AI, Hiring and Career-Ready Graduates with Shalei Simms, Ph.D. (SUNY Old Westbury)

AI, Hiring and Career-Ready Graduates with Shalei Simms, Ph.D. (SUNY Old Westbury)

Eliud Custodio of Turn One Studio sits down with Shalei Simms, Ph.D., Dean of the School of Business at SUNY College at Old Westbury, to discuss what’s changing in business education and what Long Island employers should know about the next generation of talent. They cover entrepreneurship vs corporate paths, why quantitative skills intimidate students, how AI is reshaping curriculum and entry-level hiring, the importance of relationship building and soft skills post-COVID and what Old Westbury graduates bring to the workplace. Learn more at oldwestbury.edu.

Sales Without the Pushiness: Rich Isaac on Sandler’s Approach to Qualifying + Budget Talks

A lot of business owners don’t think of themselves as “salespeople,” but they still have to sell.In this episode of The Turn One Studio Podcast, Eliud Custodio sits down with Rich Isaac of Sandler (Hauppauge) to talk about sales training, coaching and consulting and why most people struggle with sales when they don’t have a process.Rich breaks down a more human approach to selling that focuses on qualification, trust and fit, not pressure.In this episode, we cover: * Why entrepreneurs often become “reluctant salespeople” * Sales is sales and every business is different (and why both are true) * The difference between a sales process and a script * Why you shouldn’t try to convince people and how to help them discover what they actually need * How to avoid sticker shock by talking about money the right way * A simple framework: give ranges and ask “Should we even keep talking?” * Quantifying the goal before you talk about budget * Rich’s path from aerospace engineer to Sandler franchise owner * Sales and marketing alignment: messaging that focuses on problems, not just features and benefits

Creating Spaces That Connect People With AV and Robotics (Dawn Cagliano, IVCi)

In this episode of The Turn One Studio Podcast, host Eliud Custodio sits down with Dawn Cagliano of IVCi, an audiovisual integrator that designs and supports integrated spaces including immersive boardrooms, video conferencing rooms, digital signage and video walls. They talk about what it means to “create spaces that connect people” in three ways: better collaboration in the office, smoother hybrid meetings and stronger brand connection through digital signage. Dawn also shares how IVCi approaches customer experience, proactive monitoring and why they don’t lead with a platform when recommending Zoom, Teams or Webex. Highlights include: * Why return-to-office fails when the space doesn’t support collaboration * How AV and managed services have changed since the 90s * Robots as “mobile digital signage” and practical use cases in healthcare and hospitality * A high-pressure pitch that led to IVCi’s mindset: large enough to serve, small enough to care * Dawn’s involvement with HIA-LI and efforts to introduce students to AV careers If you want your technology to work for people, not the other way around, this episode is for you.

Pete and “Little” Pete Flyntz (FZC Consultants) on IT Planning, Cybersecurity, and Cloud vs On-Prem

Business owners shouldn’t have to be IT experts to run a smooth operation. In this episode of The Turn One Studio Podcast, Eliud Custodio talks with Pete Flyntz and “Little” Pete Flyntz of FZC Consultants, a family-run computer consulting company serving Long Island businesses for 40 years. They break down what they’re seeing in 2026, from cloud confusion and hardware mistakes to the cybersecurity risks that still catch teams off guard. You’ll hear: * Cloud vs on-prem and how to think about cost over 3 to 5 years * Fractional CTO vs fractional systems engineer and when each makes sense * Common “oh boy” IT moments and what they usually trace back to * Why hardware planning matters more than most people think * Cybersecurity basics and why phishing emails are still the biggest threat Listen now and ask yourself: Are you building your tech stack with intention, or reacting to problems as they pop up?

Adam Holtzer on Nooks & Socials, Intentional Networking and Building a Business Community | Turn One Studio Podcast

What if networking didn’t feel like networking? In this episode of the Turn One Studio Podcast, Eliud Custodio talks with Adam Holtzer, founder of Nooks & Socials, a business community for relationship-driven business owners and leaders who want education, connection and experiences that fit real life. Adam explains how Nooks & Socials blends business-focused “nooks” with social “socials” and why he believes you need a “networking cocktail” that matches your goals and personality. You’ll hear: * Why Nooks & Socials is a business community not a networking group * How their vetting process protects the culture * Why they’re not category exclusive and how that supports collaboration * How they curate 12–16 events per month based on member surveys * Early member success stories and what happens when you show up with intention If you’re a business owner on Long Island (or anywhere) looking for better relationships, better rooms and a more intentional way to grow, this conversation will hit home.Listen now and tell us: What’s your “networking cocktail” and what’s missing from it?