PACEing Your Future is a podcast from the College of Professional and Continuing Education at California State University, Long Beach. Each episode features inspiring stories and conversations from students, industry experts, community leaders, and business professionals who embody the values of being Proactive, Adaptable, Creative, and Engaged (PACE). Hosted by Dr. Pahole Sookkasikon, the show explores diverse career journeys — from logistics and tech to life sciences and education — revealing how paths are shaped in today’s fast-changing world. Join us as we PACE our future to face our futures.
Creating Yourself and Building YOUR Career with Todd Lemmis
Todd J. Lemmis is an author, HR leader, lawyer, impact investor/developer, artist, designer, and musician. His diverse background affords him a big-picture perspective for each project he undertakes. In this episode, Lemmis explains the importance of bringing your genuine self into every job. He also explains that as an HR leader, it is their duty to put the human back into Human Resources.
Learn more about Pacific6 Enterprises:
https://pacificsix.com/ (https://pacificsix.com/)
Check out the Human Resources Management program at CPaCE:
https://www.cpace.csulb.edu/courses/hr-human-resources-management (https://www.cpace.csulb.edu/courses/hr-human-resources-management)
20 Feb 2026
The Systems Behind the Systems: Industry Wisdom with Biju Kewalram
Biju Kewalram brings over 30 years of C-level experience across startups and global logistics firms, having served as CIO, COO, CEO, and Chief Transformation Officer. Specializing in digital transformation, he focuses on aligning people, technology, and process to drive change. In this podcast, Biju dives into his role in the Global Logistics Professional (GLP) program at CPaCE, his career journey, and his views on how major technological and workforce shifts could reshape the logistics industry.
Check out the GLP program:
https://www.cpace.csulb.edu/courses/certificate-programs/global-logistics-professional (https://www.cpace.csulb.edu/courses/certificate-programs/global-logistics-professional)
Biju's LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/bijukewalram/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/bijukewalram/)
31 Oct 2025
Switching Tracks: Rail and Supply Chain with Samantha Galltin
With over 18 years of experience in operations, business development, and strategic leadership across transportation, logistics, and maritime sectors, Samantha delivers innovative, results-driven solutions. At the Port of Long Beach, she led the Commercial Operations Bureau, enhancing the Port’s value proposition and expanding market share through strategic customer engagement. Her background includes key leadership roles at BNSF, where she managed industrial sales and port development strategies across the southern half of the network. More recently, she held executive roles at InductEV and Fleetzero, overseeing commercial operations, customer success, and decarbonization initiatives. Samantha brings deep expertise in rail and port business development, innovation, and electrification strategy — driving sustainable growth and transformation at the intersection
Check out the Global Logistics Professional Program:
https://www.cpace.csulb.edu/courses/certificate-programs/global-logistics-professional (https://www.cpace.csulb.edu/courses/certificate-programs/global-logistics-professional)
Learn more about Rail:
https://www.aar.org/rail-facts/ (https://www.aar.org/rail-facts/)
Check out Russell Kroese:
https://www.russellkroese.com/ (https://www.russellkroese.com/)
Learn about all things intermodal:
https://intermodal.org/what-intermodal#gsc.tab=0 (https://intermodal.org/what-intermodal#gsc.tab=0)
5 Sept 2025
Resources For Success and Career Development with Jaime Gutierrez
As Executive Director of the Long Beach Workforce Innovation Network (LBWIN) within the Long Beach Economic Development Department, Jaime Gutierrez leads the Workforce Development Bureau, which operates the City’s Adult Career Services Center and the Youth Career Services Center (aka Future LB), while advancing major personnel initiatives to strengthen talent pipelines. He provides strategic workforce and economic development leadership through planning, resource development, and investments in collaboration with business, industry, academia, federal, state and nonprofit partners. With 25 years in public service, Mr. Gutierrez most recently served as Chief Deputy Director for the California Employment Training Panel, where he managed a variety of complex, specialized programs. While at the State, he also held multiple executive-level positions and brings 13 years of workforce development experience, including five years administering the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA) for California.
Check Out the Programs Offered at CPaCE:
https://www.cpace.csulb.edu/courses/certificate-programs (https://www.cpace.csulb.edu/courses/certificate-programs)
Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act (WIOA)
https://edd.ca.gov/en/Jobs_and_Training/Workforce_Innovation_and_Opportunity_Act (https://edd.ca.gov/en/Jobs_and_Training/Workforce_Innovation_and_Opportunity_Act)
Long Beach Workforce Innovation Network:
https://www.longbeach.gov/economicdevelopment/talent-workforce/ (https://www.longbeach.gov/economicdevelopment/talent-workforce/)
22 Aug 2025
IANA's Influences In Intermodal Freight with Miia Rasinen
This podcast was recorded through Zoom. You will hear a Teams chat alert at 43:31 and 44:26.
