Bytes and Banter

Produced by PodTechs
Bytes and Banter

Are you an Information Technology professional? Do you work in the IT industry? This podcast is for you. Bytes and Banter is hosted by HDI Local Chapters.

  1. DEC 5

    Ramen or Rent? Fueling a Career You’ll Never Regret

    Visit Splashtop Website - https://www.splashtop.com/home Stephen Ng is an accomplished professional with extensive experience in building and leading high-performing organizations across Service Delivery, Support, Call Centers, Technical Support Escalations, and Critical Account Management. He has a strong background in managing technical support operations domestically and internationally, leveraging existing resources and driving transformative changes to reduce costs, enhance revenue, and meet targeted margin goals. Stephen is a results-oriented, process-driven leader known for developing actionable plans that meet service delivery performance commitments, ensure customer satisfaction, and contribute to overall company success. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- HDI Local Chapters is an all volunteer not-for-profit that brings Technical Support professionals together to connect, share and discuss common challenges, and learn from industry innovators and each other --- https://www.hdilocalchapters.org ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bytes and Banter Podcast Team Creative Producer/Host: Rocky McGuire - https://www.linkedin.com/in/rockymcguire/ Executive Producer: Terri Oropeza - https://www.linkedin.com/in/toropeza/ Associate Producer: Colleen Rush - https://www.linkedin.com/in/colleen-rush-3603241/ Associate Producer - Daniel Guinto - https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-guinto-7b723630/ Technical Producer: Dustin Canter - https://www.linkedin.com/in/dustincanter/ Podcast Operating System: https://www.PodTechs.com Post-Production: https://www.PodTechs.com

    46 min

  2. NOV 16

    A Look Inside the Salary Guide: 2025 Hiring and Compensation Trends from Robert Half

    In episode 11, Nicole Sims from Robert Half helps us unpack the 2025 Salary Guide and the latest trends shaping the tech industry. We discuss the “Great Stay” phenomenon, strategies employers use to attract and retain talent, and the growing demand for skills like AI, machine learning, and cybersecurity. Nicole highlights the value of upskilling, flexible staffing solutions, and timely hiring decisions to address skill gaps. She also shares insights from the Robert Half eBook, “Building Future-Forward Tech Teams,” and encourages professionals to prioritize progress over perfection Tune in for practical advice and a deep dive into the evolving world of tech hiring and retention. Get the insights that are helping technology employers and job seekers make smarter salary decisions. https://www.roberthalf.com/us/en/insights/salary-guide/technology?utm_source=alliance&utm_medium=external-link&utm_campaign=v2_all_thought-leadership_salary-guide-2025_rht&utm_content=hdi-sg25-website-article-teaser Nicole Sims is the Senior Regional Director for Robert Half, the world’s first and largest specialized talent solutions and consulting firm. In this role, she oversees operations for the company’s technology talent solutions across the greater Dallas region. With over 18 years of industry experience, Nicole is considered a hiring expert and frequently shares insights on the trends affecting the employment market and the workplace. Nicole is actively involved in several tech industry-focused organizations. She serves as the Vice President of Membership for the DFW Help Desk Institute (HDI) chapter and is also a member of Tech Titans. A strong believer in community service, Nicole leads her team to participate in Robert Half’s community impact initiatives, partnering with local nonprofits such as Genesis Women’s Shelter of Dallas and the North Texas SPCA. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- HDI Local Chapters is an all volunteer not-for-profit that brings Technical Support professionals together to connect, share and discuss common challenges, and learn from industry innovators and each other --- https://www.hdilocalchapters.org ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bytes and Banter Podcast Team  Creative Producer/Host: Rocky McGuire - https://www.linkedin.com/in/rockymcguire/ Executive Producer: Terri Oropeza - https://www.linkedin.com/in/toropeza/ Associate Producer: Colleen Rush - https://www.linkedin.com/in/colleen-rush-3603241/ Associate Producer - Daniel Guinto - https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-guinto-7b723630/ Technical Producer: Dustin Canter - https://www.linkedin.com/in/dustincanter/ Podcast Operating System: https://www.PodTechs.com Post-Production: https://www.PodTechs.com

