Podcasts about convention centers

10-22-2025: Wake Up Missouri with Randy Tobler, Jen Bukowsky, John Marsh, and Producer Drake

Episode 303: This episode supported by USAE News! Gatlinburg, TN is a city with a lot to offer to groups and tourists. Who better to share their love for the city and its great stories than my guest Dave Esslinger, Vice President of Sales & Marketing, Gatlinburg Convention & Visitors Bureau. We talk about how Gatlinburg partners with the nearby cities, how the city got its name, negotiating tips for contracts, and some surprise costs you may not be aware of at convention centers! In addition to his excellent expert advice, he also shares a hidden benefit of Gatlinburg: its wonderful arts district. Most of us don't think of Gatlinburg when we think of art centers but it is home to Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts, the only accredited arts and crafts school in the United States. Dave shares how this enhances the visitor experience whether you are at a conference or on vacation because you can create something to take home. Dave wears several hats which is a bit unusual -- he'll explain how his role is slightly different than other CVB leaders. Listen or watch to find out what is so different about how Dave represents this lovely city. What questions do you have about negotiating with CVBs or Convention Centers? Share a comment!

The Registrar of Voters has made a dramatic change to how it evaluates signatures on petitions. A bunch of high-profile signature gathering campaigns have fallen apart in San Diego and it may not have been just because they were incompetent. This is a big change. One of those campaigns was to raise a tax to fund an expansion of the Convention Center. It failed spectacularly. But then another initiative made the ballot in 2020 and courts have finally decided that voters actually approved it. But the Convention Center expansion is not happening. And finally it continues to deal with enrollment declines, the San Diego Unified School District does not know or won’t say exactly how many students each school can fit. SHOW NOTES SEGMENT 1 - POLITIFEST ROUNDUP Scott and Co. banter about the October 4, 2025 edition of Politifest, aka the festival of politics at the University of San Diego. SEGMENT 2 - SDUSD’S UNKNOWN SCHOOL CAPACITY VOSD - San Diego Unified Doesn’t Know How Many Students Each School Can Fit As districts across the county grapple with enrollment decline that will likely get worse in coming decades, San Diego Unified officials say they don’t actually know what the capacity is for each of the district’s schools. SEGMENT 3 - REGISTRAR OF VOTERS MAY HAVE BEEN TOO STRICT Registrar of Voters Suddenly Made It Easier to Qualify Ballot Measures with Signatures After decades of imposing a strict, unforgiving interpretation of compliance with petitions, the Registrar of Voters has quietly updated its guidance. SEGMENT 4 - CONVENTION CENTER San Diego Finally Secures Hundreds of Millions for a Convention Center Expansion; But It Isn’t Expanding the Convention Center After 20 years of failed signature gathering efforts, court battles and legally questionable efforts to raise hotel-room taxes, the city of San Diego has finally secured hundreds of millions of dollars for a long-planned expansion of the San Diego Convention Center. But city officials are not going to do it. CREDITS Scott Lewis, CEO and editor in chief at Voice of San Diego. Andrea Lopez-Villafaña, managing editor Bella Ross, social media producer Jakob McWhinney, education reporter and theme music composer. Xavier Vasquez, podcast producer Journalism is integral to a healthy democracy: Support independent, investigative journalism in San Diego County. Become a Member: Voice Member BenefitsJoin today and receive insider access.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Civic boosters, landowners, developers and city officials hope the $3.7 billion convention center redevelopment is the shot in the arm that Dallas' urban core desperately needs. It may also clear the way for a new NBA arena and entertainment district — a project they call an economic game changer. In other news, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton is launching an investigation into the University of North Texas for failing to “ward off left-wing violence” in the wake of Charlie Kirk's killing; and the State Fair of Texas will end another run on Sunday. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Greg and Dan talk to Sherry Cannon and Sherry Carter-Allen of the NAACP Peoria Branch about the upcoming 63rd Annual Freedom Fund Banquet, themed “The Fierce Urgency of Now.” The event takes place on October 25th at the Par-A-Dice Hotel and Convention Center, with a social hour from 5:00-6:00 PM and the program beginning at 6:00 PM. They discuss the significance of this long-standing tradition - how it began 63 years ago, its continued importance in the fight for equality and civil rights, and how Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s historic words still inspire the mission today. Learn more or get tickets at www.peorianaacp.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

10-8-2025: Wake Up Missouri with Randy Tobler, Jen Bukowsky, John Marsh, and Producer Drake

Flights aren't being cancelled during the government shutdown, but travelers will feel the impact as TSA agents and air traffic controllers continue working without pay. Bellio's dog Maize sparked a pricey vet visit after a scary reverse-sneezing episode, leading to some household money talk. Downtown Los Angeles broke ground on the Convention Center expansion, promising jobs and tourism, though Councilmember Curren Price collapsed during the ceremony. And finally, the debate over high-speed rail brings up the question — when was the last time you went to San Francisco? 

Do you think big conventions avoid the LACC because it's too small? or because it's in a bad neighborhood?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

LA County report on Eaton, Palisades fires says "outdated policies, inconsistent practices" led to alert failure. Approval has been given for the Convention Center Expansion Project, preparing the facility for the 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games.  “Fijiwhara” Effect - when two hurricanes get too close together. 100-Year-Old Rations – what's the weirdest food you've ever eaten?

Join host Steve Gould on Things Police See as he interviews David Liang, a retired New Orleans Police Department sergeant with 24 years of service. David shares gripping stories from his career, including his first adrenaline-pumping call to a house fire, a bizarre suicide scene in the French Quarter, and the chaos of securing the New Orleans Convention Center during Hurricane Katrina. Now serving in a smaller Kansas agency, David reflects on cultural differences, the challenges of modern policing, and the impact of media on law enforcement's reputation. Packed with intense, heartwarming, and humorous anecdotes, this episode offers a raw look into the life of a dedicated officer. Subscribe for more firsthand police stories! 02:30 - David Leang's Background: 24 Years with NOPD 05:15 - Culture Shock: New Orleans to Kansas 10:45 - First Hot Call: House Fire with a Trapped Child 16:20 - Steven Seagal's Reserve Deputy Role 25:40 - Bizarre Call: French Quarter Suicide Scene 31:50 - Hurricane Katrina: Chaos at the Convention Center 40:10 - Voodoo and New Orleans Culture 47:25 - Most Intense Call: Predator-Like Crime Scene 53:30 - Mardi Gras Policing Challenges 58:45 - Heartwarming Moment: Saving a Life 1:05:00 - Advice for Aspiring Police Officers 1:12:20 - Challenges of Modern Policing and Christian Belief Contact Steve - steve@thingspolicesee.com Support the TPS show by joining the Patreon community today! https://www.patreon.com/user?u=27353055

Today on AirTalk, a plan for a massive expansion of the downtown convention center has been approved; two AI regulation bills are on Gov. Newsom's desk; what to know about executive functioning; how DOGE cuts impact CA's medical system; wearable tech, and what the best age for your kids is. Today on AirTalk: LA city council approves convention center expansion (0:15) AI bills seeking more regulation (15:23) Executive functioning (31:18) DOGE cuts to CA medical system (50:48) Wearable tech (1:08:46) What is the best age for your kids? (1:25:38) Visit www.preppi.com/LAist to receive a FREE Preppi Emergency Kit (with any purchase over $100) and be prepared for the next wildfire, earthquake or emergency!

