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Start At Zero episodes
- Design Thinking and Business Process Redesign in Enterprise IT
Everything we do in government is all about achieving quality service delivery. A lot of that can be achieved through process innovation, but it can often be a challenge when you’ve got a team of people who were never empowered to think outside of the transactional box. Mark Wheeler sees this as one of the biggest responsibilities he is called upon to shoulder as Philadelphia’s CIO. Possessing years of GIS-related experience, Mark brings in a proclivity towards innovation, as well as the top-notch leadership, communication and planning skills that all IT leaders need to have. He now joins Abhijit Verekar to share how he and his team are navigating the challenge of finding technological solutions that work to improve service delivery in their massive jurisdiction.
Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share!
Here’s How »Join the Rethink IT Community today: averoadvisors.com📅 Let’s Stay Connected:
Hit subscribe so you don’t miss our latest episode. We also go live weekly with more industry insights, so be sure to join us! And if you’ve got questions, drop them in the comments—we’re here to help!
Government IT Modernization and ERP Strategies for 2025: A Comprehensive Guide for Public Sector Transformation
➡ https://conference.averoadvisors.com/2025report
Top Public Sector ERP Systems: :
➡ https://share.hsforms.com/1ee49ru4aSpe3x4Byzuqifgeexml
Learn More About Avero:
➡ https://www.averoadvisors.com
Connect With Us:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/averoadvisors
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/averoadvisors
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/averoadvisors
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@averoadvisors
Connect With AV:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/verekar
(865) 415-3848 | [email protected]
©2025. Avero Advisors. All Rights Reserved.43 min - How To Become COVID-Resilient Through Shovel-Ready Projects
During the pandemic, necessity has driven a lot of change in many organizations worldwide. Many government organizations were agile enough to gather resources like CARES funding quickly to complete shovel-ready projects. However, others did not take advantage of this funding. During this podcast, Abhijit Verekar and Mike Caffrey discuss the basics of creating a COVID-resilient government organization. As the pandemic continues to take a toll, the CARES funding deadline has been extended. This extension allows more time to find shovel-ready projects, create long-term strategic plans, and execute projects that help your organization achieve desired outcomes for your community.
Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share!
Join the Rethink IT Community today: averoadvisors.com📅 Let’s Stay Connected:
Hit subscribe so you don’t miss our latest episode. We also go live weekly with more industry insights, so be sure to join us! And if you’ve got questions, drop them in the comments—we’re here to help!
Government IT Modernization and ERP Strategies for 2025: A Comprehensive Guide for Public Sector Transformation
➡ https://conference.averoadvisors.com/2025report
Top Public Sector ERP Systems: :
➡ https://share.hsforms.com/1ee49ru4aSpe3x4Byzuqifgeexml
Learn More About Avero:
➡ https://www.averoadvisors.com
Connect With Us:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/averoadvisors
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/averoadvisors
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/averoadvisors
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@averoadvisors
Connect With AV:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/verekar
(865) 415-3848 | [email protected]
©2025. Avero Advisors. All Rights Reserved.41 min - Internet Access & Affordability - Part 2 With Mike Caffrey
Even as advanced as the world has gotten in terms of technology, many people still do not have access to internet. Sometimes, it is just not available in the area; other times, it is not affordable. In this episode, Abhijit Verekar sits down with Mike Caffrey to continue their conversation around this topic. Mike discusses the results from his CBRS – Proof of Concept, sharing with us its success and the reasons for it. He also talks about who was involved in the project and how the technology is the potential of building a learning environment of the future. Shedding light on the process, he also shares challenges faced along the way, offering insights into what goes into taking on an important project that could help internet accessibility in the Blount County Community.
Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share!
Here’s How »Join the Rethink IT Community today: averoadvisors.com📅 Let’s Stay Connected:
Hit subscribe so you don’t miss our latest episode. We also go live weekly with more industry insights, so be sure to join us! And if you’ve got questions, drop them in the comments—we’re here to help!
