Podcasts about army rotc

In this episode of the podcast, Lieutenant Colonel Kirkland discusses options for commissioning into the Army. He explains how ROTC prepares cadets for various service options including active duty, National Guard, and Army Reserve. The discussion highlights the differences between Army ROTC and other branches, the commissioning process, and the strategic choices cadets make. Specific programs such as the Minuteman and Simultaneous Membership Program (SMP) are explored, along with the criteria to secure active duty commissions. Whether you're a high school student eyeing a military career or already in ROTC, this episode provides essential insights for navigating your commissioning journey into the Army!

https://peacewalker.mn.co/ For More - Today's episode I talk to Lt. Col. Denny Gillem (ret). We talk about being a better protector and more. Denny Gillem is a West Point–trained infantry officer and Vietnam combat veteran who, after earning dual master's degrees and serving in leadership and advisory roles—including head of Army ROTC programs at Stanford and the University of Tampa—retired to western Michigan. Since then, he's built a second career in sales, consulting, teaching political science and management, and civic leadership, founding the 1776 Society of Veterans and serving in senior roles on political campaigns and local business networking initiatives.Denny's Website: https://frontlinesoffreedom.com/Check out Denny's book: The Smiling Rangerhttps://www.amazon.com/Smiling-Ranger-Life-Career-Army/dp/1618081268/ref=sr_1_1?crid=R152GMFRAWCN&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.4Bvza9QjFSA5PVIHTYpvBGaD-INBRb3Pxj8QkABo-i6j6Qt3rsOYq0uti-YhUpo3MIa-05vz5AoQknouecP4OsED5xXD4TLmAKyLeaDNxvRrRO5OdwmPnI5wehXwWBThgr9IyYbQeOZ13GMLY-8EHrqHRNj6lFDRciaLCrfFIT6gx2POD_ULiZGT3GR5VLsc.JNmcwmC8qj7k3xMGg_Tn5GoRvI3mh3zDZ26E9KE4ODQ&dib_tag=se&keywords=smiling+ranger+book&qid=1746456090&sprefix=smiling+ranger+book%2Caps%2C206&sr=8-1

The Gear 4 Grunts CEO, Doug Mullen, began his military career by graduating U.S. Army Ranger School as an Army ROTC cadet. He then went on to graduate with a BA in History and as Distinguished Military Graduate in 1990. As a newly commissioned Second Lieutenant of Infantry, Doug served as a Rifle Platoon Leader and Mortar Platoon leader with the 1/501st (ABN) while stationed at Ft. Richardson, Alaska. He later transitioned to the Signal Corps and served as the Brigade Signal Officer for 1st Brigade, 6th ID (Light) also located at Ft. Richardson. Doug's military schooling experience includes the Infantry officer Basic Course; Infantry Mortar Leader's Course; Jumpmaster School and the Signal Officer Advanced Course. Doug also earned Basic Airborne Wings, the Pathfinder Badge and was awarded Senior Parachutist Wings. Doug left the Army in 1997 to pursue a career in software where he has since held various management positions and earned an MBA.

War and Trauma US Army In Kuwait, Before The Invasion of Iraq. In the early morning darkness of March 23, 2003, just three days after the official start of the Iraq War, a shocking act of violence erupted, not from an outside enemy, but from within the ranks of the U.S. Army. It was an act that forever changed Command Sergeant Major (Ret.) Bart Womack’s life, and would later become the central focus of his gripping book, Embedded Enemy. Stationed at Camp Pennsylvania in Kuwait, the Headquarters of the 101st Airborne Division was making final preparations for the invasion of Iraq. But that night, as soldiers tried to rest before crossing the border, an explosion shattered the calm. A grenade was tossed into a tent. Seconds later, gunfire rang out. Smoke, confusion, and panic followed. Follow the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Newsbreak, Medium and most all social media platforms “I knew we were in the land of not quite right,” Womack recalled in a recent interview. “And that was a not quite right grenade that, for some reason, there were sparks before it exploded.” The Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast episode is available for free on our website, Apple Podcasts, Spotify and most major podcast platforms. “We’re under attack.” Womack and a fellow officer acted quickly, rushing to alert their colonel and evacuate the tent. “Just like that, it was pitch dark, and the tent was filled with smoke,” Womack said. “I shook the commander vigorously until he woke up, and I was shouting, ‘Get up. We’re under attack.’” The attacker? A fellow American soldier, one of their own, who had sworn the same oath to defend the Constitution. Two officers were killed. Fourteen others were wounded, six of whom were evacuated and never returned. The emotional and psychological trauma from that night continues to haunt many of the survivors. Look for supporting stories about this and much more from Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast in platforms like Medium, Newsbreak and Blogspot. From Battlefield to Healing Ground, War and Trauma US Army In Kuwait, Before The Invasion of Iraq. Womack, a decorated Iraq War veteran with two Bronze Stars (one for valor), the Legion of Merit, and the Army Ranger Tab, now devotes his life to helping others recover from the trauma of war. After 29 years of service in the U.S. Army, including assignments as a Drill Sergeant, Ranger Instructor, and Sergeant of the Guard at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, he has turned his focus to serving veterans in new ways. Now a resident of Pittsburgh, Womack holds a B.S. in Business Management from Park University and an MBA from Waynesburg University. He serves as the Program Manager for Onward to Opportunity, Pittsburgh, a Syracuse University initiative that equips transitioning service members and veterans with career training and support. Follow the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and podcast on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Newsbreak, Medium and most all social media platforms But perhaps his most passionate endeavor is as Co-Founder and COO of the Armed Forces Equestrian Center (AFEC), a nonprofit that offers equine therapy to veterans, military families, and individuals with disabilities. “I’ve seen firsthand how trauma can follow our warriors long after the war ends,” Womack said. “Horses have an incredible ability to help people reconnect, rebuild trust, and find peace.” A Voice for the Silenced In his memoir, Embedded Enemy, Womack details the chaos and heartbreak of that fateful night in Kuwait. It’s a story not just of violence and betrayal, but of resilience, leadership, and the unbreakable bonds forged in war. The book is available on major platforms Amazon, and Womack often shares his story on news outlets, podcasts, and across social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram*, and X (formerly Twitter). The interview is available as a free podcast on the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and podcast website, also available on platforms like Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and most major podcast outlets. “Talking about it continues to be therapy for me,” he admitted. “I live it every day, but telling the story reminds me that we made it through, and that maybe someone else out there will find strength through our experience.” War and Trauma US Army In Kuwait, Before The Invasion of Iraq. Beyond writing, Womack also works in the entertainment industry as an actor and military technical advisor. He has appeared in several film and television productions and recently spent 18 months in Afghanistan training the Afghan National Army. His reach is global, he has even contributed to training missions in Nigeria as part of the Africa Contingency Operation. A Legacy of Leadership CSM (Ret.) Bart Womack’s military career spanned decades and continents, but his leadership continues off the battlefield. He sits on the board of the *Veterans Media Corporation*, is an Executive Producer at The Veterans Channel, and regularly mentors Army ROTC cadets. Check out the show on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Newsbreak, Medium and most all social media platforms In October 2020, his ongoing service was recognized when he was knighted into The Order of St. George, Grand Priory of Canada and the Americas. His evaluations from active duty describe him as “the standard by which others are measured,” and his life’s work continues to embody that high bar. For more insights, the free episode of the "Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast", is available on their website for free in addition to Apple Podcasts and Spotify, as well as through other podcast platforms. Whether through his book, podcast appearances, or his work in therapy and transition programs, Womack’s message is clear: the war doesn’t always end when the fighting stops. But with brotherhood, purpose, and support, there is life after trauma and hope after war. War and Trauma US Army In Kuwait, Before The Invasion of Iraq. For more information about Bart Womack, visit his website. Or You can listen to his interviews as a free Podcast on the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show on their website, also on Apple Podcasts, Spotify and other major podcast platforms. You can help contribute money to make the Gunrunner Movie. The film that Hollywood won't touch. It is about a now Retired Police Officer that was shot 6 times while investigating Gunrunning. He died 3 times during Medical treatment and was resuscitated. You can join the fight by giving a monetary "gift" to help ensure the making of his film at agunrunnerfilm.com. Your golden years are supposed to be easy and worry free, at least in regards to finances. If you are over 70, you can turn your life insurance policy into cash. Visit LetSavings.com, LetSavings.com or call (866) 480-4252, (866) 480-4252, again that's (866) 480 4252 to see if you qualify. Learn useful tips and strategies to increase your Facebook Success with John Jay Wiley. Both free and paid content are available on this Patreon page. Time is running out to secure the Medicare coverage you deserve! Whether you're enrolling for the first time or looking for a better plan, our experts help you compare options to get more benefits, lower costs, and keep your doctors, all for free! Visit LetHealthy.com, that's LetHealthy.com or call (866) 427-1225, (866) 427-1222 to learn more. Be sure to check out our website. Be sure to follow us on MeWe, X, Instagram, Facebook,Pinterest, Linkedin and other social media platforms for the latest episodes and news. Background song Hurricane is used with permission from the band Dark Horse Flyer. You can contact John J. "Jay" Wiley by email at Jay@letradio.com, or learn more about him on their website. Get the latest news articles, without all the bias and spin, from the Law Enforcement Talk Radio Show and Podcast on the Newsbreak app, which is free. Find a wide variety of great podcasts online at The Podcast Zone Facebook Page, look for the one with the bright green logo. War and Trauma US Army In Kuwait, Before The Invasion of Iraq. Attributions Fox News Amazon.com BME.com Flatterspeakers Amazon.com BartWomack.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Send us a text"When you got a barrel of monkeys, you put a gorilla in charge." With these words, a drill sergeant forever shaped Michael Megan's understanding of leadership – wisdom he now passes to the next generation of military officers at Texas A&M University.Megan brings over 13 years of experience from the prestigious 75th Ranger Regiment to his role as Senior Enlisted Advisor for Rudder's Company, an elite organization within Texas A&M's Army ROTC program named after James Earl Rudder, former university president and WWII Ranger commander. His transition from special operations to academia wasn't merely a career move but a mission to shape future officers and strengthen the critical officer-NCO relationship that underpins military effectiveness.Throughout our conversation, Megan reveals what truly makes elite units exceptional – not flashy tactics or equipment, but relentless accountability and fundamentals. "The regiment just gets back to the basics constantly," he explains, highlighting how the organization's unique structure with lower-enlisted personnel creates both its greatest strength and challenge. His candid reflections on the selection process, the difficulty of maintaining standards, and the brotherhood that develops through shared hardship offer rare insights into one of America's premier fighting forces.Perhaps most fascinating is Megan's ability to identify tactical patterns across different domains – drawing direct parallels between military operations, football strategies, and combat sports techniques. This pattern recognition helps him teach complex concepts by meeting cadets where they are, using familiar frameworks to explain unfamiliar tactics. Under his guidance, Texas A&M's Ranger Challenge team has secured back-to-back national championships, outperforming hundreds of ROTC programs nationwide.Whether you're fascinated by military culture, leadership development, or the psychological elements of high-performance teams, this episode offers valuable insights applicable far beyond the battlefield. Follow Megan's continuing mission to prepare the next generation through his "Ranger U" podcast, available on all major platforms.Ranger U Podcast: https://creators.spotify.com/pod/profile/michael-meegan1/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/r.a.n.g.e.r.u/https://linktr.ee/r.a.n.g.e.r.u?fbclid=PAZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAaZyR1ze7Oum38h-n3682enNDrLje8DGOP9aAS2ZUyWzaY2ljLjDvA_Av8g_aem_e4l5gCeWKR9TGoJR83N_pAFind out more about Big Tex Ordnance at bigtexordnance.com

Colonel Matthew Mattner (U.S. Army, Retired) shares his incredible journey from a 27-year career in the U.S. Army to becoming the Chief Operating Officer in the healthcare sector. Colonel Mattner shares insights from his high school days, the influence of his Navy veteran father, and his decision to join the Army through an ROTC scholarship. He discusses experiences in various global deployments, leadership lessons learned, and the transition from military to civilian healthcare management. This episode delves into the importance of adaptability, leadership strategies, and understanding the financial intricacies of healthcare. A must-listen for anyone interested in career transitions and the application of military skills in civilian roles.▬▬▬▬▬ Resources ▬▬▬▬▬Matthew Mattner: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattmattner/Aviva Clayman: https://www.linkedin.com/in/aviva-clayman/Army ROTC: https://www.goarmy.com/careers-and-jobs/find-your-path/army-officers/rotc2014 Green Bay Packers Roster: https://www.nfl.com/sitemap/html/rosters/2014/green-bay-packersTAG Heuer® Formula 1 Chronograph: https://www.tagheuer.com/us/en/timepieces/collections/tag-heuer-formula-1/43-mm-quartz/CAZ1010.BA0842.htmlInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/cacklemedia/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@cacklemediaX: https://x.com/CackleMediaLLCYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@CackleMediaLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/cacklemedia/Support the pod when signing up for Descript / SquadCast: https://get.descript.com/transferableskill▬▬▬▬▬ Timestamps ▬▬▬▬▬00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome00:39 Military Beginnings and ROTC Experience05:00 Aviation Aspirations and Flight School06:59 Deployment and Leadership in the Army17:57 Overseas Assignments and Cultural Immersion21:35 Transition to Healthcare Leadership27:51 Leadership Philosophy and Final Thoughts31:59 Conclusion and Acknowledgements

Lacy Schilmiller was nominated as a Beck's Player with Heart for her commitment and passion on and off the range. What she loves most about high school sports is how they bring excitement and challenging possibilities to life for all who participate. Lacy believes all school sports provide a mental break from schoolwork and she can put forth the best of her abilities. Lacy participates a lot in NJROTC (Navy Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps) and she is in the running for future Commander of her school's NJROTC. She volunteers at her school in various ways such as doing the presentation of colors (national anthem) at the football and basketball games, teachers assistant, participating on the Precision Rifle Team, helping with annual fundraisers such as the pancake breakfast, color run, and more. Lacy is deeply involved with her local 4-H, where she is the media producer, and has written and received two 4-H grants for her club. She enjoys helping the fair board to set up parking and animal barns, running the "My Little Farm," guiding younger kids with animals, and being the go-to help for a lot of people. She also shows meat pen chickens, pigs, and goats and helps the mini-4H'ers with their animals. Lacy is also very involved with her local church. She regularly attends the youth choir, serves at mass, helps with the High-School Hangout youth group, and attends camps and conventions. Lacy feels as though she has made an impact on her community by selling Kennebec potato bags and donating the money she made to a different organization each year. Agriculture means a lot to Lacy. It has taught her over the years that everything starts small like a seed, and as it grows or changes, adaptations and resources flourish. If she had to say one word that describes the agriculture grown in her, it is initiative. She has learned that in agriculture she needs to make her own decisions and be resourceful. In the future, Lacy has some possible college choices, but she does know that she would like to go into the Air Force ROTC or the Army ROTC to continue her passion for rifle and then become an officer in the medical field. Her overall goal is to work for the VA hospital so she can give back to those who gave their all and hear their stories of the good times with their friends and family.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

Andrew Bailey is a prominent figure in Missouri politics, currently serving as the state's Attorney General. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in English and later earned a Juris Doctor from the University of Missouri, where he also participated in the Army ROTC. His professional history includes deployment to Iraq, as well the roles of Assistant Attorney General, General Counsel for the Missouri Department of Corrections, and Deputy Counsel in the Governor's Office. Throughout his career, he has focused on protecting constitutional rights, advocating for victims, and addressing violent crime. Bailey's tenure as Attorney General has been marked by significant legal actions, particularly regarding COVID-19. He led Missouri's lawsuit against the Chinese government for allegedly hoarding personal protective equipment during the pandemic, seeking $25 billion in damages for the state. His office has also actively pursued cases related to consumer protection and First Amendment rights, including recent lawsuits against Starbucks for discrimination and Jackson County for infringing on free speech in counseling settings. As he continues his work, Bailey remains committed to safeguarding Missourians' rights and enhancing community safety. Shawn Ryan Show Sponsors: https://ShawnLikesGold.com | 855-936-GOLD #goldcopartner http://shopify.com/srs http://ziprecruiter.com/srs https://bunkr.life/ | Use Code SRS https://americanfinancing.net/srs NMLS 182334, nmlsconsumeraccess.org http://trueclassic.com/srs Upgrade your wardrobe and save on @trueclassic at trueclassic.com/SRS! #trueclassicpod https://prizepicks.onelink.me/LME0/SRS Andrew Bailey Links: Office of the Attorney General - https://ago.mo.gov/ Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/andrewbaileymo/ X - https://x.com/AndrewBaileyMO Website - https://baileymo.com/ Please leave us a review on Apple & Spotify Podcasts. Vigilance Elite/Shawn Ryan Links: Website | Patreon | TikTok | Instagram | Download Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jesse "Bud" Alley was born in Florida but grew up in Greenville, South Carolina. He joined Army ROTC while enrolled at Furman University. Not long after commissioning, he was assigned as a radio officer. After one more reassignment, his job was to make sure radios were in working order for the colonels in the new Air Cavalry Division.Because of the radio work and other training, Alley had never gone through an infantry training course or even flown in a helicopter when he was deployed to Vietnam in 1965. Within months he would be in the midst of some of the most intense combat of the war.In this edition of "Veterans Chronicles," Alley walks us through the buildup to the Battle of Ia Drang. He also explains what he saw upon arriving at Landing Zone X-Ray after the brutal combat there. Alley then takes through the grueling march from X-Ray to Landing Zone Albany and almost immediately entering combat there. He also details the hours enduring what he calls a killing zone, and holding a soldier named Garrett Lee in his arms while Lee took his final breaths.Finally, Alley takes us on his journey to meet the family of Garrett Lee just two years ago and what that moment was like. He also tells about his trip back to Vietnam many years after the war.

Cylvia had the amazing opportunity to talk to a few Army ROTC cadets. It is such a learning experience and we encourage you all to check them out!

