STEM Southwest Podcast

This week’s episode is a double dose of Fin Tech!  Join Bob and Shelly and learn about FinCon21, where money and media meet, and also hear from some of the interesting folks that they met and some great tools for your financial future.

Show Notes

Watch episode here

Ryan Ruff is Head of Fintech Relations at ASA, bridging the gap with the creators of tech and those who want to invest in the development of tech. He is leading the way to create a bridge between technology development and those who want to invest in the future expansion of important tech.

Jake Tamarkin is the co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of Everyday Life Insurance.  Jake is passionate about using technology to help people make their financial lives easier. Let him explain why he says that “Insurance is Stupid” and just what we can do about it.

FinCon21

Fintech Startup Competition

ASA

SpendPal

Everyday Life Insurance

A few of the financial apps that Bob and Shelly use

Acorns

Acorns automatically invests spare change and provides cashback rewards at select retailers

Bumped

Bumped turns everyday spending into investing by which users get fractional stock rewards when they spend. 

Bitmo

Bitmo rewards you for everyday shopping at major brands both online and in-store

Travel Freely

Travel Freely helps users navigate the process of earning credit card rewards for free travel

Be Greater Than Average Gift of Learning

Be Greater Than Average Courses

Be Greater Than Average Family Fun!

Be Greater Than Average A Semester of STEM Activities E-Book

Battling Bots League (Partnership between Be Greater Than Average and Electric Playhouse)

Contact:

Ryan Ruff

[email protected]

(801) 473-5749

Linkedin

Jake Tamarkin

(888) 681-3811

Linkedin

Twitter

Celina Bussey is a Specialist Leader at Deloitte and this week's guest on STEM Southwest Podcast.  Her rich experience in workforce development gives amazing insight into this deep dive discussion about the future of the STEM workforce.  Shelly and Celina discuss workforce solutions and innovations as well as the important and growing work happening at Deloitte.

Show Notes

Watch episode here

Celina Bussey is a Client Relationship Executive in Deloitte’s Government and Public Sector practice and serves as a subject matter expert for Labor and Workforce Development.  She has worked with state and local government agencies, higher education, and the private sector in New Mexico for nearly 20 years.

Deloitte

Deloitte - Internships

New Mexico Governor's STEM Showcase

A New Playbook for Talent, by Joe Ucuzoglu, Chief Executive Officer, Deloitte

Job-Centric Upskilling: The New Workforce Development Imperative, by Celina Bussey, John O’Leary, and Sushumna Agarwal

Be Greater Than Average Gift of Learning

Be Greater Than Average Courses

Be Greater Than Average Family Fun!

Be Greater Than Average A Semester of STEM Activities E-Book

Battling Bots League (Partnership between Be Greater Than Average and Electric Playhouse)

Contact:

Celina Bussey

[email protected]

Linkedin

Today's guest is working to ensure that the gap in the digital divide for Indian tribes is closing!  Catherine Nicolaou and Sacred Wind Communications are leveraging all of the resources that they can reach and then some as they try to solve this daunting issue.  Hear from her today about how organizations are partnering to make a difference and bridge the gap and what we can all do to make a difference!  Nicolaou is an expert in state regulatory and marketing, a member of the New Mexico Technology Council, and a registered lobbyist.

Show Notes

Watch episode here

Catherine Nicolaou is the External Affairs and Marketing Manager for Sacred Wind Communications, the state’s newest rural telecom carrier, which provides voice and internet service to rural and tribal areas in Northwest New Mexico on Navajo land.  As such, she interfaces with state regulatory officials and government officials to promote the company's public image and business agenda.  She also manages the coordination, review, compilation, assembly, filing and tracking of reports, tariffs, audits, applications, and petitions to state, tribal, local, and federal authorities, including state PRC, FCC, RUS, or any other governmental authority, while promoting brand recognition through the company’s marketing initiatives. Catherine is a member of the New Mexico Technology Council and the New Mexico Chamber of Commerce policy committees.  She is a registered lobbyist for Sacred Wind and sits on the board of the Cibola Arts Council. 

Sacred Wind Communications

Sacred Wind Communications - Careers; send resumes to [email protected]

Dinehnet

Lifeline Program

Sierra Electric Cooperative

Be Greater Than Average Gift of Learning

Be Greater Than Average Courses

Be Greater Than Average Family Fun!

Be Greater Than Average A Semester of STEM Activities E-Book

Battling Bots League (Partnership between Be Greater Than Average and Electric Playhouse)

Contact:

Catherine Nicolaou

Sacred Wind Communications

External Affairs and Marketing Manager

7801 Academy Rd NE

Building 2, Suite 103

Albuquerque, NM  87109

(505) 908-2668

[email protected]

Linkedin

Sacred Wind Communications

Linkedin

Facebook

YouTube

Today's guest, Dr. Rebecca Woodbury (Keller), is a scientist, chemist, educator, cyclist, and curriculum expert!  In this episode, she and Shelly have a great discussion on how to disrupt education and what needs to be done to provide a greater STEM experience for students.  Join them and consider what you can do to take action and help to infuse education with a love of learning!

