Best Act Iac Podcasts (2025)

1
Empowering Communities: Christina Binhack and the ACT-IAC Gives Back Initiative 32:58

9h ago32:58

32:58

In this episode, we sit down with Christina Binhack, Director of Operations and HR at ACT-IAC, to dive into her background, experiences, and passion for nonprofit work. Christina shares her journey from the Midwest to the DMV area, her involvement with ACT-IAC, and her dedication to community service through the ACT-IAC Gives Back program. She disc…

1
From College to Career: A Talk with an Associates Graduate from IBM 18:05

7d ago18:05

18:05

In our final episode of the Associates graduate series, host Yohanna Baez interviews Lila Najmyar, a senior federal developer at IBM and a recent participant in the ACT-IAC Professional Development Associates Program. Lila shares her journey from college to IBM, the valuable experiences and lessons learned during the program, and how it has influen…

1
Building Networks and Skills: A Talk with an Associates Graduate from ABS Consulting 19:16

14d ago19:16

19:16

In this episode of The Buzz from ACT-IAC, host Yohanna Baez interviews Abby Cassell, a business development manager at ABS Consulting and an alumna of the ACT-IAC Professional Development Associates Program. Abby discusses her career journey from graduating college in 2020, navigating business development during the COVID-19 pandemic, to joining AB…

1
From Nursing to Business Operations: A Talk with an Associates Graduate from Akiak Holdings 31:07

22d ago31:07

31:07

In this episode of The Buzz from ACT IAC, host Yohanna Baez dives into the career journey of Olivia Henry, an early career professional who participated in the ACT-IAC Professional Development Associates Program. Olivia discusses her transition from nursing to a leadership role in business operations, fueled by the support and skills gained from th…

1
From Courtside to Capitol Hill: Dir. of Professional Development Sarah Hughes on Career Transformation 36:06

28d ago36:06

36:06

We have a different host for this special episode of The Buzz, Pete Tseronis, founder of Dots and Bridges. He interviews Sarah Hughes, Director of Professional Development at ACT-IAC. They discuss Sarah's diverse career across industries, networking, mentorship, and career growth. Sarah shares insights from her journey, including her work with spor…

1
Building Confidence and Connections: A Talk with an Associates Graduate from CGI 22:20

1M ago22:20

22:20

On our next episode of The Buzz from ACT-IAC, host Yohanna Baez interviews Paige Kowahl, a senior consultant at CGI Federal, about her experiences in the ACT-IAC Professional Development Associates Program. Paige shares her educational and career journey, which began with a pivot from chemistry to computer information systems, leading her to CGI. S…

1
From Intern to AI Sales: A Talk with an Associates Graduate from IBM 22:52

1M ago22:52

22:52

In this episode, Yohanna Baez hosts Mackenzie (Kenzie) Downes, a data and AI seller at IBM, to discuss her journey through the ACT-IAC Professional Development Associates Program. Kenzie shares her background, how she was inspired by her mother to pursue sales, and her experience working at IBM. She dives into her motivations for joining the ACT-IA…

1
From Aviation to GovCon: A Talk with an Associates Graduate from Leidos 21:06

2M ago21:06

21:06

In this episode of The Buzz from ACT-IAC, host Yohanna Baez interviews Ryan Cloghessy, a capture manager at Leidos, about his journey through the ACT-IAC Professional Development Associates Program. They discuss Ryan's career trajectory, the impact of the program on his professional growth, and the valuable lessons and experiences he gained. Ryan s…

1
Building Bridges in GovCon: A Talk with an Associates Graduate from the Wilco Group 29:12

2M ago29:12

29:12

In this episode of 'The Buzz from ACT-IAC,' host Yohanna Baez dives into the journeys of early career professionals in the ACT-IAC Professional Development Associates Program. Senior Digital Transformation Consultant John Rehm from the Wilco Group shares his story, from his communications background to his current role in federal contracting. John …