Today we sit down with Joseph Zolper from the Road Home Program. Joseph discusses his military transition and how he overestimated how easy it would be. After landing a job, he found himself trying to fill a void that could only be filled through helping veterans. He eventually found the Road Home Program and all the stars aligned. Listen in as he talks about their program and the amazing impact and results they are having helping those in our veteran community.Joseph Zolper grew up in suburban Chicago, earned a BS from Illinois State University, and was commissioned from Army ROTC as an Infantry Officer in 2015. He served with 4ID, out of Fort Carson, CO, and deployed to Afghanistan in 2018-19, earning a Bronze Star and Combat Infantryman Badge. Following his military service, Joseph worked as an Operations Manager at Amazon, leading a Military Employee Resource Group. This passion for supporting the military community brought him back to Chicago to the Road Home Program, where he is the Manager of Veteran Outreach & Networking. At Road Home, he continues his service to the military community by bringing needed mental healthcare to veterans, service members, and their families.#vetsos #vetsospodcast #military #militarylife #transitioningmilitary #militarytransition #militaryspouses #militaryspouse #militaryfamily #militaryfamilies #militarycommunity #militarysupport #militaryveterans #vets #veterans #veteran #veterantransition #transitioningveterans #veteranservices #honorveterans #veteranswife #supportourveterans #veteransupport #veteransusa #veteranshelpingveterans #careerchange #transitioningservicemembers #linkedin #sof #coastguard #navy #spaceforce #marines #army #nationalguard #airforce #usmc #usmcr #us #usa #education #podcast #entertainment

This season will feature conversations with key decision-makers who have to support the journey to a platform or any ecosystem. We will talk to C-suite executives, board members, investors, and others who must be bought into the platform journey. In this episode, Avanish and Kevin discuss:Kevin's career journey and his experiences shaping ServiceNow's growth.What it means to authentically be a platform company and how ServiceNow approached platform-first scaling.How customer feedback drove ServiceNow's expansion into new domains like HR and customer workflows.The key factors for entering new markets, including market fit, size, and differentiation.The importance of hiring domain-specific experts and adapting go-to-market strategies.Building and leveraging ecosystem partnerships to drive growth and scale.Balancing core revenue innovation with new domain expansion to ensure sustainable growth.Guest: Kevin HavertyKevin Haverty was formerly the Vice Chairman, Global Public Sector at ServiceNow (NYSE: NOW). In this role, he worked directly with CEO Bill McDermott on expanding ServiceNow's strategic footprint in the public sector and mentoring the company's next generation of early-in-career professionals.During the past decade, Kevin successfully led and grew ServiceNow's world-class go-to-market organization. He most recently served as the company's Chief Revenue Officer, and also held the roles of EVP and SVP of Worldwide Sales and VP of Americas Sales.Earlier in his career, Kevin held several senior sales leadership roles at EMC, Data Domain, Thomsen Financial, and Brocade. He also served 10 years in the U.S. Army National Guard, attaining the rank of Captain.Kevin holds a bachelor's degree in Political Science from Providence College, where he was a distinguished military graduate of the Army ROTC program. He currently serves on the Board of Sprinklr.  Host: Avanish SahaiAvanish Sahai is a Tidemark Fellow and has served as a Board Member of Hubspot since April 2018 and of Birdie.ai since April 2022. Previously, Avanish served as the vice president, ISV and Apps partner ecosystem of Google from 2019 until 2021. From 2016 to 2019, he served as the global vice president, ISV and Technology alliances at ServiceNow.  From 2014 to 2015, he was the senior vice president and chief product officer at Demandbase.  Prior to Demandbase, Avanish built and led the Appexchange platform ecosystem team at Salesforce, and was an executive at Oracle and McKinsey & Company, as well as various early-to-mid stage startups in Silicon Valley.About TidemarkTidemark is a venture capital firm, foundation, and community built to serve category-leading technology companies as they scale.  Tidemark was founded in 2021 by David Yuan, who has been investing, advising, and building technology companies for over 20 years.  Learn more at www.tidemarkcap.com.LinksFollow our guests, Kevin HavertyFollow our host, Avanish Sahai

Send us a textDon't be fooled by the sweet cover of this picture book by U.S. Army AH-64 Apache combat helicopter pilots, Laura Pangallo Fryar (author) and Morgan Samuels (illustrator). In this interview we geek out on helicopter flying, military careers, “delivering justice” for U.S. ground forces, active duty parenthood, and creative pursuits—and also about their inspiring picture book, Be Something Epic. Laura is a career Army Officer who went through ROTC and, by way of Korea, Germany, Human Resources Command, back to Korea as a Brigade S3 where she had her first child, and NORTHCOM, is currently in her final tour of duty as a Professor of Military Science for Auburn University's Army ROTC program with a cadre of over 180 cadets. Morgan's career followed a similar path until, through the natural progression for a commissioned officer, she wasn't flying as she wanted and decided to leave the Army. She flew scenic tours at Mount Rushmore, oil rigs in the Gulf of Mexico, and eventually transitioned to fixed wing with the help of the veteran non-profit organization RTAG to ultimately become a 737 pilot for a major airline. In Be Something Epic, we imagine growing up to be an astronaut, a teacher, a dentist, a first responder, or a defender of freedom, and we reflect on what character traits and behaviors we can work on now that will prepare us to be something EPIC. Buy the book: https://literaryaviatrix.com/book/be-something-epic/Did you know you can support your local independent bookshop and me by shopping through my Bookshop.org affiliate links on my website? If a book is available on Bookshop.org, you'll find a link to it on the book page. By shopping through the Literary Aviatrix website a small portion of the sale goes to support the content you love, at no additional cost to you. https://literaryaviatrix.com/shop-all-books/Thanks so much for listening! Stay up to date on book releases, author events, and Aviatrix Book Club discussion dates with the Literary Aviatrix Newsletter. Visit the Literary Aviatrix website to find over 600 books featuring women in aviation in all genres for all ages. Become a Literary Aviatrix Patron and help amplify the voices of women in aviation. Follow me on social media, join the book club, and find all of the things on the Literary Aviatrix linkt.ree. Blue skies, happy reading, and happy listening!-Liz Booker

In this chapter of Building the Brand, I cover my time from landing in Fort Benning, Georgia in October 2013, to arriving at Fort Hood, Texas in October 2014. I share how my severe eating disorder led me to fall in love with fitness and start Bare Performance Nutrition (BPN). I recount my Army ROTC experiences, graduating college, and the challenges faced during Ranger School. This chapter reflects on the importance of solitude, resilience, and the life lessons learned, paving the way for BPN's growth and my leadership approach. Chapters 00:00 Overcoming Personal Struggles 00:10 The Spark of Fitness and Nutrition 00:25 Military Journey Begins 00:50 Starting BPN: The Early Challenges 02:05 Reflecting on Chapter One 05:00 Arriving at Fort Benning 07:56 Lessons from Military Training 18:33 The Importance of Solitude 24:56 Preparing for Ranger School 32:55 Mastering Time Management 34:47 The Ranger School Challenge 39:48 Facing Setbacks and Resilience 50:45 Lessons in Leadership and Character 53:50 New Beginnings at Fort Hood 59:46 Going All In on BPN Strength, endurance, and wellness supplements to fuel your performance. SAVE 10% at BPN Supps: https://bit.ly/nickbare10audio FOLLOW: IG: https://www.instagram.com/thenickbarepodcast YT: youtube.com/@nickbarefitness

There's a young alumni theme to this week's episode of The Football Letter Podcast! We're joined by Immediate-Past President of the Central Texas Chapter, Derek Turner '17 and Communications Chair of the Greater Boston Chapter, Andrew Flatley '19. Both Derek and Andrew have made a tremendous impact as volunteers in such a short time since graduating from Penn State. We talked with Derek about his service in the Army ROTC and being stationed at Fort Cavazos after graduation, his involvement with Lion Ambassadors as a student, his role as the Immediate Past President with the Central Texas Chapter and how the chapter unites area Penn Staters on game days. Andrew discussed his deep family connections to Penn State, making lifelong friends through the Legion of Blue basketball student section, the special THON Night of Hope banquets the chapter hosts, the vibes of a Greater Boston Chapter football watch party and more. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Connect with the Central Texas Chapter:WebsiteFacebook GroupInstagramConnect with the Greater Boston Chapter:WebsiteFacebook GroupInstagramLearn more about the Penn State Alumni Association: alumni.psu.edu. Follow the Penn State Alumni Association on:FacebookX (Twitter)InstagramLinkedIn

"My pathway to Richmond was indirect. My ability to stay at Richmond was also pretty creative, but the school holds a very special place in my heart because I had to fight for it."Today on As Spiders Do, Brandon Shelton, '98 shares his journey from UR's Army ROTC to Ranger School and Military Intelligence to founding a company that invests in veteran founders. Tune in to hear how his lily-pad mindset has helped him build resilience throughout his life.Editing by Charlotte Haneke, Assistant Director of Student and Young Grad Programming, and Maggie Johnson, '18, Associate Director of Regional & Young Grad Engagement. Episode music by FASSounds from Pixabay.Nominate someone to be on our show by emailing alumni@richmond.edu.

In this episode, I kick off a multi-part podcast series sharing the in-depth stories and lessons learned since starting Bare Performance Nutrition in 2012. I discuss the foundation of BPN, focusing on confidence, curiosity, and courage, recounting pivotal moments like battling an eating disorder as a teenager, discovering a passion for fitness and nutrition, joining the Army ROTC, and finally deciding to launch BPN. This episode covers the early challenges, key milestones, and the initial steps taken to grow the brand. Chapters: 00:00 Introduction to the series 03:19 The Birth of BPN 05:05 Overcoming Personal Struggles: My Battle with an Eating Disorder 13:26 Discovering Fitness and Nutrition 19:09 College Life and ROTC Journey 27:01 The Confidence Booster: LDAC Experience 34:14 The Genesis of BPN: From Idea to Reality 39:45 Discovering the Golden Ticket 41:00 Creating a Business Plan 42:40 Launching the First Product 43:58 Facing Industry Challenges 45:53 The Power of Naivety 53:26 Early Marketing Struggles 59:55 The Harsh Realities of Business 01:04:08 Doubt and Determination 01:12:44 Graduation and Future Plans 01:14:14 Preparing for the Next Chapter Strength, endurance, and wellness supplements to fuel your performance. SAVE 10% at BPN Supps: https://bit.ly/nickbare10audio FOLLOW:IG: https://www.instagram.com/thenickbarepodcastYT: youtube.com/@nickbarefitness

Fr. Ralph and co-host Nikolai Eggleton bring you the life and times of Notre Dame's oldest and most storied residence hall, St. Edward's. This week's guests are Henry Mussig and Michael Heffernan, Steds sophomore and freshman, Army ROTC, and resident Iowan and Philadelphian, and Camden Hershberger, Steds freshman, college chemistry test taker, and resident Indianian, all followed by Good News and Weather with Nikolai.

Like it or not, we find ourselves in the middle of a culture war that targets American values and everything we stand for – things like Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness. Faith, family, and freedom are all in the cross-hairs as many  seek to eliminate individual rights and freedoms.In America, everything about our founders, founding documents, values, and beliefs is under attack and even American patriotism and love of country is on the ropes.Well the good news is this... millions of Americans have woken up and organizations have stepped up to defend American patriotism, freedom and values. Meet Lou Holtz.Legendary coach Lou Holtz is originally from East Liverpool, Ohio, and serves as the Chair of the Center for 1776 at AFPI. Holtz is considered one of the most successful college football coaches of all time. Holtz enrolled in the Army ROTC and later served as an officer in the United States Army Reserves.

On this episode of Christopher Lochhead: Follow Your Different we have an in-depth conversation with Shelane Etchison, a veteran who is currently running for office in the US government. This episode is a compelling exploration of Shelane's remarkable journey from a non-military background to serving in the Army, her experiences in combat, and her motivations for running for political office. You're listening to Christopher Lochhead: Follow Your Different. We are the real dialogue podcast for people with a different mind. So get your mind in a different place, and hey ho, let's go. Shelane Etchison on her Journey of Overcoming Challenges Shelane begins by recounting her early life, noting that she did not come from a military family. Growing up in a dual-citizen household with her mother from British Columbia, Canada, she developed a deep sense of gratitude for the opportunities available in the United States. The events of September 11, 2001 profoundly impacted her, sparking her interest in the military and leading her to join ROTC during her undergraduate studies. Initially, Shelane faced significant challenges in ROTC, feeling out of place and unsure of herself. After a brief withdrawal, she explored Air Force ROTC but ultimately returned to Army ROTC, where she found her footing. Her determination to serve was fueled by a sense of duty and a desire to prevent future attacks on American soil. She reflects on the internal dialogue that motivated her: "Someone has to go and bear the burdens of defending this nation." - Shelane Etchison Shelane Etchison on her Views on Military Service and Leadership Shelane articulates her views on the significance of military service in shaping effective leaders. She believes that the skills and values learned in the military—such as discipline, teamwork, and strategic thinking—are essential for political leaders. Her perspective challenges the conventional notion of leadership, advocating for a model that prioritizes service and accountability. Throughout the conversation, Shelane emphasizes the need for political reform, particularly in how veterans are treated and represented in government. She shares her vision for a more inclusive political landscape, where diverse voices, especially those of veterans, are heard and valued. This vision is rooted in her belief that true leadership involves listening to the needs of the community and acting in their best interests. Motivations for Running for Congress Shelane expresses deep concern about the current polarization in American politics, which she believes is detrimental to the country. She argues that there is a significant crisis of genuine leadership, and she feels compelled to step up and represent the values she believes in. Drawing from her military experience, she emphasizes the importance of leaders who prioritize the needs of the people over party interests. Shelane's decision to run as an independent candidate is rooted in her desire to challenge the two-party system, which she views as increasingly out of touch with the electorate. She points out that a majority of Americans are registered as independents, yet they often lack viable candidates on the ballot. By running as an independent, Shelane aims to provide a new choice for voters who are frustrated with the current political landscape. To hear more from Shelane Etchison and her views on how to change the government from within, download and listen to this episode. Bio Shelane Etchison is a former Army officer and aspiring congressional candidate. Raised in Florida, she became the first in her family to join the military after the events on September 11. She served in Iraq and was part of a Special Operations program in Afghanistan. After 11 years of service, she earned an MBA and MPP from Harvard. Shelane has worked on economic development and security consultancy projects and is committed to bringing principled leadership to North Carolina,

Todd Wilcox has a fascinating career journey, truly living the American rags-to-riches story. Born in a low-income neighborhood in South Tampa with a single mother Todd grew up helping raise his siblings when a mentor changed his life. Convinced that education was his path out he earned an Army ROTC scholarship to the University of Tampa. Upon graduating, he went on to serve as a rifle platoon leader with the 101st Airborne Division during Operation Desert Storm. Upon promotion to Captain, Todd volunteered to transfer to the US Army Special Forces branch, and after earning his Green Beret, he commanded a Special Forces A-team in counter-terrorism in East Asia. After 8 years of military service, he resigned to accept a position with the CIA to join the global war on terrorism. Todd left the CIA in 2006 to create Patriot Defense Group (PDG), a defense contracting company dedicated to serving those who defend America. Since then, Todd has started multiple other related businesses and has been recognized by the Wall Street Journal and through awards such as the Orlando Business Journal “Veterans of Influence” and the Ernst and Young "Entrepreneur of the Year."  Todd serves on the board of the National Defense University Foundation, the Rand Corporation Center for Middle East Public Policy and the Orlando Economic Partnership. He has a degree in Finance from the University of Tampa and is a graduate of the Harvard Business School Presidents Program. Todd is also an active member of the Young Presidents Organization (YPO). Show Notes:3:00 – Todd shares how to prepare as an entrepreneur for future threats and the importance of instilling resilience in yourself.  5:00 – Todd gives insight into the events that are happening in the Middle East and Ukraine. 9:00 – Bob asks Todd to share what he has learned throughout his career as he has accomplished a myriad of different disciplines. Todd shares his upbringing, beginning in Tampa. He opens up about the key learnings that he believes contributed to his future success.  15:00 – Todd touches on the culture shock that came with joining the army. He then talks about the biggest inflection point that he noticed moving from a young army officer to special forces and the challenges that accompanied these transitions. 23:00 – Hollywood vs. Reality– Todd touches on the differences he sees in his career in the agency as opposed to the way it is depicted in media that we consume. “It would be a really boring show if they showed you everything that actually went on.” 28:00—Todd discusses how much of Patriot Defense is working with the US government versus commercial services. Todd defines “open source intelligence” and “big data analytics.” “The amount of data that is publicly available is kind of scary.” 35:00 – Todd gives his advice as an intelligence officer to traveling business executives and young people looking to limit digital exhaust, those wanting to be more mindful of their data.  41:00 – The popular topic of TikTok is brought up as Todd discusses his thoughts on whether or not the app is tracking and collecting your data as you use the app. He shares that he doesn't know what the firewall is and doesn't trust it.  48:00 – Bob asks Todd to delve into his unique experiences. He shares how he took the leap to pursue hybrid training with multiple organizations.  53:00 – Entrepreneurship is growing rapidly. Todd shares his advice on where he believes young people who are wanting to pursure entrepreneurship should focus their time and energy on this journey. He believes that you should pursue a business in what you know best and are passionate about. “Do what you know best. Build your business around what you know.” 58:00 – Todd talks about what originally motivated him to pursue making a difference in politics in Washington DC. 1:03:00 – From his pursuit in politics, Todd shares the skills and insights he adopted from his experiences. He learned his limits and how to manage his time, energy, and focus.  1:07:00 – Bob asks Todd what words of encouragement or advice that he would give if he were in the position to give a State of the Union Address.

On Tuesday, March 26, the Clements Center for National Security, the Army ROTC and the UT-Austin History Department hosted Kelly Eads and Dan Morgan for a book talk on their recent release: Black Hearts and Painted Guns: A Battalion's Journey into Iraq's Triangle of Death.

In today's episode, we give feedback on 5 examples of interview questions and answers from Army ROTC cadets.

In Part Two of a now Three Part Series, Paul talks to Tyler Owens. They began Part Two by discussing what changed his mind to enter the military and joining ARMY ROTC at VMI his senior year. Tyler told Paul about the start of his military journey, a move to San Diego and how some blamed that move for his failed Army Physical Fitness Test (the last requirement needed to be commissioned as an Officer in the US Army). As you'll learn in this episode, there was a very good and scary reason Tyler didn't pass the test. He told Paul about the challenges of finally obtaining his commission, Infantry Basic Officer Leader Course at Fort Benning and his unique US Army Ranger School experience. Tyler finished this episode by telling Paul about his wife and their story, including first meeting her when he was only nine years old. Part Three is coming and they will wrap up the series by talking about more of his Army career, his overseas deployment and what he's up to now.

Summary On this episode of Startup Junkies, hosts Harrison Kitson, Claudia Mercado, and Annie Xu sit down with Jenna Kempkes, a senior biomedical engineering major at the University of Arkansas and the winner of Startup Junkie's student expo during last November's Global Entrepreneurship Week. As a patient care technician at UAMS and a student intern at the Office of Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Jenna is passionate about applying her biomedical engineering skills and knowledge to improve the quality and accessibility of healthcare. Jenna has received the Gilman Scholarship, was awarded first place at the NWA Biodesign Sprint Program, has been included in published research in the GeroScience journal, co-founded and led the Pre-Med Hogs student organization, and completed several study abroad programs in Germany and Kenya. She is also an active member of the Army ROTC, the Honors College Executive Board, and various pre-health and medical humanities clubs. Throughout the episode, Jenna shares about the provisional patent on her Pavlik harness for hip dysplasia, her experience with Startup Junkie's Student Expo, and her outlook on being a young entrepreneur.   Show Notes (0:46) Introducing Jenna Kempkes (2:50) About Jenna's Harness (4:30) The Inspiration behind Jenna's Journey (5:49) Jenna's Research Process (10:11) Next Steps for Jenna (11:43) Jenna's Experience with the Office of Entrepreneurship (13:41) How Jenna Stays Driven (17:36) The Impact of COVID (18:52) Jenna's Experience at Startup Junkie's Student Expo (22:48) Advice to Younger Self   Links Harrison Kitson Claudia Mercado Annie Xu Jenna Kempkes University of Arkansas   Quotes “I've only known this, I call it an organized chaos lifestyle, but it's something I've realized I really love and is really important to me…and I keep finding more opportunities, and I'm really big on why say no? What's the worst that will happen if you try?” - Jenna Kempkes, (14:34) “I hear the word entrepreneurship and I [think] I'm too young. I can't do that. I still feel that way sometimes because it's this scary world and you hear these people and everything they've given up for it…I didn't realize that it could be something I explored safely at the University and that I didn't have to have some big idea…And now I've realized you don't have to start a business to be an entrepreneur.” - Jenna Kempkes, (20:11) “Encourage an open mind. Having an open mind about everything around you is life changing...and so that closed mindset could have stopped me from a lot of things, but I'd want to encourage myself to take those opportunities. There's nothing wrong with failing. A lot of people want to be perfect, they're high achieving. It's scary to fail, but it's okay to fail. And I feel like I've learned more through my failures than I have through my successes.” - Jenna Kempkes, (23:12)