Show Notes

Watch episode here

For over 20 years. Dr. Rebecca Woodbury (Keller) has been exploring the ways students learn.  Starting out as a research scientist in the field of biophysical chemistry, she left academia to create quality educational support materials for students and educators.  In 2003, she founded Gravitas Publications Inc. and introduced the Real Science-4-Kids product line for home and classroom educators.  In 2020, Dr. Woodbury branched out to launch a new company, called Nachokat, to introduce the RATATAZ STEM program as a way to introduce fundamental science concepts in easy-to-use activity-based kits.  The RATATAZ program incorporates several different learning modalities to get kids back to asking their own questions and playing like real scientists. 

Real Science-4-Kids (Gravitas Publications)

Real Science-4-Kids (Amazon)

RATATAZ

Sequence of Learning (RATATAZ)

Products (RATATAZ)

Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)

Make Just One Change, by Dan Rothstein and Luz Santana

The Talent Code, by Daniel Coyle

Be Greater Than Average Gift of Learning

Be Greater Than Average Courses

Be Greater Than Average Family Fun!

Be Greater Than Average A Semester of STEM Activities E-Book

Battling Bots League (Partnership between Be Greater Than Average and Electric Playhouse)

Contact:

Dr. Rebecca Woodbury (Keller), Ph.D

CEO, RATATAZ Science Kits

Nachokat LLC

[email protected]

RATATAZ

300 Menaul Drive NW, Suite 200

Albuquerque, NM 87107

(505) 207-8125

[email protected]

Facebook

Twitter

Instagram

YouTube

Please join us today as we have an interesting discussion with a repeat guest, Jonathan Firth, who is Chief Operating Officer at D-Orbit, an international New Space company with solutions covering the entire lifecycle of a space mission.  We first met Jonathan as the organizer of the Las Cruces Space Festival and met him again at a robotics competition while he was in the U.S. working with Virgin Galactic.  He was a long-standing member of the senior executive team that started up Virgin Galactic and we are blessed to call him a friend who has done a lot to support the STEM Southwest Podcast.

Show Notes

Watch episode here

Jonathan Firth has been directly involved in the development of the commercial space industry since 2004, when ‘SpaceShipOne’ reached suborbital space and won the ‘Ansari X-Prize’.  He is the Chief Operating Officer at D-Orbit, an international New Space company with solutions covering the entire lifecycle of a space mission, including: mission analysis and design, engineering, manufacturing, integration, testing, launch, and end-of-life decommissioning.  Previously he was a long-standing member of the senior executive team that started up Virgin Galactic, The Spaceship Company and Virgin Orbit, leveraging his previous business development and program management experience in the commercial aviation, long distance rail, mass transit, and oil & gas industries.

Jonathan is a mechanical engineering graduate of Imperial College London and holds an MBA from Henley Business School, UK.  He is a regular keynote speaker on space activities and the global space economy at international events.

D-Orbit

ION Satellite Carrier

Solutions (D-Orbit)

Las Cruces Space Festival

Virgin Galactic

97th Burning of Zozobra kicks off in Santa Fe

Be Greater Than Average Gift of Learning

Be Greater Than Average Courses

Be Greater Than Average Family Fun!

Be Greater Than Average A Semester of STEM Activities E-Book

Battling Bots League (Partnership between Be Greater Than Average and Electric Playhouse)

Contact:

Jonathan Firth

[email protected]                  

Linkedin

Facebook (D-Orbit)

Linkedin (D-Orbit)

Twitter (D-Orbit)

Instagram (D-Orbit)

Join Shelly and her guest today, Ray Sandoval, Director of Corporate Communications and brand management at PNM Resources, talk about key issues including sustainability and environmental leadership.  Ray also shares his love of Old Man Gloom, Zozobra, and explains the technology involved in lighting a fire to burn away troubles!

Show Notes

Watch episode here

Ray Sandoval is the Director of Corporate Communications and brand management at PNM Resources.  In this role, Ray directs the internal and external corporate communications strategy while leading key initiatives to benefit PNM customers and community engagement.  Additionally, Ray manages the external awareness on the company’s corporate sustainability and environmental leadership.  He earned a law degree from Boston University, and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from American University.

PNM

AVANGRID

New Mexico Public Regulation Commission

PNM whatif

Burning of Zozobra

Burning of Zozobra (footage)

Be Greater Than Average Gift of Learning

Be Greater Than Average Courses

Be Greater Than Average Family Fun!

Be Greater Than Average A Semester of STEM Activities E-Book

Battling Bots League (Partnership between Be Greater Than Average and Electric Playhouse)

Contact:

Raymond Sandoval
(505) 241-2782
[email protected]

Today's guest is no stranger to the STEM Southwest podcast.  Jill Meyers was a previous guest on Episode 66, and we brought her back today to share her experience as a VIP at the Virgin Galactic launch from Spaceport America.  Jill recounts her thoughts as she watched firsthand the history of making spaceflight and her close brush with Elon Musk.

