WC Podcast

From Queens to the Strip, Marc Badain, President of the Las Vegas Athletics, shares a cinematic journey through sports leadership, analytics, and the vision behind Las Vegas’ next iconic ballpark. In this compelling episode of the Workforce Connections Podcast, Marc reveals how legacy, innovation, and community power are shaping the future of Major League Baseball in Southern Nevada. It’s a powerf...

Tyler Merritt returns home for a raw, powerful conversation about identity, resilience, and survival. In the electrifying first episode of Season 6 of the Workforce Connections podcast, the bestselling author and Las Vegas native reflects on his viral video Before You Call the Cops , surviving cancer, and the power of storytelling. It’s a fast-moving, unforgettable episode about owning your story...

 In this inspiring episode, Dr. Stacy Klippenstein, the new president of the College of Southern Nevada (CSN), takes us on a powerful journey from his Montana roots to the helm of one of the region’s most impactful institutions. As he shares his vision for CSN, the future of workforce development, and the growing alignment across Southern Nevada’s education and economic partners, the episode unfol...

In the final episode ever recorded in the original WC studio, host Jaime Cruz sits down with entrepreneur Jason Briggs, who went from a garage in Chino to building and selling multimillion-dollar companies. Their conversation unfolds like a real-life comeback story as Jason reveals how raw talent, relentless drive, and a deep shift in purpose carried him from a young technician to a leader shaping...

Superintendent Jhone Ebert has led education systems from Nevada to New York and now oversees 300,000 students in the nation’s fifth-largest school district. She joins the WC Podcast to share the journey that shaped her and the vision she is driving at the Clark County School District. This episode uncovers the moments, challenges, and decisions behind one of the most influential roles in public e...

 In this episode of the Workforce Connections podcast, Mark and Samantha Steele are the powerhouse siblings behind The Blooming Bistro and the Restaurant Hospitality Institute. Their mission is to transform lives in Las Vegas through hospitality, hope, and opportunity for at-risk youth and adults.  The Blooming Bistro https://www.thebloomingbistro.com/ Restaurant Hospitality Institute https://rhin...

In this episode of the Workforce Connections Podcast, University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) President Dr. Chris Heavey shares his inspiring journey from Chicago to Las Vegas and how he’s leading the charge to align higher education with Southern Nevada’s workforce needs. From groundbreaking programs in cybersecurity and healthcare to innovations that turn desert air into water, Dr. Heavey highlig...

A new era is rising in Southern Nevada. When Danielle Casey, President and CEO of LVGEA, takes the mic, she reveals what it really takes to transform a region. From her climb through Arizona, California, and New Mexico to leading the charge in Las Vegas, Casey shares insider stories on power, progress, and the people building the economy of tomorrow. Get ready for strategy, vision, and a front-row...

In this special episode of the Workforce Connections Podcast, host Jaime Cruz sits down with Nevada Governor Joe Lombardo, a former sheriff, soldier, and lifelong public servant, for an inspiring conversation about leadership, accountability, and workforce transformation. From his early life in Japan to championing education reform and second-chance programs like Hope for Prisoners, Lombardo share...

What if Southern Nevada could not only manage homelessness but truly solve it? In this episode of the Workforce Connections Podcast, host Jaime Cruz talks with Kim Jefferies, President and CEO of Campus for Hope, and Erik Hansen, Chief Sustainability Officer at Wynn Resorts. Together, they share their personal journeys, the San Antonio model that inspired this effort, and how a new public-private...

Across seasons of uncertainty and growth, Stephanie learned to build doors where walls once stood. In this episode, she shares a practical playbook for turning vision into results people can feel, with strategy, community, and accountability at the center. City of Henderson: Henderson, NV | Home

From moving across the Midwest to commanding one of the Air Force’s most advanced wings, Brigadier General Lawrence T. Sullivan’s story is one of resilience and leadership. In this episode, he reveals how Nellis Air Force Base operates like a city, the powerful ties between the military and Las Vegas, and the lessons that shape the next generation of airmen.  Nellis Air Force Base https://www.nell...

In this episode of the Workforce Connections Podcast, we hear the story of Tam and Kerry Larnerd, two long-time educators whose careers shaped thousands of students in Southern Nevada. Kerry, originally from South Africa, grew up in Carson City before moving to Las Vegas to attend UNLV. She began teaching English at Silverado High School and went on to serve as an administrator at schools like Vo-...

