explore topics like how education can partner with industry, how to be more equitable, and how to attain one of our highest goals: more internships and PCC students in the workforce. We at Pasadena City College want to lead the charge in closing the gap between what our students are learning and what the demands of the workforce will be once they enter. This is a conversation that impacts all of us. You, the employers, the policymakers, the educational institutions, and the community as a whole. Christina Barsi [00:01:34]: We believe change happens when we work together, and it all starts with having a conversation. I'm Christina Barsi. Salvatrice Cummo [00:01:59]: And I'm Salvatrice Cummo. And this is the Future of Work. I am your host, Dr. Salvatrice Cumo. Today's guest is Tara Chklovski, founder and CEO of Technovation. Tara is an engineer turned educator who launched Technovation, a global nonprofit that has empowered over 130,000 girls and families in a hundred plus countries to solve real-world problems through technology and innovation. She is a fierce advocate for closing the global digital divide and has been recognized by Forbes, the UN, and the White House for her work in AI, education, equity, and youth empowerment. We are diving into how AI is transforming the workforce faster than education systems can respond, why emotional resilience and cognitive ability are becoming core competencies, and what will it take to build a truly inclusive future of work. Tara, welcome to the show. Tara Chklovski [00:02:56]: Thank You, Satrice. And yeah, it's an honor to get to hear what your thoughts are and see how we can have a fun discussion. Salvatrice Cummo [00:03:04]: Love it. So let's just dive right in. Your background is absolutely fascinating to me, and you've had an incredible journey from physics to aerospace engineering, to really launching this beautiful global nonprofit. I want to start with what inspired you to make that shift, what inspired you to do this work, and what was the early vision for Technovision? Tara Chklovski [00:03:28]: I think it was really coming from a sense of what can you do, what are the bigger problems in the world, and what is my purpose on this planet Earth? And I think not limiting oneself to sort of a standard path of you get a corporate job and you have a certain paycheck. I think that's why I kind of left my aerospace engineering track. I didn't complete my PhD because I really wanted to work in one company. And that company kind of became a defense contractor, and I did not want to do that. They were the first makers of drones. And it kind of gave me a push into or a jolt really into maybe rethinking what as a kid I had hoped I would do. And it was a chance to kind of use my training as an engineer to kind of step back and say, well, what is my purpose as an individual? You have, each of us has a unique perspective and strengths and skills. And what are some of the big problems in the world that I could dedicate my energies to? And I think one problem was that not everybody has sort of the mindset that they can solve their own problems themselves. Tara Chklovski [00:04:42]: Because in this age where you have access to Internet, almost like most people on this earth have access to Internet, it just completely like only your mind and your sense of confidence are limiting you. And so that was sort of an education, is the answer. Because you can teach yourself anything, you can, and you can learn anything, and you can be anything. And so I think that was sort of the core of it. And I started this organization almost 20 years ago, and the goal was to bring the most cutting-edge technologies to the most underrepresented groups who are not part of the innovation conversation. And to help them build not just the competencies, but also the confidence to become the innovators, so they don't need to wait for any savior. And yeah, over the years, we were running different experiments, and Technovation really was the model of an accelerator where it was having the biggest, deepest, most durable impact on the girls going through the program. Tara Chklovski [00:05:41]: Because it's rare that even adults don't get this Experience of being a participant in an accelerator and launching a real business, that actually helps a lot of people. When you do that, it completely changes your whole identity. And that's what we offer. Salvatrice Cummo [00:05:56]: Excellent. Excellent as well. First, I want to congratulate you on leaning into your purpose. A lot of us feel, sometimes, that that's unattainable for whatever reason, because. And actually, you just nailed it earlier. It's just our own limiting beliefs. And you said, let's go against that, let me go against our own limiting beliefs and lean into something that feels good to me, feels passionate to me, leveraging my skill sets, but also solving a global issue. And so thank you. Salvatrice Cummo [00:06:28]: Thank you for doing that. And from a practitioner's perspective, through our lens, we see technology sometimes as a threat, sometimes as a leveraging point. We are in this arena of AI. We have been forever. We're just talking about it a little bit more these days than we have in the last decade. And sometimes, and not sometimes, majority of the time, our educational systems are not quite as agile and as quick to respond to new technologies and innovation. And so kind of in the space of AI here, where are you seeing how we as practitioners can prepare students or what you think needs to happen? What needs to shift for us to prepare our students for the workforce? Tara Chklovski [00:07:15]: Yeah, this is the question that's occupying almost all of my time right now. And because I see a huge gap, right? My kids are in the public school system here, and their schools are banning Google because Google's Gemini response is the first response. And so children can use that to write answers to their assignments. Right. And so schools are just shutting down on the use of Google on their Chromebooks, which is very interesting. And then on the other side, the workforce is rapidly trying to upskill their employees to say, you've got to use AI to increase productivity, so that we are innovating and our revenues are growing. And so there's just already a massive gap. And colleges are exactly doing the same. Tara Chklovski [00:07:59]: There are only a few professors who are brave enough to update their curriculum and start to prepare students for this world of AI. Right. I think the scary part is we don't really know what are the durable human skills. So we are making a lot of assumptions. Right. We all thought that knowledge work was untouchable, but turns out that's the first to crumble. One of the economists that I've been looking at more closely is Daniel Susskind from Oxford University. He was saying that not all jobs, even though it may be more efficient and cost-efficient for A robot to do them. Tara Chklovski [00:08:37]: We may not prefer the robot to do it. We may prefer the human connection. I think there's something there, what are you going to do with the 8 billion people on this world, on this planet? I also don't buy this argument that AI is like previous technologies and that a lot more new jobs will be created. I think we are saying that to make ourselves not feel so scared. But you can see yourself in your teams and your organizations. You can do much more with fewer people because of these tools. I've been looking at this report called AI 2027, where it predicts. So one of the authors, he was a former researcher at OpenAI, his name is, I think, Daniel Cocotillo, and he predicted in 2021 what would happen over the next two years. Tara Chklovski [00:09:28]: And he predicted ChatGPT, and he predicted even this whole chips war with US and China to great accuracy. And so now he's predicting how will AI agents change over the next two years. And so it's very, very interesting. Obviously, they'll get better than what we have now and at a pretty fast pace. And I'm not hearing education organizations talk about what they need to do in the next two years. Right. So there's already a big mismatch. Nobody talks about, well, what are you going to do with all the humans? Right. Tara Chklovski [00:09:59]: So I think that the social problems will intensify because you'll have more inequality in the beginning. I think companies will make a lot more money because, of course, you're becoming super efficient. So I think there may be something where governments are giving out, like universal basic income and stuff like that. But then what happens to human sense of purpose? And so some of our biggest challenges will still remain where a lot of people in this world will be poor, a lot of people will be hungry, a lot of people won't have good quality health care or education. And climate change is real. And so some of these very hard social global problems will remain. And so I think we need to be teaching our young people how to solve some of these very, very hard problems, because in the short term, I think that a lot of the jobs as they exist now will go away, but the problems are not going away. So I think, and I've been studying a lot of, like, mental models and training systems that the military and the aviation industry use because they're so appropriate for our current situation, where it's rapidly changing. Tara Chklovski [00:11:10]: There's a lot of uncertainty. You have very little information, and you've got to make some very clear decisions. And they do that through simulations. And so I think teachers are already doing project-based learning. But instead of using toy problems, I think educators should be actually encouraging students to solve these real-world problems and take a shot at that, which teaches you complex systems thinking, using technology for high-impact things like that. Salvatrice Cummo [00:11:38]: I also want to maybe kind of dive in a little deeper where we were saying as humans, let's not forget that humans, we need to have a sense of purpose. We're naturally wired that way. And so teaching current generations to come about solving these massive global issues and social issues, them being social issues, I should say, what are you seeing as the essential human skill set that's going to be needed so that we can become more focused on solving these larger issues as educators? You know, where should we be kind of pulling our attention into these human skills to solve these big problems? Tara Chklovski [00:12:20]: Yeah, and I've been working on, and with some of our other partners, we have this alliance called the AI Forward alliance. And it's a bunch of industry partners and nonprofit partners. So we are coming together to try to understand exactly this question. And so we've built a progression of skills. And at the very fundamental layer is this question of like, what is your purpose, your identity, empathy. Because only with empathy do you feel the other person suffering, because the other person may not look like you, may not be from the same background as you. But that's the larger problem that we are looking to solve. So that's the foundation. Tara Chklovski [00:12:56]: I think the second layer is just problem solving, you know, complex problem solving. I would add the specific lens in there is that of using AI as a collaborator, where you have to process a huge amount of information, because with these tools, you do have access to a lot of information. So, processing synthesis and human AI solution generation. So I think that's sort of a core problem solving is a foundational skill. I think, on top of that, I would say computational action. So, instead of programming, I would say learning to use technology not just as a consumer, but as a builder. Because a lot of the technologies that don't exist, that you need them to exist to solve these harder problems. And so you need to have the confidence to say, I'm not just a consumer of this technology, but I'm a builder of this technology. Tara Chklovski [00:13:48]: And so that's where a core part of what Technovation is that you're learning to actually create AI-based solutions and to build better AI models. A big part of that would be debugging, because I think we can all teach ourselves how to code with these very powerful coding tools. But debugging is a real skill. And so there's still a lot of room for traditional CS education, but with this lens of action, you don't need to learn how to code Hello World anymore, but you can actually learn how to build a prototype that you can then execute in the real world. And I think that's the really exciting part where teachers don't have to just rely on capstone projects, but can actually tell students that in the same amount, in a semester, you could actually do three prototypes and test them with users and iterate three times earlier. You could probably just even create a paper prototype. The execution part is very exciting. Where I think one Oxford University professor was saying, the era of the solo entrepreneur is back because one person can do so much. Tara Chklovski [00:14:52]: And I think the most important thing I would say, which is the hardest, is like building that emotional resilience to navigate uncertainty and to build cognitive resilience. Because your days are so dense with work, because you are efficient, we're not working less. It's not that these AI agents are helping us work less. We are working way more than we ever were. And so this demands, like, more cognitive resilience and I think lifelong learning, cognitive resilience, and then emotional resilience to navigate the uncertainty that's coming with all of this. Right. I'm constantly asking myself, like, AI could replace my role, right? How do I provide value to the world? And so that's a layer of uncertainty that didn't exist before in my mind, that you have to deal with. Salvatrice Cummo [00:15:36]: Thank you for saying that. Because we automatically assume that technologies like AI and others decrease the workload, when point in fact, we're just trying to pack more in. Right. And so that cognitive resilience and emotional resilience, it resonated with me when you said those words, I thought, oh, my goodness, is she talking about me? And the majority of us, the majority of us, let's just be honest. You mentioned something about the uncertainty, right? Like that's really where our headspace is. It's the uncertainty of what could become with all of the technology that's around us. You know, you're much closer to it than I am. So I'm curious about. Salvatrice Cummo [00:16:19]: Are there global models of innovation and education that higher education in the US should be paying attention to and studying, because they are closer to understanding the uncertainty? Have you come across any models that you think we should be paying attention to? Tara Chklovski [00:16:36]: As I was saying, I think the world's largest employers are the military, the healthcare industry, and the aviation industry, and I think there's a lot to learn from them because they excel at training millions of people to deal with uncertainty. Their lives are at stake. And they do that through simulations and repeated tests and constant sort of updates in their learning. And I think the aviation industry was probably one of the first to have autopilots work alongside pilots. And at that time, people would say the pilots are redundant. Pilots are not redundant, but their job has changed quite a lot. So I think there's a lot to learn from these sectors. Tara Chklovski [00:17:18]: I think that I haven't seen any university as a whole do this really well. I've seen professors, individual professors, do this really well. And I think the education sector as a whole is not geared for agility. And so that's why it's important to look outside of the education sector. Salvatrice Cummo [00:17:37]: Kind of shifting gears a little bit about imagining future of work, people in their space, in their respective environments. If we were kind of looking forward and imagining a future where people are side by side with AI, what does that actually look like, you think, day to day for us? You've already mentioned some of the skill sets that we need as humans, but I'm kind of curious about what do you think that might look like for us on a day-to-day basis, working alongside AI as we get closer and closer to understanding, specifically working in the space of uncertainty? Tara Chklovski [00:18:12]: I mean, I'll just say this is what I do today. I think the AI assistant or whatever, I have a few different subscriptions, I have them always open and I use it as a subject matter expert, I use it as a project manager, I use it as an HR expert, I use it as an MBA expert because I never went to MBA school. But then it also helps me synthesize the research in a particular space and become a better communicator. I think the project AI 2027 talks about right now the human and the AI. The human is giving the prompts to the AI, and so it's a collaborator. You could think of it as a team of research assistants, honestly, plus a team of advisory experts who, I mean, you basically have two or three teams. Like, I would say my productivity has gone up by maybe 40% easily. I do things that would have taken me, sometimes, maybe six to 12 months to do within three days. Tara Chklovski [00:19:13]: I think going forward, and I think that's what the AI 2027 was talking about, is you won't have to prompt it, it will run on its own, knowing what you are doing, and add value to it. Right. So at a very, very simple level, calendar scheduling is still not a very. You sometimes have assistance. So that's one of the top jobs that's going to go away because of this kind of multifaceted scheduling. Not a very difficult job, but it'll start to be able to do that, I think. I don't know. I was just watching a video yesterday of the Tesla robot Optimus. Tara Chklovski [00:19:47]: The video is mind-blowing because it's in a home environment and doing all the things typically I would do. Clean the table, unload the dishwasher. And there's a whole bunch of these robots, and they're doing it right now, so maybe in like two years. They are a big part of your home, helping take off quite a bit of the household...
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Mindset Over Skillset: Preparing Students for an AI-Powered Future with Tara Chklovski, founder and CEO of Technovation Episode 147
06/10/2025
Mindset Over Skillset: Preparing Students for an AI-Powered Future with Tara Chklovski, founder and CEO of Technovation Episode 147
What if the biggest barrier to success in tech isn’t access, but mindset? In this episode of Future of Work, Dr. Salvatrice Cummo talks with Tara Chklovski, founder and CEO of Technovation, about what it truly takes to thrive in an AI-driven world. Tara unpacks why resilience and adaptability are just as vital as technical skills, how simulation-based learning can reshape education, and why women are most at risk of being left behind. Together, they explore how community colleges, mentorship, and real-world problem-solving can unlock opportunity for all. The future of work isn’t just about tech, it’s about who’s empowered to shape it. You’ll learn: Why AI literacy starts with confidence, not code, and how to build both. How educators can move beyond “toy problems” and toward real-world innovation. What emotional and cognitive resilience look like in a rapidly evolving workforce. How women are being left behind in fast-growing tech sectors, and how to fix it. Why simulation learning may be the most powerful classroom tool we’re not using. About the Guest: Tara Chklovski is the founder and CEO of Technovation, a global nonprofit dedicated to empowering girls and underserved communities through technology education. With a background in physics and aerospace engineering, she transitioned from academia to social entrepreneurship to address the gender and racial disparities in STEM fields. Tara has helped over 130,000 students across 100+ countries build confidence, tech skills, and purpose. Her work has been recognized by Forbes, the UN, and the White House, and she continues to lead global conversations on how education and innovation intersect to shape a more inclusive future of work. Engage with us: , & : @PasadenaCityCollegeEWD Join our newsletter for more on this topic: Visit: More from Tara Chklovski & Technovation Websites: LinkedIn: Partner with us! Contact our host, Salvatrice Cummo, directly: [email protected] Want to be a guest on the show? Click to inquire about booking Find the transcript of this episode Please rate us and leave us your thoughts and comments on Apple Podcasts; we’d love to hear from you!
