Take Your Homeboy To Work Day Podcast

Today's Guest is Marthea Pitts, MSW, a 3x award-winning workforce development career counselor and macro-focused (program design and advocacy) social worker. Her commitment to challenging the status quo of economic development through career and education pathway design birthed The MSW Coach™. It is her journeys as a community servant that built her foundation for success. She has served as a social worker enriching young mothers' lives, and as a community advocate fighting for the fair distribution of resources from government & corporate leadership. Her captivating personality sees no limits and helps others design careers based off their values. For example, she's inspired and helped her clients find roles in environmental change, biotechnology, and high net worth philanthropy.As the founder and lead consultant of The MSW Coach™, she and her team help individuals, education providers, community-serving organizations, and employers reimagine P-20+ career education design. If you are considering a career change or would like to learn more, please visit her website, LinkedIn Profile and IG Page. https://martheapitts.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/themswcoach/https://www.instagram.com/the_mswcoach/

Today's guest is Sean Villery-Samuel, an attorney practicing Personal Injury Law with experience in Criminal Law. He is a native of Beaumont, Texas, and in May 2009, he earned his law degree from Texas Southern University, Thurgood Marshall School of Law.Sean was inspired to pursue a legal career by his father, who is an attorney in Beaumont, and a role model for the impact that Sean wanted to have with his career. He grew up watching his father help people, and knew that he wanted to help people in the same way.Part of his motivation for coming onto the show is to bring awareness to an enriching career like law, that is sorely lacking minority representation.He's here to share his unique journey and encourage others. Building a successful legal career requires significant time, resources and energy, but he believes in the power of serving your community through law as a worthwhile endeavor.Helping others in need is the foundation for his work ethic. And his favorite motivational quote, "The legacy you leave is the life that you live", underscores the importance of making the most of each day and leaving a positive impact.He was recently promoted to non-Equity Partner at Provost Umphrey Law Firm, where he focuses on fighting for the legal rights of individuals and families, and balancing justice for the working man.https://www.provostumphrey.com/attorneys/sean-villery.shtmlhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/sean-villery-samuel-93835488/

Today's guest is Sean Villery-Samuel, an attorney practicing Personal Injury Law with experience in Criminal Law. He is a native of Beaumont, Texas, and in May 2009, he earned his law degree from Texas Southern University, Thurgood Marshall School of Law.Sean was inspired to pursue a legal career by his father, who is an attorney in Beaumont, and a role model for the impact that Sean wanted to have with his career. He grew up watching his father help people, and knew that he wanted to help people in the same way.Part of his motivation for coming onto the show is to bring awareness to an enriching career like law, that is sorely lacking minority representation.He's here to share his unique journey and encourage others. Building a successful legal career requires significant time, resources and energy, but he believes in the power of serving your community through law as a worthwhile endeavor.Helping others in need is the foundation for his work ethic. And his favorite motivational quote, "The legacy you leave is the life that you live", underscores the importance of making the most of each day and leaving a positive impact.He was recently promoted to non-Equity Partner at Provost Umphrey Law Firm, where he focuses on fighting for the legal rights of individuals and families, and balancing justice for the working man.https://www.provostumphrey.com/attorneys/sean-villery.shtmlhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/sean-villery-samuel-93835488/

Today's Guest is Kevin Lloyd, a former Executive Leader in Retail and current “Tech-pre-neur”, who has built a tech and entrepreneur ecosystem that brings together the Black community in Central Ohio. He has over 20 years of Executive Leadership at Retail outlets like Dick's Sporting Goods, Target, Old Navy and Sears. Additionally, he is the Co-Founder and CEO of MYLE (Make Your Life Entertaining), an Entertainment Software and Data Analytics company that provides curated content based on the user's location. His vision is to become the world's most renowned entertainment marketplace and they've set a mission to expose at least 25,000 socio-economically challenged youth to entertainment, the arts, & travel. He's also the COO of Color Coded Labs, an education course that empowers people of color with tech courses AND after they graduate, connects them to innovative companies dedicated to diversity. Finally, he is the Co-Founder of ColumbusBlack.com, the premier online source of news, events, and entertainment for the Black community in Columbus, Ohio. It has acquired more than 250,000 unique visitors, 500,000 visits, and exceeded 10 million hits.https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinlloydtheleader/https://myle.com/https://www.colorcodedlabs.com/https://columbusblack.com/https://venturesuite.co/

