Straight Talk

Are bosses leaders? Are leaders bosses? What's the difference? What are some leadership best practices and lessons learned? Join our host Doña Keating of Professional Options as she explores these topics and more.

This is our first podcast since August 2019, so we're coming in hot to discuss global, national, and local issues. Some topics include the coronavirus pandemic and what we've been doing about it locally and globally. The upcoming elections. Let's see what else we can get into.

Founded by the United Nations Foundation in 2010, Girl Up works with a global community of partners to achieve gender equality worldwide. Girl Up Clubs are billed as champions for change that have had a huge impact on girls around the world, empowering both people in their own communities and adolescent girls in developing countries to rise up. Through education, fundraising, advocacy and service, Girl Up Club members develop the leadership skills necessary to make a positive difference in the lives of girls everywhere. There are more than 3,100 clubs registered in 48 states and territories and 98 countries. Bainbridge Island Girl Up was founded by Merrill Keating In December 2018 to provide an exciting and unique opportunity for middle and high school girls on the island to engage and step up as leaders on behalf of all girls and women in the world. She also wanted to encourage high school members to serve as mentors to younger girls, and for the club to work with adult women and advisors to advocate on important issues. Finally, she wanted a forum where members could attend and represent Girl Up at local, national and international events, and learn or improve their advocacy, public speaking, fundraising, and event-planning skills. Join us as we learn more about this club and movement, its efforts and initiatives to date or going forward, and how girls and women can engage.

Recent media frenzy has been whipped up by President Trump's response to four Congresswomen, aka 'The Squad', where he allegedly tweeted that they should go back to where they came from. Is that what he actually said or meant? Join us as we discuss some history about the 'Love it or Leave it' sentiment and share our take on the issue.

We haven't done a podcast in a while, so join us while we discuss global, national and local issues. Some topics include Governor Jay Inslee's presidential campaign; the new Race Equity Network on Bainbridge Island; Boeing's recent 737 Max 8 issues; Spartronics robotics team 4915; the first black hole photo; and more

Nike recently created a commercial in celebration of the 30th anniversary of its "Just Do It" ad campaign. It is scheduled to air during the NFL's season opener between the Philadelphia Eagles and Atlanta Falcons, and celebrates Kaepernick and other athletes. But some have begun to boycott Nike in opposition to his inclusion. Kaepernick’s call at the end of the commercial to “believe in something, even if it means sacrificing everything” references his ongoing battle against the NFL, which he accuses of keeping him out of the NFL over his kneeling protests against racial injustice and the police killings of unarmed black men and women. Others, however, believe the protests are an employment issue, disrespectful to the flag and America, and an affront to the veterans who have fought and died in service.   Join us as we discuss this and related issues.

“Talking With Youth About Suicide – for parents and adults who work with youth” - PSA

Now that ballots will be showing up in your mailbox soon, we're hosting an in-depth discussion about each of the six (6) candidates for Bainbridge Island City Council from the north, central, and south ward. Does it all come down to how long you've lived here or the clubs you've joined?What role should candidates play in speaking for themselves versus through their supporters?Should the person with the most endorsements win?At what point is a vote for a candidate a vote for new and fresh ideas, versus status quo? Join us as we assess each candidate now that we've interviewed them, attended candidate forums, and conducted extensive website/social media review. Will we endorse anyone? You'll have to listen! Also, feel free to call in to our live broadcast with your own thoughts.

Ted Jones moved to Bainbridge Island in 1997. He and his wife Wendy have been active in environmental, social and political causes. Ted is a registered professional Civil Engineer, a certified Lean Six Sigma Black Belt (Continuous Process Improvement), a certified Energy Manager (American Association of Energy Engineers), and is an engineering project manager for US Navy (Naval Facilities Engineering Command). As a program manager, Jones has been involved with ocean engineering worldwide, environmental cleanup and restoration in Alaska and Washington, US and NATO military base planning, design and construction in Italy, and public works facilities (infrastructure) maintenance, repair and sustainment for Navy bases in the Pacific Northwest Region. He has Bachelors and Masters degrees in Civil Engineering from George Washington University, and a Graduate Certificate in Financial Management from City University, Bellevue WA. Join us for a chat on the issues of climate change, affordable housing, governance, and more.

