In this episode of 87:60, BJ Kito sits down with A.M. Bhatt, Founder of DAE and U of Next and Mostafa Analoui, Director of the M&T Bank Center of Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Quinnipiac University. They discuss the state of workforce development in Connecticut, the factors holding back the effectiveness of workforce training, and the state’s economic disparities. Bhatt and Analoui argue that most programs focus on preparing people for specific jobs rather than teaching them how to navigate a constantly changing career landscape. The conversation explores the idea of learning through failure and the need for a shift in policy philosophy that puts human equity first.

In this episode of 87:60, BJ Kito sits down with Jon Feld, Associate Creative Director at Rebellion Group, to discuss Feld’s publishing roots, dealing with various personalities in the workplace, and the impact of AI on the creative field. They compare the current technological shift to the emergence of the web in 1999, and point out that the value in AI comes from user expertise. The conversation touches on empathy as a core tenet, the importance of being a versatile team member, and the belief that “perfection is the enemy of good.”

In this episode of 87:60, BJ Kito sits down with James Dowd, Elena Anetrella, and Samantha Manz to talk about AI as a tool for enhancement, regional economic challenges, and the resistance to adopting artificial intelligence into everyday life. The conversation explores how AI can be used to enhance human skills, comparing it to historical inventions like the calculator and abacus. The ethical debate surrounding AI-generated content is discussed, along with projections that by 2030, about 1.5 million people could be displaced from their jobs if they do not start using AI to upskill.

In this episode of 87:60, BJ Kito sits down with James Dowd, Chief Operations Officer and Chief Creative Officer at Rebellion Group, to talk about AI’s impact on jobs and innovation, brand integrity, and future strategy. They highlight the current state of AI adoption in workplaces, the importance of brands focusing on humanity, and the nuances required for a successful business to succeed. The conversation explores Agent XQ (an internal project developed to move beyond generic output), machine learning vs. artificial intelligence, and the factors required to move forward in an AI-saturated environment.

In this episode of 87:60, BJ Kito sits down with Erin Choquette, CEO of CT Paid Leave, to discuss the many factors that shape the program and its impact on employers and employees alike. An employment lawyer by training, Erin spent years representing employers before stepping into her role at CT Paid Leave. The conversation touches on the challenge of “employer fatigue,” operational benefits of paid leave, and the general scope of the program.

In this episode of 87:60, BJ Kito sits down with Lisa Jacobi, Senior Vice President and Chief HR Officer at COCC (Connecticut Online Computer Center), to discuss the company’s rebrand, common recruitment challenges, and its focus on internal talent pipelines. COCC is a long-standing technology service provider for community banks and credit unions. Jacobi touches on the company’s impressive achievements: being recognized as a “Top Workplace” by the Hartford Courant for 16 consecutive years, as well as receiving the Great Place to Work® certification The conversation explores the shift toward skill-based hiring, the importance of fostering employee engagement, and the Connecticut talent gap.

In this episode of 87:60, BJ Kito sits down with Andy Pforzheimer, founder and former CEO of bartaco and Barcelona Wine Bar, to talk about his journey from working in a restaurant to building two businesses from the ground up. Andy discusses his experience with successfully scaling restaurants, what he thinks makes a “decent human being,” and the business fallacy that is quantity over quality. His original plan didn’t include expansion and happened naturally as the restaurant refined their model by focusing on a specific, well-executed concept. The conversation explores the value of fostering a viable work environment, recognizing your business demographic, and the issue with transactionalizing hospitality.

In this episode of 87:60, BJ Kito sits down with Kyle DeVivo, Chief Operating Officer of DATTCO, alongside his father, Don DeVivo, President of DATTCO, to talk about what it really takes to modernize a business without losing a people-first philosophy. Kyle highlights his family’s humble beginnings running a dairy farm—crediting this experience as the foundation for DATTCO’s direct, family-first approach. From implementing fully online booking capabilities to AI-driven safety systems, Kyle details how their business is using emerging technologies to assist employees, not replace them. Together, the conversation explores the value of fostering a family-like atmosphere, building scalable strategies, and leveraging tools like AI while keeping people at the center of the business.