July 8, 2025 • 53 mins
What happens when your career collides with your calling? In this power-packed episode of HTM On The Line, Bryant Hawkins Sr. sits down with HTM powerhouse Jose Zambrano, better known as “Jay-Z”, for a real, raw and unforgettable conversation.
From his early days fixing dialysis machines to mentoring the next generation of techs, Jose shares the defining moments that transformed a job into a lifelong mission. They talk about grief, grit and growth, about building real pipelines for underrepresented communities, and about how true success is defined not by what you do, but by how you make people feel.
Whether you’re a seasoned HTM professional or someone discovering this industry for the first time, this episode is your wake-up call. Get ready to be challenged, inspired and reconnected with your purpose.
Topics Covered:
- Why personal pain can unlock professional purpose
- HTM myths that need to die
- Mentorship that transcends titles
- Building representation and lasting impact
- The power of showing up with compassion
Listen in and remember: This work saves lives, and so can your voice.
Big thanks to our podcast partners: College of Biomedical Equipment Technology, A.M. BICKFORD, INC., UptimeServices, PM BIOMEDICAL, GMC Healthcare Solutions and Talent Exclusive. Your support keeps the HTM mission alive!
Want to support more stories like this? Visit ElevateHTM.com , this is just the beginning.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:03):
There are moments in life when you stop and realize
that what you do isn't a job,it's a mission.
Today, you're not just tuninginto another episode.
You're stepping into aconversation that could change
how you see the work you do, thepurpose you carry and the
people you impact.
Welcome to HTM On the Line.
(00:25):
I'm your host, bryant HawkinsSr, and today I'm joined by my
man whose name carries weight inthis field, but whose story
carries even more Jose Sembrano,a technician turned mentor, a
leader born from pain,perseverance and purpose.
This isn't just about HTM.
(01:09):
This is about heart, about hope, about holding the line with
good friend of mine who needs nointroduction, mr Jose Zambrano,
affectionately known as Jay-Z.
How you doing today, jose?
Speaker 2 (01:24):
I'm doing great.
Speaker 1 (01:25):
B Thank you for asking.
I'm glad we finally can gettogether, man.
It's been a long time coming.
But let's see, I'm going to askyou some questions, man, and we
just roll with it as wenormally do.
Just think of us sitting in thelobby at one of the shows
talking, that's right, having agood time.
So tell me this then.
I mean, you're very, you'revery strong in the HTM community
(01:50):
.
What moment made you say HTM iswhere I belong?
Wow, too deep for you thisearly, not at all?
Speaker 2 (02:02):
Not at all.
There's so many moments that itcaused that definition.
However, for sure, I wasdiagnosed with end-stage renal
(02:23):
disease and I was actuallyworking at the factory on the
equipment, on the chemo dialysismachines.
And back then I was just ayoung'un, right and pushing the
(02:45):
boundaries, trying to do thebest that I could, and I didn't
realize what those machines didfor people.
And as a kid again, I was just.
It was a job I needed toprovide benefits and stability
for my brand new family, and itwas great.
It was challenging and it wasgreat, it was challenging.
It was learning so much more.
But when it hit personally, theperson that took care of me
(03:15):
when I was young a person Ilooked up to, a strong woman,
was deteriorating because ofdiabetes.
It was hard, it was really hard.
And then when I was told thatshe was going to need dialysis,
it hit me like a boulder.
And that's when my job trulybecame a career and a mission to
(03:37):
learn the therapy Because, asyou know, you're learning the
technical aspects of equipment.
Learning the technical aspectsof equipment, However, you don't
see the patient side of it.
Until something like thathappens to you, until your kid
goes into the ER until your kidis born in an OR room, when your
(04:00):
kid, you know closely, cuts hisfoot off.
And these are all instances.
I'm not making these things up.
These are things that happenwhen you become part of that
patient world and you realizeall of those things you are
doing or had been doing makethat world work.
(04:23):
And you realize, as we all sayright, we all go in to a room
and you see all those stickersand how many people are in the
background doing the work.
Those are the things thathappen to make you realize, and
for me it was that definingmoment of my grandmother, bless
(04:43):
her soul, and that mission isstill live and kicking today.
Speaker 1 (04:49):
Wow, man, that's amazing that I had something
similar not the grandmother, butI worked in dialysis for eight
years and watching thosepatients come in and get on
those machines, that's what mademe become more affirmed that
this is what we should be doing.
And it's life-saving work,because when you're on a
(05:10):
dialysis machine it's tough.
Some be on there suffering,some are on there, well it's
just.
It's a different world when yousee it up up in front.
But then you had an actualfamily member, so that made it
even more real to you, that'sright.
Speaker 2 (05:25):
I had an office I'm sorry to interrupt, but we had
an office in the Lake Elsinoreclinic and my front door was
literally, you know, right thereto the front door coming in.
So I, a lot of the patients,would just knock and say, hey,
I'm just curious, what do you dohere?
I'm the supervisor of the, ofthe crew that keeps all these
(05:49):
machines running.
I say I oversee this county,that county, this county.
I have a team of people thatliterally take care of all of
the equipment for you guys.
And then that newfoundappreciation for what we did, uh
, would kick in and they wouldask you know, that same exact,
(06:10):
um, curiosity Well, do you thinkI can get my grandson in here?
And it brings that HTM uhdiscussion, you know, of what it
takes to get there, Uh, but uh,yeah, yeah, yeah, I built a lot
of good relationships with alot of patients and it's very
(06:31):
tough, man, because that youfind people and you lose people.
That's the reality of thatdialysis world.
You know one minute they'rethere and another time they're
not, and it's so tough to see somany patients literally lined
up in chairs doing thistreatment that if they don't do
(06:54):
it, they pass.
They graduate from earth.
But it's a difficult therapy.
You need it, but at the sametime, I always equate it to
running a marathon versus takingthe walk.
(07:15):
So if your kidneys are workingproperly, you're taking a walk
for 48 hours.
Now imagine taking that samedistance and shortening it into
four hours.
Of course your body's going tofeel it, but yeah, it's a very
difficult therapy.
Speaker 1 (07:32):
Yeah, now let's change shifts gears a little bit
.
Jay-z.
You know we got our Jay-Z inthe HTM industry.
Jay-z and B-Hawk, there we go.
So, jay-z, tell me this um, Isaw this picture of you I think
it was temecula in the expo thatI loved and I actually used in
(07:54):
the video.
You was talking to a circle ofguys y'all could have been
talking about a baseball game ora dinner, I don't know.
It looked like you was in amentor mode.
So I say that to ask you wasthere someone who believed in
you early in your HTM journey?
And if there is someone, whowas it and how did that impact
(08:19):
you?
Speaker 2 (08:31):
wow.
The first one I can think ofwas, right away um, his name is
norbert norbert sturzinger, andhe was my production line uh
director and I, as I told you,challenging the processes.
Right, we can do this better.
Hey, let's, let's change thisup, I can get this done in half
(08:51):
the time.
And he was the first one toreally take into me and he was
like hey, there's a reason whywe have these procedures.
I need you to slow it down andif you really want to do
something, we need to do thisoutside.
Don't, don't challenge your,your direct supervisor or your
manager.
You know we can take some time.
And so, uh, he was the firstone to really guide me into
(09:19):
doing things properly and, uh,no, do you have anybody else you
want to add to that?
Oh, most definitely, I mean it'slet's do one more.
Speaker 1 (09:30):
We don't do 20 of them oh, totally.
Speaker 2 (09:35):
the next one would be Peter Ortega.
He was my lead technician atOntario Medical Center.
He's the one that brought meinto my current employer, he I
actually did a service call forhim on a water treatment system.
It was just a power switch, nota big deal, but it was in an
(09:57):
isolation room and you know, Itold him, okay, if I don't do it
today, I'm not coming back till.
You know, maybe next week orwhatever it was.
And by the time he went andasked the charge nurse, I had
already communicated with theroom nurse, the dialysis nurse.
I was already gowned up insidethe room taking care of the
switch and he was the one thatsaid hey, you're coming, you're
(10:22):
coming with me.
Speaker 1 (10:24):
There you go.
Let's just do this right quick,jay-z, yep, name me by name.
Give me all your names, man.
Give them all a shout out rightquick, all the ones you think
that really put in you, thatreally gave you that belief that
you can do this.
You know, give some shout outs,you know, let them hear
themselves being acknowledged.
Sometimes we don't give flowersto people enough, so go and
(10:46):
give them some flowers.
Speaker 2 (10:48):
Wow, so many people throughout.
Of course, the current ones,right, the Jessica Barrows of
the world that lead with thatheart, some of the leaders that
I have currently that just grindit out and don't recognize
(11:08):
themselves, right, and Mr TomCagliaro, marlene Davis my gosh,
my, my current senior, seanDonlan, craig Finley all of the
ones that have just reallycemented where I need to be and
(11:31):
how I need to do it.
Ray Dela Cruz my gosh.
All my CMIA cohorts, my Lordthey have been.
You know, dan Adamscongratulated me the other day
and I'm thinking to myself myman, I'm just doing following
your footsteps.
You know, dan Adamscongratulated me the other day
and I'm thinking to myself myman, I'm just doing following
your footsteps.
You know everything.
(11:51):
When I was, when I came into CMAand I saw what they were doing
and getting awards and speaking,and I was like I want to do
that, what does it take?