"It wasn't until I had my own children that I realized what my grandmother's herbal wisdom was all about. ? My grandmother had a huge garden and was always making things from her plants. I loved when she crushed geranium leaves and asked me to smell them before tucking them into my pockets to rediscover later.  Even though I have masters degrees in sustainability  and  environmental systems, it wasn't until I had children that I realized how much  the world was missing effective and pure, beautiful skincare products friendly to people & planet.  So I began making them for my children and now for all of you. ?These are the ingredients I use to make healing, sustainable, and effective products that buoy your mood and protect and enhance your skin - there is no compromise when it comes to pure." --Amos Laurel Staffler FOUNDER, ALCHEMY APOTHECARY CO.

Kevin and Martha moved to Bainbridge Island 18 years ago and have come to love the small town feel of the island.They were attracted because of its physical beauty, the schools, the parks, trails and the neighborly manner.   Fetterly is an Electrical Engineer with an MS degree from Stanford University (1977).  In his work, he develops instrumentation for testing integrated circuits (like the ones in your cell phone).  Kevin is very interested in the future our electricity supply and its reliability. He has also seen, close-up, the workings of high-speed mass transit (SF BART) and believes that technological solutions can eventually prevail for our transportation needs.   Join us as we discuss the issues of renewable energy, affordable housing, transportation, and more.

Wayne Roth worked in public media for more than 40 years, including thirty years as the President & General Manager of KUOW Public Radio. He was elected to three terms on the National Public Radio Board of Directors (NPR), two years as Chair. He co-founded and was the managing director of the Northwest News Network (N3), a regional consortium that produces news reports and features for public radio stations in Washington, Oregon and Idaho. Mr. Roth serves as a director of Ballantine Communications, a Colorado newspaper publisher serving the Four Corners area. He served on the boards of the Bainbridge Island Japanese American Exclusion Memorial Association and the Bainbridge Island Arts & Humanities Council. He helped establish the Marge Williams Office Center in 1999. Mr. Roth is married with three children and four grandchildren. His son Ben graduated from BHS in 2007. He has an MA degree in communications and a BA degree in English.   Join us as we discuss the issues relevant to his re-election campaign.

Joe's first career was a brokerage firm in Seattle, followed by years overseas working for the Securities and Futures Commission (the financial market regulator for the Hong Kong Government). There, he protected small investors and helped recover lost assets resulting from the Asian financial crisis of 1997. When he returned to US and settled on Bainbridge Island (his home since 2000), his passion for the natural environment and climate change led him to co-found nonprofit Community Energy Solutions. He worked with then Senator Phil Rockefeller, passing innovative community solar legislation, Senate Bill 6658. Thousands of Washingtonians went solar as a result, and more than 60 community solar projects across the State are creating clean power, jobs, and needed local infrastructure. Bainbridge Island City Hall's 72-kilowatt photovoltaic system is a project he led. Financed entirely by 24 Island families, the City receives a constant revenue stream from the electricity generated. Deets also led or participated in a solar program for low-income housing (which continues to benefit Habitat for Humanity of Kitsap County), and a community-wide residential energy efficiency program for Bainbridge Island funded by the US Department of Energy. He is currently a consultant for Sunergy Systems in Seattle, and speaks to state policymakers, tech graduate students, various organizations & environmental groups. Joe has a B.S. in Business Administration with special focus in Finance from Univ of Montana, a MBA from Seattle University, and a MA in Environment and Community from Antioch University Seattle (Thesis: Adapting to a New Energy Paradigm: Evaluating Behavior-Based Strategies for Increasing Renewable Energy Adoption at the Community Level) . He is Ethics Board Chair for the City of Bainbridge Island, and volunteers for Bainbridge Island School District, Habitat for Humanity, and Hospice of Kitsap County.  

Rasham Nassar is an Island mom and farmer who recently became involved in local environmental advocacy. Through her efforts, she connected with a passionate and caring community whose concerns for the future of our Island mirrored her own personal apprehension for the future of our world. Nassar was born in 1983, the eldest daughter of an immigrant who came to America in 1967. She earned a bachelor's degree from the University of California at Berkeley in 2007. In the years following graduation, her career path included law, management, and journalism. Her husband brought her to Bainbridge Island, his family's home for over 30 years, after a 2 year tour of the world by bicycle. The insights gleaned from their extensive travels inspired a mutual dream to live simply and sustainably, and together they started a small organic farm. Meanwhile, Rasham began working for the family business as a Certified Real Estate Appraiser Trainee, and in 2016 they welcomed a son. His presence in their life has inspired Nassar to rise on behalf of all our children: it is with respect to their future inheritance of our world that she bases her campaign. Join us for a chat on the issues.

