WC Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Season 4- Episode 09: Evelyn Garcia Morales Jan 29, 2024

Show notes

Joining the show today is Evelyn Garcia Morales, a remarkable individual serving as the Executive Director of the Fulfillment Fund Las Vegas, President of the Clark County School District Board of Trustees, and Member of the Workforce Connections’ Program Committee. Evelyn reflects on her upbringing in Los Angeles, California, alongside her two older siblings. Her parents, immigrants from Jalisco, Mexico, arrived in the U.S. at the ages of 16 and 17.

Evelyn reminisces about her entrepreneurial spirit, starting her first job as a door salesperson at the age of 11, selling Velcro wallets alongside her mother. Later, she moved to Las Vegas, attending Mojave High School, and pursuing a bachelor’s degree in
political science at UNLV, becoming the first in her family to graduate from both high school and college.

Her journey led her to Washington D.C., where she was exposed to a myriad of opportunities that shaped her perspective. Evelyn shares her favorite aspects of serving on the board of trustees and the profound influence of Brene Brown, emphasizing the
significance of living in alignment with one's values.

In her downtime, Evelyn finds solace with her family. To young aspiring community leaders, she offers heartfelt advice: discover what brings you joy, invest in others, and give your all to it. So, if you're passionate about making a difference, take Evelyn's words to heart and dive in!
Viva Las Visionaries Podcast-UNLV:
"Episode 8: Evelyn Garcia Morales on "I was recently asked how I do it " by Evelyn Garcia Morales (unlv.edu)
Interview with Mojave Students:
Mojave HS Students Interview Trustee Evelyn Garcia (youtube.com)

Season 4-Episode 08: Tyler Corder Jan 22, 2024

Show notes

Tyler Corder, Chief Financial Officer for Findlay Automotive Group, joins the show today to talk about his roots in a rural part of Central Montana, growing up on a wheat farm, and his time at Montana State University where he earned his business degree.

His career kicked off at General Motors Acceptance Corporations (GMAC), where he started by collecting past-due car payments. Tyler's dedication led him to climb the ranks, becoming a branch manager before being transferred to Las Vegas in 1992. In 1994, he crossed paths with Mr. Findlay, who sought his expertise in expanding the car dealership business. Tyler reflects on his involvement with the Foundation for an Independent Tomorrow (FIT) and the automotive technician course that collaborates with Findlay Automotive.

Sharing his insights, Tyler advises aspiring community leaders to immerse themselves in the community and actively participate. So, if you're looking to make a difference,
take Tyler's advice and put yourself out there!
Findlay Automotive:
Findlay Auto Group Careers | Learn More

Foundation for an Independent Tomorrow and Findlay Automotive:
Findlay hires new graduates from FIT’s class of auto techs | Dealer News | Autos (reviewjournal.com)

Season 4-Episode 07: Jill Rowland-Lagan Jan 17, 2024

Show notes

Jill Rowland-Lagan, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Boulder City Chamber, joins the show today to talk about growing up in Boulder City, venturing off to college to earn a degree in court reporting, bringing her back to Boulder City as an entrepreneur. She talks about her passion for entrepreneurship and how Boulder City supports small businesses despite the pandemic. Jill highlights the uniqueness of Boulder City and the projects and initiatives that are helping small businesses grow. Lastly, she shares advice for anyone interested in becoming an entrepreneur or a community leader by having a belief in the spirit of community and serving others will help better themselves.

Boulder City Chamber of Commerce:
Home (bouldercitychamber.com)

Boulder City Adventure Center:
https://www.bouldercity.com/boulder-city-adventure-center-coming-soon/

Boulder City Ram Cam:
Ram Cam | Boulder City, NV - Official Website (bcnv.org)

Season 4-Episode 06: Betsy Fretwell Jan 08, 2024

Show notes

Betsy Fretwell, the founder of C4ward Strategies and the newly appointed chair of the Vegas Chamber Board of Trustees, joins the show to talk about her upbringing in South Carolina and her academic journey at the University of Georgia, where she earned her graduate degree in Public Administration before finding her way to Las Vegas. She discusses her significant roles with the City of Las Vegas and the City of Henderson. After serving as the city manager in Las Vegas for nine years, she transitioned to the private sector, initially joining Switch and eventually establishing her own company. Betsy shares insights into managing workplace boundaries and discusses her pursuits during her leisure time. Lastly, she offers valuable advice to aspiring young individuals keen on pursuing leadership roles within cities: start engaging in discussions about your aspirations and don't hesitate to pursue your goals.
Las Vegas Chamber:
Vegas Chamber - Las Vegas Chamber of Commerce

Season 4-Episode 05: Richard Derrick Jan 03, 2024

Show notes

Richard Derrick, City Manager of the City of Henderson, joins the show today to share his hometown pride and insights into leading Henderson through the pandemic. A UNLV accounting graduate, he worked in the casino industry and the school district before joining the City of Henderson for the last 25 years dedicated to public service. He reflects on navigating economic challenges during COVID-19 and highlights the city's successful partnership with the private sector, exemplified by the outsourced convention center operation. As a lifelong learner, Derrick concludes that inspiring young people to embrace curiosity and continuous learning is the key to unlocking their potential.
City of Henderson:
https://www.cityofhenderson.com/home