And I would literally ask andstudy and see what and guess
what.
You know, I just startedchecking things one by one.
So so many people throughoutthat journey that have molded
(12:13):
that path for me um, natter, andthe same thing, uh, so many
people within the CMI industry.
That's what has expanded mynarrow view.
That was just at the, at theclinics and the hospitals so
many people I honestly be Icould sit here for a good 45
(12:35):
minutes.
Speaker 1 (12:35):
That's what I was about to say Let me, let me, let
me, let me chime in there.
That's right.
Yeah, Now you mentioned aboutCMI cohorts and CMIA members and
y'all have a huge CMIA movementout that way and y'all have a
close eye on the industry andthe inside and the growth.
So let me just ask you thisquestion.
(12:56):
I know a lot of people saywhere do they see things going
on in the next five to 10, whatdo you think HTM professionals
must pay attention to in thenext, let's just say, five years
?
What do you think we need tostart paying attention to?
Speaker 2 (13:15):
We need to continue evolving, and what I mean by
that is continue using thetechnology that's available.
Using the technology that'savailable, our meetings.
The way CMIA started was just afew people grabbing some drinks
and a pizza and sitting downtalking about work.
(13:36):
And then it became official andthey started making things
happen and we just blew up fromthere to what it is today.
However, it's very geographical.
That's why we have so manychapters, right, but the same
thing happens and every HTMAthat you talk to, they could
(13:58):
tell you the same things.
I started and this is our group,and you get a nice clique of
people that just are drivingtogether and talking and we have
a great crew, but then we movethe meeting, you know, 10 miles
north, and now people from downsouth don't want to come, or
west east or another county.
(14:19):
Hey, I want to try this overhere.
Yeah, let's go support you, andthen you just lost half of the
other uh geographics from thatarea.
And that's the difficult partis trying to bring them all
together.
Um, that's where that CMIAconnect really brings us all,
because then at that point, allof us from the South, when it's
(14:40):
up North, we go up north, orvice versa.
They come down towards,typically, san Diego, and it's
just a great time to be together, because not only you're
learning, you're continuing thatnetwork.
That's where the focus needs tobe Go ahead.
Speaker 1 (14:59):
So that's where the CMI Connect comes from the name.
Speaker 2 (15:02):
That is correct.
Speaker 1 (15:04):
Okay, I was wondering how y'all came up with the name
CMI Connect.
Makes sense, though obviouslyY'all have.
What eight chapters now?
Is it seven, eight?
Speaker 2 (15:12):
Oh gosh, I believe nine, because we took in, we're
moving.
Byron and Jason have madethings happen.
We added Coachella Valley.
We just changed the Bay Areachapter the name because of the
geographics.
But, at the same token we'velost a couple the north chapter
(15:36):
up in Northern Cal.
Right, it dissolved because,same thing, they just couldn't
get the geographics right.
Couldn't get the geographicsright.
So that evolution happensorganically, whether you want it
or not, right, and you getpeople from certain hospital
systems, organizations thatreally support it, and then they
retire and maybe the nextcohorts don't put in the same
(15:59):
type of dedication.
So then you get another groupthat steps in and says, okay,
well, we're going to help out,but then they're not in the same
city or area, so it changes.
So evolution it's the same withbusiness.
Every business today has toevolve to their new challenges,
their new challenges, areas thatthey go into.
(16:24):
And htm is no different, right?
Remember way back when, when westarted right, we, we were, uh,
doing even some component chiplevel repairs.
Today, no way you change outthe whole board.
Right, so that evolution islive.
And the same thing should bewith htmas.
So when we had covid, right,right, switch over to Zoom.
(16:48):
Why not continue that?
Allow our membership to takethat in wherever they're at.
That's why I love the virtualpiece of it, but there's got to
be some guidelines behind it forsure.
Speaker 1 (16:59):
Absolutely.
Now let me ask you thisquestion about the HTM industry
as a whole.
Let me ask you this questionabout the HTM industry as a
whole.
What do?
Speaker 2 (17:15):
you think is a myth about HTM.
You wish more people would stopbelieving.
The typical one is gosh, I lovewhat you do, you know how can I
get in there.
But they only see the the fiveminutes that we're up there
taking care of something orpulling something that's not
working and taking it downstairs.
(17:36):
They think, oh, that's, that'sbeauty, right I?
Instead of me sitting heretaking care of patients or
transporting patients orcleaning rooms, you name it I
want to do what you do, becausethey enamor the fact that you're
only there for a few minutesand then you walk away and then
(17:57):
you come back and it's fixed.
They don't see thebehind-the-scenes pictures of
all of that.
Right, they have no idea thatyou have parts downstairs, that
you have to connect it to acomputer to download logs, to
reset it, to do the actualrepair.
They don't see that.
They only see the few minutesof you coming in and then coming
(18:20):
back.
So that is the biggest myththat we need to dispel.
So be upfront about your work.
Tell them what you did.
Show them that it's not magic.
Speaker 1 (18:35):
Yeah, that was exactly what I was going to say.
A lot of times they may see youcome up there fast, especially
if it's an IV pump.
You're coming up there with areplacement, so you know, but
they don't understand when youtake that other one back to the
shop.
That's right.
It's a process to troubleshootthat thing.
Now you mentioned technologyearlier about using that with
the CMRA.
(18:56):
Now how do you see the HTMindustry evolving as far as well
?
Actually, with AI right now andautomation going on, how do you
see that evolving within theindustry as far as growth?
Speaker 2 (19:12):
It's already happening.
Yes, sir, the AI is alreadybeing used for predictive
maintenance.
The big companies, right, thePhilips, ges, they already have
all that massive data.
So when you can put all thatdata into a system, have it
(19:36):
analyzed for you and predict,hey, here are your patterns,
here's your usage patterns andhere's what's going to break
next at this time, that is truepreventive maintenance.
And we lack that in a lot ofequipment because it's so
(19:57):
microprocessor control andtherefore they only tell you,
well, check this, check that,and that's your maintenance.
Well, that's not truepreventive.
You're just checking that.
It's still within limits, butwe lack some of that preventive,
true preventive maintenance.
You knowing, coming from thedialysis world, those are true
(20:19):
PMs man, you are rebuilding, youare replacing, you are
calibrating, because thosethings drift, those things break
, not like some of thismicroprocessor control stuff
that has so many function checkswithin those first 45 seconds
to a minute, yes, and itself-diagnoses itself.
(20:42):
So we we've grown into thisfield where a lot of these
checks are just that,verification checks, but they're
not true preventive.
So when you can get AI to giveyou that, hey, that knob is
going to go out, um, around thistime, and if you can catch it
(21:04):
before then.
That's that's true, and thatyou can scale that to everything
.
Right, because, as you know,like you said, infusion pumps
right, what's the what's thebiggest thing that breaks on
infusion pumps?
And that's wherever they'rebeing touched, right, whatever
button gets pressed the most,guess what?
(21:24):
That's what's going to break.
Right, if that door gets open10 times a day, that's what's
going to break.
So, getting that predictivemaintenance analysis to be done
by AI, that's gold.
So, when you have a massivedatabase with all that already
in there, you already have it.
(21:45):
All you got to do is bring inAI to analyze your data.
It'll spit out all kinds ofthings for you.
Speaker 1 (21:51):
Awesome.
Now how long have you been inthe industry now?
Speaker 2 (21:57):
You're going to date me here, man.
You're going to date me here.
We're all dated.
If you count, oh gosh.
If you count, oh gosh.
94 is when I finished myelectronics technology
certificate from Solanocommunity out there in Fairfield
(22:18):
.
So yeah, it's going to be allright, let's call it.
Let's call it 95.
So let's call it an even 30.
30 years, 30 plus years.
Speaker 1 (22:28):
Yes, oh man, congrats .
But okay, in those 30 years Iwas sitting here for my next
question.
That's why I asked that Inthose 30 years there's no doubt
you've mentored tons of people.
Now we may have some young kidslistening to us right now.
What's one lesson you alwaystry to pass down to someone you
(22:53):
mentor?
One lesson Don't go through.
I mean you got a hundred ofthem, but what's that one lesson
you would always try to passdown?
Speaker 2 (23:01):
Wow, the one lesson would be and I'm going to I'm
going to go back in and talkabout a quote that I that has
(23:23):
really impacted my life fromMaya Angelou, I've learned that
people will forget what you said, people will forget what you
did, but people will neverforget how you made them feel,
(23:44):
and that is the lesson that Itry to teach people all the time
.
When you are a technician andyou leave that clinical person
upset, you did something wrongyou need to realize that they
(24:07):
also have a huge challengebehind them.
They're trying to becompassionate to someone else's
loved one and that challengethat infusion pump, that
defibrillator, that sequentialmachine did not work and they're
upset because they were tryingto take care of that patient.
(24:28):
You need to have that samecompassion.
You need to show them that youcare, that you're going to take
care of their problem when youleave them feeling protected and
that you're going to repairthat and whatever else they need
(24:49):
.
Oh, can I get you to look atthis keyboard, can I?
You know what?
I don't have a keyboard, butI'm going to put in that ticket
for you.
Give me one second.
Let me go back to the otherstation and do that for you.