Matthew Tirman was born in Bedford, New Hampshire and attended East Carolina University in Greenville, North Carolina where he studied Political Science. During his time at university, Matthew was actively involved in environmental campaigns in North Carolina and Boston, leading a statewide canvassing effort to pass a safe beaches bill in Massachusetts. He worked in China after graduation and received his MA in International Relations from Lancaster University in the UK. Out of graduate school Matthew worked as an Environmental Advocate for the US Public Interest Research Group in Washington D.C, lobbying Congress on Superfund and public health issues. Tirman served in a variety of roles with the US Department of Defense, including senior speechwriter for the Commanding General of the US Army Reserve and senior advisor to the Commanding General of US Forces in Iraq.  Matthew was employee number one, equity holder, and Managing Director of Strategic Social, a technology and services company he and his partners grew to more than 400 employees across the US, Europe, Middle East, and Africa. Upon the sale of the company in 2014 he advised firms investing in East Africa and frontier markets in South East Asia. He also served as interim CEO of a cybersecurity company based in Oregon. He is currently Chief Commercial Officer of PlanetRisk, a global big data analytics company based out of Washington, D.C. He and his wife have lived on Bainbridge Island since 2012, and all four of their children attend Bainbridge Island public schools.  Given his years of experience with complex multinational businesses, and working cross-culturally, Matthew is committed to progressive solutions for citizens of Bainbridge Island. His love and passion for the island compelled him to run for City Council. Join us for a chat on the issues, and the qualities he vows to bring to Bainbridge Island City Council and the community.

Two years ago in late April, we hosted a podcast with Jane Lindley and Steve Johnson of Island Power about their efforts to encourage Bainbridge Island to own and control its own electric utility. Join us as we bring you up to date on what's happened since then. Our Apr 13 broadcast on the subject experienced software issues, so we're doing a recast.

JOIN us as our host, guests, and listeners sound off about the election and what has taken place since. Try to keep it civil, and focus on solutions instead of problems.

We haven't had a broadcast in a while, so join us while we catch up with some headlines and other news.

Join us as we talk about Donald's Trump unexpected rise and success on the campaign trail. Is he REALLY running, or is there an ulterior motive? Why is he appealing, and to whom?

The gun debate has been a popular topic request from our audience, so we're donig a show about the pro and con positions, relevant stats, and headlines which have influenced discussion. Call in and share your thoughts, send them via chat, or just listen to the LIVE broadcast. No screamers, please!

Who has the best chances of making it to the general elections and White House? Weigh in with your thoughts or listen to our panel of pundits share theirs.

Legal privacy protections for email and other cloud-stored data are weak—and could get weaker. Fundamentally, this is a legal and policy issue—not a technical matter--yet it has dire business implications.  In a September 2015 U.S. Court of Appeals hearing, Microsoft challenged the U.S.’s request for private data held in Ireland because the U.S. government asserted its right and that of other nations to access data beyond national borders. The growing threat of privacy and confidentiality intrusions not only erodes trust in technology, but as people lose confidence in their right to privacy it will also impact small and medium businesses who provide cloud computing solutions to clients. Further, as other nations begin to build their own cloud solutions because ours cannot be trusted to protect their citizens' privacy, American companies operating at the global scale will suffer catastrophic results. The Law Enforcement Access to Data Stored Abroad Act—or LEADS—will help restore trust in tech by ensuring that digital communications and data receive the same privacy protections as paper letters and documents. It will: (1) Require a court-approved search warrant similar to laws governing access to physical documents; (2) Establish fair rules for government to access data stored abroad—protecting Americans’ privacy and setting a model for other nations; and (3) Strengthen international cooperation—through Mutual Legal Assistance Treaties with other nations. Join a discussion about what you can do NOW to save U.S. innovation, and why time is of the essence.

Puget Sound Energy (PSE) has a complicated history on Bainbridge Island. There are frequent power outages and a need for more infrastructure, but push back from a community with an interest in reducing its carbon footprint, concern about aesthetics, and a new desire via the Island Power initiative to own and control its own nonprofit electric utility. Andy Wappler is vice president of Corporate Affairs for Puget Sound Energy, and leads groups that are charged with coordinating customer/community outreach and enhancing data capability. He is also chairman and president of Puget Sound Energy Foundation, dedicated to promoting safety and emergency preparedness within PSE’s service territory. Join a conversation about PSE's history with the island, plans for the future, and what's being done to prevent the number of outages.

