Kari Escobedo

Sacramento is transforming from a second-tier economic hub to a vibrant center for high-tech innovation. Thanks to the dedicated efforts of the Greater Sacramento Economic Council (GSEC), the region is attracting major industry players like Micron Technology, Solidigm, AMD, Samsung Electronics, Qualcomm, Bosch, and, notably, Blaize. Recently, GSEC sponsored a tour showcasing the region’s expanding strength in semiconductor and microelectronics manufacturing. With over 1.2 million jobs across six counties, Sacramento is the fastest-growing semiconductor market in California. The region's proactive approach, innovative companies, and strategic investments are reshaping perceptions and establishing Sacramento as a hub for high-tech growth and economic resilience. As the region continues to build its reputation, I'm proud to be part of the Blaize team and of the broader community driving innovation in AI. I look forward to helping shape a bright future for Sacramento as a leading tech powerhouse. Read "Sacramento area sees path forward with tech jobs" from Matt Hamblen, Editor at Fierce Electronics, where he provides compelling insights from his media tour - https://lnkd.in/g7DFQFs3 #Sacramento #TechInnovation #Semiconductors #AI #EconomicGrowth #Blaize #BZAI #FutureOfTech #Leadership #GSEC

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We are pleased to announce that Foundation for California Community Colleges is expanding their SNAP Employment & Training program to serve additional community colleges across the state. This expansion demonstrates the continued success of using Launchpad to connect SNAP participants with education, training, and employment opportunities. This expansion reinforces their commitment to making workforce development infrastructure work for the communities that need it most.

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The higher education industry faces constant budget constraints. In our recent blog for AWS, we describe how Boise State University cut per-user costs by 80% after building a platform on AWS in just six months. Good stuff! #content #writing #AWS #cloud #costsavings https://lnkd.in/gdnVSZkx

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🚀This week, AIAJ Academy conducted a small field study across Sacramento to introduce the Quantum Impact™ Community Capital Model — a new approach that channels receivables and community capital toward AI literacy, workforce reskilling, and small business readiness. We met with representatives from 10 local banks and credit unions to share the white paper and observe their initial reactions. ✅ 9 out of 10 institutions reviewed and accepted the document 💡 Many described the concept as “new,” “innovative,” and “community-focused” The goal wasn’t to sell or solicit — just to learn how local financial leaders view community-centered financial innovation. Early takeaway: There’s real curiosity and readiness in Sacramento’s financial ecosystem for ideas that merge economic impact with human capital investment. A huge thank you to everyone who took the time to engage with us and provide thoughtful feedback. ✅ More Info Here: ImpactGoals.org 👉🏾 If your organization is exploring new ways to align receivables, capital, and community outcomes, we’d love to connect. #QuantumImpact #AIAJAcademy #CommunityCapital #Innovation #Sacramento #ImpactFinance #AILiteracy #WorkforceReskilling

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Hemant Bhargava's latest research offers a groundbreaking framework showing how smaller, specialized tech firms can protect their market position against Big Tech giants like Google and OpenAI by strategically opening their data vaults. His research suggests that under certain conditions the smartest move may be to share that data—even with rival "coopetititors" And, the model offers policymakers new insights into how to encourage competition without stifling innovation. #BigData #DataScience #UCDavis #AI #artificialintelligence

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California’s city and county leaders are leaning into AI—curious, purposeful, and focused on impact. On January 14, I spent the day at AI World @ OC with leaders from across California, and the energy in the room was centered on learning and practical exploration. Orange County Auditor-Controller Andrew Hamilton set the tone with reflections from AI World Las Vegas, grounding the day in thoughtful evaluation and real‑world application. What stood out most was the systems‑level approach from my colleagues at #Oracle—showing how connected AI capabilities can strengthen government operations end‑to‑end and helping agencies understand what’s possible, what’s practical, and what’s ready now. During my session, I walked through the four levers that consistently drive successful AI adoption in the public sector: People, Processes, Data, and Systems. My colleague Mark Sarmiento brought those concepts to life with hands‑on examples and audience participation. Seeing leaders try the tools themselves sparked meaningful questions and grounded conversations about what AI can actually do for their teams. My core takeaway: the audience showed real interest, genuine curiosity, and a willingness to roll up their sleeves and work through what AI means for their teams, their operations, and the communities they serve. Grateful to #OrangeCounty and Oracle for creating space where leaders could learn, question, and explore together. Partnerships like this are how innovation takes root in public service. — Alexandria Smith Your Practical Public Sector HR Tech Guide Bridging big tech and the real‑world needs of government #CaliforniaGovernment #CaliforniaLeaders #GovTech #AIinGovernment #PublicSectorHR #DigitalGovernment #ResponsibleAI #oracle #AI

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What is more inspiring and energizing than the power of AI being harnessed in higher education and public health to improve care for citizens who need it most? The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa and the Hawaiʻi Department of Health’s Developmental Disabilities Division (DDD), in partnership with RSM US and Microsoft, launched an innovative data dashboard for supporting people with intellectual and developmental disabilities across the state of Hawaiʻi. By integrating Medicaid claims and case-management data to uncover potential unreported adverse events (e.g., injuries or hospitalizations), this AI-powered tool flags individuals at higher risk—enabling more proactive care; quicker, smarter decision-making, real-world training for UH students in analytics and public health and offers a model for data-driven disability services nationwide. #DataDrivenCare #AIForGood #DisabilityServices #PublicHealthInnovation #InclusiveTech #HealthcareAnalytics #UniversityOfHawaii #DigitalTransformation #HawaiiGovernment #DepartmentofHealth #Microsoft https://lnkd.in/gmTBKv8r

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Western Pacific University is excited to announce the organization of an IT Symposium focused on “Empowering Innovation and Digital Transformation by Developing Adaptive IT Leaders with Industry-Driven Skills, Digital Literacy, and Critical Thinking to Embrace Change, Break Barriers, and Lead Smart Solutions in a Tech-Driven World." This symposium will provide a platform for WPU's final year IT students to present their projects and engage in discussions about current trends, challenges, and innovations in the IT field. We are pleased to welcome Ms. Deenei Wamo, IT Systems Administrator at Nambawan Super, and Mr. Paul Tinabar, E-Banking Manager at BSP Financial Group Limited, as our invited guests. Their presence and insights will be invaluable to our attendees, students, and the university community. We believe this event will significantly enhance the quality of WPU's IT Programs and contribute meaningfully to WPU’s academic and professional community.

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