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Transcript- Episode 146: Workforce, Reimagined: Building Inclusive Economies, Region by Region with Parina Parikh, Associate Vice President at Jobs for the Future Episode 146
05/27/2025
Transcript- Episode 146: Workforce, Reimagined: Building Inclusive Economies, Region by Region with Parina Parikh, Associate Vice President at Jobs for the Future Episode 146
Parina Parikh [00:00:00]: Right now, we do have an incredible opportunity to build programs that integrate learning and work, and we must help our students build these relational skills and give them credit for mastering material that might not be mastered or developed in a traditional college classroom. As workforce leaders, as education leaders, we need to start thinking in an innovative way on where does this mastery of material happen, and can students get credit for mastery if it didn't necessarily happen in that traditional classroom setting? Christina Barsi [00:00:38]: The workforce landscape is rapidly changing, and educators and their institutions need to keep up. Preparing students before they enter the workforce to make our communities and businesses stronger is at the core of getting an education. But we need to understand how to change and adjust so that we can begin to project where where things are headed before we even get there. So how do we begin to predict the future? Salvatrice Cummo [00:01:03]: Hi, I'm Salvatrice Cummo, Vice President of Economic and Workforce Development at Pasadena City College and host of this podcast. Christina Barsi [00:01:11]: And I'm Christina Barsi, producer and co-host of this podcast. Salvatrice Cummo [00:01:15]: And we are starting the conversation about the future of work. We'll explore topics like how education can partner with industry, how to be more equitable, and how to attain one of our highest goals, more internships and PCC students in the workforce. We at Pasadena City College want to lead the charge in closing the gap between what our students are learning and what the demands of the workforce will be once they enter. This is a conversation that impacts all of us. You, the employers, the policymakers, the educational institutions, and the community as a whole. Christina Barsi [00:01:49]: We believe change happens when we work together, and it all starts with having a conversation. I'm Christina Barsi. Salvatrice Cummo [00:01:57]: And I'm Salvatrice Cummo. And this is the Future of Work. Christina Barsi [00:02:02]: Hi. Welcome back to the Future of Work podcast. I am your host, Dr. Salvatrice Cummo. Today we're joined by Parina Parikh, Associate Vice President at Jobs for the Future, where she leads statewide strategy and partnerships for California. Parina brings over two decades of experience across the private and nonprofit sectors and including her former role as VP of Programs at the San Diego Workforce partnership. Parina leads JFF's strategy across California, guiding a team of more than 20 people who are working toward one big building a more inclusive, equitable future for workers and communities. Her work bridges the gap between policy partnerships and the people most impacted by workforce challenges. Salvatrice Cummo [00:02:53]: Today, we'll explore how inclusive workforce strategies can be scaled regionally, the evolving role of community colleges, and what it takes to build a future of work that leaves no one behind. Parina, it's so great to have you here. Welcome. Parina Parikh [00:03:10]: Thank you for having me. Salvatrice Cummo [00:03:11]: You bet, you bet. Let's get started. I am always curious about the journey and how you got to where you are today with Jobs for the Future. So if you could share a little bit about your current role there and how you came across it. Parina Parikh [00:03:24]: Yeah, thank you for asking. So my journey was pretty unconventional. I actually started in the for profit world and spent about 17 years working in finance and honing my skills in the energy and utility industry. Actually, I pivoted in 2019 right before COVID hit and became sort of interested in the nonprofit sector and in workforce development more specifically. I do have a degree in economics and wanted to think about how can I leverage that into working with nonprofits. As you shared, I was the vice president of programs at the San Diego Workforce Partnership where I had the opportunity to build some pretty innovative programming in that organization that focused on information technology, energy, construction, utilities, healthcare and behavioral health, advanced manufacturing, public administration roles. We stood up the country's first income share agreement and outcomes based loan from a workforce development board and just had a really consequential time building programming for youth and adults in San Diego County. Based on that experience that I had had, I wanted to have an even broader reach. Parina Parikh [00:04:31]: And that's when the opportunity at Jobs for the Future presented itself to really lead JFF's impact in the state of California. In thinking about how can we bring sort of the full suite of services and offerings that JFF has to offer, which we are a national organization based in Boston, but how can we bring that to California and really have an intentional strategy and impact in the state to build regional and inclusive economies, to really foster workforce and economic development. So I have the opportunity to oversee all of our strategy, all of our partnerships, all of our impact in the state with the benefit of a national organization. But to be able to do it with people that are local to California and really impact our regional communities. Salvatrice Cummo [00:05:16]: That's very difficult to do. I'm going to pause and acknowledge that because regional work is difficult work, let alone across the state. So when I read things like inclusive workforce solutions, scaling those inclusive workforce solutions, I personally know what it takes and it looks like. But I'd like for you to kind of give your perspective and your experiences and maybe some real time examples on what that looks like to scale those type of workforce solutions for those who are listening in. Parina Parikh [00:05:46]: It is a challenging order. What I will say is that in order to achieve these inclusive outcomes, you really need to start with an inclusive process. And that really Means thinking broadly about who is invited to sit at the table or when you're designing these solutions. So do you have a broad and diverse cross section of employers, regional economic coalitions, workforce agencies, voices of the underrepresented, voices of youth, small businesses, community based organizations, neighborhood advocates? The community college is the community college in that region at the table. Chambers of commerce, business associations. Until you get the investment and buy in from all of these stakeholders, including unions, if that's relevant, you're not going to get the scale and the reach and the inclusivity that you're looking for for that region. And so it's really important to think about what was the process to develop these solutions and design these programs to be able to achieve the inclusive outcomes that we're looking for. And that's something that JFF really excels at. Parina Parikh [00:06:52]: California as a whole is something that we are thinking about how to intentionally impact, but really diving into Los Angeles, the Inland Empire, the Central Valley, the Bay Area, coastal communities, really thinking about how can we sort of take the whole of California and really divide it up in ways that are manageable, starting with regions where we have deep partnerships and represent what JFF would call its North Star population. So people without degrees, women, people of color, people who might be formerly incarcerated, these are the populations that we are focused on and those are the areas that really represent those populations. Salvatrice Cummo [00:07:31]: So you have the inclusive process, which is instrumental in designing inclusive programming. And even just to kind of go through that process is a lift, and it takes time, let alone designing the program itself. And you have been impactful in designing programs across the state, from tech to construction. So can you walk us through a program in which it went through this inclusive process and now you've designed this program and what are its impacts and the impacts that it had? Parina Parikh [00:08:02]: Yeah, I can give one really great example. When I was at the San Diego Workforce Partnership, our local utility, San Diego Gas and Electric, came to us and said, hey, we're having challenges diversifying our pipeline into gas operations. They didn't have as many women going into their apprenticeship program. They didn't have people of color represented in the trades. And so they came to the workforce Partnership to help them diversify their talent pool. And so we designed a program with the employer at the table. So San Diego Gas Electric was the employer. We partnered with the Electrical Training Institute, which was a part of our local building and construction trades union, to design the training. Parina Parikh [00:08:44]: And so the workforce board, the training institution and the employer all came together to design a four week pre apprenticeship Construction program that helped people gain entry into the building and construction trades. They were able to gain hands on experience and build those foundational skills such that they could thrive in the construction industry. Over the course of a year, we would have about 100 people going through this program in cohorts of about 10 to 12 each. And I'm proud to say that by the time that we got around to 2023, 2024, we saw about 17% of our graduates identify as female. And if you look at the nationwide average of people entering the construction trades, it was about two and a half percent. So we know that we made a difference. We know that we made an impact for women getting into the trades and being able to thrive on the construction site and feel like they belonged and pave the way for more women to enter the building trades. So really just outstanding pre apprenticeship program that led people with the sort of skills and experience and relationships necessary to become full fledged apprentices. Parina Parikh [00:10:02]: I'm just incredibly proud of the partnership that we developed with our local union, with the utility at the table, and with the training institution. And so it was just a wonderful program that really helped bolster the construction industry and help people that were underrepresented get into that field. Salvatrice Cummo [00:10:19]: That's a stellar example. I think you're just thinking through even our own apprenticeship programs that we are currently fulfilling and building as we speak. It takes a big lift. And the fact that not only did you and the team carry that lift, but you had significant outcomes speaks volumes on the intentionality around inclusive process and this regional based, I mean, throughout your whole career, it seems to me throughout, throughout your whole career, you've taken this very much regional approach. I'm curious to kind of understand from you through your lens why a regional based strategy is so important when we're talking about workforce development as an ecosystem. I'd like to hear your perspective on that. Parina Parikh [00:11:03]: So if we step back, as of, I think a month or two ago, California is now the fourth largest economy in the world. And it comprises a diverse cross section of regional economies that look very different from one another. California is anything but homogenous. As you know, the Inland Empire, for example, has drastically different needs from the Bay Area. And workforce and economic development go hand in hand with community development. So in order to address the place based strategies that work, we must develop inclusive plans that invest in the local community. So understanding the local transportation, local infrastructure, local housing, what is vibrant about a given neighborhood? Who are the key players that might not have the title that you're looking for but are the movers and shakers in a given region and then evaluating how those local resources are made available to its residents will drive the efficacy of any workforce development effort. So when I think about place based regional approaches, it's really all of those factors that have to sort of support the workforce development that you're intending to do that can't be done without a real clear understanding of the region and the local players. Salvatrice Cummo [00:12:23]: Yeah. And I think that we carry so many different assets. Right. Each one of us that are in this ecosystem carry an inventory of assets that sometimes we don't understand what each one has. And I think that to your point, why this inclusive process and this place based strategy is so important is that it allows us to kind of bring forward what we are able to fulfill and with intentional collaborations creating greater impacts. Just as the example that you shared moments ago, I'll just say there you. Parina Parikh [00:12:56]: Couldn'T be more right on the target. One of the first things JFF does when we go into any region and Santa Barbara is a great example of this, we were working with their county office of Education and is an asset map. We developed an ecosystem map of Santa Barbara county because we wanted to know what are the assets in the region that drive education and workforce development. That is typically where JFF would start is with that asset mapping and ecosystem mapping of what is in this region that's driving these efforts. Salvatrice Cummo [00:13:27]: I love that. Speaking of education, like to shift gears just a little bit because I would love to hear your perspective on community colleges in this space. And we know, right. That community colleges play a critical role in California's ecosystem and specifically in the space of workforce development. That's what we were designed for and why we're here today. Right. Why we're here today. Talking about the future of work. Salvatrice Cummo [00:13:54]: Because community colleges play an important role in that. Want to kind of hear your perspective on like where do you see the most significant opportunities for us as a system of community colleges in this space and or as partners to organizations like jff. Parina Parikh [00:14:09]: Yeah. Well, I think California is just such an interesting place to be, whether you're partnering with a community college or working within the system. As you know, and as many of your listeners know, the California community colleges represent the largest higher education system in the country. We graduate almost 2 million students annually through 116 colleges. And I just think that that in and of itself represents such a ripe opportunity. 40% of students, I think that attend the California community college system are first generation students. Right. And so that's almost half so right now we do have an incredible opportunity to build programs that integrate learning and work. Parina Parikh [00:14:49]: And we must help our students build these relational skills and give them credit for mastering material that might not be mastered or developed in a traditional college classroom. And so I think that as workforce leaders, as education leaders, we need to start thinking in an innovative way on where does this mastery of material happen and can students get credit for mastery if it didn't necessarily happen in that traditional classroom setting? So I think that we have an incredible opportunity to sort of blend this idea of learning and working. We need to sort of take advantage of these newer, more innovative themes around competency based education, credit for prior learning and really shake up this false divide between learning and work. Let's blur those lines. That doesn't need to be so bifurcated. Let's create, earn and learn opportunities through pre apprenticeship, apprenticeship and really think about how can we sort of create these credit based learning opportunities in a way that's more authentic to the student and let's sort of meet the students where they are at. And again, like I said, it might not be a traditional classroom, it might be happening in other ways, but I think this is the time where the community college system and workforce development can come together and think about what do alternative ways of education look like. We are working with the California Chancellor's Office and piloting with nine community colleges across the state of California this idea of CBE or competency based Education and helping them identify pathways and curriculum that can be converted from more the sort of Carnegie Credit hour classroom setting to cbe. Parina Parikh [00:16:38]: And I'm really excited by the opportunity to continue to work with community colleges and the system as a whole, to really sort of think about how can we graduate more students in a manner that isn't sacrificing a whole lot of time, but rather doing it in a way that expedites their education and path to whether it be an associate's or a bachelor's or a certificate and gives them the opportunity sort of to earn a paycheck while they're doing all of that. Salvatrice Cummo [00:17:05]: Agreed 100%. You couldn't have said it any clearer. I agree with you 100% that there's still a lot of room for us to grow in that space. You know, we're thinking about education and kind of restructuring competency based learn and earn, earn and learn and taking those experiences for credit. But what about the continuum? So I have students, we obviously we have students that are going through our pathways, our career pathways, and the end goal is a quality Job, an occupation that serves its purposes, a quality occupation. We define quality jobs very differently than I think some of our employers do, many in organizations like jff. And so when you and I as practitioners in this space start to look at the trajectory of workforce development and its changes and its evolution, and specifically with everything that we're kind of faced with in technology, in policy, what are you seeing or what do you define, I should say, as our new quality job definition? And how can organizations like JFF help employers institutions adapt to that new definition of a quality job? Parina Parikh [00:18:26]: Yeah, that is such an important question. And I couldn't agree with you more that everyone's definition of a quality job is so different. I would say that one JFF has an entire body of work around job quality and what a job quality framework could look like. And so we have resources dedicated to working with corporations, employers large and small on helping to implement what a quality job framework could look like in their organization. So happy to dive into that. But what I would say in terms of a definition is that it's so much more than one's paycheck. And that's where we need to start is a quality job is not just about the paycheck that you receive. It's ensuring that employers and workers alike are thinking about the broader aspects of what a job should include. Parina Parikh [00:19:12]: Pay equity, paid leave, equitable opportunities for advancement. What does transparent career pathway look like? Do you know what the next level is? Are you able to receive the career coaching and training to be able to advance within your organization? Do you feel like you belong? Do you have psychological safety? Do you know what your schedule is gonna look like from week to week? Or does it happen to change at the last minute and then you have to arrange for transportation and childcare that you might not have secured? So there's so many elements of job quality. And what's interesting is that it means different things to different people. Not every single aspect of job quality is something that each job...
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Workforce, Reimagined: Building Inclusive Economies, Region by Region with Parina Parikh, Associate Vice President at Jobs for the Future Episode 146
05/27/2025
Workforce, Reimagined: Building Inclusive Economies, Region by Region with Parina Parikh, Associate Vice President at Jobs for the Future Episode 146
What if volunteering, raising kids, learning on the job, and real life experience counted just as much as a college degree? In this episode of Future of Work, Dr. Salvatrice Cummo talks with Parina Parikh, Associate Vice President overseeing Job for the Future’s strategic presence in California, about what it really means to create a workforce that works for everyone. Parikh shares how community colleges, competency-based learning, and credit for real-world experience can help close opportunity gaps. She also redefines what makes a “quality job,” stressing equity, mobility, and belonging, and how small businesses can help lead the charge. Join us to discover how you can be a part of building a new and better workforce standard for the future. You’ll learn: How inclusive workforce programs start with inclusive design, and what that means in practice. Why regional strategies are essential to solving California’s workforce and housing challenges. How community colleges are at the forefront of credentialing outside traditional classrooms. What Jobs for the Future is doing to help small and mid-size employers offer quality jobs. Why “everything counts” and how your non-traditional experiences are more valuable than you think. About the Guest: Parina Parikh is an Associate Vice President overseeing Jobs for the Future’s strategic presence in California. She has responsibility for business development and fundraising, cultivating relationships and partnerships, and building workforce and inclusive economic development initiatives. As a leader who is committed to equity, inclusion, and a holistic approach to workforce development and inclusive regional economies, her focus is on leading and advancing JFF’s work in California, supported by a team of 20+ California-based colleagues. Before joining JFF, Parina was Vice President of Programs at San Diego Workforce Partnership. She created and executed innovative workforce solutions across San Diego County overseeing programming in information and communications technology, energy construction and utilities, healthcare and behavioral health, public administration and advanced manufacturing. Engage with us: , & : @PasadenaCityCollegeEWD Join our newsletter for more on this topic: Visit: More from Parina Parikh & Jobs for the Future Websites: LinkedIn: Partner with us! Contact our host Salvatrice Cummo directly: [email protected] Want to be a guest on the show? Click to inquire about booking Find the transcript of this episode Please rate us and leave us your thoughts and comments on Apple Podcasts; we’d love to hear from you!
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Transcript- Episode 145: Careers After Incarceration: How Entrepreneurship Drives Successful Reentry with Quan Huynh
05/13/2025
Transcript- Episode 145: Careers After Incarceration: How Entrepreneurship Drives Successful Reentry with Quan Huynh
00:00:00 - Quan Huynh Usually my pitch to an employer is like, look, I'm not here asking you to give a job to anybody. What I'm here asking you to do is do your round of interviews. Settle on the best possible candidate. If this candidate happens to have a background, one, either be willing to look past the criminal conviction, or two, be willing to bring them in and have a conversation with them and ask them about their prison journey. Ask them about their process of transformation. Ask them about their perspective. 00:00:31 - Christina Barsi The workforce landscape is rapidly changing, and educators and their institutions need to keep up. Preparing students before they enter the workforce to make our communities and businesses stronger is at the core of getting an education. But we need to understand how to change and adjust so that we can begin to project where things are headed before we even get there. So how do we begin to predict the future? 00:00:55 - Salvatrice Cummo Hi, I'm Salvatrice Cummo, vice president of economic and workforce development at Pasadena City College and host of this podcast. 00:01:04 - Christina Barsi And I'm Christina Barsi, producer and co host of this podcast. 00:01:08 - Salvatrice Cummo And we are starting the conversation about the Future of Work. We'll explore topics like how education can partner with industry, how to be more equitable, and how to attain one of our highest goals, more internships and PCC. Students in the workforce. We at Pasadena City College want to lead the charge in closing the gap between what our students are learning and what the demands of the workforce will be once they enter. This is a conversation that impacts all of us. You, the employers, the policymakers, the educational institutions, and the community as a whole. 00:01:42 - Christina Barsi We believe change happens when we work together, and it all starts with having a conversation. I'm Christina Barsi. 00:01:49 - Salvatrice Cummo And I'm Salvatrice Cummo. And this is the future of work. Hi, welcome back to the Future of Work podcast. I am your host, Doctor Salvatrice Cummo. Today we're diving into a critical and often overlooked issue, the school to prison pipeline and its profound impact on students. We've touched on this topic in a previous episode, but today we have a special guest who brings a unique and deeply personal perspective into the conversation. Our guest, Quan Hyun, has been described as a mighty warrior and a mountain of goodness. He is the best selling author of Sparrow in the Razor, Finding freedom from within while serving a life sentence. After spending 22 years in and out of correctional institutions, Quan was paroled from a life sentence in 2015. He quickly turned his life around, founding his first company, Jade Janitors, Inc. Just six months later, he now serves as the executive director of Defy Ventures in Southern California. Together, we'll explore his journey, his work with Defy Ventures, and his insights on the school to prison pipeline. We'll discuss how educational institutions, particularly community colleges, can play a pivotal role in interrupting this cycle and creating pathways for incarcerated individuals to reintegrate into society productively. I'm super psyched to have this conversation. Quan, how are you? Good morning. 00:03:21 - Quan Huynh Good morning, Salvatrice. Thank you for having me. 00:03:23 - Salvatrice Cummo You know, I always like to start off the conversation about one's journey, and so if it's okay with you, let's just get this started, and if you can share with us briefly your journey and what led you to where you are today. 00:03:37 - Quan Huynh Sure. My journey. Okay. Well, I think as you referenced, I, formerly incarcerated, served about 22 years of my life in correctional institutions throughout California. I had a life sentence. I paroled in 2015 after the California parole board found that I was no longer a danger to what they felt, a danger to society. I can't remember the exact terminology they used, but it took me quite a while for the light to come on. And that's kind of what my book entails, is my journey for transformation and mindfulness and being able to realize that I can make an impact in the world. 00:04:16 - Quan Huynh Briefly touching on it, I think it took about the 12th year of my life sentence when several things had happened, like a family member had passed away. I saw the picture of my niece for the first time as my brother's daughter, and it just took me back to childhood because she looked exactly like my little brother as a little kid. 00:04:34 - Quan Huynh And it just took me back to childhood. How did my life end up like this? Am I supposed to die in here? One thing that did keep me busy in my prison helped me escape a lot were books, and I'm a huge bookworm, so I have this habit where I read a book. I get fascinated. If I really like it, then I go into the back, I read the acknowledgments, I see who influenced them, and I go down these rabbit trails and get into other books. And I've always been interested in entrepreneurship, so I can't remember what happened, but I was reading some books, which then led me down other rabbit trails. And right around that time, I became fascinated with books on the saints, in particular, stories about saints that had failed in some way in their life and then had gone on to create these amazing orders and began to, like, have this huge movement. And I just became fascinated with them, which then led to books on mindfulness, spirituality, and I would have to say it became like this perfect storm in my head, and there was one day on the prison yard. 00:05:34 - Quan Huynh I remember it was early in the morning, and I asked myself, like, why do I have to view prison as punishment? Why can't I view this place as a place that I can remake myself even if I'm supposed to die in here? I think it was because there were stories about monks that I read that went into these monasteries, and then all these people just removed themselves. And I go, why do I have to view prison that way? I've just removed myself, and I could remake myself. 00:06:00 - Quan Huynh And of course, you know, the answer comes back from the universe like you can. And I remember that moment very well. The sun was coming up over the hills. I could feel its warmth in the individual blades of grass. I could see the drops of dew. And up above me in the razor wire, I heard a sparrow chirping. And I tell everyone, like, you know, sparrows have probably been chirping my whole prison term. But that day, I heard it. And I would say that day is where my process of transformation began, where then I viewed, suddenly, I looked like, wait, these are just other men along on their journey. 00:06:36 - Quan Huynh And I saw, like, each of us, some of them much further along than me, but some of them perhaps not even awakened. And I think the first thing I did was I realized, you know what? I'd like to check in to see with the therapist, because my father had died when I was a 13 year old boy, and I had never processed his death. And I realized, I think it's time for me to speak about my father and explore the trauma that that caused when he died from passing away from leukemia. So, yeah, 25 years after my father died is when I began the process of grieving his death. And then being the consummate bookworm, I became fascinated with, like, the grief and loss process, Elisabeth Kübler-Ross and all her writings and teachings. And then I realized, wait, there's, around me, there's all these men that are also suffering and unable to grieve, whether that's losing family members that have passed away or unable to grieve because their partners have left them, or even something seemingly innocuous as being transferred from one prison to another. 00:07:40 - Quan Huynh But then they've lost friendships they've had for years or maybe decades and not able to process that. So I saw this huge need for men that needed healing. So I put together a syllabus, and I submitted it to the prison psychologist, and we were able to launch the prison's first ever grief and loss group. 00:07:57 - Quan Huynh And it was inside that group that I first saw the opportunity for healing. And I saw firsthand, wait, I can help and make an impact. And that's where I suddenly felt alive. Then suddenly being the book where I started looking into books on group psychodynamics and how to facilitate groups and childhood development, and how does that contribute to someone's journey and life experience? And it just became all these things in my head where suddenly, here I am in some forgotten corner of the world, some discarded corner of the world that nobody knows about, nobody cares about. And I felt, I'm alive, and I'm facilitating groups and being involved with groups, and I'm making an impact regardless of just some forgotten corner of the world. And I felt alive in there. That is where I began. This is my true freedom. And that's I would have to describe for the next few years. I felt absolutely free, even though I was incarcerated with a life sentence. 00:08:49 - Salvatrice Cummo Thank you for sharing that story and trusting us to share that story with us. I'm curious as to when that came over you and you changed your framework on where you were. You said I shouldn't look at it as a punishment, but rather a way to work on myself, an opportunity. Opportunity, that's right. So from there, you spent the rest of the time. I'm going to use the word rebuilding. Is that fair to say? 00:09:15 - Quan Huynh Rebuilding? Finding. Yeah. Discovering, even just finding my true self. 00:09:20 - Salvatrice Cummo When you got to the point of, I'm now out in the world, where did the journey go from there? What led you to your venture and where you are today? 00:09:31 - Quan Huynh Well, I paroled in 2015. I was involved with this program inside called Defy Ventures. It's a career readiness, personal development entrepreneurship training program. This is before I became the executive director. I was involved as a graduate of the program, and they instill in this the entrepreneurial mindset. So six months after I had paroled, I saw an opportunity to create a janitorial cleaning company. I worked in the prison hospital, so I was part of a team where that's what we did. We did the blood borne pathogens. We did stripping the floors, cleaning the floor. So that experience gave me a good eye for detail, and so I knew how to run a team. And when I came home, I was working with my brother's real estate company under his license, because, you know, as someone that's formerly incarcerated, I couldn't get the licensing from the state of California. 00:10:25 - Quan Huynh So I worked on his license, but I saw the building that where his office was, they didn't have a good janitorial cleaning company. And I found out that the building owner was looking for your company. So I remember that the Defy Ventures, they teach us, like, you introduce yourself, say, I'm the founder and CEO of, you know, your company. 00:10:41 - Quan Huynh And I didn't have a company, but I made a building owner, was looking for a cleaning company. So I remember I got on to Godaddy and I was like, what? I'm going to name my company? And I looked up, I want it to be something sounding, like, valuable or like. So I like platinum janitors, gold janitors. All those domains were taken. And then I go, what about Jade janitors? Like Asians, we love the Jade stone to play on the jade and janitors. And I, oh, Jade Janitors is open. $9.99. So I purchased the domain, and then I emailed the building owner, and I told him, like, my name is Quan Huynh. I'm the founder and CEO of Jade Janitors. I had no company, no employees. I was like, I used to run a team at a hospital up in northern California, which is also true. 00:11:28 - Quan Huynh I hear you're looking for cleaning services. How can we partner with you? And then he's like, send me your business license and certificate. And so, okay, what is this? So I had to ask a family member who had a business, and it's like, oh, you have to go to the county courthouse. I went to the county court warehouse that day, did my DBA. Then at the time, it was in the city of Fountain Valley. I got the business license. And I remember the clerk at the city of Fountain Valley laughed at me because I said, the name is Jade Janitors, and said, how many employees do you have? And I go, oh, it's just me. 00:11:59 - Quan Huynh He's like, how's your name janitors when it's just you? And I said, because I'm going to hire people and there's going to be more than one person. So then it was that same day I sent the business license certificate to the building owner, and he asked, can you give me a copy of your insurance? And I'm like, what is this? So I had to get on Google, what is janitorial insurance? And I remember they said, you have to buy this policy. 00:12:24 - Quan Huynh I think it was like $400 and I have to sign it and $80 a month. So I was like, okay, this is my first big gamble. It's a few hundred to get the license. Should I do this? And I go, you know what? I'm going to do it. I don't have a company. I don't have employee. I don't even have a contract. But I'm going to buy the insurance for the company. 00:12:39 - Quan Huynh I bought the insurance. I sent it to him, and he asked me, can you give me a quote? And I, okay. I told myself, okay, well, it would probably take me about 3 hours to clean this. So I'll pay somebody 4 hours to clean this. This is what I will pay that person. These are the margins I want. And I sent the quote. Like, as I look back now, my quote was way too low, but I sent it. And then he says, can you guys start this Friday? And that's how I started my Jade Janitors company. I put somebody in, and it's still running to this day. We have six employees. Four of them are also formerly incarcerated. And I found one. My best workers by far. Those are my best workers. So that's how I started my company. And then I remember Defy Ventures expanded out here to Southern California in 2017. So it's about a year and a half after I had been home. 00:13:28 - Quan Huynh I was working in real estate. We had also helped launch my family's restaurant from, like, a concept to, like, daily operation. So I was there and then. But when I found out Defy Ventures was coming down here to Southern California, and they were looking for a program manager, I said, you know what? I want to go back to how I felt in prison. The feeling of fulfillment and having a purpose. And so I left real estate and my family's restaurant to interview for that program manager position. At that time, like, people didn't agree, like, why would you take a pay cut, essentially, to go do this? But that was the best decision of my life at that moment by far. So I started as the program manager for our post release program to help men and women coming home. So that was really cool to be able to tell people, welcome home, welcome home. And where do you want to go? What do you want to build or what type of work you're looking for? And I got to build that. 00:14:22 - Quan Huynh So over the years, my roles and responsibilities have just grown. And a couple years ago, I stepped into the role of Executive Director. So now I get to oversee our entire chapter here in Southern California, which now is the largest chapter nationally. So it's pretty cool. I still pinch myself when I wake up. I go, Quan. This is what I get to do for a living, right? Go back into prison and tell people I believe in them, and I get to tell people, "Welcome home." And then we get to advocate for my brothers and sisters that are still incarcerated and pave a way for them out here to try to make their journey easier. 00:14:56 - Salvatrice Cummo That's beautiful. It sounds like it's aligning with your core, rather than, I mean, those adventures. The journey of entrepreneurship, of course, has its highs and lows, and it's very lonely. Obviously, it was very productive and lucrative and successful, but maybe it wasn't really kind of tying back to your core. As you were mentioning earlier about your journey of rebuild. It sounds like to me, with your role now with defy Ventures, you're aligning both, and it feels probably a little more solid, right? I mean, solid. I'm not talking about instability, but just solid in. It just feels good. It feels really good. And thank you. Thank you for sharing. I think we talk a lot about school to prison pipeline, and I want to kind of, like, shift into that topic a little more, because at previous episodes, we barely scratched the surface, Quan, like, right before we logged on here in this recording, I was sharing a little bit with you about what we stumbled across. And for me, this interview is impactful because it's not just research, but rather your perspective, which is invaluable. You can't put a price tag on this kind of thought and perspective. And so I'm really curious about, through your lens, as we think about this unspoken, I have to say, school to prison pipeline and raising awareness around it, how do you think it impacts the student? Not only the student journey, but society as a whole? 00:16:37 - Quan Huynh Yeah, I remember my first arrest. I was still in high school, and then I came home, and I didn't have a high school diploma, and I was now trying to enter community college, and they asked me, where's your high school diploma? I felt very ashamed. There was a big stigma about being formally incarcerated. I didn't have a place to talk about it. Fortunately, I... the counselor I told at the time made me feel heard. Like, she was like, okay, it's okay. You know, let's just take these assessment tests. And my assessment tests, like, put me right into, you know, English 101. And I didn't have to take any remedial classes, but I think had that counselor not make me feel heard, I would have just like, okay, community colleges don't want me. So I think for the student as a whole, there's this shame and this stigma about somebody being incarcerated, even in school. I shared with you earlier as part of this group called Project Rebound. They were formed to specifically bring together higher education students at a school that are formally incarcerated. So they have a place to process and to share space and to just realize, oh, there's 30 of us here yet. I thought I was the only one that was formally incarcerated. So I remember that. And I think if, if we're asking about, like, how does that affect society as a whole, I think the question has to be like, just fundamentally, number one, do you believe in second chances or third chances or fourth chances? And then, number two, if someone has served their time, are we willing to accept them back to society? I think fundamentally everyone says, oh, yes, I do. But what are the barriers that we put up, whether that's for employment, whether that's for housing, fair chance lending, all of these things that we continue to put up for once somebody has done their time and or somebody that's been vindicated, what do we do to support them as a member of our community? If we look at it that way, those will be the two questions I would throw back on what people say about, yes, this school to prison pipeline. 00:18:39 - Salvatrice Cummo Well, let's talk about that a little bit. So you said there's some significant barriers to this reentry, right. Like reentry into society. And there's critical issues that you see here and battle every day. Right? Like you're addressing these things every day. Let's spend some time with that quan, and let's talk about, I mean, you mentioned a few, right? You...