Show Notes

Watch episode here

Jill Meyers has been in aviation her entire life since earning her private pilot's license at age 17.  She is an Aerospace Engineer, Air Force veteran, STEM advocate and mentor, professional speaker, and owner of Meyers AeroConsulting.  In 2019, Jill was elected as a Fellow of the Royal Aeronautical Society in London, the world's only professional body dedicated to the aerospace community.

Meyers AeroConsulting

Virgin Galactic

Virgin Galactic Launch photos (Jill Meyers)

"New Normal" by Khalid

Karman line

The Overview Effect: Space Exploration and Human Evolution, by Frank White

Thin Blue Line

Be Greater Than Average Gift of Learning

Be Greater Than Average Courses

Be Greater Than Average Family Fun!

Be Greater Than Average A Semester of STEM Activities E-Book

Battling Bots League (Partnership between Be Greater Than Average and Electric Playhouse)

Contact:

[email protected]

(505) 610-8851

Linkedin

Twitter

Instagram

This week’s guest is young and wise with thoughtful answers to questions we are all asking.  Join us as this STEM Rockstar shares his passion for leveling the playing field and building a place where kids can create and learn.  STEM Southwest interviews Andrew Proctor and reveals the power of youth.

In addition, Bob and Shelly share their plans for attending the launch of Sir Richard Branson into space as Astronaut 001 launching from southern New Mexico's Spaceport America!  Join them on Facebook live or in person at the launch on July 11 at 7am!

Show Notes

Watch episode here

Fictional Futurists

Fictional Futurists (Memberships)

Fictional Futurists (Donations)

Juntos

micro:bit

Cognimates

MIT App Inventor

Virgin Galactic Announces First Fully Crewed Spaceflight

Virgin Galactic

Be Greater Than Average Gift of Learning

Be Greater Than Average Courses

Be Greater Than Average Family Fun!

Be Greater Than Average A Semester of STEM Activities E-Book

Battling Bots League (Partnership between Be Greater Than Average and Electric Playhouse)

In this episode, hosts Bob and Shelly dig deep and share their personal commitment to connecting the STEM dots.  Listeners will get behind the scenes commentary on life, profession, and as always, all things STEM.  Join our rockstar hosts as they recommit to you, their listeners!

Show Notes

Watch episode here

Majority of New Mexico's STEM Workforce doesn't have a bachelor's degree

State STEM Report Cards 2019

R4Creating

STEM Workforce Pipeline

Be Greater Than Average Gift of Learning

Be Greater Than Average Courses

Be Greater Than Average Family Fun!

Be Greater Than Average A Semester of STEM Activities E-Book

Battling Bots League (Partnership between Be Greater Than Average and Electric Playhouse)

Contact:

[email protected]

(505) 715-7732

Facebook

Shaun Taylor, aka Nytfury FPV, and his wife, Teng Ma, aka JuneBug FPV, are professional drone pilots that have accepted awards on both world and national podiums.  Shaun is a world champion, 2xnational champion and 2xXDC champion along with numerous other awards. Teng has earned the title as fastest female and is a member of the USA women's FPV team.  Recently, Shaun used his drone to help rescue a dog that was wedged in a crevice in the Sandia Mountain Foothills.  Their love of drone racing is only second to their love for one another and their son, Max.  This married duo will share their knowledge of drones and show off their superpowers during our episode.

Show Notes

Watch episode here

In early 2015, Shaun Taylor was a firefighter when he started to fly drones on his off-days.  The drone racing industry was on fire and, in June 2016, after winning five of the biggest drone races between 2015-2016, Shaun asked his wife if he could quit his job in order to prepare for the 2016 MultiGP national championship and the subsequent world championship in Hawaii.  His wife, Teng, unequivocally agreed and Shaun quit his job that same month.  Three months later, Shaun won the aforementioned national championship (defending his title from 2015).  A month later, he won the world championship in Hawaii. Subsequently, Shaun signed with DR1, a premier drone racing league that aired on Eurosport.  The league lasted two seasons and Shaun’s team won both seasons.  By the end of 2017, Shaun has solidified his reputation as the most decorated drone pilot in the world, a title for which even the fastest drone pilots today have a hard time competing due to the lack of events.  Shaun became a dad in December 2018 and spent the majority of the last year at home (due to COVID-19).  Today, Shaun still enjoys flying drones with his wife at the park on a weekly basis, and plans to go back to the fire department for which he has been asked to integrated drones in future fire and rescue efforts.

Teng Taylor started to fly drones to spend more time with Shaun, and she started to progress quickly.  Teng also started to travel with Shaun and compete as well.  In 2019, Teng won the fastest female spot on team USA to compete in China and took third place at that competition.  This year, races are starting to come back, and Teng is excited to be competing again.

Shaun Taylor - YouTube Channel

Teng Taylor - YouTube Channel

Nytfury

Drone Racing League

MultiGP Drone Racing

Southwest Pod Racing

Be Greater Than Average Gift of Learning

Be Greater Than Average Courses

Be Greater Than Average Family Fun!

Be Greater Than Average A Semester of STEM Activities E-Book

Battling Bots League (Partnership between Be Greater Than Average and Electric Playhouse)

Contact:

Instagram (Shaun Taylor)

Instagram (Teng Taylor)