Here you go, here's your ticketnumber and you put that sticker
right on there so that theyknow that you've taken care of
something else for them.
When you call engineering andyou say, hey, that temperature
(25:12):
in room icu 21 needs to comedown a couple notches.
When you go above and beyondwhat's expected and you make
them feel that you are part ofthe solution, not part of the
problem that changes lives, man,and goes beyond walls, those
(25:34):
are things that you learn thataren't part of the technical
curriculum anywhere else.
So those are the things youlearn right on the job.
Speaker 1 (25:44):
I mean, that's spot on, man.
You would think everyone wouldknow that.
But that is number one.
That's a great lesson.
Now you're in the bowman shop.
We're going to play a littlerole.
You're in the bowman shop rightnow and they tell you you're
about to get some interns.
So what advice would you giveto this 19-year into your shop
(26:11):
for the very first time, firstday there?
Speaker 2 (26:17):
Wow, at 19,.
You know the world, you, youown it, it's yours.
The, the, the.
The old guys don't want to dothe work, so I'm here to show
them up.
I was that kid and I was thatone that had to be talked to and
said slow down.
(26:38):
Even earlier somebody wouldhave told me you know, talk with
your ears, listen first.
You don't know it, you thinkyou do right, but talk with your
(26:58):
ears, man.
Let the ears bring everythingin, and once you do that, then
you can analyze what needs to bedone.
If you don't listen, you're notgoing to do the right things,
and if you continue pushing youragenda instead of what needs to
(27:24):
happen, you're going to go offon your own tangent and you're
not going to hit the mark.
So, as a 19-year-old, the firstthing I do is always the same
Sit them down, tell me a littlebit about yourself.
I want to know what yourinterests are.
I want to know where your headis at and try to guide them in
(27:48):
their own way, becauseeverybody's different.
Speaker 1 (27:51):
Absolutely.
Now you're a sharp guy man.
You're just spitting this stuffout like it's tattooed on your
arm or something.
How do you keep yourself sosharp, jay-z?
What do you do?
I mean books, people, habits.
How do you keep yourself sosharp in this industry?
It's been people habits.
How do you keep yourself sosharp in this industry?
It's been 30 plus years.
How do you keep yourself sharp?
Speaker 2 (28:15):
My wife will tell you that I that I rob my family
time all the time, which is verytrue, and I love her to death,
and.
But the reality is I'm immersed.
But the reality is I'm immersed.
First of all, I've learned thatI've had to take care of myself
(28:39):
better.
So I now, in the morning,definitely have started a
stationary bike routine, andthat gets my juices flowing.
But I stay involved, right,whether it's reading a manual, a
technical manual, user's manual, I try to keep up with
(29:02):
everything that's going on, andthen I expand that.
That helps me with work.
But I expand that.
That helps me with work.
But I expand that into my mind.
Yes, I love reading Brene Brown.
Oh, my gosh man, you talk aboutvulnerability as a leader.
(29:23):
You have to have it.
I have been on the journey forschool for six, almost seven
years, which I'm finally gettingto the end of, and congrats,
thank you.
So much.
It's been that's.
That's another way to talkabout that one for another half
hour.
But in the CMIA, right, thepeople that I work with, i't.
(29:47):
They don't work for me, I workfor them.
That is that to me.
That is my definition of beinga leader.
The manager is just a title man, it's it's.
You don't have to have a titleto be a leader.
So if you're a technician, inin your, in your shop and you've
got the ability to lead, itcomes out.
(30:09):
When it's a flag day, you gobuy that bag of US flags and you
hand them out Again.
You bring that people side towork.
That's it, man.
That's what it's about when youare inspired and you turn
(30:30):
around and you give that back.
That's what CMIA is about.
Right, you're teaching the nextgeneration all of these
passions that you have, thatyou've been taught and now
you're passing them down tosomebody else.
Been taught and now you'repassing them down to somebody
else.
Speaker 1 (30:49):
That's what it's about.
It's deeply noted.
I mean, you sent me a pictureof one of your own Captain Gone
pictures and I noticed a lot ofcultural things on some of the
um, that's right.
What's the word?
The stole?
So, as someone with a uniquecultural perspective, what does
(31:09):
representation in HTM mean toyou?
Speaker 2 (31:13):
Bro, you're just putting on all the strings.
Today, man, I I have you seenthe made in China stickers and
on on so many things that wewear today, right?
Speaker 1 (31:26):
Yeah, yes.
Speaker 2 (31:27):
Well, I was made in Mexico, my father's from
Guatemala and went to Mexico,met my mom and, lo and behold,
they got married, had a roughtime.
Brother and I were born downthere, and when we were close to
10 years old we came to theUnited States, san Francisco,
(31:48):
california.
Boy, what a wake up call, man,wow.
So my cultural journey startedwith all of that, you know,
learning what I thought was agreat life in Mexico.
And then coming to the US, andThriller was huge.
Right, mj, wow, and got tolearn that.
(32:11):
And what's this music about?
And heck, even what we now knowas the LGBTQ plus community,
right, was huge in San Francisco.
And that was to me, was like mygosh, there's a whole world
completely different than what Iknew.
Heck, my first basketball man,we, the boys and girls club down
(32:34):
there in San Francisco, youknow, we, we just couldn't get
enough.
And we, we used to play on a,on a no parking sign.
Right, that was our hoop whenthey were closed.
And that kid man, that kid thatjust had that passion for life
and wanted to ride bikes likeother kids.
As an immigrant man, you don'thave much, you know.
(32:59):
You just do what you can andyou're living with family until
your folks can better their life.
Today, fast forward these 30years.
The HCM life has transformed inso many ways.
(33:20):
My kids have no idea what Iwent through and I don't put it
on them, you know, becausethat's not theirs.
I appreciate my parents beingimmigrants and coming in and
changing our life, because thatis truly what happened.
It was for us, it wasn't forthem because they had good lives
down there.
(33:41):
But today the HCM world did thesame thing for me.
I have you name it, bro.
You know, between vehicles,homes, states that I've worked
in.
The htm life gave me all ofthat.
So it is possible.
Uh, you start out as atechnician, brand new, and
you're like, oh, I can barelyscrape things by.
(34:03):
Yeah, you're right, but proveyourself.
You know, get in, get in there,get in there wholeheartedly.
You will make it.
They'll pay for your school ifyou need to Do it, just to go in
110%.
This will change your life, thelife around the people, the
lives of the people around you,the lives of the people around
(34:24):
you and eventually, your, youroffspring, your kids.
It'll give them a way betterlife than you had.
Speaker 1 (34:33):
Well said, man.
Now about to get a littledeeper.
How can HTM, in your opinion,do better at building pipelines
for underrepresented youths,inner city youths and
professionals, in your opinion,yeah, getting the word out there
(34:57):
is essential.
Speaker 2 (34:58):
That's where that elevate HTM just is another
string.
Right that that, that that thatrings strong.
You have to get out there.
When there's a career day atany of the schools, it doesn't
matter if it's a elementaryschool or or a college day, a
(35:19):
college career fair you got toget in there, just go in there.
Had this talk with Daniellemany years back and said know
your audience, right, that'swhere do you think the spark
from her HTM presentations camefrom?
(35:39):
Because that is it right, youpresent the same thing, but
you're going to deliver themessage differently to a young
kid versus a college student.
You're going to tell them thesame things, but you're going to
give it and deliver the messagemore appropriately to each age
bracket.
Getting in there is key.
It doesn't matter what it is.
You could be inspiring somebody.
(36:02):
That again, you're just talkingor being you.
You're getting your eye examand they learn that you're
finishing school or doingsomething like that, and you're
inspiring somebody else.
Same thing with HTM, right, Iwas at a graduation and what do
(36:22):
you do?
Oh, you know what?
I should really talk to mygrandson about that.
Yes, you're right, you should,if they've got that analytical
brain and they like working withthe hands.
Htm is perfect.
You bring both sides of it.
You challenge the, the, themind and the physical aspect at
the same time.
That's what young people wantto hear and see and do.
(36:46):
So, when they can be inspiredthat they can do what you're
doing.
Uh, that's gold man, that's,that's, that's platinum.
Speaker 1 (36:53):
Yes, sir, cause, like you said, man, um, when you
came to the States you wasunaware of all the great things
going on.
And honestly, you see that,because I mean numbers are facts
, I mean HTM is 90% white andit's not a race issue, it's an
exposure issue.
(37:13):
So those pipelines, as youmentioned, has to be made.
I mean it's.
When I talk to kids, it'samazing how I mean not even kids
, adults, right, literally donot know what we do.
Right, it's mind boggling,honestly, because I guess we're
around it all the time.
So our families do, but thepopulation out there doesn't
(37:36):
have a clue.
But the population out theredoesn't have a clue.
And so it's like, and it's notjust a race as far as I mean, no
matter who you talk to, theydon't know, but we just are
underrepresented in our areasbecause they don't have.
We used to grow up with policeofficers, firemen, doctor, nurse
.
You know that was the only onethey told us we can do.
That's right, you know.
(38:02):
But now we have options and Ithink it's going to continue to
grow as people as yourselfcontinue to do what you do.
It's going to, it's going tocontinue to get better because
it has no choice, that's right.
Now I'm going to ask you thisquestion, jay Z, jose Sombrano.
When someone says that, 10years from now in the HTM
industry, what do you hopethey're saying?