Girls Can Do (GCD) provides positive role models who are everyday yet extraordinary women talking about choices, determination, hardships, failure, resilience, and success. The Girls Can Do event series started with a single speaker and a small idea in January 2014. Since then, it has quickly grown into a movement with a big vision and big plans to match. Its mission is to inspire a generation of possibility thinkers, and to encourage young women to have big dreams and pursue them. After all, what you want to do in life is always your best option, and anything is possible if you expect it. GCD hosts events around the country and the world, at low to no cost for young women and girls. These events are special days where girls come to engage, connect, and share experiences with amazing women speakers who are pursuing their dreams. They also partner with local organizations focused on girls programming to provide “next steps” for newly inspired Possibility Thinkers. Ashby Fiser of Bainbridge Island is an Outreach Focus volunteer for GCD, and a UX Researcher and Designer in her professional life. Join us as we discuss GCD, empowerment, and women in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math).

Should it come down in South Carolina? Has the recent vote gone too far? Are there costs to censoring history, or was this long overdue? Does it represent heritage, or hate?Join the conversation.

Global Innovation Exchange (GIX) is being funded and built in collaboration with Microsoft. It will pair UW students with international students to form teams. Those teams will work to solve real problems for real partner businesses. Microsoft, which has provided $40 million in initial funding, will be the first lead partner. Join us as we talk about this new game-changing international tech institute in Bellevue which will redefine the region.

Bainbridge Island citizens have the opportunity to own and control its own nonprofit electric utility, as do more than 50 other Washington communities. Consumer owned utilities, from the City of Blaine to Seattle City Light, provide lower cost, cleaner and more reliable power than Puget Sound Energy (PSE). In 2008, Jefferson County (Port Townsend) voted to give electric authority to their public utility district, Jefferson PUD, and buy out PSE.  Today they have their own 100% carbon-free, locally controlled, nonprofit power system. Is it possible on Bainbridge Island?What are the pros and cons?How much will it cost?Who will run it?What about hydropower and droughts?Why not partner with PSE's Green Power initiative? Join us as we answer these questions and more with Jane Lindley and Steve Johnson of Island Power.

What are some of the programmes, initiatives, and opportunities to prepare our children for the future workforce - or help existing workers and retiring veterans to reinvent themselves and prepare for another career? Join us as we explore and discuss what's available and on the horizon.

We've had some doozies in the headlines. Join us as we deliver a fast-paced, informed discussion of the top news.

We're bombarded with books, articles, conferences, quotes, consultants, and workshops about leadership: what it is, what it isn't, and ways to become better and stronger when inspiring our teams. What does leadership mean to you?What tools and best practices have you deemed successful - or not - in developing your skillset and success?Is there such a thing as bad leadership, and what does it look like?What lessons have you learned on your path of growth and discovery? Join us in a live interactive exchange on this much discussed issue as we explore these questions - and more. We want to hear from you!

Storytelling nights are gaining popularity nationwide. Many of them are monthly or weekly events where standing-room-only crowds gather to hear stories from strangers and friends alike. Seen by some as a backlash against digital overload, storytelling is reconnecting communities in an entertaining yet poignant way. Join us as we chat with Steven Gardner, creator of Story Night in Kitsap, a fun, colorful and entertaining night of TRUE stories told by the area's best (or at least the most willing) storytellers.

Join us as we remember Leonard Simon Nimoy (March 26, 1931 – February 27, 2015), an actor, film director, poet, singer-songwriter, and photographer who was also known for as Mr. Spock of the Star Trek franchise.[1]

Using social media to punish strangers is continually on the rise. Join us in a lively discussion with examples of unwise choices resulting in unexpected, severe and sometimes irreversible consequences.