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Careers After Incarceration: How Entrepreneurship Drives Successful Reentry with Quan Huynh Episode 145
05/13/2025
Careers After Incarceration: How Entrepreneurship Drives Successful Reentry with Quan Huynh Episode 145
The school-to-prison pipeline is a complex and damaging system that disproportionately affects marginalized communities, particularly people of color. This pipeline refers to the policies and practices that push students out of school and into the criminal justice system, creating long-term impacts on individuals and communities. Quan Huynh, Executive Director of Southern California at Defy Ventures, exemplifies the power of second chances. While in prison, he discovered his entrepreneurial spirit and started Jade Janitors after his release from a 22-year prison sentence in 2015. Formerly incarcerated individuals face overwhelming challenges in education, employment, and housing, making fair chance hiring practices essential for their reintegration into society. By giving second chances, companies can help break the cycle of recidivism and create paths to stability and success. Engage with us: , & : @PasadenaCityCollegeEWD Join our newsletter for more on this topic: Visit: More from Quan Huynh: Visit , , , & : @quanxhuynh More from Defy Ventures: Visit LinkedIn: Instagram: & : @DefyVentures Partner with us! Contact our host Salvatrice Cummo directly: [email protected] Want to be a guest on the show? Click to inquire about booking Find the transcript of this episode
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Transcript- Episode 144: How Educators Can Guide & Inspire Students to Thrive In An Evolving Workforce with Jasmine Star
04/29/2025
Transcript- Episode 144: How Educators Can Guide & Inspire Students to Thrive In An Evolving Workforce with Jasmine Star
00:00:00 - Jasmine Star Do you want to catch a big vision and do the impossible? It matters less that you got straight As. I want to have straight vision. How do we assess for that? And into the future? Embrace technology and embrace storytelling. Clap our children up for being creative. Strip off their socks and shoes. Your students out here, make them get uncomfortable and sit under a tree and do something different that will be more valuable for them in the workplace than any academic book that you can put it in front of them. 00:00:32 - Christina Barsi The workforce landscape is rapidly changing, and educators and their institutions need to keep up. Preparing students before they enter the workforce to make our communities and businesses stronger is at the core of getting an education. But we need to understand how to change and adjust so that we can begin to project where things are headed before we even get there. So how do we begin to predict the future? 00:00:57 - Dr. Salvatrice Cummo Hi, I'm Salvatrice Cummo, Vice President of Economic and Workforce Development at Pasadena City College and host of this podcast. 00:01:06 - Christina Barsi And I'm Christina Barsi, producer and co-host of this podcast. 00:01:10 - Dr. Salvatrice Cummo And we are starting the conversation about the future of work. We'll explore topics like how education can partner with industry, how to be more equitable, and how to attain one of our highest goals, more internships and PCC students in the workforce. We at Pasadena City College want to lead the charge in closing the gap between what our students are learning and what the demands of the workforce will be once they enter. This is a conversation that impacts all of us. You, the employers, the policymakers, the educational institutions, and the community as a whole. 00:01:43 - Christina Barsi We believe change happens when we work together. And it all starts with having a conversation. I'm Christina Barsi. 00:01:51 - Dr. Salvatrice Cummo And I'm Salvatrice Cummo. And this is the Future of Work. 00:01:57 - Jasmine Star Coming here, I was told that you are the visionaries and you are the architects, and you are the bridge builders of tomorrow. And I also have to tell you that Pasadena is the city for me, because my parents met and fell in love in East Los Angeles. Yes. And we found ourselves moving a little bit farther south. Baldwin Park. La Puente. Yes. La Puente. Ooh. And there in the glorious streets of La Puente, our family experienced a lot of beautiful things and sometimes not so beautiful things. 00:02:36 - Jasmine Star If you've grown up in those areas or areas of that nature, you will know that rich culture, people, community, dwell in that. But statistically, we are often overlooked. And so it's in those times and moments that my mother, my father, we would ride the bus. We didn't have a washer and a dryer in our home. So we would walk my mom and her five children to the laundromat, and she would make a game of things. 00:03:00 - Jasmine Star And on the time that our family car did decide to work, my dad worked at General Hospital in the shipping and receiving departments. And on the day that my mom would want to take her kids to go and do something, we would all wake up early in the morning, we would get in the car, we would drop my dad off at the shipping and receiving area, and then she would take us, not quite to Pasadena, because she was going to wow us. We were going to San Marino. Ooh, ooh, ooh. That's right. San Marino with the large, lush lawns. San Marino with the gates out front to keep everybody else behind and out. And there at Lacey park, we would enter in through these gates, and our car would rickety move right on up. And there we would park, and then we would strip off our shoes, our socks, and she would go to her five kids and say, run, explore, and do. And so it's at those moments that my mom would look at everything as an educational experience, which still to this day, I stand before you and I look at everything like an educational experience. And so there she would say, okay, guys, so we're going to do physical education PE in the park. So run. 00:04:09 - Jasmine Star We're going to do science. Let's collect some bugs. Go. And then she would say, we're going to do art. We're going to do the fine art things. And so there. My mom had this play school recording set with a tape player. It was white with bright red and blue buttons. And then she would say, okay, guys, get on the swings. And she would hold up this art piece. And then she would put on Mozart's Symphony number 19, or 41, if my memory serves me correct. 00:04:37 - Jasmine Star And we're sitting there, and she would say, get on the swing, Push your legs. And as the music is going, your feet go out in front of you. Your feet pull in underneath you, and you're pushing and you're pulling and you're pushing and you're pulling. So in this moment, if I might, can you indulge me and my mom, who's sitting in the second row, could you, for one instance, join me in Lacy Park? And I'm gonna ask you to do something a little bit weird, but trust the process, because this is what good homeschool kids do. We're a little bit weird, but you let us go with it. Okay? So just close your eyes. Just close your eyes for me. And push your feet out. And then Pull them back in and then push your feet out and pull them back in. 00:05:22 - Jasmine Star She sang a poem. As your feet are pushing out and pulling back in and pushing out and pulling back in. Swing, swing through the drowsy afternoon Swing, swing, swing Up I go to meet the moon Swing, swing, swing I can see as high I go far along the crimson sky I can see as I come down the tops of the houses in the town High and low, fast and slow Swing, swing, swing. 00:06:05 - Jasmine Star Welcome back. Did you enjoy Lacy Park? So did I. But maybe some of you educators, smart, brilliant people that you are, were wondering why was a 9 year old at Lacey park on a Tuesday afternoon? It wasn't just me, it was my twin sister, my younger sister Alexandria, my younger brother Sebastian, and our soon to be sister Zoe there at Lacey park because we grew up where we grew up. My father is an immigrant from Mexico, my mom is from Puerto Rico. And there the school options in La Puente were not the best of us. 00:06:36 - Jasmine Star And though my parents are not formally educated, they decided to do something counter opposite and counterculture and they said we're going to homeschool our children. And every single person in their life looked at them, including their parents, as you you. So how did we get from Lacey park to where we are today? My name is Jasmine Starr. I am CEO of Social Curator. I'm an advisor to companies, I'm a proud investor and I am a podcast host and I create content. And for all intents and purposes, I had to remind myself as I came here is I am not going to teach anybody anything. I have a tendency to get nervous because I stand on stages and I have this pressure deep honor of your time. I want to teach you and I want you to do something well. And I realize that you are far too smart for me. I am batting outside of my league. But may I make a reference? Could it quite possibly by the end of this moment, could I by any chance feel like Freeman last night? Anybody? That's right. 00:07:34 - Jasmine Star And for those of you who don't know, okay, by any chance, we together as this room, hit a grand slam and win the game at the last moment. Could we do that? I'm a first generation Latina and college student. My twin sister and I, we graduated high school and the idea of college was so foreign that we were swimming in fafsa, in Pell grants in applications and it was the blind leading the blind. 00:07:57 - Jasmine Star And somehow we made it to an end point. My sister and I both got accepted to Whittier College. We will always be born Brown bred and love LA County. And so for us, in the glorious state of California, we got to go to college. My father was a cook at Azusa Pacific University, and on weekends, he would take my sister and I, nine, 10 years old, and we would wipe down and clean down the tables in that college campus. And I thought to myself, could I ever be so lucky and go to college? That idea was so far from reality for me, and it felt like a wish. So the fact that my sister and I were able to go to college, we thought, the minute you get in, then you're going to be okay. And what I realized is that I. And we were alone. I did not know how to speak to my parents about college because they had no idea what this beautiful, foreign, amazing opportunity was. 00:08:49 - Jasmine Star And so I had no idea that you weren't supposed to study for a placement test in college. So I spent my summer diligently studying for the math placement because I wanted to shine. Why I actually did so well that I tested into a math class that I realized halfway through the semester, I have no idea what's going on. I kind of bypassed the foundational stuff to college level calculus. And I was like, ooh. And so I went to admissions, I went to the registrar's office, and I said, I think I'm going to fail this class. 00:09:19 - Jasmine Star And then she said, well, you can get a W. And I said, but what's a W? She's like, a W is a W. I was like, yes, a W is a W. And so I'm completely lost, because what is a W? And all I know is I really want to go on and I want to pursue my education, but is the W going to stop me from getting to where I want to go? And so in my just conversations with my family, I was like, I don't even know what a W is. And my dad. You want to know what I think a W means? Wonderful. They think you're wonderful. I was like, no, puppy. I think you're just missing the point here. I think this is going to ruin me. And at the end of the day, lo and behold, for anybody who doesn't know, your life does not begin or end with a W. 00:09:54 - Jasmine Star It just means you withdrew from a class. And lo and behold, not because I'm smart, not because I'm gifted, not because I'm brilliant, I ended up graduating summa cum laude because I believe that hard work gets you to wherever you want to go and nobody will stop you. So I just decided to say, I'm going to work on campus, I am going to work as a waitress five nights a week, and I'm going to get straight as. 00:10:17 - Jasmine Star And when I graduated college, I sat on stage, myself and nine other students representing those who graduated summa cum laude. I was one of two women, and I was the only person of color. And to be able to sit in those stadiums and watch my parents and my grandmother was one of the proudest moments of my life. So that I thought to myself, okay, so what does a good Latina do when she's sumo cum laude? You just keep on doing what you know. 00:10:43 - Jasmine Star You see, I wanted to move the family from the east side of LA to the west side. I wanted the zip codes and the cars and the people. I wanted the finances. So I thought to myself, can you get to UCLA on a full ride? And the answer was yes. So there I was, first generation Latina, first generation college student at UCLA Law School. And then I realized, I am so unhappy here. My mom, who was diagnosed with brain cancer my junior year of college, battled nine years. And it was at this time at UCLA where they had said, we've done enough. The brain surgeries, the chemotherapy, the infusions, we're done. And all I thought to myself was, I'm done. I'm not happy here. I don't know what I'm doing. My mom is 50 years old and I'm 25. And I thought to myself, if I have 25 years left in my life, I don't want to die a lawyer. 00:11:36 - Jasmine Star And I thought, what am I going to do? And so I get married so that my mom. Now I get married. The man who chose me, and I chose him, my high school sweetheart, the kindest, best, most generous man, said, let's get married finally. I had planned my life. Oh, Excel spreadsheets. Because this is what we do. And then I'm going to go to school, and then I'm going to graduate, and then we're going to get married. 00:11:58 - Jasmine Star And all I knew was like, can we get married now? And he says, yes, let's go. Let's get married. So we got married. Just our family's. A small, little, tiny wedding. And I get a letter because at the time when I decided I had enough, I quit law school. I walked into the dean's office and I said, I'm depressed and I think my mom is going to die. And I don't like where I'm at right now. And she said, you have three years to get your scholarship. Because I went on a full ride, scholarship to ucla. 00:12:26 - Jasmine Star I Said, okay, I'm going to come back. And when it came time for me to come back, my brand new husband had said, what do you want to do? I said, I want to become a photographer. And he's like, okay, you don't own a camera. I know, but you see, I think if I had a camera, I might be able to make a go of it. 00:12:44 - Jasmine Star If you just take a second right now and you think about this really stupid, idiotic, nonsensical thing that you want to do, anything at all. Can you just hold on to that right now because I will hold the space for you. And he told me what I want to tell you. I would rather see you fail at something you love than succeed at something you hate. Worst case scenario, give it a year and it doesn't work out, go back and get your scholarship. I said, okay. In that first year of business as a photographer, he's with a startup company. I'm working part time at my dad's church in Montebello, California. And I don't have an office. Like I have a fold out table in a storage room. But I'm just like, that's okay. Because I have this dream and one person believes in the dream. So Best Buy Christmas buys me a simple camera. And that year I said, I'm just going to make a bet and see if it works on me. So in my first year of business, I made $100,000. 00:13:40 - Jasmine Star Now that might not sound like a lot of money to many people, but to a girl whose family of seven, my dad did not make $100,000 in three years combined, the fact that I made $100,000 in 12 months, we took the whole family to Claim Jumper. Everybody is going to order whatever they want. And guess what? Nobody's ordering water. You want a Sprite? I got a Sprite. 00:14:05 - Jasmine Star You want a Coke? We got the Coke. We don't have to do that anymore. And to me, when somebody says, Jasmine, what was the first moment you felt like a success? Claim Jumper. Very few things can compare to Claim Jumper. And thank you, God. I have come a long way from that day, but that moment is still so sweet. And no, it wasn't. The 27 chocolate layered cake that we ordered at the end, it was just good. So what will you do with your one wild and amazing life? That is what brings us here to Pasadena City College. And so throughout the course of my career, I have realized that possibility is simply disguised as impossibility. What you think is impossible? I think it's possible because you would not have been given the idea, the hope or the dream if the capacity inside of you did not exist. You didn't wake up this morning and say, you want to know what I want to do? I want to be on the PGA Tour. 00:14:57 - Jasmine Star And you don't even know going to golf club, right? You didn't, but you woke up and you thought something. I want to be a restaurant owner. I want to be a videographer, I want to be a poet. You wouldn't have that dream if it wasn't inside of you. And everything is calling on you to go and create it. Because here's a crazy thing that happened. I became a photographer. And during that time, I didn't have any money for a website, so I just started creating content on a free blog. 00:15:21 - Jasmine Star I would write and then people would end up booking me. And other photographers were very interested in what I was doing. And so I had created an online following of people who were interested around this thing that I was doing. And guess what? I wasn't even good. I was mediocre at best. But I documented the journey. And then businesses said, hey, we like what you're doing with your marketing and branding. 00:15:41 - Jasmine Star Can you come and do some things for us and we'll pay you? And I said, okay, how much do you have? Like this much. Funny, that's how much I charge. Great. And then I started realizing, I started doing work for other businesses and their businesses were growing. I thought, okay, I'm trading hours for dollars. I said, you know, I'm gonna take a step back. Then they said to me, well, can you be a consultant? And I literally was like, googling, what's a consultant? Oh, great. 00:16:04 - Jasmine Star And they said, you will come in and you'll teach our teams and we'll go and do it. I was like, well, how much do you have? Funny, that's how much I charge too. So I started doing that and I realized that the more successful I became, I was still getting paid more, but trading hours for dollars. And I realized that I had less of a passion to build big companies. What I wanted to do was build the business owner. I wanted to build the business owner. So what I started to do was to create online courses. And lo and behold, in addition to getting a payment stream from photography, from consulting, from the resources that I had created for an online store for photographers, I created an online course. 00:16:39 - Jasmine Star And over the years, each progressive seven figure revenue stream continued to build. And after we had built courses, people said, well, we know what we need. We need consistency. So I decided, I'm going to create a membership. And after creating a membership, I started realizing that there was a friction point between our members and them getting their marketing resources out online. And I thought to myself, okay, the there's a way that we can figure this out. And I've never done this before, but I really think that we need to integrate with every social platform in order for marketing to be effective. Have I ever written a line of code? No. But when I said I wanted to become a photographer, I didn't own a camera. 00:17:12 - Jasmine Star Impossibility is possibility in disguise. Can we look past what we don't know? So I started hiring for a cto, a Chief Technology officer. And I had no idea what I was looking for, but I knew I needed a solution and I needed to surround myself with people who could get me to yes. 00:17:27 - Jasmine Star In 2021, my husband and my co founder we launched a SaaS platform software as a service that we now integrate with every social platform and we empower small business owners to market their business and build a brand. And along the way, I continued creating content which has empowered me to become an advisor, an investor, and a creator. So why am I here? Because I was asked to share a look into the future. And I will say that that was very intimidating because all I know is I look into the past. But I have been told, and this is what I hold to be true, I represent an underrepresented demographic. 00:18:05 - Jasmine Star I am Latina, I am female, I'm a first generation college student and I'm a first generation entrepreneur. Statistically, I have beat the odds by far. But I don't think I'm special. That's the crazy thing. So I just did a deep dive into my past to say, what can you do today so that I don't become an outlier, that we become the norm. So how are we going to do this today? Break it down in three simple pathways. I want to remind you of the past, I want to enlighten your present, and I want to prepare you for the future. From my humble, lonely opinion outside looking in, because I believe, and I've been...
