digital transformation Archives - Business RadioX ®

2026 Hiring Trends: AI, Flexibility, and Salary Shifts

December 29, 2025 by John Ray

Amy Mangan and Stephen Tradd, Robert Half, on 2026 Hiring Trends, AI Impact, Flexibility vs Compensation, and Atlanta Staffing (North Fulton Business Radio, Episode 926), with host John Ray

North Fulton Business Radio

2026 Hiring Trends: AI, Flexibility, and Salary Shifts

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Amy Mangan and Stephen Tradd, Robert Half, on 2026 Hiring Trends, AI Impact, Flexibility vs Compensation, and Atlanta Staffing (North Fulton Business Radio, Episode 926)

On this episode of North Fulton Business Radio, host John Ray welcomes Amy Mangan, Market Director, and Stephen Tradd, Regional Director, both with Robert Half, to discuss 2026 hiring trends shaping the Atlanta labor market. Amy and Stephen reveal that 38% of U.S. professionals plan to seek new jobs in early 2026, marking the end of the “great freeze” and “job hugging” phenomenon that defined 2025. These 2026 hiring trends are driven by pent-up demand, understaffed teams, and employees burned out from economic uncertainty and hiring freezes.

The conversation addresses the critical balance between flexibility and compensation in 2026 hiring trends. While 60% of professionals are willing to work fully on-site for higher pay, many top candidates continue to turn down significant salary increases when flexibility is not part of the offer. Amy and Stephen explain why return-to-office policies are not one-size-fits-all and how companies that fail to offer hybrid arrangements risk losing their best talent. They also examine AI’s transformative role in 2026 hiring trends, noting that professionals who fail to develop AI literacy will be left behind, while those who embrace these tools become more valuable to employers.

John Ray is the host of North Fulton Business Radio. The show is produced by John Ray and North Fulton Business Radio, LLC, an affiliate of Business RadioX®, and is recorded inside Renasant Bank in Alpharetta.

Key Takeaways from This Episode

38% of U.S. professionals plan to look for new jobs in early 2026, with Gen Z (45%), tech professionals (43%), and working parents (41%) leading the trend
Flexibility often trumps salary, as candidates repeatedly turn down offers with 20-25% pay increases when hybrid work options are not available
AI adoption varies by company size, with large organizations building dedicated teams for governance and implementation while small and mid-size businesses leverage existing tools in Microsoft platforms
Specialized skills command premium pay, with AI and machine learning roles seeing 4%+ salary increases and overall professional compensation up 2% year over year

Topics Discussed in this Episode

00:20 John Ray introduces the show and guests Amy Mangan and Stephen Tradd from Robert Half
02:20 Introduction to Robert Half’s specialized staffing services across accounting, finance, technology, HR, and legal
03:05 2025 labor market analysis and unusual hiring patterns
03:30 38% of U.S. professionals planning to look for new jobs in early 2026
04:30 The great freeze, job hugging, and why employees stayed put in 2025
06:11 Industries seeing the most hiring activity, including healthcare and nonprofit sectors
06:32 Impact of return-to-office policies and lack of flexibility on employee retention
07:33 Understaffed teams and employee burnout are driving job turnover
08:12 Return-to-office strategies and the challenge of finding one-size-fits-all solutions
09:35 Pent-up demand and digital transformation driving 2026 hiring needs
10:01 Digital transformation and software transitions in finance, accounting, and healthcare
11:01 AI’s impact on hiring practices and required skill sets
12:20 Why professionals need to learn AI tools to remain competitive
13:14 AI adoption differences between large companies and small- to mid-size businesses
15:34 Employers willing to pay premium for AI, cybersecurity, and data analytics expertise
16:18 2026 compensation trends and salary increases by specialty
17:01 Why flexibility matters more than salary for many top candidates
19:35 Perks and benefits beyond flexibility, including commuter benefits and childcare
21:05 Nuance in compensation and flexibility based on company and sector
22:35 Robert Half’s collaborative approach to helping clients understand market conditions
24:08 When business owners should reach out to Robert Half for staffing solutions
26:46 Success stories, including rapid deployment of 25 help desk professionals
28:52 How to connect with Robert Half and access the 2026 Salary Guide

Amy Mangan, Market Director, Robert Half

Amy Mangan is a Market Director with Robert Half, overseeing the contract and permanent placement services for Technology, Marketing and Creative practice groups in Atlanta. With 15 years of dedicated tenure at Robert Half, Amy has cultivated a reputation as a trusted leader in matching top talent with leading organizations. Before joining Robert Half, Amy brought 20 years of experience in technology and marketing staffing combined. Her deep understanding of both fields allows her to connect with clients and candidates alike, providing strategic solutions that drive success. In addition to her professional achievements, Amy is an active member of the American Marketing Association (AMA) Atlanta, where she serves on the Membership Committee, contributing to the growth and engagement of the local marketing community. Outside of work, Amy enjoys spending time with her husband, two sons, and two cats.

Stephen Tradd, Regional Director, Robert Half

Stephen Tradd is a Regional Director with Robert Half, overseeing placement services for contract finance and accounting, administrative and customer support, legal, and management resources in the firm’s Atlanta and Alpharetta offices. With more than a decade of experience at Robert Half, Steve first joined the company in 2009 in Florida and returned in 2023 as Branch Director for the Atlanta Midtown branch, later advancing to his current role. Throughout his career, Steve has earned many professional accolades, including Robert Half’s prestigious Reach for the Stars Award and is a $3 million-dollar milestone achiever, consistently delivering outstanding results. Steve’s competitive mindset, strategic approach, and ability to connect top talent with leading companies have been the driving forces behind his success. Outside of work, Steve enjoys traveling the world and has recently returned from a trip to Zurich, Austria, and Germany. This year alone, he’s visited 5 countries outside of the U.S.