“The persistent achievement gap between haves and have-nots in our society is chiefly a verbal gap. There is no greater practical attainment in the modern world than acquiring a bellyful of words. A large vocabulary is the single most reliable predictor of practical, real-world competence…” - Professor E.D. Hirsh Over one third of our middle school readers are struggling. Vocabulary is the key. The single most accurate predictor of how well a reader understands text is general vocabulary knowledge. Studies show it can grow to a disparity of 30,000 words by eighth grade when intentional, rigorous intervention is not applied. Additionally, these studies confirm there is a direct correlation between “word bank” size and success in school. Word Lab Web, a vocabulary based reading program for the middle grades, is teacher created, affordable, and in the cloud. It provides personalized, self-paced learning so students can gain authentic word knowledge and practice a variety of comprehension skills. Three half-hour sessions a week provide great gains in reading scores. The tool is the brainchild of Carla and Richard Kessler. Carla is a 25 year veteran middle grade teacher and former Title I Coordinator and Learning Specialist. Recognized for her skills in innovative curriculum with measurable results, she implemented action research for Word Lab Web in the classroom. Richard, a software engineer, is a veteran coder and IT manager. He has kept Word Lab Web on the leading edge of technology from its origins as a desktop program to its current platform in the Cloud. Join us as we not only explore lessons learned from their transition into entrepreneurship, but an overview of Word Lab Web and its success.

In January 2014, Professional Options hosted a Wounded Warrior Project (WWP) meeting at Poulsbo City Hall so area veterans could learn about how to benefit from WWP. Attendees hear about successes and challenges our veterans and their families face after serving and sacrificing for our country, and how the services provided by WWP allow them to move forward with their "new normal." WWP provides support and services to post-Sept. 11 veterans such as college scholarships and stipends; cash grants to service providers to cover basic needs like food, rent and utilities; physical and psychological rehabilitation; combat stress recovery; benefits assistance; peer support; and career development and training. In 2012 alone, it spent $114 million to aid wounded veterans, their families and their caregivers. The meeting was WWP's first time in Kitsap, and a Wounded Warriors in Kitasp (WWIK) group (no affiliation with WWP) was loosely formed and communicates via a Facebook page. Join us as we talk with regional WWIK advocates and leaders Charles Keating, Todd Best, and Jeremy Creed about what's ahead.

When singer-songwriter, I Heart Kitsap TV owner and former MTV Italy producer Mike Barnet speaks, people listen. Join us as he shares invaluable tips about how businesses can use videos, YouTube, SEO and other tools to be found and ranked well in Google and across the internet.      

Brawls in the aisles over reclining seats, crying babies, and incorrectly served macadamia nuts. Passenger evictions over Christmas greetings. Emergency landings and arrests for mouthing off at flight attendants or seat-hopping. As the airlines industry shoves more people into metal tubes like cattle, are we losing our patience and civility? Are employees overreacting? Join our cheeky discussion about the current state of air travel.

Whether it's knowing how to write code, being articulate about the impact of technology on the 21st century economy, or ensuring today's students are versed in important STEAM (Science, Technology Engineering, Art, and Math) subjects and skillsets, it's long been clear that the days of geeks hiding in dark rooms and coding away from the rest of the world is an outdated notion. Not only will the simplest coding languages help you understand and use the Web with its many games and apps, but many jobs use a computer. According to Code.org,  two-thirds of open computing jobs fall outside of the tech sector in fields such as journalism, finance, medicine, and entertainment. Understanding coding and technology can also offer a level of  mental exercise that helps you adapt to many different career options. Charles Keating, president of West Sound Technology Association and president of his own technology consulting corporation, Keating Consulting Service, Inc., will join us and others in discussion about Hour of Code, technology, and the future.

On December 3, 12-year-old Ronin Shimizu, a former 6th grader enrolled at Folsom Middle School, committed suicide after schoolmates had bullied him for being a cheerleader. According to the CDC, suicide is the third leading cause of death among young people, resulting in about 4,400 deaths per year. Bully victims are between 2 to 9 times more likely to consider suicide than non-victims, according to studies by Yale University. A study in Britain found that at least half of suicides among young people are related to bullying10 to 14 year old girls may be at even higher risk for suicide, according to the study aboveAccording to statistics reported by ABC News, nearly 30 percent of students are either bullies or victims of bullying, and 160,000 kids stay home from school every day because of fear of bullying Anonymous Alerts® is a tool whichenables students to quickly report bullying, cyberbullying, depression, family problems, drug and alcohol abuse, gang-related issues, sexual harassment, guns/weapons in schools, theft/vandalism or unusual student behavior which may warrant immediate attention by school officials. The system is simple and secure for students and school officials. Join us as we discuss these issues and more.

After years as management in the corporate world, David Mitchell blazes his own trail to start a coaching and consulting business, write a book, and speak at seminars and business events on the Building Blocks of Business.