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How Educators Can Guide & Inspire Students to Thrive In An Evolving Workforce with Jasmine Star Episode 144
04/29/2025
How Educators Can Guide & Inspire Students to Thrive In An Evolving Workforce with Jasmine Star Episode 144
What will it take to prepare today’s students for leadership in a workforce that’s evolving faster than ever before? Jasmine Star, CEO of Social Curator, challenges educators and leaders at the Pasadena City College Future of Work Conference to rethink traditional teaching methods and embrace a paradigm shift. She underlines the importance of equipping students with the skills, mindset, and adaptability needed to navigate rapid technological and cultural transformation. In a world where resilience, belief in one’s vision, and a willingness to embrace change are key, she highlights how the pursuit of success—and the sacrifices it demands—can inspire future generations to dream bigger and achieve more. You’ll learn: The key to preparing students isn’t academic achievement but teaching them how to adapt and lead with vision. What it means to empower students to borrow belief from those who guide them. Why embracing storytelling is essential for connecting across generations and building trust in the workplace. What role delayed gratification plays in shaping visionary leaders for the future. How teaching "how to human" skills revolutionizes workforce readiness. About the Guest: Jasmine Star, a world-class speaker, thought leader, podcast host, CEO, and entrepreneur, is dedicated to helping individuals reach their fullest potential. Beginning her entrepreneurial journey as an internationally recognized wedding photographer, she transitioned into a sought-after speaker and business strategist for creative entrepreneurs, spending nearly a decade empowering business owners worldwide to take risks and live boldly. She later founded Social Curator, a tech company offering a monthly subscription service that functions as a digital marketing agency, complete with an AI-powered social media manager providing customized marketing content. As a top podcast host and keynote speaker, Jasmine’s mission is to inspire professionals to transform how they approach their ambitions. Her approach focuses on helping individuals build the future they desire by recognizing and unlocking their own potential, no matter the obstacles in their path. Engage with us: , & : @PasadenaCityCollegeEWD Join our newsletter for more on this topic: Visit: More from Jasmine Star & Social Curator Website: Listen: LinkedIn: Instagram: Partner with us! Contact our host Salvatrice Cummo directly: [email protected] Want to be a guest on the show? Click to inquire about booking Find the transcript of this episode Please rate us and leave us your thoughts and comments on Apple Podcasts, we’d love to hear from you!
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Transcript- Episode 143: Contracts, Crises, & the Cost of Survival: LA’s Hospitality Fight with Kurt Petersen, Co-President Unite Here Episode 143
04/15/2025
Transcript- Episode 143: Contracts, Crises, & the Cost of Survival: LA’s Hospitality Fight with Kurt Petersen, Co-President Unite Here Episode 143
Kurt Petersen [00:00:00]: These Olympics are an opportunity where we can leverage lots of money from lots of different folks to try to build housing, to make a commitment for housing. And right now, as it stands, there's no vision to do that. But we think we need to turn the corner, turn it hard, and set in motion, you know, a path. And if we don't get what we want, well, 2028 is right around the corner. We're going to strike. We're going to disrupt. There's never been a strike during the Olympics. We're ready to do it if we don't get what we want. Christina Barsi [00:00:27]: The workforce landscape is rapidly changing and educators and their institutions need to keep up. Preparing students before they enter the workforce to make our communities and businesses stronger is at the core of getting an education. But we need to understand how to change and adjust so that we can begin to project where things are headed before we even get there. So how do we begin to predict the future? Dr. Salvatrice Cummo [00:00:52]: Hi, I'm Salvatrice Cummo, Vice President of Economic and Workforce Development at Pasadena City College and host of this podcast. Christina Barsi [00:01:01] And I'm Christina Barsi, producer and co-host of this podcast. Dr. Salvatrice Cummo [00:01:04]: And we are starting the conversation about the future of work. We'll explore topics like how education can partner with industry, how to be more equitable, and how to attain one of our highest goals, more internships and PCC Students in the workforce. We at Pasadena City College want to lead the charge in closing the gap between what our students are learning and what the demands of the workforce will be once they enter. This is a conversation that impacts all of us. You, the employers, the policymakers, the educational institutions, and the community as a whole. Christina Barsi [00:01:38]: We believe change happens when we work together. And it all starts with having a conversation. I'm Christina Barsi. Dr. Salvatrice Cummo [00:01:46]: And I'm Salvatrice Cummo. And this is the Future of Work. Hi, welcome back to the Future of Work podcast. I am your host, Dr. Salvatrice Cummo. Today we're diving into critical discussion about labor rights, crisis response and the future of hospitality workers in Los Angeles. Joining us is someone at the forefront of this fight, Kurt Peterson, Co-President of UNITE HERE Local 11. Kurt has been a fierce advocate for workers rights, organizing thousands of hospitality and service industry workers across Southern California and Arizona. He has played a key role in securing labor protections during crises like COVIDv19 pandemic. And now, in the wake of the devastating LA fires, he is leading efforts to ensure workers are not left behind. His work has been instrumental in passing right to return laws and fighting against corporate exploitation of vulnerable workers. Salvatrice Cummo [00:02:47]: Today we'll explore the impact of the recent LA fires on hospitality workers, how unions are fighting to protect employees in times of of crisis, and what major upcoming events mean for the future of labor rights in Los Angeles. Kurt, welcome to the Future of Work podcast. Thank you for being here. Kurt Petersen [00:03:04]: Thank you for having us on. We really appreciate it. Salvatrice Cummo [00:03:06]: Absolutely, absolutely. I think we're just going to get right into this conversation and I always like to begin with journey and how one got to where they are now. Before diving into some, you know, major topics that we will. In a minute, let's learn a little bit about you. If you could share a little bit about what led you to labor organizing and what has your journey with UNITE HERE Local 11 has been like. Kurt Petersen [00:03:31]: Yeah, I appreciate that I have the privilege of working with working people who are fighting to change their lives. And the moment that the light dawned on me that that's what I wanted to do was shortly after college, I was debating whether I was going to become a priest or not. I was dating someone at the time, was now my wife. So that didn't work out. But what attracted me in that vocation was liberation theology and, you know, the fight the preferential option for the poor and that, you know, Christ came down to liberate and help people struggle. So that was something that really moved me. And after I moved on from college and trying to figure out what to do, I did a little community organizing, which was great. And then I stumbled upon union organizing, starting with United Farm Workers in Washington State. Kurt Petersen [00:04:22]: And what I felt, and still feel, is that everyone has a common interest at work. They share the goal of being treated with dignity, earning more, having a say. And that's a little challenging to find in community organizing. Not to say that it's not incredibly valuable and important, but some people want streetlights, some people want, you know, liquor stores gone or whatever. So this really attracted me. I've been doing it for the last 30 years or so. I mean, I like to fight. I don't know where it came from, but I like being in struggle and I like winning probably too much more than I should. Kurt Petersen [00:04:52]: And I love watching people who walk through, you know, struggles and become stronger and stronger people. So, yeah, I've been doing for many, many years and about the last 30 years here in Los Angeles, there's always. Salvatrice Cummo [00:05:04]: Has to be a champion. And we definitely thank you for being that champion for our hospitality workers. And, you know, just thinking about the most recent devastation that we have faced as a county during the LA fires. Can you Tell a little bit about how have the LA fires affected hospitality service workers? I think part two to that would be, Kurt, you know, what are the biggest challenges that workers are facing right now? Kurt Petersen [00:05:28]: Yeah, unfortunately, as we've seen, you know, the combination of climate change and pandemics and financial downturns. I can remember 9/11, actually, when the buildings came down and tourism stopped and then we had the financial disaster, 2008, tourism stopped and then we had the pandemic and then the fires. There is this disasters that impact whether or not people are going to travel. And if they don't travel, our members and workers in the hospitality industry don't work. You have that in contrast to the city of Los Angeles, which is, you know, I would argue, the epicenter of tourism, given that it's, you know, we're going to have a number of mega events ending up at the Olympics. So you have on the one hand this extraordinary demand. At the same time, we have these horrible disasters and the fires are, you know, I just put it in context. We've seen this before, so we're prepared to react in ways that we weren't originally. Kurt Petersen [00:06:21]: And one of the biggest things is, you know, making sure people stay employed and making sure people keep their health insurance. That was even more important during the pandemic when overnight 90% of our members were out of work. And so health insurance during a pandemic became, you know, more than just essential. And the fires have had an impact on our members in terms of work. It doesn't look like we're going to have a. Well, I guess it remains to be seen how long term the dampening of tourism is going to be in our community. My guess is it will come back. It's not nearly as bad as the pandemic, but we're trying to keep people employed. Kurt Petersen [00:06:56]: We've had fights with employers. I mean, during the pandemic, I remember we had a fight with employer about closing down. They were in the zone to evacuate and they wouldn't do it because they wanted to keep the hotel full. And so, you know, there were moments like that, especially when the fires were heading down to Hollywood Hills. And then now we're in this period where, you know, workers aren't getting hours. Are they going to keep health insurance? That's really a big concern right now. It's not like the pandemic where there's just total loss of jobs. It's a little less severe. Kurt Petersen [00:07:24]: But nevertheless, it remains to be seen what comes, you know, in the midterm. Salvatrice Cummo [00:07:28]: Right. And thinking about the pandemic, there were certainly lessons learned across the board about many different things as it relates to operating business. Labor rights, labor exploitation. Do you feel specifically about labor exploitation? And COVID-19, and what that taught us are employers repeating the same mistakes. Now, do you see that happening now, or do you predict that it might? Kurt Petersen [00:07:54]: Without question. I mean, every single one of these disasters, and there's an author, Naomi Klein, who's written the Shock Doctrine, where employers and the right wing honestly uses these moments to push through policies or make changes. We're seeing it right now, frankly, in our country, where they otherwise might not do but for a catastrophe. And that's for sure true with employers. I don't care if you work as a writer or an actor or a teacher or a hotel worker. Employers have attempted every single time, and they certainly tried during the pandemic to have fewer workers do more work. Right. Cutting labor. Kurt Petersen [00:08:28]: If you look at the number of workers at a hotel over time, in 9/11, it dropped and it never came back up. After the financial catastrophe in 2008, it dropped and never came back. In the pandemic, we knew they were going to do it, and we have fought like crazy to stop them from doing it. I can't say that we've been wholly successful. But one thing, for example, that they tried to get away with, which, if you had asked me, I would have said no way, which was the elimination of daily room cleaning. I mean, people went to hotels before the pandemic expecting your room would be cleaned and your bed would be made. That was like one of the nice things that hotel. And during the pandemic, they tried to say, well, safety requires us not to clean the rooms. Kurt Petersen [00:09:07]: And then they tried to keep it, which was all about not safety or sanitation, but about cutting labor, less room attendants cleaning the rooms or those that had to clean them. When the rooms were finally vacated, the rooms were twice as difficult. So we ended up passing a bunch of policies all through the city, and we have them in our contract saying that mandatory daily room cleaning, because it was never about safety or sanitation. In fact, when you think about it, it's more sanitary when someone's in your room cleaning your room every day. It's also a safety issue. I mean, shortly before the pandemic, there was a horrible tragedy in Vegas where a man hoarded guns in a casino. You might remember this and wiped out. It was just horrible. Kurt Petersen [00:09:47]: And then the industry said, oh, my God, we got to go in a room every day because we got to make sure no one's Hoarding guns. Well, then the pandemic comes along, like, no, no, no, we don't need to go in every day because. But it was all about labor and saving labor. So, yes, the employers can't help themselves but to take advantage of these situations. And I think it's across the board, I think it's why workers are angry, because they saw it happen and that's why there was this mass resignation and that's why people are still pissed. Our members still are angry about it and they still in fights with the employer to get people back at work. Salvatrice Cummo [00:10:15]: Wow, I didn't know as to that gravity. Kurt Petersen [00:10:18]: Oh, it's horrible. Yeah. We've lost 20% of our membership, probably permanently because of this. And we're not the only one. You know, if you go in, there's many front desk agents. Did you wait longer there? Well, they got. Reconciliations are gone. Bell persons and valet, they've combined jobs. Kurt Petersen [00:10:33]: I can go on ird, which is called room service for folks, is pretty much gone everywhere now. They'll come up with reasons why every one of those things, you know, they have a rationale for, but at the end of the day, it's for them to have fewer people do more work or to cut labor. And that's the battle that we're, you know, nonstop inside our workplaces. Salvatrice Cummo [00:10:50]: And now we have our most recent crisis with these fires and employers that were affected by it. I mean, just listening to what you shared now and the impact from that, like the aftermath of that, both then and now, do you think that the hospitality industry has the ability to recover from crises like the ones that we're facing now and any future ones? I mean, it sounds like it's a slow recovery process, even from the pandemic. Kurt Petersen [00:11:20]: Yeah, I mean, no one's throwing a yard sale for the CEO of Hyatt, Marriott, or Hilton. So their stock prices are higher than they've ever been, higher than the pandemic. They have recovered. The industry has recovered. Yes, the fires, you know, were a blip and they came down and they'll but worldwide, nationally and regionally. And I mean, you go outside today, Salvatrice, and it's 74 and sunny in LA. It's the most beautiful place on earth. So tourism will survive and flourish. Kurt Petersen [00:11:47]: The question is, you know, at what cost to the workers who have, you know, put their blood, sweat and tears into making it profitable in our society? Unfortunately, they are beholden, they think, the employers, to their stock price or their shareholders or to their investors. And we, you know, our fight is to say no, you know, you also have a responsibility of the community and your responsibility, these workers. And you're not going to just work people to the bone. It just isn't going to happen. And, and workers are willing to fight. The beauty of this is that our members likewise, again, you know, you saw it during that union summer of strikes or whatever, across the board, everyone is willing to stand up and fight. My wife's a teacher. She's been on strike twice. Kurt Petersen [00:12:24]: I mean, it's just, I feel like we're at a good moment in terms of where workers are and what, you know, the anger they have and the willingness to risk their jobs in order to make things better. And same time, we have greed on a, you know, on a pace that we've never seen before. Salvatrice Cummo [00:12:38]: On that note, do you think that there are policies, I mean, you mentioned policies earlier, policies that are missing or are currently in the process that will affect how workers recover? I mean, the industry is recovering. Great. Sounds like, right. Yes, this is a blip, but sounds like everything is growing and moving, but now, you know, flipping the coin for the workers. Do policies need to be put in place for the recovery for the workers themselves? Kurt Petersen [00:13:03]: Yeah, I mean, it's hard because policies, no matter how careful you are in drafting them, they will always find the leak in the loophole. So, you know, the daily room cleaning mandatory law that we passed in a number of cities here, including Los Angeles, has worked. The other policy we're pushing and we're going to win is an Olympic wage for hospitality workers at the airport and at hotels for the city of Los Angeles, other municipalities, so that we link the Olympics to a living wage. We'll get to $30 an hour by 2028 for that group of workers. Problem with raising the wages, of course, is then they automatically find ways to cut workers. So ultimately, I think it is the union that does it because we're able to, you know, workers can take action on the floors, they can stop working if they think there's not enough, or they can slow stuff down and just not finish rooms or, or not finish their job when they're really well organized. And I think the strike is the weapon that we have and that we're gonna continue using in order to make sure that people aren't overworked. Salvatrice Cummo [00:14:08]: Right. And it sounds like to me too, that it's allowing for the industry to reexamine culture, work environment outside of policy and regulation and the right thing to do. But it sounds like they need to take a critical look at culture and Their organization and how they're structured and that the older models or the models pre pandemic and now, you know, yes, we recovered from it, are not going to work. And yes, they've cut costs, but it's not just about cutting labor. There's other things that need to take place. And I mean, you mentioned the Olympics and the other sporting events that are coming up soon, soon here. Makes me wonder, you know, do you think that LA is ready for that? Is this an economic opportunity for us and how do we benefit from it through the lens of workforce? Kurt Petersen [00:15:01]: And that's a great question and something we're wrestling with, and honestly it is. Our strategy is to use these mega events to move forward the agenda for working people. We settled all of our contracts in our hotels and, and the airports and at event centers to expire just before the Olympics in 2028. On the hotel side, the employers actually understood the value or the importance of that date because they actually offered us a couple more dollars an hour to expire in September of 2028, which would have been a couple months later. And our members rejected it unanimously. We're not going to take the money. We want to be there in 2028. So as it stands right now, unfortunately, and the fires clearly don't help it, the Olympics, at best, they'll do no harm. Kurt Petersen [00:15:49]: That is kind of the view that we have, and we think that's unfortunate. You know, la, I think, you know, made some major mistakes here. They, you know, the process for the Olympics and how it's going to be run has been subcontracted to LA28, which is run by a billionaire, and other billionaires, and they're raising money from billionaires, but they're in charge of operating it, not the city of Los Angeles. If they run a deficit, which they will, the city of Los Angeles is on the hook for hundreds of millions of dollars where there's no vision. I mean, when Eric Garcetti started this process, he was like, let's think about making this a solution for the unhoused and for our housing crisis. In fact, they actually said out loud in 2015 that we would build athletic housing, which they did do in Paris, that then would be converted into housing for working people in Los Angeles. That obviously never came to pass. So I think it's vapid of vision. Kurt Petersen [00:16:43]: It's opaque. And, you know, honestly, as we've seen with FIFA and IOC and the International Olympic Committee, it's oftentimes corrupt. And I think we're heading in that direction. So we, though Believe it should be much, much more. Do no harm or pray and hope it will get done and we won't be completely displaced. And, you know, whatever else bad happens, we think that there's time and we think there's a demand to make stuff much better for people. We think there should be a new deal for the Olympics that is transparent, that demands that workers, whether they're making garments for the athletes or work at the venues, either setting up or cooking food, are all union. And then finally, we think this needs to be about housing. Kurt Petersen [00:17:22]: We really do. Our last fight, we got our wages up to $35 an hour for a room attendant. They still can't afford to live in Los Angeles. These Olympics are an opportunity where we can leverage lots of money from lots of different folks to try to build housing, to make a commitment for housing. And right now, as it stands, there's no...
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Contracts, Crises, & the Cost of Survival: LA’s Hospitality Fight with Kurt Petersen, Co-President Unite Here Episode 143
04/15/2025
Contracts, Crises, & the Cost of Survival: LA’s Hospitality Fight with Kurt Petersen, Co-President Unite Here Episode 143
What if the 2028 Olympics didn’t just bring medals, but a housing revolution? In this episode of Future of Work, Dr. Salvatrice Cummo sits down with Kurt Peterson, Co-President of Unite Here Local 11, to explore the mounting pressures facing hospitality workers in Los Angeles, and the explosive opportunity that the 2028 Olympics might represent. Peterson doesn’t mince words. From natural disasters like wildfires to economic disruptions like COVID-19, hospitality workers have repeatedly borne the brunt of crisis after crisis. And while tourism is rebounding, the industry’s recovery has largely left workers behind. Peterson argues that the real crisis now isn’t just wages, it’s housing. As the world turns its eyes toward LA in 2028, Peterson makes one thing clear: if the Olympics can afford luxury, it can and must afford dignity, equity, and a place for workers to call home. You’ll learn: What mega-events like the Olympics could mean for Labor Rights. How employers use crises to cut labor and what unions are doing about it. How housing became the central fight for LA workers. Why the decommissioned Santa Monica Airport could be LA’s housing lifeline. Learn why Unite Here Local 11 is prepared to stage an unprecedented strike during the 2028 Olympics. About the Guest: Kurt Petersen is Co-President of UNITE HERE Local 11, representing over 35,000 hotel and food service workers across Southern California and Arizona. A Notre Dame alum with studies in theology and philosophy, Kurt nearly joined the Jesuits before earning his law degree from Yale and organizing with the United Farm Workers, where he helped secure Washington State’s first farm worker union contract. Since 1995, he has led efforts that brought over 25,000 workers into UNITE HERE and helped transform Local 11 into a major political and labor force. He’s currently leading the largest hotel strike in U.S. history, with over 10,000 workers striking 175 times at 54 hotels. The resulting contracts include historic wage increases and are set to expire just before the 2028 LA Olympics. Kurt was recently named to the Los Angeles Times 2024 LA Influential list alongside Co-Presidents Ada Briceño and Susan Minato. Engage with us: , & : @PasadenaCityCollegeEWD Join our newsletter for more on this topic: Visit: More from Kurt Petersen & UNITE HERE Local 11 Websites: , , : @UNITEHERE YouTube: Partner with us! Contact our host Salvatrice Cummo directly: [email protected] Want to be a guest on the show? Click to inquire about booking Find the transcript of this episode Please rate us and leave us your thoughts and comments on Apple Podcasts; we’d love to hear from you!