(38:25):
When they say, jose Sombrano,what you hope follows after that
.
Speaker 2 (38:36):
I want to, in the same way that I feel that I'm
giving back on the HTM side, Iwant to give back on this
educational journey that I'vebeen on.
So I would love to turn thisinto Jose Zambrano was my
(38:58):
educator, jose Zambrano was myeducator, jose Zambrano was my
teacher.
And if I can combine these twoworlds right the teaching and
HTM together and continue to doboth of those passions of mine
(39:18):
Because I love teaching somebodyelse what I know from the
technical perspective, right andif I can now become the true
instructor and bring that HTMpassion as well as the TM
passion as well as the theteaching aspect of it, I would
(39:38):
love that I would be in my uhand not casket Cause in my urn.
I would be smiling from year toyear because I know that I not
just inspired them, but now I'llalso taught them to do what
they, what they can do, to toreally elevate themselves.
Speaker 1 (39:58):
Yeah, cause he could see that.
That's amazing.
You said that because that'sneeded too.
I'll guarantee you, if you tooka poll of instructors, how many
of them look like you.
So we need people.
We need so many differentlayers of things to get this
industry in the way we want itto be.
We need somebody to get them tothe classroom.
Then we need somebody to, oncethey get to the classroom.
(40:20):
We need somebody there in theclassroom that can also be the
inspiration to them.
Exactly right.
Speaker 2 (40:30):
Every time that answer comes in right.
When people ask how do I get in?
It's a tough one.
It's not an easy answer.
You don't just apply and youget in.
It's a tough one.
It's not an easy answer.
You don't just apply and youget in.
No, you have to build thosethings in, you have to work at
those things and that'sschooling right, because you can
go to a certificate program,but that's not going to get you
(40:52):
into a hospital, direct hospitaljob, and a lot of kids get
disappointed.
I tell that to the Miraacostastudents that come out by the
way.
Shout out to Dr Smootman,because he is truly just an
inspiration as well, and when I,when I talk to his students,
that's the first thing I saydon't give up on this dream.
(41:23):
You are being taught byexcellent mentors here.
However, when you're going tocome to my hospital, this is not
going to be your first job.
So if you apply, you're noteven going to make it to me.
My talent acquisition willscreen you out because you don't
have the minimum qualifications.
You're going to have to do somework.
This work at this organization.
They want you to elevate andeven though we have close to
minimal qualifications, that'sstill not enough.
(41:43):
I go through this every day,man.
My applicants excuse me, sorry,my applicants come in with
minimum 10, 15, 20 yearsexperience.
They've already done the worksomewhere else.
So do you think a certificateprogram graduate with no
(42:06):
experience has a chance?
No, man, and that's such a hardtruth because you know you want
to inspire them to do more, butthe reality is you got to do
more work before I can, evenbefore your application even
gets to me.
You've got to put in so muchmore and I don't.
(42:27):
I'm not trying to discouragethem, but I'm trying to give
them the reality.
Speaker 1 (42:33):
Now, that's an interesting topic there, right?
That may be a topic for anotherpodcast, because it's amazing
how like to get into yourhospital that's required.
Now you have some hospitals,maybe I guess East Coast, south
North, who does apprenticeprograms, right?
(42:55):
Who does certificate programs.
I mean, I guess it's whereverthe need is and that's right.
That's, once again, as youmentioned, geographic.
It depends, you know.
But if you want to live in thearea, you gotta, you gotta be
flexible.
If you want to live in seattle,washington, the cost of living
is a little harder than it is tolive in new orleans.
(43:17):
So I guess it just that's.
That's a good topic for aconversation.
I have to get you and smooth onhere together, man, yeah, but
um, great answer.
But next question I want to askyou this because I'll try to
stick to a hard time, but I knewI wasn't gonna stick to it with
you, but anyway, what?
What keeps you fired up, man?
It's been 30 plus years.
(43:38):
What keeps you fired up aboutHTM?
Because you be at all the shows, you part of CMIA, you
furthering education.
What keeps you fired up?
Speaker 2 (43:50):
wow, the aha moment, right when you see that that
light bulb spark in somebodyelse, when you see that, when
you're the match and theyalready have the gas going and
you just ignited that flame forsomebody else.
(44:13):
That's what does it for me, andI know you can say the same
thing.
It's it's about building thatnext one.
And, um, when you see somebodyelse, I have, uh, another
gentleman his name is JuanMadrigal over there in, uh, in
(44:36):
the VA in Buffalo, new York, anduh, he, he, he tells me all the
time, jose, I learned so muchfrom you on the West Coast, and
now I'm doing myself here and Itell him I was like, hey, man,
it's always been within you,it's always been there, it's you
(44:57):
.
You finally accepted who youare in your own mission and now
you're elevating to where youcould have always been.
Speaker 1 (45:09):
Yes, sir.
Now this question here, lastone, but I want you to almost
how would you define I want youto maybe take this in, because
it's, I guess, like a two parthow would you define success in
the HTM industry?
And, I guess, how has yourdefinition changed?
(45:30):
Like, say, for instance, whenyou came into the industry, you
might have had one way in whichyou thought, if I can just do
this, I'll consider it a greatcareer.
But now you probably have adifferent definition for that
Right.
So how?
Speaker 2 (45:53):
would you go about defining success in this
industry when you first came in,to how you defined it?
Now, success is built uponculture and you learn your
culture from, first of all, yourfamily or your, your caretakers
, and they set those definitionsfor you at a young age.
(46:19):
And if education is it and youdidn't hit that mark, like me, I
mean again, I wrote on thatcertificate, not even an
associate.
I wrote on that for 20 plusyears and I had a good career at
(46:41):
it.
But when I got stopped frombecoming a leader because I
didn't have the other degrees,that irked me.
That's when I was like well,you're defining my success
because I don't have a degreeand I didn't like that at all.
So it became a challenge andtoday now I've got three degrees
(47:05):
right the associates, bachelorsand now the masters Awesome,
and success is what you make itout to be.
If you want to get out thereand make a difference, you're
going to define what success is.
If your parents tell yousuccess is having two kids, a
(47:30):
home and a career, you're goingto go for that.
With HTM.
What is it?
What is your drive?
What is it that you want out ofit?
And sometimes you have to lookat the people that have done it
for many years.
Look at that.
Is it the letters behind theirnames, Is it the certifications,
(47:51):
the degrees?
Or is it that fact that they'respeaking up?
They're speaking their truth,Like Mr Bensing right, who just
announced his retirement.
Speaker 1 (48:03):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (48:04):
And look at how many people he's inspired.
He challenges the status quo,the iconoclast.
And you hear him speaking.
You're like, wow, I wish I wasthat brave.
And you talk to him.
He's like I'm not brave, I'm achicken, but you hear him speak
(48:25):
and it inspires you to do that,to challenge the status quo.
Don't let success be defined byothers.
Define your own success, findyour own path and start working
towards it, piece by piecethat's great.
Speaker 1 (48:48):
now I want you to always ask this question at the
end of my podcast.
It's a two-fold question.
I want you to talk to the youngladies in the industry, give
them some encouragement, givethem some advice.
Just sum up what you would talkto If you're sitting in a room
(49:13):
full of young female H&Mprofessionals not young, just
female H&M professionals whatadvice would you give them?
Or what advice would you givethem, or what encouragement
would you give them?
Speaker 2 (49:27):
Do not let your fire be extinguished by how brash
many of your male counterpartscan be.
Don't let that extinguish yourflame, your passion.
(49:49):
Be your true self.
Realize that you're going toneed that thick skin.
Realize that you're going toneed that thick skin that,
hopefully, your siblings andfamily members have built into
you Because, as a female, you'regoing to need it.
(50:10):
You're going to need that inour industry.
You're not going to allowpeople to penetrate that thick
skin.
Continue your path.
Be the brave person you are.
Speak up.
Don't let your voice be tamedby other people's definition of
(50:37):
what a technician should be.
Bring in your whole self anddon't let them extinguish your
flame.
Speaker 1 (50:45):
Great great advice.
Now, this next group I meanit's going to be this is the
underrepresented group the youngkids from Mexico, young
African-Americans from the South.
I mean all of theunderrepresented.
You know, what advice would yougive to those that's in the
(51:07):
industry now, probably the 10%,yeah, what advice would you give
them?
Speaker 2 (51:16):
This industry will give you everything you need.
It'll give you everything youwant, but you have to work hard
at it.
You're also going to bemisunderstood.
(51:36):
You're also going to bemisunderstood.
You're also going to be labeled.
However, realize that there isa vast potential for you.
(51:57):
This industry will allow you toclimb as high as you want.
You just have to want it badenough.
You can turn around and seepeople of color, people of all
shades and shapes and sizes inour industry.
(52:18):
Find the ones that give youthat right, that give you that
spark, and find their secretsauce.
Talk to them and then they'llhelp you.
They'll help you build thatpath for you.
So don't give up.
Continue working hard.
It can be done.
Speaker 1 (52:40):
Oh man, I appreciate you, so don't give up.
Continue working hard.
It can be done.
Oh man, I appreciate you.
Zay Jay-Z man, you dropped someknowledge on us today.
I appreciate you, man, andanytime you want to come back on
my show, you're more thanwelcome.
Dude, thank you for taking sometime with me.