    32 min

  3. OCT 23

    No Code Yellow Pages to Gen AI

    In Episode 10 of Bytes and Banter, Tim Lawes shares his career journey from selling Yellow Pages to working in the world of enterprise AI. Tim reflects on his experiences in IT service management, including a military contract and managing a service desk, and emphasizes the importance of empathy and building strong relationships in sales. He also talks about his transition to Symphony.AI and the impact of innovative technology on his career. Tune in for a conversation about personal growth, adaptability, and the role of relationships in business success. https://www.symphonyai.com/ Tim is Sr. Director of Sales at SymphonyAI. He has been in the ITSM industry for 15+ years having worked on Implementation, post-sales & pre-sales teams. https://www.linkedin.com/in/tim-lawes-81273110b/ ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- HDI Local Chapters is an all volunteer not-for-profit that brings Technical Support professionals together to connect, share and discuss common challenges, and learn from industry innovators and each other --- https://www.hdilocalchapters.org ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bytes and Banter Podcast Team Creative Producer/Host: Rocky McGuire - https://www.linkedin.com/in/rockymcguire/ Executive Producer: Terri Oropeza - https://www.linkedin.com/in/toropeza/ Associate Producer: Collen Rush - https://www.linkedin.com/in/colleen-rush-3603241/ Technical Producer: Dustin Canter - https://www.linkedin.com/in/dustincanter/ Podcast Operating System: https://www.PodTechs.com Post-Production: https://www.PodTechs.com

    46 min

  4. OCT 9

    The State of Tech Support with HDI Principal Analyst Daniel Thomas

    In this episode host Rocky McGuire sits down with Daniel Thomas, Principal Analyst at Informa Tech, to explore the latest findings from the HDI State of Tech Support report. We dive into the key trends shaping the future of tech support, from hybrid work challenges to the skills that matter most for today’s IT professionals. Discover how AI is enhancing—not replacing—human roles, and how the shift from SLAs to XLAs is putting customer experience at the forefront. Tune in for a deep dive into how continuous learning, customer-centricity, and business alignment are evolving in today’s IT landscape. Request Your Free Research Report Now: "The State of Technical Support in 2024" https://hdi-resources.thinkhdi.com/free/w_hdia66/ Guest Biography: Daniel Thomas is Principal Analyst of Enterprise IT at Informa Tech, producing thought leadership content for the HDI and ICMI communities. He has more than a decade of experience researching and writing on the most critical topics of interest for the technology sector, including cybersecurity, AI, data analytics, risk and privacy, networking and digital security policies. He previously served as a Senior Analyst for CyberRisk Alliance and as the Director of Research for GovExec Media in Washington, D.C ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- HDI Local Chapters is an all volunteer not-for-profit that brings Technical Support professionals together to connect, share and discuss common challenges, and learn from industry innovators and each other --- https://www.hdilocalchapters.org ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bytes and Banter Podcast Team Creative Producer/Host: Rocky McGuire - https://www.linkedin.com/in/rockymcguire/ Executive Producer: Terri Oropeza - https://www.linkedin.com/in/toropeza/ Associate Producer: Colleen Rush - https://www.linkedin.com/in/colleen-rush-3603241/ Associate Producer - Daniel Guinto - https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-guinto-7b723630/ Technical Producer: Dustin Canter - https://www.linkedin.com/in/dustincanter/ Podcast Operating System: https://www.PodTechs.com Post-Production: https://www.PodTechs.com

