PACEing Your Future

The Systems Behind the Systems: Industry Wisdom with Biju Kewalram

Biju Kewalram brings over 30 years of C-level experience across startups and global logistics firms, having served as CIO, COO, CEO, and Chief Transformation Officer. Specializing in digital transformation, he focuses on aligning people, technology, and processes to drive change. In this podcast, Biju dives into his role in the Global Logistics Professional (GLP) program at CPaCE, his career journey, and his views on how major technological and workforce shifts could reshape the logistics industry. Check out the GLP program: https://www.cpace.csulb.edu/courses/certificate-programs/global-logistics-professional [https://www.cpace.csulb.edu/courses/certificate-programs/global-logistics-professional] Biju's LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/bijukewalram/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/bijukewalram/]

Switching Tracks: Rail and Supply Chain with Samantha Galltin

With over 18 years of experience in operations, business development, and strategic leadership across transportation, logistics, and maritime sectors, Samantha delivers innovative, results-driven solutions. At the Port of Long Beach, she led the Commercial Operations Bureau, enhancing the Port’s value proposition and expanding market share through strategic customer engagement. Her background includes key leadership roles at BNSF, where she managed industrial sales and port development strategies across the southern half of the network. More recently, she held executive roles at InductEV and Fleetzero, overseeing commercial operations, customer success, and decarbonization initiatives. Samantha brings deep expertise in rail and port business development, innovation, and electrification strategy — driving sustainable growth and transformation at the intersection Check out the Global Logistics Professional Program: https://www.cpace.csulb.edu/courses/certificate-programs/global-logistics-professional [https://www.cpace.csulb.edu/courses/certificate-programs/global-logistics-professional] Learn more about Rail: https://www.aar.org/rail-facts/ [https://www.aar.org/rail-facts/] Check out Russell Kroese: https://www.russellkroese.com/ [https://www.russellkroese.com/] Learn about all things intermodal: https://intermodal.org/what-intermodal#gsc.tab=0 [https://intermodal.org/what-intermodal#gsc.tab=0]

Resources For Success and Career Development with Jaime Gutierrez

As Executive Director of the Long Beach Workforce Innovation Network (LBWIN) within the Long Beach Economic Development Department, Jaime Gutierrez leads the Workforce Development Bureau, which operates the City’s Adult Career Services Center and the Youth Career Services Center (aka Future LB), while advancing major personnel initiatives to strengthen talent pipelines. He provides strategic workforce and economic development leadership through planning, resource development, and investments in collaboration with business, industry, academia, federal, state and nonprofit partners. With 25 years in public service, Mr. Gutierrez most recently served as Chief Deputy Director for the California Employment Training Panel, where he managed a variety of complex, specialized programs. While at the State, he also held multiple executive-level positions and brings 13 years of workforce development experience, including five years administering the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) for California. Check Out the Programs Offered at CPaCE: https://www.cpace.csulb.edu/courses/certificate-programs [https://www.cpace.csulb.edu/courses/certificate-programs] Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) https://edd.ca.gov/en/Jobs_and_Training/Workforce_Innovation_and_Opportunity_Act [https://edd.ca.gov/en/Jobs_and_Training/Workforce_Innovation_and_Opportunity_Act] Long Beach Workforce Innovation Network: https://www.longbeach.gov/economicdevelopment/talent-workforce/ [https://www.longbeach.gov/economicdevelopment/talent-workforce/]

IANA's Influences In Intermodal Freight with Miia Rasinen

This podcast was recorded through Zoom. You will hear a Teams chat alert at 43:31 and 44:26. Miia Rasinen (pronounced Raz-uh-nen) is the Director of Education at the Intermodal Association of North America (IANA), where she leads both in-person and virtual educational initiatives, including the Future Leaders of Intermodal Program (FLIP) and the Joanne F. Casey Scholarship Program, which proudly includes California State University, Long Beach. A lifelong advocate for learning, Miia has held various roles in the training and education space across sectors such as transportation, accreditation, and real estate, and previously taught middle school math through Teach For America. She holds a Bachelor's degree in American Studies from the University of Notre Dame and a Master’s in Instructional Design and Technology from the University of West Virginia. Global Logistics Professional Program: https://www.cpace.csulb.edu/courses/certificate-programs/global-logistics-professional [https://www.cpace.csulb.edu/courses/certificate-programs/global-logistics-professional] Intermodal EXPO, Sept 15 – 17 in Long Beach, CA: https://intermodal.org/intermodalexpo [https://intermodal.org/intermodalexpo] Future Leaders of Intermodal Program (FLIP): Future Leaders of Intermodal Program [https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fintermodal.org%2Fflip&data=05%7C02%7CAngeloJoseph.Ramos%40csulb.edu%7Cc6c1efae5a4b478d43f708ddd397c178%7Cd175679bacd34644be82af041982977a%7C0%7C0%7C638899370952838258%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=ZPpRtMavDRKX%2FqBvlcg7aLSkkAtJKrh4q5LkU7g9HC8%3D&reserved=0] Joanne F. Casey Scholarship Program: Scholarship Program [https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fintermodal.org%2Fscholarship-program&data=05%7C02%7CAngeloJoseph.Ramos%40csulb.edu%7Cc6c1efae5a4b478d43f708ddd397c178%7Cd175679bacd34644be82af041982977a%7C0%7C0%7C638899370952855247%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=JCehKvzjafFm%2B7jvYOCNf0VCI8ZeEbnl8MkMjIAxaxg%3D&reserved=0]

Community Development and Resources in Long Beach with Bo Martinez

Bo is the Director of Economic Development for the City of Long Beach, where he leads five key bureaus: Business Development, Real Estate Development, Workforce Development, Business Operations, and Waterfront Development. With a distinguished career across major U.S. cities — including Miami Beach, Denver, Broomfield, and Phoenix — Bo has championed initiatives in community revitalization, small business growth, and transit-oriented development. He brings deep expertise in business retention and attraction, public-private partnerships, and talent development, driving sustainable economic growth at both local and regional levels. Recognized as one of North America’s Top 50 Economic Developers by Consultant Connect, Bo holds a Master of Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Colorado. Learn more about the Grow Long Beach Initiative: https://www.longbeach.gov/economicdevelopment/grow-long-beach/ [https://www.longbeach.gov/economicdevelopment/grow-long-beach/] Check out Long Beach's talent and workforce development and resources: https://longbeach.gov/economicdevelopment/talent-workforce/ [https://longbeach.gov/economicdevelopment/talent-workforce/] Long Beach Workforce Innovation Network (LBWIN): https://www.longbeach.gov/economicdevelopment/talent-workforce/lbwin-orientation/ [https://www.longbeach.gov/economicdevelopment/talent-workforce/lbwin-orientation/] Professional and Workforce Development programs at CSULB: https://www.cpace.csulb.edu/courses/certificate-programs [https://www.cpace.csulb.edu/courses/certificate-programs]