Today's Guest is Kevin Lloyd, a former Executive Leader in Retail and current “Tech-pre-neur”, who has built a tech and entrepreneur ecosystem that brings together the Black community in Central Ohio. He has over 20 years of Executive Leadership at Retail outlets like Dick's Sporting Goods, Target, Old Navy and Sears. Additionally, he is the Co-Founder and CEO of MYLE (Make Your Life Entertaining), an Entertainment Software and Data Analytics company that provides curated content based on the user's location. His vision is to become the world's most renowned entertainment marketplace and they've set a mission to expose at least 25,000 socio-economically challenged youth to entertainment, the arts, & travel. He's also the COO of Color Coded Labs, an education course that empowers people of color with tech courses AND after they graduate, connects them to innovative companies dedicated to diversity. Finally, he is the Co-Founder of ColumbusBlack.com, the premier online source of news, events, and entertainment for the Black community in Columbus, Ohio. It has acquired more than 250,000 unique visitors, 500,000 visits, and exceeded 10 million hits.https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinlloydtheleader/https://myle.com/https://www.colorcodedlabs.com/https://columbusblack.com/https://venturesuite.co/

Today's episode features State Probation Officers. Probation officers work everyday is to ensure the safety of our communities. They promote safety by supervising an offender and ensuring compliance with any court orders. They help them find the resources they need to complete their supervision while holding them accountable so they kind of serve as part counselor and part law enforcement officer. They assess needs with individualized supervision plans specific to each offender. Without a doubt, being a Probation Officer takes heart.Today's Guest is Kimberly Jefferson, Senior Correctional Probation Officer with The Office of Community Corrections in the State of Florida. She loves what she does because she gets to help people when they are at a crossroads in their lives. She works alongside the state courts system, community partners and local law enforcement to help an offender integrate healthily into his/her community. Kim brings compassion and solutions for those she supervises and is a breath of fresh air for a critical piece of our society that needs more love, patience and understanding.State of Florida Probation Services WebsiteKimberly Jefferson LinkedIn Profile

Today's episode features State Probation Officers. Probation officers work everyday is to ensure the safety of our communities. They promote safety by supervising an offender and ensuring compliance with any court orders. They help them find the resources they need to complete their supervision while holding them accountable so they kind of serve as part counselor and part law enforcement officer. They assess needs with individualized supervision plans specific to each offender. Without a doubt, being a Probation Officer takes heart.Today's Guest is Kimberly Jefferson, Senior Correctional Probation Officer with The Office of Community Corrections in the State of Florida. She loves what she does because she gets to help people when they are at a crossroads in their lives. She works alongside the state courts system, community partners and local law enforcement to help an offender integrate healthily into his/her community. Kim brings compassion and solutions for those she supervises and is a breath of fresh air for a critical piece of our society that needs more love, patience and understanding.State of Florida Probation Services WebsiteKimberly Jefferson LinkedIn Profile

Today's episode will highlight Executive Leadership, such as CEOs , Presidents, and other top-level managers. Their focus is Setting the company's overall strategy and vision by setting the direction and goals of the company. They have to make tough decisions guiding the company mission, balance the demands of investors and serve as the public face of the company.Today's guest is Monty Ragland, President & CEO of ProTeam Solutions Inc. Monty is people-first leader with a love for the CO and those working to make it better. PSI is an IT consulting firm that offers services in areas like executive oversight, project management, business analytics, staff augmentation, and more. Monty recently assumed the helm of PSI in Mid-2022 so I'm excited to hear how these transitional months have been. I'm also excited to learn the day to day of CEOs lives because it feels like a role shrouded in mystery.Monty Ragland LinkedIn ProfilePSI Website

Today's episode will highlight Executive Leadership, such as CEOs , Presidents, and other top-level managers. Their focus is Setting the company's overall strategy and vision by setting the direction and goals of the company. They have to make tough decisions guiding the company mission, balance the demands of investors and serve as the public face of the company.Today's guest is Monty Ragland, President & CEO of ProTeam Solutions Inc. Monty is people-first leader with a love for the CO and those working to make it better. PSI is an IT consulting firm that offers services in areas like executive oversight, project management, business analytics, staff augmentation, and more. Monty recently assumed the helm of PSI in Mid-2022 so I'm excited to hear how these transitional months have been. I'm also excited to learn the day to day of CEOs lives because it feels like a role shrouded in mystery.Monty Ragland's LinkedIn ProfilePSI Website

Today's episode is about Medical Doctors and physicians. After surviving the pandemic, the contributions of Doctors can't be praised enough. The capacity to manage patient care, medical knowledge, navigate the politics of a health system and possess clear communication is nothing short of a superpower. So of course, on a podcast about careers, I had to invite a Medical Doctor to give us a peak behind the curtain about what that life is really like.Today's Guest is Dr. Sean Johnson, a physician that practices Family Medicine for Novant Health in Charlotte, NC. Dr. Johnson's medical north star is to empower his patients to play an active role in their own health. I've seen his journey from a Biology undergrad to Howard Medical Student and now thriving as a practicing physician for 9 years.Sean Johnson, MD Profile