Miia Rasinen (pronounced Raz-uh-nen) is the Director of Education at the Intermodal Association of North America (IANA), where she leads both in-person and virtual educational initiatives, including the Future Leaders of Intermodal Program (FLIP) and the Joanne F. Casey Scholarship Program, which proudly includes California State University, Long Beach. A lifelong advocate for learning, Miia has held various roles in the training and education space across sectors such as transportation, accreditation, and real estate, and previously taught middle school math through Teach For America. She holds a Bachelor's degree in American Studies from the University of Notre Dame and a Master’s in Instructional Design and Technology from the University of West Virginia.
Global Logistics Professional Program:
https://www.cpace.csulb.edu/courses/certificate-programs/global-logistics-professional (https://www.cpace.csulb.edu/courses/certificate-programs/global-logistics-professional)
Intermodal EXPO, Sept 15 – 17 in Long Beach, CA:
https://intermodal.org/intermodalexpo (https://intermodal.org/intermodalexpo)
Future Leaders of Intermodal Program (FLIP):
Future Leaders of Intermodal Program (https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fintermodal.org%2Fflip&data=05%7C02%7CAngeloJoseph.Ramos%40csulb.edu%7Cc6c1efae5a4b478d43f708ddd397c178%7Cd175679bacd34644be82af041982977a%7C0%7C0%7C638899370952838258%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=ZPpRtMavDRKX%2FqBvlcg7aLSkkAtJKrh4q5LkU7g9HC8%3D&reserved=0)
Joanne F. Casey Scholarship Program:
Scholarship Program (https://nam12.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fintermodal.org%2Fscholarship-program&data=05%7C02%7CAngeloJoseph.Ramos%40csulb.edu%7Cc6c1efae5a4b478d43f708ddd397c178%7Cd175679bacd34644be82af041982977a%7C0%7C0%7C638899370952855247%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=JCehKvzjafFm%2B7jvYOCNf0VCI8ZeEbnl8MkMjIAxaxg%3D&reserved=0)
4 Jul 2025
Community Development and Resources in Long Beach with Bo Martinez
Bo Martinez, Director of Economic Development for the City of Long Beach, discusses community development and resources in Long Beach, highlighting initiatives for business growth and talent development in this interview.
13 Jun 2025
Gear Up: Trucking, Talk & Talent with Matt Schrap
Matt Schrap, CEO of the Harbor Trucking Association, discusses the transformative period in drayage and logistics, offering insights on port congestion and sustainable freight solutions in this interview.
23 May 2025
Data Science: Your Seat At The Table with Jason Morgan
Jason Lee Morgan, education advocate and CEO, discusses how data science creates opportunities for students of color and combats math trauma in an interview about equity in education.
9 May 2025
Moving Forward While Paying it Forward with Willie Zuniga
Willie Zuniga is a prominent figure in the biopharmaceutical industry, known for his role as the emeritus president of Grifols Biologicals LLC. Starting his career as a manufacturing technician in 1979, he advanced through the ranks while earning a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from California State University, Los Angeles. Under his leadership, Grifols Biologicals LLC has made significant strides in producing life-saving therapies from human plasma. Zuniga is also dedicated to community service, supporting educational and workforce development initiatives in Los Angeles. His contributions have earned him numerous accolades, including being named Cal State LA's Alumnus of the Year in 2022.
For more information about Grifols, check out their Website:
https://www.grifolsplasma.com/en/home (https://www.grifolsplasma.com/en/home)
Interested in a job with Grifols?
https://www.grifols.com/en/careers (https://www.grifols.com/en/careers)
4 Apr 2025
Future Ready Workforce & The Looming Labor Shortage with Hannah Grieser
Hannah Grieser is a thought leader and influential voice at Lightcast where she aims to start important conversations on workforce development and labor market trends. With an extensive background in both visual and written communication, Hannah now focuses her skills on researching, visualizing, and sharing data on labor market trends that are shaping the future of work. Most recently, she co-authored the insightful new report, The Rising Storm: Building a Future Ready Workforce to Withstand the Looming Labor Shortage, which sheds light on the demographic shifts, social factors, technological developments, and economic forces that are driving major misalignments and talent shortages across the labor market. Through this report and her ongoing work at Lightcast, Hannah hopes to equip educators, employers, policy-makers, and communities across the U.S. to make data-informed decisions as we face the workforce challenges ahead.