Robert Half

Robert Half is the world’s first and largest specialized talent solutions and business consulting firm, connecting highly skilled job seekers with rewarding opportunities at great companies. Areas of specialization include finance and accounting, human resources, administrative and customer support, legal, technology, marketing, and creative. Robert Half offers contract talent, permanent placement, and executive search services; it is the parent company of Protiviti, a global consulting firm. In the last 12 months, Robert Half has been named one of Fortune’s World’s Most Admired Companies, one of the 100 Best Companies to Work For, and has also received recognition from Forbes as one of the World’s Best Employers and one of America’s Best Professional Recruiting, Executive Recruiting, and Temporary Staffing Firms.

Website | LinkedIn

Renasant Bank supports North Fulton Business Radio

Renasant Bank has humble roots, having started in 1904 as a $100,000 bank located in a Lee County, Mississippi, bakery. Since then, Renasant has grown into one of the Southeast’s strongest financial institutions, boasting over $26 billion in assets and more than 280 offices offering banking, lending, wealth management, and financial services throughout the region. All of Renasant’s success stems from the commitment of each banker to invest in the communities they serve, which in turn helps them better understand the people they serve. At Renasant Bank, their banking professionals understand you because they work and live alongside you every day.

Beyond Computer Solutions supports North Fulton Business Radio

Whether you’re a law firm, medical practice, or manufacturer, there’s one headline you don’t want to make: “Local Business Pays Thousands in Ransom After Cyberattack.” That’s where Beyond Computer Solutions comes in. They help organizations like yours stay out of the news and in business with managed IT and cybersecurity services designed for industries where compliance and reputation matter most.

Whether they serve as your complete IT department or simply support your internal team, they are well-versed in HIPAA, secure document access, written security policies, and other essential aspects that ensure your safety and well-being. Best of all, it starts with a complimentary security assessment.

Website | LinkedIn | Facebook | YouTube

About North Fulton Business Radio and host John Ray

With over 900 episodes and having featured over 1,400 guests, North Fulton Business Radio is the longest-running podcast in the North Fulton area, covering business in our community like no one else. We are the undisputed “Voice of Business” in North Fulton!

The show invites a diverse range of business, non-profit, and community leaders to share their significant contributions to their respective markets, communities, and professions. There is no discrimination based on company size, and there is never any “pay to play.” North Fulton Business Radio supports and celebrates businesses by sharing positive stories that traditional media ignore. Some media lean left. Some media lean right. We lean business.

John Ray, host of North Fulton Business Radio, and Owner, Ray Business Advisors — **John Ray, host of *North Fulton Business Radio* and Owner, Ray Business Advisors**

John Ray is the host of North Fulton Business Radio. John and the team at North Fulton Business Radio, LLC, an affiliate of Business RadioX®, produce the show, which is recorded inside Renasant Bank in Alpharetta.

The studio is located at 275 South Main Street, Alpharetta, GA 30009.

You can find the entire archive of shows by following this link. The show is accessible on all major podcast apps, such as Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google, Amazon, iHeart Radio, and many others.

John Ray also operates his own business advisory practice. John’s services include advising solopreneurs and small professional services firms on their value, their positioning and business development, and their pricing. His clients are professionals who are selling their expertise, such as consultants, coaches, attorneys, CPAs, accountants, bookkeepers, marketing professionals, and other professional services practitioners.

John is the author of the five-star rated book The Generosity Mindset: A Journey to Business Success by Raising Your Confidence, Value, and Prices, praised by readers for its practical insights on raising confidence, value, and prices.

How to Level Up Your Digital Marketing Strategy E41

August 28, 2023 by Karen

AZ TechCast

How to Level Up Your Digital Marketing Strategy E41

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How to Level Up Your Digital Marketing Strategy E41

From SEO to paid media to website design, refining your company’s digital marketing strategy can be overwhelming. But if created intentionally, it can be a critical step towards meeting key business goals.

The August 2023 episode of the Arizona Technology Council’s AZTechCast podcast featured experts including Simon Golding, senior digital marketing consultant at Intero Digital; Rianna Lowrance, content marketing manager at Trimble SketchUp; and Andrew Smart, co-founder and commercial director at Slator. These leaders joined Bianca Buliga, director of marketing and communications at the Council, and Karen Nowicki, president and owner of Phoenix Business RadioX, in shedding light on the up-and-coming digital marketing solutions that can give your company a competitive advantage.

In this hour-long episode, the panel of three experts discussed the evolution of marketing from a traditional or physical format to a digital modality, the most in-demand digital marketing services in today’s world and the biggest challenges that they see companies needing support with that digital marketing agencies can help tackle.

Throughout the conversation, the speakers shared specific use cases of companies that turned to digital marketing agencies to help achieve business objectives, the solutions that were implemented and the results they have seen. Finally, they suggested useful metrics to track when introducing a new digital marketing platform, highlighted the role that technology plays in improving a company’s digital marketing strategy and provided myriad tips for how to select an effective agency and build a lasting relationship with them.

Intero Digital is an agile and forward-thinking digital marketing solutions provider headquartered in Colorado Springs, Colorado, that’s dedicated to helping businesses reach their full potential.

With a passion for innovation and an expert team of highly skilled professionals, Intero Digital offers a comprehensive range of 15+ services, including SEO, SEM, content and PR, social media, video, influencer marketing, web design and development, and more.

Intero Digital’s commitment to delivering exceptional results and personalized solutions — coupled with industry-leading proprietary technology — has earned the agency a reputation as a trusted partner for companies of all sizes.

With over 10 years of experience in business intelligence, marketing strategy, and digital marketing, Simon Golding’s depth of digital marketing understanding is well-matched by the breadth of contexts in which he can actualize his wisdom.

From multinational corporates to sole traders, from neuromarketing to print marketing, and everything in between, Simon’s colorful marketing journey has given him the skills to help every kind and size of business.

When he’s not translating marketing jargon into plain English, you’ll likely find him contemplating and philosophizing over a bottle of wine, reading non-fiction, listening to intellectual debates, or playing games on his latest PC build.

Follow Intero Digital on LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram.

With more than 33 million users, Trimble SketchUp is the premier design software among creative professionals across architecture, interior design, construction, and more. Creativity, flexibility, and connected workflows are at the core of Trimble SketchUp and allow users to actualize big-idea concepts.