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Transcript- Episode 142: Championing Women Entrepreneurs in Male-Dominated Industries with Corinne Goble, CEO of Association of Women's Business Centers Episode 142
04/01/2025
Transcript- Episode 142: Championing Women Entrepreneurs in Male-Dominated Industries with Corinne Goble, CEO of Association of Women's Business Centers Episode 142
00:00:00 - Corinne Goble Let's look for the opportunities to become more efficient, to become like leaner, meaner businesses. Leaner, meaner organizations that support those businesses so that we can weather the storm and so that on the other side of it we're stronger and can really look back on this as something like, okay, well, that was an opportunity and now we're better for it. 00:00:27 - Christina Barsi The workforce landscape is rapidly changing and educators and their institutions need to keep up. Preparing students before they enter the workforce to make our communities and businesses stronger is at the core of getting an education. But we need to understand how to change and adjust so that we can begin to project where things are headed before we even get there. So how do we begin to predict the future? 00:00:52 - Dr. Salvatrice Cummo Hi, I'm Salvatrice Cummo, Vice President of Economic and Workforce Development at Pasadena City College and host of this podcast. 00:01:01 - Christina Barsi And I'm Christina Barsi, producer and co host of this podcast. 00:01:04 - Dr. Salvatrice Cummo And we are starting the conversation about the future of work. We'll explore topics like how education can partner with industry, how to be more equitable, and how to attain one of our highest goals, more internships and PCC Students in the workforce. We at Pasadena City College want to lead the charge in closing the gap between what our students are learning and what the demands of the workforce will be once they enter. This is a conversation that impacts all of us. You, the employers, the policymakers, the educational institutions, and the community as a whole. 00:01:38 - Christina Barsi We believe change happens when we work together. And it all starts with having a conversation. I'm Christina Barsi. 00:01:46 - Dr. Salvatrice Cummo And I'm Salvatrice Cummo. And this is the Future of Work. Hi, welcome back to the Future of Work podcast. I am your host, Dr. Salvatrice Cummo. Today we're joined by Corinne Goble, the CEO of the Association of Women's Business Centers, AWBC. Since taking the helm in 2019, Corinne has worked to enhance the AWBC's sustainability and capacity, particularly during the pandemic when she led efforts to secure critical funding for women entrepreneurs through the CARES Act. Under her leadership, the AWBC supported over 145 Women's Business Centers, helping small businesses navigate challenges like access to capital, digital skills, and international trade. In today's conversation, we'll explore the tools and strategies that are helping women entrepreneurs thrive, especially in the context of shifting economic realities. We'll discuss navigating challenges like access to capital, the importance of non-traditional funding sources, and how educational institutions can better equip future leaders to succeed in the evolving workforce. Corinne, welcome. 00:03:04 - Corinne Goble Well, thank you so much. It's great to be here. 00:03:06 - Dr. Salvatrice Cummo Thank you. Thank you so much for joining us. You know, I'm going to dive right in, if that's okay. You know, you have spent years working with women entrepreneurs and small businesses, and you have an interesting path. I'd like if you could please share what inspired you to pursue this path and how did it shape the work that you do today? 00:03:26 - Corinne Goble Working in this space with entrepreneurs, I don't get a chance to really tell the story about how I got here. And it's not glamorous at all. It's kind of a painful story. I grew up in a really difficult situation or circumstances where my dad, who passed away in 2019. My dad was a biker, like a motorcycle gang member leader. He was the vice president of a gang, and he and my mom met riding motorcycles and were major, like, party animals. And so this is not the typical entrepreneurship story, but I suspect they learned about earning money and selling product in a very illegal way. And it turned out that through a couple of circumstances, and I won't belabor the story accidentally, my parents started a business because my dad worked at a taxi company, and they started transporting envelopes from the local airport. And the taxi company said, "We don't want to be moving product. We want to move only people." So my dad left the company with a bunch of customers. And by the way, here's a hack. The best way to start a business is if you already have customers. Like, that's lesson number one. I've learned from this story. But my dad was not running the company well. He was more interested in watching soap operas in the afternoon, turning off the phones where the customers will be calling. And it frustrated my mom, and so she ended up kicking him out of the company. And my mom, she not only built what became a multi-million dollar company, she ran it really well. And she modeled for me what entrepreneurship was, and I think what made it more impactful to me, she did this in a man's world, in a trucking, like, western Michigan environment. And I got to see what being strong because you're good at what you do really looks like. 00:05:20 - Dr. Salvatrice Cummo That's a beautiful story. I know you were saying, like, it's not the most traditional way of starting the entrepreneurial journey, but nonetheless, it's a journey, right? Everyone's journey is different. And you seen it firsthand. You extracted all of the beauties and not-so-good things about entrepreneurship because it is rocky, right? I mean, we don't. It's not a glamorous endeavor. It takes a lot of sweat equity and time, perseverance, and resilience. An organization like ours is to nurture, assist, navigate, and guide entrepreneurs, which leads me to ask you about your perspective on organizations or individuals who are interested in supporting women entrepreneurs in overcoming their largest challenge, which you and I both know is typically access to capital. What would be, you know, in your perspective, the first step for either organizations or individuals looking to better support our women entrepreneurs? 00:06:22 - Corinne Goble Well, I love this question because I think it has to start with those organizations do need to understand the challenges of the specific target audience. Like not all women-owned businesses have the same needs. I mean a startup needs very different things and the way they're going to come into capital is going to look very different. Service sector versus consumer products looks very different. More advanced businesses, like stage two or larger, also have different challenges and need different things. So it starts with first understanding what type of businesses are we looking at, where in the spectrum are they and what types of capital are appropriate. You know, we lump all the funding together, like, oh, it's all capital. Well, there's debt capital, there's equity capital. Not all business owners have the same appetite for the same kind of risk or want to dilute their company's ownership by giving away a piece of the company just to get money in the door. And yet other business owners don't necessarily feel comfortable bringing on a loan. They don't want to look at something they have to pay back. What I will say is it's just as important for a business to get access to capital as it is that they get the right kind of capital. You know, again, as those organizations that are out there to assist, those entrepreneurs need to understand those business needs. They also have to really understand the ecosystem around capital. There's crowdfunding. You know, you've got your gofundmes, your angel links, lots of really unique and interesting capital options. And we can really spend a lot of time as entrepreneurs or the organizations helping them, kind of spinning our wheels, maybe pursuing the wrong type if we're not really well informed, and kind of already know how to do a good match. And so I think it starts there and then it's understanding once we've identified what's the right capital for that business owner, what's all required. The worst thing we can do, in my opinion, is send someone into a lender or a capital provider ill-prepared because they're going to be embarrassed, and it's going to really hurt their confidence. And once it hurts their confidence, that's going to hurt their desire, their appetite to go back again and ask for that capital. So really making sure they're well prepared for that type of capital so that if they go in and they do get a no, they know they were still prepared and they're much more likely to go back, you know, and take another bite at the apple and setting expectations with them too that, hey, it's really common to get no's and you just have to be persevering until you can get that yes. So hope that's helpful. 00:09:03 - Dr. Salvatrice Cummo It is. It absolutely is. It also makes me think about how access to capital, I appreciate the way you broke it down as to what type of capital that's critical and important. And it's also a turning point. You know, access to capital, depending on the capital type, is always a turning point for businesses, good, bad, or indifferent. Right. Because we've seen it all. The other turning point that I was thinking about was the pandemic, right? And how the pandemic was massive is not a strong enough word, right? When we think about turning points for many businesses, including the Women's Business Centers. So I wanted to kind of just shift a little bit. When we think about turning points, how did the response of the AWBC during the COVID crisis reshape your vision for the future of Women's Business Centers and the association? 00:10:01 - Corinne Goble The first thing is that we are not smarter than everyone else. We got a little bit lucky, and we had smart people around us. You know, some people aren't really familiar with history or don't remember the timeline, but in January, this is when Congress started talking about the CARES Act. And if you remember, in January, there really felt like at the time that there were only like rumors of cases popping up. And here we had Congress contemplating a billion-dollar funding package in response to a pandemic we weren't even in yet. And, and I am embarrassed to say, when our government affairs team said we're talking to Congress about writing in funding for Women's Business Centers, I kind of laughed, like, why are we even talking about this? But sure, go ahead. You have my approval. Ask for the funding. Well, let me tell you what, that was pivotal because it turned into funding for Women's Business Centers at a level that we had never seen before. And that lesson of bringing extra dollars into the women's business center showed them what they were capable of with now that they had more resources. So at a time when the world was really suffering, we had more resources than we'd ever had and we made a bigger impact than we'd ever had. So lots of lessons to learn out of that. But the other thing I think that we have to keep in mind is that when we're going through a crisis, and I'm particularly thinking about the small business owners. I mean, Main Street was the first, you know, to be fully impacted, obviously, besides the health aspect. Right. But like in our economy, it's Main Street that got hit. It's your small stores, retail stores, that got closed. You could still go to Home Depot, but you couldn't go to your local hardware store or local retail. So there had to be some real serious reprogramming and retooling and efficiency that had to come to bear. And if we would have known on day one how long we were having to endure this, we might have even approached it a little bit differently. But now we've all been through this crisis in our lifetime. And so I really think that that helps us be ready and hopefully be more resilient and prepared for the next whatever that crisis looks like. So I think the lesson that we need to take out of that is like, let's look for the opportunities to become more efficient, to become like leaner, meaner businesses. Leaner, meaner organizations that support those businesses so that we can weather the storm and so that on the other side of it we're stronger and can really look back on this as something like, okay, well that was an opportunity and now we're better for it. 00:12:44 - Dr. Salvatrice Cummo Exactly. And I kind of want to expand a little bit, though, on the role of the Women's Business Centers, because we talked about, you know, navigating difficult financial times with access to capital and types. Then we also talked about, well, not really talked about, but kind of embedded in that is government policy changes. And we saw a lot of that actually during the pandemic as well. And we're going to continue to see it as we move forward in the future, expand a little bit for me on the role that Women's Business Centers play in that space. 00:13:14 - Corinne Goble Well, I really am not exaggerating when I tell you Women's Business Centers were the lifeline for many of these businesses. No one else, I mean, I have data to share that no one else was there for those women owned businesses. And Women's Business Centers were, I recall, several, several days and nights where like, I would be working late and I was pulling together information for congress on different resources and things like that. And, and I'd want to double check a phone number to be sure the number I'm providing is the Right number. I'd be dialing this number at 11:00 Eastern Time, and a women's business center would pick up the phone at 11pm that's amazing. I saw in the service they were providing that way. But then to hear the stories from the entrepreneurs that said, had it not been for the women's business center that told me about PPP, I'm not kidding you. I met a woman-owned business in Watsonville, California last week, had the luxury to go there, visit some Women's Business Centers, and to participate in an event. And this beautiful Mexican restaurant owner, she said, we were in the middle of the pandemic, and I never even knew about PPP until Carmen @ El Pajaro told me about it. And she said, we applied and we got round one and it was forgiven. And then we got round two and it was forgiven. And she said, had it not been for PPP, my business wouldn't be in existence. Like that, the business owner didn't have the time to research. She had no idea about those resources. Her banker wasn't calling her like my banker called me and said, “Where’s your PPP application? I need you to get it in.” And so had it not been, you know, Women's Business Center, so many of our businesses wouldn't have even survived. 00:14:53 - Dr. Salvatrice Cummo Yeah, it underscores the value, the importance, the need, the everything that, you know, supporting entrepreneurship comes in various shapes and sizes and through associations. But what you said just moments ago, you said there was literally no one a seat, women owned businesses. That really struck me. I hadn't thought about it through that lens. I hadn't seen it through that lens until you just said it right now. And it's like, she's right, she's right. The Women's Business Centers were the only ones really stepping up and providing the services needed to not only access to capital, technical services, but also a support mechanism, a support group to kind of work through and talk through things in a way that maybe other spaces didn't provide. So I really appreciate you sharing that with me because when we start to cultivate and nurture like our future entrepreneurs, I can't help but think about all of what you just said and what approach should we be using so that our future entrepreneurs have the ability to navigate, you know, their digital skills funding in global markets. Right. And so my question to you now would be like, what are some key shifts in how women in business should be approaching digital skills funding in global markets as we start to cultivate this new era of entrepreneurs? 00:16:15 - Corinne Goble So, I have a day to answer this, right? Like you're giving me like a good 12 or 24 hours to do like a long response because there's so much in it. I mean, when we talk about digital, like then it brings about cybersecurity and AI and all of the things you have to be able to navigate. There are so many, like potholes, if not landmines in that world that there's no way to give comprehensive advice right in a little, in a nice cute sound bite. And so you really have to surround yourself with the experts who can guide you through and anticipate where those landmines are, anticipate those speed bumps. Nobody wants to hit them. You really want to be able to move around them in the most efficient way possible. That sounds like it could be expensive. And you know, just to kind of echo back to the previous question, the Women's Business Centers don't cost that kind of money, but can help with referrals and can help build that support mechanism around you for the type of advice that you actually need. It's always makes me almost sad when I'm talking to a room of women owned businesses and they say over and over again, I didn't know all of these resources were here for us. I didn't know that all of this was available. Well, you need to ask your women's business center because they can point you in the right direction. Let's just talk about digital for a second. There's no way you can be expected as a business owner to know and understand all of the cybersecurity risks associated with your website, especially if it's e-commerce, and even more so if you need to be compliant with the European Union standards, et cetera. Why would you spend your time, your valuable time becoming an expert in all of those areas when there are people out there who can very quickly get you what you need and it meets those requirements. So we as women in particular tend to trust people. And then once we've sort of like forged that trust, we never second-guess, we never check back up on them. And so this is like, if we could highlight some things, I want to say this is one of them right here. It's like, do your homework and make sure your experts really are experts. Maybe they started out really great, but like you want to come back and check their work later, and when you get solicitations. So let's say we're talking about an IT firm. You've got an IT firm or consultant that helps you with your e-commerce site. You've been rocking and rolling great for five years and everything's wonderful. You know, you're getting solicitations from someone else, and rather than just saying no, say, audit what we've got and tell me everything my current IT provider is doing wrong so that I can go back and check their work. It doesn't mean you're about to go fire them. It just means you need to know if they're really, you know, what they're doing for you. And, I would say with your accountant and your taxes, do the same thing. If you're doing international trade, there's so much with customs work. Any kind of consultants that you're bringing on board, if they're really important and integral to your business and they're a key part of your risk mitigation, they need to be someone you can double-check and check their work. 00:19:28 - Dr. Salvatrice Cummo Right. And feel comfortable in doing so, and them not being threatened by it either. 00:19:32 - Corinne Goble You're not saying you don't trust them. You're just saying, I value my business, and I need to make sure that I'm getting what I need for what I'm paying. 00:19:38 - Dr. Salvatrice Cummo That's right. Yeah. Thank you for that. I want to shift gears just a little bit. I would really like to hear your perspective around education and workforce, because in this space of entrepreneurship, naturally, we are embedding...
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Championing Women Entrepreneurs in Male-Dominated Industries with Corinne Goble, CEO of Association of Women's Business Centers Episode 142
04/01/2025
Championing Women Entrepreneurs in Male-Dominated Industries with Corinne Goble, CEO of Association of Women's Business Centers Episode 142
Understanding women entrepreneurs’ diverse funding needs is essential and women’s business centers play a vital role, especially in times of crisis. More than just financial support, these centers offer guidance, community, and critical resources to help women navigate challenges and grow their businesses. Corinne Goble, CEO of the Association of Women’s Business Centers (AWBC), brings a personal passion to this work, inspired by her mother’s success in a male-dominated field. She champions boldness, strong support networks, or “bail teams,” and access to tailored programs like AWBC’s Hope2Women. Goble also emphasizes the role of inclusive education in opening doors for women across traditionally male-dominated industries. You’ll learn: The role women’s business centers play in helping women entrepreneurs thrive against the odds. Why promoting inclusivity in male-dominated industries matters. Why women entrepreneurs’ ideas deserve investment and how their leadership shapes the future of business. How women’s business centers offer resources specifically designed to support and elevate women-owned businesses. Why understanding the diverse funding needs of women entrepreneurs is essential to building an inclusive and dynamic economy. About the Guest: Since becoming CEO of the Association of Women’s Business Centers (AWBC) in January 2019, Corinne Goble has focused on strengthening the network’s sustainability and capacity. When the pandemic hit in early 2020, she and her advocacy team quickly mobilized to secure vital resources for Women's Business Centers (WBCs), helping them support small businesses on the front lines. Goble’s current priorities include modernizing and reauthorizing the WBC program while expanding the now 145-center network. She also engages in broader small business initiatives, from digital skills to international trade, and is a founding member of the USMCA SME Counselor Network, supporting export growth across North America. Engage with us: , & : @PasadenaCityCollegeEWD Join our newsletter for more on this topic: Visit: More from Corinne Goble & the Association of Women’s Business Centers (AWBC) Websites: & LinkedIn: Facebook: LinkedIn: TikTok: Twitter/X: Partner with us! Contact our host Salvatrice Cummo directly: [email protected] Want to be a guest on the show? Click to inquire about booking Find the transcript of this episode Please rate us and leave us your thoughts and comments on Apple Podcasts; we’d love to hear from you!
