Ep. 13 Building Tomorrow's Tech Talent: How Cities Create the Next Generation of IT Professionals

Ep. 13 Building Tomorrow's Tech Talent: How Cities Create the Next Generation of IT Professionals

In this episode of The Bridge to Tomorrow’s Talent, host Zachary Hill (Chief of Staff at Tomorrow’s Talent) welcomes Steve Hargis, the IT Director for the City of Moreno Valley, for a candid conversation about what it really takes to keep a modern city running—and how tomorrow’s workforce can prepare to join that mission. Steve breaks down the scope of city IT work, from telecommunications and network operations to GIS and enterprise applications. But the biggest takeaway isn’t just the tech: he emphasizes that the real differentiator is change management—helping people understand, adopt, and benefit from new tools. As he explains it, you can’t succeed by focusing only on software and hardware; you have to support the human side of technology, too. The conversation also traces Steve’s unusual career path—from initially pursuing law, to discovering a passion for computers, to roles in private industry (including IBM and startups), and ultimately finding long-term purpose in public service. He contrasts the private sector’s profit-driven structure with the public sector’s more cooperative culture, where cities frequently share resources and solutions to serve their communities better. A major theme of the episode is the value of internships and apprenticeships. Steve shares how Moreno Valley integrates apprentices into real work—building customer service skills, providing help desk and technical experience, exposing them to cybersecurity and networking, and encouraging them to bring fresh ideas. He notes that the program has become so successful that the city has hired former apprentices, strengthening local talent pipelines and boosting the community’s economic vitality. Finally, Steve offers practical advice to emerging professionals: do the homework before an interview, tailor your approach to the organization, and show genuine interest. He also speaks to the growing role of AI in the workplace—encouraging new talent to learn how to use AI tools effectively (not to “fake” competency), and to pair technical growth with strong communication and customer service skills. Bio: Steve Hargis is the IT Director for the City of Moreno Valley, overseeing the systems and infrastructure that support safe, reliable access to city services. His work spans telecommunications, network and cloud operations, GIS, and enterprise applications, with a strong focus on helping departments navigate technology change successfully. With experience across private industry and public-sector leadership, Steve is a committed advocate for apprenticeship pathways that build both technical competency and the people-first skills essential to long-term success. Connect Today! LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/company/tomorrowstalent/ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/tomorrowstalent/] Steve Hargis:https://www.linkedin.com/in/steve-hargis-35a52328/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/steve-hargis-35a52328/]  City of Moreno Valley: https://www.linkedin.com/company/city-of-moreno-valley/posts/?feedView=all [https://www.linkedin.com/company/city-of-moreno-valley/posts/?feedView=all]  Zachary Hill:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/zachary-hill-0a5628219/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/zachary-hill-0a5628219/] Website: https://tomorrowstalent.org/ [https://tomorrowstalent.org/]

Ep. 12 Behind the Vision of Tomorrow’s Talent and the People Building It with Dale Marsden and Ginger Ontiveros

Show Notes: In this episode of The Bridge to Tomorrow’s Talent, Chief of Staff Zachary Hill speaks with Tomorrow’s Talent President and CEO Ginger Ontiveros and Founder Dr. Dale Marsden about the growing disconnect between education and the real world of work. They share how Tomorrow’s Talent is building the bridge between schools and employers and why this work is essential for preparing students for meaningful careers. Ginger and Dale explain why today’s workforce challenges require a new approach, how an intermediary helps educators and employers collaborate more effectively, and why early exposure to real work experiences is one of the strongest drivers of student engagement and confidence. They also discuss their personal motivations for this mission, the risks of student disengagement, and the practical steps that educators, employers, and students can take right now to close the gap. You will learn:  • Why no system takes full responsibility for student outcomes after graduation and why that needs to change  • How Tomorrow’s Talent connects education, employers, and students in a coordinated way  • How early internships and real world experiences help students discover interests and build clarity  • What educators can do today to help students prepare for in demand careers  • What students can do to explore pathways, ask better questions, and gain real experience  • Why solving this gap is critical for the future workforce and the overall health of our communities A meaningful and energizing conversation about the future of career pathways, real world learning, and creating opportunity for the next generation. Connect with Tomorrow’s Talent: LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/company/tomorrowstalent/ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/tomorrowstalent/] Dale Marsden:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/dale-marsden-05287756/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/dale-marsden-05287756/] Ginger Ontiveros:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/gkontiveros/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/gkontiveros/] Zachary Hill:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/zachary-hill-0a5628219/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/zachary-hill-0a5628219/] Website: https://tomorrowstalent.org/ [https://tomorrowstalent.org/] 🎁 Grab your Free Churn Calculator: HERE  [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdL1e1sbvkP935iSt6FTo9j_hLPSLy2nz4fezA-YukD2S4IUA/viewform]