We've gotten messages asking us why we're not covering the Michael Brown/Ferguson riots issue, and some even accused us of ignoring it and not being a real 'Straight Talk' show tackling tougher subjects. There is no particular objection to covering this. Our host was out with bronchitis and once better we scheduled a Dream Weavers show for Dec. 4 at 3PM with David Mitchell of PMR Consulting - our usual air time is on Thursdays. Thanksgiving was a no go. Our goal with the Straight Talk Radio project is two-way dialogue, whether with a guest or our audience. Anyone can have a show dominated by hosts who become talking heads and we don't want to hear ourselves talk. So we put out a challenge to our Facebook page fans to click LIKE if they wanted us to do a show BUT but we said they had to commit to calling in and sharing their thoughts. There was enough response so here we are. Let's talk Ferguson. All opinions welcome but keep it clean and civil.

Join us as we recap World Affairs Council's meeting featuring Treasury Secretary Jacob J. Lew, who discussed the state of the world economy and what can be done to improve global economic growth ahead of his trip with President Obama to the G-20 Leaders' Summit in Brisbane, Australia.

After 13 years as the lobbyist in Olympia for the Washington Technology Industry Association, Lewis McMurran left the industry group in 2013 to run his own consulting business. A highly respected lobbyist by tech leaders and politicians, his work has been instrumental in legislative circles. Join us as we chat with Lew about business, policy, trends, elections, and more.

Join us as we recap a recent Silverdale Chamber of Commerce keynote panel about homeless youth facts, issues, and solutions.

Charles Keating, president of West Sound Technology Association, will join others in discussion about highlights and important takeaways from WSTA's annual summit with keynote Renee Radcliff Sinclair - who recently retired as head of Strategic Initiative for Apple, Inc. The topics included education, technology, innovation, and entrepreneurship. If you attended and want to share your thoughts, call in!

Ken Sethney is a lifelong entrepreneur, early tech adopter, marketing coach, and volunteer business mentor. Join us as we discuss efforts to build Kitsap SCORE, a local branch of a national organization designed to help Kitsap County residents start, grow and successfully exit their own business ventures. 

Join us as we talk about Ebola. What's known?What's being done about it?Are you at risk?Is media fear-mongering and causing mass hysteria?Is America facing an epidemic?Has it become a partisan issue?How is the backlash against fear-mongering affecting the information stream?

Join Harry Brelsford, Founder of SMB Nation, Charles Keating of Keating Consulting Service, Inc., and others as we discuss highlights and important takeaways from this recent ground-breaking conference held at Microsoft in Redmond. Did you attend? Call in and share your thoughts!

As the world evolves and more efforts are made to understand and embrace different cultures, religions, and lifestyles, is society resorting to political correctness which sets it on a path to social Marxism as some have claimed?When is it acceptable to hold individuals and corporations (and its executives) accountable for their prejudicial beliefs or the organisations they support?Can we go too far in pursuit of a story, justice, or what we perceive as righteous and open-minded behaviour? Is there a point when the offended becomes the offender, or is all fair in the pursuit of a tolerant society? Join us in what is certain to be a spirited discussion about tolerance, acceptance, and striking a balance between this and the right to believe and live as we choose.

Ed Wolfe, a Bremerton lawyer and former U.S. State Department official, is running for Kitsap County Commissioner. With his extensive service in all three branches of government (executive, legislative, judicial) and impressive resume in civic and business arenas, he is lauded across all aisles as the refreshing change needed in government. Tune in to hear his thoughts on what it takes to be a leader in the 21st century, and the importance of bringing balance back to the political and policy process.

From 1982 to 1999, Norm Johnson was a kicker in the NFL. He played for the Seattle Seahawks for eight years, then Altanta, Philadelphia, and Pittsburgh. During his career, he was a two-time Pro Bowler and All Pro, and helped lead the Pittsburgh Steelers to Super Bowl XXX in the 1995-96 season. It’s been years since he has played, yet he is still #10 on the NFL’s list of all team leading scorers. Now Norm is in business with partner Neal Nilsen, and the two have created 12 Man Pale Ale. The beer has taken off after its December 2013 release by Dick's Brewing Co., and is a well-balanced pale ale at 4.5% ABV that everyone can drink and enjoy as and For the Fan. Join us as we talk to Norm about the process of concept to market on this exciting venture.