Singer D4vd (pronounced David), who boasts 33 million monthly Spotify listeners, has canceled his remaining U.S. tour dates in San Francisco and Los Angeles after LAPD discovered the decomposed body of a 15-year-old girl in the front trunk of his Tesla. The victim, now identified as runaway Celeste Rivas, had been missing for more than a year. Detectives are investigating whether the 20-year-old artist had a connection to her, executing a search warrant at the home he was staying in to determine how she died. Also breaking: a Sacramento ABC affiliate station was struck by gunfire. Michael Monks- L.A. greenlights a $2.6 billion Convention Center expansion, despite sharp warnings about ballooning costs. – Farewell to Kiana & Robin.  A heartfelt goodbye as the duo signs off. Titanic Obsession-- Kiana, born on the day Titanic premiered—December 19, 1997—reveals her lifelong fascination with the film. Meanwhile, Mark Thompson reminisces about his peak in the '90s. The PAUSE Mark created that Ryan Seacrest stole. 

Coming up on today's Local: Clayton Kershaw pitches his last regular season home game ... 1st amendment debates rage after Jimmy Kimmel's forced absence ... big tribute on tap this weekend for Charlie Kirk.

It's a wild ride on the 110 North as the LAPD chases down a murder suspect — live pursuit drama like only Tim Conway Jr. can cover!

KFI's Michale Monks: Repair the convention center, not expand. Shannon and Gary are upset about their News and Brews being cancelled. OC Judge Sentence. Bears are out and about.

Bo Swayze, KGHL's Roadshow visits with Brent Jordan, President of the Montana Pro Rodeo Hall & Wall of Fame about the Scholarship Fundraising Banquet & Gathering on September 27th @ Billings Hotel & Convention Center along with talking about the 2025 Honorees and The Legacy Room VIP room

The cost of expanding L.A.'s Convention Center keeps growing. Can the city afford it? LA City Council endorses Proposition 50. LAPD Looks to improve 911 system for non-emergency calls. Michael Monks and Gary look back to where they were on 9/11.

Hour –1 (9.9.2025) Port of Long Beach Incident: More than 50 shipping containers tumbled off a cargo ship into the water. A longshoreman named Rake shared inside perspective on what might be in those containers and the challenges of recovery. Port Work Culture: Petros explained how someone gets their “casual card” to work the ports and the unique hierarchy among longshoremen. Convention Center Trouble: Michael Monks opened up about getting kicked out of Catholic school for misbehavior, then the focus shifted to the L.A. Convention Center expansion — costs have ballooned, and the digital advertising revenue plan has been scrapped. Show & City Bits: The crew debated swapping the show's trademark “Ding Dong” for a new catchphrase: “Yeah, sure, ok, alright.” They also mocked the fuss about moving the LAX sign, calling it “not Vegas” and “who cares?” 

Chef James L. “J.B.” Brown, AACVeteran, Award-Winning Chef, and Advocate for Transitioning Service MembersChef James L. “J.B.” Brown, AAC, is an internationally recognized chef and a proud U.S. Coast Guard veteran whose career spans more than five decades. A master of over 200 cooking styles, he began his culinary journey in Portland, Oregon, before moving to Las Vegas in 1989, where he played a key role on the opening culinary team at the Excalibur Hotel and Casino, serving more than 32,000 meals daily. He later served as Executive Chef for the Sands Expo and Convention Center, overseeing large-scale events including Comdex.Over the years, Chef Brown has founded successful culinary ventures, including Catering by the Chefs Inc., and has held leadership roles within the American Culinary Federation (ACF). His accolades include induction into the prestigious American Academy of Chefs (AAC), multiple Chef of the Year honors, and national recognition for his contributions to the culinary profession. He has also served on national accreditation teams evaluating culinary schools and continues to mentor aspiring chefs.Today, Chef Brown brings his passion for service and mentorship to the Veteran Transition Resource Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, where he is one of the founding members. In this role, he supports fellow veterans as they navigate life after military service—offering guidance, resources, and encouragement, while also using his culinary expertise to create opportunities for camaraderie, skill-building, and community engagement. His work embodies a lifelong commitment to excellence, service, and the belief that both in the kitchen and in life, success comes from discipline, dedication, and heart.Veteran Transition Resource Center (VTRC)Homepage (Mission, Programs, Locations): https://vtrc.us/ vtrc.usFounders / Board of Directors (includes Chef J.B. Brown profile): https://vtrc.us/founders/ vtrc.usLINKS:https://nonprofitarchitect.org/combat-vet-vision/https://www.facebook.com/iconutilityservices/photos/pcb.3282304212030773/3282304082030786/https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqvd5sUEtC9xkm7ejGNK5Zw/featuredhttps://www.facebook.com/aqseiberthttps://www.facebook.com/CombatVetVisionEmail: Aqseibert@yahoo.comThe Warrior Built Foundation - https://warriorbuilt.org/The PTSD Foundation of America - https://ptsdusa.org/Virtual Office(Come see me) Virbella.comSponsorsSitch Radio - https://sitchradio.com/If you would like to become a sponsor or advertiser Call Sitch Radio (714) 643-2500 X 1I part of the solution or the problem.PTSD FOA Warrior Group Chaptershttps://ptsdusa.org/about-us/chapters/

Send us a textThe 11th Arctic Encounter was held at the Dena'ina Civic and Convention Center in Anchorage Alaska, July 30-August 1st, 2025.  This years Arctic Encounter was attended by participants of over 27 countries. Founder and CEO of Arctic Encounter, Rachel Kallander, Jackson Blackwell and  their team welcomed Arctic ambassadors, policy makers, Indigenous leaders, Arctic business leaders and scientists to share perspectives and voices of the Arctic. Libby Casey, Senior News Anchor of The Washington Post, was the Moderator of this episode's topic, "Strategic Ground: Greenland in the Center of Arctic Geoploitics".The panelists included on this episode are as follows:Libby Casey, Senior News Anchor of The Washington Post.Ms. Aki-Matilda Hough-Dam, Member of the Parliament of Greenland, Member of the Danish Parliament, Chair of the Arctic Delegation.Mr. Mads Qvist Frederiksen, Executive Director, Arctic Economic Council of Norway. Mr Kuno Fencker, Member of the Parliament of Greenland.Mr. Thomas Dans, Former Commissioner, US Arctic Research Commission.The episode includes discussions of the sovereignty of Greenland, why it is not for sale as well as  the desire for self determination of Greenland.Thank you for tuning into the Alaska Climate and Aviation Podcast.Katie Writerktphotowork@gmail.com907/863-7669Support the showYou can visit my website for links to other episodes and see aerial photography of South Central Alaska at:https://www.katiewritergallery.com