From interior projects and custom home builds to intricate, energy-efficient buildings, Trimble SketchUp makes it easy to get your creative juices flowing to define, refine, and build out those award-winning designs. Facilitate cross-functional efficiency with 3D modeling and markups, pre-built parametrically configurable objects, task assignments, 2D documentation, virtual reality viewing, clash detection, and sustainability tools to ensure your net-zero goals are met.

As a marketing and communications professional with over six years of experience, Rianna Lowrance specializes in creating and executing innovative campaigns that build brand awareness and drive engagement.

Her content creation skills and her passion for storytelling have allowed her to create impactful content that resonates with audiences and inspires action. She has a strong background in project management and cross-functional collaboration and has a proven track record of delivering results.

Follow Trimble SketchUp on LinkedIn, Facebook and Instagram.

Slator is the leading source of news and research for the global translation, localization, and language technology industry. Our advisory practice is a trusted partner to clients looking for independent analysis. Headquartered in Zurich, Slator has a presence in Asia, Europe, and the U.S.

Andrew Smart co-founded Slator and provided its online media strategy and business model to create what is now the No. 1 news and research site for the global translation, localization, and language technology industry. He led the development of Slator.com, defining its content, information architecture, ad products and pricing, and e-commerce sales model.

He established and runs the event business, including the SlatorCon conference series, roundtables, and training workshops. Andrew also provides business advisory and content marketing services. Most importantly, he leads sales as commercial director to a global client base and drives revenue growth.

Follow Slater on LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter.

About Your Hosts

Steve Zylstra serves as president and CEO of the Arizona Technology Council, a role he assumed in 2007. He is responsible for strategy, operations, finance and policy development. Zylstra is a vocal spokesman for the value technology can provide in raising social and economic standards in Arizona.

Zylstra serves on numerous councils, committees and boards, was named “Leader of the Year, Technology,” by the Arizona Capitol Times, and “Most Admired Leader” by the Phoenix Business Journal. In addition, he was awarded an honorary doctorate of science in technology from the University of Advancing Technology in Tempe, Ariz.

Zylstra earned a bachelor’s degree in automotive engineering technology from Western Michigan University.

Karen Nowicki is a successful author, speaker and the creator of Deep Impact Leadership™ and SoulMarks Coaching™. She is a two-time recipient of the prestigious national Choice Award® for her book and personal development retreat. Karen was crowned the first-ever “Mompreneur of the Year” Award in 2010 for the southwestern states. She was recognized for her leadership, business acumen, and work-life balance.

Karen has been an expert guest on regional TV and radio shows, including Fox Phoenix Morning Show, Sonoran Living, Good Morning Arizona, The Chat Room, and Mid-Day Arizona. She has been a regular contributor to many print and online magazines – publishing articles and blogs for business and education.

In addition to working with private coaching clients, Karen is also the Owner & President of Phoenix Business RadioX. The Business RadioX Network amplifies the voice of business – serving the Fortune 500,000, not just the Fortune 500. Phoenix Business RadioX helps local businesses and professional associations get the word out about the important work they’re doing to serve their market, profession, and community.

Of all the experiences Karen has had the privilege of participating in over her vast career, she shares that Phoenix Business RadioX is a pinnacle adventure!

Connect with Karen on LinkedIn and follow Phoenix Business RadioX on Facebook and Instagram.

Born in Phoenix, Arizona, Bianca Buliga is a trilingual first-generation American of Romanian ethnicity. A marketing professional with experience in both the nonprofit and for-profit sectors, Bianca currently works as Director, Marketing & Communications for the Arizona Technology Council.

Previously, Bianca worked as Marketing Communications Lead at Proctorio, a learning integrity platform that offers remote proctoring software ensuring exam integrity for learners around the world.

Bianca also worked as Senior Marketing Manager at SEED SPOT, a social impact incubator that educates, accelerates, and invests in impact-driven entrepreneurs creating market-based solutions to social problems. In January of 2020, Bianca was selected as an awardee of the Mandela Washington Reciprocal Exchange Program and traveled to the African island of Mauritius to run entrepreneurship programming for 15 impact-driven ecopreneurs on behalf of the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs.

Bianca has also completed comprehensive consulting projects for IBM, ESAN Business School, and the Peruvian government, and interned at the Arizona House of Representatives and U.S. Embassy in Bucharest, Romania.

Bianca earned her Bachelor’s degree in International Affairs from Northern Arizona University in 2014 and her Master’s degree in Global Affairs and Management from the Thunderbird School of Global Management in 2017. She is an avid reader, yogi, and world traveler always planning her next trip.

Connect with Bianca on LinkedIn.

About Our Sponsor

The Arizona Technology Council, Arizona’s only statewide organization serving the technology sector, fosters a climate of innovation to enhance technology in Arizona.

A trusted resource in strengthening Arizona’s technology industry, the Council proactively eliminates impediments that companies face, accelerates the entrepreneurial mindset in the state’s expanding innovation ecosystem, and works to create a destination for companies to be, thrive and stay.

Follow Arizona Technology Council on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram.

Paloma Greenwald and Rob Buelow with AZNext and Laura Hemenway with Paradigm Solutions

May 17, 2023 by Karen

Phoenix Business Radio

Paloma Greenwald and Rob Buelow with AZNext and Laura Hemenway with Paradigm Solutions

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Paloma Greenwald and Rob Buelow with AZNext and Laura Hemenway with Paradigm Solutions

Arizona State University’s AZNext Program is a public-private partnership, funded by grants from the U.S Department of Labor designed to create a bold, innovative, and sustaining workforce development ecosystem that addresses the need for more skilled workers in IT, cybersecurity, and advanced manufacturing roles.

A groundbreaking collaboration between the W. P. Carey School of Business, Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering, and New College of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences, AZNext brings together employers, workforce development networks, economic development organizations, and industry partnerships to develop and execute work skills training programs.

Paloma Greenwald, RN BSN is a self-employed nurse consultant and alumna of the entry level Business Analyst course through AZ Next. Paloma brings over 2 decades of trusted public service as a registered nurse and military spouse.