Ep. 11 Why Grit, Curiosity and Writing Well Still Win in the Workforce with Cayley Vos

Show Notes: In this episode of The Bridge to Tomorrow's Talent, host Zach Hill sits down with Cayley Vos, CEO of NetPaths Conversion Optimization, to explore how the digital landscape has evolved since the dawn of Google and what today’s emerging professionals need to know to thrive in a rapidly changing workforce. Cayley shares his journey from geology major to building one of the early web-development and online marketing firms in 1999. He reflects on the early days of search engines, the rise of AI-powered search, and how businesses can stay visible and competitive in a world where platforms like ChatGPT are reshaping discovery. The conversation dives into timeless career lessons for students and new professionals, including the importance of writing well, reading deeply, building foundational skills, and developing the grit to learn independently. Cayley also offers practical advice for aspiring entrepreneurs, from identifying real-world pain points to overcoming fear and taking action before life adds responsibilities that limit risk. Listeners will walk away with insights on navigating modern work, leveraging AI without losing fundamental skills, and finding opportunities for growth and mentorship in today's workforce. KEY TOPICS COVERED * The evolution of online search from pre-Google days to AI-powered engines * How companies can stay relevant amid shifting search behaviors * Why content needs full, conversational answers instead of keyword stuffing * Cayley’s unconventional career journey into tech and entrepreneurship * The role of grit, curiosity, and self-learning in professional success * Foundational skills every young professional still must master * Identifying business pain points and turning them into opportunities * Entrepreneurship fears, taking risks early, and learning through failure * How mentorship shape careers and why founders love helping driven youth * The future of work and why core human skills still matter To connect with our guest, click on the links below: LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cayleyv/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/cayleyv/] X:  http://x.com/cvos [http://x.com/cvos] Website:  http://netpaths.net [http://netpaths.net] Connect with Tomorrow’s Talent: LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/company/tomorrowstalent/ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/tomorrowstalent/] Dale Marsden:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/dale-marsden-05287756/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/dale-marsden-05287756/] Zachary Hill:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/zachary-hill-0a5628219/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/zachary-hill-0a5628219/] Website: https://tomorrowstalent.org/ [https://tomorrowstalent.org/] 🎁 Grab your Free Churn Calculator: HERE [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdL1e1sbvkP935iSt6FTo9j_hLPSLy2nz4fezA-YukD2S4IUA/viewform]

Ep. 10 How to Close the Education-to-Workforce Gap: Insights from Aerospace Leader Eric Schmidt