1
New V2X Technology at DOT with Grafton deButts and Brian Cronin 46:43

2M ago46:43

46:43

This week, The Buzz presents a conversation with Grafton deButts from Strongbridge LLC and the ACT-IAC Department of Transportation Federal Insights Exchange (FIE), as they sit down with Brian Cronin, the forward-thinking Director of the Intelligent Transportation Systems Joint Program Office at the U-S Department of Transportation. Together, they …

1
Welcome Our New Host: Yohanna Baez 5:41

2M ago5:41

5:41

Welcome Yohanna Baez: A Different Vision for The Buzz In this special episode of The Buzz, new host Yohanna Baez introduces herself and outlines her vision for the podcast's future. She pays tribute to previous host, Colin Larsen, and discusses her plans to explore broader perspectives, amplify diverse voices, and provide actionable insights. Yohan…

1
Grappling with AI risk in federal agencies 32:36

7M ago32:36

32:36

Artificial intelligence is rapidly spreading as its capabilities mature and organizations find innovative uses for it. It’s important to understand that AI comes in different forms, and carries with some unique risks. While those risks are manageable, agencies must be aware and ready to mitigate them. Moreover, AI isn’t a solution for everything. S…

1
ICYMI: AI, Innovation, and the Future of Government with Alexis Bonnell 33:48

8M ago33:48

33:48

This week, The Buzz presents a session from our Vision 2030 event. In this opening keynote session, Alexis Bonnell, the Chief Information Officer and Director of the Digital Capabilities Directorate of the Air Force Research Laboratory shares her insights on how government agencies can leverage technology to drive innovation and better serve the pu…

1
Farewell Colin! 16:25

9M ago16:25

16:25

This week, The Buzz is saying goodbye to Colin Larsen, who has produced and hosted the show since it began in the Spring of 2021. Colin would like to profoundly thank ACT-IAC and the listeners for their support through these more than 150 episodes. Don't worry, The Buzz will continue! As always, stay tuned for more from ACT-IAC. Subscribe on your f…

1
Replay: Civil Service in American Government with Donald Moynihan 45:09

9M ago45:09

45:09

The Buzz is going on a short hiatus this summer, so our releases will be less regular than usual. In the meantime, we'll be replaying some of our favorite episodes from the past year or so. This week, we're revisiting a conversation we had with Donald Moynihan, Chair of the McCourt School of Public Policy at Georgetown University, about the evoluti…

1
Replay: The Green Transition Dilemma with James Salzman and J.B. Ruhl 58:35

10M ago58:35

58:35

The Buzz is going on a short hiatus this summer, so our releases will be less regular than usual. In the meantime, we'll be replaying some of our favorite episodes from the past year or so. This week, we're revisiting a conversation we had with James Salzman and J.B. Ruhl, environmental law professors at UCLA and Vanderbilt, respectively. They are …

1
ICYMI: Creating a Medically-Ready Military at the Defense Health Agency 27:29

11M ago27:29

27:29

This week, The Buzz presents a keynote session from our 2024 Health Innovation Summit. In this fireside chat, Kevin Seeley, VP of Strategic Programs for Military Health at GDIT, sits down with Naomi Escoffery, Chief Accelerator Officer at the Defense Health Agency. Together, they discuss efforts towards modernization and innovation to improve healt…

1
ICYMI: How NIST is Responding to AI Development 37:12

11M ago37:12

37:12

This week, The Buzz presents a session from ACT-IAC's 2024 Emerging Technology and Innovation Conference. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) is responsible for developing and issuing guidance around the standards and measurements we use in all kinds of technological development in the US. In the modern era, this includes Arti…

1
ICYMI: Venture Meets Mission with Arun Gupta 53:46

11M ago53:46

53:46

Last week, ACT-IAC held its 2024 Emerging Technology and Innovation Conference in Cambridge, MD, where leaders and experts from across government, industry and academia met to discuss how government can harness new technology to improve mission outcomes. Our conference kicked off with a keynote presentation and fireside chat with Arun Gupta, a vent…