As a native Spanish speaker from the desert southwest, first generation American, and ASU distinguished graduate, she delivers credibility as a subject matter expert in community health as well as military family issues. She is a candidate for a Masters in Public Leadership from the University of San Francisco.

Paloma invests time in multiple volunteer efforts because this impacts communities while nurturing servant leadership. Her commitment to lifelong learning benefits organizations such as Az Nurses Association (public policy committee), Az Public Health Association, HIMSS, Luke AFB Foodbank, Hiring Our Heroes Military Spouse Professional Network, Military Spouse Advocacy Network, Secure Families Initiative and Your Sure Foundation.

Connect with Paloma on LinkedIn and Facebook.

Rob Buelow is the Program Director for the AZNext Workforce Training Accelerator Partnership Grant. Teaming ASU with Industry/Community Partners to develop the next generation workforce in Advance Manufacturing and Information Systems.

Two years as Program Director with AZNext. Over 20 years of aerospace manufacturing industry experience in project and program management, process design and improvement, program implementations, team leadership, and business and customer management.

Follow AZNext on LinkedIn.

Paradigm Solutions LLC is a consultancy leading knowledge driven success through Technology and Business Transformation.

Paradigm Solutions’ portfolio includes Fortune 10, Small Business, Public, Private, Public Sector, and Non-Profit industry wide initiatives ranging from Assessment to Optimization to
Transformation.

Paradigm Solutions LLC is a privately held consultancy based in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Laura Hemenway is Founder and Principal of Paradigm Solutions, a consultancy leading knowledge driven success through technology and business transformation.

Her technology career spanning over 30 years in roles as Developer, Business Analyst, Solution Architect, Project Manager, PMO Director, Strategy Executive, and Fractional/Interim CIO afford her the in-depth technical expertise and business acumen to communicate, collaborate, and drive results.

In addition to her drive to support art and culture access to the underserved, Laura generously shares her professional experience as an Arizona State University W.P. Carey School of Business Guest Speaker, AZNext Contributor, Title I School STEAM Supporter, Mentor, and SIM Arizona Board Member.

Connect with Laura on LinkedIn.

The Key to Improving Tech Outcomes: Project Management E33

December 20, 2022 by Karen

The-Key-to-Improving-Tech-Outcomes-Project-Management-feature

AZ TechCast

The Key to Improving Tech Outcomes: Project Management E33

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The Key to Improving Tech Outcomes: Project Management E33

From managing budgets to meeting deliverables in a timely manner, project managers play a critical role in helping organizations improve outcomes and maintain successful partnerships. So, how can tech companies leverage project management to reimagine how they produce deliverables for their clients?

The December 2022 episode of the Arizona Technology Council’s AZTechCast podcast featured experts including Mary Kirk, principal consultant and lead DEI at Allata; J.T. Moomau, vice president, solutions delivery at Per Scholas; and Joe Pusz, president, The PMO Squad. These leaders joined Karen Nowicki, president and owner of Phoenix Business RadioX, and Steve Zylstra, president and CEO of the Arizona Technology Council, in discussing how technology companies can utilize project management to better deliver strategic initiatives.

Throughout this hour-long episode, the panel of three experts discussed how they would define project management, how it works at their individual organizations, and the tips they have for technology companies that are hoping to revamp how they manage their projects. Time and time again, each speaker hit on the critical importance of great communication, clear goal setting, keeping the company’s “why” in mind and executing deliverables with excellence.

Per Scholas has been advancing economic mobility and increasing opportunity for more than 25 years. Through rigorous training, professional development, and robust employer connections, the national nonprofit prepares individuals traditionally underrepresented in technology for high-growth careers in the industry. Per Scholas partners with leading employers to build more diverse talent pools, directly connecting graduates to new career opportunities with more than 850 employer partners, ranging from Fortune 500 companies to innovative startups. With campuses in 20 cities, Per Scholas has trained more than 17,000 individuals in tech skills, building bridges to careers in technology.

Per Scholas Phoenix launched in 2021, with its first cohort of Java Developers graduating in August. In 2022, Per Scholas Phoenix is on track to train 180 diverse technologists in the skills they need to succeed in a variety of tech roles including IT Support, AWS re/Start, Full Stack Java Development, and End User Desktop Support. Per Scholas Phoenix learners have a 100 percent certification rate in industry recognized credentials, and to date, 95 percent of graduates have gone on to full-time employment.

To learn more, visit PerScholas.org and follow them on LinkedIn, Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram.

J.T. Moomau joined Per Scholas as Vice President of Solutions Delivery in August 2022. He is a highly Certified Project Management and Business Operations Leader, with more than a decade of experience in the technology industry.

J.T. is proactive, solutions-oriented, and skilled in leading complex initiatives in process improvement and change management to completion in a highly technical environment. He is diligent and data-driven with a demonstrated ability to optimize efficiency and improve service delivery through transformational operations leadership in alignment with organizational objectives. Collaborative and consultative with a growth mindset, J.T. is adept at inspiring confidence and building consensus among high-impact teams.

An active and engaged member of the community, J.T. is passionate about advancing the principles of effective project management and leadership as a University Professor, Project Management Trainer, and sought-after speaker. He is a professor at Fresno Pacific University, teaching courses in Business, Change Management, and Project Management.

J.T. holds his PMP certification and earned a Masters of Science in Management and Leadership from Western Governors University.

Connect with J.T. on LinkedIn.

Allata (pronounced a-ley-ta) is a strategy, architecture and enterprise-level application development company focused on helping clients enhance or scale business opportunities, create efficiencies and automate processes through custom technologies.

We are building a different kind of firm – focused on doing exciting, transformational work for great clients and bringing caring and dedicated people to make our clients goals a reality. Our vision is to build an energized group of talented professionals that can stand strong on their own but work better as a networked team.

We enable business agility at the intersection of people, process, and technology. We provide solutions and expert services to assist businesses to become more nimble, transformative, and disruptive in their respective industries. We define vision, strategy, and value creation models for shaping strategic product designs, managing, and transforming enterprise delivery.

