Will Ferguson is Orange born-and-bred – a musician and Solutions & Integrations Manager with Phocus, a locally grown software company making its mark across the world.

In this episode, Will traces his journey from a childhood spent in the heart of Orange’s creative, close-knit community to chasing musical dreams across the United States. He shares stories from living and performing in New Orleans, meeting extraordinary musicians, and soaking up the city’s unmatched culture.

We talk about Will’s return to Orange and his experience taking over the Pet Shop Café – one of the early venues to bring true espresso culture to the region. Will also shares the story of reconnecting with a kindergarten classmate years later… and eventually marrying her.

Coming from a highly regarded musical family, Will reflects on the role of creativity, community, and the people who’ve shaped his path. He also takes us inside Phocus – the Orange-based software company that has quietly expanded across the globe – and explains how regional ingenuity can compete on the world stage.

Finally, we explore Will’s views on the rise of AI and why he believes it will ultimately benefit us all.