Show SummaryOn this episode, we feature a conversation with Army Veteran Richard Fierro about his miltiary service, post-military career as an entrepreneur and his actions in November of 2022 in which he intervened in a mass shooting attack at an LGBTQ+ Nightclub in Colorado Springs, COAbout Today's GuestRichard Fierro was the Army ROTC distinguished military graduate in 1999 at San Diego State University and served for 15 years in the United States Army as a Field Artillery Officer, serving in both Iraq and Afghanistan. In 2018, he and his wife Jess founded Atrevida Beer Company, where they have won numerous civic and industry awards. At Atrevida Beer Co, Jess and Rich have purposely focused on diversity as a value, even branding merchandise with the phrase, Diversity It's On Tap. On November 19th, 2022, Rich, his family and some friends were attending a celebration at Club Q, an LGBTQ Nightclub in Colorado Springs. About ten minutes before midnight on November 19th, a gunman walked into the club and started shooting. Within minutes, Rich charged across the room and tackled the gunman, subdued him, and with two other patrons, helped to disarm the gunman and restrain him until authorities arrived. That night came at great personal loss to Rich and his family. His daughter's boyfriend, Raymon Vance, and  her best friend, Daniel Aston, were killed in the attack, along with Kelly Loving, Ashley Paugh, and Derrick Rump. 25 others were injured, including his wife and daughter. The perpetrator pled guilty to the attack and was sentenced to five consecutive terms of life in prison without the possibility of parole plus 2,211 years. Links Mentioned In This EpisodeAtrevida Beer CoBTM133 with Lindsay ChurchPsychArmor Resource of the WeekThis week's PsychArmor resource of the week is the PsychArmor podcast episode 99. On this episode, we feature a conversation with Army Veteran Crystal Ellington, a passionate advocate for those who historically been disenfranchised, systemically excluded and institutionally oppressed. We have an important conversation about Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in the military and Veteran community, as well as the need for awareness and advocacy around sexual assault prevention. You can see find the course here:  https://psycharmor.org/podcast/crystal-ellington This Episode Sponsored By: This episode is sponsored by PsychArmor. PsychArmor is the premier education and learning ecosystems specializing in military culture content PsychArmor offers an. Online e-learning laboratory that is free to individual learners as well as custom training options for organizations. Contact Us and Join Us on Social Media Email PsychArmorPsychArmor on TwitterPsychArmor on FacebookPsychArmor on YouTubePsychArmor on LinkedInPsychArmor on InstagramTheme MusicOur theme music Don't Kill the Messenger was written and performed by Navy Veteran Jerry Maniscalco, in cooperation with Operation Encore, a non profit committed to supporting singer/songwriter and musicians across the military and Veteran communities.Producer and Host Duane France is a retired Army Noncommissioned Officer, combat veteran, and clinical mental health counselor for service members, veterans, and their families.  You can find more about the work that he is doing at www.veteranmentalhealth.com  

HEALTHY LIFESTYLE with Host & Transformational Success Coach Lori Anne Casdia chats with Oakland McCulloch, an American patriot serving our country, protecting our freedoms. Spekaing to what makes a good leader; servant leadership; the important characteristics of a true leader. As Coach Lori Anne says words AND actions equal truth. As Oakland's dad said "Son, if you say one thing and you do another, it is your actions that will be believed" Oakland McCulloch graduated from Northern Illinois University and received his commission as an Infantry Officer through the Reserve Officer Training Course in 1986. In his 23-year career in the Army he held leadership positions as a combat arms officer. He assisted in disaster relief operations for Hurricanes HUGO in South Carolina and ANDREW in Florida. His deployments include Operation Desert Storm in Iraq, Peace missions in Bosnia and Kosovo. He retired from the Army in 2009 with over 23 years of service and joined the staff at the Bay Area Food Bank as the Associate Director. Oak left the food bank to become the recruiter for an Army ROTC program. Cadet Command selected Oak as the top recruiting officer, out of 274 recruiters, for 2019. Oak published his first book in February 2021 – “Your Leadership Legacy: Becoming the Leader You Were Meant to Be”. He is now an internationally recognized keynote speaker. To Contact: www.ltcoakmcculloch.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/oakland-mcculloch-34293256/ Instagram: https://instagram.com/ltcoakmcculloch/ Twitter: @ltcoakland / https://twitter.com/LtcOakland Facebook Business: https://www.facebook.com/LTCOakMcCulloch YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1Ep1eqF3o0X5CBamtVgClQ Here is your access to Coach Lori Anne's Master Class: Vision & Goal Setting Master Class - Every First Friday of January A Gift from Lori Anne: FREE 3 Steps To Cleaning Up Your Opens, Messes & Incompletes ➡️ https://cd7d0cbc6a8f7696078f2b4c833d5a05.mykajabi.com/pl/2147660213 Our Goal at Healthy Lifestyle is to inspire, educate and empower you to fulfilling a healthy, emotional, spiritual and physical life, so you can feel empowered to live the life you have always wanted and dreamed. We are here to lift each other up with encouragement and positivity. To serve one another. About Our Host Lori Anne De Iulio Casdia is an award winning International Transformational Success Coach & Strategist; Speaker; #1 International Best Selling Author of “Women Who Dream”; Radio Personality; Empire Builder; Visionary; Business Woman & recognized expert. Lori Anne's discovery of Super Ball Syndrome led her to find and create her program TAKE ACTION WITH JET PROPULSION - empowering, and igniting people to take action, monetize their message and Soar to Success. Activating behavioral changes, Lori Anne will show you exactly how to define who you are in order to reach your personal and professional goals. From disrupting limiting beliefs to cultivating confidence, to mastering communication skills, to architecting actionable plans. Lori Anne guides people from confusion to clarity in their lives while aligning to their vision, perfecting their message and achieving their Dreams. Lori Anne Quotes: "Play a Higher Role, Serve a Higher Purpose Show Up for You And Show Up Big!" ~ Lori Anne "All of our Success Codes are already within us when we are born. We need to tap into ourselves and that success code to achieve our fullest potential. Let's work together so you can Soar to Success!" ~Lori Anne Please email us at HealthyLifestylewithLA@gmail.com Follow us on social media @healthylifestylewithLA Let's talk! Book your appointment here: Chat with Lori Anne Links SUBSCRIBE TO MY YOU TUBE VIDEO ➡️ https://www.youtube.com/@CoachLoriAnne FREE 3 Steps To Cleaning Up Your Opens, Messes & Incompletes ➡️ https://cd7d0cbc6a8f7696078f2b4c833d5a05.mykajabi.com/pl/2147660213

HEALTHY LIFESTYLE with Host & Transformational Success Coach Lori Anne Casdia chats with Oakland McCulloch, an American patriot serving our country, protecting our freedoms. Spekaing to what makes a good leader; servant leadership; the important characteristics of a true leader. As Coach Lori Anne says words AND actions equal truth. As Oakland's dad said "Son, if you say one thing and you do another, it is your actions that will be believed"Oakland McCulloch graduated from Northern Illinois University and received his commission as an Infantry Officer through the Reserve Officer Training Course in 1986. In his 23-year career in the Army he held leadership positions as a combat arms officer. He assisted in disaster relief operations for Hurricanes HUGO in South Carolina and ANDREW in Florida. His deployments include Operation Desert Storm in Iraq, Peace missions in Bosnia and Kosovo. He retired from the Army in 2009 with over 23 years of service and joined the staff at the Bay Area Food Bank as the Associate Director. Oak left the food bank to become the recruiter for an Army ROTC program. Cadet Command selected Oak as the top recruiting officer, out of 274 recruiters, for 2019. Oak published his first book in February 2021 – “Your Leadership Legacy: Becoming the Leader You Were Meant to Be”. He is now an internationally recognized keynote speaker.To Contact:www.ltcoakmcculloch.comLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/oakland-mcculloch-34293256/Instagram: https://instagram.com/ltcoakmcculloch/Twitter: @ltcoakland / https://twitter.com/LtcOaklandFacebook Business: https://www.facebook.com/LTCOakMcCullochYouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1Ep1eqF3o0X5CBamtVgClQHere is your access to Coach Lori Anne's Master Class:Vision & Goal Setting Master Class - Every First Friday of January A Gift from Lori Anne: FREE 3 Steps To Cleaning Up Your Opens, Messes & Incompletes➡️ https://cd7d0cbc6a8f7696078f2b4c833d5a05.mykajabi.com/pl/2147660213Our Goal at Healthy Lifestyle is to inspire, educate and empower you to fulfilling a healthy, emotional, spiritual and physical life, so you can feel empowered to live the life you have always wanted and dreamed. We are here to lift each other up with encouragement and positivity. To serve one another.About Our HostLori Anne De Iulio Casdia is an award winning International Transformational Success Coach & Strategist; Speaker; #1 International Best Selling Author of “Women Who Dream”; Radio Personality; Empire Builder; Visionary; Business Woman & recognized expert. Lori Anne's discovery of Super Ball Syndrome led her to find and create her program TAKE ACTION WITH JET PROPULSION - empowering, and igniting people to take action, monetize their message and Soar to Success.Activating behavioral changes, Lori Anne will show you exactly how to define who you are in order to reach your personal and professional goals. From disrupting limiting beliefs to cultivating confidence, to mastering communication skills, to architecting actionable plans. Lori Anne guides people from confusion to clarity in their lives while aligning to their vision, perfecting their message and achieving their Dreams.Lori Anne Quotes:"Play a Higher Role, Serve a Higher Purpose Show Up for You And Show Up Big!" ~ Lori Anne"All of our Success Codes are already within us when we are born. We need to tap into ourselves and that success code to achieve our fullest potential. Let's work together so you can Soar to Success!" ~Lori Anne Please email us at HealthyLifestylewithLA@gmail.com Follow us on social media @healthylifestylewithLALet's talk! Book your appointment here: Chat with Lori AnneLinksSUBSCRIBE TO MY YOU TUBE VIDEO➡️ https://www.youtube.com/@CoachLoriAnneFREE 3 Steps To Cleaning Up Your Opens, Messes & Incompletes➡️ https://cd7d0cbc6a8f7696078f2b4c833d5a05.mykajabi.com/pl/2147660213TAKE ACTION WITH JET PROPULSION MASTER CLASS➡️ https://cd7d0cbc6a8f7696078f2b4c833d5a05.mykajabi.com/take-action-with-jet-propulsionLINK TO MY #1 INTERNATIONAL BEST SELLER "WOMEN WHO DREAM"➡️ https://www.amazon.com/Women-Dream-Lori-Iulio-Casdia/dp/1957124229/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1679081968&sr=8-1LINK TO RADIO SHOW "HEALTHY LIFESTYLE WITH LORI ANNE"➡️ https://ldcstrategies.com/healthy-lifestyle/CONNECT WITH ME ONLINE:➡️ My Website➡️ LinkedIn➡️ FB Profile➡️ FB Business Page ➡️ Instagram➡️ AlignableLori Anne "Coach Lori Anne" De Iulio CasdiaSuccess Coach & Take Action StrategistAward Winning Inspirational Speaker#1 International Best Selling AuthorTV Personality & Radio Show HostFounder of LDC StrategiesFounder of Monarch LuminariesFounder of Soar to Success Program & Take Action with Jet PropulsionCertified Canfield Train the TrainerCertified Canfield BootcampCertified Canfield MethodologyCertified Life CoachCertified Herbalist Certified Aromatherapist Certified Kundalini Meditation Yoga CoachCertified H'oponopono PractitionerYoung Living Brand PartnerEmcee/ModeratorMaster Mindset MentorLaw of Attraction PractitionerAwarded the 50 Top Most Influential Women in 2018Awarded Mentor of the Year 2020 Awarded Power Women of the East End 2022Nominated Bethpage Best of LI Best Business Coach 2021, 2022, 2023 & 2024Who's Who of Professionals & Executives 2022Awarded Ones to Watch 2021 & 20222022 Women in Professional Services2023 Women of Distinction Award You can also Listen to Healthy Lifestyle with Lori Anne on your favorite app: I Heart Media | iTunes (Apple Podcasts) | Google Podcasts | Spotify | Spreaker | Sound Cloud | TuneIn | YouTube