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Transcript- Episode 141: Empowering Individuals Through Hands-On Work Experience with Tim Aldinger, Vice President of Workforce and Climate Innovation Episode 141
03/18/2025
Transcript- Episode 141: Empowering Individuals Through Hands-On Work Experience with Tim Aldinger, Vice President of Workforce and Climate Innovation Episode 141
00:00:00 - Tim Aldinger We've recognized that our community colleges are so embedded in our communities generally have great trust that focusing on some of those adaptation ways of approaching, whether that's in a community emergency or whether it's helping bring community together to think about what the future is related to, new technologies or more climate resilience is a great role for our community colleges and you see that in all the iterations up and down the state. 00:00:31 - Christina Barsi The workforce landscape is rapidly changing, and educators and their institutions need to keep up. Preparing students before they enter the workforce to make our communities and businesses stronger is at the core of getting an education, but we need to understand how to change and adjust so that we can begin to project where things are headed before we even get there. So how do we begin to predict the future? 00:00:56 - Dr. Salvatrice Cummo Hi, I'm Salvatrice Cummo, Vice President of Economic and Workforce Development at Pasadena City College and host of this podcast. 00:01:05 - Christina Barsi And I'm Christina Barsi, producer and co-host of this podcast. 00:01:08 - Dr. Salvatrice Cummo And we are starting the conversation about the future of work. We'll explore topics like how education can partner with industry, how to be more equitable, and how to attain one of our highest goals, more internships and PCC Students in the workforce. We at Pasadena City College want to lead the charge in closing the gap between what our students are learning and what the demands of the workforce will be once they enter. This is a conversation that impacts all of us, you, the employers, the policymakers, the educational institutions, and the community as a whole. 00:01:42 - Christina Barsi We believe change happens when we work together, and it all starts with having a conversation. Hi, I'm Christina Barsi. 00:01:50 - Dr. Salvatrice Cummo And I'm Salvatrice Cummo. And this is the Future of Work. Hi. Welcome back to the Future of Work podcast. I am your host, Dr. Salvatrice Cummo. Please join me in welcoming Tim Aldinger, Vice President of Workforce and Climate Innovation at Foundation for California Community Colleges. Tim has dedicated over two decades to advancing work-based learning opportunities, particularly within California's diverse communities. He has led initiatives like the California Resilient Careers and Forestry Proposal, a pivotal project that won the American Rescue Plan Good Jobs Challenge grant. Tim has also co-founded the California Workforce Association's Executive Boot Camp, helping train the next generation of workforce leaders. He has worked locally and nationally to strengthen public workforce systems and has supported over 5000 work-based learning participants annually. Today, we'll explore how work-based learning impacts both individuals and communities and how partnerships between educational institutions and industries can solve pressing workforce challenges. Tim, welcome. Welcome to the show. Pleasure to have you. 00:03:05 - Tim Aldinger Thank you so much for having me. Salvatrice, it's wonderful to be here. 00:03:08 - Dr. Salvatrice Cummo You bet, you bet. I have a little bit of intel around your background, but for those who are new to the podcast or new to the understanding of the foundation for California Community Colleges, and you particularly, can you give us a little background about how your experiences have led you here and at what point did you feel that you had the best knowledge around work based learning and the value and what it means for individuals and the industries? 00:03:34 - Tim Aldinger You know, there were a couple of experiences in my own career path that I think have always informed my approach. And I think some of my story is really not unlike or quite similar to lots of our students and lots of our peers. I first went to a four-year college. I dropped out. I wasn't quite sure what direction I wanted to take. And at a point in my life that was I've characterized as low, low bank account balance, low confidence, kind of low hope. 00:04:09 - Tim Aldinger I was living up in a small town up in Ashland, and in the mornings, I would go to my housekeeping job at the Stratford Inn, and then I'd have a couple hours’ break, and then I'd go to my dishwashing job at Geppetto's. And I was grateful for the work at the time, honestly, but it was also clearly not where I thought I would be in my mid-20s. And I ended up, I was living near a local college and I ended up taking a summer class. And someone came into that class and said, hey, anybody here in the class want to spend their weekends working out in the woods, get some college credit and also maybe some money to pay for college? And I thought that sounds good and maybe better than what I'm doing now. 00:04:55 - Tim Aldinger And that was an AmeriCorps program. And so, for the next year, I was part of what was called RealCorps, the regional ecosystem Applied Learning Corps. And it was a transformative moment in my life. And that program, as most AmeriCorps programs and core programs, is very much steeped in work-based learning. You go out, and you, in this case, build trails. Thin forest stands at the urban wildland interface. 00:05:22 - Tim Aldinger Technically, it's a wildland urban interface, the wui. And that was such a special and meaningful experience for me in terms of the space I was in in my life. It brought community, it helped me gain confidence, and it got me re-engaged in higher education and got me thinking, I do want to go back, and I do want to finish this. And so I am so grateful for that. I've shared with many that on the Last day of that program, I ugly cried. I mean, I could not stop crying because it had just fed me; it had just helped me get my feet back on the ground so much. And so that's often a touch point for me about the power of how that integrated learning, where I had classroom learning that was more in the abstract, but then I could go out and really experience what it looks like in the woods here and what the policy implications were of decisions decades ago, and then actually really help the community out. 00:06:22 - Tim Aldinger Now the story goes on. I finished my studies. I did well from an academic and grades perspective, came out with a bachelor's degree, and I applied to about 50 jobs. And I got one phone interview. And that was another sort of moment of like, well, I thought we were supposed to go get our degree, and I thought that this is what would open all the doors for me. 00:06:47 - Tim Aldinger And it turned out that, you know, I wasn't able to share or demonstrate what I was able to do. And I didn't necessarily have the network or the immediate ability to apply the things I had learned. And this was more in the general nonprofit space. I was not still more in the kind of forestry space. So, after eventually becoming a substitute teacher for a while, I decided to apply for a program called the KORO Fellowship in Public Affairs. For those who don't know, the flagship of that is in San Francisco, but there's also one in Los Angeles and a few others across the country. And the structure of KORO is also through and through work-based learning. Through the course of nine months, you are placed in in nonprofits, government agencies, private businesses, media outlets, organized labor. 00:07:38 - Tim Aldinger And at the same time, you get incredible access to local decision makers, and you get to interview them and find out how they came to where they are. And what I'll tell then is that by the end of that program, I applied for three jobs and was offered two of them. 00:07:55 - Tim Aldinger So, both of those experiences for me have led to this question that has really informed my work. Where, how I've met you and so many others in the California community colleges is why were those programs somewhat adjacent to my actual higher ed experience. Why wasn't more of my higher ed experience so steeped and rich in that kind of learning? And we are certainly seeing, I think, more of that across our colleges. And I am so happy to be here with you because I know that's a big focus at Pasadena, and there's still so much opportunity, and so far we could go in making that kind of learning more accessible. 00:08:33 - Dr. Salvatrice Cummo Thank you. You and I have had, and you just mentioned it, right? You and I have both had the unique opportunity and ability to build work-based learning programs for our systems. And if memory serves me right, gosh, we met probably 2018 or so when the foundation was looking at work-based learning holistically across our systems. And you and I both understand and know the value of, and you just shared your own personal experience on the value of work-based learning. But for our listeners, could you maybe unpack a little more how you see it benefiting not only for the individual as an example of what you shared but also for industries and organizations? What benefit and value does it bring for them? 00:09:17 - Tim Aldinger How many times, Salvatrice, have you heard the saying industry and higher ed move at different speeds? Like if you're in workforce, career, technical education, you hear that all the time. And I think to a certain degree that's as it should be. There are aspects of learning that do need to have its own pace and its own culture. And I would say that to the extent that those different paces can lead to it actually being harder for our students to find and secure good, upwardly mobile, socially mobile career paths, we need to reflect on that. 00:09:59 - Tim Aldinger I think what I've seen, the examples I just shared, but what I know what you've done in so many of our colleagues across the not just the California community colleges, but across the country where career connected, rich, well designed work based learning happens, those speed differences get way less and people often share sort of the gold standard of apprenticeships where actually working and learning are not separate. 00:10:23 - Tim Aldinger It is the same thing. You have a job, you are learning under accomplished people. You also have classroom instruction where you get more of the theory and the underpinning to help you do your work. But every day you are working. But then there's so many iterations of that, whether it's an internship, whether it's other forms of earn and learn, short term work experience, or even the experiences like I mentioned, Quora, where you have an opportunity to talk to somebody who's had an interesting career path of their own. All those things bring context and nuance to what is learned just in the classroom, to that student. 00:11:06 - Tim Aldinger So that they're picking up, oh, this is how people operate in the work world. This is how they talk about this thing I learned in a class, but I didn't know this is how they talked about it. Or lo and behold, yes, I got to apply myself in my lab on this kind of technology, but this company actually has this other kind of technology, and I have the frameworks and the understanding, but now I need to apply it in a different way. 00:11:31 - Tim Aldinger So much of that, I think, generally can only really happen in the real world and in an applied sense. So for our students, I think it's just a rich, rich way of learning. My team here at the foundation has had the opportunity to work with the California Workforce Development Board on a project helping individuals who are coming out of incarceration to get good jobs, called the Hire Initiative. At a recent convening we put on, the state Director of Career and Technical Education for the California Department of Corrections spoke. He was such an advocate for career technical education and he spoke about how the recidivism rates and the success rates for individuals incarceration coming out who have been part of career technical education are so much better, tens and tens and 20 to 30, 40, 50% better than others, because that type of learning, it engages different parts of your mind, different parts of your brain structure, helps you perhaps unlearn things that need to be unlearned and unlock new parts of yourself. 00:12:37 - Tim Aldinger So all that to say, this rich kind of learning is so good for such a wide range of students. Now to the other part of your question. We also in workforce development, as professionals, we hear so much from our employer partners, our industry partners of, well, the students, they may have the technical skills, but they don't know how to interact with others or they don't know how to deal with conflict, or they, they don't show up with time and on and on and on. 00:13:01 - Tim Aldinger So, pick your poison. Is that soft skills, essential skills, 21st-century skills, whatever those are, that again, I come back to work-based learning as a benefit to the employer that they are getting a chance to help these individuals learn what the workplace is like, learn about that culture. That's certainly for me, again, like when I think about my experience in koro, I got to see so many different iterations and find out, oh, this could be interesting. 00:13:27 - Tim Aldinger I had told the people at Coro that I was very interested in third-party candidates. So they said, okay, you can go work for a third-party candidate. And it was a real eye-opener for me, especially when my other students were working on really pressing statewide races and things. And I wasn't having that kind of access at the time, but again, that was important learning. And how many times have we heard the classic story of the student that thought they wanted to go into healthcare but found that they didn't like the real world implications, the blood or whatever it might be, the pain, the real pain you have to deal with that is all benefiting the employer side as well. 00:14:03 - Tim Aldinger They want the people who are cut out for the work, that have the aptitude, that have the drive. And there's I wish I had this, and maybe we'll put it in the show notes. 00:14:13 - Tim Aldinger But there is the research that shows that well-structured internship programs benefit employers in terms of retention, lower their recruiting costs. That can be really significant costs for a business, all that. But it all takes work. And I know that's what this podcast is about. It's what you do every day. It's still a little bit countercultural to our institutions. So, real quick, part of what we try to do at the foundation for California Community Colleges and partner with the Chancellor's office and with local colleges and regions is, is how can we provide tools, supports, training to help make that happen. 00:14:51 - Dr. Salvatrice Cummo Thank you, Tim, for unpacking that. And I also really appreciate the fact that you underscored the value for industry. Sometimes, that short-term commitment feels very heavy for an organization. I understand having our own family businesses. However, that short-term commitment is a long-term gain for the organization. All the things that you said, retention, bottom line. And we're developing new talent and new workforce. And I would also say that organizations have an opportunity to upskill their existing workforce, and there are work-based learning opportunities within their own respective organizations for their current employees. And sometimes we forget about that. We forget about the existing employees, and we're always focused on new talent. Which led me to think about, you know, when we first met, we were just kind of exploring all of what is possible with work-based learning and how does it fit within our respective systems. We had a chance to work through a program. Do you want to talk a little bit about that? 00:15:55 - Tim Aldinger I do. Thank you for bringing that up. I was thinking about our time together. I was thinking, you know, I first met you, Salvatrice, I think it was 2017 and at the time we were working with the Chancellor's office on a project we called the Work-Based Learning Planning and Tools Pilot. It was great. Pasadena was one of actually about 34 colleges. We were thrilled with the response that actually participated. 00:16:21 - Tim Aldinger And I will, I'd love to share a little bit because I think it's really informed my sense of if we do want to see more of this kind of learning, what would it take? So at that time, I'd been in my role here at the foundation for three to four years, and a lot of the work I had been doing was under the operating assumption that there was great demand for work-based learning, both from students and employers and our colleges. And so a big thing that needed to be addressed was really just the operationalizing of that work-based learning. 00:16:55 - Tim Aldinger So the purpose of the work-based learning planning tools pilot was to do both of those, to do some planning. So, I still remember coming to Pasadena City College biased here. And I know people yell at me, one of the, if not the most beautiful community college. I mean, just such stunning architecture. I was like, wow, this is an incredible place. And we sat in one of your rooms and really started to talk about all the programs you were doing, all the efforts you were making. And we got to do that up and down the state with a wide range of community colleges. And then we had this suite of tools. At the time, we had actually a digital platform that was designed to help match employers and students for a range of work-based learning we had at the time. 00:17:36 - Tim Aldinger And we still have our service in which we provide employer of record services for colleges, workforce agencies, nonprofits, where we can step in and do the actual HR and employment functions. And at the time, we even had a digital app that helped students explore their career interests and even see how far away they were from an actual career community college and what their offerings were. 00:18:00 - Tim Aldinger And they're great, they're all tools. But there was such learning with you and with all these others that really all those colleges, none of them had the infrastructure to even know how many students were engaged in work-based learning at the time. So even the baseline of knowing where they were starting and where you wanted to go wasn't quite available. We realized that there was an incredible, often decentralization of work-based learning. And just for the record, it's not advocacy for fully centralizing either, just to be clear, but lots of deans, vice presidents, faculty members didn't know what another was doing. 00:18:42 - Tim Aldinger Sometimes multiple people talking to businesses at the same time. So the point of all this was a kind of a learning and frankly a real humbling on my part that there's still quite a bit of work to do back then and I think now, and I love that you're doing this podcast and that so many more of our peers are having this type of conversation of, well, what would it take to make work based learning, applied learning, career connected learning, just not a separate thing for our students, but a real thing. So Salvatore is one of the things we learned through the work-based learning planning and tools pilot was the importance of storytelling. 00:19:21 - Tim Aldinger And by the way, I really enjoyed the podcast you recently did with the woman talking about the importance of storytelling. And I'm so this document here, you may recall, this is a document that we put together that was about mapping your career path. And we had you and lots of your peers, and then my team basically chart out the steps in your career...
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Empowering Individuals Through Hands-On Work Experience with Tim Aldinger, Vice President of Workforce and Climate Innovation Episode 141
03/18/2025
Empowering Individuals Through Hands-On Work Experience with Tim Aldinger, Vice President of Workforce and Climate Innovation Episode 141
How can work-based learning shape the future of education and careers? Tim Aldinger, Vice President of Workforce and Climate Innovation at Foundation for California Community Colleges (FoundationCCC), explores how combining real-world experience with classroom learning boosts talent development, retention, and industry collaboration. Initiatives like the Work-Based Learning Planning Pilot demonstrate that education and industry can work together effectively. Community colleges play a key role in creating accessible, affordable pathways, especially in emerging fields like climate resilience. By offering solutions like credit for prior learning and stackable credentials, they ensure more equitable workforce opportunities for underserved communities. You’ll learn: How work-based learning benefits students. Key ways for creating equitable workforce pathways. How industry partnerships can create thriving work-based learning programs. The role of community colleges in workforce preparation. Why reflective learning is important in professional development. About the Guest: Tim has spent two decades championing work-based learning, leveraging his firsthand experience to enhance programs for diverse learners across California. He has worked locally and nationally in the public workforce system, co-founded the California Workforce Association’s Executive Bootcamp, and dedicated the last ten years to supporting California community colleges. Before joining FoundationCCC in 2013, Tim served as the Manager of Training and Special Projects for the National Association of Workforce Boards, offering strategic planning and consultation. His career began as a Youth Program Officer at the Three Rivers Workforce Investment Board in Pittsburgh, PA, after his first job detasseling corn in southeastern Wisconsin. Engage with us: , & : @PasadenaCityCollegeEWD Join our newsletter for more on this topic: Visit: More from Tim Aldinger & Foundation for California Community Colleges Website: LinkedIn: , , & : @foundationccc Partner with us! Contact our host Salvatrice Cummo directly: [email protected] Want to be a guest on the show? Click to inquire about booking Find the transcript of this episode Please rate us and leave us your thoughts and comments on Apple Podcasts; we’d love to hear from you!
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Transcript- Episode 140: Building a Sustainable Future: The Role of Clean Energy Economy Construction with Kate Gordon, CEO of CA FWD Episode 140
03/04/2025
Transcript- Episode 140: Building a Sustainable Future: The Role of Clean Energy Economy Construction with Kate Gordon, CEO of CA FWD Episode 140
00:00:00 - Kate Gordon I do think that across the board in education, we have to get better at interdisciplinarity and interconnected systems. Like if I'm going out to install solar panels on a roof, I should also be trained to do like basic electrical work because the reality is you don't want to train people for these very, very niche jobs. This needs to be part of a bigger system where people have a longer term ability to turn it into a career. 00:00:28 - Christina Barsi The workforce landscape is rapidly changing and educators and their institutions need to keep up. Preparing students before they enter the workforce to make our communities and businesses stronger is at the core of getting an education. But we need to understand how to change and adjust so that we can begin to project where things are headed before we even get there. So how do we begin to predict the future? 00:00:53 - Dr. Salvatrice Cummo Hi, I'm Salvatrice Cummo, Vice President of Economic and Workforce Development at Pasadena City College and host of this podcast. 00:01:02 - Christina Barsi And I'm Christina Barsi, producer and co-host of this podcast. 00:01:06 - Dr. Salvatrice Cummo And we are starting the conversation about the future of work. We'll explore topics like how education can partner with industry, how to be more equitable, and how to attain one of our highest goals, more internships and PCC students in the workforce. We at Pasadena City College want to lead the charge in closing the gap between what our students are learning and what the demands of the workforce will be once they enter. This is a conversation that impacts all of us. You, the employers, the policymakers, the educational institutions, and the community as a whole. 00:01:40 - Christina Barsi We believe change happens when we work together. And it all starts with having a conversation. Hi, I'm Christina Barci. 00:01:47 - Dr. Salvatrice Cummo And I'm Salvatrice Cummo. And this is the Future of Work. Hi, welcome back to the Future of Work podcast. I am your host, Dr. Salvatrice Cummo. Today, we are joined by Kate Gordon, the CEO of California Forward, a statewide organization dedicated to a more sustainable, resilient, and inclusive economy across every region of California. Kate has spent the last two decades working at the intersection of climate change, energy policy, and equitable economic development. Prior to leading California Forward, she served within the Biden Harris administration as Senior Advisor to US Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm and in California state government as the Director of the Governor's Office of Planning and Research and Senior Climate Policy Advisor to Governor Gavin Newsom. In addition to her policy work, she teaches a regular course on climate, politics, finance, and Infrastructure at the University of California, Berkeley and serves as a nonresident scholar at Carnegie California. Today we're diving into how climate policy and energy Transitions can drive equitable growth and create meaningful community benefits and what that means to the future of work. We are so thrilled to have you with us here today, Kate. How are you? Welcome. 00:03:14 - Kate Gordon I'm really well, thank you. It's great to be here. 00:03:16 - Dr. Salvatrice Cummo Thank you. Thank you. We're going to dive right in because we have a ton of questions. I think the first question we always like to ask our guest is, you have an interesting journey. We shared that a little bit in the intro, but could you tell us how you started working in this intersection of climate and economic development? 00:03:34 - Kate Gordon You know, I'm a little unusual, actually, in the climate space in that I come to it from an economic development perspective. Many people come into climate policy from an environmental perspective, and I got a joint degree in law and city planning at Berkeley, and really, in that journey of getting that joint degree, got very interested in the underlying systems that lead to kind of the types of regulations we pass, the types of systems we design, the types of cities we design. So it kind of started out very interdisciplinary, and I stayed very interdisciplinary. And I think that in some ways, the world is coming around to this perspective. I've been working on the idea that climate is kind of fundamental to economic development for a really long time, and now we see through sort of the Biden and Harris administration policies and other policies that people are starting to come around to seeing that that's true. So I think, in a way, it's sort of. I was early to it, but it's definitely becoming part of the conversation. 00:04:27 - Dr. Salvatrice Cummo Thank you. This is a Future of Work podcast. 00:04:29 - Kate Gordon Yeah. 00:04:30 - Dr. Salvatrice Cummo And when we think about the future of work, where do you start looking for trends in energy transitions? 00:04:37 - Kate Gordon I mean, that's a big question. So I think something that sometimes is not obvious to people who don't obsess about this like I do, we're talking about a fundamental change of our entire economy. We built the industrial economy on the back of fossil fuels. It's built on the back of an energy system. So you can't actually have a functional economy without energy. You can't do entrepreneurship. You can't build a small business. You can't run a manufacturing plant. You can't send things around the world to other markets. Like, you cannot have an economy without energy. And the energy we've been using for 150 years is fossil energy. We're now talking about shifting that to a whole different system away from sort of the inputs of coal and gas and oil into, like, hundreds of different inputs across thousands of different places, mostly connected by Wires. It's a completely different system. So what's important, I think, is that it isn't about a set of green jobs over here in a corner that are special and different. We're actually talking about greening the entire economy. And that means jobs will look different everywhere from tech to transportation to logistics to manufacturing to construction, to sort of everything. I think there's enormous opportunity. There's massive opportunity across every aspect of the economy, frankly. It is not a new thing that we've never seen before. It's just different types of jobs in existing sectors. 00:05:56 - Dr. Salvatrice Cummo Can you share a little bit about what those opportunities might look like? Potential occupations that we have not seen just yet, but you've got a closer. 00:06:04 - Kate Gordon Eye to on the sort of pure energy industry side. We're shifting from a set of occupations that have to do with mining and refining and transporting and trading a commodity which is oil or coal, but mostly oil at this point in the United States. That brings with it a very specific set of occupations. Right. Like they're permanent jobs in mining, they're permanent jobs in refining. It does create a lot of jobs, actually, that set of industries. But we're moving from that to, in California, let's say the electrify everything movement. We're moving to a set of energy generation, like ideally renewable, so wind, solar, increasingly hydrogen, some geothermal, you know, some hydropower going onto wires and moving around. Right. And the thing that's different about that is it's mostly construction jobs. So if you think about a solar plant or a wind plant, the great thing about those in the long term, besides that there's zero carbon, is you don't have to mine and refine anything. The energy is free because it's the sun or the wind. But you do have to construct a big plant to do it. So what we see is that about 60% of the jobs in the emerging energy economy are construction jobs. That's also true of energy efficiency. Primarily that's construction occupations. Those aren't new. They're not different than construction jobs, but they are construction jobs. It's an interesting question about sort of a major expansion of that sector. We're already seeing job shortages on construction because of all this new build. We're also seeing the need for some new skills in construction. So skills around green building, how to put in a heat pump is a new skill for electricians. New skills around just different types of plant construction. I think that's a sector that we need to keep our eye on. We tend to think of it as these are not Permanent jobs. These are temporary. But the reality is if you're building a lot of things, construction workers can have a whole career being construction workers because there's project after project after project. So that's a big area to think about. We also see a shift in the types of skills that you know, that sort of engineering jobs. For instance, we've spent the last few decades really focused on computer engineering as the main growth area of engineering. Right. So especially in California, we've oriented a lot of education toward computer engineering. But what we're starting to see is that if you're bringing all this renewable power onto the grid, the sun only shines at certain times, the wind only blows at certain times. You need to integrate that with storage. You need to think about how to balance out that load so you actually have energy coming in all the time. That's power system engineering. That's a different kind of engineering. We have a shortage of those in the United States. Nuclear is coming back as a really significant power source in a lot of parts of the US. Nuclear engineers, I'd be hard pressed to find very many of them under 50 years old. We just don't train people to do it. So we need to be thinking about like this new system really does require a different set of skills in these industries that we're used to thinking about. But we need to kind of bring back some of those skills we've lost. The final thing I'll say is there is a ton of manufacturing opportunity in the clean energy economy. The bills passed under Biden and Harris are very focused on domestic onshoring and manufacturing in the clean energy supply chain. We should be making the solar panels, not just installing the solar panels. Manufacturing trade skills are lacking in this country. We stopped training people through career tech education. We have not focused on manufacturing and skilled trades and we are at a disadvantage because of that. 00:09:23 - Dr. Salvatrice Cummo That's right. Yeah, we certainly are seeing that as well and adjusting as we see fit. The challenge with any of our larger institution is how swift, agile, and quick. 00:09:34 - Kate Gordon We can be 100%. And you also have a kind of a geographic dislocation. Right. Like one of the things about traditional energy, fossil energy is it's very place based. Right. You have oil fields where the oil is. Right. Like you can't, you can't like do location decisions based on anything else. It's like that's where they are. That's really different than electrified system where you can do many things in many places. It's very distributed. So I think that's going to Be a question too is economic mobility and where we're training people to do what are the folks who have been trained in the fossil system. I think there are real opportunities for transitioning and job skill match for those folks. But some of the new stuff won't be where the old stuff was. 00:10:17 - Dr. Salvatrice Cummo Good point. Are you seeing a growth or specific regions within California where we might see this growth spurt in construction and those occupations emerging? Are you seeing that? And then I also wonder too what will get in the way in your opinion, what might get in the way of this growth? 00:10:36 - Kate Gordon Yeah, that's a great question. I mean, the construction side is pretty broadly shared across geographies just because I think we'll see a growth in the construction of major projects like big solar and big wind, mostly in the Central Valley and inland because that's where the land availability is. So that's likely where we're going to see that. We also have a lot of population growth in those areas. So it's a real opportunity. You know, we've got some mining opportunity, right, Like Lithium Valley. That's mining for the clean energy economy. That's down in the Inland Empire. That's a place without a lot of people. But that's where that opportunity happens to be. That's very place-based construction, though. Also, we're to see a lot of it in just urbanized areas because anything that has to do with energy efficiency or retrofitting existing buildings or building new green buildings is all going to be in population centers. So I think a lot of opportunity across the board, different types of construction. It's just that we know from when I was in state government that we did an analysis of all the dollars spent under the cap and trade program, all of which were spent on kind of clean energy economy work. Across California I just can tell you 60 to 70% of the jobs are in construction. We expect to see a lot of it. Manufacturing will be interesting. It'll depend on where there's industrial land. And a lot of parts of California have don't have zoning for industrial land. And so the places that still have zoned industrial land will have a leg up. Richmond, California, is a great example. The shipbuilding passed still a bunch of industrial land. It's right by a port. That's a really good kind of location for manufacturing. So I think some of it's going to be sort of a competitiveness analysis. But the interesting thing about the clean energy economy is that there's opportunities in a lot of places. They just look different. Up in Humboldt, they're rebuilding the port for offshore wind that's, you know, rekindling that port after years of it being dormant. Those are jobs that are probably folks coming out of, you know, lost jobs in logging and timber, getting retrained. It's a very regional issue. Part of why California Forward we're so focused on regional economic development is because the regions of California are bigger than most states. The way we think about the economy is really inherently regional. Oh, and challenges. I mean, some of the challenges are, you know, just the inherent challenge of workforce training, which I know you know well, which is the worry about training for jobs that don't exist. How do you get ahead of the projections? How do you know if they're real? I do think the benefit of the infrastructure bill and the Inflation Reduction Act that passed under this current administration. The benefit is they're both long-term bills. So the infrastructure bill is five to 10 years spending, and the inflation reduction act is 10 years. That means there is some running room. Right? I mean, the goal there is there's 10 years of investments that then anchors an economy in a number of places. I hope that's true. I mean, that's the goal. And so I think there's some amount of planning that can happen. But look, energy transition and climate-related issues are inherently political. And so some of this is going to be about political decisions that get made that are out of our control as people who want to find high-quality jobs for workers. 00:13:33 - Dr. Salvatrice Cummo Yeah, that's right. That's right. Some of it is out of our control and hopefully more dialogue is around just conversations that we're having here today. But more of those conversations get amplified so that we start to reduce some of those barriers that we inherently will see. Just because it's, you know, the nature of the beast here and some of. 00:13:54 - Kate Gordon It's not politics in terms of climate. Some of the reason that we're focusing again on manufacturing and domestic supply chains is our relationship with China, which is changing dramatically. Right. So some of it is geopolitical, and I don't think that's moving to a new place anytime soon. I think a lot of these trends are sustained trends. 00:14:13 - Dr. Salvatrice Cummo That's good to know. I want to spend a little bit of time talking about the community benefits plan and your role in it and shift gears just a little bit because I think it's important for our listener to understand first explain what that is, the community benefits plan and why it's so important that energy projects like those continue to help our communities. 00:14:36 - Kate Gordon Yeah, thanks for the question. When I was at Department of Energy as Chair. Jennifer Granholm Senior Advisor One of the things that happened while I was there was the infrastructure bill, which is really a significant bill. People in the climate community often talk about the Inflation Reduction Act as the big climate bill, but I would argue that actually, if you think about the impact on the economy and the workforce, the infrastructure bill, the Chips and Science Act for semiconductors, and the Inflation Reduction Act are all critically important. They're all building parts of the foundational building blocks for us having a kind of a vibrant, diversified climate energy economy. The infrastructure bill for the Department of Energy was very significant. That Bill alone appropriated $62 billion to the department. Just for context, like the entire department budget, including the nuclear side, was only about 45 billion before that. So it's a lot of money, more than 60 new programs, right? I mean, just a massive, just hard to even overstate how big this was. But it also was a different color of money. The Department of Energy has traditionally been a research and science agency. This funding is primarily for big construction projects like hydrogen hubs, direct air capture hubs, manufacturing plants like steel in the ground, and transmission build-out. So it required us to first of all redesign the whole department, which I won't go into, but was a whole thing that happened. 00:16:04 - Dr. Salvatrice Cummo That's an undertaking in itself. 00:16:05 - Kate Gordon It's a 19,000 person department, so it's a big deal. So bringing in a new Office of Infrastructure, redesigning the department. But it also required us to really think hard about what these projects would mean in places. So just to give context, energy, I said earlier, is sort of the basis of the whole economy because it's the backbone. But it's also, these projects are like anchor economic projects in places. If I'm doing a hydrogen hub in a place that doesn't have a lot of jobs right now, like that's thousands of jobs at one time in a place. One of the first investments was the small modular reactor plant for nuclear plant in Kemmerer, Wyoming. Kemmerer has about 2300 people in it in the middle of Wyoming. This plant would take a thousand people to construct. So just as an example of the impact of these things on places. Right. And so when you're doing that, you have to start thinking about is it going to actually create benefit in places. I think there's a part of the climate community that said for a long time, oh, these are inherently good because they're green projects like green jobs are good jobs. Right. The reality is that that's not always true, that unless you pay attention to pathways into careers to the true training piece into job quality, not just quantity, into environmental impacts on a place like paying attention to those things is what creates benefits from big projects. It has to be done intentionally. So that's essentially the backstory of the community benefits plans. What we did was came into this whole infrastructure bill implementation with the perspective that we had to make sure that these were beneficial projects. In places they're multi decadal projects that are about transitioning the economy. So they had to work. And so we designed a system where 20% of the points on the...