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What's it really like to run one of the country's top convention centers? In this episode, we chat with Jennifer LeMaster, President and CEO of the Washington State Convention Center, about her journey into events and what it takes to lead a massive venue like Seattle's. Jennifer shares behind-the-scenes of her leadership journey, tips for planners working with large venues, and trends shaping the future of big events. Whether you're dreaming of hosting at a convention center or just curious how it all works, this episode is packed with inspiration and practical takeaways. SHOW NOTES: Connect with Jennifer LeMaster: Website: seattleconventioncenter.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jenlemaster/ Learn more about the 2025 Better Events Conference: https://bettereventspod.com/conference Register directly for the conference: https://app.swapcard.com/login/event/2025-better-events-conference/registration Join the paid Better Events Community: https://bettereventspodcast.substack.com/ Buy Us a Coffee Link: https://www.buymeacoffee.com/bettereventspod THANKS FOR THE LOVE! Love this podcast? Please share with your event friends, tag us, and leave a review! Leave us a rating on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/04ivq77TMgF5HhJHJOMe1V Leave us a review on Apple Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/better-events/id1561944117 —— FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM: @bettereventspod @loganstrategygroup_events (Logan) @epeventsllc (Mary)

Send us a textThe 11th Arctic Encounter was held at the Dena'ina Civic and Convention Center in Anchorage Alaska, July 30-August 1st, 2025 as well as the popular Far North Fashion Show held at the Anchorage Museum. This years Arctic Encounter was attended by participants of over 27 countries, including Arctic policy makers, Indigenous leaders, scientists, ambassadors, and business leaders in the North, US Military leaders, US government officials, artisans and fashion designers of the Arctic. Founder and CEO of Arctic Encounter, Rachel Kallander welcomed her newest family member, baby Jonah a bit earlier than expected this summer, which moved the event from April 2025 to late July, 2025. Libby Casey, Senior News Anchor of The Washington Post and Matt Hickey of Arctic Security Studies were two of many moderators that directed unique discussions of Arctic related topics, including, "Arctic Warfighters: Rapid Responses to an Evolving Northern Threat", "Strategic Ground: Greenland in the Center of Arctic Geoploitics", "Arctic Knowledge: Informing Policy Through Science", and "Navigating Governance Land Use and Sovereignty in the Arctic".This year's episode covering the Arctic Encounter includes discussions of the sovereignty of Greenland and self determination of Arctic Peoples. Thank you for tuning into the Alaska Climate and Aviation Podcast.Katie Writerktphotowork@gmail.com907/863-7669Support the showYou can visit my website for links to other episodes and see aerial photography of South Central Alaska at:https://www.katiewritergallery.com

Welcome to a brand new series from Stories from the River featuring the 2025 Global Leadership Summit.  19 Memory Makers attended the Global Leadership Summit on August 7th and 8th from the local host site at The Park Expo and Convention Center in Charlotte, North Carolina, where there was a big screen for all of the Memory Makers along with all attendees to virtually watch all of the speakers and videos from GLS 25.  This GLS 25 recap series will highlight the experiences and takeaways from one speaker at a time.   CEO Charlie Malouf introduces the series and sets the stage by expressing the importance of not just absorbing powerful leadership talks but deeply internalizing them and discussing how their messages can lead to real application in the company. The episode kicks off with a recap of the opening keynote message from Craig Groeschel, who emphasized that "great leadership is boring"—underscoring that consistency, faithfulness powered by keystone habits exercised over a long period of time are the key to lasting impact. This episode features return guests Carl Hillesland, Director of Retail Performance, and Mark Deulley, Manager of Retail Data, Strategy, and Platforms, who dive deeper into Groeschel's message by discussing how consistent, small actions and faithfulness over time are the true drivers of meaningful leadership and personal growth. They reflect on the idea that Memory Makers don't need to be flashy or possess exceptional charisma; rather, becoming a great leader is about finding and sticking to those keystone habits that spark positive change across all areas of life. Carl and Mark share personal insights on scheduling true priorities, the practical power of persistence, and how embracing the "boring" can actually bring balance, peace, and significant long-term results for both Memory Makers and the people they serve.  The episode wraps up with encouragement to stay faithful, keep growing, and bring the heat every day—reminding listeners that the results everyone admires are built on the quiet, unseen disciplines their Memory Makers practice consistently. Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/cwNiyzyD-go  Visit https://www.storiesfromtheriver.com for more episodes. Broad River Retail brought this show to you. Visit https://BroadRiverRetail.com                                Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/broad-river-retail    

Welcome to a brand new series from Stories from the River featuring the 2025 Global Leadership Summit.  19 Memory Makers attended the Global Leadership Summit on August 7th and 8th from the local host site at The Park Expo and Convention Center in Charlotte, North Carolina, where there was a big screen for all of the Memory Makers along with all attendees to virtually watch all of the speakers and videos from GLS 25.  This GLS 25 recap series will highlight the experiences and takeaways from one speaker at a time.   CEO Charlie Malouf introduces the series and sets the stage by expressing the importance of not just absorbing powerful leadership talks but deeply internalizing them and discussing how their messages can lead to real application in the company. The episode kicks off with a recap of the opening keynote message from Craig Groeschel, who emphasized that "great leadership is boring"—underscoring that consistency, faithfulness powered by keystone habits exercised over a long period of time are the key to lasting impact. This episode features return guests Carl Hillesland, Director of Retail Performance, and Mark Deulley, Manager of Retail Data, Strategy, and Platforms, who dive deeper into Groeschel's message by discussing how consistent, small actions and faithfulness over time are the true drivers of meaningful leadership and personal growth. They reflect on the idea that Memory Makers don't need to be flashy or possess exceptional charisma; rather, becoming a great leader is about finding and sticking to those keystone habits that spark positive change across all areas of life. Carl and Mark share personal insights on scheduling true priorities, the practical power of persistence, and how embracing the "boring" can actually bring balance, peace, and significant long-term results for both Memory Makers and the people they serve.  The episode wraps up with encouragement to stay faithful, keep growing, and bring the heat every day—reminding listeners that the results everyone admires are built on the quiet, unseen disciplines their Memory Makers practice consistently. Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/cwNiyzyD-go  Visit https://www.storiesfromtheriver.com for more episodes. Broad River Retail brought this show to you. Visit https://BroadRiverRetail.com                                Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/broad-river-retail    

Send us a textHi everybody and welcome to this week's episode of Attendance Bias. I am your host, Brian Weinstein. Whenever a guest messages me and wants to tell a story about a show from the fall 1995 tour, it's nearly impossible to say no. And when it's a guest who has previously been on the podcast, I know it'll be a compelling conversation. Such is the case today, when Brian Blatt joins me to tell about Phish's incredible show from December 7, 1995 at the Niagara Falls Convention Center in Niagara Falls, NY.Brian is the host of the High Pitched Cavitation radio show, and has previously came onto Attendance Bias to discuss his experience seeing Phish in April, 1994 at the Concert Hall in Toronto. That conversation centered around seeing Phish in the great north at a time when they were at the tail end of their theater and smaller venue era but still playing large venues in the summer and the end of the year. They had a foot in both worlds, in a transition period. By today's show in December 1995, the transition is nearly complete. Phish was at the end of a 3-month tour where they would play anything and everything. It came to a head in a most explosive way at Niagara Falls, and fans of a certain tape-collecting age know all about it. If you're a newer or newish fan, you might know that this show has been released officially by LivePhish. Whether or not this show is new to you, it's worth a listen for sure.So let's join Brian to talk about West Coast Phish, Western New York Phish, and Tetris, as we discuss December 7, 1995 at the Niagara Falls Convention Center, in Niagara Falls, NY.