Check out Lightcast's Website
https://lightcast.io/ (https://lightcast.io/)
The Speed of Skill Change
https://lightcast.io/resources/research/speed-of-skill-change (https://lightcast.io/resources/research/speed-of-skill-change)
Lightcast's Skills Extractor
https://lightcast.io/open-skills/extraction (https://lightcast.io/open-skills/extraction)
The Rising Storm: A Demographic Drought Report
https://lightcast.io/resources/research/the-rising-storm#download-form (https://lightcast.io/resources/research/the-rising-storm#download-form)
21 Mar 2025
Demystifying The World of Organ Donation with Tom Mone
Tom Mone is the Chief External Affairs Officer and former CEO of OneLegacy, the largest organ recovery agency in the U.S. Since 2000, he has led OneLegacy to significant achievements, including doubling organ donation and tripling tissue donation. Under his leadership, OneLegacy implemented numerous innovations such as electronic donor records, real-time nucleic acid testing, and the Donate Life California DMV-linked Registry. Tom also spearheaded the creation of the Donate Life Rose Parade Float, which has become a major public promotion of organ donation .
Check out the OneLegacy Website to learn more about what they do:
https://www.onelegacy.org/wp/ (https://www.onelegacy.org/wp/)
Look into the OneLegacy Ambassadors program:
https://www.onelegacy.org/wp/ambassadors (https://www.onelegacy.org/wp/ambassadors)
If you're interested with getting involved with OneLegacy:
https://www.onelegacy.org/wp/events (https://www.onelegacy.org/wp/events)
7 Mar 2025
Innovation At The Biocom Institute with Vicky Brannock
Vicky Brannock leverages over 20 years of experience in higher education program development, workforce development, and digital marketing strategy to grow the talent pool in California's life science industry. As a key figure at Biocom Institute, she ensures first-to-market access to top talent through signature programs and strategic partnerships in education and industry. Previously, she held senior roles at Brandman University and the San Diego Workforce Partnership, building deep relationships with workforce development boards and educational institutions across California. Vicki also writes and consults on the future of work, organizational structure, change management, and program design.
BioCom Fellowship Program
https://www.biocom.org/programs/biocom-california-institute/fellowship-programs/ (https://www.biocom.org/programs/biocom-california-institute/fellowship-programs/)
Life Science Workforce Symposium
https://www.biocom.org/programs/biocom-california-institute/life-science-workforce-symposium/ (https://www.biocom.org/programs/biocom-california-institute/life-science-workforce-symposium/)
Life Science Career Expo
https://www.biocom.org/event/Greater-LA-Life-Science-Career-Expo-2025/ (https://www.biocom.org/event/Greater-LA-Life-Science-Career-Expo-2025/)
Certificate Programs at the College of Professional and Continuing Education
https://www.cpace.csulb.edu/courses/certificate-programs (https://www.cpace.csulb.edu/courses/certificate-programs)
21 Feb 2025
Interview with Dr. Noel Hacegaba
Dr. Noel Hacegaba is the Chief Operating Officer of the Port of Long Beach, managing its daily operations and leading key initiatives like the Supply Chain Information Highway. He played a crucial role in addressing the pandemic-induced supply chain crisis with innovative solutions such as the first "pop-up yard" and 24-hour terminal operations. With over 26 years of experience, he holds multiple degrees from USC and a doctorate from the University of La Verne, where he also teaches. Dr. Hacegaba is a Certified Port Executive and serves on several industry boards, contributing significantly to the goods movement sector.
The Port of Long Beach:
http://www.polb.com (http://www.polb.com)
Internships and Scholarships at the Port of Long Beach
https://polb.com/community/education/ (https://polb.com/community/education/)
Global Logistics Professional program at CSULB
https://www.cpace.csulb.edu/courses/global-logistics-professional (https://www.cpace.csulb.edu/courses/global-logistics-professional)
5 Feb 2025
Interview with Dr Tom O'Brien
Dr. Thomas O'Brien is Associate Dean at the College of Professional and Continuing Education (CPACE) at Cal State Long Beach and is also the Deputy Director of the METRANS Transportation Consortium. He directs the California Local Technical Assistance Program (CALTAP) Center, or CalTAP, and previously led CPaCE's Center for International Trade and Transportation. His work focuses on logistics, supply chain management, and transportation workforce. Dr. O'Brien holds a Master's and Ph.D. from USC and is an Eno and Eisenhower Transportation Fellow.
Come join us as we pick Dr. O'Brien's brain on the subject of Global Logistics and the many career paths anyone can take.
IANA Scholarship Information:
https://intermodal.org/scholarship-program (https://intermodal.org/scholarship-program)
CPACE Certificate Programs:
https://www.cpace.csulb.edu/courses/certificate-programs (https://www.cpace.csulb.edu/courses/certificate-programs)
Who has been a guest on PACE/ing Your Future
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Bo Martinez
Matt Schrap
Jason Lee Morgan
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Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
1 ratings
Spotify
5.0 / 5
2 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 18 / 100
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Quality
23
Social presence
0
YouTube
0
Engagement
32
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