Just as strongly as we care about our clients, we feel that it is important to give back to the community and non-profits that we are passionate about. Every month, Allata donates 2% of our net income to a charitable cause our team believes in.

We live by our mantra:
Family comes first, clients are king, we take great care of our people.

Mary Kirk, a Principal based in Dallas/Fort Worth, contributes to Allata’s strategy practice and co-leads Diversity and Belonging.

As a resourceful and energetic Program Manager, she has a long track record of ensuring projects are delivered at the highest quality, within budget parameters, and effectively managing resources to quickly adapt to fluctuating environments. She is a strong communicator and influencer that strives to provide top-class services by focusing on business process efficiencies while leading projects, teams, and customers with the highest ethical standards.

Mary has expertly led medium to large-scale marketing, commercial, industrial, and technology projects across a wide array of industries including semiconductor, supply chain, automotive, banking, airlines, home warranty, non-profit, and waste management.

In her free time, Mary enjoys listening to music/podcasts, traveling, volunteering, Pickleball, and spending time with her family and friends. Mary has successfully raised two young men; who are now forging their own paths. Mary is a graduate of St. Edwards University with a degree in Business Administration.

Connect with Mary on LinkedIn and follow Allata on Facebook.

The PMO Squad is a full-service Project Management Consulting firm located in Phoenix, AZ. They have been serving clients for a decade deploying the best team in the industry to deliver Agile, Hybrid and Traditional Project Management solutions and resources to clients across the United States.

They serve multiple industries and support clients of all sizes from the local start-up to global Fortune 200 conglomerates. All companies have projects but few companies deliver projects successfully. Their Services include both PMO Consulting and Project Management Consulting, providing Direct Placement and Contract Project Management and Agile Resources, as well as Project Management, PMO and Agile training. Inherit within each of these services is our belief in People over Process and Outcomes over Audits. For us, everything starts with Purpose.

The PMO Squad believes in supporting our Project Management profession, Local Communities, Veterans and those in need. They were winners of the 2022 Small Business Awards, micro category, from the Phoenix Business Journal. They also earned the Platinum Medallion from the US Department of Labor HIRE Vets Program for their work hiring and retaining veterans. They are only 1 of 7 companies to earn this designation in the state of Arizona.

Joe Pusz, PMO Joe is an internationally recognized leader in the Project Management and PMO community. He is a frequent Keynote Speaker, Author, Project Management Innovator and was named the 2022 PMO Influencer of the Year, Americas by the PMO Global Alliance. Joe speaks on topics of Leadership, PMOs, Purpose Driven Mindset, the Project Management Journey, and a variety of other trending Project Management topics.

He is the Founder and President of THE PMO SQUAD, a Phoenix-based PMO and Project Management Consulting firm serving clients across the United States. The PMO Squad was named Winner 2022 Small Business Awards by the Phoenix Business Journal.

Joe is the host of the Project Management Office Hours Radio Show and Podcast providing Project Management Leaders a voice within our community. Now in the 5th season, the show has over 40 million plays and downloads featuring guests from around the world.

Joe is also Co-Founder of VPMMA, the Veteran Project Manager Mentor Alliance which is a 501c3 Non-Profit Organization assisting Veterans seeking to transition into civilian Project Management careers. He is the Founder of The PMO Leader global community. The community is the only global e-commerce community for PMO Leaders and teams to share content, gain knowledge, and exchange experiences.

Joe supports our industry having served as a Judge for the Global PMO Awards, participates with the PMI Executive Roundtable on PMOs, and is a long-time member of the Project Management Institute. He has been a PMI Volunteer, Sponsor, and Mentor.

Follow The PMO Squad on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

About AZ TechCast

AZ TechCast is dedicated to covering innovation and technology in Arizona and beyond.

Through the art of connected conversation, AZ TechCast’s guests will share their expertise, success stories, news and analysis about the region’s leading startups, companies and emerging technologies, as well as the latest industry trends and critical issues propelling the state’s growing technology ecosystem.

About Your Hosts

Zylstra earned a bachelor’s degree in automotive engineering technology from Western Michigan University.

Of all the experiences Karen has had the privilege of participating in over her vast career, she shares that Phoenix Business RadioX is a pinnacle adventure!

Connect with Karen on LinkedIn and follow Phoenix Business RadioX on Facebook and Instagram.

Previously, Bianca worked as Marketing Communications Lead at Proctorio, a learning integrity platform that offers remote proctoring software ensuring exam integrity for learners around the world.

Connect with Bianca on LinkedIn.

About Our Sponsor

The Arizona Technology Council, Arizona’s only statewide organization serving the technology sector, fosters a climate of innovation to enhance technology in Arizona.

Follow Arizona Technology Council on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram.

Digital Transformation of Operational Workflows E28

August 2, 2022 by Karen

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AZ TechCast

Digital Transformation of Operational Workflows E28

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Digital Transformation of Operational Workflows E28

In an increasingly digital world, it’s critical for business leaders to explore digital transformation, or the creation and modification of business processes, culture and customer experiences, to meet changing business and market demands. But where to start?

The July 2022 episode of the Arizona Technology Council’s AZTechCast podcast featured experts including Kristen Harder, digital marketing manager at ZorroSign, Steve Irons, president of DocSolid; and Tiffany Ma, senior solution consultant at OneStream Software. These leaders joined Karen Nowicki, president and owner of Phoenix Business RadioX, and Steve Zylstra, president and CEO of the Arizona Technology Council, in discussing the innovative technology solutions that are helping companies reimagine their operational workflows.

Throughout this hour-long episode, this panel of startup experts spoke about why it’s extremely important for companies to explore digital transformation to not only become more efficient, but to future-proof their continued growth and success. All three speakers agreed that the COVID-19 pandemic played a pivotal role in accelerating the switch from paper and pencil record-keeping to the implementation of digital solutions, like the ones each of their companies offer.

OneStream Software provides a market-leading intelligent finance platform that reduces the complexity of financial operations. OneStream unleashes the power of finance by unifying corporate performance management (CPM) processes such as planning, financial close and consolidation, reporting and analytics through a single, extensible solution. We empower the enterprise with financial and operational insights to support faster and more informed decision-making. All in a cloud platform designed to continually evolve and scale with your organization.