Joe Kleine played basketball at a level very few people will ever play. The 7 foot tall center from Slater Missouri was a winner at every level, from high school, to college, the Olympics, and the NBA. As sportswriter Jon Goode once wrote, Kleine was never a star, but what made Kleine great was that he accepted his role and was ready to play every night. Sometimes a large part of being a legend, is making everyone else around you better. That's exactly what made Joe Kleine the kind of teammate every player wants to have. Kleine's first season at Arkansas, he helped the Razorbacks to a 26-4 record, finish second in the Southwest Conference (SWC), and make the second round the NCAA Tournament. His junior season, Kleine helped Arkansas to a record of 25-7, another second place finish in the SWC, and a first round loss in the NCAA Tournament. The biggest victory of the season came on February 12, 1984 at the Convention Center in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, when Kleine helped the Razorbacks upset the #1 ranked North Carolina Tarheels, led by Michael Jordan, thanks to a basket by teammate Charles Balentine at the end of the game. It is considered one of the greatest victory's in Razorback basketball history. Kleine finished that game with 20 points and 10 rebounds. Kleine was selected by the Sacramento Kings with the sixth pick in the 1985 NBA Draft. Kleine went on to have a fifteen-year NBA career, playing with the Kings as well as the Boston Celtics, Phoenix Suns, Los Angeles Lakers, New Jersey Nets, Chicago Bulls, and Portland Trail Blazers. Kleine played on teams with legendary NBA players Michael Jordan, Charles Barkley, Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, Robert Parish, Scottie Pippen, and Dennis Rodman. He won an NBA championship in 1998, as a center, for a Chicago Bulls team that included Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Dennis Rodman, and Steve Kerr.