This week we are joined by Eric Sutter, race director and founder of the Open Range 200k in Kansas. Learn Eric's unexpected journey to becoming a race director and why the southern region of Kansas deserves its own exploration. Open Range 200k Episode sponsor: Hammerhead Karoo 2 (use promo code: TheGravelRide for free HRM) Support the Podcast Join The Ridership  Automated Transcription, please excuse the typos: [00:00:00]Craig Dalton: Hello, and welcome to the gravel ride podcast, where we go deep on the sport of gravel cycling through in-depth interviews with product designers, event organizers and athletes. Who are pioneering the sport I'm your host, Craig Dalton, a lifelong cyclist who discovered gravel cycling back in 2016 and made all the mistakes you don't need to make. I approach each episode as a beginner down, unlock all the knowledge you need to become a great gravel cyclist. This week on the podcast, I'm welcoming Eric Sutter. He's the race director and founder of open range gravel in Kansas . The event takes place in April every year and is going on to its seventh edition in 2024. I'm going to flag this right away. Registrations opening this coming weekend. November 25th after Thanksgiving. So make sure to check it out. If you're interested after hearing. Eric's journey to becoming a gravel race organizer. It's quite a fascinating journey. It's not as someone who started. Riding gravel bikes ages ago. He picked it up after coming into the world of endurance athletics via kayaking. Of all things. I hope you enjoy the conversation, but before we dive in, I do need to thank this week sponsor, hammerhead and the hammerhead crew to. Computer. It's been a minute since I've spoken about the hammerhead crew to computer. It's my daily computer on my gravel bike. I enjoy it. A whole hell of a lot. If you'll pardon my French. It's one of those devices that continues to grow and evolve over time. And I think that's what I like so much about the hammerhead device. I'm getting a software update every few weeks and sometimes it's spot on and something I'm using. And sometimes it's something that I don't know, I need to use. Or would even want to use. For example, it was probably three or four months ago. I got an update around accommodating e-bike features. And since I wasn't an e-bike rider. I didn't have a lot of need for it, but lo and behold, and this is my dirty little secret. I am now the owner of a mountain bike. So I'm excited to explore the features and functionality that I can bring to the crew too. Just to understand battery life of my motor and my battery and make sure I don't get lost out there without the power to come home. Don't worry. I'm still a fan of peddling my bike. I just thought it would be a lot of fun. Getting an E mountain bike. The other thing, as you know, if you've heard me talk about the hammerhead career to you before. I love the elevation and climb feature that they rolled out quite some time ago with the climbing feature, you can see what's ahead of you in any climb that you're approaching, whether you have a map loaded or not. For me, it's really helpful if I'm a new terrain, just understanding am I in for a long grind or is this a shorter climb where I can really push. As we're coming into winter, it's important that the crew too has both touchscreen capabilities. But also physical buttons. So if you've got some heavy duty gloves on, you can still manipulate the device and go to all the screens. You need. Right now our listeners can get a free heart rate monitor with the purchase of our hammerhead crew to simply visit hammerhead.io right now and use the promo code. The gravel ride at checkout. To get yours today. This is an exclusive offer. So don't forget that promo code, the gravel ride. You'll get that free heart rate monitor with the purchase of your career to go to hammerhead.io today. Add both items to your cart and use the promo code, the gravel ride. Would that business behind us let's get right into my conversation with Eric. [00:03:39]Craig Dalton (host): Eric, welcome to the show. Thanks, Craig. Thanks for having me on. I didn't think this was a long time coming, but as we just remembered, this is about three and a half years in the making since our first email exchange. [00:03:52]Eric Sutter: That's right. Yeah. We, uh, we sent a couple of emails back and forth and then I think life just happened and, you know, stuff gets, uh, gets passed on and, and, uh, but it's good to, it's good to be here. Good to finally be on and, uh, and get to talk with you and your, your listeners. [00:04:05]Craig Dalton (host): Right on. Yeah. Shout out to Wade for reconnecting us. Telling me a little bit about your story, which I see you gave me in your 2020 email. So I'm excited to talk about both the OpenRange 200k, but also I think it's important when we talk about events and event organizing, just to hear a little bit about your backstory. So to set the stage, why don't you just let the listener know, where'd you grow up? What'd you do as a kid? How'd you get into endurance athletics? I know there's a lot to this story, so we can take it [00:04:33]Eric Sutter: slowly, bit by bit. Yeah. And feel free to interrupt me at any point to, to dive in more. Um, so I, I grew up in Pratt. Um, it's about a, uh, an hour and a half West of Wichita, which most people were probably familiar with the general area of where Wichita is, uh, in, in South central Kansas. Um, it's a town of about 6, 000 and, um, just a small. Independent, isolated community, um, and so in high school, uh, played sports, played, uh, baseball and football and wrestled. And then, um, yeah, uh, went from there, went to college at Kansas State. Um, I did Army ROTC. And so I knew, I knew at that point, like, going into the Army is what I wanted to do. And, uh, and so did that commissioned, um, and actually, uh, went into aviation. So flew, um, and still currently fly helicopters, uh, for the army. Um, and [00:05:25]Craig Dalton (host): did that initially take you outside of Kansas when you first [00:05:28]Eric Sutter: deployed? Yeah, it did. So, um, and, and I really had, had only lived in the Midwest, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma growing up. And so, uh, my first, uh, first kind of visit outside besides just. You know, uh, having vacation somewhere was, yeah, down to Southern Alabama, yeah, which was kind of a culture shock. So, um, went down there for, for flight training and then, um, I lived in, uh, Tennessee, Kentucky area for, uh, for most of my active duty, duty years. [00:05:57]Craig Dalton (host): Okay. Yeah. I mean, I imagine most of us who haven't been in the military have an understanding that there's a physical fitness component of it. Do you, did the soldiers tend to recreate athletically? Did you tend to? Yeah, [00:06:10]Eric Sutter: yeah, definitely. So for, for aviation, uh, ultimate frisbee is kind of a, the, uh, the sport of choice. Um, okay. We play. So, uh, you know, and some people have like, you know, are, are doing marathons and stuff like that. But, um, you know, and I, I, I tried to keep, keep in shape, uh, it's always been important for me. So, you know, trying to do, um, you know, we have our, our physical fitness tests and everything like that. So, uh, try to be in, in this. [00:06:36]Craig Dalton (host): Yeah, so it sounds like probably a little bit of running here and there. Oh yeah, definitely. [00:06:40]Eric Sutter: Ultimate frisbee. [00:06:41]Craig Dalton (host): Yeah. Where else did the military journey take you? [00:06:46]Eric Sutter: So yeah so, um, you know, Tennessee and Kentucky is where I was stationed, uh, and then did some deployments. So, uh, deployed to Iraq in uh, 2005, 2006. Then went to Afghanistan in 2014, and then another deployment to Kuwait in 2017, 2018. Okay. So yeah. [00:07:02]Craig Dalton (host): And then. Yeah. Go ahead. Then you end up back [00:07:05]Eric Sutter: in Kansas. Yeah. So then, uh, so then ended up back in Kansas and kind of in the middle of that went off active duty and joined the National Guard and in reserves. And so now I'm a reserve pilot. [00:07:15]Craig Dalton (host): Okay, great. Well, first off, thank you for your service. Yeah. And it sounds like along the way you were sort of, as many of us do in our twenties and thirties, kind of Dipping a toe in the water into different sports. Yeah. So what [00:07:29]Eric Sutter: were you doing along the way? Yeah, so Really is when I came off active duty and we moved back to Kansas City. I was looking for something to stay active and I watched the news one night and they were showing these Kayakers that were going across the state of Missouri and I looked at my wife. I was like that that sounds kind of neat You know, I think I think I'd like to do that and again, looking for something to stay active. I was, I was playing, um, uh, ultimate Frisbee with, uh, with a local little club, but I wanted something a little bit more to, to, to, um, really stay, stay involved in something to stay active. So the first year [00:08:06]Craig Dalton (host): of waterways, did you have access to, to kind of learn the sport of kayaking? [00:08:09]Eric Sutter: Yeah. So, um, we've got a couple of lakes around. Um, and so Uh, we'll, uh, we'll do that. And there was a club that, that would meet up. And so I, you know, that's the great thing with like Facebook and, and things like that. It's finding these little clubs and organizations. And so, uh, yeah, I met up, I found a race that was happening. Um, oh man, going back, just thinking about this, like the first race, I think it was 12 miles and it was kind of a show and go. No, you know, no awards or anything like that. Just, you know, bring your boat and let's go, go race them. I had no clue what I was doing. I had no [00:08:47]Craig Dalton (host): idea how long a 12 mile kayak race would take someone. Um, [00:08:51]Eric Sutter: so generally, uh, you know, in our, our kayaks, you should be able to do about, well, five miles an hour. Um, is, is it kind of a moderate to fast pace? Um, seven miles an hour, you're, you're, you're looking at, um, so especially on flat water. Uh, so yeah, so a 12 mile would be, yeah, it'd be about two hours. Gotcha. [00:09:15]Craig Dalton (host): Yeah, I've done a little bit of paddling and there's definitely an analogy to pedaling in just in terms of the cadence of your arms and your body and that repetitive motion that every time I've rode or paddled, like it does appeal to me much in the same way riding a bike appeals to [00:09:29]Eric Sutter: me. Right. Yeah. And it's kind of the same thing, you know, you can go to a certain level of exertion, um, and then like your gains just don't go much higher for the amount of energy it takes to go faster. You just hit that, that drag, uh, coefficient and it's, uh, but yeah. [00:09:47]Craig Dalton (host): So it sounds like you got sucked into the sport of kayaking at that point. I [00:09:51]Eric Sutter: did. Yeah. Uh, like I said, the first time it was, I was terrible. Uh, I didn't have any technique. I didn't know what I was doing. Uh, got out there, had this boat that was like 60 pounds, just this heavy plastic boat, um, with a paddle that, you know, was not efficient in the water at all. Um, but what I found was like, the people there were awesome. They were just, you know, they didn't give me a hard time for having a shoot. Plastic, you know, boat or anything like that. And they're all in these, as you'd know, in California, like the surf skis, I mean, these 18, 20 foot long, you know, um, 22 inch wide, uh, sit on top kayaks. And, um, and they just, like I said, they just. And so, but again, what I kind of, what I learned was that, you know, these people are just really good people, um, really great people. And I just, that's, that's probably more of what sucked me into it was just these, these awesome people that I was, I was getting to meet and everything. So, and, and the benefit of staying, staying active. Yeah. [00:10:50]Craig Dalton (host): You know, it's so interesting with endurance athletic and particularly like the more extreme ones, like. Ultra running or something like that. The communities are just like where, what you want, show up, show up with a good attitude. Let's all get this done. And it is so refreshing [00:11:05]Eric Sutter: and inviting. It is. It is. Yeah. I can't say enough. And those, those people still good friends with, with several of them that I've met that first, that first race. And this was 10, 10, 12 years ago now. [00:11:17]Craig Dalton (host): So, so tell me about this event across Missouri. One, I have to ask what Waterway goes all the way across Missouri. So [00:11:24]Eric Sutter: it's the and two, how long is it? Yeah, so it's the, uh, it's the Missouri River. Uh, you start in Kansas City and it, uh, it's a 340 mile race. Um, and that generally takes the fastest, can do it in, um, the mid 30 hours, 36, 35 hours, I think is the. The fastest time, uh, and you benefiting [00:11:46]Craig Dalton (host): from a bit of current a little [00:11:47]Eric Sutter: bit so you can get two, two to three mile an hour, uh, add on to your, your flat water speed at that point. And it, and it varies in different places, um, where other, um, other waterways come in, you know, other, other rivers will, will meet the Missouri, you kind of get a boost and whatnot. So as you get closer to St. Louis, uh, you get a little bit faster. Okay. [00:12:11]Craig Dalton (host): And, you know, with a 35 hour race for the fastest people in the world, you know, many are going 40, 50 hours. I imagine. Are you, what does it look like stopping and refueling? How does that work in a kayak event? Yeah. So [00:12:23]Eric Sutter: every, I'd say. At least every 50 miles is a, is a ramp, a boat ramp on the Missouri river. And so you, um, you have a ground crew and they meet you at each place and they've got, you know, all your, it depends on how you set them up. I mean, mine was my parents. Um, and so I had set up bags and resupply and stuff like that. And they would have some extra water bladders. And so I'd swap, swap out water bladders and swap out, um, you know, my nutrition and put it in a little cooler behind my, my seat and then, uh, and then go on. And so. Yeah, it's, I did it three years, uh, the first year I, I, I was, uh, I was in an outrigger and I DNF'd, uh, that year I made about a hundred and... I think 130 miles and, um, I just had a tremendous, uh, back pain and, um, and just wasn't, wasn't going to work to, to go on. And so I kind of came back after that and figured out, okay, I want to do this a little bit different. So I got a canoe, uh, that was really light, uh, carbon, uh, or I'm sorry, Kevlar, um, Kevlar fiber canoe and did that the second, uh, my second event. Um, And then, um, and the third time I got to a surf ski and did it in a surf ski. Okay. And so that was, was a lot of fun and, uh, and it goes a lot, a lot faster. [00:13:42]Craig Dalton (host): Well, listener will have to forgive me in this detour down to kind of racing, but I just, I just find it fascinating. [00:13:49]Eric Sutter: Well, and it's, you know, it's interesting, uh, being a race director now, like a lot of the things that I. Uh, I, I learned it's from, you know, it's from the kayak world and go into different kayak races, uh, things I wanted to do and things I, you know, I wanted to make sure that we, we didn't do. And so, um, so yeah, it's, it, it played a role into the creation of. And of what I do and the race. [00:14:14]Craig Dalton (host): Interesting. So at some point, do you wind down your kayaking career, or are you [00:14:19]Eric Sutter: still doing that? No, I, I wound it down. Um, I think I own, I own a, a paddle still and a life jacket, but I don't have any boats anymore. Um, and so I tried doing both for awhile and I just found, like, I wasn't, I wasn't doing anything in the kayaking side. Um, and the long distance kayaking. It really takes a toll on your ground crew and my parents don't live local. Um, and I was, I was using my, my wife's father. Um, and they're just, you know, they're, they're getting older and it's just, it wasn't fair to them to, uh, have to, uh, have them help me out. And, and, um, and my parents would help on the MR 340 that I went across Missouri. And, uh, yeah, it was just getting to be to where that long distance was, was. Kind of a struggle for, for getting a crew to help me out. Yeah, it makes [00:15:09]Craig Dalton (host): sense at this point in the podcast. I don't think we've mentioned a bicycle once. When did bicycles, when did bicycles and gravel riding come into your [00:15:19]Eric Sutter: life? Yeah. So that's an interesting story too. Like you said, we got all these different little, uh, uh, tidbits that, that, uh, spider webs or however you want to call them. Um, but, uh, in 20. See, in 2017, I was getting ready for a deployment to Kuwait. Um, I, I, I knew I wasn't gonna be able to kayak in Kuwait and I was kind of looking for another challenge and I started getting into running. I did a half marathon in April, uh, of that year and, uh, thought, well, this is, you know, I really liked it. And, and equipment wise, you know, running just requires your shoes. And, um, and so I thought this was. This would be kind of a neat, uh, neat sport to get into. Uh, and I think it was May, May or June of that year. Um, I was running and injured my knee and I, I don't know what happened. I had an MRI done on it. Uh, it was kind of inconclusive, but it was enough to where, um, I knew that running was now not, not a good choice for me to continue on doing if I wanted to walk, uh, later, so. Uh, so I kind of hung that up and then as I got into Kuwait, uh, got involved with a site, they had a cycling class there. So I got involved with, with cycling, um, overseas and, uh, I've had some friends that did, um, dirty Kansas at the time and, um, talked with them. And I kind of looked and I was like, man, this, this, this looks like fun. Like this could be the sport I get into next and didn't need necessarily didn't need a ground crew to. Uh, to shuttle my, uh, nutrition from one spot to another. I can carry it on me or on the bike or have a, you know, aid station. And so, uh, so then I just kind of got the bug and got interested in looking at different gravel races and, and I knew. I knew based on just a little bit of watching and the friends that I knew that did gravel, um, like my personality wasn't a road, road type, um, you know, it wasn't necessarily mountain bike type, but like the gravel seemed to resonate with, with my personality and the stuff I had done before with the kayaking. [00:17:22]Craig Dalton (host): Were you able to acquire a bike while you were in Kuwait or did you have to wait till you came [00:17:26]Eric Sutter: back home? Yeah. So in Kuwait, um, they have a program over there where. Uh, we could rent a bike over there. Um, they were nothing, they were nothing special. They were Mongoose, um, you know, Walmart, uh, kind of mountain bikes, full suspension, you know, but it was something and it, uh, at least got me back into cycling. Uh, and I wrote that thing, I mean, I probably wrote it more than anyone else, uh, around there. I wrote it when it was 120 degrees out and, uh, and whatnot. Um, and it was kind of interesting because as the idea for, for open range was, was kind of festering in my head. Um, and I knew it was sandy out in, in, uh, around Pratt. Um, of course, I'm in Kuwait, which is a big desert. So I would test the bike on different types of sand there and like, okay, yeah, you can do this. And so, yeah, it was, uh, it's kind of an interesting go with that. But yeah, they do have bikes over there and was able to get miles in there. [00:18:26]Craig Dalton (host): When you came back to the States, did you get your first proper [00:18:29]Eric Sutter: gravel bike? I did. And in fact, I ordered it while I was in Kuwait. Um, I ordered, uh, it was a Diamondback Honjo off of Amazon. It was on, on sale for a really. Really good price with, with pretty decent specs. And so, uh, I had it, uh, delivered, uh, to the house. I just told the wife like, Hey, you're going to get this box. It's going to be, uh, pretty big. Yeah. Just be careful with it, you know, and whatnot. So yeah, so she got it and, uh, had it ready for me when I, when I got home. So, and were you in Kansas city [00:19:01]Craig Dalton (host): at that point? Yeah. Yeah. Okay. Yeah. So you, you come home, you got your, your diamond back finally on a proper gravel bike. Did you sort of immediately start getting into the community and talking to people and figuring out where to ride or did that take a while? [00:19:17]Eric Sutter: Yeah, no, it, it, uh, well, so I guess we should really even back up. Before that. So, um, cause we, I, we can't go on without talking about, without actually starting to talk about open range. If, if that's cool with you, um, because that, that really became, that came first in a way. That's so interesting. [00:19:36]Craig Dalton (host): Yeah. Walmart, uh, mongoose in the desert and you're thinking about creating a race. [00:19:42]Eric Sutter: Right. So, and even to, to back up even more, um, if, if the, the listeners and the viewers can follow, but, um, while I was kayaking, I wanted to become a race director and set up my own race, uh, kayak race. And so, um, I had an interest and I, I kind of figured out a place to do it, uh, down in Wichita. And I was just, I mean, it was very early on in my, my process for kind of researching it. But, um, but I wanted to, I really felt like I wanted to. Put something together. So then, uh, now fast forward back to Kuwait, uh, as I'm getting into looking at cycling and going to spin class. And I've got this Mongoose mountain bike that I'm, uh, riding all over, over the base. Um, I get this feeling again that, you know, I got this calling that I need to put a, put a race on and it's not going to be a kayak race. It's going to be a bike race. And so I had some time and, and just started researching, uh, gravel bike races and, um, and. Uh, where I'm from in Pratt, just south of there is the, the Gypsum Hills, Medicine Hills or Red Hills. They go by several different names. And uh, I remember when we first came to that area, just how beautiful it was. And so I thought at first that I was just going to put this, it wasn't even going to be a race. It was just going to be me riding from, uh, Pratt where I have some family still. I was going to go down, there's a, uh, a little, uh, bar in a very sleepy town of about maybe 200 people, if that, and, uh, go down there and have a burger, and then, uh, ride back, and that would be about a 60 mile ride, and then it kind of just, one thing led to another, and I was like, well, what if What if, what if we made this a race? What if we made this, you know, a ride down there? People get to see this awesome, uh, area of the country that no one knows about. Um, and so it kind of, one thing led to another and it just, it developed in. And okay, well, what if we did this and what if we did that? Um, and so, yeah, it just, it just blossomed from there. I don't know if you've ever had anything, but it just, it wouldn't leave my mind, uh, for like three or four months. I mean, it just, every waking moment I was thinking about it, I was thinking, okay, what, how can we do this? How do we solve that problem? What do we do for this? And, uh, yeah, I just, I just, it really felt like a calling that like, it would feel weird not to do it, you know, at that point, even though I had never, I'd never been to a gravel race, uh, myself. Uh, it just felt weird. Like if I didn't do this. And if we didn't do it at this point, it was never going to get done. And yeah, if I didn't do it, it just, it was going to feel weird. It's [00:22:22]Craig Dalton (host): fascinating to sort of learn about, and you'll tell us about in the future, like how the event ended up not having the context of. Trying to be an unbound or trying to be a BWR, any of these other things you may have seen or heard about, you had this unique experience with kayak racing and endurance athletics through a totally different filter and came back with this vision for creating the open range. It's super interesting. Yep. [00:22:47]Eric Sutter: Yeah, definitely. Yeah. It's, uh, it, it was, it was interesting the first, you know, the first year and. And I think it went split. I mean, it really had a lot of great comments. Uh, in fact, the timer guy, uh, he, uh, he saw that I was a first time race director and, and, uh, he said later, he's like, yeah, I was, I was really worried because usually first time race directors, you know, don't know what they're doing and I've got to do everything for them. And, and, uh, he's like, you, you had this thing. And, uh, and they'd actually asked later on if I would help out with some, some of their races, uh, stuff like that. But, uh, yeah, it was, you know, not having the, not having been to one, I didn't know, You know, besides doing some research and watching YouTube videos, I didn't, you know, I didn't have anything that I was trying to, to make it. I didn't, you know, road wise or terrain wise, um, everything was open game to me because I wasn't trying to be like another race. So yeah, [00:23:45]Craig Dalton (host): you, before we started recording you, we were talking about the state of Kansas and how different the geography can be as some listeners may be familiar with the Flint Hills where unbound gravel occurs. Maybe take a moment and describe in your own words, how is it different around Pratt compared to what people may have seen around [00:24:06]Eric Sutter: Emporia? Yeah, so, so Pratt, like right around Pratt, it's actually fairly, fairly flat, um, some undulating hills, but as you go south, and it doesn't take long, um, coming out of Pratt. And as you go south, you start getting into the gypsum hills and it starts off a little bit like Emporia, just some nice rolling hills. Um, and then about Medicine Lodge, um, just south of Sun City. Uh, so about 35 miles in, it's just, it's like nothing you've ever seen. It's like, uh, it looks like Arizona, uh, Mars. It's, uh, I've heard, you know, all, all of that. It's, um, it's red dirt, it's mesas and buttes with white gypsum rock. So you've got these colors that are just. Beautiful. I mean, red dirt with white rock and green grass, uh, just, just amazing. And then just the topography, just these steep buttes and bases that are out of nowhere. Uh, just, just an amazing, uh, amazing course. Yeah, that's [00:25:07]Craig Dalton (host): so, it's so unexpected sort of as someone with, with very little to no experience in Kansas and certainly not on the, the dirt roads and more rural areas of Kansas. So for the listener, we've been talking about it. It's sort of. It's on the southern side, the southern tip of, uh, of Kansas and also sort of the western. Is that [00:25:25]Eric Sutter: right? Yeah. If you, [00:25:28]Craig Dalton (host): as the route goes, you're heading towards Oklahoma and then back. [00:25:31]Eric Sutter: Right. Yeah. If you were to take Kansas and, um, and fold it in half, uh, east and west, and that line right there is about where Pratt Medicine Lodge is. And so we are, uh, yeah, basically in, uh, the start of western Kansas, uh, and then, about, uh, we're about. Forty five miles north of the Oklahoma border is where Pratt is. Okay. Gotcha. [00:25:54]Craig Dalton (host): Gotcha. And you were describing the terrain. I mean, obviously like these vistas and buttes and red dirt. Are you on dirt roads? Are you on double track? What's sort of the mixture that you ended up achieving? [00:26:06]Eric Sutter: Yeah, so it's a little of both. several different, uh, types of terrain. Um, Pratt is known for a lot of brick roads. So when you're actually in the town, you start off on a brick road. Um, and there's several brick roads in town. It's kind of a neat, uh, just, you know, I grew up on Main Street and at the time it was a brick highway. Um, but yeah, you start off on brick, you get some asphalt, um, and then you go into some, some dirt. More dirt roads, um, there is some gravel, but a lot of it is, is more of a, a dirt, uh, sand base and, um, yeah, you go down there and then when you get down into, uh, the gypsum hills, we've got, um, permission from some landowners and they let us go on their, uh, their ranches. And so then you've got in, you go into the double track, uh, and sometimes, uh, sometimes it's just cattle trails. Uh, sometimes it's. We're trying to connect areas and, uh, the rancher just mows a swath of grass and you've now got to go through the grass to get to the next spot. So, um, it really is a. It's a unique type of course. Um, there's, you know, we do put some pavement in there, so it's not completely all gravel. Um, but that pavement, I think, helps, uh, helps people a little bit get a break from some of the rougher stuff. But, uh, but it's just a good mixture of Of, uh, pavement and, and dirt roads and just some incredible, I mean, there's, there's almost places where you think you're on a cyclocross course, places where you think you're on a mountain bike course, places where you think you're on a road race and people, places where you think you're on a gravel race. So it's got, it's got something for everyone. Yeah. [00:27:47]Craig Dalton (host): Yeah. It's got something for everyone to love and probably something for everybody to hate, depending on their skillset. That's right. [00:27:53]Eric Sutter: Yeah. In fact, somebody once said like. It was like, man, your race is like the great equalizer. Like there's no, like there's no bike or no style that is suited for that rate. Like that is just suited exactly for that. So yeah, I took that as a great compliment. [00:28:10]Craig Dalton (host): As you should. That's awesome. So let's get into some specifics. What are the distances of the [00:28:16]Eric Sutter: events? Yeah. So we've got a 200 K, which is our main, uh, main event. In fact, I was, when I created it, that was the only. Only distance I was gonna do. I didn't care about a shorter distance, just gonna do a 200k. And as I was developing it, I had several people ask me if I would put together a shorter, shorter course that they didn't feel comfortable doing, uh, doing 200 K, uh, or about 126 miles. And they wanted a shorter, uh, shorter version. So, um, we have, uh, I call it the 100 K plus, and it's a 100 K plus because one year somebody got upset because, um, I was calling it the 100 K and it was like 68 or 69 miles. And so they're like, you know, a hundred K, 63 miles, this is 68 miles. So, okay. I'll put a plus on the end of it. [00:29:01]Craig Dalton (host): As someone who watched their odometer in the Leadville 100, click over to 100 and find myself not at the finish line, I definitely resonate with those remarks. [00:29:10]Eric Sutter: Right. No, I did the same thing too when I raced, and so yeah, I get it. [00:29:16]Craig Dalton (host): Um, and is it, is it actually an out and back on the same, same roads? [00:29:21]Eric Sutter: No, so, uh, the 200 is, is almost a complete loop. Um, it, there's very few, uh, roads that you'll be on twice. The, the, the 100 K plus is a kind of like a, a little bit of like a lollipop. So you go out, you make a, a. Fairly good size loop, probably about a 30 or 40 mile loop. And then I get, well, maybe a little bit less, but yeah, 30 mile loop. And then, and then ride kind of the same road route back. And then we also have, Oh, go ahead. Yeah. [00:29:50]Craig Dalton (host): I was going to say there's a third option for how to participate. [00:29:53]Eric Sutter: There is. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Uh, so there's the tour. And so, um, that goes on the 200 mile or the 200, excuse me, 200 K course. Uh, but it's. It's split up into two days. And so you ride about 78 miles the first day, uh, camp at a, uh, authentic guest ranch out there. And then, um, and they have, uh, catered, uh, dinner and breakfast for you. And then you, you ride back. And so, yeah, [00:30:19]Craig Dalton (host): it's an option I hadn't really seen before in that same context. There's obviously like the XL version of any given race that you're out there on your own and you're expected to sleep in a ditch. But I really liked, as I was reading the description of the 200k tour, that you go out, you could have dropped your camping gear off, or you could stay in the lodge. Now I'm learning that you can get a nice meal. Yep. That sounds like a great way to spend a weekend. It [00:30:42]Eric Sutter: really is. And I wanted, the purpose of that was I wanted riders. To see, cause, and the reason why I only wanted the 200k course is because that's where the really cool, uh, route is, and the really cool topography, you still get some of it on the, the 100k, don't get me wrong, but the 200k you see quite a bit more, and I knew there were riders that wouldn't feel comfortable in their ability to, to do that all at once, and so by putting this together, Tour together it kind of your own pace. It's non competitive you get to see it and then spend as much time as you want And then and then finish it up the next day. [00:31:20]Craig Dalton (host): Yeah for the 200 K and the 100 K is the Orientation that this is a race and some people are going for it and there wants to be a winner [00:31:29]Eric Sutter: Yeah, definitely on the 200 K that Yeah, we we do podium for that the 100 K I never did a podium for until last year and, uh, and so finally last year, and we'll see if I keep doing that. I mean, I'm most likely we'll keep a podium for the 100k, um, because there are people that were taking it pretty seriously. And so, um, so I felt like it was worth it. Awarding those people, uh, for, for doing that. Yeah. And so, yeah. But yeah, the 200 K is again, the big one. Uh, the 100 k, uh, yeah, we'll still, we'll still give you an award for the top top three male and female, but it's just those, those two categories. Yeah. [00:32:08]Craig Dalton (host): And what year, so 2024. How many additions will we have seen at that point? [00:32:13]Eric Sutter: Yeah, so this will be our seventh year, which is just, yeah, it's just incredible. Um, our, you know, our first year I, I told my wife, I was like, we need. We need about a hundred, I think I counted like a hundred and six people based on, uh, Uh, our, our fees that, you know, to, to kind of break even. And, uh, and I told her, I was like, you know, if we don't get that, um, we'll count this as kind of a learning lesson, you know, uh, you know, some people pay for an MBA, some people pay, you know, for other experiences, um, you know, this will be an experience and this will be a learning experience, uh, whether we have a hundred people, whether we have 50 people or whether we have 300 people. Um, and, and if we have to pay. Pay for that experience. Great. Um, you know, hopefully we can, you know, have a success and, and whatnot. So, um, so yeah, our first year, like I said, I, I, my goal was to get right around a hundred, I think the first day we had like 60 or 70 people registered the first day and it was just like completely blew my mind. I was like, okay, this is interesting. You [00:33:16]Craig Dalton (host): know, that's what I think that is interesting about the Midwest. I think, you know, obviously there's so many passionate cyclists there, so many of them either have done Unbound or can't get into Unbound or are training for Unbound because I think your events a little bit earlier in the year. It's pretty natural that there's just going to be this pent up demand. And if you give riders a good experience, they're going to come back and they're going to tell their [00:33:39]Eric Sutter: friends, right? Yeah, yeah, that's, uh, and we've grown, we've grown every year since then. Um, we've, we held it in 2020 when, um, a lot of races were, we're kind of taking a break that year. Um, and we had to adjust it and that was a learning lesson too. Cause we, uh, you know, the race is at the end of April COVID hit, uh, what about the middle of the end of March? Yeah. So we knew, you know, we had to make a decision pretty quickly, uh, that we're going to have to at least postpone it. Uh, we moved it to June, um, and it's kind of funny if you watch the COVID numbers, like it took this dip right the weekend of the race and then the weekend after it climbed back up. Not, you know, we weren't a super spreader by any means, but, uh, you know, it's just the way it happened. Uh, yeah, [00:34:25]Craig Dalton (host): it's, it's, I think it's so interesting, just the business of event production as well that people tend to forget about. I mean, you look at how much it costs to register, but. On your end, as I know and understand, you know, there's just so much that goes into it from catering to, you know, about podium structure to PA system, to making sure there's safety out there on the course, a sweep aid stations. Like it's definitely to your point, like you, you couldn't start that first race without committing a certain amount of dollars out of your pocket, the unknown, whether you were going to a hundred, more than a hundred people that's joined. [00:35:02]Eric Sutter: Right. And that's what, that's kind of like, I'm, I'm very passionate about like grassroots cause I get it, you know, for the people that are starting races, um, that they're taking a, you know, they're, they're taking a chance on, you know, creating something and, and potentially being out of money, uh, you know, potentially not going how they wanted it to go their first year, uh, learning lessons. Um, so, you know, we, uh, we had a. A local race, uh, in Kansas a couple weekends ago, and I wasn't able to attend it, but, um, I, I, they would hit me up with questions and I would kind of give them some, some help and whatnot. And so it just kind of neat to watch them and then to get, hear the responses that people that went to that race, uh, that absolutely loved it. And so it's like, okay, cool. This is, this is neat. That's [00:35:47]Craig Dalton (host): great. How many people are you hoping to get to the 7th edition of the Open [00:35:51]Eric Sutter: Range? Yeah, so I think 500 is, is our, kind of our sweet spot. Um, we've been, uh, we've been right around there the last couple of years. So, um, yeah, we, we kind of capped it right around 500 and, and kind of hope to get, get to that amount. It's, uh, it works well for the community. We can do more, um, and if we get that. I think if we get that continually, then, you know, we'll look at that, open it some more. But, uh, yeah, we can, that's kind of what we're looking at. [00:36:24]Craig Dalton (host): What day is the race on the [00:36:25]Eric Sutter: weekend? Yeah, it's on a Saturday. Um, and then the tour again would be a, uh, the Friday and Saturday, but yeah, it's Saturday for the majority of the people. Um, yeah, what's great about Pratt is there's a community college there and because of the community college, there's a lot of hotels and decent hotels, uh, too. So, um, there's, yeah, there's always plenty of room, plenty of hotels and, and they're cheap. They don't gouge, um, you know, the riders coming in for open range. Yeah. So, I mean, for under a hundred bucks, you can get it. A decent hotel room. So it works out, works out real well for him. Just to give [00:36:59]Craig Dalton (host): me a sense for, cause obviously 200 K in Kansas might be different than 200 K in California. What are the, you know, what are the fastest men and women tend to finish in? [00:37:08]Eric Sutter: Yeah. So, um, we've had a couple of years where the leaders are, uh, they're riding above a 20 mile an hour average, which is just incredible. Like that is well beyond my ability. Um, I don't, I, I don't get how they do it. I really, because if you see some of our terrain, uh, I mean, you have to dismount. We, in fact, I put a post out today, uh, a reel on Instagram and, um, the leader, you see the, the two, the one of the two, um, they're actually dismounted and running their bikes up of a hill, um, in that, that little reel. And so, uh, yeah, for them to maintain a 20 mile an hour. Um, I'd say the average is probably a 15, 14 to 15, uh, pace, uh, and so, and then we have a, a nine hour, uh, cap on the, the 200 K. [00:37:58]Craig Dalton (host): Gotcha. And are, are people able to ride together in some sections and, you know, ride in a Peloton or does the terrain not allow for that? [00:38:04]Eric Sutter: Yeah. Yeah. In most sections they can. Um, I do caution them because the roads there are sandy, um, that, um, You know, you can hit a sandy spot and then not be going as fast as you were a second ago. And if you're too close, then that can cause some issues with, with some riders. But, um, but by and large, it's, uh, like I said, it's, it's, it's, it's usually a hard packed, uh, sandy, not, not like beach sand the whole, whole way. [00:38:31]Craig Dalton (host): Got it. And then at the completion of the event, what kind of experience do the, uh, participants get to enjoy? [00:38:37]Eric Sutter: Yeah, so we have live music. We've had live music every year. Um, we've got, uh, Aaron Travis Band is a local, uh, he calls it ag rock. So kind of red dirt, but, uh, he's, he's actually a farmer. Um, he lives in a town, the same town that, uh, Martina McBride is from. Uh, and sharing Kansas. And so, um, yeah, he's, he's a great, uh, great asset to have. And he, he gets, uh, several of his friends to come and play. And so they have, um, you know, we usually have live music from, uh, right around noon till, uh, six or seven in the evening. And so, uh, so, and it's right on the finish line. So as the riders are coming up, uh, the brick road, uh, they've got a band there playing, cheering them on people, you know, sitting out watching them come across the finish line. And so, um, they come across the finish line. They get a, a pint glass and a finisher patch for, for finishing. Uh, and then every year we, we change our logo just a little bit. Like we have our, our general logo that we've used from, from year one. Um, and that's kind of our, our standard logo. Uh, but then, uh, we kind of make a tweak every year to, to logo design. And so like the pint glasses are kind of collector's items because, uh, each year is different. Same, same with the t shirt each year. You've got a different design, uh, on the t shirt. Um, and that's one thing I took from back to the kayaking is, uh, uh, the race had a, a, a decal and every year was a different. And so, um, so you always wanted to see the different, and you could look at one and they never have the year on them, but you can look at them like, oh, okay, that was a, you know, a 2012 a year or whatever. So, uh, kind of the same, yeah, same way with us. So, yeah, so, yeah, so they come to the finish line, they've got, uh, we give them a free meal as well, uh, some good old Kansas barbecue and, um, and, uh, they pick up all that stuff and, and have a, have a good old time. [00:40:29]Craig Dalton (host): Yeah, sounds amazing. So, I mean, I love how you've described the terrain and the challenges the riders are going to undertake and the different formats you have remind us again the date of the event. When's registration opening up and what's my final question? I can't even remember any, Oh, how, how do people can find you? [00:40:48]Eric Sutter: Yeah. So, uh, so, so registration actually opens up on Saturday. Uh, Saturday is the 25th, uh, for, uh, those that, uh, may be listening to this later of, of November. So, uh, 25th, November at nine central. Um, and we have kind of a, a neat thing where it's a race before the race. So, um. We, uh, we kind of want to have a little competition to see who can be the fastest to register. And if you are the fastest, the fastest male and female that register for the 200k, We actually refund your registration fees, so you get to ride for free. So, uh, I love that. It's, it's kind of neat. Uh, one, it was kind of interesting. One year we had, had a gentleman that, uh, I think for like two years in a row, he was like the number two guy. It was just like, I felt so bad for him. Like, dude, you are so close every year. He just could not crack the, uh, Crack the, the win on that one, but, uh, yeah, so you don't have to be fast on the bike. You just gotta be fast on the keyboard and, uh, you'll get your registration fee, uh, fee comped. I'd love that. I'd love [00:41:50]Craig Dalton (host): that. I'd love to see others figure out how to do that in their registration process. [00:41:54]Eric Sutter: Oh yeah. It's, it's, it's fun. So yeah. So this Saturday, November 25th at nine, uh, nine central, nine a. m. central is our open registration. And then the race itself is April 27th is that Saturday. So if you're doing the tour, of course, that'd be the 26th and 27th, but. [00:42:11]Craig Dalton (host): Okay. Amazing, Eric. Well, thank you for all the information. This conversation was a long time coming, but it was well worth it. The event sounds amazing. I love your story and, uh, I wish you all the best of luck this [00:42:23]Eric Sutter: year. Thanks so much. And yeah, yeah. You can check us out, uh, openrangegravel. com. And that's kind of our handle as well for, uh, Instagram and Facebook is at Open Range Gravel. So perfect. I appreciate you taking the time and, uh, let me kind of tell the story. Of course. [00:42:39]Craig Dalton: That's going to do it for this week's edition of the gravel ride podcast. Big, thanks to Eric for coming on and telling us all about his journey to creating the open range gravel event. I hope you go check it out. He's got some great videos on his website, which will be linked to. In the show notes. Big, thanks to our friends at hammerhead and the hammerhead crew. To remember that promo code for a free heart rate monitor strap is the gravel ride. If you'd like to support the show, please visit buy me a coffee.com/the gravel ride or ratings and reviews are hugely appreciated. For those of you who are celebrating Thanksgiving this week. I wish you a great holiday. And here's the finding some dirt onto your wheels.    