OneStream is an independent software company with over 1,000 customers, 200 implementation partners and 1,100 employees, our primary mission is to deliver 100% customer success.

Tiffany Ma joined OneStream in 2016 with over 13 years of experience in Corporate Performance Management (CPM) consulting services delivery.

She has led several workstreams for large-scale implementations as well as been the sole developer for smaller scale efforts.

Prior to joining OneStream Software in 2016, Tiffany had worked at UC Berkeley implementing Hyperion Planning and continued as their planning administrator.

Before joining UC Berkeley, Tiffany worked at Deloitte as a consultant implementing EPM solutions focused on Oracle Hyperion Planning and Essbase.

Follow OneStream on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

DocSolid creates, sells and supports the Airmail2 Digital Mailroom and Digital Records Room solutions for a hybrid workforce. Reliable, secure, direct-to-DMS delivery of digital documents is a best practice for leading law firms and corporate legal departments worldwide.

DocSolid’s patented Paper2Digital® solutions reduce the costs, risks and inefficiencies of paper records.

Steve Irons is the President of DocSolid, a market-leading provider of enterprise scanning, printing, workflow, and consulting solutions.

DocSolid provides patented, enterprise solutions that streamline paper-burdened business activities and integrate with line-of-business software.

Steve holds 12 patents, he is a thought leader about the intersection of paper and people, and frequently publishes and speaks on these topics for industry organizations including ILTA, ARMA, and ALA.

Steve has generated corporate investment ventures with HP, 3M and Iron Mountain. He is a Magna Cum Laude graduate of Northern Arizona University.

Follow DocSolid on LinkedIn and Twitter.

When the risk is personal and everything is on the line, Z-Sign or don’t sign! ZorroSign, Inc. uses blockchain for superior privacy, security, and compliance. The company’s multi-chain blockchain platform integrates digital signatures, identity-as-a-service (IDaaS), intelligent forms via AI/ML, patented fraud prevention, automated compliance, document management, user authentication and document verification. Organizations, businesses, and individuals around the world trust ZorroSign’s web3 solutions to safeguard the privacy and security of their digital documents, and provide an immutable chain of custody for transactions.

CEO and co-founder, Shamsh Hadi, is committed to advancing technology while advancing sustainability, and ZorroSign participates in environmental conservation through three key initiatives: First, the company’s web3 technologies enable a paperless life—transacting business and government digitally instead of printing, faxing, scanning, and shipping documents to collect signatures. Second, ZorroSign has partnered with One Tree Planted and is a proud sponsor of Million Tree Challenge. And third, ZorroSign’s platform drive the “Save a Tree, Plant a Tree” program, whereby ZorroSign will plant a tree on behalf of our customers every time they save 8,000 pages of copy paper.

Kristen Harder graduated from Grand Canyon University in 2021 and has been working for ZorroSign ever since.

She is a firm believer in understanding the why behind the what. So to contextualize what that means for her current stage of life, she is working for @ZorroSign to bring trust and security back into a world filled with fraud and cybercrime.

Outside of work you can always find her with a camera or a cup of coffee in hand!

Follow ZorroSign on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

About AZ TechCast

AZ TechCast is dedicated to covering innovation and technology in Arizona and beyond.

About Your Hosts

Zylstra earned a bachelor’s degree in automotive engineering technology from Western Michigan University.

Of all the experiences Karen has had the privilege of participating in over her vast career, she shares that Phoenix Business RadioX is a pinnacle adventure!

Connect with Karen on LinkedIn and follow Phoenix Business RadioX on Facebook and Instagram.

Previously, Bianca worked as Marketing Communications Lead at Proctorio, a learning integrity platform that offers remote proctoring software ensuring exam integrity for learners around the world.

Connect with Bianca on LinkedIn.

About Our Sponsor

The Arizona Technology Council, Arizona’s only statewide organization serving the technology sector, fosters a climate of innovation to enhance technology in Arizona.

Follow Arizona Technology Council on LinkedIn, Facebook, and Instagram.

Laura Hemenway With Paradigm Solutions Rob Buelow and Amy O’Reilly With AZNext

February 3, 2022 by Karen

Phoenix Business Radio

Laura Hemenway With Paradigm Solutions Rob Buelow and Amy O'Reilly With AZNext

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Laura Hemenway With Paradigm Solutions Rob Buelow and Amy O’Reilly With AZNext

Paradigm Solutions leads knowledge driven success through Technology and Business Transformation.

Paradigm Solutions’ portfolio includes Fortune 10, Small Business, Public, Private, Public Sector, and Non-Proit industry wide initiatives ranging from Assessment to Optimization to Transformation.

Paradigm Solutions LLC is a woman owned consultancy based in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Laura Hemenway is Founder and Principal of Paradigm Solutions, a consultancy leading knowledge driven success through Technology and Business Transformation

Laura’s broad and deep technical experience, strong business acumen, and lifelong passion as an educator and mentor power her success as a technology and business transformation leader.

Her technology career spanning roles as Developer, Business Analyst, Solution Architect, Project Manager, PMO Director, and Fractional CIO afford her the in-depth expertise to communicate, collaborate, and drive results.

Laura shares her passion and expertise as an Arizona State University W.P. Carey School of Business Guest Speaker, AZNext Contributor, and Title I School STEAM Mentor.

Connect with Laura on LinkedIn.

AZNext is a public-private partnership to address the acute need for mid- to high-skilled workforce in information technology (IT)/cybersecurity and advanced manufacturing within Arizona and across the nation. AZNext brings together employers, a Workforce Innovation Opportunity Act (WIOA) workforce development network, state-level economic development organizations, and industry partnerships, while creating a model for replication across the Southwest and the US.

Led by Arizona State University (ASU), AZNext includes three key innovations by creating: (a) modular, flexible, and progressively higher-skill career pathways in IT/cybersecurity and advanced manufacturing sectors; (b) new flexible ASU digital courseware (convert existing and new courses) on an innovative digital platform; and (c) next-level collaborations with employers and among industry associations and workforce development organizations to provide various training experiences.