Welcome to RIMScast. Your host is Justin Smulison, Business Content Manager at RIMS, the Risk and Insurance Management Society.   The inaugural RIMS Texas Regional was held Aug. 4‒6 at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center in San Antonio. Nearly 500 attendees filled the hall for the groundbreaking event, which united the Texas RIMS chapters and welcomed risk management professionals worldwide.   In this episode, Justin interviews Conference attendees Tiara Wallace, DFW RIMS Inclusivity Chair and Director of RISK Invesco US, Jason Turk,  Director of Operations for Bondy Law Group, and Founder of Swag for Schools, and Maximilian Glodde, Co-Founder and CEO of MEO Continuity. They discuss their experiences at the inaugural RIMS Texas Regional Conference, their risk management backgrounds, and their advice for risk managers today.   Listen to learn more about this inaugural annual RIMS Texas Regional event.   Key Takeaways: [:01] About RIMS and RIMScast. [:17] About this episode of RIMScast, recorded and produced live onsite at the RIMS Texas Regional Conference 2025 in San Antonio. We have three fascinating perspectives today. [:47] RIMS-CRMP Workshops! The next Virtual RIMS-CRMP exam prep, co-hosted by Parima, will be held on September 2nd and 3rd. [:58] The next RIMS-CRMP-FED virtual workshop will be held on November 11th and 12th, and led by Joseph Mayo. Links to these courses can be found on the Certification Page of RIMS.org and through this episode's show notes. [1:14] RIMS Virtual Workshops! RIMS has launched a new course, “Intro to ERM for Senior Leaders.” It will be held again on November 4th and 5th and will be led by Elise Farnham. RIMS members enjoy deep discounts! [1:32] The full schedule of virtual workshops can be found on the RIMS.org/education and RIMS.org/education/online-learning pages. A link is also in this episode's notes. [1:43] The next RIMS Webinar will be held on September 4th and will be led by AXA XL. It is titled “Lockdown & Level Up: Turn Up Your Cyber Security Game Against Creative Cyber Criminals”. [1:56] On October 30th, Swiss Re will present “Parametric Insurance: Providing Financial Certainty in Uncertain Times”. [2:04] Mark your calendars for November 17th and 18th for the RIMS ERM Conference 2025 in Seattle, Washington. The agenda is jam-packed with educational sessions that will resonate with risk practitioners in all stages of their careers. [2:25] See the full agenda at RIMS.org/ERM2025. Nominations are open for the RIMS Global ERM Award of Distinction 2025. The nomination deadline is Saturday, August 16th. The award is presented annually at the RIMS ERM Conference. There is a link in this episode's show notes. [2:52] If your organization's ERM program or one you know of deserves this recognition, we want to hear about it. Remember to send in that nomination form by August 16th. [3:03] RISKWORLD 2026 will be in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, from May 3rd through May 6th. RIMS members can now lock in the 2025 rate for a full conference pass to RISKWORLD 2026 when registering by September 30th. [3:18] This also lets you enjoy earlier access to the RISKWORLD hotel block. Register by September 30th, and you will also be entered to win a $500 raffle. Don't miss out on this chance to plan and score some extra perks. [3:31] The members-only registration link is in this episode's show notes. If you are not yet a member, this is the time to join us. Visit RIMS.org/membership and build your risk network with us here at RIMS. [3:45] On with the show! The RIMS Texas Regional Conference 2025 was a smashing success, with nearly 500 attendees in the Henry B. González Convention Center in San Antonio! [3:58] Feedback has been wonderful, on everything from keynotes to educational sessions to networking opportunities. If you missed it this year, mark your calendar for August 10th through 12th, 2026. We will be back at the convention center in San Antonio next year. [4:14] Justin interviewed a few of the attendees, the first of whom is very well-known in the DFW RIMS Chapter. Tiara Wallace is a long-time DFW RIMS Chapter member, and she is also the Inclusivity Chair. [4:30] In her full-time job, Tiara is the Director of Risk Management for Invesco US. We're going to talk about construction risk in Texas and the power of inclusivity, and what it means for her and everyone at DFW RIMS. Let's get to it! [4:44] Interview! Tiara Wallace, welcome to RIMScast! [5:26] Tiara says it is amazing to see all four chapters come together with Global RIMS! It's been great meeting new folks, seeing new vendor partners, and meeting risk professionals from across the state of Texas. It's been a great event and a great turnout! [5:55] Tiara is part of the DFW RIMS Chapter and also sits on the Board for the Texas Regional as one of the contributors, to help bring together DFW's POV for the Texas Regional. [6:25] Tiara says we are stronger together, and it's been great to collaborate across the different chapters and meet folks she wouldn't ordinarily have met.  [6:44] Tiara is the Director of Risk Management for Invesco Real Estate. Invesco acquires real estate assets and develops and constructs new assets. Tiara handles the insurance for liability, property, environmental, claims management, and contract review. [7:07] Everything for risk management for a major property owner in Texas and across the U.S. [7:36] Tiara says that since the pandemic of 2020, Texas has seen an increase in folks flocking to DFW for the cost of living. That brought in more development, construction, and congestion on the roads. This required more labor and construction employees to build offices. [8:20] Tiara says there are issues in keeping up with the pace of people coming in. There is a labor shortage, and extreme weather with heat and flooding. For a couple of years, Texas had bad freezes that they were not prepared to handle. Justin says Texas faces unique exposures. [9:22] Tiara says, post-pandemic, we have supply chain issues. Some companies buy warehouses to store materials. Tiara worked for an owner-developer who had land and facilities to store materials. Manage great relationships with your vendors. Purchase locally. [9:53] Tiara looked at ways to shorten the pipeline so that when they had disruptions, they didn't delay projects. Invesco wanted to be able to continue construction so that folks would have a place to live, work, and play. [10:14] Tiara elaborates on partnerships and contract management. What does the contract say? What are we doing to protect not only ourselves but our vendor partners, to fulfill our fiduciary responsibility to continue to produce, build, and not go bankrupt? [11:37] Tiara thinks that safety takes a couple of things: first, your alignment and partnership with safety managers, even outside of your organization, to discuss challenges, and discussing claims history with teams on the ground to help them practice safety. [12:24] The second thing is to leverage your carriers' risk control/loss control department so they can come in and give you tools. [12:37] Typically, a risk manager is a team of one, so you have to be resourceful about whom you work with, and run it up to the organization to make sure they're aligned with it. [13:01] At Invesco, Tiara is in a team of three, and they partner with a larger risk management consulting group. Tiara has a risk analyst and a risk manager on her team, and they attack everything together. Tiara lays out the division of tasks between them. [13:44] Tiara is the Inclusivity Chair at RIMS DFW Chapter. It's a new role. They wanted to bridge the gap between ages, risk managers, carrier partners, and vendor partners. [14:34] They wanted everyone coming to a DFW RIMS event to know that they have a place where they feel they belong. They are a part of a community working together to advance the risk management and insurance industry within Dallas-Fort Worth. [15:20] Tiara says people have not taken a moment to pause and use a common-sense approach about inclusivity. We need to be intentional. Some of us are getting ready to exit our industry. We need to recruit people into it. [16:02] How are we making sure this industry will be around for the rest of our time? Insurance is an industry that touches everything. Inclusivity means everybody should be included in it. [16:54] Tiara is a transplant from Oklahoma City to Dallas. She knew few people here. When her boss asked her for risk management connections, she started with LinkedIn. She asked her broker, and they started a real estate council to help her with the questions she had. [18:53] Justin tells Tiara it has been inspiring to hear her story. He is glad she is doing so well and was able to join us on RIMScast live from the RIMS Texas Regional Conference 2025. Thank you, Tiara! [19:22] Quick Break for RIMS Events!  On September 18th, the 10th Annual Chicagoland Risk Forum will be held at The Old Post Office in Chicago. Register at ChicagoRIMS.org. [19:36] On October 1st through the 3rd, the RIMS Western Regional Conference will be held in North San Jose at the Santa Clara Marriott. The agenda is live. It looks fantastic! Visit RIMSWesternRegional.com and register today! [19:53] On November 17th and 18th, elevate your ERM Program and career at the RIMS ERM Conference 2025 in Seattle, Washington. The agenda is live, and early rates are available until September 5th. Register now to save $110 and secure your spot at the ERM event of the year. [20:15] Canadian listeners, take note, that's just a little bit South of the border in British Columbia. That's a great way to extend your knowledge after the RIMS Canada Conference. Visit RIMS.org/ERM2025 to register. [20:30] On with the Show! Our next guest was highly visible at the RIMS Texas Regional. He is Jason Turk, the Founder and Project Coordinator of the charity program, Swag for Schools. He is also the Director of Operations for the Bondy Law Group in Encino, California. [20:50] Jason is the former Membership Director for DFW RIMS. We will discuss his fascinating risk career and work with risk managers. We will learn about how Swag for Schools emphasizes sustainability by redistributing conference giveaways and giving back to the local community. [21:16] Interview! Jason Turk, welcome to RIMScast! [21:22] If you've been to DFW RIMS events, you may remember the Swag for Schools booth, which is manned by former Membership Director for DFW RIMS, Jason Turk. Jason, welcome to RIMScast! [22:03] Jason joined the Marine Corps in the early '90s and got out in '97. He worked as a security guard at the Workers' Compensation Appeals Board in San Bernardino. From there, he did surveillance and investigations in Southern California and then returned home to Texas. [22:36] Jason went to work for an investigation company in Dallas and became involved with the DFW RIMS Chapter. He worked in claims, Medicare compliance, and medical canvassing, and he was a California workers' compensation claims adjuster in the Dallas office of Crum & Forster. [22:58] He has a well-rounded career in claims. He's been involved with the DFW RIMS chapter since the early 2000s. [23:06] Jason is the Director of Operations of the Bondy Law Group. They do California workers' compensation defense. Jason tracks performance and maintains smooth communication in operations throughout the firm and with its clients. [23:36] Jason's goal has been to build relationships with the risk managers. His job directly impacts their bottom line, their employees, and the culture they set within their companies. [23:48] In Jason's experience, the workers' compensation world in California is a litigious area. He tries to make a positive impact on those employers and maintain long-term relationships. Jason's LinkedIn page link is in this episode's show notes. [24:19] Swag for Schools was born from an experience Jason had at a conference in 2019. Exhibitors were leaving, a storm was coming, and they abandoned boxes of marketing materials in the hall. Jason thought there had to be something he could do with those items. [24:48] He thought of donating the items, saving the exhibitors' shipping costs and time, saving the materials from going to a landfill, and doing some good, providing items to school teachers. There are a lot of items that the school teachers would go and purchase on their own. [25:04] That gave Jason the idea in 2019 to create Swag for Schools. He ran pilot tests in California and Texas, and it was very successful. Then COVID-19 hit, and conferences came to a grinding halt. [25:24] When Jason returned to the industry and the Bondy Law Group, he reinvigorated the program. Now they're on the 10th or more conference since resuming the program. [25:47] As a charity program, not a 501(c)(3), and not a non-profit, Swag for Schools does not seek or accept monetary donations. As a pass-through program, they will accept gift cards. They facilitate the donation to a local school in the area of the conference. They don't ship. [26:07] They accept typical conference swag: pens, notepads, water