***We sincerely apologize for the technical difficulties that impacted the audio quality of our recent podcast episode; despite these challenges, we have employed artificial intelligence editing tools to salvage the audio to ensure that our listeners can still enjoy and benefit from the content.***   Karl Monger is a remarkable figure with a solid commitment to serving veterans and their communities through his multiple roles and initiatives. As the founder and Executive Director of GallantFew, Inc., a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization established in 2010, he has dedicated himself to addressing and mitigating the challenges faced by veterans, including unemployment, homelessness, and suicide. Under his leadership, GallantFew has launched several innovative programs aimed at supporting veterans in their transition to civilian life and promoting their overall well-being.   One of the cornerstone programs of GallantFew is The Darby Project, which connects Ranger veterans with those transitioning from active duty, facilitating mentorship and guidance. The Run Ranger Run initiative brings awareness to the arduous journey soldiers face when becoming civilians. Descendants of Sparta is a powerful peer anti-suicide program that provides vital support to those in need. Additionally, the Law Enforcement Officer (LEO) training program educates law enforcement on veteran issues and conflict de-escalation tactics. Karl's commitment to this cause is evident in his speaking engagements, having addressed nearly a thousand officers at six conferences in the past year.   Karl's dedication to supporting veterans extends to his role as the owner and CEO of DriPowder, LLC, a Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) specializing in business development and veteran care and support issues. His company's recent recertification by the Veterans Administration is a testament to its ongoing commitment to serving the veteran community. Karl also contributes his expertise as a consultant for the Kansas Small Business Development Center, helping veterans establish or expand their small businesses and advising corporations and agencies on veteran-related activities. His efforts were recognized in 2012 when he was named U.S. Small Business Administration Region VII Veteran Small Business Advocate of the Year.   Karl's military service has been equally distinguished. He began his career as an Army ROTC scholarship cadet at Wichita State University, achieving the rank of Major and earning the title of Distinguished Military Graduate. His service record includes numerous leadership positions and deployments, including parachuting with the 1st Ranger Battalion into Kuwait in 1992. A graduate of various military schools, his commendable service has earned him several awards and decorations.   Beyond his professional commitments, Karl is actively involved in the community, serving in leadership positions within various organizations and mentoring both veterans and young people in challenging situations. He lives in Texas with his family and is eagerly anticipating the arrival of his first grandchild. His story and the impact of his work serve as an inspiration, highlighting the power of dedication, leadership, and community in making a meaningful difference in the lives of veterans and their families.     We extend our sincere gratitude to our sponsors for their unwavering support of the VinnyRoc Podcast. Their commitment enables us to deliver content that informs, educates, and engages consistently.   Core Medical Group: Striving to pioneer wellness solutions and help you achieve optimal well-being. Visit https://www.coremedicalgrp.com to discover more.   GMR Gold: Offering premium gold and silver investment options to elevate your wealth. Explore more at https://www.gmrgold.com.   Everest: The ultimate marketplace for the great outdoors. Embark on your adventure today at https://www.everest.com.   Modern Gun School: Dedicated to enriching your firearms knowledge with a comprehensive curriculum. Find out more at https://mgs.edu.   We value the contribution of each sponsor and appreciate their dedication to our shared goals.   For those who haven't yet, we invite you to watch our latest episode on YouTube, subscribe to our channel, and follow us on social media to stay updated on upcoming content. If you find our discussions valuable, please share them within your networks.   Thank you for your continued support of the VinnyRoc Podcast.   #VinnyRocPodcast #ThankYouSponsors  

On today's episode of Speaking Of… College of Charleston, Nick Plasmati, associate director of marketing and academic programs in the Honors College, speaks with Sydney Pearson, a junior majoring in systems engineering in the Honors College, about her summer internship. Sydney interned as a project manager for Mercedes-Benz Vans at its production plant headquarters in Charleston. She spent time developing data-driven tools for MBV employees across the world to make the production process more efficient.Sydney says the soft skills she learned from her colleagues and mentors at Mercedes-Benz will benefit her personally and professionally in the future. For CofC students who are interested in pursuing an internship, she offers this advice:“The biggest thing I would say, is that it's never too early to start looking for an internship. As soon as you get to college, you have the opportunity to intern at different companies. Never say no to an opportunity. The biggest thing that I would tell any new intern is to just go for it!”Featured on this Episode:Sydney Pearson is a Systems Engineering major and Mathematics minor from Charlotte, NC. She has always had a passion for leadership and mentorship, and exercises both of these activities through various campus organizations like the SSME Ambassador Program, Charleston Fellows, the Engineering Club and Army ROTC. Outside of the classroom, Sydney enjoys travelling, long days on the beach, exercising and exploring Charleston. Resources from the Episode:CofC Army ROTC CofC Engineering Club Shalosky Scholarship CofC Systems Engineering student opportunities and internships

In this episode of the Shift with Elena Agar - I sit down with Jennifer Simpson - who's been in seats at many tables. As a private debt & equity investor, a COO and CFO partnering with business leaders on their strategic plans, and as founding executive director of a multinational leadership development program, she learned the ropes on how to invest in and operate businesses as well as develop talent with an eye for economic growth and positive impact. Most recently, Jennifer led the effort to raise a new venture debt fund at Anzu Partners, focused on companies with breakthrough industrial technology and other game-changing forces. She was also the founding executive director of the Aspen Finance Leaders Fellowship focused on improving public trust in the global finance industry, now with over 100 Fellows in 20 countries. In finance she has been a private equity and debt investor at The Gladstone Companies, a banker in middle market leveraged lending as well as head of the investment committee for small business at National City Bank, debt arranger at LBO firm Morgenthaler Partners, and CFO/COO of a national environmentally-focused foundation. She began her career as a Lieutenant in the U.S. Army's Medical Service Corps. Jennifer serves on the board of the North Carolina Museum of Art Foundation and the board of Slingshot Coffee Company. Jennifer studied economics for her Bachelor's Degree from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania where she was also a leader in the Army ROTC and her MBA is from Case Western Reserve University. About your host: Elena is a talent development specialist & an education advocate. She started her career in higher education, having worked across various institutions, departments and regions, followed by a shift to corporations - where she creates learning journeys, builds effective talent acquisition pipelines, and develops talent development programs. Elena has a strong interest in how we can use science - particular Behavioral and Neuro sciences - to help people learn effectively, expand their mindset and overall grow personally and professionally. As an entrepreneur – Elena founded Bloom Youth - a tech education platform that prepares youth for the future - and co-founded Bessern – tech solution for productivity and well-being in organizations. When she is not leading talent transformation, she volunteers her time to help young students with their career development goals, as well as military veterans looking to make career transition to corporate jobs. Learn more about Elena: https://linktr.ee/ElenaAgar Connect with Elena on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elenaagaragimova/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/elenaagaragi Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/elenaagaragimova/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/elenaagaragimova --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/elenaagar/support

Bryson the Brave Bison When an Army ROTC student and an aspiring college basketball player met on Cedarville's baseball team, they would have never guessed they would one day co-author a children's book.But that's exactly what Luke Freshwater and Nate Davenport have done, and the book is generating favorable reviews across the country. Nate, a 2013 alum, came to Cedarville with a hope of securing a roster spot on the Yellow Jacket men's basketball team. During tryouts, however, Nate knew that he underperformed and missed any chance he had to play basketball at Cedarville. This disappointment was short-lived. Moments after leaving the basketball tryout, baseball coach Mike Manes put Nate through a baseball workout, and he hit it out of the park — literally. Then, as a member of Cedarville's baseball team, he became one of the most prolific power hitters in university history, a fact that continues today as he still holds numerous offensive statistics, including most home runs and runs batted in.With a stellar college baseball career in the books, Nate pursued professional baseball. He enjoyed great workouts with several teams, including the Atlanta Braves, but in the end, he was never drafted and ultimately turned down a semi-professional baseball contract to pursue God's calling for his life.His teammate, Luke, also had an unlikely start to Cedarville. A transfer ROTC student, he was part of the baseball team's two greatest years. The two graduated and parted ways, Luke going overseas to serve his country in Afghanistan. It wasn't until he returned to the U.S. that the two reconnected.   After reconnecting, Nate had this idea for a children's book about a bison who learned about bravery by running into a storm. But Nathan knew this idea came from Luke, who often talked about the analogy of braving the storm — just like bison do — instead of running away from it. So the two joined forces, and before they knew it. they were published with the leading children's Christian publisher, Zonderkidz. 