It was my pleasure B with me itwas my pleasure B Jose reminded
us today that success isn't justmeasured in uptime, but in the
(53:04):
lives we touch, the voices weelevate and the futures we help
unlock.
This episode wasn't aboutequipment, it was about impact.
If you're in this field, you'renot invisible, you are
essential.
And if you ever forget that,hit play on this again.
(53:25):
Htm is changing and withleaders like Jose, we're not
just keeping up, we're buildingthe future.
Until next time, stay focused,stay faithful and never forget.
We are unseen but unstoppable.
(53:45):
I'm B Hawk.
This is HTM Online.
Keep elevating.
There are moments in life when you stop and realize
that what you do isn't a job,it's a mission.
Today, you're not just tuninginto another episode.
You're stepping into aconversation that could change
how you see the work you do, thepurpose you carry and the
people you impact.
Welcome to HTM On the Line.
(00:25):
I'm your host, bryant HawkinsSr, and today I'm joined by my
man whose name carries weight inthis field, but whose story
carries even more Jose Sembrano,a technician turned mentor, a
leader born from pain,perseverance and purpose.
This isn't just about HTM.
(01:09):
This is about heart, about hope, about holding the line with
good friend of mine who needs nointroduction, mr Jose Zambrano,
affectionately known as Jay-Z.
How you doing today, jose?
Speaker 2 (01:24):
I'm doing great.
Speaker 1 (01:25):
B Thank you for asking.
I'm glad we finally can gettogether, man.
It's been a long time coming.
But let's see, I'm going to askyou some questions, man, and we
just roll with it as wenormally do.
Just think of us sitting in thelobby at one of the shows
talking, that's right, having agood time.
So tell me this then.
I mean, you're very, you'revery strong in the HTM community
(01:50):
.
What moment made you say HTM iswhere I belong?
Wow, too deep for you thisearly, not at all?
Speaker 2 (02:02):
Not at all.
There's so many moments that itcaused that definition.
However, for sure, I wasdiagnosed with end-stage renal
(02:23):
disease and I was actuallyworking at the factory on the
equipment, on the chemo dialysismachines.
And back then I was just ayoung'un, right and pushing the
(02:45):
boundaries, trying to do thebest that I could, and I didn't
realize what those machines didfor people.
And as a kid again, I was just.
It was a job I needed toprovide benefits and stability
for my brand new family, and itwas great.
It was challenging and it wasgreat, it was challenging.
It was learning so much more.
But when it hit personally, theperson that took care of me
(03:15):
when I was young a person Ilooked up to, a strong woman,
was deteriorating because ofdiabetes.
It was hard, it was really hard.
And then when I was told thatshe was going to need dialysis,
it hit me like a boulder.
And that's when my job trulybecame a career and a mission to
(03:37):
learn the therapy Because, asyou know, you're learning the
technical aspects of equipment.
Learning the technical aspectsof equipment, However, you don't
see the patient side of it.
Until something like thathappens to you, until your kid
goes into the ER until your kidis born in an OR room, when your
(04:00):
kid, you know closely, cuts hisfoot off.
And these are all instances.
I'm not making these things up.
These are things that happenwhen you become part of that
patient world and you realizeall of those things you are
doing or had been doing makethat world work.
(04:23):
And you realize, as we all sayright, we all go in to a room
and you see all those stickersand how many people are in the
background doing the work.
Those are the things thathappen to make you realize, and
for me it was that definingmoment of my grandmother, bless
(04:43):
her soul, and that mission isstill live and kicking today.
Speaker 1 (04:49):
Wow, man, that's amazing that I had something
similar not the grandmother, butI worked in dialysis for eight
years and watching thosepatients come in and get on
those machines, that's what mademe become more affirmed that
this is what we should be doing.
And it's life-saving work,because when you're on a
(05:10):
dialysis machine it's tough.
Some be on there suffering,some are on there, well it's
just.
It's a different world when yousee it up up in front.
But then you had an actualfamily member, so that made it
even more real to you, that'sright.
Speaker 2 (05:25):
I had an office I'm sorry to interrupt, but we had
an office in the Lake Elsinoreclinic and my front door was
literally, you know, right thereto the front door coming in.
So I, a lot of the patients,would just knock and say, hey,
I'm just curious, what do you dohere?
I'm the supervisor of the, ofthe crew that keeps all these
(05:49):
machines running.
I say I oversee this county,that county, this county.
I have a team of people thatliterally take care of all of
the equipment for you guys.
And then that newfoundappreciation for what we did, uh
, would kick in and they wouldask you know, that same exact,
(06:10):
um, curiosity Well, do you thinkI can get my grandson in here?
And it brings that HTM uhdiscussion, you know, of what it
takes to get there, Uh, but uh,yeah, yeah, yeah, I built a lot
of good relationships with alot of patients and it's very
(06:31):
tough, man, because that youfind people and you lose people.
That's the reality of thatdialysis world.
You know one minute they'rethere and another time they're
not, and it's so tough to see somany patients literally lined
up in chairs doing thistreatment that if they don't do
(06:54):
it, they pass.
They graduate from earth.
But it's a difficult therapy.
You need it, but at the sametime, I always equate it to
running a marathon versus takingthe walk.
(07:15):
So if your kidneys are workingproperly, you're taking a walk
for 48 hours.
Now imagine taking that samedistance and shortening it into
four hours.
Of course your body's going tofeel it, but yeah, it's a very
difficult therapy.
Speaker 1 (07:32):
Yeah, now let's change shifts gears a little bit
.
Jay-z.
You know we got our Jay-Z inthe HTM industry.
Jay-z and B-Hawk, there we go.
So, jay-z, tell me this um, Isaw this picture of you I think
it was temecula in the expo thatI loved and I actually used in
(07:54):
the video.
You was talking to a circle ofguys y'all could have been
talking about a baseball game ora dinner, I don't know.
It looked like you was in amentor mode.
So I say that to ask you wasthere someone who believed in
you early in your HTM journey?
And if there is someone, whowas it and how did that impact
(08:19):
you?
Speaker 2 (08:31):
wow.
The first one I can think ofwas, right away um, his name is
norbert norbert sturzinger, andhe was my production line uh
director and I, as I told you,challenging the processes.
Right, we can do this better.
Hey, let's, let's change thisup, I can get this done in half
(08:51):
the time.
And he was the first one toreally take into me and he was
like hey, there's a reason whywe have these procedures.
I need you to slow it down andif you really want to do
something, we need to do thisoutside.
Don't, don't challenge your,your direct supervisor or your
manager.
You know we can take some time.
And so, uh, he was the firstone to really guide me into
(09:19):
doing things properly and, uh,no, do you have anybody else you
want to add to that?
Oh, most definitely, I mean it'slet's do one more.
Speaker 1 (09:30):
We don't do 20 of them oh, totally.
Speaker 2 (09:35):
the next one would be Peter Ortega.
He was my lead technician atOntario Medical Center.
He's the one that brought meinto my current employer, he I
actually did a service call forhim on a water treatment system.
It was just a power switch, nota big deal, but it was in an
(09:57):
isolation room and you know, Itold him, okay, if I don't do it
today, I'm not coming back till.
You know, maybe next week orwhatever it was.
And by the time he went andasked the charge nurse, I had
already communicated with theroom nurse, the dialysis nurse.
I was already gowned up insidethe room taking care of the
switch and he was the one thatsaid hey, you're coming, you're
(10:22):
coming with me.
Speaker 1 (10:24):
There you go.
Let's just do this right quick,jay-z, yep, name me by name.
Give me all your names, man.
Give them all a shout out rightquick, all the ones you think
that really put in you, thatreally gave you that belief that
you can do this.
You know, give some shout outs,you know, let them hear
themselves being acknowledged.
Sometimes we don't give flowersto people enough, so go and
(10:46):
give them some flowers.
Speaker 2 (10:48):
Wow, so many people throughout.
Of course, the current ones,right, the Jessica Barrows of
the world that lead with thatheart, some of the leaders that
I have currently that just grindit out and don't recognize
(11:08):
themselves, right, and Mr TomCagliaro, marlene Davis my gosh,
my, my current senior, seanDonlan, craig Finley all of the
ones that have just reallycemented where I need to be and
(11:31):
how I need to do it.
Ray Dela Cruz my gosh.
All my CMIA cohorts, my Lordthey have been.
You know, dan Adamscongratulated me the other day
and I'm thinking to myself myman, I'm just doing following
your footsteps.
You know, dan Adamscongratulated me the other day
and I'm thinking to myself myman, I'm just doing following
your footsteps.
You know everything.
(11:51):
When I was, when I came into CMAand I saw what they were doing
and getting awards and speaking,and I was like I want to do
that, what does it take?
And I would literally ask andstudy and see what and guess
what.
You know, I just startedchecking things one by one.
So so many people throughoutthat journey that have molded
(12:13):
that path for me um, natter, andthe same thing, uh, so many
people within the CMI industry.
That's what has expanded mynarrow view.
That was just at the, at theclinics and the hospitals so
many people I honestly be Icould sit here for a good 45
(12:35):
minutes.
Speaker 1 (12:35):
That's what I was about to say Let me, let me, let
me, let me chime in there.
That's right.
