Square Pizza

SchermCo
  • 5.0 (36)
  • EDUCATION
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

The Square Pizza podcast focuses on the intersection of education, innovation, and diversity. We host and interview leaders doing incredible work around the country to ensure all students have access to an equitable education. The Square Pizza podcast is hosted by SchermCo, a social-impact implementation firm that offers strategic implementation and project management services to schools and education-focused organizations across the country.

  1. DEC 12

    Danielle Frazier, Special Assistant to the City Manager for Workforce Development - City of Charlotte

    GIVEAWAY - send us a message and let us know your favorite thing about the Square Pizza Pod. We are giving away SchermCo swag to the first three people that send us a note! On this episode of the Square Pizza Pod, Greg sits down with Danielle Frazier, Special Assistant to the City Manager for Workforce Development in the City of Charlotte and longtime girls flag football coach. They talk about what it really takes to build pathways to good jobs, why a one cent sales tax for transportation is actually a mobility and opportunity strategy, and how a career that started in one local organization has grown into national leadership. From coaching high school flag football and renovating bathrooms with her dad to helping design Charlotte’s first Office of Workforce Development and chairing the United States Conference of Mayors Workforce Development Council, Danielle shares a grounded, hopeful view of what is possible when cities, schools, employers, and residents pull in the same direction. In this episode, you will hear: How growing up in a football family and coaching girls flag football shapes Danielle’s leadership with young people and teamsA clear, accessible definition of workforce development and how Charlotte’s new Office of Workforce Development and strategic plan are bringing that vision to lifeWhat Charlotte’s historic transportation and mobility investment could mean for thousands of future jobs in construction, skilled trades, professional services, and small businessesHow the Education to Employment initiative with Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools is creating direct pathways from high school graduation into full-time roles with the City of CharlotteWhy employer engagement and emerging tools like artificial intelligence are becoming essential to a healthy, future-ready workforce ecosystemIf you care about economic mobility, public investment, or connecting young people and adults to meaningful work in growing cities, this is a conversation you will want to hear. Support the show

    39 min

  2. NOV 21

    Erica Mitchell, Chief Executive Officer - United Way of Greater Nashville

    GIVEAWAY - send us a message and let us know your favorite thing about the Square Pizza Pod. We are giving away SchermCo swag to the first three people that send us a note! In this episode of the Square Pizza Pod, Greg welcomes Erica Mitchell, Chief Executive Officer of United Way of Greater Nashville, for a candid conversation about leading regional change at the intersection of poverty, philanthropy, and community power. From what was supposed to be a two-year stop at United Way to more than fifteen years of growing responsibility, Erica reflects on how the work has evolved as Nashville has exploded in size and complexity. She shares how her team is moving beyond traditional workplace giving to focus on workforce pathways, neighborhood-based partnerships, and efforts like the Fifth Third Neighborhood Initiative in North Nashville that are designed with, not just for, community members. In this episode, you will hear: How a short-term role at United Way became a long-term calling to serve the regionWhat it really takes to prevent and alleviate poverty in a fast-growing cityLessons from navigating multiple nonprofit mergers—and what leaders often underestimateHow the merger with Hands On Nashville is reshaping volunteer engagement and community responseWhy affordable child care sits at the center of economic mobility for familiesHow Erica approaches leading a one-hundred-person team and a forty-plus-member boardWhy she is cautiously optimistic about artificial intelligence and what questions leaders should be asking nowIf you care about community, equity, or building stronger cities through real partnership, this is an episode you will not want to miss. Support the show

    38 min

  3. NOV 7

    Shaka Mitchell, Senior Fellow, American Federation for Children

    GIVEAWAY - send us a message and let us know your favorite thing about the Square Pizza Pod. We are giving away SchermCo swag to the first three people that send us a note! In this episode of the Square Pizza Pod, Greg welcomes Shaka Mitchell, educator, policy leader, and advocate for school choice, for an engaging and candid conversation about education, leadership, and civic engagement. From his early days in Nashville to his current work shaping education policy across Tennessee, Shaka reflects on what’s changed—and what hasn’t—about how we prepare students for the future. Along the way, he shares sharp insights on the role of local leadership, the real stories behind school choice debates, and how families and communities can stay engaged in creating better systems for kids. In this episode, you’ll hear: Why Shaka believes “parents are the most important education reformers”How Tennessee’s education landscape is shifting post-pandemicLessons from the charter sector and what traditional districts can learnHis advice for building civic trust and bridging ideological dividesHow he uses music as a common ground to spark conversation and bridge differencesA few Nashville stories (and laughs) along the wayIf you care about schools, leadership, or the future of public education, this is one you don’t want to miss. Support the show