How many of us have been faced with an education-defining moment? First year of college? In some sense, Steve Dyer is no different than many people - pursuing a dream of becoming an attorney, but Steve's path is a little unique. Attending Notre Dame on a four-year Army ROTC scholarship, Steve faced a challenge the first week of his second semester - being removed from his French class. Steve changes course and ends up majoring in Japanese (and economics). And the start of a remarkable journey - studying abroad, joining a basketball team will in Tokyo and winning the Small College Championship, getting arrested in multiple countries, being an Army Judge Advocate General following law school, and transitioning to private practice. This interview will definitely make you laugh and provide proof we all have a Guardian Angel.

It's the time of year for graduations in small, reservation high school auditoriums, big city convention centers, tribal college quads, and manicured Ivy League grounds. It will be a year with and without regalia, depending on where you are. Native graduates are taking the next step in their educational journey. GUESTS: Dr. Lennon Audrain (Cherokee and Shawnee), assistant research professor at Arizona State University and high school teacher at Mesa Public Schools Keely Jones Aliseo (Lumbee), UNC Pembroke graduate and recent Army ROTC second lieutenant Jay Locklear (Lumbee), bachelor's in mass communication Dr. Johnny Poolaw (Delaware, Chiricahua Apache, Comanche, Kiowa), Director of Student Success for American Indian Science and Engineering Society (AISES) AJ Begay (Diné), recent graduate of Ft. Lewis College 

In this episode, Colman Benson from the class of 2024 speaks with James Scott from the class of 1995. They connected back in the fall of 2022 to speak about James' path from Ohio to Holy Cross to the Marine Corps, culminating in his current career in banking. They speak about how a clever marketing commercial changed the course of James's career path and how you're never too old to reinvent yourself. What's even better, the friends you make on the Hill and the Holy Cross Alumni Network will always be there to support you on your journey. Interview originally recorded in December 2022. --- James: Two skill sets there will never be a shortage of, at least not in our country, and that's storytelling and problem solving. Those are the two skill sets that you'll never have a shortage of in terms of the workforce. You can do those two things, you can do them well. You can do just about anything you want in the industry that you want. And sky's the limit. Maura: Welcome to Mission Driven, where we speak with alumni who are leveraging their Holy Cross education to make a meaningful difference in the world around them. I'm your host, Maura Sweeney, from the class of 2007, Director of Alumni Career Development at Holy Cross. I'm delighted to welcome you to today's show. In this episode, Colman Benson from the class of 2024 speaks with James Scott from the class of 1995. They connected back in the fall of 2022 to speak about James' path from Ohio to Holy Cross to the Marine Corps, culminating in his current career in banking. They speak about how a clever marketing commercial changed the course of James's career path and how you're never too old to reinvent yourself. After 20 years of service in the Marine Corps, James chose to try something new and tackle a different challenge in his career. He landed in banking, first with Santander Bank and now as Vice President, Business Relationship Manager at Bank of America. The good news is that no matter what you choose to do, the core skills you learn at Holy Cross remain relevant. What's even better, the friends you make on the Hill and the Holy Cross Alumni Network will always be there to support you on your journey. Colman: Thank you for joining us. James: Yeah, absolutely. Thanks for having me, Colman. So once you reached out to me, it was one of those callings where I felt like, hey, any conversation helps anybody, my words, my journey, give somebody some type of inspiration, I'm all for it, right? So anyway to give back to the Hill, I do what I can, whether it's small or medium or as big as it can be. Colman: Very excited to be interviewing today. Just a little bit about your Holy Cross experience. I know that you were part of the football and the track team, and I think that was the last undefeated football team until this year, the team of 1991. So can you just describe your time as a student on the Hill and what you enjoyed in some of your extracurricular activities? James: I'm a graduate of 1995 Holy Cross, not Catholic, not from New England, certainly not from Massachusetts. So my journey began out in the Midwest in Ohio, and then my connection quickly with Holy Cross became through a coach who was recruiting out in Ohio, recruiting football players. And I happened to be on the radar and took a flight out to Boston. Now, this is where it gets kind of a little interesting because I actually thought Holy Cross was in Boston the way they gave me the tour, kind of showed me along the Charles River and all through downtown. So I got super excited and then I guess I got distracted. I fell asleep on the ride from Boston to Worcester. Next thing you know, I'm on this beautiful campus. So right away, I just had a connection with players at that time. Met a couple of professors. Very good friend of mine at the time was Margaret Freije. And so that was almost instantaneous connection. I flew back home, excited to tell my dad that I think I found the college of choice, leaving Ohio, wanted to end up in Massachusetts and then ended up showing up on campus. And then we'll talk a little bit more about that initial experience once I got on campus as an official student at the school. But again, that journey was something totally unexpected, totally culture shock to me, especially back in the nineties. So it just took a little bit of time for me to acclimate and get adjusted to a new environment, a new situation. But having sports was again one of those avenues, those channels that kind of gave me an out to express myself and get away and get away from the differences and cultures that I had with the majority of the student population, but allowed me to focus on something with other people who had similar interests to me, which is sports, competition and winning. So kind of a little bit of background about my journey on how I ended up at Holy Cross. Colman: Awesome, thank you very much. Funny, funny tricks they'll do for recruiting, but I just had a question. I know you were a math major. Was there any reason you decided to pick math? Did you think about maybe a future career in mathematics or a future career in business? As I know a lot of Holy Cross grads will choose econ or math and eventually end up in business. James: Fair question, but neither of those answers are anywhere close. There's no method to the math. I had a love affair with mathematics in high school. It was something I was really good at. Logic just seems to fit with me. So coming into college, again, the first college graduate in my family, so I had no real focus on in terms of, hey, what do you want to be after college life? So just a quick transition into the mathematics world, quickly realized that it's a lot more complex than it was in high school, but I was just one that kind of enjoyed the challenge, enjoyed the reasoning behind it, enjoyed the logic there, the thought processes, and next thing you know, you're a sophomore going like, okay, do I switch majors or not? And wasn't an option for me at the time. So I would say I was probably around that average to below average mathematics major, but I was kind of locked in at that point, so I was definitely going to gut it out. Colman: Well, so I guess moving on, after you graduated from Holy Cross, you decided to join the Marine Corps. What led you to this decision? Was there anything specific? Have you just always wanted to join the Marines or serve? James: So like you, you're the Army ROTC, right? So I'm going to see if I can draw a little bit of similarity here. So you're getting a taste of military life as you're going through school. So it's embedded in your daily routines, so you're getting fully immersed into what it will be like on the other side. For me, my journey was a little different. I went home between my freshman and sophomore year, and that was the year I got bored quickly, right? Football, school, a lot coming at me a hundred miles an hour. I get home, life falls to almost an idle throttle. So it was definitely something I didn't want to have happen at least every summer. So I like to tell people that slaying the dragon commercial for the Marine Corps came on at the right time of my life. Bored sitting at home, commercial comes on and marketing geniuses as they were, I wanted to sign up and slay a dragon. So I called the phone number at the bottom of the TV and recruiters being as good as they are, the moment I called, he said, I got a guy, I want you to meet the guy. I'll have a captain over at your house tomorrow morning. That captain showed up in his blue Deltas that next morning, gave me the pitch, took me out to Ken, Ohio with the school there, gave me a little heavy dose of you name it, pushups, pull ups, three mile run, all of this stuff. And I just wanted a little bit more. I had to have a little bit more what he was giving. Recruiters being as good as they are, they only give you a little taste and they kind of tell you, you can't do it. Don't tell me I can't do something because then I become one of those, I'll prove it to you, I'll show you. So he wanted to meet my father, came by the house later that week. My dad didn't think this was going to happen. He's like, yeah, you're not joining the Marine Corps. So this guy shows up in his blue Deltas and my dad's like, oh my gosh, you really are joining the Marine Corps. So that summer I take off to Quantico for six weeks, your Army ROTC, what we call it, the two meters class. So you had an opportunity to get two heavy doses in the summertime, six weeks apiece, full immersion in the military lifestyle bootcamp. And that first six weeks I was hooked. The adrenaline rush, the competition, the camaraderie, the esprit de corps, just people who believed in a common goal and focus, all wanting to do the same thing. I was hooked. I was hooked. And then that second summer I did the same thing. I already kind of knew what my career path was as a junior going into college. I knew it was a Marine Corps. And so graduation day, I had my dress blues on underneath my cap and gown and went across the stage, got my diploma. Unlike you, I still had the option to say no up until I got to the stairway and I did a swearing in. But I took that robe off, got on the steps, got my silk, my gold lieutenant bars, and I was gone. And the rest is, as they say, it was history. And 20 years later, and I'm retiring as a Marine Corps officer. So that was a great decision on my part, but I was locked in focus in terms of, again, that the core principles of what the Marine Corps offered, I was hooked. Colman: That's definitely a lot to relate to there for myself. As you talked about, kind of having that never quit attitude, never taking no for an answer, saying you can't do it. That's something that's really stuck with me. And then I also know I have a couple buddies that are in the Marine program here, and they do the same thing. Six weeks before their junior year and six weeks before their senior year, before they end up commissioning after. So a lot of similarities there, which is really cool to see. Some things never really do change. Transitioning, I know you spent 20 years in the Marines, so thank you for your service for that. Once you decided to get out, what do you think was the biggest adjustment transferring from a military career to a career in business? James: As I look back and reflect, you kind of have people who tell you, there's one train of thought that says military folks have a difficult time adjusting because they're used to discipline and structure and routine and everything's a procedure and a process. And I think I like to try to demystify that for a lot of people. I don't necessarily subscribe to that. I don't think it's true. I think military lifestyle is different, yes, but we're still people, so we're still able to adapt and adjust. But I think for me, one of the biggest things was accepting the fact that it was over as a career choice and I should be okay with not wanting to fall into something similar. So a lot of people kind of take the skillsets that they've honed in over a career in the military and they kind of just parlay it on to defense contracting or something of that nature. And I wanted to be comfortable with my decision and say, don't just follow a normal path if that's not what you want. And I certainly didn't want that. I didn't want defense contracting. I didn't want anything to kind of do with the military lifestyle anymore. Just kind of put it away, enjoyed it. I really had a great time, but I wanted a different challenge. And so for me it was just accepting the fact that it looked different, doing something that was completely away from the norm and being comfortable with that decision. For me, that was the toughest call to make and being okay with that. Not just saying, hey, I'm just going to pick up where I left off, but being okay with starting from zero and then building up a second career that I felt like I would enjoy a lot more as well. Colman: Definitely starting a new career and shift can have its own challenges, but it's very good that you decided to take almost a path less traveled. And I know you went from originally at Santander Bank and now to the Vice President of Business Banking Relationships, relationship manager at Bank of America. So if you could just tell me a little bit about your current role here and maybe what your day-to-day life looks like and some of the tasks and skills you have? James: Yeah, so banking for me is, that's the new space we're talking about. So I've been in banking now for five and a half years and I'm still learning. I feel like a brand new lieutenant again in the Marine Corps. So you sit back and you absorb and you interact with your bosses and your peers try to absorb as much as you can. But my current role as the relationship manager is exactly as it sounds, right? So I work with privately held companies within Connecticut and Western Massachusetts, and there's a certain target threshold for revenues that we work with. So we have small business and median businesses in the corporations that we work with. My job is basically sales, getting out there and trying to connect with those companies and kind of deliver values and solutions to those companies like every other bank out there. I knock on the door and try to peddle wares and say, hey, I have a solution for you and I've got a way to help your business grow. And so some of that is being able to connect with people. And some of that is, for me, I look at it as problem solving. So if you were to think about, maybe this is before your time, before mine as well, there used to be people who sold vacuum cleaners door to door. And back in that time intel was if you even knew somebody who had carpet. Knock on random doors and you didn't even know if someone had carpet. And so some of that is even true today, but I love problem solving, right? That's my shtick, if you will. And so part of this crafting of the puzzle is let's just find out who has a need, what's the demand before I go knocking on doors. So that research and trying to help people identify problems, that's my skillset, that's my strength. And then being able to take what I do as at my everyday activities, which is researching, trying to find out what industries have what particular problems, and then helping solve those problems, and then learning in the bank because we've got hundreds of solutions that we can offer, but I'm not going to throw that as an individual. My job is to kind of customize and say, here's two that I think will solve your problems. So just drawing it out and listening is probably the biggest skillset set that you can bring to relationship managers. Just listening, helping identify problems before you start rattling off solutions. And just being able to sit back and be comfortable in silence as people talk and you're listening, you're looking for problems and then you're helping them solve. So it's not a one size fits all, but it's working together to make sure you deliver the best solution, Colman: Definitely. Intelligence shapes the mission. So it's funny how you see them in your research now and how you can use that for your problem solving both in your past career and now in your present career at Bank of America. What advice would you give a Holy Cross student to leverage their liberal arts education to start their career in business? A lot of students coming out of Holy Cross are competing with kids coming from traditional business schools or getting a traditional business or finance major. How can a Holy Cross student use their liberal arts degree to their advantage? James: Yeah, that's a tricky one. And I remember in the mid-nineties where liberal arts education was the thing. It was the creme de la creme and you kind of went away from specific majors, so you wouldn't dare be a finance major. That's just suicide. And so there's a pendulum sway, and now you do have liberal arts which kind of took a hit in terms of industries looking for a particular talent and skill sets. And so now the challenge is being able to re-craft the story. That would be my suggestion. So as you look and you say, well, what value does a liberal arts education offer? Well, as you all kind of write your own story, I would say start with answering that question first, which is like well, you tell the story of what you think liberal arts education does for you. I tell my son, who's 7, of course, 7-year-olds olds don't listen to anything you say, but at least I start the message by saying two skillsets there will never be a shortage of in this, at least not in our country, and that's storytelling and problem solving. Those are the two skillsets that you'll never have a shortage of in terms of the workforce. You can do those two things. You can do them well. You can do just about anything you want in the industry that you want. And sky's the limit. So if you could figure out a way to convince, again, older folks that are sitting in the position of hiring people, that you have those skillsets, and liberal arts has kind of helped you shape those, you're not just singularly focused on a problem, but you kind of see the problem as an ecosystem. So you solve one thing, maybe you create another problem, you solve that problem. So if you can start to craft a story that tells people what the liberal arts education, what value it brings to a company or an industry, I think that's the keystone that gets you into any industry or any line of business that you want to get into. Colman: And I know that the alumni network from Holy Cross is very strong, just like me being able to reach out to you to do this podcast. Is there anything you can speak on about using the alumni network to your advantage and to help support you? James: Yes. I would say my first advice is don't follow my example. So in terms of networking, I probably would be the worst example. After I graduated, I lost connectivity with a lot of people who were close, dear friends while I was in school and didn't kind of build and continue those relationships while I went through the military, unless you were in the military. So if I ran across a Holy Cross alum, I would definitely connect. But one of the things that I did do successfully was I stayed connected to Holy Cross writ large, the campus, the alumni giving. So that thing I kind of held dear to, but in terms of the thing that actually made the school special, the people, I kind of lost focus of that for a huge chunk of time. Now you say, God bless LinkedIn, God bless social media. That allows me the opportunity to kind of right my wrongs. So I again capitalized those platforms and reached out to a lot of Holy Cross network. And the funny thing is, you're all accepting. So it's one of those deals where you kind of shoot yourself in the foot and say, why didn't I do this 15, 20 years ago? Why didn't I stay connected? But I guess that's the beauty in this thing, which is staying connected doesn't mean every day. Staying connected doesn't mean once a quarter. There's no time limit. It's just even if it's a casual hello, how are things going? Or hey, can you really sit down with me and kind of talk to me and help mentor me through a career? I personally have found, I would never say 100%, 99.9% of anybody that has the Holy Cross logo attached to their LinkedIn profile are willing to help you out in any way that they can. That's my personal experience. That's what I tout and that's kind of what I sell people on in terms of what Holy Cross alumni means, what that network means. And I have a wife who's very jealous of it because she went to American University and there's absolutely no connection there. Colman: Big rivals too. Big rivals. That's awesome that you always know that Holy Cross alumni and fellow classmates will always be there to help support you. So pivoting from that, I understand you do a lot of volunteer work with veterans and veterans programs. How do you think the Holy Cross mission of being men and woman for others lives on through this work? And are there maybe any similarities you see in your volunteer work to the Holy Cross mission statement? James: I think there's a lot of crossover and sometimes you have to stop even just sitting talking with people like you to reflect on how they're almost one and the same. So whether I consciously knew I was basically being groomed in a particular way at Holy Cross, and then you see some of that carryover, or even now it's a consistent theme. So whether I was attracted to that, and that's why I ended up at Holy Cross and kind of lived that lifestyle or whether it's because the faculty at the school and the students at the school kind of help you see that as well. I think it's a hybrid of both of them, but that's kind of been the central theme, at least throughout my military career and then thereafter. So there's a reason why I volunteered for what we call the Veterans of Foreign Wars Group is because they're not just this self-serving entity that's out there. I wouldn't join the organization if were. So yes, do we have 30 minutes for people to kind of trade war stories about War War II? Yes. I mean, that's just fascinating to listen to a World War II veteran talk to you about D-Day and what his role was. But the preponderance of our time, 95% of our time is looking for veterans who need help in our local area and then how we can help that veteran. Even if it's something as simple as they're down on their luck and they need a hot water tank installed in their house because they just can't do it, they don't have the money to do it, we're there to help. So we're looking, we always actively look for ways that we can actually help veterans in need, whether it's the fundraising events to make sure that we're able to provide those resources that they may need, but always looking for any way that we can assist even outside of the scope of, again, a veteran that served in a foreign war or not. So always looking to give back to the community, led by a great group of veterans from World War II and Vietnam, and I'm just happy to be in the shadow and learn and mentor for them because at some point they're going to pass the baton on and say, all right, they consider me young thinking about that. Right? Sorry, you're the young one. It's time for you to take the lead. But a great group of men and women who are always setting a good example again on that Holy Cross mantra, which is men and women for others, and that's why I'm part of that group. Colman: That's awesome. That's really great work that you do. Thank you very much. James: Oh, thank you. Colman: All right. Last question here before we wrap it up. Any last parting advice? I know you've bestowed a lot of wisdom upon us, but any advice you'd give to a Holy Cross student now just before they graduate, looking to finish that degree or connect with alumni? Anything you think that's good that's going to help them before they graduate? James: I would say going into graduation is one of those periods where we try to cram a whole lot in and in the shortest amount of time because I guess in our mind's eye, we kind of see the finality, right? We're like, wait a minute, I only have one more year. Shrink it down even more. Wait a minute, one more semester, one more month, and then you end up just bypassing a lot of the stuff. We're trying to get check marks in the box. But I would say that's probably a good time to say maybe slow down, shore up some friendships. One of the regrets I have, and I don't live by regrets, but one of the regrets I do have is just not finding a new friend, right? When I looked to my left and my right during the graduation ceremony, I did not have a clue who those people were. We were in alphabetical order. I'm just like, I don't know you, and I don't know you. So one of those where you kind of regret not reaching out and just trying a different friend group or different people and just connecting with people in different ways. It doesn't always have to be brotherhoods or sisterhoods, and it doesn't always have to be best friends. Sometimes it's just good to say hello to just someone because they're in your class and may never know when you know time is right for them to kind of reach out and connect. So find the person who will be sitting next to you and during graduation and go introduce yourself. That'd be my word of wisdom for anybody, but get yourself known out there and get to know as many people in your graduating class as possible. And you probably won't hit a hundred percent, but carry that through over the next 10 to 20 years of your career. Get to know people in your graduating class until you strike the hundred percent mark. Colman: Awesome. Thank you very much. As the fall semester closed down, I know a lot of people will listen to that and take that to heart with their last semester coming up. So thank you for that. And thank you very much for joining the podcast. It was awesome to talk to you and learn a lot from you and hear about your experience from Holy Cross while you were a student and an athlete here, to your service in the Marine Corps, and eventually to your career at Bank of America and the community service you do with the Veterans of Foreign Wars. So thank you very much for joining it. We appreciate having you. James: Well, thank you for having me. I really appreciate it. I have one more question for you. So Army, Navy, who you got this weekend? Colman: Army always. James: Oh, geez. Colman: Army beat Navy. James: Holy Cross, you're sure right? Colman: Holy Cross all the way, though. James: I didn't doubt that one for one second. Colman: Of course. Of course. Maura Sweeney: That's our show. I hope you enjoyed hearing about just one of the many ways that Holy Cross alumni have been inspired by the mission to be people for and with others. A special thanks to today's guests and everyone at Holy Cross who has contributed to making this podcast a reality. If you or someone would like to be featured on this podcast, then please send us an email at alumnicareers.holycross.edu. If you like what you hear, then please leave us a review. This podcast is brought to you by the Office of Alumni Relations at the College of the Holy Cross. You can subscribe for future episodes wherever you find your podcast. I'm your host, Maura Sweeney, and this is Mission-Driven. In the words of Saint Ignatius of Loyola, "Now go forth and set the world on fire." Theme music composed by Scott Holmes, courtesy of freemusicarchive.org.  