bottles, towels, and hand sanitizer. Many of the schools that receive the swag also support battered women's shelters, adult education, and other programs. Items not needed for schools can help other folks. [26:43] The stress balls they use in arts and crafts. Koozies get turned into hand puppets. The teachers find a way to utilize these items. [27:04] Swag for Schools doesn't have an expectation from the exhibitors. The items cost the exhibitors. Often, they want to take them home. Last year, they filled half of a 26-foot box truck with donation items that went to a school's foundation that went to K-12 and adult education. [27:35] Swag for Schools doesn't discriminate on the items because schools will find a way to use them. Unless it's a shot glass or something sharp, Swag for Schools will take it. [27:56] The items donated at the RIMS Texas Regional 2025 Conference will be boxed up and taken to Woodrow Wilson Elementary School in San Antonio, about four miles away from the Conference Center. [28:18] Woodrow Wilson School will put the items in a school store where the teachers can pull the items they need without paying for them or accounting for them, as they are donations. Every little bit helps. You never know what use someone is going to have for these items. [29:02] It helps the teachers who don't have to buy things for their class, and it helps the exhibitors on their ESG goals, not putting swag in a landfill. [29:14] Jason, it has been such a pleasure to see you again. As a reminder to the listeners, a link to the Swag for Schools LinkedIn page is in this episode's show notes. Jason, thank you for doing such wonderful work for yourself and on behalf of the greater risk community. [29:53] A Final Break! The Spencer Educational Foundation's goal to help build a talent pipeline of risk management and insurance professionals is achieved, in part, by its collaboration with risk management and insurance educators across the U.S. and Canada. [30:12] Since 1999, Spencer has awarded over $2.9 million to create more than 570 Risk Management Internships. The Internship Grants application process will open on August 15th, 2025. It will close on October 15th. [30:32] To be eligible, risk managers must be based in the U.S., Canada, or Bermuda. A link to the Internship Grants page is in this episode's show notes. You can always visit SpencerEd.org, as well. [30:46] The Spencer 2025 Funding their Future Gala will be held on Thursday, September 18th, at the Cipriani 42nd Street in Manhattan, New York. This year's honoree is Tim Ryan, the U.S. President of Lockton, and we look forward to having Tim join us here on RIMScast very soon. [31:05] A link to the Gala is also in this episode's show notes. Buy a ticket, enjoy a great night in the city, and support the future of risk management. [31:14] Our next guest is the Co-Founder and CEO of MEO Continuity, a risk management software company that helps you optimize business disruption response. [31:25] His name is Maximilian Glodde, and we discuss risk management and why it was so important for him, as the Founder and CEO of a startup, to join RIMS. [31:43] Interview! Maximilian Glodde, welcome to RIMScast! [31:45] Maximilian has been in RIMS and the risk management space for 10 years. MEO Continuity is a relatively young startup of just over three years. [32:29] Maximilian believes the biggest challenge for a startup is getting your word out. They had early validation that we had something people found valuable. We had to stay disciplined about staying in our lane. The big challenge is getting your name out and staying focused. [32:51] Maximilian says there is a lot that comes with starting a company. He has a completely different appreciation for HR. You take it for granted. He gives HR a big shoutout for the policies and procedures you don't think about. [33:11] Once you grow past your founding team, HR becomes very important. You need to think about what people care about at work and what makes them happy. [33:37] When Maximilian and Justin met in Denver at the ERM Conference 2023, MEO Continuity was just Christopher Wegman and Maximilian Glodde. They now have a team of over 15. They've grown fast, and they have wonderful clients in all different industries. [34:24] Maximilian had come from a large carrier, and RIMS was an event the carrier sponsored. Maximilian got to see what RIMS was all about. He knew, when he came out with MEO Continuity, they needed to start the journey by attending RIMS conferences. [34:45] RIMS conferences are attended by a high caliber of companies, vendors, and prospects. The first conference where MEO Continuity exhibited was RISKWORLD 2024 in San Diego. That event was a huge success. MEO Continuity got their message out. [35:28] Since exhibiting at RISKWORLD 2024, MEO Continuity has streamlined their conference preparation process. Maximilian liked that the RIMS team was very responsive to their many questions and answered them quickly. They felt super supported for a successful event. [35:57] That support and success is why they came back to RISKWORLD 2025 in Chicago. MEO Continuity will exhibit at the RIMS Canada Conference 2025, from September 14th through 17th, and at the RIMS Western Regional from October 1st through 3rd. [36:22] MEO Continuity will also exhibit at the RIMS ERM Conference in Seattle, on November 17th and 18th, and will co-present a session on November 17th, “Are You Mapping Your Value Chain Backwards?” with Emily Buckley of Specialized Bicycle Components. [36:52] Maximilian believes the value chain mapping process lives at the core of the risk management process. It's very difficult to manage and mitigate risk if you don't understand what's important in your value chain. [37:27] MEO Continuity is a proponent of starting at the end of the value chain, with your customers and working your way backward toward raw materials. When you map backward, wherever you stop, up to that point, you get some decision-useful information. [37:49] That's what the presentation will be about. Maximilian and Emily have been working together on it. [38:14] Maximilian shares his advice for risk professionals considering starting a company. You have to be somewhat crazy! If Maximilan had known all the things that could go wrong, he likely would not have taken that leap. Don't look too far forward. It will scare you to death! [38:35] Don't be afraid to get your name out there. Attending these RIMS conferences was very valuable for MEO Continuity. Maximilian adds that conferences increase the conversations you have and how often you talk about your product. You improve your presentation quickly. [39:02] Presenting in person is invaluable. It is authentic. Go to conferences. People are open to supporting and having those conversations. [39:24] Maximilian Glodde, thank you so much for joining us here on RIMScast!  [39:30] Special thanks again to all of my guests, and to everyone who attended, sponsored, and exhibited at the RIMS Texas Regional Conference  2025. This inaugural event was fantastic! [39:44] Be sure to mark your calendars for the 2nd Annual RIMS Texas Regional Conference from August 10th through 12th, 2026, back here in San Antonio! Be sure to check out the RIMS.org/events page for more information. [40:02] Plug Time! You can sponsor a RIMScast episode for this, our weekly show, or a dedicated episode. Links to sponsored episodes are in the show notes. [40:31] RIMScast has a global audience of risk and insurance professionals, legal professionals, students, business leaders, C-Suite executives, and more. Let's collaborate and help you reach them! Contact pd@rims.org for more information. [40:49] Become a RIMS member and get access to the tools, thought leadership, and network you need to succeed. Visit RIMS.org/membership or email membershipdept@RIMS.org for more information. [41:07] Risk Knowledge is the RIMS searchable content library that provides relevant information for today's risk professionals. Materials include RIMS executive reports, survey findings, contributed articles, industry research, benchmarking data, and more. [41:23] For the best reporting on the profession of risk management, read Risk Management Magazine at RMMagazine.com. It is written and published by the best minds in risk management. [41:37] Justin Smulison is the Business Content Manager at RIMS. Please remember to subscribe to RIMScast on your favorite podcasting app. You can email us at Content@RIMS.org. [41:49] Practice good risk management, stay safe, and thank you again for your continuous support!   Links: RIMS ERM Conference 2025 — Nov. 17‒18 | RIMS Global ERM Award of Distinction 2025 Nominations Open Through Aug. 16 RIMS Canada 2025 — Sept. 14‒17 | Registration open! 10th Annual Chicagoland Risk Forum — Sept. 18 | Registration open! RIMS Western Regional — Oct 1‒3 | Bay Area, California | Registration open! RISKWORLD 2026 — Members-only early registration! Register through Sept 30! RIMS-Certified Risk Management Professional (RIMS-CRMP) The Strategic and Enterprise Risk Center Spencer Educational Foundation 2025 Funding Their Future Gala — Sept. 18, 2025 in NYC! RIMS-CRO Certificate in Advanced Enterprise Risk Management — Featuring Instructor James Lam! Next bi-weekly course begins Oct 9. RIMS Diversity Equity Inclusion Council RISK PAC | RIMS Advocacy | RIMS Legislative Summit SAVE THE DATE — March 18‒19, 2026 RIMS Risk Management magazine | Contribute RIMS Now RIMS Webinars: RIMS.org/Webinars “Lockdown & Level Up: Turn Up Your Cyber Security Game Against Creative Cyber Criminals” | Sept. 4, 2025 | Sponsored by AXA XL “Parametric Insurance: Providing Financial Certainty in Uncertain Times” | Oct. 30, 2025 | Sponsored by Swiss Re   Upcoming RIMS-CRMP Prep Virtual Workshops: RIMS-CRMP Exam Prep Virtual Workshop — Sept 2‒3, 2025 | Presented by RIMS and PARIMA RIMS-CRMP-FED Exam Prep Virtual Workshop — November 11‒12 Full RIMS-CRMP Prep Course Schedule “Intro to ERM for Senior Leaders” | Nov. 4‒5 | Instructor: Elise Farnham See the full calendar of RIMS Virtual Workshops RIMS-CRMP Prep Workshops   Related RIMScast Episodes: “Leadership Lessons with Major General (Ret.) Robert F. Whittle Jr., RIMS Texas Keynote” “Risk and Clarity with Huw Edwards, RIMS Texas Keynote” “ERM, Retail, and Risk with Jeff Strege” “Supply and Bike Chains with Emily Buckley”   Sponsored RIMScast Episodes: “The New Reality of Risk Engineering: From Code Compliance to Resilience” | Sponsored by AXA XL (New!) “Change Management: AI's Role in Loss Control and Property Insurance” | Sponsored by Global Risk Consultants, a TÜV SÜD Company “Demystifying Multinational Fronting Insurance Programs” | Sponsored by Zurich “Understanding Third-Party Litigation Funding” | Sponsored by Zurich “What Risk Managers Can Learn From School Shootings” | Sponsored by Merrill Herzog “Simplifying the Challenges of OSHA Recordkeeping” | Sponsored by Medcor “Risk Management in a Changing World: A Deep Dive into AXA's 2024 Future Risks Report” | Sponsored by AXA XL “How Insurance Builds Resilience Against An Active Assailant Attack” | Sponsored by Merrill Herzog “Third-Party and Cyber Risk Management Tips” | Sponsored by Alliant “RMIS Innovation with Archer” | Sponsored by Archer “Navigating Commercial Property Risks with Captives” | Sponsored by Zurich “Breaking Down Silos: AXA XL's New Approach to Casualty Insurance” | Sponsored by AXA XL “Weathering Today's Property Claims Management Challenges” | Sponsored by AXA XL “Storm Prep 2024: The Growing Impact of Convective Storms and Hail” | Sponsored by Global Risk Consultants, a TÜV SÜD Company “Partnering Against Cyberrisk” | Sponsored by AXA XL “Harnessing the Power of Data and Analytics for Effective Risk Management” | Sponsored by Marsh “Accident Prevention — The Winning Formula For Construction and Insurance” | Sponsored by Otoos “Platinum Protection: Underwriting and Risk Engineering's Role in Protecting Commercial Properties” | Sponsored by AXA XL “Elevating RMIS — The Archer Way” | Sponsored by Archer   RIMS Publications, Content, and Links: RIMS Membership — Whether you are a new member or need to transition, be a part of the global risk management community! RIMS Virtual Workshops On-Demand Webinars RIMS-Certified Risk Management Professional (RIMS-CRMP) RISK PAC | RIMS Advocacy RIMS Strategic & Enterprise Risk Center RIMS-CRMP Stories — Featuring RIMS President Kristen Peed!   RIMS Events, Education, and Services: RIMS Risk Maturity Model®   Sponsor RIMScast: Contact sales@rims.org or pd@rims.org for more information.   Want to Learn More? Keep up with the podcast on RIMS.org, and listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.   Have a question or suggestion? Email: Content@rims.org.   Join the Conversation! Follow @RIMSorg on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.   About our guests: Tiara Wallace, DFW RIMS Inclusivity Chair, Director of RISK, Invesco US Jason Turk, Bondy Law Group, Director of Operations (California), Swag for Schools on LinkedIn Maximilian Glodde, CEO of MEO Continuity   Production and engineering provided by Podfly.  

