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Start At Zero episodes
- Capturing Sustainable Growth In The Public Housing Industry With Sean Gilbert
Although rarely talked about, the public housing industry is more than just brick and mortar. In its more profound sense, it is about community building and connectivity. Joining Abhijit Verekar is the Executive Director at the Morristown Housing Authority in Tennessee, Sean Gilbert. He talks about the process of modernization in housing, especially in this time of the pandemic, how to maximize public transportation, and how to connect residents with job opportunities effectively. Sean also shares his work on the technological side of housing, underlining the importance of embracing digital platforms not only to help in virtual education but making various services more accessible than ever.
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.26 min - Innovation through Document Management
Most people tend to become a generalist first before diving into being a specialist. So what does it look like when a specialist becomes a generalist? In this episode, Abhijit Verekar invites someone who is on this path. He talks to Christopher Liersaph from Union County, NC, about how he transitioned from being a document management domain specialist to becoming an IT director-level generalist. Christopher touches on the skills required in this move and what he thinks about innovation and applying that to leadership in technology. He also shares how they are doing during this pandemic, what strategies they are implementing, and what are the key things they are learning from this time to reinvestigate the pillars of their organization and improve them. Follow along to this conversation as Christopher further talks about transferring a business vision to your tech team, envisioning a smart county, utilizing social media for marketing, 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.33 min - Building Thriving Communities With Eugene Jones Jr.
The public housing industry must not always be about providing amenities to everyone. Instead, it must also be about building communities where people can connect with one another safely and sound. Joining Abhijit Verekar on how this mission can be integrated into the industry is author and advocate for affordable housing and national housing policy reform, Eugene Jones Jr. Eugene shares how PHAs take advantage of the power of technology to innovate their processes, making public housing even more accessible to the public, especially when providing information to nearby establishments and communities. He also talks about PHA's biggest challenges after being hit by the pandemic and how everyone can bridge the digital divide.
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.32 min - From T1 To Fiber Optic: Innovation For The Community With Greg McClain
A great city manager who pushes its city forward brings innovation at the forefront of what they do. Greg McClain, City Manager for the City of Maryville, Tennessee, is nothing short of being innovative. When he was at the City of Alcoa, he got rid of a T1 line and strung up the first fiber optic cable in the county, keeping it from being left behind. In this episode, he joins Abhijit Verekar to tell us more about what innovation means to a city manager and how it gets translated into the citizens’ daily lives. He takes us back from the beginning of that fiber transformation in Alcoa to looking beyond and translating a bigger vision to the citizens, partners, teams, and more. He also shares how he cuts through the noise of vendors, how he keeps his teams accountable, and what his most impactful project is in terms of technology. Ultimately, innovation is all about doing what is beneficial for the community, and Greg shows us why it should be the driver of any public servant.
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.45 min - A Day In The Life Of A City Manager With C. Seth Sumner
The job of a city manager, for the most part, goes unsung when talking about the scene of local government, but their impact is much greater than people tend to give them credit for. Their invisible hand guides steady progress in a city and makes sure that the day-to-day operations of a city go as smoothly as possible. C. Seth Sumner is the City Manager of Athens, TN. He sits down with Abhijit Verekar to talk about the responsibilities of a city manager to the people of their city. Learn more about this important profession that makes sure the government is always doing its best to help the people.
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 - Effective Leadership: Being Brilliant At the Basics With Kimberly Bailey
A lot of times, effective leadership entails stepping out of the limelight and away from all the glamor to be able to focus on building the best foundation for your organization to work efficiently. Kimberly Bailey, the Chief Information Officer for the City of Memphis, TN, is such a great leader. She has been able to lead her team successfully, even in a situation where everybody is forced to make a radical shift in the way they work. Kimberly is a model for the modern CIO – communicative, educative, and customer service oriented. She joins Abhijit Verekar on the show to talk about the modern CIO’s role and what the future has in store for it. For her, it’s not always about the technology; everything goes back to being brilliant at the basics, building a strong foundation, and letting the pooled talents of the team do the rest.
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.39 min - Leveraging Technology to Enhance Communities, with Theogene Melancon, City Manager at Dayton, TX
Internet and information technology are key factors that cities these days must possess. From various city departments to residential areas, the need for connecting everyone to the web has become a necessity. In this episode, Abhijit Verekar interviews Theogene Melancon, the City Manager of Dayton, Texas. Intending to use tech to make smarter decisions and processes for their city, Theogene talks about how they are taking cybersecurity to the next level, how they are hiring more employees for tech support, and how they are educating all departments about it. Be inspired by how Theogene weaves IT into their city’s growth as he shares their strategy for viable long-term IT.
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.34 min - Providing A Higher Level Of Service Through Innovation With Bob Wilson, Assistant City Manager, City of Johnson City, TN
More than helping you become more efficient and get a lot of work done, innovation is all about providing a higher level of service to others. In this episode, host Abhijit Verekar invites Bob Wilson, Assistant City Manager of the City of Johnson City, TN, to discuss how a smart city needs only to do that and not necessarily by having the latest and most advanced technologies. Here, they talk about how Bob is bringing forward innovation to the city, sharing how he deals with vendors when finding the software that fits their needs as well as translating his vision to his team and the citizens. He also talks about the ever-expanding role of IT officers and directors and being able to confront that as we move towards the technological future. Moreover, Bob taps into how he is adapting to the coming of the new generation in the workforce and how he keeps himself motivated after years in public service.
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 - Implementing Virtual Court Systems With Tom Hatcher, Circuit Court Clerk For Blount County, Tennessee
The term circuit court is usually applied to trial courts of general jurisdiction. Its core concept requires judges to travel to different locales to ensure wide visibility and understanding of cases in a region. However, with the current lockdown procedure right now due to the COVID-19 pandemic, physically meeting in court poses a challenge. Joining Abhijit Verekar and co-host Mike Caffrey on today’s show is Tom Hatcher, a Circuit Court Clerk for Blount County, Tennessee. Tom has been in the judicial system for 26 years. Today, he talks about how Blount County blazed the trail for many other courts in implementing virtual court systems or virtual arraignment systems. He also discusses how other county courts can get creative and partner with computer vendors so they can do what they need to do within their reach.
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.56 min - Building A Smart And Innovative City With Brian Platt, City Manager, City Of Jersey City, NJ
A city that thrives is a city that knows how to innovate. In this episode, Abhijit Verekar talks with Brian Platt about how he is fulfilling his role as the City Manager/Business Administrator and the Chief Innovation Officer for the City of Jersey City, New Jersey. He talks about what innovation means for cities and shares some of the biggest successes in his municipal career. Putting technology at the heart of it, Brian discusses how he stays on top of technology while maintaining a more collaborative approach with the residents and his team. He also gives his definition of a Smart City, along with his take on the fundamentals of long-term IT strategy, cybersecurity, 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.38 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.