Brigadier General John W. Weidner assumed the duties as Deputy Director, Plans and Policy, United States Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM), on May 4, 2020. General Weidner was commissioned a second lieutenant in 1991 upon graduation from the Army ROTC program at St. John's University, Collegeville, Minnesota, where he earned a Bachelor of Science degree in physics.He completed a Ph.D. in medical physics from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2012, and holds Master of Science degrees in medical physics, nuclear engineering, engineering management, and strategic studies. His military education includes the Engineer Officer Basic and Advanced Courses, the Combined Arms Services Staff School, the Command and General Staff College, and the Army War College. He is also a registered Professional Engineer in the state of Wisconsin. General Weidner most recently served as the Director of the US Army Nuclear and Countering WMD Agency at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, where he led the Army's capability to integrate nuclear weapon effects into conventional operations, and supported Army service component commands with nuclear and countering WMD expertise.General Weidner previously served as the Director of the USSTRATCOM Commander Action Group; Director for Strategic Capabilities Policy in the Defense Policy and Strategy Directorate on the National Security Council staff; Executive Director for the Office of Major Modernization Programs, National Nuclear Security Administration, Department of Energy; assistant professor in the Department of Engineering Physics at the Air Force Institute of Technology; stockpile associate for the Defense Threat Reduction Agency (DTRA) at Los Alamos National Laboratory, New Mexico; consequence management advisory team leader for DTRA at Kirtland Air Force Base, New Mexico; assistant professor in the Department of Physics at the United States Military Academy at West Point; and Deputy District Engineer for the St. Paul District, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. He commanded B Company, 52nd Engineer Battalion at Fort Carson, Colorado and served as an Engineer Platoon Leader at Fort Riley, Kansas and in the Republic of Korea.EPISODE NOTES:Follow NucleCast on Twitter at @NucleCast Email comments and guest nominations to NucleCast@anwadeter.orgSubscribe to NucleCast podcast Rate the show

Sarah Winglass attended Boston College on an ROTC scholarship and graduated in 2014. She did not come from a military family or participate in ROTC in high school. Still, when applying to colleges, she spoke with a close friend who participated in an ROTC program and was attracted by the broader opportunities connected to the scholarship. This meant that on top of her classes and personal extracurriculars, Sarah participated in Army ROTC-specific physical and leadership training. She started her career in the US Army in an operations unit in Colorado. Over time because of her high performance, Sarah earned the opportunity to be trained in the Counterintelligence force. She mentions that one of the biggest challenges transitioning to the military - was that she was so eager and excited - that performing a support role was out of character. She then served on Counterintelligence teams in Washington, DC, and then on an extended deployment in Iraq. She said her deployment was one of her two goals for her military career - the other being company commander. On her deployment, Sarah is very insightful about the renewed sense of dedication and focus toward a mission that thrilled her. Sarah accomplished both of her goals in her career with the help of mentors along the way. We talk about the organization and trajectory of a career in the military and the traits of successful military leaders. Sarah connects to how many of those skills transfer into the business world. This conversation also highlights Sarah's experience as a woman in the Army and imposter syndrome in general. We end on an empowering note about how to find mentors to guide you through new missions and business ventures alike.

Community Outreach with Illinois Army National Guard Panelist:HBrook J. Miller Jr. -  is Sergeant First Class Illinois Army National Guard College Career Advisor and Recruiter at University of Illinois Campus

Bob Edwards went through the Army ROTC program at Lafayette College and was commissioned as an officer in 1960. Soon, he was on his way to Germany at a very sensitive time in the Cold War as Berlin was divided in 1961 and became a focal point of the Cold War once again. Shortly after that deployment, Edwards was assigned to a new unit testing whether air assets could move troops and equipment as well or better than wheeled vehicles. He was also named company commander in what would become the 1st Battaltion of the 7th Cavalry within the 1st Air Mobile Division.Edwards and the other men of the air mobile division arrived in Vietnam in the summer of 1965. Just a couple of months later, in November 1965, they were involved in the heaviest fighting the U.S. would see in the early years of the war - the battle for Landing Zone X-Ray in the Ia Drang Valley.In this edition of "Veterans Chronicles," Edwards details the events that led up to the battle, how the mission unfolded, and what the intense fighting was like right up until he was wounded and forced to evacuate.Edwards also describes his recovery, his subsequent assignments, why the battalion's commanding officer, Hal Moore, was such a great leader and why Moore's wife, Julia was such a powerful force back at home.

Warriors, Fall In…It's time for formation.If you're an avid listener of TMF, you'd recall that I sat down and had a conversation with Professor of Military Science LTC Michelle Parlette about Army ROTC opportunities, well contacting her lead me to the San Diego State University Army ROTC Recruiter Dr. Michael Brantley.So today, we're going to learn who he is and he'll take us even deeper into the many opportunities that are out there for young adults seeking to challenge themselves beyond just a college education.Connect with Michael on IG:https://www.instagram.com/sdsu_army_rotc_recruiter/Connect with Michael on Twitter:https://twitter.com/SDSU_ROOConnect with Michael on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikejbrantley/Email Michael: mbrantley@sdsu.edu or sdsuroo@gmail.comCall Michael at: (619) 249-5609San Diego State University Army ROTC Websitehttps://armyrotc.sdsu.eduSan Diego State University Army ROTC Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/SDArmyROTC/Army ROTC San Diego State University Cadre Contact:https://armyrotc.sdsu.edu/cadreSan Diego State University Army ROTC Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/sdarmyrotc/San Diego State University Army ROTC Recruiter (ROO) Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/sdsu_army_rotc_recruiter/Other Nearby Partnered Programs with San Diego State University are: University of San Diego | University of California San Diego | Point Loma Nazarene University | Army ROTC | Aztecs Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/aztecs_rotc_bulldogs/Find Universities with Army ROTC Programs:https://www.goarmy.com/careers-and-jobs/find-your-path/army-officers/rotc/find-schools.htmlArmy ROTC National Scholarship Information:https://www.goarmy.com/careers-and-jobs/find-your-path/army-officers/rotc/scholarships.htmlArmyGeneral Army ROTC Information:https://www.goarmy.com/careers-and-jobs/find-your-path/army-officers/rotc.htmlNational Guard Schlorships with Army ROTC Programs Information:https://www.nationalguard.com/tools/guard-scholarshipsArmy National Guard Simultaneous Membership (SMP) Program Information:https://www.nationalguard.com/simultaneous-membership-programArmy ROTC Cadet Command Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/ArmyROTC Check out our websitePlease Support & Donate to the Podcast: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/themorningformUSA Made socks with a Purpose. 20% off with code: TMFhttps://www.solediersocks.com/tmfEpisode Powered By Act Now Education

Ken Harris/Army ROTC and LT. Danny Mancillas Army ROTC/Bulldog Battalion incorporates the University of Georgia (UGA) and Georgia Gwinnett College (GGC) to produce the Army's Future Leaders. Scholarships and other great career opportunities are available now through GoArmy.com/ROTC. Ken Harris is a 40-year Veteran of the U.S. Navy, Army National Guard, and currently serves in […]

Ken Harris/Army ROTC and LT. Danny Mancillas Army ROTC/Bulldog Battalion incorporates the University of Georgia (UGA) and Georgia Gwinnett College (GGC) to produce the Army's Future Leaders. Scholarships and other great career opportunities are available now through GoArmy.com/ROTC. Ken Harris is a 40-year Veteran of the U.S. Navy, Army National Guard, and currently serves in […] The post Ken Harris with Army ROTC/Bulldog Battalion and Lieutenant Danny Mancillas appeared first on Business RadioX ®.

Born in Queens, Laura Noel moved to the Pennsylvania Amish country at 10 years old. Restless and troubled, she longed to get away from her difficult home life. College found her spinning her wheels until she discovered the Army ROTC. A former Marine, her father suggested the Air Force. Twenty-eight years later, Noel was a seasoned service professional with a master's degree in arts administration. During her time in the service she felt a longing to find her purpose and began teaching yoga, and mindfulness. Noel learned that following her curiosity was just as important as following her career path. In this conversation with Covey Club founder Lesley Jane Seymour, Noel discusses the reinventions that led her to creating Stretch Into Success, a consulting firm that combines leadership techniques with mindfulness coaching to help entrepreneurs find success and fulfillment.  FREE GIFT! Don't start your reinvention without downloading CoveyClub's starter guide called “31 Badass Tips for Launching Your Reinvention Without Fear!” Bio: Laura Noel is a Lean Six Sigma Blackbelt and certified Proctor Gallagher Institute coach and facilitator who works with individuals, groups and companies in reaching their potential and achieving their personal and professional goals. Key Links: Website Join CoveyClub: If you like what you hear, you can support the CoveyCast podcast with a five-star rating, and subscribe to CoveyClub for more inspiring conversations.  Follow CoveyClub: CoveyClub website Facebook Twitter Instagram LinkedIn

Earl Porter joined the military at the age of 17 as a 4-year Army ROTC scholar and would go on to spend 10 total years in the military. Earl is a former Army captain and was also a Ranger, spending time in both active duty and the guard. During his service, Earl had deployments in Iraq and Afghanistan. Post-military career, Earl got his law degree, works in commercial real estate and also established a non-profit organization called 'Something Outta Nothing', a project of the non-profit toughest kids to help raise support and create awareness about veteran suicide. https://www.son.vet/ Support the podcast by supporting our sponsors at www.hazardground.com/sponsors Shop Amazon! As an Amazon Associate We Earn From Qualifying Purchases...You Know The Deal! (Paid Link) Help grow the show! Spread the word, tell a friend!! Subscribe, rate, and review on Apple Podcasts! Episode Intro Music: “Prelude” by “Silence & Light” (www.silenceandlightmusic.com) Photo Credit: Earl Porter

Fall in… Today, we have a special episode for the parents, guardians, and future leaders who wish to take the military into consideration and also complete college at the same time. I'm talking about the prestigious Army ROTC program, which is available in many colleges all across the United States. I have a former coworker and friend, who also was deployed in 2004-2005 in Support of Operation Iraqi Freedom in Mosul, Iraq. I was a lowly 2LT in a nearby Transportation Platoon and she was the Executive Officer of her respective Maintenance Company.Today, I am very proud to say that our guest has managed to climb the Army ranks and is now a Lieutenant Colonel and is serving as a Professor of Military Science at San Diego State University, where she mentors, guides, and build our future military leaders. I'd like to welcome LTC Michelle Parlette to The Morning Formation Podcast. Connect with LTC Parlette on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-parlette-7322a096/San Diego State University Army ROTC Websitehttps://armyrotc.sdsu.eduSan Diego State University Army ROTC Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/SDArmyROTC/Army ROTC San Diego State University Cadre Contact:https://armyrotc.sdsu.edu/cadreSan Diego State University Army ROTC Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/sdarmyrotc/San Diego State University Army ROTC Recruiter (ROO) Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/sdsu_army_rotc_recruiter/Other Nearby Partnered Programs with San Diego State University are: University of San Diego | University of California San Diego | Point Loma Nazarene University | Army ROTC | Aztecs Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/aztecs_rotc_bulldogs/Find Universities with Army ROTC Programs:https://www.goarmy.com/careers-and-jobs/find-your-path/army-officers/rotc/find-schools.htmlArmy ROTC National Scholarship Information:https://www.goarmy.com/careers-and-jobs/find-your-path/army-officers/rotc/scholarships.htmlArmyGeneral Army ROTC Information:https://www.goarmy.com/careers-and-jobs/find-your-path/army-officers/rotc.htmlNational Guard Schlorships with Army ROTC Programs Information:https://www.nationalguard.com/tools/guard-scholarshipsArmy National Guard Simultaneous Membership (SMP) Program Information:https://www.nationalguard.com/simultaneous-membership-programArmy ROTC Cadet Command Facebook:https://www.facebook.com/ArmyROTCDogs on Deployment (Mentioned at the end of the podcast):https://www.dogsondeployment.org

A Texas native, Casey Sherrod joined the Army ROTC at the University of Houston, where she earned a bachelor's degree in human development and family studies. A year after graduating, she deployed to Afghanistan as a platoon leader, later becoming an executive officer, then a commander of the largest U.S. Army recruiting company on the West Coast. But she felt a strong desire to return to Houston and decided to pursue her MBA at Rice Business while on active duty.During the pandemic, Casey and her wife, Amanda, began partnering with animal rescues in Houston and elsewhere to foster animals in need, including dogs, cats, goats, pigs and calves. Casey started a TikTok account (@caseyriveter) to document their animal rescue journey and she now has 1.9 million followers.Casey and David talk about what drew her to serve in the military, her impressive career with the Army, the parallels between business school and the Army, and how she got into the world of TikTok.Episode Quotes:Parallels between business school and the Army12:54 - Consulting is a huge thing in business school. We constantly are reading case studies. We're constantly saying like, hey, there's this problem, how do we fix it? Or how do we come up with some type of solution to help? And I think as leaders in the military we're constantly faced with problems, we're constantly going into new organizations and trying to fix what might be broken or just to make things better than they were when you got there.One thing you learned at Rice that has helped you become a leader14:51 - One thing that I learned in business school that has helped me as a leader is having this climate that enforces innovation. And I think that if people that worked for you are afraid to make mistakes and take risks, then you're never going to move forward. And that's something that a lot of startup companies and a lot of just businesses period have to understand as leaders, like there are certain risks that are ok. Because yes, it might set us back, but if you take this risk, you might also get five steps ahead of where you were before.On her new viral TikTok fame22:24 - I think it's important to use your platform to try to spread awareness and to just share with the world like, hey,  this is how great it can be to foster or to volunteer at shelters or to consider adopting a dog from a shelter or a rescue before maybe buying one.Show Links:Guest Profile: Casey Sherrod on TikTok Casey Sherrod on LinkedIn Casey Sherron on Twitter Casey Sherrod on Instagram

One of the three pillars of the Human Experience is to lead, and today's guest is an outstanding example of what true leadership embodies. Oakland McCullooch spent 23 years in the Army and held numerous leadership positions in the Infantry and Armor branches. He assisted in disaster relief operations for Hurricane Hugo in Charleston, SC and Hurricane Andrew in South Florida. He has also held instructor positions at the US Army Ordnance School, the US Army Command and General Staff College, the Australian Command and Staff College, University of South Alabama and Stetson University. During his most recent position in the Army, he spent 3 years as the Professor of Military Science at the University of South Alabama where he led the training and commissioning of Lieutenants and tripled the size of the program.Oakland retired from the Army in September 2009 and joined the staff at the Bay Area Food Bank as the Associate Director. He left the food bank in December 2010 to become the Senior Military Science Instructor and recruiter for the Army ROTC program at Stetson University in DeLand, Florida. In October 2013, he became the Recruiting Operations Officer for the Eagle Battalion Army ROTC program at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University where he has more than doubled the size of the program. In 2019, Cadet Command selected LTC McCulloch as the top recruiting officer, out of 274 others. He received thirty-one military service awards including the Bronze Star, eight Meritorious Service Medals, and the Humanitarian Service Medal.In today's episode of Lead, Sell, Grow: The Human Experience, Oakland shares his experience in the army and the many lessons he learned about true leadership along the way. While many might think that being a leader just means telling others what to do, Oakland emphasizes that leadership is about people and that being a servant leader is what it is all about. People need to know that you have their best interest in mind in order for you to be able to lead them, otherwise you will end up with people that might get work done for you, but passion and motivation are the key pieces that are lacking. Tune in to hear all about Oakland's insight on how you can be a truly effective leader that people want to follow.Key highlights:● Oakland's background in the army leading up to his retirement in 2009● Oakland's reasons for being passionate about leadership● Lessons Oakland learned from being an army officer● Leadership is leadership- it doesn't matter where you practice it● People need to know that you have their best interest in mind to be able to lead them● Leadership is all about people and all about trust, if you lose trust or respect, people won't work very hard for you● The power of showing people you care about them● It is a privilege to being able to lead people- it's not about the title and more pay● Servant leadership is key● Leaders make a difference in people's lives● What can people do to improve their leadership skills?● What do good leaders do?● You need to be good at motivating people by finding a sense of purpose in their lives, a paycheck isn't enough motivation● How to get motivated in your leadership position● Why all leaders need a “Napoleon's corporal”● Why he wrote a book and what opportunities it led to● Our country is in need of good leadershipEpisode resources: ● Get Oakland's book: Your Leadership LegacyQuote from the episode:“It's mission first, people always.”Connect with Oakland: Website: www.ltcoakmcculloch.comLinkedInInstagram @ltcoakmccullochTwitter @LtcOaklandFacebookConnect with Eric: Be sure to connect with us in our Lead Sell Grow – The Human Experience Tribe Facebook group: Pick up your copy of B2B Sales SecretsLearn more about our services: www.TheGoalGuide.comImprove your sales and stay connected – Free Gifts Here https://shor.by/TheGoalGuide