Government IT Modernization and ERP Strategies for 2025: A Comprehensive Guide for Public Sector Transformation
➡ https://conference.averoadvisors.com/2025report
Top Public Sector ERP Systems: :
➡ https://share.hsforms.com/1ee49ru4aSpe3x4Byzuqifgeexml
Learn More About Avero:
➡ https://www.averoadvisors.com
Connect With Us:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/averoadvisors
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/averoadvisors
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/averoadvisors
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@averoadvisors
Connect With AV:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/verekar
(865) 415-3848 | [email protected]
©2025. Avero Advisors. All Rights Reserved.31 min - Public Housing Authorities, Systems, And Challenges That Get In The Way Of Efficient Operations With Robert Kornovich
Many housing authorities suffer from the lack of IT support, even the big ones. In this day and age, having the team and systems behind you could take you a long way. Host Abhijit Verekar invited for today’s show the Senior Manager at Avero, Robert Kornovich, who has been very involved in the Public Housing Authority Practice. Here, he talks about the challenges that often get in the way of efficient operations. He discusses how to manage the support process and vendor relationships, and why these are very important. Join Robert in this episode as he breaks down the necessary things housing authorities must keep in mind and more.
Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share!
Join the Rethink IT Community today: averoadvisors.com📅 Let’s Stay Connected:
Hit subscribe so you don’t miss our latest episode. We also go live weekly with more industry insights, so be sure to join us! And if you’ve got questions, drop them in the comments—we’re here to help!
Government IT Modernization and ERP Strategies for 2025: A Comprehensive Guide for Public Sector Transformation
➡ https://conference.averoadvisors.com/2025report
Top Public Sector ERP Systems: :
➡ https://share.hsforms.com/1ee49ru4aSpe3x4Byzuqifgeexml
Learn More About Avero:
➡ https://www.averoadvisors.com
Connect With Us:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/averoadvisors
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/averoadvisors
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/averoadvisors
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@averoadvisors
Connect With AV:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/verekar
(865) 415-3848 | [email protected]
©2025. Avero Advisors. All Rights Reserved.41 min - IT Modernization: Proven Roadmaps And Pitfalls To Avoid With Mike Caffrey
Am I spending too much? Are we behind the times and too slow? These are often questions that Avero hears from its clients regarding Information Technology within their organizations. Today, IT modernization means so many things to many different people. In this conversation, Mike Caffrey and Abhijit Verekar share their thoughts on proven roadmaps, pitfalls to look for and spend traps to avoid when it comes to IT modernization. It's easy to throw money at IT without seeing anything in return. However, utilizing a consulting partner to assist in revealing or validating your organization's concerns can save you from years of spending and inefficiency.
Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share!
Join the Rethink IT Community today: averoadvisors.com📅 Let’s Stay Connected:
Hit subscribe so you don’t miss our latest episode. We also go live weekly with more industry insights, so be sure to join us! And if you’ve got questions, drop them in the comments—we’re here to help!
Government IT Modernization and ERP Strategies for 2025: A Comprehensive Guide for Public Sector Transformation
➡ https://conference.averoadvisors.com/2025report
Top Public Sector ERP Systems: :
➡ https://share.hsforms.com/1ee49ru4aSpe3x4Byzuqifgeexml
Learn More About Avero:
➡ https://www.averoadvisors.com
Connect With Us:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/averoadvisors
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/averoadvisors
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/averoadvisors
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@averoadvisors
Connect With AV:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/verekar
(865) 415-3848 | [email protected]
©2025. Avero Advisors. All Rights Reserved.40 min - Internet Access And Affordability - Part 1
Access to affordable, high speed or ANY Internet is increasingly seen as a utility across the world. Most especially at a time where we’re all forced into our homes, bringing with us our work and even school, having the right internet access is a must. In this episode, Abhijit Verekar explores with Mike Caffrey, the Vice President and Partner at Avero Infrastructure and Avero Advisors, wi-fi zones, 5G, StarLink and Citizens Broadband Radio Service (CBRS). They break down each of these to help you gain insight into which ones provide the best solution for your needs. Plus, they also talk about the government’s role and how the COVID-19 changed the technological landscape.
Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share!