Yeah, Now you mentioned aboutCMI cohorts and CMIA members and
y'all have a huge CMIA movementout that way and y'all have a
close eye on the industry andthe inside and the growth.
So let me just ask you thisquestion.
(12:56):
I know a lot of people saywhere do they see things going
on in the next five to 10, whatdo you think HTM professionals
must pay attention to in thenext, let's just say, five years
?
What do you think we need tostart paying attention to?
Speaker 2 (13:15):
We need to continue evolving, and what I mean by
that is continue using thetechnology that's available.
Using the technology that'savailable, our meetings.
The way CMIA started was just afew people grabbing some drinks
and a pizza and sitting downtalking about work.
(13:36):
And then it became official andthey started making things
happen and we just blew up fromthere to what it is today.
However, it's very geographical.
That's why we have so manychapters, right, but the same
thing happens and every HTMAthat you talk to, they could
(13:58):
tell you the same things.
I started and this is our group,and you get a nice clique of
people that just are drivingtogether and talking and we have
a great crew, but then we movethe meeting, you know, 10 miles
north, and now people from downsouth don't want to come, or
west east or another county.
(14:19):
Hey, I want to try this overhere.
Yeah, let's go support you, andthen you just lost half of the
other uh geographics from thatarea.
And that's the difficult partis trying to bring them all
together.
Um, that's where that CMIAconnect really brings us all,
because then at that point, allof us from the South, when it's
(14:40):
up North, we go up north, orvice versa.
They come down towards,typically, san Diego, and it's
just a great time to be together, because not only you're
learning, you're continuing thatnetwork.
That's where the focus needs tobe Go ahead.
Speaker 1 (14:59):
So that's where the CMI Connect comes from the name.
Speaker 2 (15:02):
That is correct.
Speaker 1 (15:04):
Okay, I was wondering how y'all came up with the name
CMI Connect.
Makes sense, though obviouslyY'all have.
What eight chapters now?
Is it seven, eight?
Speaker 2 (15:12):
Oh gosh, I believe nine, because we took in, we're
moving.
Byron and Jason have madethings happen.
We added Coachella Valley.
We just changed the Bay Areachapter the name because of the
geographics.
But, at the same token we'velost a couple the north chapter
(15:36):
up in Northern Cal.
Right, it dissolved because,same thing, they just couldn't
get the geographics right.
Couldn't get the geographicsright.
So that evolution happensorganically, whether you want it
or not, right, and you getpeople from certain hospital
systems, organizations thatreally support it, and then they
retire and maybe the nextcohorts don't put in the same
(15:59):
type of dedication.
So then you get another groupthat steps in and says, okay,
well, we're going to help out,but then they're not in the same
city or area, so it changes.
So evolution it's the same withbusiness.
Every business today has toevolve to their new challenges,
their new challenges, areas thatthey go into.
(16:24):
And htm is no different, right?
Remember way back when, when westarted right, we, we were, uh,
doing even some component chiplevel repairs.
Today, no way you change outthe whole board.
Right, so that evolution islive.
And the same thing should bewith htmas.
So when we had covid, right,right, switch over to Zoom.
(16:48):
Why not continue that?
Allow our membership to takethat in wherever they're at.
That's why I love the virtualpiece of it, but there's got to
be some guidelines behind it forsure.
Speaker 1 (16:59):
Absolutely.
Now let me ask you thisquestion about the HTM industry
as a whole.
Let me ask you this questionabout the HTM industry as a
whole.
What do?
Speaker 2 (17:15):
you think is a myth about HTM.
You wish more people would stopbelieving.
The typical one is gosh, I lovewhat you do, you know how can I
get in there.
But they only see the the fiveminutes that we're up there
taking care of something orpulling something that's not
working and taking it downstairs.
(17:36):
They think, oh, that's, that'sbeauty, right I?
Instead of me sitting heretaking care of patients or
transporting patients orcleaning rooms, you name it I
want to do what you do, becausethey enamor the fact that you're
only there for a few minutesand then you walk away and then
(17:57):
you come back and it's fixed.
They don't see thebehind-the-scenes pictures of
all of that.
Right, they have no idea thatyou have parts downstairs, that
you have to connect it to acomputer to download logs, to
reset it, to do the actualrepair.
They don't see that.
They only see the few minutesof you coming in and then coming
(18:20):
back.
So that is the biggest myththat we need to dispel.
So be upfront about your work.
Tell them what you did.
Show them that it's not magic.
Speaker 1 (18:35):
Yeah, that was exactly what I was going to say.
A lot of times they may see youcome up there fast, especially
if it's an IV pump.
You're coming up there with areplacement, so you know, but
they don't understand when youtake that other one back to the
shop.
That's right.
It's a process to troubleshootthat thing.
Now you mentioned technologyearlier about using that with
the CMRA.
(18:56):
Now how do you see the HTMindustry evolving as far as well
?
Actually, with AI right now andautomation going on, how do you
see that evolving within theindustry as far as growth?
Speaker 2 (19:12):
It's already happening.
Yes, sir, the AI is alreadybeing used for predictive
maintenance.
The big companies, right, thePhilips, ges, they already have
all that massive data.
So when you can put all thatdata into a system, have it
(19:36):
analyzed for you and predict,hey, here are your patterns,
here's your usage patterns andhere's what's going to break
next at this time, that is truepreventive maintenance.
And we lack that in a lot ofequipment because it's so
(19:57):
microprocessor control andtherefore they only tell you,
well, check this, check that,and that's your maintenance.
Well, that's not truepreventive.
You're just checking that.
It's still within limits, butwe lack some of that preventive,
true preventive maintenance.
You knowing, coming from thedialysis world, those are true
(20:19):
PMs man, you are rebuilding, youare replacing, you are
calibrating, because thosethings drift, those things break
, not like some of thismicroprocessor control stuff
that has so many function checkswithin those first 45 seconds
to a minute, yes, and itself-diagnoses itself.
(20:42):
So we we've grown into thisfield where a lot of these
checks are just that,verification checks, but they're
not true preventive.
So when you can get AI to giveyou that, hey, that knob is
going to go out, um, around thistime, and if you can catch it
(21:04):
before then.
That's that's true, and thatyou can scale that to everything
.
Right, because, as you know,like you said, infusion pumps
right, what's the what's thebiggest thing that breaks on
infusion pumps?
And that's wherever they'rebeing touched, right, whatever
button gets pressed the most,guess what?
(21:24):
That's what's going to break.
Right, if that door gets open10 times a day, that's what's
going to break.
So, getting that predictivemaintenance analysis to be done
by AI, that's gold.
So, when you have a massivedatabase with all that already
in there, you already have it.
(21:45):
All you got to do is bring inAI to analyze your data.
It'll spit out all kinds ofthings for you.
Speaker 1 (21:51):
Awesome.
Now how long have you been inthe industry now?
Speaker 2 (21:57):
You're going to date me here, man.
You're going to date me here.
We're all dated.
If you count, oh gosh.
If you count, oh gosh.
94 is when I finished myelectronics technology
certificate from Solanocommunity out there in Fairfield
(22:18):
.
So yeah, it's going to be allright, let's call it.
Let's call it 95.
So let's call it an even 30.
30 years, 30 plus years.
Speaker 1 (22:28):
Yes, oh man, congrats .
But okay, in those 30 years Iwas sitting here for my next
question.
That's why I asked that Inthose 30 years there's no doubt
you've mentored tons of people.
Now we may have some young kidslistening to us right now.
What's one lesson you alwaystry to pass down to someone you
(22:53):
mentor?
One lesson Don't go through.
I mean you got a hundred ofthem, but what's that one lesson
you would always try to passdown?
Speaker 2 (23:01):
Wow, the one lesson would be and I'm going to I'm
going to go back in and talkabout a quote that I that has
(23:23):
really impacted my life fromMaya Angelou, I've learned that
people will forget what you said, people will forget what you
did, but people will neverforget how you made them feel,
(23:44):
and that is the lesson that Itry to teach people all the time
.
When you are a technician andyou leave that clinical person
upset, you did something wrongyou need to realize that they
(24:07):
also have a huge challengebehind them.
They're trying to becompassionate to someone else's
loved one and that challengethat infusion pump, that
defibrillator, that sequentialmachine did not work and they're
upset because they were tryingto take care of that patient.
(24:28):
You need to have that samecompassion.
You need to show them that youcare, that you're going to take
care of their problem when youleave them feeling protected and
that you're going to repairthat and whatever else they need
(24:49):
.
Oh, can I get you to look atthis keyboard, can I?
You know what?
I don't have a keyboard, butI'm going to put in that ticket
for you.
Give me one second.
Let me go back to the otherstation and do that for you.
Here you go, here's your ticketnumber and you put that sticker
right on there so that theyknow that you've taken care of
something else for them.
When you call engineering andyou say, hey, that temperature
(25:12):
in room icu 21 needs to comedown a couple notches.
When you go above and beyondwhat's expected and you make
them feel that you are part ofthe solution, not part of the
problem that changes lives, man,and goes beyond walls, those
(25:34):
are things that you learn thataren't part of the technical
curriculum anywhere else.
So those are the things youlearn right on the job.
Speaker 1 (25:44):
I mean, that's spot on, man.
You would think everyone wouldknow that.
But that is number one.
That's a great lesson.
Now you're in the bowman shop.
We're going to play a littlerole.