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Building a Sustainable Future: The Role of Clean Energy Economy Construction with Kate Gordon, CEO of CA FWD Episode 140
03/04/2025
Building a Sustainable Future: The Role of Clean Energy Economy Construction with Kate Gordon, CEO of CA FWD Episode 140
What does it take to build a clean energy economy? Kate Gordon, CEO of CA FWD (California Forward), believes it’s about more than just new technology—it’s about putting communities first, preparing for the emerging career opportunities, and making sustainability a part of everyday decision-making. Creating a greener, more resilient future requires everyone to play a role, from policymakers to local businesses to individuals. CA FWD invites people to share their thoughts and questions on the clean energy transition because real progress happens when we work together. You’ll learn: Why community benefits plans are important for large-scale energy projects. How job opportunities in regenerative agriculture, adaptation planning, and wetland restoration contribute to sustainability. Why zoned industrial land is crucial for manufacturing growth in the clean energy sector. Why partnerships between educational institutions, industries, labor, and government are essential for workforce readiness. What job opportunities are emerging in the clean energy economy, and how individuals can prepare for them. About the Guest: Kate Gordon, CEO of CA FWD, has spent over two decades at the intersection of climate change, energy policy, and equitable economic development. She previously served as Senior Advisor to U.S. Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm, leading initiatives like the Community Benefits Plan under the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Cleanup to Clean Energy initiative. Before that, she was Director of California’s Office of Planning and Research and Senior Climate Policy Advisor to Governor Gavin Newsom, spearheading programs like California Jobs First and the state’s first integrated climate budget. Gordon also founded the Risky Business Project, assessing the financial risks of climate change, and held leadership roles at think tanks like the Paulson Institute and the Center for American Progress. She holds a J.D. and a master’s from UC Berkeley, teaches at UC Berkeley, and serves as a Non-resident Scholar at Carnegie California. Engage with us: , & : @PasadenaCityCollegeEWD Join our newsletter for more on this topic: Visit: More from Kate Gordon & CA FWD Website: LinkedIn: & & : @movecafwd YouTube: Partner with us! Contact our host Salvatrice Cummo directly: [email protected] Want to be a guest on the show? Click to inquire about booking Find the transcript of this episode Please rate us and leave us your thoughts and comments on Apple Podcasts; we’d love to hear from you!
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Transcript- Episode 139: Driving Diversity & Equity in the Sports Tech Industry with Albert Basilio, CEO & Founder at Launchball Episode 139
02/25/2025
Transcript- Episode 139: Driving Diversity & Equity in the Sports Tech Industry with Albert Basilio, CEO & Founder at Launchball Episode 139
00:00:00 - Albert Basilio I would like to see the company as a place where we can hire the best Latino and Latina talent from the greater Los Angeles area. People that can bring their talents, earn a high wage from their work, and know that if they love sports and technology as much as we do, that it can be a place for them to contribute to the creation of an unforgettable experience for those that would like to be a part of what we build. 00:00:29 - Christina Barsi The workforce landscape is rapidly changing and educators and their institutions need to keep up. Preparing students before they enter the workforce to make our communities and businesses stronger is at the core of getting an education. But we need to understand how to change and adjust so that we can begin to project where things are headed before we even get there. So how do we begin to predict the future? 00:00:54 - Dr. Salvatrice Cummo Hi, I'm Salvatrice Cummo, Vice President of Economic and Workforce Development at Pasadena City College and host of this podcast. 00:01:02 - Christina Barsi And I'm Christina Barsi, producer and co host of this podcast. 00:01:06 - Dr. Salvatrice Cummo And we are starting the conversation about the future of work. We'll explore topics like how education can partner with industry, how to be more equitable, and how to attain one of our highest goals, more internships and PCC. Students in the workforce. We at Pasadena City College want to lead the charge in closing the gap between what our students are learning and what the demands of the workforce will be once they enter. This is a conversation that impacts all of us. You, the employers, the policymakers, the educational institutions, and the community as a whole. 00:01:40 - Christina Barsi We believe change happens when we work together, and it all starts with having a conversation. Hi, I'm Christina Barsi. 00:01:48 - Dr. Salvatrice Cummo And I'm Salvatrice Cummo. And this is the Future of Work. Hi, welcome back to the Future of Work podcast. I am your host, Dr. Salvatrice Cummo. Our guest today is Albert Basilio, founder of Launchball, a company that merges sports and technology in innovative ways. Albert has been navigating the unique challenges of creating a Latino-led startup in the sports team tech space, an area where diverse representation is still growing. Today, we'll discuss Albert's experience founding Launchball, the challenges he's faced as a Latino founder in sports and tech, and how Launchball is contributing to the future of work in both of these industries. Albert, thank you so much for joining us today. 00:02:35 - Albert Basilio No, thank you so much for inviting me today. I appreciate it. 00:02:39 - Dr. Salvatrice Cummo You bet, you bet. I'm really super excited to kind of dive deep into what is Launchball and how you've created Launchball and what problem are you solving as an innovator and entrepreneur in this space. But before we begin, we had an opportunity to meet at the Future of Work conference most recently and tell me a little bit about how. What led you there? What led you to the conference? 00:03:00 - Albert Basilio Yeah, so I found out about the conference because I was looking for podcast episodes featuring either Mr. Stephen Chung from the Los Angeles Economic Development Corporation, Ms. Renata Siemril from the LA84 foundation, or Ms. Julie Ehrman from Angel City Football Club. So I had seen in the show notes that there was going to be a conference soon in the episode featuring Mr. Chung. It was going to be focused on sports and entertainment and how that landscape is looking right now, especially with the Olympic Games and the World cup that are going to be hosted here in the Los Angeles area pretty soon. So it was then when I knew that I couldn't miss it, I couldn't miss that conference. So luckily I was able to secure some tickets just before they ran out. 00:03:51 - Dr. Salvatrice Cummo We were happy that you attended and thank you for spreading the word as well. You were really great ambassador the day of. Super. Super. Appreciate it. I'm really curious and I'm sure our listener is as well is a little bit about your background, Albert, and really kind of what led you into this space of sports and technology and also what led you to build Launchball. 00:04:16 - Albert Basilio Yeah, of course. So, I am Mexican American, and currently, I'm 29 years old. So I was born in Los Angeles, and I've lived through in various cities in and around Los Angeles county. But currently, I'm living in the city of Palmdale, up about an hour north of Los Angeles. So we've been living here for a little bit over 20 years, and pretty much, I've always been interested in how things are invented, how they're built, how they're made, ever since I was a kid. So, you know, growing up, I would be either building Lego sets or, you know, trying to fix things, quote, unquote, around the house. And then also from a young age, I would go with my dad and again, quote, unquote, help with whatever I could in our small swimming pool cleaning business. 00:05:11 - Albert Basilio So it was just doing a variety of things that interested me from a young age. Not only that, but I would grow up reading books, you know, about outer space and technology and a whole other wide range of topics. But even though I was doing all that growing up, I felt as a first generation American that some things were possibly not going to be on the cards. 00:05:39 - Albert Basilio I guess the main one being am I going to be able to go to College as I get older, because I knew it was going to be expensive and I didn't know if it was going to be within those realms of possibility just because we really didn't know how to prepare for something like that. So instead of going to college after graduating from high school, I was able to work at a medical tech company as an assembler since someone my family knew was kind enough to offer a referral to get in there. So I would spend a couple of days there, and eventually, those days turned into a couple of years, but a couple of impactful events happened. And it was pretty much after these events happened that I was like, okay, you know what? I know what it's like to work now right after high school, so I'm going to see if I can go back to school. 00:06:34 - Albert Basilio And so that's when I enrolled at my local community college, Antelope Valley College and Lancaster. And that's where I began that journey of taking the first courses necessary to be able to transfer as an engineering major. And so I spent a couple years there at Antelope Valley College, and then eventually I was able to get the credits necessary to transfer to the University of California at Riverside. 00:07:02 - Albert Basilio And that's where I was majoring in electrical engineering. But I don't know if it was due to just having to work, you know, during the day or during that time off when I didn't have class at community college. And then it just eventually caught up to me because after a few months I kind of felt burnt out and I withdrew from UCR a couple of months in into after my transfer. Pretty much I didn't know what I was going to do after that. I felt a little bit down, but. But I would always be scrolling through social media, especially TikTok. 00:07:36 - Albert Basilio And I had seen other entrepreneurs around my age starting to build their businesses centered around either a new sport that they were inventing, creating, or just giving existing sports a different spin. So in those moments I would think to myself, well, why can't I do that? Why can't I do the same thing that they're doing? I mean, it seems fun, Seems. 00:08:00 - Albert Basilio Seems like a fun industry, so why not invent a new sport as well? Thought I was going to end up working in the aerospace industry, but I guess that didn't end up happening. But it was then when I would be like, okay, if I'm going to take this serious, I want to see how much I can learn if this is what I'm going to do from here on in. So I would start watching videos Listening to podcasts, asking other founders the process of going about this, of starting a sports startup. 00:08:33 - Albert Basilio And so I had gotten enough information that I thought would be good to take action on. And so that's when I started looking for manufacturers after I had already made a design that I thought would be good enough to send to these manufacturers. And so I was able to find one overseas and I sent them the design. We went back and forth over several months and when I thought that everything had looked good enough and ready, I had them ship it over to my house. And after that, well, seeing that now I had the prototype, I was like, okay, so I have this now. But I see that other companies are taking advantage of the technology that we have at our disposal and kind of using those two things together, right? Sports and also technology. So even though I wasn't a computer science major, I was like, okay, this is one more thing that I have to learn in order to be able to really create something that might not be seen at the moment. 00:09:44 - Albert Basilio Then that's what I have to do. So that's when I just started learning how to code in Apple's programming language called Swift and started making also the prototype for the application that I hope will be the main application that those who are going to want to participate in this new sport, it will be that sort of gateway for them to join a local game in their respective cities and just find out for themselves what the sport is going to be like and how their experience is going to be once they participate in it. 00:10:27 - Dr. Salvatrice Cummo I mean, let's spend some time there, Albert. I mean, some of our listeners may not know what Launchball is. I know what it is and you obviously know what it is, but if you can give us, you know, your elevator pitch of what Launchball is, that would be really great. 00:10:42 - Albert Basilio So as for the sport itself, it's a team sport similar to soccer, otherwise known as football in other countries, and American football, basketball, those sort of sports. So pretty much you have 10 players against 10 players playing at the same time. And it's going to be played on a grass field similar to a soccer field, the dimensions of a soccer field. But in this sport there's no goalkeepers like you would see in, for example, soccer. And the players will have to pass and throw a small ball that kind of fits into the palm of their hands. And then for the equipment that I designed, it's basically a square shaped goal with a net attached. And then that goal itself is attached to an about 4 foot tall pole. And pretty much there's Going to be an area drawn in front of the goal itself, just to indicate that there's some sort of area in which the players cannot enter. So the whole point of why it's called Launchball is because you're going to have to throw it really hard or launch it into the goal from a certain distance in order to score. 00:11:53 - Dr. Salvatrice Cummo Got it. The arena of sports and technology has its own challenges, and you've navigated those challenges, and we'll spend some time on that in just a minute. But before we talk about those barriers and some of those challenges, there are many entrepreneurs. In fact, we're seeing the highest surge in entrepreneurship now than ever before in history. What would you say is the most important factor or most important thing to do when you're looking to build your own and to innovate and transition from what we call the normal workforce? Right. Working for someone else versus building your own. What's the one most important factor you think? 00:12:37 - Albert Basilio In my opinion, I think the most important factor it would have to be having that prototype made, because then you can see that it's not an idea anymore. So now you can interact with it for whatever the purpose it was made for. So, for example, in this case, designing and seeing the sports equipment that I had drawn out on the computer and now having an actual first prototype. So you can now start to slowly evolve that idea into a physical product. In this case, start using it for what your product or service is eventually going to be. So if there's one thing, it's that it's building the prototype. And it doesn't matter if it's a physical product or if it's a mobile application. If you can get that first iteration of many finished for the moment, then that is really going to motivate you. And see, okay, I got this first version down and now this is where the work is going to commence after that. 00:13:46 - Dr. Salvatrice Cummo Along the theme of motivation, Albert, you know, you mentioned earlier that you were kind of teeter tottering with college and then discovered that your heart was leading you to innovate and to solve something. You were solving community. In my humble opinion, when I think about Launchball, I think about how it brings together the community. How did you stay motivated? Because entrepreneurship is very difficult. There's lots of trans trials and tribulations. Right. There's lots of successes and there's also just as many tears that go along with it. But how do you stay motivated in taking that leap? And those who are listening, what would you say would be their motivation factor? 00:14:25 - Albert Basilio I would say that having that support around you, especially when you're trying to build something new and bring it into the world, having that support is really critical, especially at the beginning. There's going to be more difficult times than there are ones where you're going to celebrate and be happy of the progress that you've made. So whether it's your family or friends or other entrepreneurs in your community as well, I think that's key to not losing that motivation and really just using that to continue. Because sometimes you might hear on a podcast, oh, yeah, it was really hard, right? But you don't know how hard until you've lived it. But then again, they would also mention, but I got through it because of my family, because of my friends, because of professors at my community college or at my university or other entrepreneurs. And it didn't matter whether they were here in person, in front of me, or whether they were offering guidance and their support online. So that is really key to not losing that motivation, just having that support, for sure. 00:15:36 - Dr. Salvatrice Cummo And I would imagine that as a Latino founder in a very niche industry, you've had some unique challenges. Being unique to you doesn't mean they're not unique to others, but specifically for you, there are some unique challenges that you had to face. How did you overcome them? Like, let's talk through that. Let's talk through some of those challenges and then how you chose to overcome them. And perhaps you might be experiencing them now, and you're trying to overcome them. 00:16:01 - Albert Basilio Yeah. So in this case, being a Latino founder, I already know what the statistics are. I think other professionals in various industries are aware just how difficult it might be to start building a startup. So I would say the main thing is lack to access of capital for these type of ventures. So. So it is a significant barrier, but it's not impossible, regardless. So it might take a little bit more work, but it's not impossible. I would listen to other audiobooks and podcast episodes where they would talk about how other founders would be able to, for example, raise their first round of financing for their startups, either through family or friends, for example. I don't know if this is the case with every member of the Latino community, but we sometimes just don't have access to friends or family that have maybe a little bit of extra capital to where they would be willing to invest in startups such as these founded by other members of their community. So not only that, but just the fact about knowing what startups are not really being exposed to starting ventures such as these. So it's really necessary. Because if you don't have this in mind, if you don't see it as a goal in your life, you're not really going to go out and start building connections that could maybe one day help significantly when you do decide to start something like this. That's pretty much it. In my case, what I'm trying to do right now, seeing what ways I can go out and connect with industry leaders, seek help, seek advice, and hopefully after building disconnections and having the education that my professors were already able to give me during my time in college, hopefully those two things will lead eventually to some form of, who knows, maybe finding investors that are aligned with the mission and goals of the startup and wanting to invest in this. 00:18:20 - Dr. Salvatrice Cummo Thank you. I do want to maybe shift gears just a little bit still along the theme of connection. You know, Launchball connects the community through sports. And there are many different industries and entrepreneurs creating their own ventures that may struggle with connecting with their audience. What are some things that you've learned in your building of Launchball that creates that sense of community that connects with your audience? What are some lessons learned that you've had that you think that other industries and entrepreneurs can learn from? 00:18:57 - Albert Basilio Yeah, so I think sports lend themselves, in this case to building community a bit more easy just because it's a physical activity that you have to go out and do. So usually that attracts a crowd of people to go and support them or as a way of entertainment. But for other industries or entrepreneurs, I think that they can create those real lasting connections as well with their audience by setting up that environment that facilitates forming those connections. So it'll vary according to industry. But for example, I was able to connect with two Latino founders a little while back. They're USC alumni, so their names are Anthony Ramirez and Elmer Vasquez. And right now they're building an artificial intelligence calendar in the EdTech space and it's called the First Gen X. And the goal is to aid first generation college students transition into their college workload. So there's a lot of first generation college students at universities across the country and their AI calendar can serve as that older sibling, if you will, that can guide students throughout their studies at university. So in this way, not only are the founders, in this case creating a more profound connection between their product and their users, but this also allows the opportunity to potentially connect first generation students amongst themselves since they're going in similar. 00:20:33 - Dr. Salvatrice Cummo Journeys and it seems as though, you know, partnerships for you, particularly with Launchball, it appears to me that partnerships with community College or any other educational institutions might be a great fit and some good synergies between Launchball and, let's just say, you know, Pasadena City College or, or any other educational institution. How do you see collaborations such as those really help not just Launchball, but perhaps maybe other startups as well that are looking to grow and scale. 00:21:08 - Albert Basilio As a person that attended a community college, I can personally say that I have a great admiration for the academic institutions that we have so, such as Antelope Valley College, Pasadena City College. Because usually for the majority of us trying to gain more skills in this ever changing workforce and landscape, it is usually...