Season 4-Episode 04: Mayor Joe Hardy Dec 20, 2023

Show notes

Dr. Joe Hardy, Mayor of Boulder City, joins the show today to share his extraordinary journey starting with his upbringing in Reno, Nevada. He talks about being a construction foreman at age 13 while living in Utah. He will share his collegiate journey from BYU in Utah where he met his wife of 51 years, to the University of Reno (UNR), and finally to Washington University where he earned his PhD, and his third child was born out of eight children. From joining the Boulder City Council in 1999 to serving 12 years in the Nevada State Senate and now leading as Mayor, Dr. Hardy's dedication to his community is undeniable. Lastly, if you're aspiring to become a community leader yourself, Dr. Hardy has some timeless advice: it all starts with service. Be the helping hand, the voice for those who need it most.

Boulder City:
https://www.bcnv.org/

Season 4-Episode 3: Kumud Acharya Dec 12, 2023

Show notes

Kumud Acharya, President of the Desert Research Institute (DRI), joins us for an insightful conversation today. Born and raised in Kathmandu, Nepal, his journey began with an inspiring educational pursuit. After earning his undergraduate degree in Civil Engineering in India, he sought further knowledge in the US, culminating in a Ph.D. in science and aquatic ecology, with a graduate degree in Environmental Engineering along the way. Today, we explore his passion for ecological engineering and the remarkable career path that led him to DRI in Las Vegas. Joining DRI as an assistant research professor in 2006, he steadily rose, becoming the esteemed president in 2020. Kumud highlights DRI's innovative environmental projects, particularly the highly recognized cloud seeding initiative. He concludes by sharing his passion for travel and offering valuable advice to young people: work hard.

Desert Research Institute:
https://www.dri.edu/

Season 4-Episode 02: Leila Melendez Dec 05, 2023

Show notes

Leila Melendez, Chief Executive Officer at Workforce Solutions Borderplex, joins the show today to talk about her upbringing in El Paso, Texas and what led her to her career path in Economic Development. Leila talks about the changes that have taken place since becoming the Chief Executive Officer. She discusses the impact of the Workforce Situation Room podcast, and the Best Places for Working Parents (BP for WP) initiative that were born from the pandemic. She highlights the importance of listening to stakeholders, particularly young people, to understand their needs and develop effective solutions. Lastly, Leila mentions the importance of storytelling and highlighting participant journeys to improve service delivery.
Workforce Solutions Borderplex:
https://www.borderplexjobs.com/

Season 4-Episode 01 (100th Episode overall in Spanish): Carmen Gladys Cauchi Andrade Nov 28, 2023

Show notes

**For the subtitled video, please visit our YouTube channel:
(25) Episode 31 (100th Episode overall in Spanish): Carmen Gladys Cauchi Andrade - YouTube
In this special 100th episode, Carmen Gladys Cauchi Andrade, mother of Jaime Cruz, joins the show to share her inspiring life story. Born and raised in Peru, Carmen's journey began in the Peruvian Mountains, where her grandparents embarked on an incredible trek to Lima, the capital city. With determination and hard work, Carmen's father built a home and a garden in Rimac, where Carmen grew up.

Driven by her passion for numbers, Carmen pursued an accounting certificate and later earned a Public Accountant degree, opening doors to exciting opportunities. Her
impressive career took her from the Ministry of Agriculture to Dasatour SA, a
tourism agency, where she combined her love of numbers with her desire to
travel.

Carmen's journey continued when she immigrated to the United States. While learning English, she lovingly cared for children. Her career path led her to Harrah's, where she
began as a housekeeper and later transitioned to a seamstress. She left Harrah's and started a new career working for the Clark County School District, where she eventually retired.

In her retirement, Carmen remains actively engaged in the Las Vegas community, volunteering with the local police departments, assisting with elections,
and nurturing her passion for gardening alongside her husband, Roy.

Carmen's message to anyone embarking on a migratory journey is resilience and perseverance. She encourages individuals never to give up and to embrace the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead. Carmen's inspiring story
serves as a testament to the strength and determination of the human spirit.

Season 3- Episode 30: Lauri Perdue Sep 01, 2023

Show notes

Lauri Perdue, National Workforce Director, at the University of Phoenix, joins the show to talk about her upbringing in Arizona then Las Vegas where she continued her education at the University of Nevada, Reno. Lauri discusses the theory developed by the University of Phoenix of becoming a career-centric university and how it will meet the needs of the workforce on a national level with what they have to offer. She highlights the talent pipeline council that she is leading and why it is important to our community. Lastly, she talks about the passion project that brings her joy and the advice she shares for young people.

University of Phoenix:
Save time & money | University of Phoenix

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