You're in the bowman shop rightnow and they tell you you're
about to get some interns.
So what advice would you giveto this 19-year into your shop
(26:11):
for the very first time, firstday there?
Speaker 2 (26:17):
Wow, at 19,.
You know the world, you, youown it, it's yours.
The, the, the.
The old guys don't want to dothe work, so I'm here to show
them up.
I was that kid and I was thatone that had to be talked to and
said slow down.
(26:38):
Even earlier somebody wouldhave told me you know, talk with
your ears, listen first.
You don't know it, you thinkyou do right, but talk with your
(26:58):
ears, man.
Let the ears bring everythingin, and once you do that, then
you can analyze what needs to bedone.
If you don't listen, you're notgoing to do the right things,
and if you continue pushing youragenda instead of what needs to
(27:24):
happen, you're going to go offon your own tangent and you're
not going to hit the mark.
So, as a 19-year-old, the firstthing I do is always the same
Sit them down, tell me a littlebit about yourself.
I want to know what yourinterests are.
I want to know where your headis at and try to guide them in
(27:48):
their own way, becauseeverybody's different.
Speaker 1 (27:51):
Absolutely.
Now you're a sharp guy man.
You're just spitting this stuffout like it's tattooed on your
arm or something.
How do you keep yourself sosharp, jay-z?
What do you do?
I mean books, people, habits.
How do you keep yourself sosharp in this industry?
It's been people habits.
How do you keep yourself sosharp in this industry?
It's been 30 plus years.
How do you keep yourself sharp?
Speaker 2 (28:15):
My wife will tell you that I that I rob my family
time all the time, which is verytrue, and I love her to death,
and.
But the reality is I'm immersed.
But the reality is I'm immersed.
First of all, I've learned thatI've had to take care of myself
(28:39):
better.
So I now, in the morning,definitely have started a
stationary bike routine, andthat gets my juices flowing.
But I stay involved, right,whether it's reading a manual, a
technical manual, user's manual, I try to keep up with
(29:02):
everything that's going on, andthen I expand that.
That helps me with work.
But I expand that.
That helps me with work.
But I expand that into my mind.
Yes, I love reading Brene Brown.
Oh, my gosh man, you talk aboutvulnerability as a leader.
(29:23):
You have to have it.
I have been on the journey forschool for six, almost seven
years, which I'm finally gettingto the end of, and congrats,
thank you.
So much.
It's been that's.
That's another way to talkabout that one for another half
hour.
But in the CMIA, right, thepeople that I work with, i't.
(29:47):
They don't work for me, I workfor them.
That is that to me.
That is my definition of beinga leader.
The manager is just a title man, it's it's.
You don't have to have a titleto be a leader.
So if you're a technician, inin your, in your shop and you've
got the ability to lead, itcomes out.
(30:09):
When it's a flag day, you gobuy that bag of US flags and you
hand them out Again.
You bring that people side towork.
That's it, man.
That's what it's about when youare inspired and you turn
(30:30):
around and you give that back.
That's what CMIA is about.
Right, you're teaching the nextgeneration all of these
passions that you have, thatyou've been taught and now
you're passing them down tosomebody else.
Been taught and now you'repassing them down to somebody
else.
Speaker 1 (30:49):
That's what it's about.
It's deeply noted.
I mean, you sent me a pictureof one of your own Captain Gone
pictures and I noticed a lot ofcultural things on some of the
um, that's right.
What's the word?
The stole?
So, as someone with a uniquecultural perspective, what does
(31:09):
representation in HTM mean toyou?
Speaker 2 (31:13):
Bro, you're just putting on all the strings.
Today, man, I I have you seenthe made in China stickers and
on on so many things that wewear today, right?
Speaker 1 (31:26):
Yeah, yes.
Speaker 2 (31:27):
Well, I was made in Mexico, my father's from
Guatemala and went to Mexico,met my mom and, lo and behold,
they got married, had a roughtime.
Brother and I were born downthere, and when we were close to
10 years old we came to theUnited States, san Francisco,
(31:48):
california.
Boy, what a wake up call, man,wow.
So my cultural journey startedwith all of that, you know,
learning what I thought was agreat life in Mexico.
And then coming to the US, andThriller was huge.
Right, mj, wow, and got tolearn that.
(32:11):
And what's this music about?
And heck, even what we now knowas the LGBTQ plus community,
right, was huge in San Francisco.
And that was to me, was like mygosh, there's a whole world
completely different than what Iknew.
Heck, my first basketball man,we, the boys and girls club down
(32:34):
there in San Francisco, youknow, we, we just couldn't get
enough.
And we, we used to play on a,on a no parking sign.
Right, that was our hoop whenthey were closed.
And that kid man, that kid thatjust had that passion for life
and wanted to ride bikes likeother kids.
As an immigrant man, you don'thave much, you know.
(32:59):
You just do what you can andyou're living with family until
your folks can better their life.
Today, fast forward these 30years.
The HCM life has transformed inso many ways.
(33:20):
My kids have no idea what Iwent through and I don't put it
on them, you know, becausethat's not theirs.
I appreciate my parents beingimmigrants and coming in and
changing our life, because thatis truly what happened.
It was for us, it wasn't forthem because they had good lives
down there.
(33:41):
But today the HCM world did thesame thing for me.
I have you name it, bro.
You know, between vehicles,homes, states that I've worked
in.
The htm life gave me all ofthat.
So it is possible.
Uh, you start out as atechnician, brand new, and
you're like, oh, I can barelyscrape things by.
(34:03):
Yeah, you're right, but proveyourself.
You know, get in, get in there,get in there wholeheartedly.
You will make it.
They'll pay for your school ifyou need to Do it, just to go in
110%.
This will change your life, thelife around the people, the
lives of the people around you,the lives of the people around
(34:24):
you and eventually, your, youroffspring, your kids.
It'll give them a way betterlife than you had.
Speaker 1 (34:33):
Well said, man.
Now about to get a littledeeper.
How can HTM, in your opinion,do better at building pipelines
for underrepresented youths,inner city youths and
professionals, in your opinion,yeah, getting the word out there
(34:57):
is essential.
Speaker 2 (34:58):
That's where that elevate HTM just is another
string.
Right that that, that that thatrings strong.
You have to get out there.
When there's a career day atany of the schools, it doesn't
matter if it's a elementaryschool or or a college day, a
(35:19):
college career fair you got toget in there, just go in there.
Had this talk with Daniellemany years back and said know
your audience, right, that'swhere do you think the spark
from her HTM presentations camefrom?
(35:39):
Because that is it right, youpresent the same thing, but
you're going to deliver themessage differently to a young
kid versus a college student.
You're going to tell them thesame things, but you're going to
give it and deliver the messagemore appropriately to each age
bracket.
Getting in there is key.
It doesn't matter what it is.
You could be inspiring somebody.
(36:02):
That again, you're just talkingor being you.
You're getting your eye examand they learn that you're
finishing school or doingsomething like that, and you're
inspiring somebody else.
Same thing with HTM, right, Iwas at a graduation and what do
(36:22):
you do?
Oh, you know what?
I should really talk to mygrandson about that.
Yes, you're right, you should,if they've got that analytical
brain and they like working withthe hands.
Htm is perfect.
You bring both sides of it.
You challenge the, the, themind and the physical aspect at
the same time.
That's what young people wantto hear and see and do.
(36:46):
So, when they can be inspiredthat they can do what you're
doing.
Uh, that's gold man, that's,that's, that's platinum.
Speaker 1 (36:53):
Yes, sir, cause, like you said, man, um, when you
came to the States you wasunaware of all the great things
going on.
And honestly, you see that,because I mean numbers are facts
, I mean HTM is 90% white andit's not a race issue, it's an
exposure issue.
(37:13):
So those pipelines, as youmentioned, has to be made.
I mean it's.
When I talk to kids, it'samazing how I mean not even kids
, adults, right, literally donot know what we do.
Right, it's mind boggling,honestly, because I guess we're
around it all the time.
So our families do, but thepopulation out there doesn't
(37:36):
have a clue.
But the population out theredoesn't have a clue.
And so it's like, and it's notjust a race as far as I mean, no
matter who you talk to, theydon't know, but we just are
underrepresented in our areasbecause they don't have.
We used to grow up with policeofficers, firemen, doctor, nurse
.
You know that was the only onethey told us we can do.
That's right, you know.
(38:02):
But now we have options and Ithink it's going to continue to
grow as people as yourselfcontinue to do what you do.
It's going to, it's going tocontinue to get better because
it has no choice, that's right.
Now I'm going to ask you thisquestion, jay Z, jose Sombrano.
When someone says that, 10years from now in the HTM
industry, what do you hopethey're saying?
(38:25):
When they say, jose Sombrano,what you hope follows after that
.
Speaker 2 (38:36):
I want to, in the same way that I feel that I'm
giving back on the HTM side, Iwant to give back on this
educational journey that I'vebeen on.
So I would love to turn thisinto Jose Zambrano was my
(38:58):
educator, jose Zambrano was myeducator, jose Zambrano was my
teacher.
And if I can combine these twoworlds right the teaching and
HTM together and continue to doboth of those passions of mine
(39:18):
Because I love teaching somebodyelse what I know from the
technical perspective, right andif I can now become the true
instructor and bring that HTMpassion as well as the TM
passion as well as the theteaching aspect of it, I would
(39:38):
love that I would be in my uhand not casket Cause in my urn.