Over 20 years of industry experience in project and program management, process design and improvement, program implementations, team leadership, and business and customer management.

Education:
Master of Business Administration, WP Carey School of Business, Arizona State University
Bachelor of Science, Business Operations, DeVry University

Amy O’Reilly is the Project Manager for AZNext at Arizona State University and works closely with industry and community partners to develop innovative work-based learning programs in high-growth sectors.

Originally from Chicago, Amy graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a degree in Journalism & Mass Communication, a minor in International Studies, and a TESOL certification. Amy taught English in Japan with the JET Program before beginning her career in higher education with Arizona State University in 2016.

Amy completed her MBA at ASU in 2019 with a focus in international business and marketing. She is determined to help all learners further their education with industry-relevent experience and knowledge of how to reach their personal and professional goals.

Follow AZNext on LinkedIn and Twitter.

E95 Bridging the Strategy-Execution Gap with Annmarie Curley

January 25, 2022 by Karen

Phoenix Business Radio

E95 Bridging the Strategy-Execution Gap with Annmarie Curley

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E95 Bridging the Strategy-Execution Gap with Annmarie Curley

In this episode of Project Management Office Hours, Annmarie Curley and PMO Joe discussed how a top-down and bottom-up approach is necessary to bridge the strategy-execution gap and establish environments where teams can be successful without burning out.

Annmarie shares how teams spend so much of their time reacting and firefighting that they are unable to devote any time to learning new tools or methods to change how they operate. “It becomes a vicious cycle that are nearly impossible to break out of, and results in team members who are stressed, overworked, and overwhelmed.”- Annmarie Curley

One major contributor Annmarie mentioned is the type of chaotic environment, she calls “duct tape leadership” — the patched-together systems that help teams meet short-term goals, at the cost of long-term stability and sustainability. The antidote to duct tape is intentional leadership– taking time to establish the conditions your team needs to succeed.

Organizations achieve their mission through projects — and the work that project teams accomplish is pivotal to the organization’s success. The project manager’s ability to lead the team and transformation is a critical element. However executive leaders also have a responsibility to set the stage for the team’s success, and to ensure that the work being executed aligns with the strategic priorities.

“Revisiting the Agile Manifesto led me to think about the Project Leader’s Manifesto. The work that a project leader does isn’t easy – they often are working under duress, and it can sometimes feel like pushing a boulder up a mountain. However, I firmly believe that to be effective, project managers have to lead rather than manage which is why I call the role project leader rather than project manager.” “Organizations achieve their mission through projects — and the work that project teams accomplish are pivotal to the organization’s success. Project Leader Manifesto focuses on people over process and placing attention on the power skills. ” -Annmarie

Connect with Annmarie:
Website: https://lnkd.in/enfMJ6XM
LinkedIn: https://lnkd.in/gQUHz4W
Twitter: https://lnkd.in/eFYh56Sp

Thank you to THE PMO SQUAD and The PMO Leader for sponsoring this show.

The PMO Squad is a leading provider of PMO and Project Management services in the US. They assist clients building and improving PMOs, provide Project Management Consulting services, deliver custom Project Management Training and provide Project Management staffing services.

Learn more about The PMO Squad – www.thepmosquad.com

Where do PMO Leaders go for Information, Learning, Networking and Services? The PMO Leader community has “Everything You Need to Become a Great PMO Leader”. One PMO World, One Community!

Learn more about The PMO Leader – www.thepmoleader.com

Annmarie Curley launched Newgrange IT Consulting, a management consulting business, in 2010 to help businesses accelerate their mission by effectively executing their strategy.

Her vision is that executives and their teams are aligned in real-time as strategy is being planned and executed, that leaders throughout the organization are empowered to develop strong, collaborative teams and establish environments where those teams can succeed, and that leaders and teams have the necessary project management and leadership skills to succeed in their role.

The Newgrange team assists clients by leading and supporting teams through projects to realize strategic objectives while optimizing the ROI from the investment, by galvanizing Project Leaders to elevate their performance leading their teams and projects to improve outcomes and accelerate results and by developing highly collaborative teams, creating environments where they can successfully execute their organization’s mission.

Annmarie Curley has over 20 years’ experience managing global teams and complex projects across financial, healthcare, Higher Education, and IT consulting services sectors. She has a track record of focusing on high-risk areas of a project or program, realigning projects that need rescuing, and delivering improved processes and technical solutions that result in tangible business value.

She is passionate about helping clients develop a culture of delivering the right results for their organization by aligning their strategy with execution and building strong collaborative teams to ensure that the initiative will succeed. She empowers leaders to step into their own leadership potential and establish environments where their teams can be successful through her project leadership and coaching programs.

Originally from Ireland, Annmarie moved to Vermont in 2006 after spending 10 years in New York City. She enjoys all the outdoors activities that Vermont has to offer and can be found on the ski slopes with her family in the winter and hiking and boating on the lake in the summer!

Annmarie has a BSc in Applied Computing from University of Ulster, Ireland. She holds a Project Management Professional (PMP) credential from the Project Management Institute, the SAFe Scrum Master (SSM) credential and Leading Safe Agilist (SA) credential from Scaled Agile.

ABOUT PROJECT MANAGEMENT OFFICE HOURS SERIES

Project Management Office Hours is intended to provide Project Management professionals a place to drop in and discuss Success Stories, Best Practices, and Lessons Learned. Project Management Consultant Joy Gumz has shared with us, “Operations keep the lights on, strategy provides the light at the end of the tunnel, but project management is the train engine that moves the organization forward.”

Each of us has a unique story to tell, but collectively we share a message that organizations who embrace Project Management Best Practices perform better than those which don’t. Organizations which align Projects to Strategy perform better. Organizations with Engage Executive Sponsors deliver better results. Organizations which measure Project Management performance outperform those which don’t.

During our Project Management Office Hours, we hear directly from Industry leaders how to make an impact in our profession. How we, collectively, will Advance Project Management Best Practices, One Listener at a time!

