WC Podcast

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...

In this episode of the Workforce Connections podcast, we’re joined by Mike Rhea, Chief Revenue Officer at Intelligent Technical Solutions (ITS). Mike shares his journey from growing up in a military family and thriving in martial arts and football to eventually shifting into banking and breaking into tech sales without earning a college degree. Raised in the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Vir...

In this episode of the Workforce Connections Podcast, we sit down with Marcel Schaerer, Deputy Director for Southern Nevada at the Nevada Department of Business and Industry. Originally from Asunción, Paraguay, Marcel came to the U.S. as a high school exchange student in Reno before earning his bachelor’s and master’s degrees in economics from the University of Nevada, Reno. His career began with...

In this episode of the Workforce Connections Podcast, we sit down with Tami Hance-Lehr, State Director and CEO of Communities In Schools of Nevada (CIS)—a woman whose career journey embodies resilience, reinvention, and a deep commitment to the community. Tami shares her story, beginning in Ogden, Utah, before her family relocated to Las Vegas during her sophomore year of high school. A proud Clar...

In this episode of the Workforce Connections Podcast, we’re joined by Amanda Signorelli, a Las Vegas native and co-owner of Golden Steer Steakhouse. Amanda shares her journey from attending The Meadows School to studying international business and marketing at Washington University in St. Louis, with minors in French and Arabic. Her early career included global consulting with McKinsey & Compa...

In this episode, Ashley Espinoza, Executive Director of Lane Workforce Partnership in Eugene, Oregon. Ashley shares her unique career journey, highlighting how she overcame challenges after dropping out of high school to become a first-generation leader in workforce development. Growing up in a small, predominantly white town in Oregon as a first-generation Latina, she navigated challenges that sh...

In this episode of the Workforce Connections Podcast, we dive into one of Southern Nevada’s most pressing challenges—supporting the 45,000 young adults aged 16-24 who are currently disconnected from school and employment. Our conversation brings together leading voices in workforce development: Robert Sainz (New Ways to Work), Yali Lincroft (Walter S. Johnson Foundation), and David Charron (JobsFi...

In this episode, Chad Hirschi, President & CEO, and Crystal Hirschi, Executive VP of Hirschi Companies, join the show to share their journeys. Crystal grew up between Marie and Farmington, Utah, and despite early challenges that delayed her college experience, she later reignited her passion for learning by taking online finance courses. Chad, a lifelong Las Vegas native and Cimarron High Scho...

In this episode, Brian Kleven, Nevada Market Chief Financial Officer for Dignity Health St. Rose Dominican Hospitals and a board member of the Las Vegas Global Economic Alliance (LVGEA), joins the show. Brian shares his journey from growing up in Van Nuys, California, to becoming a financial leader in Southern Nevada's healthcare sector. Raised in the Northridge area, he earned his degree in...

In this episode of the Workforce Connections Podcast, host Jaime Cruz welcomes Leslie Mujica, Executive Director and Chief Marketing Officer for the Southern Nevada International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) and the National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA) Labor Management Cooperation Committee (LMCC), also known as Las Vegas Power Professionals. Leslie shares her inspiring j...