1
ICYMI: Resilient Infrastructure Work at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory 24:38

11M ago24:38

24:38

This week, The Buzz presents a session from our 2024 Resilient Infrastructure Summit. In this opening keynote session, Dr. Elizabeth Doris, Director of the Joint Institute for Strategic Energy Analysis at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), discusses the past, present and future work that the laboratory has conducted to assist in the U…

1
Accelerating Agile in federal agencies 25:50

12M ago25:50

25:50

Implementing new technology projects can be a high-risk endeavor. Agile methodology can mitigate much of the risk, enabling low-impact segments with the ability to roll back or alter course quickly. CGI Federal Agile experts Teri Musick and Heath Rasnake talked with host Pete Tseronis about how we can help federal agencies chose the best Agile fram…

1
ICYMI: Academic Perspectives in Resilient Infrastructure 51:20

12M ago51:20

51:20

This week, The Buzz presents a session from our 2024 Resilient Infrastructure Summit. This panel focuses on how academic institutions contribute to infrastructure change action through research, sustainable practices, and policy advocacy. Speakers will showcase university-led initiatives and their alignment with government efforts to meet national …

1
Dark Patterns and Ethical Design with Colin Gray 44:51

12M ago44:51

44:51

Have you ever tried to cancel an online subscription and ended up clicking around in circles trying to find the right button to press? If so, you experienced a "dark pattern" - a deceptive tactic of UX design that tries to trick users into doing something they don't want to do. In the online age, UX designers have enormous power in facilitating our…

1
ICYMI: Digital Transformation Strides Driving Citizen Experience in Government 36:39

1y ago36:39

36:39

This week, The Buzz presents a session from ACT-IAC's 2024 Digital Transformation Summit. This panel of fedtech experts discusses the progress they have made in their respective agencies to leverage digital transformation to enhance the citizen experience, focusing on policy and process impediments that can derail progress and how to overcome them.…

1
The Civic Tech Success of IRS Direct File with Courtney O' Reilly 32:56

1y ago32:56

32:56

About a year ago, we were joined on the show by Gabriel Zucker of Code for America to talk taxes. Specifically, a provision of the Inflation Reduction Act that directed the IRS to develop their own proprietary, free tax prep software for the first time in history. Since then, the IRS has been hard at work. 2024 tax season marks the launch of the IR…

1
A New Era for US Passenger Rail? With Robert Puentes 39:17

1y ago39:17

39:17

This week, The Buzz is joined once again by Robert Puentes, President and CEO of the Eno Center for Transportation. Last time, we talked about some of the challenges facing American aviation and the FAA. The intervening weeks have magnified some of this as Boeing, under scrutiny for a series of engineering failures, has started seeing some serious …

1
ICYMI: Shared Services Lessons from the Intelligence Community 26:54

1y ago26:54

26:54

This week, The Buzz presents a session from our 2024 Shared Services Summit, in partnership with the Shared Services Leadership Coalition. Learn more at sharedservicesnow.org. In this fireside chat, Maria Banks, Director of Federal Sales at Atlassian, sat down with Susan Dorr, Chief Information Officer at the Office of the Director of National Inte…

1
Replay: The Tax Software We Deserve with Gabriel Zucker 43:48

1y ago43:48

43:48

This episode originally aired on April 5th, 2023. As tax season ramps up in earnest, and given the good news about the IRS's Direct File Pilot Program, we thought now would be a good time to revisit an interview we conducted last year with Code For America's Gabriel Zucker, the Interim Program Director of Tax Policy and Partnerships. This interview…

1
Fed Future: The business of government in 2030 28:35

1y ago28:35

28:35

The future comes fast. 2030, a year that would have seemed impossibly futuristic not so long ago, is just six years away. The pace of change is fast and accelerating. As technology advances, users of government services want faster, more seamless transactions. How will federal agencies harness the power of artificial intelligence, connected devices…