ABOUT YOUR HOST

Joe Pusz started THE PMO SQUAD to bring real world PMO Leadership experience to the consulting space and to advocate for Project Management through his blog PMOJOE.com. The old saying is “Do what you love and you’ll never work a day in your life.” Following this mindset Joe left Corporate America in 2013 to start THE PMO SQUAD and work with fellow Natural Born Project Managers to advance Project Management Best Practices.

ABOUT OUR SPONSOR

THE PMO SQUAD focuses exclusively on PMO and Project Management consulting. Corporate America is full of Accidental Project Managers running projects who haven’t been trained to be PMs. To help solve this problem THE PMO SQUAD is on the Leading Edge with PMO As a Service. PMO As a Service allows our clients to focus on their respective core competencies while THE PMO SQUAD delivers Project Management expertise. Contact Joe at 678-591-7868. Follow The PMO Squad on LinkedIn, Twitter and Facebook.

Where do PMO Leaders go for Information, Learning, Networking and Services? The PMO Leader community has “Everything You Need to Become a Great PMO Leader”. One PMO World, One Community! Learn more about The PMO Leader – www.thepmoleader.com

E83 Breaking Through Barriers with Erika Flora

July 18, 2021 by Karen

Phoenix Business Radio

E83 Breaking Through Barriers with Erika Flora

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E83 Breaking Through Barriers with Erika Flora

In this episode Erika Flora joins Joe Pusz in Project Management Office Hours to discuss organizational and personal transformation, defining your organization’s “why” and developing effective listening, coaching, and facilitation skills. Erika is President & CEO of Beyond20, an Industry Leader, Speaker, and Coach. Erika was also the Lead Editor of the core ITIL 4 publication on “Digital and Strategy”. Erika’s journey has been about exploring possibilities and thinking outside the box “We often make excuses for ourselves, that we can’t do something. Instead, think about the opportunity you have to change your life listening to others and learning new skills.” -Erika

Ask yourself this; are you a glass is half full or half empty type person? Maybe the glass is always full. Listen to hear Erika and PMO Joe discuss and whatever your answer may be, understand there are many ways we can learn in life. However, with learning comes barriers at some point and knowing how to overcome those obstacles will let nothing get in your way. So, go out there and push your boundaries today!

Visit https://www.beyond20.com/ to discover more about Erika and Beyond20.

Thank you THE PMO SQUAD and The PMO Leader for sponsoring this show.

Learn more about The PMO Squad – www.thepmosquad.com

Learn more about The PMO Leader – www.thepmoleader.com

Beyond20 is an organizational transformation accelerator that combines IT professional development and software development with expert consulting to help clients attain their most ambitious evolutionary goals.

We do this by focusing on the strategic shifts our clients want to make, not just the service management or cyber skills they want to gain. We apply our integrated training, software, and consulting methodologies – all led by industry-recognized experts – to craft skill-building solutions that reflect our clients’ ways of working.

We chart custom paths to success based on our clients’ existing talent maturity and organizational abilities, and we actively manage their progress along that path so they’re free to focus on their core mission.

The result is an organization that’s able to perform at a higher level, deliver more value, and keep pace with demand – goals beyond the reach of just training or consulting alone.

After starting her career as a microbiologist, Erika Flora became a Program Manager and discovered a passion for improving how organizations manage work and deliver great products and services.

In 2006, she co-founded Beyond20. She has more than 15 years of experience leading and advising organizational transformations, served as an adjunct professor at San Diego State University, and is a prolific writer and speaker. Erika was also the lead editor of the core ITIL 4 publication on “Digital and IT Strategy.”

Connect with Erika on LinkedIn and follow Beyond20 on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

ABOUT PROJECT MANAGEMENT OFFICE HOURS SERIES

ABOUT YOUR HOST

ABOUT OUR SPONSOR

Thiru Thangarathinam and Debbi Hertle with MST Solutions

March 26, 2020 by Karen

Phoenix Business Radio

Thiru Thangarathinam and Debbi Hertle with MST Solutions

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Thiru Thangarathinam and Debbi Hertle with MST Solutions

Founded in 2012, MST Solutions is the largest Arizona-based Salesforce CRM and marketing automation consulting partner. Based in Chandler, Ariz., MST Solutions specializes in the public sector, healthcare, higher education and nonprofit, has become well known for designing, building and implementing innovative technology solutions that help their clients achieve greater efficiency, enhance the user experience, and ultimately drive stronger business outcomes.

Thiru Thangarathinam is the founder and CEO of MST Solutions, Arizona’s largest Salesforce CRM and marketing automation consulting partner specializing in higher education, healthcare, financial services and public-sector solutions. He founded the company in 2012 and has built it into a thriving global organization that has become well known for designing, building and implementing innovative technology solutions that help their clients achieve stronger business outcomes.

Thiru is an accomplished executive and lifelong learner who is passionate about building an organization that leaves a legacy through the pursuit of its purpose, values, vision and mission. As a result, MST Solutions has been named one of the Inc. 5000 fastest-growing companies several years in a row, a Best Places to Work, and one of the Top Companies to Work for in Arizona.

An active member of the community, Thiru volunteers time and resources to organizations like the Phoenix Children’s Hospital and the Southwest Autism Research and Resource Center. He is also an active member of YPO, Vistage and Conscious Capital Arizona.

As leader of our human resources team, Debbi Hertle champions MST’s culture and the pursuit of its purpose, values and long-term goals. Her focus is to cultivate innovation, core values, knowledge sharing, diversity in background and outlook, and to provide opportunity for borderless careers. Debbi partners with employees and senior leaders to translate business plans into a people strategy tuned to accelerate business results. She is passionate about fostering collaboration, attracting and developing talent while creating solutions.

Debbi has 15 plus years of international and US based human capital experience with both private and public companies primarily in the technology industry. Throughout her career, Debbi has focused on growth strategies enabling businesses to scale to new heights of profitability and operation.

Debbi has a Masters in Organizational Development & Bachelor of Science in Information Systems.

Follow MST on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.