Today's episode is about Medical Doctors and physicians. After surviving the pandemic, the contributions of Doctors can't be praised enough. The capacity to manage patient care, medical knowledge, navigate the politics of a health system and possess clear communication is nothing short of a superpower. So of course, on a podcast about careers, I had to invite a Medical Doctor to give us a peak behind the curtain about what that life is really like.Today's Guest is Sean Johnson, MD a physician that practices Family Medicine for Novant Health in Charlotte, NC. Dr. Johnson's medical north star is to empower his patients to play an active role in their own health. I've seen his journey from a Biology undergrad to Howard Medical Student and now thriving as a practicing physician for 9 years.Sean Johnson, MD Profile

Today's episode will feature the role of a Customer Experience Officer. The Customer Experience Officer (CXO) is a fast-growing role in business culture. This person ensures that the company vision and values match with the customer's experience using their product or service. They shape what a company offers to its customers. For example, if I visit an airport lounge such as the Delta Sky Club, the CXO would set standards for the Greeters, Service Staff and Kitchen to ensure I am happy and comfortable during my trip. They make sure the customer is getting the most value.As a salesperson myself, this philosophy is the north star of success so I have been eager to get Thomas Linton on the show. Thomas refers to himself a Customer Zealot and has succeeded developing products and services at banks, consumer packaged goods companies, financial services and healthcare companies. His foundation is strengthened with experience in Sales, Marketing, Engineering, Project Management and applying Six Sigma practices. I'm excited to learn from him today and see what lessons I can apply to strengthen my own sales future and how I service customers.https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomaslinton/

Today's episode will feature the role of a Customer Experience Officer. The Customer Experience Officer (CXO) is a fast-growing role in business culture. This person ensures that the company vision and values match with the customer's experience using their product or service. They shape what a company offers to its customers. For example, if I visit an airport lounge such as the Delta Sky Club, the CXO would set standards for the Greeters, Service Staff and Kitchen to ensure I am happy and comfortable during my trip. They make sure the customer is getting the most value.As a salesperson myself, this philosophy is the north star of success so I have been eager to get Thomas Linton on the show. Thomas refers to himself a Customer Zealot and has succeeded developing products and services at banks, consumer packaged goods companies, financial services and healthcare companies. His foundation is strengthened with experience in Sales, Marketing, Engineering, Project Management and applying Six Sigma practices.https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomaslinton/

Part 2 - This episode we'll learn about the life of a Music Coordinator in Film & Television. A Music Coordinator's primary responsibility is finding music that can be used in a video or production. For example, if a director wishes to hire an orchestra to record music for a film, it is up to the music coordinator to book the orchestra, the recording studio, and studio staff, and they must also negotiate legal rights to use the music, negotiate salaries, and coordinate with editors and film producers. As you can imagine, this role requires project management, negotiation and budgeting skills.Today's guest is Tanisha Edwards, Music & Production Coordinator for Saatchi & Saatchi. I've always known Tanisha as a music head so I was excited to invite her as a guest so I could hear how she leverages her creative and strategic brain in the world of music & Hollywood. Her path into this career is a bit non-traditional but a rich lesson about ingenuity and intention! Her story is an inspiration so pull up a chair.https://www.linkedin.com/in/tanishadedwards/The TYH2WD Audience is interested in hearing about your career or trade so sign up below to be a guest!https://lnkd.in/gx75DdES

Part 1 - This episode we'll learn about the life of a Music Coordinator in Film & Television. A Music Coordinator's primary responsibility is finding music that can be used in a video or production. For example, if a director wishes to hire an orchestra to record music for a film, it is up to the music coordinator to book the orchestra, the recording studio, and studio staff, and they must also negotiate legal rights to use the music, negotiate salaries, and coordinate with editors and film producers. As you can imagine, this role requires project management, negotiation and budgeting skills.Today's guest is Tanisha Edwards, Music & Production Coordinator for Saatchi & Saatchi. I've always known Tanisha as a music head so I was excited to invite her as a guest so I could hear how she leverages her creative and strategic brain in the world of music & Hollywood. Her path into this career is a bit non-traditional but a rich lesson about ingenuity and intention! Her story is an inspiration so pull up a chair.https://www.linkedin.com/in/tanishadedwards/The TYH2WD Audience is interested in hearing about your career or trade so sign up below to be a guest!https://lnkd.in/gx75DdES