Show Notes: In this episode of The Bridge to Tomorrow’s Talent, host Dale Marsden sits down with Eric Schmidt, President and Co-Founder of Exquadrum, to explore what it truly takes to prepare emerging talent for the rapidly changing world of work. Eric shares insights from more than two decades in aerospace and engineering leadership, highlighting the widening gap between education and workforce needs, and what industry, educators, and communities must do to close it. Bio: Eric is the President and Co-founder of Exquadrum, a minority owned, defense and aerospace contractor which specializes in rocket-based technologies for the Department of Defense, NASA, and the commercial space industry. Exquadrum is headquartered in Victorville, CA and has 83 employees. In his role as President of Exquadrum, Eric guides and supervises the day-to-day business management of the company while providing the corporate and technical vision to its staff. He oversees Exquadrum’s industrial security, safety, and quality programs; operations; test and evaluation; engineering; and technical services. Eric graduated from Cal Poly Pomona with an aerospace engineering degree where he was also inducted into their Engineering Hall of Fame in 2019. A native of the Mojave River Valley since 1982, he married his high school sweetheart, Cindie Schmidt, who is a teacher in the Hesperia Unified School District. He has three children, Dwight, 38, Cameron, 36, and Summer, 24. To connect with our guest, click on the links below: LinkedIn:  http://linkedin.com/in/ericeschmidt [http://linkedin.com/in/ericeschmidt] Website:  www.exquadrum.com [http://www.exquadrum.com] Connect with Tomorrow’s Talent: LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/company/tomorrowstalent/ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/tomorrowstalent/] Dale Marsden:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/dale-marsden-05287756/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/dale-marsden-05287756/] Zachary Hill:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/zachary-hill-0a5628219/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/zachary-hill-0a5628219/] Website: https://tomorrowstalent.org/ [https://tomorrowstalent.org/] 🎁 Grab your Free Churn Calculator: HERE [https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdL1e1sbvkP935iSt6FTo9j_hLPSLy2nz4fezA-YukD2S4IUA/viewform]

Ep. 9 How AI is Changing Entry Level Expectations in Today’s Workforce With GroWrk

Show Notes: In this episode of Bridge to Tomorrow's Talent, host Zachary Hill speaks with Claudio Romero Alvarez, Enablement Manager at GroWrk. The conversation explores remote workforce logistics, automation, AI adoption, and what the next generation of talent needs to know before entering the workforce. GroWrk is a global technology logistics and SaaS company that helps organizations manage workstations, track equipment, and streamline processes for distributed teams. Claudio shares how automation and AI are transforming internal workflows, reducing manual work, and improving cross departmental collaboration. Claudio also breaks down his own journey into sales, marketing, customer success, and technology operations. He highlights the importance of mentors, continuous learning, and embracing new tools like AI to stay competitive in a rapidly evolving job market. Listeners will gain insight into how entry level talent can confidently pursue roles in tech enabled environments, even without traditional experience. Claudio emphasizes taking risks, applying even when you feel underqualified, and building experience through school projects, internships, and hands on practice with emerging technologies. The episode closes with guidance for companies and universities on supporting internships, creating strong industry bridges, and helping young professionals integrate into workplace culture. Claudio offers practical advice for new hires to build relationships, seek out help, and make the most of their early career experiences in both in person and remote jobs. Bio: Senior Revenue Operations Enablement Manager at GroWrk, I shape the business strategy and operations through technology. I lead the Enablement team for Revenue Operations: Sales, Customer Success, and Marketing, and report directly to the VP of Revenue Operations. I have over 10 years of experience in CRM, marketing automation, and sales operations, with a deep knowledge of the NOAM and LATAM markets. My main role is to be a bridge between the company's departments, managing to dialogue and negotiate processes to connect the areas. I configured and enabled Hubspot from scratch to start managing the operations of the Marketing, Sales, and Customer Success departments. I also developed the escalation and request ticketing process to optimize the workflows and communication. I enjoy optimizing and implementing the best solutions, whether it is through a tool, an automation, a business process, a marketing idea, a customer relationship channel, or a training session. Expert in CRM, digital marketing and marketing automation with more than 10 years of experience leading, developing and managing lifecycle strategies that extend customer lifetime value in B2C and B2B environments. I have combined experience in setting up CRM operations and customer journeys, developing integrated solutions in Customer Success, Sales, Customer Experience, Sales Operations, Email Marketing and UX design.  To connect with our guest, click on the links below: LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/claudio-romero/?originalSubdomain=mx [https://www.linkedin.com/in/claudio-romero/?originalSubdomain=mx] Website:  https://growrk.com/ [https://growrk.com/] Connect with Tomorrow’s Talent: LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/company/tomorrowstalent/ [https://www.linkedin.com/company/tomorrowstalent/] Dale Marsden:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/dale-marsden-05287756/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/dale-marsden-05287756/] Zachary Hill:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/zachary-hill-0a5628219/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/zachary-hill-0a5628219/] Website: https://tomorrowstalent.org/ [https://tomorrowstalent.org/]