Here’s How »Join the Rethink IT Community today:averoadvisors.com📅 Let’s Stay Connected:
Hit subscribe so you don’t miss our latest episode. We also go live weekly with more industry insights, so be sure to join us! And if you’ve got questions, drop them in the comments—we’re here to help!
Government IT Modernization and ERP Strategies for 2025: A Comprehensive Guide for Public Sector Transformation
➡ https://conference.averoadvisors.com/2025report
Top Public Sector ERP Systems: :
➡ https://share.hsforms.com/1ee49ru4aSpe3x4Byzuqifgeexml
Learn More About Avero:
➡ https://www.averoadvisors.com
Connect With Us:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/averoadvisors
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/averoadvisors
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/averoadvisors
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@averoadvisors
Connect With AV:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/verekar
(865) 415-3848 | [email protected]
©2025. Avero Advisors. All Rights Reserved.35 min - Harnessing Government Technology To Make a Big Impact With Abhi Nemani
What many people don’t realize is that local governments are big enterprises that require good communication and coordination systems to work efficiently. A lot of the problems that cities face right now can be solved with the proper use of government technology and with the help of someone who has both the technical expertise and bureaucratic clout to make things happen. With his stellar performance as former CDO for the City of Los Angeles and subsequently as interim CIO for Sacramento, Abhi Nemani is an absolute thought leader when it comes to all things GovTech. With his new GovTech consultancy firm, EthosLabs, Abhi continues to accelerate good governance in dozens of cities by helping them harness the power of digital technology. In this conversation with Abhijit Verakar, he shares his insights on the systematic changes that local governments need to do to catch up in digital innovation and transformation.
Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share!
Join the Rethink IT Community today: averoadvisors.com📅 Let’s Stay Connected:
Hit subscribe so you don’t miss our latest episode. We also go live weekly with more industry insights, so be sure to join us! And if you’ve got questions, drop them in the comments—we’re here to help!
Government IT Modernization and ERP Strategies for 2025: A Comprehensive Guide for Public Sector Transformation
➡ https://conference.averoadvisors.com/2025report
Top Public Sector ERP Systems: :
➡ https://share.hsforms.com/1ee49ru4aSpe3x4Byzuqifgeexml
Learn More About Avero:
➡ https://www.averoadvisors.com
Connect With Us:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/averoadvisors
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/averoadvisors
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/averoadvisors
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@averoadvisors
Connect With AV:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/verekar
(865) 415-3848 | [email protected]
©2025. Avero Advisors. All Rights Reserved.53 min - Strategic Innovation In City Management: Pearland TX With Clay Pearson
The past two decades have been an era of hyper-growth for the City of Pearland, TX. For city manager, Clay Pearson, it’s just the right environment for his strategic and innovative mind to work. Having held the reins as Chief Executive Officer since 2014, he sees the need for the city government to be strategic and flexible in adopting information technology systems that allow it to keep up with the demands of ensuring quality life for a rapidly growing population. In this conversation with Abhijit Verekar, Clay shares the work they are doing for the city in terms of IT integration, his personal view of innovation, his definition of a smart city, cybersecurity concerns, IT in utilities and many more. Great things are coming for the city of Pearson and Clay is right at the helm of that journey.
Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share!
Here’s How »Join the Rethink IT Community today:averoadvisors.com📅 Let’s Stay Connected:
Hit subscribe so you don’t miss our latest episode. We also go live weekly with more industry insights, so be sure to join us! And if you’ve got questions, drop them in the comments—we’re here to help!