    57 min

  5. SEP 25

    Your Career Toolkit: Job Search Strategies from Robert Half

    Your Career Toolkit: Job Search Strategies from Robert Half CTA: Job Search Landscape 2024: Planning Your Next Career Move https://www.roberthalf.com/us/en/insights/job-market-outlook?utm_source=alliance&utm_medium=external-link&utm_campaign=v2_all_thought-leadership_all_rht&utm_content=2024-q3-hdi-podcast When was the last time you truly reflected on your career? Whether you’re actively looking for a new job or are planning to take that step in the near future, this podcast episode will address the current labor market, workers’ reasons for seeking a new role and how to know when it’s time to make a change. It also offers tips for landing a new job and resources to help you get the most out of your job search. About Doug Bell With 8 years of experience in the recruiting space, Doug currently leads the technology recruiting efforts for Robert Half in the Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina market. As lead recruiter for the Infrastructure & Operations team, he focuses on sourcing top talent for a variety of positions, including help desk analysts, project managers, systems administrators, systems engineers, security engineers, security analysts, network administrators, network engineers, IT directors, solutions consultants, cloud engineers, and DevOps engineers, among others. Doug is the secretary for the Triangle chapter of HDI. Outside of work, Doug enjoys playing soccer and basketball, visiting the beach, and spending time with his wife and their Bracco Italiano puppy, Ødegaard. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- HDI Local Chapters is an all volunteer not-for-profit that brings Technical Support professionals together to connect, share and discuss common challenges, and learn from industry innovators and each other --- https://www.hdilocalchapters.org ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bytes and Banter Podcast Team Creative Producer/Host: Rocky McGuire - https://www.linkedin.com/in/rockymcguire/ Executive Producer: Terri Oropeza - https://www.linkedin.com/in/toropeza/ Associate Producer: Colleen Rush - https://www.linkedin.com/in/colleen-rush-3603241/ Associate Producer - Daniel Guinto - https://www.linkedin.com/in/daniel-guinto-7b723630/ Technical Producer: Dustin Canter - https://www.linkedin.com/in/dustincanter/ Podcast Operating System: https://www.PodTechs.com Post-Production: https://www.PodTechs.com

    45 min

  6. SEP 4

    Dan Turchin of PeopleReign

    Dan Turchin is the CEO and Founder of PeopleReign, the leading AI platform for IT and HR employee service automation. He is a member of the Forbes Technology Council and has hosted over 300 episodes of the popular “AI and the Future of Work” podcast which has a community of more than a million listeners. Prior to PeopleReign, Dan was the CEO of AIOps leader InsightFinder. Previously, he co-founded Astound, an AI-first enterprise platform for HR and IT, and was Vice President of Product at DevOps leader BigPanda, Chief Product Officer at security analytics company AccelOps (now Fortinet), and a Senior Director of Product Strategy at ServiceNow. He also served as a founding board member at Rhomobile prior to its acquisition by Motorola and currently serves on the board of Auger, the open source automated machine learning framework. In 2000, Dan co-founded Aeroprise and served as CEO until it was acquired in 2010 by BMC Software. He is an active angel investor and startup advisor with a portfolio of over 30 companies. Dan's passionate about building great teams that build great products that solve hard problems that change lives. He’s a big fan of Asimov, Dr. Seuss, youth soccer, adventure sports, and Tynker. Dan has BS and BA degrees from Stanford University. Follow him on https://x.com/dturchin ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- HDI Local Chapters is an all volunteer not-for-profit that brings Technical Support professionals together to connect, share and discuss common challenges, and learn from industry innovators and each other --- https://www.hdilocalchapters.org ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bytes and Banter Podcast Team Creative Producer/Host: Rocky McGuire - https://www.linkedin.com/in/rockymcguire/ Executive Producer: Terri Oropeza - https://www.linkedin.com/in/toropeza/ Associate Producer: Collen Rush - https://www.linkedin.com/in/colleen-rush-3603241/ Technical Producer: Dustin Canter - https://www.linkedin.com/in/dustincanter/ Podcast Operating System: https://www.PodTechs.com Post-Production: https://www.PodTechs.com