TWiRT is live at the Texas Association of Broadcasters (TAB) 2025 convention. This year TAB chose the Kalahari Resort & Convention Center in Round Rock, TX, for their convention location. What a huge turnout of radio and TV broadcast engineers! It’s a social event, learning event, BBQ eating event, and a time to meet with broadcast technology manufacturers. Join us as we talk with nine broadcast engineering and tech professionals who are attending, speaking, and displaying the latest tech at this year’s TAB Convention. Show Notes:Texas Association of Broadcasters - TABTexas Association of Broadcasters 2025 Convention Guests:Bob Stroupe: Regional Engineering Manager at iHeartMedia (retired)Clay Walker - Vice President of Content OperationsGreg Siddons - Director of Sale - Telos AllianceChris Roth - VP of Business Development at The MaxxKonnect GroupHans van Zutphen - CEO at Thimeo Audio Technology B.V.Jim Armstrong - Director Of Eastern US SalesPaul Shulins - Co-owner Over the air RF Consulting LLCChase Daniels - Senior Support Specialist - Aiir / On Air - WALL Radio & Lake FMDavid Smedley - Senior Customer Support Specialist at Aiir.com Host:Kirk Harnack, The Telos Alliance, Delta Radio, Star94.3, South Seas, & Akamai BroadcastingFollow TWiRT on Twitter and on Facebook - and see all the videos on YouTube.TWiRT is brought to you by:Broadcasters General Store, with outstanding service, saving, and support. Online at BGS.cc. Broadcast Bionics - making radio smarter with Bionic Studio, visual radio, and social media tools at Bionic.radio.Aiir, providing PlayoutONE radio automation, and other advanced solutions for audience engagement.Angry Audio and the new Rave analog audio mixing console. The new MaxxKonnect Broadcast U.192 MPX USB Soundcard - The first purpose-built broadcast-quality USB sound card with native MPX output. Subscribe to Audio:iTunesRSSStitcherTuneInSubscribe to Video:iTunesRSSYouTube