Government IT Modernization and ERP Strategies for 2025: A Comprehensive Guide for Public Sector Transformation
➡ https://conference.averoadvisors.com/2025report
Top Public Sector ERP Systems: :
➡ https://share.hsforms.com/1ee49ru4aSpe3x4Byzuqifgeexml
Learn More About Avero:
➡ https://www.averoadvisors.com
Connect With Us:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/averoadvisors
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/averoadvisors
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/averoadvisors
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@averoadvisors
Connect With AV:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/verekar
(865) 415-3848 | [email protected]
©2025. Avero Advisors. All Rights Reserved.31 min - Digital Innovation For Better Utilities With Gabe Bolas
Though they may not be as quick to pivot as other industries, the utilities are doing their best to keep up with the digital revolution. In the spirit of delivering more efficient, responsive and reliable service, utility boards around the country are adopting digital innovations in their systems and physical technologies. Such is the case of Knoxville Utilities Board, whose President and CEO, Gabe Bolas joins Abhijit Verakar for this interview. There is a reason why we take utilities for granted and why we really should – the utilities are such basic necessities to our modern lifestyle that excellent service means we can go on living without having to think much about them. Gabe intends to keep it that way, and he sees digital innovation as a way to do more of that for far less. In this conversation they touch on topics such as the Automated Metering System, Internet of Things, building a KUB app, the CTO role and the inevitable rise of the internet as the fifth utility.
Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share!
Join the Rethink IT Community today:averoadvisors.com📅 Let’s Stay Connected:
Hit subscribe so you don’t miss our latest episode. We also go live weekly with more industry insights, so be sure to join us! And if you’ve got questions, drop them in the comments—we’re here to help!
Government IT Modernization and ERP Strategies for 2025: A Comprehensive Guide for Public Sector Transformation
➡ https://conference.averoadvisors.com/2025report
Top Public Sector ERP Systems: :
➡ https://share.hsforms.com/1ee49ru4aSpe3x4Byzuqifgeexml
Learn More About Avero:
➡ https://www.averoadvisors.com
Connect With Us:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/averoadvisors
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/averoadvisors
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/averoadvisors
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@averoadvisors
Connect With AV:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/verekar
(865) 415-3848 | [email protected]
©2025. Avero Advisors. All Rights Reserved.22 min - Leveraging Innovative Technologies In The Public Housing Sector With Ben Bentley
The public housing sector is not just about providing livable spaces, but also ensuring a better quality of life for everybody. How are cities responding to this need with the help of information technology? Joining Abhijit Verekar to present the case of Knoxville, Tennessee, is Ben Bentley, the CEO and Executive Director of Knoxville’s Community Development Corporation (KCDC). Far from just being a helpful tool, Ben considers IT as a utility, something that everyone needs to thrive in this rapidly changing world. Learn how KCDC copes with the demands of their sector while working with limited funding and technological capacity.
Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share!
Join the Rethink IT Community today: averoadvisors.com📅 Let’s Stay Connected:
Hit subscribe so you don’t miss our latest episode. We also go live weekly with more industry insights, so be sure to join us! And if you’ve got questions, drop them in the comments—we’re here to help!
Government IT Modernization and ERP Strategies for 2025: A Comprehensive Guide for Public Sector Transformation
➡ https://conference.averoadvisors.com/2025report
Top Public Sector ERP Systems: :
➡ https://share.hsforms.com/1ee49ru4aSpe3x4Byzuqifgeexml
Learn More About Avero:
➡ https://www.averoadvisors.com
Connect With Us:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/averoadvisors
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/averoadvisors
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/averoadvisors
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@averoadvisors
Connect With AV:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/verekar
(865) 415-3848 | [email protected]
©2025. Avero Advisors. All Rights Reserved.21 min
About Start At Zero
From the publisher's feed
Start at Zero is a conversation-first podcast about what it actually takes to modernize technology, build a business from scratch, and make sense of AI without the hype. Episodes range from focused…
15-minute interviews with government leaders and tech founders to longer deep dives where I walk through what I'm building in real time - the AI agents, the automation stack, the hard lessons from 20 years of consulting.
The tone is direct and honest. I don't do scripted questions or softball setups. I want the story behind the story - what went wrong, what you'd do differently, what nobody in the room was willing to say. Guests should expect a conversation that feels like two people working through a real problem together, not a performance.
Topics include government technology, AI in the real world, entrepreneurship, consulting, procurement, and the messy intersection of all of them. Some episodes are interviews, some are just me thinking out loud about something I built or broke that week.
If you've got a real story - something you built, something that failed, a lesson that cost you - you'll fit right in here. I'll send a loose topic outline beforehand, but the best episodes happen when we go off-script.