    33 min

  7. JUL 24

    From Marine to Mentor: Building Resilience with Tony North

    Tony North, a 26-year technology industry veteran, shares his incredible journey from being an adopted child to a Marine Corps veteran to a tech professional. Tony and host Rocky McGuire share personal stories of resilience and growth, shining a light on the power of mentorship. The discussion ranges from the evolution of tech teams to boosting customer experiences with self-help portals and automation, to tackling the challenges of remote work. This episode is packed with insights to help you dream big and lead your team to success. Don’t miss it! ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- HDI Local Chapters is an all volunteer not-for-profit that brings Technical Support professionals together to connect, share and discuss common challenges, and learn from industry innovators and each other --- https://www.hdilocalchapters.org ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- Bytes and Banter Podcast Team Creative Producer/Host: Rocky McGuire - https://www.linkedin.com/in/rockymcguire/ Executive Producer: Terri Oropeza - https://www.linkedin.com/in/toropeza/ Associate Producer: Collen Rush - https://www.linkedin.com/in/colleen-rush-3603241/ Technical Producer: Dustin Canter - https://www.linkedin.com/in/dustincanter/ Podcast Operating System: https://www.PodTechs.com Post-Production: https://www.PodTechs.com

    51 min

  8. JUN 12

    Overcoming Tech Debt: Building Future-Forward Teams with Robert Half

    With digitization, cloud migration and a flood of AI-related tools emerging onto the scene, many businesses are trying to eliminate their tech debt. In addition, the tech skills gaps are widening. This complicates an already complex array of ever-evolving business priorities for technology leaders — and threatens their teams’ ability to complete critical projects and meet long-term goals. Tune into an insightful discussion between Thomas Vick, senior regional director, from Robert Half and Rock McGuire about potential impacts of these skills gaps, as well as strategies for overcoming them and building future-focused tech teams. Get the e-book: Building Future-Forward Tech Teams - https://www.roberthalf.com/us/en/insights/building-tech-teams?utm_source=alliance&utm_medium=external-link&utm_campaign=v2_all_thought-leadership_tech-campaign-2024_rht&utm_content=2024-q2-hdi-podcast Thomas Vick is the senior regional director for Robert Half, the world’s first and largest specialized talent solutions firm. Based in Chicago, he leads operations for the company’s technology, creative and marketing talent and consulting solutions across Illinois, Tennessee and Missouri. Thomas joined Robert Half in 2010 and has held various leadership roles overseeing operations across the U.S. for several practice groups. With over 17 years of experience in the staffing industry, Thomas is considered a hiring expert and serves as a spokesperson for Robert Half. He is frequently quoted in various media outlets on hiring trends and workplace topics. Thomas has been recognized multiple times by Robert Half for his leadership and growth of the business. He holds his bachelor’s in business management from Texas A&M University and is currently a member of the Executives Club of Chicago. ---------------------------------------------------- HDI Local Chapters is an all volunteer not-for-profit that brings Technical Support professionals together to connect, share and discuss common challenges, and learn from industry innovators and each other --- https://www.hdilocalchapters.org ---------------------------------------------------- Bytes and Banter Podcast Team Creative Producer/Host: Rocky McGuire - https://www.linkedin.com/in/rockymcguire/ Executive Producer: Terri Oropeza - https://www.linkedin.com/in/toropeza/ Associate Producer: Collen Rush - https://www.linkedin.com/in/colleen-rush-3603241/ Technical Producer: Dustin Canter - https://www.linkedin.com/in/dustincanter/ Podcast Operating System: https://www.PodTechs.com Post-Production: https://www.PodTechs.com

    37 min
See All (13)

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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

Are you an Information Technology professional? Do you work in the IT industry? This podcast is for you. Bytes and Banter is hosted by HDI Local Chapters.

Information

  • Creator
    Produced by PodTechs
  • Years Active
    2023 - 2024
  • Episodes
    13
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2023 PodTechs
  • Show Website
    Bytes and Banter

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