Today we'll hear about Human Services Analytics. Human Services Analytics uses Data to help organizations improve outcomes for the people they serve. For example, State govts. May use it identify and better understand health risks in a population, or a company may use it to identify issues that slow their employees' productivity. The purpose of Human Services Analytics is to work more efficiently, reduce waste with resources and make better decisions with the goal to help people.Today's Guest is Dr. Jordan Argus, Chief Research Officer at Crane R&D. Dr. Argus is an exemplary community leader and scholar. He leads with compassion, empowerment and brotherly love. He then combines that with data analysis, critical thinking and solutions to form his own Superpower. Since 2014 he's been building Crane R&D, a thriving consulting business that has over 50 doctors and 100 thought leaders total using data to solve our society's biggest issues. He's already left his imprint on topics such as Reducing Infant Mortality, Healing the brain from racial trauma and toxic stress and ending the school to prison pipeline. The foundation for his work to to help everyone achieve their full potential and identity.https://www.linkedin.com/in/drargus/https://crane-rd.com/

Today we're discussing the skilled trades of plumbers, HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, & Air Conditioning), Truck Driving & Entrepreneurship. The US Dept. of Labor reports skilled trade educations are more likely to be employed than those with academic degrees. In fact, trade school is less expensive that a traditional 4 year degree, offers more job security since it can't be outsourced and will have availability since more tradespeople, who are baby boomers and Gen. Xers, will be retiring soon.Today's guest is Quinton Harden, a 20 year professional in plumbing, HVAC and truck driving and now has expanded into Business Ownership. His principle of treating each job as if he's working on his own equipment has earned him high praise and acclaim from clients and his Union Peers. He loves how this career has allowed him to see the country, meet some of the coolest ppl and design his life how he sees fit. He's charted his own path as an independent thinker and is here to share why skilled trades are valuable to our society and possibly your life.https://www.thumbtack.com/oh/pickerington/central-air-conditioning-repair/harden-hvac-plumbing-small-appliances/service/447186946109685766?utm_medium=web&utm_source=txt&surface=sp

Today episode is about the life of Travel Agents. Travel Agents have truly made an evolution in what they deliver. Long gone are the days of booking you a flight and handing you a pamphlet. Now they provide “white glove” service that includes excursions, cuisine suggestions and everything in between.Today's guest is Stephanie Kilson-Thomas with KT Travel & More. Stephanie has built a thriving travel agency leveraging her skills in brand development, sales execution and customer service. She embeds her life philosophies of integrity, honesty and respect into her business which has given her a foundation to succeed as a female entrepreneur. And the cherry on the top is that she is a published writer.Visit https://kttravelandmore.com/about/ to learn more!https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanieisaacs/

Today we'll hear about electrical engineering, energy service and its delivery to your home & business. Electricity powers the essentials of our lives like heating and lighting and dare I say, that many of us take it for granted, that is, until it is out and we don't have any. Energy delivery is complex and requires state-of-the-art infrastructure so that it is safe and reliable.Today's guest is Chase Steward, a 15 year veteran with ComEd. ComEd is Illinois' largest energy provider that keeps 70% of the state's population lit and heated. Chase is a steward of Illinois' electric superhighway. His love for his work is rooted in providing Chicagoans a high quality of life and economic well-being that makes Illinois an exceptional place to live. Beyond leveraging his Engineering degree for the technical aspects of his responsibilities, he also has mastered clear communication in high-stress situations, diligence to details and building trust from customers and executives. I'm excited to pull the curtain back on such a critical part of our lives that often goes unheralded.https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristopher-steward-mba-41b1461b/

Today's episode is about Public Health, which is the science of protecting and improving the health of people and their communities. This work is achieved by promoting healthy lifestyles, mitigating injuries, and reducing and preventing diseases. Public health professionals try to prevent problems from happening by implementing educational programs, recommending policies, and conducting research. Now this is in contrast to clinical professionals like doctors and nurses, who focus primarily on treating individuals after they become sick or injured. Public health also works to limit health disparities and focuses on promoting health care equity, quality and accessibility.Today's Guest is Dr. JacKetta Cobbs, the Academic Program Director for the Department of Public Health Sciences at the Medical University of South Carolina. She is a committed educator who uses her love for teaching & leading to encourage others to use their gifts for society's benefit. Her passion for healthcare has given her a chance to focus on Diabetes Prevention in the Black Community and helping the US Army reduce injuries during Basic Training.https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacketta-cobbs-phd-mph-8a725139/

