The Hustle

Nu-Line Partners CEO Nick Tomasello sits down with Tri-Counties Building Trades leader Joshua Medrano on The Hustle podcast to talk about the construction industry, union apprenticeships, family business, and the future of the local workforce in Ventura, California. Joshua explains the mission to educate youth on head-of-household careers, keep skilled labor local, and build a sustainable funnel from high school directly into the trades.

They also get into what actually makes a successful career path, why the stigma against blue collar work left a generation lost, how artificial intelligence is pushing former tech workers toward the trades, and why local family businesses face steep battles competing against out of town corporate contractors.

Nick shares lessons from navigating the recession and growing his family's general contracting business, Joshua breaks down his own journey from college rejection to union leadership, and the conversation eventually moves from workforce development and corporate competition to high school football rivalries and Ventura pride.

⏱️ Timestamps

(00:00) Intro
(01:10) Meet Joshua Medrano and Nick Tomasello
(02:29) Nick's college years and the 2008 recession
(06:32) Starting at the bottom of the family business
(12:57) Evolving into a major general contractor
(18:39) Why local shops parallel union apprenticeships
(22:16) The pressure for college and the ditch digger stigma
(27:04) Joshua's college rejection and finding the trades
(34:31) Why the trades act as the ultimate career equalizer
(41:20) Former tech workers moving into construction
(44:23) The silver tsunami and the massive labor shortage
(52:00) Reaching the lost Covid generation
(01:01:55) Battling corporate contractors in Ventura County
(01:13:27) The essential worker shift and gaining respect
(01:24:11) Building company culture and promoting from within

👷‍♂️ Nick Tomasello & Nu-Line Partners
🌐 Website: https://nulinepartnersinc.com
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nulinepartnersinc
📍 Office: 3032 Telephone Road, Ventura, CA

🏗️ Joshua Medrano & Tri-Counties Building and Construction Trades Council
🌐 Website: https://www.tcbtcc-slo-sb-vta.org
📱 Follow on IG, FB, and X: Search "Tri-Counties Building and Construction Trades Council"

Get more great local Ventura County content at: https://vclocalsonly.com

🎧 Listen to The Hustle on Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

#SkilledTrades #ConstructionIndustry #VenturaCounty

Michael Buckley, owner of Ventura Meat Company, sits down with Startup Ventura founder and executive director Luke Erickson on The Hustle podcast to talk about entrepreneurship, startups, AI, venture capital, and the future of business in Ventura, California. Luke explains Startup Ventura’s plan to build a local startup accelerator, help founders access mentorship and funding, create high-paying jobs, and keep growing companies rooted in Ventura County.

They also get into what actually makes entrepreneurs succeed, why solving a real customer problem matters more than chasing the latest idea, how artificial intelligence is lowering the cost of building companies, and why Ventura could become a stronger startup ecosystem without trying to become Silicon Valley.

Michael shares lessons from building Ventura Meat Company, Luke breaks down his “start local, stay local” vision, and the conversation eventually moves from AI and economic development to networking, business relationships, ribeyes, and sous vide steak.

⏱️ Timestamps

(00:00) Intro
(01:10) What is Startup Ventura?
(03:35) How AI is changing the startup world
(05:50) Keeping talent and high-paying jobs in Ventura
(13:27) Ventura’s startup potential and The Trade Desk
(20:14) What makes a successful entrepreneur?
(29:42) The story behind Startup Ventura
(41:21) What’s next for Startup Ventura?
(45:02) AI, jobs and the future of business
(50:45) Steaks, sous vide and closing thoughts

#Entrepreneurship #Startups #Ventura #VenturaCounty