Are you in real estate for quick gains or long-term generational wealth creation?  If you're in the latter group, Chris Pomerleau has a buy-and-hold model you just can't pass up. Chris is an attorney by trade as well as a skilled investor and syndicator. As an equity manager of over $46MM in assets under management, he helps others achieve freedom with passive income by investing in real assets without having to invest their time and effort.  You don't want to miss this episode where we'll be breaking down Chris' best strategies for owning real estate for generational wealth.    [00:01 - 05:58] Stop Volunteering Those Weekends  Chris' experience from an attorney, to military, to BRRRR, to scaling multifamily Chris talks about shifting from single-family to multifamily  How Chris' Master in negotiation plays into building his business    [06:53 - 12:21] Scaling CRE Comes with Finding the Right People  Finding the best people to stay high level and build the company  Bringing traffic by positioning yourself as a thought leader  Chris breaks down his “mini funds” structure and how it works to everyone's benefit The importance of vetting and what to look for in a property management company    [12:22 - 18:04] Owning Real Estate For Generational Wealth and Passive Income How LeavenWealth goes about establishing property management locations Why Chris opts out of the Flip method in favor of Buy and Hold to keep making money indefinitely  How long-term holds benefit investors    [18:05 - 19:09] Closing Segment Reach out to Chris!  Links Below   Tweetable Quotes “If you can just weed out the people and or the hardline opinions and just try to meet at the end to satisfy everybody, that's the most important thing.” - Chris Pomerleau “If [a] property continues to pay you indefinitely if it's taken care of, why get rid of it…? Our goal is to never sell, it's to treat it as if we'll hold it forever and hopefully my children own it.” - Chris Pomerleau -----------------------------------------------------------------------------  Connect with Chris over on LinkedIn. If you're looking for real returns from real assets, look no further than LeavenWealth over on Instagram, Twitter, and over on leavenwealth.com.     Connect with me:   I love helping others place money outside of traditional investments that both diversify a strategy and provide solid predictable returns.     Facebook   LinkedIn   Like, subscribe, and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google Podcasts, or whatever platform you listen on.  Thank you for tuning in!   Email me → sam@brickeninvestmentgroup.com   Want to read the full show notes of the episode? Check it out below:   Chris Pomerleau 0:00   It's the greatest feeling in the world when you return their money. I don't hear from 90% of our investors ever until they get their money back. And then all of a sudden, when's the next one? And it's because they get it right. They understand and they get to own it. So maybe we're attracting that type of investor and there are different types of appetites, I suppose.    Intro  0:18   Welcome to the How to Scale Commercial Real Estate Show. Whether you are an active or passive investor, we'll teach you how to scale your real estate investing business into something big.   Sam Wilson  0:30   Chris Pomerleau is the co-founder of LeavenWealth Capital with $200 million in assets under management and over 2,500 in seven different states throughout the Midwest. Chris, welcome to the show.   Chris Pomerleau  0:41   Appreciate it. Thanks for having me.   Sam Wilson  0:43   Hey, man, pleasures mine. Same three questions I ask every guest who comes on the show: in 90 seconds or less, where did you start? Where are you now? How did you get there?   Chris Pomerleau 0:49   Yeah, I was born and raised in the Omaha area. I did college sports, then I went on to law school, got a master's degree in negotiation along with my law school degree. I was in the military for a little bit after that and then started practicing law. I received some accolades early on in my legal career that made me realize, you can meet every metric that your job wants you to, but there's a ceiling, it comes quick. So, jumped into real estate investing in single-family homes in 2013. With my father, we were “buy and hold.” So we just the BRRRR Method, if you will. And after that worked on three or four single-family homes, I said, Why not a duplex? And I said why not a 20 unit? And then why not 100 unit? And from there on that's exactly what we've constructed our entire business plan around is just refinancing and rolling the ownership of all of our apartment complexes and then taking on investors along the way.   Sam Wilson  1:40   Right, man, that's fantastic! Tell me, you know, as you've scaled through, you've done the typical progression, where it's like, Oh, hey, you know, I'm more of a single-family on board with this. We just keep getting bigger and bigger. What were some of the pivotal moments when you knew you were on to something? And then what did you do to act on it?   Chris Pomerleau  1:55   It was certainly our first successful refinance of our single-family home. It took my father and me about 14 months. I mean, we were going there every weekend, sometimes at nights, laying the flooring, painting, doing everything ourselves took us over a year, right? We refinance the property, got all of our initial cash back, and I said, that's great! But now we're making you know, $300 a month cash. What was that last year for? But we did that three more times. And then we got to learn along the way. I basically realized early on that, look, we have to start scaling this. We have to stop volunteering our weekends, we're still trading time for money. And as soon as we were able to hire out everything for that first 20 unit on general contractors, property management, all of that stuff, and actually get in and out of a 20 unit deal for free, if you will, meaning we still to this day on that 20 unit. And within 11 months, we had fully turned the entire place that we got all of our money back. I said, there's no end in sight because you get your own way sometimes. And it took me a while to learn that. I learned a lot along the way but that's certainly what we build our business plan around now.   Chris Pomerleau  3:02   I am. That's correct.   Sam Wilson  3:03   And do you still practice law?   Chris PomerleauChris  3:05   So at this moment, I'm about one to five hours a month where I practice law. I would imagine that in 2022, that'll most likely come to an end.   Sam Wilson  3:14   Right? So you're not - yeah, one to five hours a month is not a big-time commitment.   Chris Pomerleau  3:18   It's not. Enough to keep my license and I really enjoy the people that I work with. I've been there a long time, everyone's great there. And that was kind of, not a startup, but a new firm and so I kind of have this feeling of connectivity with the group. But certainly, I'm 100% real estate.   Sam Wilson  3:33   Right. Tell me about the Master in negotiation. How has that changed? Or how does that affect what you do now?   Chris Pomerleau  3:39   I'm glad that I have it. I think it's helped a lot in my life, whether it's legally and all the cases I was a part of, or perhaps the negotiations. I got that simultaneously with my law degree. So in the mornings, I would go to the Army ROTC and then all day, I'd be in law school and then at night, I was getting my master's in negotiation. And the goal was a better round myself to - I didn't know at that time I want to do real estate but I knew that a master's in negotiation would certainly help with the legal career and also just perhaps anything that came my way. What do I think that it's helped me with? I think it doesn't take a massive negotiation to know this, but it's been drilled in my head and it certainly has proven to be true is that, right? And so sometimes, you get stuck with a seller saying I've owned this for 20 years, it's worth this. This is all my hard work or a buyer is saying, I can only afford X amount per door and sometimes there are ways to negotiate that work for everybody.   Sam Wilson  4:41   Right. That's an absolutely valid point. So Chris, tell me this, what is it that you guys are that your role is inside of LeavenWealth Capital?   Chris Pomerleau  4:49   So I'm co-founder along with Colin Schwartz and I kind of had the transactions in the investment strategies. I'm helping pull different investments into different mini funds on many syndications. I'm finding the right investors for the right deal. Some investors don't mind not having returned for a few years where others want the return starting day one. So we find the best deals to kind of help fit. And then I'm also a part of, operationally with Colin, a number of businesses that we have. So we have not only our syndication company but we own two property management companies, we own a construction company, we own a hard money lending company. And it seems as though that's a little bit of FOMO. But it's really just scaling, right? These are all people that we would use anyway, we need property management companies, why not own the place? We need, many times we use hard money on some of these smaller deals where we'll buy a four-unit. And I know that's not a lot of the listeners don't care about four units. But if you can buy a four-unit with hard money for four and $1,000, and then refinance it four weeks later, for $500,000; Hard Money is perfect for that one, I don't the company lends the money. So I'm really just kind of operationally speaking at the top of the ownership of trying to help with making it all work in the end I suppose.   Sam Wilson  5:59   That is a skill set that many aspire to and few possess that ability to stay high level and build out companies without getting in the weeds. How have you done that?   Chris Pomerleau  6:11   I'd be lying if I said I've been perfect since day one, you know. My ability to delegate has taken some massaging. It's really just surrounding yourself with the right people. And that's really whether it's partners on a real estate deal, or whether it's finding the right person to head operations or property management, or we are soon to take on a CFO role, directors of finance. He's joining us from the CPA firm we've used. And so I guess, I think the most important thing in my position, or I'm not gonna say I'm superb at it, but I think we've been able to grow so well is because we have the ability to find individuals that are very, very good at the roles that we need and then making sure they're compensated as such, so that they want to be a part of the team, and they see our overall vision and mission. It's just finding those right individuals to take over.   Sam Wilson  6:54   Yeah, finding talent and letting them kind of excel in their role. Sounds like part of it. One of the things that people struggle with early on in this business and really, in any business as I think about it, is that early on the revenues aren't there. They're not there to support bringing on the correct talent. How did you overcome that?   Chris Pomerleau  7:12   We were doing it all ourselves, right. So at first, it's just kind of learn as you go. But ultimately, that can only go so far as well. So, through the process, we've built a following. Colin had actually started a great meet-up in town here. And so, kind of being seen as a thought leader and building these groups or whatnot, drive a little bit of traffic and talent our way. And that's just taking some time. Same with experience, you know, the deals are being given now, they weren't coming across my desk, if you will, five years ago, but with the experience in the name we've built, we're starting to attract that attention. So that's mainly one of the reasons we're getting a lot of opportunities to team up with different individuals and people to work in our companies.   Sam Wilson  7:50   Got it. That's fantastic. Let's talk about the funds are 'mini funds,' as you call it, that you guys are putting together. Can you break down that whole structure? What do those mini funds do and why they're different than say an ordinary syndication?   Chris Pomerleau  8:04   Yes. I mean, so even though I'm an attorney, I'm not giving legal advice at this moment. But I can tell you that, you know, kind of alluding to what I just said is that at first, it was hard to find that right deal. And this was five, six, seven years ago, when deals - I wish I could go back, don't we all five or six, seven years ago - but didn't have experience, right. So even though I was an attorney, and maybe I knew this person or that person without the experience, the banks, and the brokers, and sometimes well, we built that traction. And so recently, we've come across the opportunity to buy this 40-unit, this seven-unit, and this 12-unit and about the same timeline. And instead of saying, well, the 40-units are too small, or I can only concentrate on one, why don't we just package these together as a portfolio. And that's what we did. Our first portfolio like that was called the Midwest Portfolio. One, it consisted of properties in three different states 262 units total. But that helps with the leverage, that helps with the liability, that helps just if the property in Kansas City isn't doing very well, hopefully, the property B in Wichita is doing a little better, and they kind of feed off each other. And that started with the first portfolio, we're now on the fourth portfolio already in less than a year. And that allows us to also not pass on great opportunities like great 11 units. I know that's weird to say, but we used to just kind of kick them to the side because the scalability wasn't there. And now we just throw in the portfolio and everyone gets a chance to invest in it.   Sam Wilson  9:26   Right? That also helps offset the expense of organizing a fund, right?   Chris Pomerleau  9:31   It really does. Yeah, so it's all owned by one entity, right? And then that one entity has four subsidiary entities and each one of those owns the property but it's all one fund, if you will, it's one syndication.   Sam Wilson  9:42   Right, that ordinarily maybe an 11-unit probably wouldn't support even the paperwork side. You're dropping the paperwork, but if you package that with a 40-unit and another 40-unit, how do you get all those sellers to you know, work on the same timeline? It seems like that could be a little bit challenging to have one comes in this week and those two weeks out On two weeks, you get two or three different deals, you're like, well, okay, we've always had to close at the same time, I would imagine.   Chris  10:05   Well, luckily, we have structured it so they don't have to close at the same time but in order to appease the investor, for sure, it makes the most sense. And it's the easiest to digest if they do close around the same time. So I can tell you that when we close that first portfolio, everything closed, within four weeks. The portfolio we're on right now, everything will close within about three and a half weeks. So there's a little bit of timeframe difference. There're different sellers but if we can negotiate those, sometimes we've just been successful. Just to give you a point, I had a 20 unit, we're going to close on very soon here. But it made more sense that it closed about 90 to 120 days in the future to align with the other deals that were closing like I am, and they were able to agree with that. We let some money go hard and it worked out that way.   Sam Wilson  10:48   Right. Got it. Tell me about some mistakes, or something - a mistake that either cost you time, money, or both.   Chris Pomerleau 10:55   Yeah, I'd say the vetting of property management companies, hence why we now own two of our own because we have a lot of control. But of course, they're gonna give you all the best references they can. Of course, they're going to talk the talk, but the question is, do they walk the walk? And I think the mistake we made early on is just kind of trusting those groups, I don't think we just kind of lasseiz-fair with the motions. Maybe this is a hindsight thing, we could have changed, but I do feel as though maybe in hindsight, drilling down further into property management companies could be a benefit to us. I think it helps now that also we own our own private equity companies. So we know what to expect from other property management companies if that makes sense.   Sam Wilson  11:31   What do you expect from other property management companies?   Chris Pomerleau 11:35   Transparency, and don't hide. Like this is not, actually I feel, and I can tell you members of our team feel this way, is that I think property manager companies are a little more open with us. I can tell you that that's the opinion that they have. And they actually share that with us because they know, they don't have to BS us. I mean, we get it, I want them to make money. If they don't make money, then they're not going to be happy doing what they're doing. So I get the deltas on the bids, and I get all that stuff. But I also don't want our weekly phone calls to be all butterflies and rainbows. I want to know what the heck's going on? And I think, we have gotten great feedback, that because we have both hats if you will, it's benefited us.   Sam Wilson  12:11   Yeah, absolutely. The inspector knows what to expect out of an inspector.   Chris Pomerleau  12:16   Right, that's perfect.   Sam Wilson  12:16   Right, and you could talk a language that somebody is not an inspector couldn't talk.    Chris Pomerleau  12:20   That's exactly what it is.    Sam Wilson  12:22   Have you used - are you still employing other property management companies because of the locations of the properties you don't have a presence in yet? Is that what it is?   Chris Pomerleau  12:30   No, I can tell you, our goal isn't to necessarily grow the property management company so that it's this extremely large revenue income building, it's more for the control because we can hire on-site, we can hire the regional, we can guide how that goes. We have no interest in starting a property management company in a city where our current property management company is already doing well. You know, if it's not broke, don't fix it. So here's an example. We're doing really, really well in Sioux Falls, South Dakota right now, very well. That state has done 70% growth and rental rates just last year, that's a little secret, you can go ahead and cut that out if you want to. But I can tell you that we have a phenomenal property management company there. So we have no interest in going there. It's really just been by necessity that we've done these things,   Sam Wilson  13:16   right? That's a lot of the name of the game is that we didn't want to do this. But we need to do this. And that's what makes sense. What are some things that you feel like you've done really well? If you were to give this advice to somebody else, or maybe even your younger self, you'd say, repeat this step, this is something you got to do well.   Chris Pomerleau  13:30   I'd say being picky or selective on the investments. I think we've done a really good job of that. I think we haven't just jumped to an investment because we're getting itchy. Or now we have an investor base who reaches out to us every couple of weeks because they think something's wrong because there hasn't been a new syndication launched. I think it's important to stick to our business plan and stick to kind of the metrics we want to see in all of our investments and allow that outcome to please the investors instead of just always having a place to put your money, I think we've done a really good job of that. I mean, we've gone full cycle 52 times now and out of those 52 times, we have gotten 100% of our money back. Now that ranges from a single-family all the way up to an 87 family. And we obviously have a 262-unit and a 235-unit but those are still in the middle of the business plan. But what I'm saying is, we know what we want, we want that refinance, we want that long-term hold, and making sure we find the right property for that. I think we've done a good job of that.   Sam Wilson  14:24   When you say long-term hold, what does that mean?    Chris Pomerleau  14:26   Well, I can tell you the easiest, the lowest hanging fruit, we don't flip apartments, we just don't do it. And there's nothing wrong with it. House flippers make a lot of money, syndicators who flip apartments and three years they make a lot of money and everyone's happy. And there's nothing wrong with that. What allowed me to get on my attorney job is to own a property that kept paying me. Because in my eyes and again, this has nothing against anybody else's business model, but in our eyes, if that property continues to pay you indefinitely, if it's taken care of why get rid of it. And that's what I mean by long-term now. If in ten, fifteen, thirty years from now someone comes along and offers us something that we can't pass on, then, of course, we're going to take it. Heck, we just sold an apartment every day, we only held for 16 months. But we got an offer we couldn't refuse, we rolled that cash into a larger portfolio. So that's what I mean by what long term is. Our goal is to never sell, it's to treat it as if we'll hold it forever and hopefully my children own it.   Sam Wilson  15:19   How are you approaching that conversation with investors because there is commonly the return of capital, which is obviously hurdle one via a refinance? But then there's also the return on that capital that investors are seeking. And the return on that capital can be a slower train or a slower play if you're just collecting it from cash flow. How are you getting investors on board by saying, hey, our plan is not to exit, Wwe're not going to sell the milk cow. How does that work?   Chris Pomerleau  15:48   I think they resonate with the cash-out refinance, right? Because in order for us to sell the property in year three, we're going to have to have a decent delta on the amount we've raised that value. Right, right. Well, that delta is typically what we're seeing when we raise that not enough to refinance. So sure, they only make seven 10% cash flow for two years, three years, but then they get $100,000 back, and they continue to make cash flow indefinitely. It's the greatest feeling in the world when to return their money. I don't hear from 90% of our investors, ever until they get their money back. And then all of a sudden, "When's the next one?" And it's because they get it right. They understand and they get to own it. So maybe we're attracting that type of investor. And there are different types of appetites, I suppose.    Sam Wilson  16:37   Yeah. When you put together a pro forma or projection or a deal deck to your investors, how do you underwrite that? Because a lot of people are out there IRR shopping, if you will, like oh, well, that's only a nine IRR, I can't do that. And obviously, if you're having, again, the return of capital is step one. But then if it is not a 2x equity multiple in five years, you're not going to hit a 20 IRR, it's just not going to happen. Do you even publish that information?    Chris Pomerleau  17:03   It's funny you say that. We've gone back and forth on even posting an IRR and explaining that I haven't needed to but every once in a while, you'll have a sophisticated investor come in and say, "Look, I'm only looking for IRR as a minimum of this." And I say, "Look, I don't know if that's the right fit here but let me tell you what it would be. Because when we return your $100,000 back, in our attorneys blast off on this, we can give you an IRR with an asterisk that says if you want to count the equity you still have in the deal as part of the IRR, then we're gonna be really close to what you wanted." "And by the way, if we turned around and sold the property the day after refinance it, this is what you would have made so that could be your IRR." But we're not flipping apartments and that has gained good traction.   Sam Wilson  17:43   I love that and that's been one of my continued, shall I say beefs, in the syndication business, because I'm probably like you, an active investor and also a passive investor in other deals. And once the deal exits and you get your 2x equity multiple in three years, which is a beautiful, great thing. All of a sudden you're like, crap! Now I gotta find a different deal, and that's a good problem to have for me. But I've always enjoyed, personally, the 'buy and hold indefinitely' model a lot more. So, thanks for explaining that. I answered some of my own personal questions here on this show this time. You were very helpful, Chris. Thanks for coming on the show today. I certainly appreciate it. If our listeners want to get in touch with you or learn more about you what is the best way to do that?   Chris Pomerleau  18:23   Well, you can find us at LeavenWealth Capital on Instagram, on Facebook on TikTok. I'm on LinkedIn. I'm always happy to speak with either current investors, prospective investors, other syndicators, investors. I really, really enjoy this stuff. So always open to speak to anybody.   Sam Wilson  18:39   Awesome, Chris. Thanks again for your time. Have a great rest of your day.    Chris Pomerleau 18:42   Thanks, Sam. Appreciate it.    Sam Wilson  18:43   Hey, thanks for listening to the How to Scale Commercial Real Estate podcast. If you can do me a favor and subscribe and leave us a review on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google podcasts, whatever platform it is you used to listen if you can do that for us. That would be a fantastic help to the show. It helps us both attract new listeners as well as rank higher on those directories. So I appreciate you listening and thanks so much and hope to catch you on the next episode.

Brian Barren enters his ninth season with the Cleveland Guardians and sixth as President of Business Operations. He joined the organization in January 2014 and served as Executive Vice President of Sales & Marketing over his first three seasons. Brian oversees all aspects of the club l s business functions in his present capacity.Barren joined the Guardians following an accomplished, 24-year career with Procter & Gamble in Cincinnati, OH. He developed a wide variety of skill sets and expertise in Customer Business Development and general management of multi-functional business teams. As a senior leader at P&G, Brian had team leadership responsibility on the Wal-Mart and Kroger Teams, two of P&G's top customers globally.Brian is a 1989 graduate of Princeton University, where he earned a degree in History that included his senior year thesis researching the integration of Major League Baseball. He played football for four years at Princeton as a classmate and teammate of Toronto Blue Jays President & CEO Mark Shapiro. Brian was also an Army ROTC scholarship student at Princeton, fulfilling his commitment to the U.S. Army as a tank commander upon graduation.Brian and his wife, Kris, reside in downtown Cleveland and have two sons, Billy and Brad. Brian was one of Dan and Catherine Barren's six children. His late father was a well-respected teacher and high school football coach for many years at Columbus Academy (where Brian graduated in 1985) and finished his coaching career as the inaugural Head Football Coach at Notre Dame Cathedral Latin (Hall of Fame Class of 2004). Brian serves as a board member for College Now Greater Cleveland, the Greater Cleveland Sports Commission, and the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.A Quote From This Episode"When we think about our intent as a sports team, it's ultimately to unite and inspire our city and our fan base."Resources Mentioned In This EpisodeCleveland Guardians - Tom Hanks Narrated VideoAbout The International Leadership Association (ILA)The ILA was created in 1999 to bring together professionals with a keen interest in the study, practice, and teaching of leadership. Plan now for ILA's 24th Global Conference online October 6 & 7, 2022, and/or onsite in Washington, D.C., October 13-16, 2022.Connect with Scott AllenWebsite