Capstone Conversation by Jared Asch

In this episode of Capstone Conversation, host Jared Asch interviews Chief Joe Testa of the Livermore Pleasanton Fire Department. They discuss various aspects of fire safety and prevention, particularly as the region approaches peak fire season. Chief Testa shares his career journey in the fire service, detailing the ranks he has ascended since beginning his career in 1994. The discussion addresses current firefighter recruitment c...

In this episode of the Capstone Conversation, host Jared Asch interviews Jamie Knox, the Chief of Police from Walnut Creek, to discuss public safety and the evolution of policing over his 30-plus-year career. Chief Knox shares insights about his career progression from starting as a dispatcher to eventually becoming a Chief of Police. He elaborates on the changes in policing brought about by advances in technology, including body-w...

In this episode of the Capstone Conversation, host Jared Asch discusses the challenges and opportunities for startups looking to partner with municipalities, particularly in the Greater East Bay. The conversation explores the risk aversion of government bodies, the importance of startups demonstrating their value through existing partnerships, and the crucial role of understanding and adapting to local government culture. Panelists...

In this episode of the Capstone Conversation, host Jared Asch interviews Rob Moore, the Vice Mayor of Los Gatos and one of the youngest political leaders in the Bay Area. They discuss Moore's background, his experience of running for office at a young age, and his perspectives on local governance. Moore shares insights on various initiatives, including social services, housing development, and innovative programs like the Homel...

In the latest episode of Capstone Conversation, host Jared Asch discusses the ongoing mental health crisis with Dr. Karen Tribble, director of Alameda County Behavioral Health, and Jesse Tamplen, Vice President of Behavioral Health at John Muir. The conversation delves into the growing demands for mental health services following the COVID-19 pandemic, the stigma associated with mental health diagnoses, and the shortage of mental h...

In this episode of Capstone Conversation, host Jared Asch interviews Lynn Mackey, the Superintendent of Schools for Contra Costa County. They discuss the role and responsibilities of the county superintendent, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on education, fiscal management of school districts, teacher shortages, and the integration of technology in K-12 education. Lynn Mackey also shares her journey from dropping out of school ...

In this episode of the Capstone Conversation, host Jared Asch discusses the evolution of print and news media in the Greater East Bay with Barney Fonzi of Diablo Magazine and Jeremy Walsh of Embarcadero Media. Jeremy shares his journey from a journalism student to editor at Embarcadero, detailing their transition to a nonprofit model and the importance of online engagement. Barney recounts Diablo Magazine's 40-year evolution fr...

In this episode of the Capstone conversation, host Jared Ash is joined by Maureen Toms, Councilwoman and former Mayor of Pinole, and Sonia Bustamante, Chief of Staff to Contra Costa Supervisor John Gioia. The discussion centers around the unique challenges women face in becoming political and community leaders, particularly those who are mothers or have young families. Key topics include the need for childcare support, economic con...

In this episode of the Capstone conversation hosted by Jared Ash, Yolanda Chenko from Eyegate Innovation Hub and Daybreak Labs in Livermore details their work fostering economic growth in the Greater East Bay by supporting science-based startups. Yolanda explains how Daybreak Labs, a physical coworking space that provides lab and office facilities, assists early-stage companies in obtaining funding and scaling. She also highlights ...

In today's episode of the Capstone Conversation, host Jared Asch delves into the advancements and challenges within K-12 educational technology with experts Dr. Michael Conner and Jacob Kantor. Dr. Conner, with a rich background in educational roles from fourth-grade teacher to superintendent, discusses his journey into EdTech and AI through studies at Harvard and MIT. He emphasizes the integration of advanced analytics and...

In this episode of Capstone Conversation, host Jared Asch discusses the rapid advancements in GovTech with Rachel Stern, an expert who has spent 15 years in the field. Stern shares her background, including founding InState Partners and GovTech Ventures, and highlighting the evolution of technology in government, notably AI and cloud adoption.

She explains how GovTech companies, like Lyft and Zoom, interacted with governments and d...

In this episode of the Capstone Conversation, host Jared Asch interviews three key figures in senior care from the Greater East Bay: Susannah Meyer of Empower Aging, Debbie Toth from Choice in Aging, and Matthew Hulse of Contra Costa's Senior Legal Services. The discussion covers the growing aging population, senior policies, and the necessity of preparatory measures for individuals. The guests highlight issues such as ageism, ...

Uniting the East Bay Against HungerIn this episode of the Capstone Conversation, host Jared Asch discusses food security in the East Bay with Haley Salarez of the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano Counties and Janette Kennedy of Loaves and Fishes of Contra Costa. Haley explains the Food Bank's mission to advocate for social safety net programs like CalFresh and how they serve 390,000 clients monthly. Janette describes how Lo...

In this episode of the Capstone Conversation, host Jared Asch discusses the impact of hydrogen on the East Bay economy, California, and the national landscape with Roxana Bekemohammadi from the United States Hydrogen Alliance. Roxana shares her journey from a passionate teenager dreaming of working for the California Air Resources Board to becoming a key player in the hydrogen industry. She recounts how hydrogen can decarbonize va...

In this episode of the 'Capstone Conversation,' host Jared Asch is joined by Ross Hillesheim to discuss two main topics: land use planning and the development of hydrogen and renewable energy fueling stations. Ross, who has served on the Contra Costa County Planning Commission for five years, elaborates on the role and responsibilities of a planning commissioner, typical projects that come before the commission, and his advice for...

From Labs to Legislation: In this episode of the Capstone Conversation, host Jared Asch interviews Dr. Julianne McCall from the California Council for Science and Technology (CCST). McCall discusses her extensive academic background and her current role in CCST, a non-profit organization providing science and technology advice to California policymakers. The conversation addresses the placement of legislative fellows in the Capitol...

In this Capstone Conversation episode hosted by Jared Asch, Todd Pray, the Chief Strategic Partnerships Officer at Lawrence Berkeley National Lab (LBNL), discusses his role and the lab's mission. Todd highlights the lab's history, its foundational figures, and its evolution over time, including the lab's ties with other national labs and its focus on team science to address critical issues in health, security, energy, a...

In 'The Capstone Conversation,' host Jared Asch interviews Elizabeth Redman Cleveland from the City of Berkeley. The discussion delves into Elizabeth's role in promoting economic development and sustainability within Berkeley through her background in economic development strategy consulting. The conversation highlights key partnerships with UC Berkeley, innovative policy support for life science companies, and the bene...

In this episode of the Capstone Conversation, host Jared Asch discusses the transformation and future of Benicia, a charming town in the Greater East Bay, with City Manager Mario Giuliani and David Batchelor of the Benicia Community Foundation. Mario shares his unique career path from lifeguard to city manager, exploring the city's rich history and community culture. The conversation highlights Benicia's economic challenges...