    42 min

  4. SEP 19

    Square Pizza Podcast #132 - Rod Banks, Senior Vice President, Lead Community Relations Consultant, Wells Fargo

    GIVEAWAY - send us a message and let us know your favorite thing about the Square Pizza Pod. We are giving away SchermCo swag to the first three people that send us a note! In this episode of the Square Pizza Podcast, host Greg Schermbeck sits down with Rod Banks, long-time community development and philanthropy leader, for a candid conversation on leadership, career growth, and the evolving landscape of corporate social responsibility (CSR).  Rod reflects on his journey from economic development in Spartanburg to nearly two decades with Wachovia and Wells Fargo, where he has shaped philanthropic investments across housing, small business growth, and financial health. Along the way, he discusses how his calm leadership style—something inherited from his father—has influenced both his personal and professional life, and why open dialogue with nonprofits is critical for long-term community impact.  In this episode, you’ll hear:  Rod’s reflections on family influences, staying grounded, and even his passionate side as a Steelers fanThe scale of investments in Charlotte and western North Carolina, with a focus on housing, small businesses, and financial mobilityLessons from partnering with both established organizations like Gardhouse & Freedom Fighting MissionariesWhy nonprofit leaders should lean into authenticity and open conversations with funders—even when it means discussing vulnerabilitiesInsights on the growing conversation around nonprofit mergers and acquisitions, and why sustainability must be central to strategic planningHis hope for Charlotte’s CSR ecosystem: continued collaboration among funders to meet community needs with both rigor and trust This episode is for nonprofit leaders, funders, and anyone invested in community change. Rod’s steady leadership, deep experience, and practical wisdom offer a grounded perspective on how philanthropy can adapt and thrive in uncertain times. Support the show

    35 min

  5. AUG 16

    #131 - Jason Terrell, President at R. Howard Dobbs Jr. Foundation

    GIVEAWAY - send us a message and let us know your favorite thing about the Square Pizza Pod. We are giving away SchermCo swag to the first three people that send us a note! In this full-circle episode of the Square Pizza Podcast, host Greg Schermbeck reconnects with Jason Terrell, President of the R. Howard Dobbs Jr. Foundation, for a wide-ranging and insightful conversation on fatherhood, leadership, and the evolving world of philanthropy. Jason reflects on how his personal and professional journey has shifted since his last appearance in 2020—moving from nonprofit founder to a philanthropic leader with a statewide platform. Along the way, he shares what it means to lead with trust, how his thinking has evolved, and why the future of meaningful giving lies in deeper collaboration and intersectionality. In this episode, you’ll hear: Jason’s reflections on parenting and how teaching and leadership tools show up at homeHis career shift from Profound Gentlemen to leading a $65M foundation with a two-person teamWhy philanthropy is more fragile than it appears—and what nonprofit leaders need to understandThe Dobbs Foundation’s approach to funding education, health, and the environment, and how Jason applies a “multi-solving” lens to support holistic changeThe growing role of AI in philanthropy, from data transparency to democratizing access to informationA call for funders to serve as learning engines, not just check writers, and to prioritize trust and flexibility alongside accountabilityThis episode is for nonprofit leaders, funders, and anyone navigating the intersections of community work, equity, and innovation. Jason’s honesty and strategic clarity offer a blueprint for how philanthropy can evolve without losing its heart. Support the show

    47 min

  6. JUL 9

    Square Pizza Podcast #130 - Aaron Randolph, Co-Founder & Executive Director, Carolina Youth Coalition