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Driving Diversity & Equity in the Sports Tech Industry with Albert Basilio, CEO & Founder at Launchball Episode 139
02/25/2025
Driving Diversity & Equity in the Sports Tech Industry with Albert Basilio, CEO & Founder at Launchball Episode 139
What drives innovation and diversity in sports and technology? Albert Basilio, founder of Launchball, is merging these industries to create immersive experiences while championing inclusion. He sheds light on the barriers Latino founders face in securing capital and discusses the power of support networks in entrepreneurial success. Basilio also explores how community colleges and universities can bridge the gap between education and industry, fostering the next generation of diverse sports professionals. Discover how collaboration and community can shape the future of sports and tech. You’ll learn: How Launchball is shaping the future of work in sports and technology through diversity and inclusion. The challenges Latino founders face in accessing capital—and how to overcome them. Why equity is a priority for PCC in expanding student opportunities. How Launchball enhances participant experiences by merging sports and technology. About the Guest: Albert Basilio, a 29-year-old Mexican American entrepreneur, is the founder of Launchball, a pioneering company at the intersection of sports and technology. Born and raised in Los Angeles, Albert's journey showcases the challenges and triumphs of leading a Latino-driven startup in the competitive sports tech industry. Albert's commitment to innovation and diversity is exemplified through his efforts to create a more inclusive workplace, reflecting his personal experiences and dedication to empowering underrepresented communities in tech. Engage with us: , & : @PasadenaCityCollegeEWD Join our newsletter for more on this topic: Visit: More from Albert Basilio & Launchball Website: : @albert-basilio & : @launchballsport Partner with us! Contact our host Salvatrice Cummo directly: [email protected] Want to be a guest on the show? Click to inquire about booking Find the transcript of this episode Please rate us and leave us your thoughts and comments on Apple Podcasts; we’d love to hear from you!
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Transcript- Episode 138: Rebuilding After The LA Fires: A Comprehensive Guide to the SBA’s Disaster Support with Julie Clowes, Director, Los Angeles District Office, U.S. Small Business Administration Episode 138
02/18/2025
Transcript- Episode 138: Rebuilding After The LA Fires: A Comprehensive Guide to the SBA’s Disaster Support with Julie Clowes, Director, Los Angeles District Office, U.S. Small Business Administration Episode 138
00:00:00 - Julie Clowes Even though you're not certain maybe how you want to utilize all these programs, I do say apply, get yourself into the queue, the application queue, and preserve the ability to tap into these resources beyond that March 10 deadline. With SBA's program, for example, if you decide you don't want the loan, at the end of the day, SBA offers you and you're like, you know, I think I can manage without it. That's okay. You can say, no. You can take a lesser amount than what SBA might offer you. But what I don't want people to do is get two months from now and say, gosh, I wish I would have applied. 00:00:38 - Christina Barsi The workforce landscape is rapidly changing, and educators and their institutions need to keep up. Preparing students before they enter the workforce to make our communities and businesses stronger is at the core of getting an education. But we need to understand how to change and adjust so that we can begin to project where things are headed before we even get there. So how do we begin to predict the future? 00:01:03 - Dr. Salvatrice Cummo Hi, I'm Salvatrice Cummo, Vice President of Economic and Workforce Development at Pasadena City College and host of this podcast. 00:01:11 - Christina Barsi And I'm Christina Barsi, producer and co-host of this podcast. 00:01:15 - Dr. Salvatrice Cummo And we are starting the conversation about the future of work. We explore topics like how education can partner with industry, how to be more equitable, and how to attain one of our highest goals, more internships, and PCC students in the workforce. We at Pasadena City College want to lead the charge in closing the gap between what our students are learning and what the demands of the workforce will be once they enter. This is a conversation that impacts all of us, you, the employers, the policymakers, the educational institutions, and the community as a whole. 00:01:49 - Christina Barsi We believe change happens when we work together, and it all starts with having a conversation. I'm Christina Barsi. 00:01:57 - Dr. Salvatrice Cummo And I'm Salvatrice Cummo. And this is the Future of Work. Hi. Welcome back to the Future of Work podcast. I am your host, Dr. Salvatrice Cummo. Today, we are joined by Julie Clowes, Director of the U.S. Small Business Administration's Los Angeles District Office. Julie has spent 28 years at the SBA holding key leadership positions across Detroit, Washington, D.C., San Francisco, and now Los Angeles. She also has a legal background, having worked as an attorney in the SBA's Office of General Counsel for a decade. Julie has been instrumental in guiding small businesses through economic recovery, disaster relief, and funding programs to ensure sustainability during crises. Today, we'll be discussing how SBA is supporting businesses, homeowners, and communities in the wake of the recent LA fires, what financial assistance is available, how small businesses can rebuild, and what economic recovery looks like moving forward. Julie, welcome to the show. 00:03:03 - Julie Clowes Thank you. 00:03:04 - Dr. Salvatrice Cummo Thanks for spending some time. I know that we. We are in the midst of lots of activities responding to the crisis here, but again, just thank you. The SBA has been instrumental in this process, and so to carve out time means quite a bit to us. So thank you. 00:03:20 - Julie Clowes Oh, no, thank you. I appreciate the invitation. 00:03:23 - Dr. Salvatrice Cummo You bet. You bet. So I think before we kind of get started on the SBA offerings and recovery, I think it's important that our listener understands a little bit about you and who you are. And so I posed this question. If you could tell us a little bit about your journey, how you got here, how did you come to work with the SBA, and what has kept you intrigued about staying with the SBA for nearly three decades? 00:03:49 - Julie Clowes Thank you. I was asked this question once by one of my former supervisors, and I was like, it really was a lot of just luck as opposed to any sort of strategy. But no, I actually started working for the SBDC, the Small Business Development center, in grad school, and obviously, I know you have intimate knowledge of that program, and I had never heard of SBA before. When I was in school and working with the SBDC, which is a program of SBA, I got to learn all about the programs and services and working with the business owners one on one, and I discovered that I really loved it. I loved working with these men and women, seeing their passion, their commitment. I mean, you just want to. You cheer for them. You can't help but cheer for them. And it's so inspiring to me. And so it's really kind of what I love to do and talk about. I've been fortunate to have three very different careers inside of SBA, going from public affairs specialist to attorney, and now back on the field side to working with all of our programs and services delivery across the community. But it's really the small business owners that I meet that keep me inspired and keep me wanting to do this day in and day out. 00:05:03 - Dr. Salvatrice Cummo Thank you. I think that being on the field gives us just a different dose of reality. And I feel the same way, too. I'm just thinking about my own respective roles within the institution. Always outward facing, but nonetheless in my current role. Just like in your current role, being on the field, it's just where everything happens and it's for me, and I see it from you, too, is that's where your heart lies? 00:05:25 - Julie Clowes It is. And it's you know, people always ask me, like, well, you could go be a consultant, make a lot of money. But because I see a lot of these people that don't have those kind of resources to pay for, you know, the top notch consultant firms and all of that. But they have such a great idea and they are really committed to seeing it through. And like, I love seeing that. I love being a part of that journey in some little way, shape or form. So that's really what has driven me to public service, because I love being able to provide that for people who might not otherwise have a way to afford it or be tapped into resources. And I'm sure you have the same kind of commitment. 00:06:03 - Dr. Salvatrice Cummo That's right. That's right. We certainly do. And speaking of which, those who we serve are in quite a bit of pain. I'm just gonna call it that. That's the only word that comes to me right now. Both in economic injury as it relates to the aftermath of the Eaton fires, or just the fires in general across LA county, and then more economic injury than physical injury of the establishment of the business. And so before I ask you really about what are the offerings of the SBA, I think I want to spend a little bit of time around how these businesses can access the SBA assistance and what steps they need to take. And then I kind of want to transition to like, what's available. 00:06:43 - Julie Clowes Yeah. So the district office, you know, we're here in good times and bad, and we have all of the resources available of SBA right now. So people can find out about this information in so many different ways. They can contact us here in the district, and we usually recommend they use our email box because we're often out on the road or somewhere else, and that's [email protected]. But we also have, if they're looking for disaster-specific assistance, we have the recovery centers that are propped up across LA County right now. And all of those centers have SBA representatives that can sit down and work with you one one-on-one if you want to apply for any of the assistance that we'll talk about in a little bit. And then another way people can reach us, especially if you're a business owner, is through our extensive network of resources that we have. We have business advisors in multiple programs and that again are spread out across the county, whether you're Small Business Development Centers, Women Business Centers, our SCORE mentors, and we have a Veteran Business Outreach Center. So if you stumble into any one of those or look those up or are already working with an advisor. They can certainly connect you with all of the resources of SBA as well. And then there's a good old-fashioned phone. 00:08:03 - Dr. Salvatrice Cummo Yeah. 00:08:04 - Julie Clowes Which seems so old school now. 00:08:06 - Dr. Salvatrice Cummo Yeah, yeah. The SBA, until I got into this work of being a public servant, I didn't really recognize or understand all of what is available to our business community. And the SBA has an enormous amount of resources, those of which you just mentioned. Right. From a technical assistance provider through the SBDC, the Small Business Development Center, the Women's Business Center, the Veterans Centers, the score, all of those. That said, those are all entities so that our listener understands those are all entities that could help support our business owners to access loans. This is one of the things, one of many things that they assist with. So that said, these business centers or these technical assistance programs that assist our business owners in accessing the loans. Can you break down for us what are the three loans right now, disaster loan programs available, and how and who are they designed to help? 00:09:06 - Julie Clowes Sure. So when it comes to the disaster assistance programs, we do have three different loan programs. And I tell people that just because we have business in our name, in the times of disaster, we're actually here to help everyone. So whether you're a homeowner, a renter, a business of any size, actually, or a private nonprofit organization, between our three programs, we do have something that can assist you. And if you are both a homeowner and a business owner that has been dually impacted, you know, you can combine these programs together as well to kind of help you with both on your home side and on your business side with your recovery journey. The three programs are all loan programs. And so for homeowners and renters, we do have a loan program that allows you to receive funds to help repair or replace disaster-damaged property. That includes real estate, but it also includes your personal property and then even includes things like automobiles. So homeowners can borrow up to $500,000 to help repair or replace their real estate. Then, for personal property, our loan limit is $100,000, and those can be combined. So it could be up to $600,000 for a homeowner. On the flip side, for businesses, we also offer a loan that will help them repair or replace their real estate if they own the building that their business is located in, but also anything inside the business. Right. So it can include inventory. If you have equipment or machinery, or just the fixtures and furniture, whatever it is that has been either damaged or completely destroyed, the program can assist. And this program will work. For businesses of any size and also for nonprofit organizations. We have a limit of $2 million on that program. And then the third piece for businesses, and this is only for small businesses and nonprofits, is our Economic Injury Disaster Loan, or EIDL. A lot of people heard about this program during the pandemic. Very popular then, this is working capital. So this is for businesses that they may have been directly impacted by the fire or they may not, but they have been impacted economically. There are dozens of reasons why a business anywhere in LA County could have been impacted as a result of the fires and the winds. Maybe you were fortunate enough to have your business remain intact, but your customers were maybe in the fire zone. So you've lost business, you've maybe had contracts that were canceled, your employees maybe were impacted, and that impacts your ability to operate normally. You know, lots of reasons. And so this is meant for those businesses that need. Think of it almost like a bridge loan, some working capital to help them get through their recovery period until we get to a place where they can start earning their normal revenue again or hopefully increase their revenue. So this loan helps them pay their ordinary business expenses. You know, whether you have a lease or a mortgage or utilities and inventory and, you know, employee salaries, etc. 00:12:11 - Dr. Salvatrice Cummo Oftentimes what we hear on the field is SBA does not apply to me because I'm an independent contractor or I'm a home based business and there's misconception about, and misinformation maybe that those individuals do not qualify for an SBA loan. You kind of already answered this question, but what do they need to know? What do independent contractors and home based businesses need to know about qualifying for aid from the SBA? 00:12:40 - Julie Clowes The first thing I would tell people is please don't disqualify yourself. There's lots of nuances, right? Especially when it's coming to independent contractors. There's a lot of different questions. If you're an independent contractor, that SBA will ask you to kind of understand more about your role and how you're operating as an independent contractor. So it's not an automatic yes and it's not an automatic no. There's a lot of different factors we'll take take into consideration. So I do encourage people to go ahead and apply and then let SBA ask you the question so that we're able to make a determination on your eligibility. Please don't automatically think you won't qualify. And home based businesses are typically even easier to qualify because if you are operating as a business, it doesn't matter where you're based, whether you have a brick and mortar site or whether you're operating out of your home, whether you're engaged in ecosystem commerce, whether you know you're on the street selling goods and services, the business test is pretty easy. You know, if you're filing taxes as a Schedule C or LLC or any other form of business, you would qualify for this program. So if you have a unique scenario or an independent contractor, please don't hesitate to apply if you're interested in these programs and let SBA make that determination. 00:13:55 - Dr. Salvatrice Cummo For, you know, sometimes when we think about these resources, they may not relate to us because for XY reasons. Might you be able to share real life examples of businesses that have leveraged the SBA programs and the outcomes and successes of that? 00:14:12 - Julie Clowes You know, I've been in many parts of the country and seen different types of disasters. And I will say that the one theme or the thread that really helps these businesses through what impresses me is the resiliency of the community when things happen. Prior to this fire, the worst wildfire I had experienced personally was up in Northern California with the Tubbs fire in Santa Rosa. There were a lot of businesses that were impacted. Again, it's similar to what we have here in directly and indirectly. So lots of different needs. But there was one restaurant that I remember speaking, speaking with a bit, and they pretty much lost the restaurant in the fire and they really had to rebuild everything from ground up. And so they were thinking of creative ways to keep their business alive, to have some sort of revenue and to have some sort of presence even in the community. So they pivoted to a food truck and they were able to get a food truck and they were able to stay in the community and even assist feeding first responders and others that were in the community and helping them with their rebuilding and recovery process. And this kept them in the community. It kept their name visible. And they leveraged the business loan in order to help them rebuild. So insurance proceeds coupled with this loan enabled them to rebuild. And, you know, and actually they were a little bit excited. They got a whole brand new kitchen out of it because everything was modern, and all the appliances were modern and up to date. So that just even helped create some more efficiencies for them as they brought it back. And I think that, you know, food trucks didn't necessarily give them the same level of revenue as the brick-and-mortar business, but they did keep their name in the community. And so when they did, they were able to reopen. There was that excitement from the community that they were able to come back. 00:15:59 - Dr. Salvatrice Cummo Yeah, that's a really great story. I mean, especially, you know, a restaurant that naturally brings synergy within a community. When that's absent, it affects so many different people in so many different areas. And so the fact that they were able to recover in a way that was, you know, again, to your point. Yes, it wasn't a physical building, but they still were able to recover the business and bring the community back together. 00:16:23 - Julie Clowes You know, not saying it was easy, but they just stuck with it. It always amazes me. I meet so many businesses where no matter how devastated or how impacted they may be, they are always looking at other people like, well, they're worse off, so I can help them. That just always sticks with me. And one of the reasons why I love small business. 00:16:42 - Dr. Salvatrice Cummo That's right, yeah. I mean, the way the community fuses together to support one another is impressive. And none of this works just like us, right? As an institution, when we respond to anything within our community, we are always leaning on other agencies and other partners because this work cannot be done on its own. Right. Any work, any kind of recovery effort, any kind of assistance effort, any kind of response to whatever within our communities. And so what I'm curious about is what other agencies the SBA aligns with or leans on for support during times like this. 00:17:23 - Julie Clowes Yeah, that's a great question. Because it really does take all of us to help, especially with fires and how devastating they are, and the fact that it does take time to rebuild the community, as we keep saying, it's a marathon, not a sprint. So immediately, with disasters, especially these presidentially declared disasters, SBA goes in with FEMA automatically. So FEMA has been kind of our primary partner in disasters for as long as I've been with the agency, at least. And the resources are complementary. Right. A lot of the FEMA assistance is targeted to the individual to take care of immediate needs like shelter, making sure you have access to food and the essentials that you need and can afford to get some of those things. And then SBA kind of comes in for the longer term recovery side. But in the meantime, too, there's lots of other agencies. When we look at longer-term recovery, we're not just looking at our federal agency partners, we're also looking at local government especially, and here of the county and the cities that are leading the efforts to help rebuild these communities. And I think as we get further into the recovery, we have these loan programs which are great, but we'll be looking at all of SBA? And how do all of the different programs and services come into play as we look at the longer-term recovery? Like, what can we utilize in six months, in a year, in two years? And, you know, encouraging some of the communities to think about leveraging some of the tools that we have as a way to help bring back those commercial corridors and really bring more business into the areas that were devastated. So I'm looking forward to having some of those conversations, whether it be about other financial assistance, whether they're leveraging our technical assistance providers, and then also looking at other opportunities through contracting and any of those means....
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Rebuilding After The LA Fires: A Comprehensive Guide to the SBA’s Disaster Support with Julie Clowes, Director, Los Angeles District Office, U.S. Small Business Administration Episode 138
02/18/2025
Rebuilding After The LA Fires: A Comprehensive Guide to the SBA’s Disaster Support with Julie Clowes, Director, Los Angeles District Office, U.S. Small Business Administration Episode 138
How can small businesses rebuild after a crisis like the recent LA fires? The Small Business Administration (SBA) plays a crucial role in recovery; offering financial assistance, business counseling, and disaster relief. Many independent contractors and home-based businesses don’t realize they qualify for SBA loans, but resources are available for a wide range of business types. Julie Clowes, Director of SBA’s Los Angeles District Office, joins us to discuss how the SBA provides critical support, especially in times of rebuilding after disaster. From financial assistance to business counseling, the SBA helps entrepreneurs access vital aid. Their local assistance tool on SBA.gov connects businesses with nearby advisors and recovery services. In response to the fires, the SBA is actively providing financial relief and guidance to help businesses, homeowners, and communities rebuild—while also emphasizing policy changes and mitigation efforts to strengthen future resilience. You’ll learn: How small businesses can access resources like district offices and business centers. What kind of assistance the SBA has to offer in response to the recent LA fires. Who is encouraged to apply for SBA loans and aid. Learn critical strategies for small businesses to prepare for and recover from future disasters. Where individuals can locate resources based on their zip code for small business assistance. About the Guest: Julie Clowes is the Director of SBA’s Los Angeles District Office where she oversees delivery of SBA’s programs and services within Los Angeles, Ventura and Santa Barbara counties. Prior to joining the LADO Julie held numerous positions within SBA including Acting Deputy Associate Administrator -Office of Entrepreneurial Development, Director of the San Francisco District Office, Deputy District Director of the Washington Metropolitan Area District Office, Chief Marketing & Outreach attorney in the Office of General Counsel and Public Affairs Specialist with the Michigan District Office. Julie also volunteers her time for colorectal cancer advocacy efforts and was a Board member of the Colorectal Cancer Alliance. Engage with us: , & : @PasadenaCityCollegeEWD Join our newsletter for more on this topic: Visit: More from Julie Clowes & U.S. Small Business Administration Website: LinkedIn: & & : @sba.gov Partner with us! Contact our host Salvatrice Cummo directly: [email protected] Want to be a guest on the show? Click to inquire about booking Find the transcript of this episode Please rate us and leave us your thoughts and comments on Apple Podcasts; we’d love to hear from you!
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