I would be smiling from year toyear because I know that I not
just inspired them, but now I'llalso taught them to do what
they, what they can do, to toreally elevate themselves.
Speaker 1 (39:58):
Yeah, cause he could see that.
That's amazing.
You said that because that'sneeded too.
I'll guarantee you, if you tooka poll of instructors, how many
of them look like you.
So we need people.
We need so many differentlayers of things to get this
industry in the way we want itto be.
We need somebody to get them tothe classroom.
Then we need somebody to, oncethey get to the classroom.
(40:20):
We need somebody there in theclassroom that can also be the
inspiration to them.
Exactly right.
Speaker 2 (40:30):
Every time that answer comes in right.
When people ask how do I get in?
It's a tough one.
It's not an easy answer.
You don't just apply and youget in.
It's a tough one.
It's not an easy answer.
You don't just apply and youget in.
No, you have to build thosethings in, you have to work at
those things and that'sschooling right, because you can
go to a certificate program,but that's not going to get you
(40:52):
into a hospital, direct hospitaljob, and a lot of kids get
disappointed.
I tell that to the Miraacostastudents that come out by the
way.
Shout out to Dr Smootman,because he is truly just an
inspiration as well, and when I,when I talk to his students,
that's the first thing I saydon't give up on this dream.
(41:23):
You are being taught byexcellent mentors here.
However, when you're going tocome to my hospital, this is not
going to be your first job.
So if you apply, you're noteven going to make it to me.
My talent acquisition willscreen you out because you don't
have the minimum qualifications.
You're going to have to do somework.
This work at this organization.
They want you to elevate andeven though we have close to
minimal qualifications, that'sstill not enough.
(41:43):
I go through this every day,man.
My applicants excuse me, sorry,my applicants come in with
minimum 10, 15, 20 yearsexperience.
They've already done the worksomewhere else.
So do you think a certificateprogram graduate with no
(42:06):
experience has a chance?
No, man, and that's such a hardtruth because you know you want
to inspire them to do more, butthe reality is you got to do
more work before I can, evenbefore your application even
gets to me.
You've got to put in so muchmore and I don't.
(42:27):
I'm not trying to discouragethem, but I'm trying to give
them the reality.
Speaker 1 (42:33):
Now, that's an interesting topic there, right?
That may be a topic for anotherpodcast, because it's amazing
how like to get into yourhospital that's required.
Now you have some hospitals,maybe I guess East Coast, south
North, who does apprenticeprograms, right?
(42:55):
Who does certificate programs.
I mean, I guess it's whereverthe need is and that's right.
That's, once again, as youmentioned, geographic.
It depends, you know.
But if you want to live in thearea, you gotta, you gotta be
flexible.
If you want to live in seattle,washington, the cost of living
is a little harder than it is tolive in new orleans.
(43:17):
So I guess it just that's.
That's a good topic for aconversation.
I have to get you and smooth onhere together, man, yeah, but
um, great answer.
But next question I want to askyou this because I'll try to
stick to a hard time, but I knewI wasn't gonna stick to it with
you, but anyway, what?
What keeps you fired up, man?
It's been 30 plus years.
(43:38):
What keeps you fired up aboutHTM?
Because you be at all the shows, you part of CMIA, you
furthering education.
What keeps you fired up?
Speaker 2 (43:50):
wow, the aha moment, right when you see that that
light bulb spark in somebodyelse, when you see that, when
you're the match and theyalready have the gas going and
you just ignited that flame forsomebody else.
(44:13):
That's what does it for me, andI know you can say the same
thing.
It's it's about building thatnext one.
And, um, when you see somebodyelse, I have, uh, another
gentleman his name is JuanMadrigal over there in, uh, in
(44:36):
the VA in Buffalo, new York, anduh, he, he, he tells me all the
time, jose, I learned so muchfrom you on the West Coast, and
now I'm doing myself here and Itell him I was like, hey, man,
it's always been within you,it's always been there, it's you
(44:57):
.
You finally accepted who youare in your own mission and now
you're elevating to where youcould have always been.
Speaker 1 (45:09):
Yes, sir.
Now this question here, lastone, but I want you to almost
how would you define I want youto maybe take this in, because
it's, I guess, like a two parthow would you define success in
the HTM industry?
And, I guess, how has yourdefinition changed?
(45:30):
Like, say, for instance, whenyou came into the industry, you
might have had one way in whichyou thought, if I can just do
this, I'll consider it a greatcareer.
But now you probably have adifferent definition for that
Right.
So how?
Speaker 2 (45:53):
would you go about defining success in this
industry when you first came in,to how you defined it?
Now, success is built uponculture and you learn your
culture from, first of all, yourfamily or your, your caretakers
, and they set those definitionsfor you at a young age.
(46:19):
And if education is it and youdidn't hit that mark, like me, I
mean again, I wrote on thatcertificate, not even an
associate.
I wrote on that for 20 plusyears and I had a good career at
(46:41):
it.
But when I got stopped frombecoming a leader because I
didn't have the other degrees,that irked me.
That's when I was like well,you're defining my success
because I don't have a degreeand I didn't like that at all.
So it became a challenge andtoday now I've got three degrees
(47:05):
right the associates, bachelorsand now the masters Awesome,
and success is what you make itout to be.
If you want to get out thereand make a difference, you're
going to define what success is.
If your parents tell yousuccess is having two kids, a
(47:30):
home and a career, you're goingto go for that.
With HTM.
What is it?
What is your drive?
What is it that you want out ofit?
And sometimes you have to lookat the people that have done it
for many years.
Look at that.
Is it the letters behind theirnames, Is it the certifications,
(47:51):
the degrees?
Or is it that fact that they'respeaking up?
They're speaking their truth,Like Mr Bensing right, who just
announced his retirement.
Speaker 1 (48:03):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (48:04):
And look at how many people he's inspired.
He challenges the status quo,the iconoclast.
And you hear him speaking.
You're like, wow, I wish I wasthat brave.
And you talk to him.
He's like I'm not brave, I'm achicken, but you hear him speak
(48:25):
and it inspires you to do that,to challenge the status quo.
Don't let success be defined byothers.
Define your own success, findyour own path and start working
towards it, piece by piecethat's great.
Speaker 1 (48:48):
now I want you to always ask this question at the
end of my podcast.
It's a two-fold question.
I want you to talk to the youngladies in the industry, give
them some encouragement, givethem some advice.
Just sum up what you would talkto If you're sitting in a room
(49:13):
full of young female H&Mprofessionals not young, just
female H&M professionals whatadvice would you give them?
Or what advice would you givethem, or what encouragement
would you give them?
Speaker 2 (49:27):
Do not let your fire be extinguished by how brash
many of your male counterpartscan be.
Don't let that extinguish yourflame, your passion.
(49:49):
Be your true self.
Realize that you're going toneed that thick skin.
Realize that you're going toneed that thick skin that,
hopefully, your siblings andfamily members have built into
you Because, as a female, you'regoing to need it.
(50:10):
You're going to need that inour industry.
You're not going to allowpeople to penetrate that thick
skin.
Continue your path.
Be the brave person you are.
Speak up.
Don't let your voice be tamedby other people's definition of
(50:37):
what a technician should be.
Bring in your whole self anddon't let them extinguish your
flame.
Speaker 1 (50:45):
Great great advice.
Now, this next group I meanit's going to be this is the
underrepresented group the youngkids from Mexico, young
African-Americans from the South.
I mean all of theunderrepresented.
You know, what advice would yougive to those that's in the
(51:07):
industry now, probably the 10%,yeah, what advice would you give
them?
Speaker 2 (51:16):
This industry will give you everything you need.
It'll give you everything youwant, but you have to work hard
at it.
You're also going to bemisunderstood.
(51:36):
You're also going to bemisunderstood.
You're also going to be labeled.
However, realize that there isa vast potential for you.
(51:57):
This industry will allow you toclimb as high as you want.
You just have to want it badenough.
You can turn around and seepeople of color, people of all
shades and shapes and sizes inour industry.
(52:18):
Find the ones that give youthat right, that give you that
spark, and find their secretsauce.
Talk to them and then they'llhelp you.
They'll help you build thatpath for you.
So don't give up.
Continue working hard.
It can be done.
Speaker 1 (52:40):
Oh man, I appreciate you, so don't give up.
Continue working hard.
It can be done.
Oh man, I appreciate you.
Zay Jay-Z man, you dropped someknowledge on us today.
I appreciate you, man, andanytime you want to come back on
my show, you're more thanwelcome.
Dude, thank you for taking sometime with me.
It was my pleasure B with me itwas my pleasure B Jose reminded
us today that success isn't justmeasured in uptime, but in the
(53:04):
lives we touch, the voices weelevate and the futures we help
unlock.
This episode wasn't aboutequipment, it was about impact.
If you're in this field, you'renot invisible, you are
essential.
And if you ever forget that,hit play on this again.
(53:25):
Htm is changing and withleaders like Jose, we're not
just keeping up, we're buildingthe future.
Until next time, stay focused,stay faithful and never forget.
We are unseen but unstoppable.
(53:45):
I'm B Hawk.
This is HTM Online.
Keep elevating.
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