Let's Do Business hosted by Alma D. Bañuelos

San Diego Unified School District

Alma D. Bañuelos, Business Outreach Coordinator at San Diego Unified School District, and invited guests provide information on how to grow your business and contract with local public agencies. If you are a new business finding your way or an established one hoping to grow, this is the podcast for you. Episodes are grouped by business topics like free resources, valuable professional organizations, tips for profitable contracting, things successful contractors wish they knew early on, and more!

Episodes

  1. Local Legends: Gary Stanford

    07/18/2025

    Local Legends: Gary Stanford

    Gary Stanford, former Director of Project Management for the Facilities Planning & Construction department at San Diego Unified joined us at the Let’s Do Business podcast before his retirement on June 30,2025. Our conversation ranges from the evolution of project management in California public works over the last few decades to the lessons learned in managing a group of over 80 staff members, sharing some key tips for aspiring project managers. A must listen for any one interested in a construction project management career.

    21 min
  2. Industry Insights: Navigating Labor Challenges with Candace Friedman

    01/21/2025

    Industry Insights: Navigating Labor Challenges with Candace Friedman

    Candace Friedman, Owner of Acme Safety & Supply Corp., President of C&C Mentor Protege Program, and cofounder of the Women's Construction Coalition brings her 40 years of construction experience to the Let’s Do Business podcast. Discussing the difficulties in hiring and maintaining a skilled workforce in the construction industry including how attitudes towards women in the construction industry have matured over time, different methods to attract new labor, and different labor management ideas for an industry with uncertain worker hours. We close out with a frank discussion on the pros and cons of union membership and how we shouldn't discount billboard advertising just yet!

    35 min
  3. Industry Insights: Navigating Cashflow Challenges with Cole Woodman

    07/15/2024

    Industry Insights: Navigating Cashflow Challenges with Cole Woodman

    Cole Woodman, President and CEO of Global Engineering Services and President and Chairman of the Veterans in Business Network shares his wisdom as a business owner and advocate for veteran-owned businesses on how to maintain a healthy cashflow. Topics include the importance of payment provisions in contracts, selecting clients carefully, establishing lines of credit before they’re needed, building a core team of experts, and many other practical suggestions to keep thriving. “Cashflow is King.” Let’s do business.

    39 min
  4. Industry Insights: Navigating Bonding Challenges with Andy Roberts

    07/15/2024

    Industry Insights: Navigating Bonding Challenges with Andy Roberts

    Andy Roberts is the current President of the Surety Association of San Diego and a Surety Account Executive at Rancho Mesa Insurance Services. In this episode, Andy and Alma run through construction bonding from A-to-Z: the difference between a construction bond and insurance, why bonds exist, the bonding requirements effective on San Diego Unified School District construction projects, how contractors can increase their bonding capacity, and the underestimated benefits of developing a strong working relationship with a good surety agent. Thanks for joining us, let’s do business.

    27 min
  5. Industry Insights: Navigating Construction Management Challenges with Dion Harrington

    07/15/2024

    Industry Insights: Navigating Construction Management Challenges with Dion Harrington

    Dion Harrington, Construction Management Director at San Diego Unified School District’s Facilities Planning and Construction department joins the Let’s Do Business podcast to discuss how to navigate construction industry challenges. Points of discussion include what are some key qualities exhibited by exceptional subcontractors, the merits of being adaptable to unforeseen circumstances, and how San Diego Unified School District has developed new contracting protocols to combat long lead time materials supplies on its construction projects. Welcome back to the podcast, and let's do business.

    33 min
  6. Preparing for Public Works: Prevailing Wages, PSA & Contract Compliance with George Harris

    05/12/2023

    Preparing for Public Works: Prevailing Wages, PSA & Contract Compliance with George Harris

    George Harris III is the Director of Fiscal Controls and Information Systems with San Diego Unified School District’s Facilities Planning and Construction department. In this series’ final episode George and Alma cover government contract compliance, why the oversight and rules exist, how contractors should navigate the public works maze, examples of pre- and post-award contracting requirements, and why contracting with the government, despite the red tape, can be a smart and profitable move. We hope you’ve enjoyed this series. Let’s do business.

    38 min
  7. Preparing for Public Works: Responding to Government Bid Solicitations with Tanya Counts

    05/12/2023

    Preparing for Public Works: Responding to Government Bid Solicitations with Tanya Counts

    Tanya Counts is a certified Contract Compliance Administrator and Equity Trainer with APEX Accelerators (formerly referred to as the Procurement Technical Assistance Center) and joins the Let’s do Business podcast to discuss how to effectively respond to government bid solicitations. Topics include: the main differences between private and public solicitations, essential pre-proposal organization techniques to give you the best chance of success, and the vast assortment of available free resources available at APEX Accelerators. Let’s do business.

    35 min
  8. Preparing for Public Works: Making Favorable First Impressions with Public Agencies with Damian Singleton

    05/12/2023

    Preparing for Public Works: Making Favorable First Impressions with Public Agencies with Damian Singleton

    Damian Singleton is the Senior Procurement Contracting Officer for the City of San Diego’s Purchasing and Contracting Department. In this episode Damian and Alma discuss the dos and don’ts of promoting a product or service to a public agency. Damian shares tips on how to approach procurement professionals and prepare for meetings, gives examples of correct etiquette and expectations to hold, and summarizes what’s essential to convey to a public agency buyer. Let’s do business.

    33 min
  9. Preparing for Public Works: Overview of Government Contracts with Mike Sabellico

    05/12/2023

    Preparing for Public Works: Overview of Government Contracts with Mike Sabellico

    Mike Sabellico, Interim Regional Director of APEX Accelerators (formerly referred to as the Procurement Technical Assistance Center, PTAC), shares invaluable advice to emerging, small, and diverse businesses looking to make money with government contracting. Topics covered include the value in State and Federal certifications, the wealth of opportunities in public works, knowing your clients, conducting effective market research, the realities involved with competitive public bidding, and what APEX Accelerators can do for you at no-cost. Now, let's do business! https://socalptac.org/

    27 min
  10. Preparing for Public Works: Series Introduction with Karen Linehan

    04/22/2023

    Preparing for Public Works: Series Introduction with Karen Linehan

    Karen Linehan is the esteemed Business Outreach Manager at San Diego Unified School District’s Facilities Planning and Construction department. In this inaugural episode Karen and Alma discuss: the merits of using effective due diligence to efficiently target public agency clients, how best to make use of free resources like online public agency bidding platforms and contract archives, and the most effective type of outreach to conduct based on the maturity of your business. Welcome to the podcast, and let's do business.

    31 min
  • 10 Episodes

About

Alma D. Bañuelos, Business Outreach Coordinator at San Diego Unified School District, and invited guests provide information on how to grow your business and contract with local public agencies. If you are a new business finding your way or an established one hoping to grow, this is the podcast for you. Episodes are grouped by business topics like free resources, valuable professional organizations, tips for profitable contracting, things successful contractors wish they knew early on, and more!

Information