In this episode of the Workforce Connections Podcast, we meet Anisa Stechert, a Licensed Master Social Worker and psychedelic integration therapist at Nushama in New York City. Born in Las Vegas, Anisa moved to Florida at age 11 but has always considered Nevada home, with fond memories of Red Rock, Mount Charleston, and the YMCA swim team. She earned her B.A. in English in West Palm Beach and bega...

In this episode of the Workforce Connections Podcast, we meet Mylo Lopez, principal architect, designer, and founder of MyloFleur. Born in Corona, California, to immigrant parents from Mexico, Mylo spent her childhood crossing between Mexicali and Calexico before her family settled in Las Vegas. She attended Las Vegas Academy, where she majored in Japanese and studied abroad in Japan, and later ea...

In this episode of the Workforce Connections Podcast, we sit down with Dina Babsky, Director of Economic and Urban Development for the City of Las Vegas, to hear her inspiring journey and learn about the exciting projects shaping the city’s future. Born in Uzbekistan, Dina came to the U.S. at age 15 through the Department of State’s Future Leaders Exchange Program. She spent a year in Wolf City, T...

In this episode, we welcome Amy Respini of the Las Vegas Global Economic Alliance and Jason Thomas of the Vegas Chamber, two powerhouse talent liaisons embedded within key business-facing organizations to support employer growth and regional economic development. Amy, who grew up between Southern California and Oregon, brings a background in psychology, mediation, and banking, along with early lea...

In this episode, we welcome Lori Wilkinson, Vice President and Employee Benefit Consultant at Brown & Brown, and a fellow Vegas Chamber trustee. Raised in McDermitt, Nevada, a town with a population of 13 in her graduating class, Lori’s upbringing on her family’s cattle ranch instilled in her the values of hard work, collaboration, and resilience. After attending Dixie College and graduating f...

In this episode of the Workforce Connections podcast, we welcome Quentin Abramo, President and Founder of Faciliteq. Born in the Bronx and a graduate of the University of Arizona with a degree in history, Quentin’s professional path has taken him from aspiring architect to a leader in workspace design and modular construction. His early career included key years at Haworth, one of the world’s lead...

In this episode of the Workforce Connections Podcast, we welcome Dr. Renee Coffman, President and Co-Founder of Roseman University of Health Sciences and a board member of the Las Vegas Global Economic Alliance (LVGEA). Dr. Coffman shares her inspiring journey, from growing up in a small farming town in Ohio to earning her pharmacy degree at Ohio Northern University and later completing her Ph. D....

In this episode of the Workforce Connections podcast, host Jaime sits down with the inspiring Dr. Camilla Dorand, born in São Paulo, Brazil. At just six years old, she moved to Nigeria due to her father's political arrest, lived with her uncle near Santos (home of soccer legends Pelé and Neymar), and returned to Brazil at age ten. She learned English at an American school in Nigeria before re...

In this episode of the Workforce Connections podcast, Debra March joins the conversation to reflect on her dynamic career and ongoing contributions to Southern Nevada. Debra shares her unique path from growing up in Detroit and graduating from an all-girls Catholic high school to becoming Nevada’s first female park ranger, then working as a social worker, real estate regulator, and economic develo...

In this episode of the Workforce Connections Podcast , we welcome Victor Fuchs, President and CEO of Helix Electric and fellow trustee of the Vegas Chamber. Victor shares his powerful journey as an immigrant from Odessa, Ukraine. His family arrived in San Diego in 1978 with just $2,000, seeking freedom from antisemitism and a better life. Victor learned English through a paper route and tutoring,...

In this special episode of the Workforce Connections Podcast, we sit down with Mayor Shelley Berkley, a proud Las Vegas native and lifelong public servant whose deep roots in the city continue to shape her leadership. She shares how her upbringing in Southern Nevada, her education at Valley High School and UNLV, and her early start in politics have fueled her passion for helping people and buildin...

In this episode of the Workforce Connections podcast, we are joined by Tom Power, President and CEO of Sunshine Minting, Inc., a global leader in the minting and precious metals industry. Tom shares his remarkable journey, beginning on the island of Newfoundland and growing up in Ontario, Canada, where he developed a strong work ethic working summer jobs in local factories. His career evolved from...