1
From the Archives: The Roots of Government CX with Dan Tangherlini 54:14

1y ago54:14

54:14

This week, The Buzz presents a session from our archives. The concept of customer experience has driven business decisions in private industry for some time, but it's only in the last decade that CX, or citizen service, has become a focus of government. The creation of healthcare.gov in 2013 heralded a new era in government, one marked by an intere…

1
ICYMI: Don't Forget to Cyber 32:58

1y ago32:58

32:58

This week, The Buzz presents a session from ACT-IAC's 2024 Digital Transformation Summit. Digital transformation efforts often rely on implementation of new systems. This presents an opportunity to integrate improved cybersecurity policy from the ground up. Unfortunately, cyber is still often ignored in the digital transformation process despite it…

1
Virtual Reality and the Future of Medicine with Dr. Brennan Spiegel 39:38

1y ago39:38

39:38

While virtual reality has been around for several decades, both as a concept and a technology, it is only in the past few years that inexpensive, mass-produced, higher-quality VR systems have become broadly available. This has enabled more people to experiment and conduct research with VR software, and better determine its potential and use. The fi…

1
The Future of Federal Buildings with Elliot Doomes 27:00

1y ago27:00

27:00

Since the mass adoption of remote work began in 2020, there has been an ongoing question around what the shift in commuting habits means for American downtowns. What should office space look like? Where should people be living and working, and how do they get between those two places? All of these have implications for local policymakers, developer…

1
ICYMI: AI Acquisitions at the Department of State with Michael Derrios 26:13

1y ago26:13

26:13

This week, The Buzz presents a session from our 2024 Acquisition Forum, which specifically focused this year on AI in government. Our forum ended with a fireside chat between Susie Rainey, Diplomacy and Exploration Lead at Accenture Federal, and Michael Derrios, Senior Procurement Executive at the US Department of State. Together, they discuss the …

1
Modernization and Reform at the FAA with Robert Puentes 32:39

1y ago32:39

32:39

In just a few short years, the aviation sector has experienced the whipsaw of a pandemic-era travel freeze followed by a post-pandemic travel explosion. Like many other industries, our already complex air travel system has experienced some recent pain points related to labor shortages, technological failures, and governance challenges. Some are new…

1
The Green Transition Dilemma with James Salzman and J.B. Ruhl 56:58

1y ago56:58

56:58

As we've explored on this show before, the past few years have seen an unprecedented level of public and private investment in green energy, green infrastructure, and electrification. Between the Inflation Reduction Act and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, over $1 Trillion has flowed into the green economy. This reflects the urgency of the crisis…

1
ICYMI: Pursuing Greatness with Art Jackson 34:56

1y ago34:56

34:56

This week, The Buzz presents something a little different than usual. ELC 2023, ACT-IAC's flagship conference in Hershey, PA, opened with a rousing, inspirational keynote from Art Jackson about personal leadership. Art Jackson is a professional speaker and coach, West Point graduate, and former IT executive. Learn more about him at https://artjacks…

1
ICYMI: CX Progress at the IRS with Danny Werfel 41:24

1+ y ago41:24

41:24

This week, The Buzz presents a session from our December 2023 CX Summit. CX is a key component of the Biden-Harris President's Management Agenda. The 2022 Inflation Reduction Act appropriated an additional $79.4 billion to the IRS to assist in modernization and improved service delivery. In this keynote, Commissioner Danny Werfel details the challe…

1
What’s ahead for the federal government: Charting priorities for 2024 49:00

1+ y ago49:00

49:00

Every new year brings new priorities to federal agencies, technological advances to assess and incorporate and changing expectations among lawmakers, regulators and the public. As the holiday season fades and we get back to work with a refreshed energy, CGI Federal President Stephanie Mango and Senior Vice President, Strategic Operations Gregg Moss…

1
All About Tech Hubs with Alejandra Castillo 42:26

1+ y ago42:26

42:26

In August 2022, Congress passed the Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors – or Chips and Science Act. Congratulations to whoever came up with that acronym. The law authorized more than a quarter of a trillion dollars in funding for domestic technology manufacturing and development. It has been recognized as a key piece of the reigni…