Today, we're discussing Human Resources with a specialty in Employee & Labor Relations. Human Resource Managers focus on the efficiency of the relationship between employee and employer, so they often wear many hats that include Legal, Business & Project Management. Employee Relations Specialists focus on preventing problems between employees and management. They create policies that are fair and consistent for everyone in the workplace. Labor Relations often deal with Union negotiations. They influence performance management, disciplinary action, settlement agreements and an extensive list of other complex issues.Today's guest is Kendra Lee, Esquire, an HR Consultant focused on Employee & Labor Relations with the US Dept. of Veterans Affairs. Kendra has served the VA for over 9 years leveraging her MBA & JD to establish a motivating and healthy work environment that will ultimately serve Veterans. She loves that she gets to use her expertise & pragmatism to solve dilemmas and is known around her parts as a SME or Subject Matter Expert.https://www.linkedin.com/in/leekl2003/

Today, we're discussing Fashion Designing and Business Ownership. Shows such as Project Runway, The Hype and The Fashion Fund highlight how talented you have to be to succeed in the apparel and fashion industry. Having an artistic eye, sense of style, and sketching designs are only prerequisites to enter this world. You also need strong sewing skills, an in-depth knowledge of fabrics and software training on programs like Adobe. In addition, you better be equipped with exceptional communication skills to negotiate with suppliers, project management skills to handle priorities and know how to budget.Today's Guest is Stephanie Foster, The Creator & Owner of Prissy Duck. Her mission with Prissy Duck is to bridge the gap between taller women and fashionable clothes while keeping it trendy, contemporary and sexy. All of her life experiences have given her the foundation to thrive, which include earning her Bachelors in Broadcast Journalism, being a leader as a Division I Basketball Player and dedicating her time in a service sorority. I knew I wanted you to be a guest when I first thought of creating this show so I appreciate you joining me today! Welcome!

Today, we're discussing Pharmaceutical Sales. I'm imagine you've wondered, what do they talk about with the doctor? Well I've learned that they are critical for promoting innovation in medicine. They work hard to analyze complicated disease states and illuminate key differences in medicine for healthcare professionals that will lead to better long-term outcomes for you, the patient. They have a continuous thirst for knowledge and many are passion driven by family and friends who dealt with pain from an illness.Today, I am elated to speak with Stephanie Alexander, a 15 year veteran in Pharma Sales. She started off as a sales rep and over her career has served in a wide range of roles that include National Trainer, District Manager & most recently Associate Director working on groundbreaking innovation in genetic mutations. She's loved the opportunities afforded to her through her career and now has evolved into a Career Coach helping others see the benefits of using their talents in pharma sales. She's here to pull the curtain back and demystify what these people in suits do. It's a pleasure to learn and speak with you today. Welcome!

Today we're discussing Policy Advisors. A policy advisor creates the internal and external strategy that helps a company achieve their mission. Internally, they develop operational guidelines to ensure state and federal regulations are being adhered. Externally, they use their expertise to negotiate with leaders in government agencies that impact the day-to-day operations of the company. Because the responsibilities are expansive, Policy Advisors have to have a wide range of skills for success that include quantitative analysis, being an astute collaborator and a visionary.   Today, I'm proud to speak with Orjanel Lewis, Esquire, Policy Advisor with the PRA Group. The PRA Group strives to be the trusted leader of the nonperforming loan industry. She has an influential role balancing the goals of her company while creating policies that treat their customers with respect and achieve long-term financial success. It's an honor to learn and speak with you today.

Today's episode is about Commercial Real Estate. Commercial real estate refers to business retailers like office spaces, hotels and strip malls. When banks lend money for CRE, it heavily influences wealth distribution, via raising property values and determining the location of businesses in a community.   Today I'm thrilled to have Jeff Allen, Director of The Economic Equity Advisory Group at BMO Harris Bank to share his experience navigating CRE for over 14 years. Jeff has worked at the largest CRE Lending banks and has been instrumental in determining who his employers lend to and how they lend. His experience negotiating with investors, business owners and city planners are invaluable and I'm thrilled to learn from him today.

Today we're discussing Government Relations and Advocacy. Relations and advocacy requires leaders to serve as the unified voice for a group of citizens with a shared cause. They fight to make sure that cause is top of mind with policy makers using their expertise, relationships and negotiation skills. They also educate the community they represent about progress and invest time growing awareness to others to build more support. Today, I'm proud to speak with Joseph Pierce Jr, the Director of Government Relations and Advocacy with Mental Health Partnerships. Joe fights for policies that will meet the needs of his members in DE, PA and NJ.   He works hard to protect their rights, connect them to benefits and ensure their voices are heard and respected. His background leading successful grassroots campaigns in the battleground city of Philadelphia has even earned him recognition from President Biden.