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Start At Zero
Start At Zero episodes
- Enhancing The Level Of Service To Build A Great Community With Eric Stuckey, City Administrator, City of Franklin, TN
City managers and administrators are the key people who connect elected leadership and professional staff to serve a community well. That is why taking on this job is no easy feat. Fortunately, with great people on the position, the vision to serve and build a great community is within reach. Eric Stuckey, City Administrator of the City of Franklin, TN, speaks with host, Abhijit Verekar, about the things they have been doing at Franklin. He talks about his thoughts on innovation and keeping up with the newest technology, especially with making services more accessible to the community. On handling his people, Eric shares his leadership style and the way he drives his vision forward and translates it to the language of different teams. He then shares his definition of a smart city, highlighting the use of technology not for technology’s sake but for delivering a higher level of service and building a great community.
Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share!
Join the Rethink IT Community today at 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 - The Smart City: How Technology Can Be Utilized In Public Service With Rick Cole
In this technological world, the public sector should find the smartest ways to leverage the latest technology in its efforts to extend quality service to its constituents. What differentiates a smart city from others is not its possession of the most sophisticated technological advancements, but its way of figuring out how to efficiently use what is available to it. In this episode, Abhijit Verekar taps into Rick Cole’s rich experience as a public servant in California for many decades. Rick served as the City Manager for Santa Monica from 2015 to 2020. He has held other public posts, including that of Deputy Mayor for the City of Los Angeles from 2013 to 2015 and Mayor of the City of Pasadena.
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.1 hr 1 min - Bringing Innovation To Airports With Trevis Gardner, Vice President Operations and CIO
When organizations or cities innovate, more often than not, the reason is to provide a better experience for the people. Taking this to one of the busiest facilities in any parts of the world, Abhijit Verekar talks to Trevis Gardner, the Vice President of Operations for the Metropolitan Knoxville Airport Authority in Knoxville, Tennessee and the CIO for the Airport Authority. Here, Trevis shares with us how he spearheaded airport innovation in his city, giving us a view of their projects, which aim to help end-users, and the tools they use to help their teams navigate. Speaking as a leader pushing for a long term strategy for technology, he then discusses how he finds the balance between risk-taking and risk-averse. Trevis further gives out some words of wisdom for those who want to incorporate technology into their business strategy.
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 - Navigating The Journey To City Management Through Civic Technology And Problem Solving With Noel Bernal
In this episode we will follow the journey of Noel Bernal into becoming the City Manager of Brownsville, Texas. Noel was really working and focusing on helping people to make an impact and serve which is why he decided to become an attorney. As one of the requirements of his political science, he came across public administration. The course really stood out with him so he decided to change to this course and take a master’s degree. Join us as Noel shares how he is handling matters and managing the largest city in the south Texas region!
Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share!
- Here’s How »
Join the Rethink IT Community today:
- averoadvisors.com
45 min - Create Simple Cybersecurity Solutions With Cybersecurity Professional James Leslie
Creating simple cybersecurity solutions is important so people will use them. Abhijit Verekar presents James Leslie, a cybersecurity professional and the Chief Information Officer at Cambridge Housing Authority. What people need right now are solutions, not tools. Because they may have all the tools they need but not know how to use them. That’s why human-focused, in-user training is crucial. Another way to simplify the process is to use password-less authentication. It’s a long-term solution that makes everybody’s life easier. Want to know more about cybersecurity strategies? Join in the conversation.
Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share!
- Here’s How »
Join the Rethink IT Community today:
- averoadvisors.com
31 min - Transformation Through Technology: Reaching Operational Sufficiency By Leveraging Tech With Ivory Mathews
How do you take a system inundated with outdated technology and bring it back to efficiency? You begin a transformation through technology, that’s how. In this episode, Abhijit Verekar gets into an informative conversation with Ivory Mathews, CEO of Columbia Housing, about transforming an antiquated system into a modern, efficient one. Ivory shares the experiences that led to her coming to work with Columbia Housing and how they are turning an antiquated system into a world-class one using technology. Interested in the transformations that can be done for your organization? Then tune in for more.
Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share!
- Here’s How »
Join the Rethink IT Community today:
- averoadvisors.com
28 min - Cybersecurity & Enterprise Risk For Executives With Robert Kornovich
Cybersecurity and enterprise risk may sound like business buzzwords, but they are absolutely crucial to the stability of businesses. With the continuing rise of cyberattacks on businesses, not having a cybersecurity plan is setting yourself up for failure. In this episode, Abhijit Verekar discusses these two crucial elements with Avero Advisors’ Senior Manager, Robert Kornovich. With over two decades of experience in IT strategic planning, Robert has a lot of insights to share on cybersecurity, risk mitigation and why education and engagement are critical. Gain more valuable insights and information by tuning in to this episode.
Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share!
- Here’s How »
Join the Rethink IT Community today:
- averoadvisors.com
45 min - Seeing Through The Noise Of Government IT With Joe LaCroix
Internally, the noise is always going to be there in the Government IT—every department has its say. How do you cut through the noise? Today’s guest is Joe LaCroix, the IT Director in the town of Farragut, Tennessee. Joe discusses with Abhijit Verekar how talking to the executive management about the goals of the entire town is an essential first step. Then you try to put the pieces in place for the individual departments. On top of it all, having a managed service provider model to partner with is a tremendous advantage. Join in the conversation and find out crucial differences between government IT and the private sector.
Love the show? Subscribe, rate, review, and share!
- Here’s How »
Join the Rethink IT Community today:
- averoadvisors.com
30 min - 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!
- Here’s How »
Join the Rethink IT Community today:
- averoadvisors.com
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!
- Here’s How »
Join the Rethink IT Community today:
- averoadvisors.com
33 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.