1
Farewell 2023 with Dave Wennergren 32:24

1+ y ago32:24

32:24

This week will be the last episode of The Buzz for 2023, and we're taking the time to reflect back on a busy year at ACT-IAC with Dave Wennergren, our CEO. We review the major topics of interest for the federal government, how to deal with a rapidly-changing world, what ACT-IAC has been up to, and what to look forward to next year. Thank you, liste…

1
Best of CGI Voices 2023 11:59

1+ y ago11:59

11:59

It's hard to believe 2023 is at an end. CGI Voices debuted in July and published nine episodes featuring CGI Federal experts providing insight and guidance on various topics, including the rise of AI, successful transformation, sustainability, securing firmware and market trends based on our own Voice of Our Clients survey. In this final episode of…

1
FTX Fallout and the Future of Crypto with Hilary Allen 46:28

1+ y ago46:28

46:28

The last time we discussed cryptocurrency on this podcast in April 2022, both the economy and the technology sector were in very different places. Right around that time, inflation really began to accelerate, peaking at 9.1% year-over-year in June. The Federal Reserve pumped the brakes and hiked interest rates 5% in a 4-month period. The entire cry…

1
ICYMI: 2023's Leaders in Acquisitions Excellence 38:26

1+ y ago38:26

38:26

This year, ACT-IAC's Imagine Nation ELC was our largest conference ever, with more than 1200 in-person attendees! We also had more sessions than ever, and The Buzz is excited to bring a selection of recordings from this year's event to our podcast audience. This session features the presentation of the Federal Acquisition Institute's 2023 Chief Acq…

1
Why do Government Shutdowns Happen? with Philip Joyce 50:38

1+ y ago50:38

50:38

This fall, our federal government has teetered on the edge of shutdown more than once before a last-minute agreement could be reached. As of this episode, yet another Continuing Resolution has extended the day of reckoning to either mid-January or early February, depending on the agency. Unfortunately, this is not the first time discord in Congress…

1
Building partnerships: How government and industry can collaborate for success 28:33

1+ y ago28:33

28:33

In the second part of their conversation with host Pete Tseronis, CGI’s Bob Barr and Sandy Bushue reflect on their time in federal agencies and their interactions with contractors. Communication between government and industry can be tricky, and it’s important to understand what everyone in the equation needs to get out of the partnership. Bob and …

1
ICYMI: Kiran Ahuja on the Future at OPM 29:55

1+ y ago29:55

29:55

This year, ACT-IAC's Imagine Nation ELC was our largest conference ever, with more than 1200 in-person attendees! We also had more sessions than ever, and The Buzz is excited to bring a selection of recordings from this year's event to our podcast audience. We're kicking things off with a lively discussion between OPM Director Kiran Ahuja and her c…

1
Federal Insights Exchange: Acquisitions at the VA with Dr. Angela Billups 35:09

1+ y ago35:09

35:09

This week, the Buzz is partnering with ACT-IAC's Federal Insights Exchange (FIE). The FIE program hosts short-form conversations between industry and agency leaders to share success stories, challenges, and priorities. Our guest host Dr. Allan Burman, President of Jefferson Solutions at the Jefferson Consulting Group and member of the Department of…

1
Securing the forgotten risk vector: firmware 48:09

1+ y ago48:09

48:09

Firmware is ubiquitous in any IT environment. The code—usually hardwired onto a microchip—bridges the hardware and software in any computer, including Internet of Things devices and other surprising places. Because it is hidden and because it can be difficult to update, many IT organizations pay little attention to developing cybersecurity strategi…

1
Closing the Digital Divide for the Quinault Indian Nation with Tyson Johnston 43:31

1+ y ago43:31

43:31

Among America's Indigenous communities, the legacy of settler colonialism has left deep scars. As they confront disparities in health outcomes, economic development, and political attention, Tribal governments must routinely do more with less to provide necessary services to their people. In addition, accelerating resilient infrastructure threatens…

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