    GIVEAWAY - send us a message and let us know your favorite thing about the Square Pizza Pod. We are giving away SchermCo swag to the first three people that send us a note! In this episode of the Square Pizza Podcast, Greg sits down with Aaron Randolph, Co-Founder and Executive Director of the Carolina Youth Coalition (CYC)—an organization supporting over 500 high-achieving, under-resourced students across Charlotte. With warmth and wisdom, Aaron shares how his upbringing in a small Florida town, passion for football, and early exposure to AmeriCorps shaped his path into educational equity. Key Highlights: From Lake City to Leadership: How growing up in rural Florida and attending Cornell shaped Aaron’s core values and his community-first approach to leadership.The Power of Athletics: Lessons from the football field that translate into resilience, teamwork, and accountability—essential for building thriving organizations.Carolina Youth Coalition’s High-Touch Model: A deep dive into CYC’s mission, growth, and what sets it apart in the college access space—including mentorship, career readiness, and a second campus powered by CPI Security.Juggling (Literally & Figuratively): Why Aaron became a “master juggler” in third grade and what the skill teaches him about focus, presence, and leadership.AI & The Future of Work: Aaron’s insights on how artificial intelligence is reshaping workforce development—and what that means for the students and families CYC serves.Academic Cool Factor: How CYC intentionally makes college and academic success aspirational, especially for first-gen students.Whether you're a leader, educator, or just curious about what it takes to build pathways for student success in the 21st century, this episode offers fresh perspective, honest storytelling, and practical leadership takeaways. Support the show

    48 min

  7. APR 18

    #129 - Christine Edwards Pitkin, Founder & CEO, Civility Localized & Civic Impact Academy

    GIVEAWAY - send us a message and let us know your favorite thing about the Square Pizza Pod. We are giving away SchermCo swag to the first three people that send us a note! Welcome back to another episode of the #squarepizzapod. This week, Greg is in conversation with Christine Edwards Pitkin, Founder & CEO of Civility Localized & Civic Impact Academy. Civility Localized is a minority and woman-owned Community Engagement Consulting Firm with headquarters in Charlotte, North Carolina. In this episode:  Civility LocalizedMinority and woman-owned consulting firm and its mission to help communities grow with dignity through inclusive strategies for local and state government initiativesCommunity outreach and engagementCivic Impact AcademyAn educational experience that brings local community leaders and government leaders into the same roomsStarted in 2024Launching a new cohort in September and applications open in JulyBoard Member ExperienceGenerationNation, Humane Society, and QC Family Tree Best practices of high-performing boards?What aspiring board members knowBe ready and willing to give of yourself - your time, your money, your contactsSupport the show

    42 min

  8. APR 4

    #128 - Maya Martin Cadogan, Founder & Exec Director PAVE (Parents Amplifying Voices in Education)

    GIVEAWAY - send us a message and let us know your favorite thing about the Square Pizza Pod. We are giving away SchermCo swag to the first three people that send us a note! Welcome back to another episode of the #squarepizzapod. This week, Greg is in conversation with Maya Martin Cadogan, Founder & Exec Director of Parents Amplifying Voices in Education. Founded in April 2016 with an all-parent governing board, PAVE is dedicated to creating an environment where the vision for education in DC is created with children and families, not for them. We aim to shift the dynamic so that communities and parents are partners in creating great schools. In this episode:  PAVEEmpowering parents as partners in creating a diverse and equitable education system in DCHow PAVE is making a difference in education in DCLearnDC - Parent Driven selection process Current Administration + Potential Closure of the Department of EducationHow it will effect their workPotential long-term ramificationsAI in EducationHow using AI tools to shape their work and drive change in educationSupport the show

    45 min
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5
out of 5
36 Ratings

About

The Square Pizza podcast focuses on the intersection of education, innovation, and diversity. We host and interview leaders doing incredible work around the country to ensure all students have access to an equitable education. The Square Pizza podcast is hosted by SchermCo, a social-impact implementation firm that offers strategic implementation and project management services to schools and education-focused organizations across the country.

Information

  • Creator
    SchermCo
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2025
  • Episodes
    135
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Square Pizza
  • Show Website
    Square Pizza