TWiRT is live at the Texas Association of Broadcasters (TAB) 2025 convention. This year TAB chose the Kalahari Resort & Convention Center in Round Rock, TX, for their convention location. What a huge turnout of radio and TV broadcast engineers! It's a social event, learning event, BBQ eating event, and a time to meet with broadcast technology manufacturers. Join us as we talk with nine broadcast engineering and tech professionals who are attending, speaking, and displaying the latest tech at this year's TAB Convention.

Many cities across the country have built their convention centers outside of their city center – Seattle avoided that mistake and the community is reaping the rewards of that decision. Conventions, business events and “bleisure travel” (more on that in a moment) are playing big roles in Seattle's economic symphony and Seattle Convention Center President & CEO Jennifer LeMaster is the conductor of those contributors. Jon and Jennifer discuss her path to leadership through college athletics; the importance of the Convention Center to Seattle's economy; the concept of blending business and leisure travel (bleisure); Seattle's competitive positioning in the convention space and much more. Join us for Seattle City Makers with Jon Scholes and guest Jennifer LeMaster.

As Dragon Con 2025 approaches, the air is thick with anticipation, and at the center of the excitement is the incomparable Charles "Rock God of Podcasting" McFall. Known for his captivating voice, insightful conversations, and passion for all things pop culture, McFall is a podcasting pioneer who has become a beloved figure in the digital media world. He's not just a voice, but a force shaping the conversation around fandom and entertainment. In a recent discussion, McFall offered a glimpse into the incredible plans for Dragon Con 2025. This year, fans can expect an even more immersive and engaging experience, with a focus on expanded gaming, a deeper dive into literature and science, and a star-studded guest list that includes actors from hit shows like The Magicians and Supergirl. McFall's role as the Director of Digital Media at Dragon Con means he's at the forefront of amplifying these voices and bringing the magic of the convention to an even wider audience. Web: https://www.dragoncon.org/ About: Dragon Con, a titan of pop culture conventions, has a rich and fascinating history that reflects the evolution of fandom itself. What began as a small gathering of enthusiasts in a single hotel has blossomed into a multi-venue, multi-genre extravaganza that draws tens of thousands of attendees each year. The Origins: A Small Gathering of Fans (1987-1989) Dragon Con's story begins in 1987 in Atlanta, Georgia. It was founded by a group of local science fiction and gaming fans who were part of an organization called the Dragon Alliance of Gamers and Role-Players (DAGR). The convention was initially a project of this group, with a board of directors that included John Bunnell, David Cody, Robert Dennis, Mike Helba, Pat Henry, and Ed Kramer. The name "Dragon" was inspired by Kramer's home computer, a Dragon 64, which also hosted a bulletin board system that served as a central hub for the group. The inaugural Dragon*Con (as it was originally stylized) was held at the Pierremont Plaza Hotel and attracted a modest 1,400 fans. It featured notable guests like author Michael Moorcock and Dungeons & Dragons co-creator Gary Gygax, and even included a performance by Blue Öyster Cult's Eric Bloom, singing songs inspired by Moorcock. This early convention established a key tradition: a big-tent approach that brought together different facets of geek culture. The event grew quickly. By 1989, with Anne McCaffrey as the Guest of Honor, attendance had more than doubled, prompting a move to the Omni Hotel and Convention Center to accommodate the swelling crowd. Rapid Expansion and Diversification (1990s-2000s) The 1990s and 2000s saw Dragon Con's explosive growth. The convention became known for its "big tent" philosophy, bringing together fans of everything from sci-fi and fantasy to comics, gaming, and anime. Key milestones during this period include: * Move to multiple hotels: As attendance soared, the convention expanded to encompass a cluster of downtown Atlanta hotels, including the Hyatt Regency, Marriott Marquis, and Hilton Atlanta. This interconnected "campus" of hotels, linked by skywalks and bridges, became a hallmark of the Dragon Con experience.
 * The Parade: The annual Dragon Con Parade down Peachtree Street, a showcase of elaborate and creative cosplay, was first held in 2002. It has since become a beloved and widely recognized part of the convention, drawing thousands of participants and spectators. * Charitable efforts: Dragon Con established a strong charitable component, raising money for various causes. The annual Robert A. Heinlein "Pay It Forward" blood drive, which began in 2002, is consistently one of the largest convention-based blood drives in the country.
 * Programming: The number of programming tracks and events expanded exponentially, covering a vast range of topics from writing and alternate history to robotics and space science. A New Era: Growth and Refinement (2010s-Present) In 2013, the convention officially dropped the asterisk from its name, becoming "Dragon Con," following a legal restructuring that severed ties with one of the original founders. This marked a new era of management and growth. In recent years, Dragon Con has continued to thrive, reaching a pre-pandemic attendance of over 85,000 in 2019. Post-pandemic, the convention has implemented attendance caps to ensure a safer and more manageable experience for all. While still a massive event, the focus has shifted to maintaining a high-quality experience, with an emphasis on unique programming, engaging workshops, and a strong sense of community. Today, Dragon Con stands as one of the world's premier pop culture conventions. It's a place where fans can not only meet their favorite celebrities and artists but also connect with fellow enthusiasts, celebrate their passions, and immerse themselves in a vibrant, inclusive, and unforgettable weekend of geek culture. Get to Know Ash Brown: Your Go-To for Inspiration and Empowerment Looking for a motivational speaker, engaging blogger, or talented producer who radiates positive energy? Look no further than Ash Brown! This multi-talented American powerhouse is a captivating media personality, an excellent event host, and a passionate advocate for helping individuals reach their full potential. Her infectious energy and genuine desire to see others succeed make her a standout in the personal development space. Dive into Ash's World: AshSaidit.com & The Ash Said It Show AshSaidit.com: This vibrant lifestyle blog and event platform is your exclusive pass to Ash's world. Discover exclusive event invitations, honest product reviews, and a wealth of engaging, informative content. Ash's blog is the perfect destination to stay in the loop and get a daily dose of her unique personality and insights. The Ash Said It Show: Prepare to be inspired by Ash Brown's popular podcast! With over 2,000 episodes and half a million listens globally, "The Ash Said It Show" is a true powerhouse of motivation. Ash engages in insightful conversations with inspiring individuals and delves into topics that truly matter, offering listeners valuable life lessons and encouragement. Why Ash Brown Stands Out: Authenticity, Optimism, and Action What truly sets Ash Brown apart is her authentic approach to personal growth. She connects with her audience on a genuine level, offering practical advice and encouragement that feels like a conversation with a trusted friend. Ash doesn't shy away from life's challenges; instead, she provides the tools to tackle them head-on. Here's why Ash Brown is a leading voice in motivation and personal development: Sunshine Personified: Ash's inherent optimism is contagious. Her positive energy empowers listeners and readers, leaving them feeling more capable and ready to embrace new challenges. Keeping It Real: Ash offers relatable, unfiltered advice that resonates with people from all walks of life. She understands that life can be tough and provides guidance that is both honest and encouraging. Turning Inspiration into Action: Beyond just feeling good, Ash provides actionable tips and practical strategies designed to help you transform your dreams into tangible realities. For a consistent dose of inspiration, real-world advice, and genuine encouragement, Ash Brown is your ultimate resource. Her incredible positivity and unwavering dedication to helping others make her the ideal guide for maximizing your life's potential. ► Goli Gummy Discounts Link: https://go.goli.com/1loveash5 ► Luxury Women Handbag Discounts: https://www.theofficialathena.... ► Review Us: https://itunes.apple.com/us/po... ► Subscribe: http://www.youtube.com/c/AshSa... ► Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/1lov... ► Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ashsa... ► Blog: http://www.ashsaidit.com/blog #atlanta #ashsaidit #theashsaiditshow #ashblogsit #ashsaidit®Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/the-ash-said-it-show--1213325/support.

(Lander, WY) – The KOVE 1330 AM / 107.7 FM Today in the 10 interview series Coffee Time continued today with host Vince Tropea, who recently spoke with Sandy Colhoun, the President at the National Outdoor Leadership Society (NOLS). Colhoun stopped by to chat about the NOLS 60th Anniversary celebrations taking place in Lander, as well as NOLS' vision for the next 60 years. You can hear the full interview with Colhoun below, and check out the information provided by NOLS about all of the celebration events/registration details at the bottom of the post! Be sure to tune in to Today in the 10 and Coffee Time interviews every morning from 7:00 to 9:00 AM on KOVE 1330 AM / 107.7 FM, or stream it live right here. The National Outdoor Leadership School (NOLS) is celebrating 60 years of inspiring leadership education, culminating in a community gathering in Lander, Wyoming, September 25-27, 2025. The event is an opportunity for the NOLS community to gather, honor the past, celebrate the present, and inspire the future. Hundreds of NOLS alumni, guests, and notable outdoor industry leaders are expected to attend the weekend-long gathering. Registration is now open to sign up for events and activities. The last day to register is Friday, September 5, 2025. Most events are free and may have limited capacity. Each event will indicate the registration guidelines for participation.Some highlights include a meetup at the Pushroot Brewery on Thursday, September 25, starting at 4:00 pm, with a custom NOLS Legacy Brew on tap.The following day, on Friday, September 26, the community is invited to hear astronaut, physicist, and former NASA Chief Scientist Dr. John Grunsfeld share his insights about how wilderness leadership training has influenced his life in his talk, “From the Lumberyard to Space: A NOLS/NASA Story” at 10:15 am at the Lander Community and Convention Center.Later that day, on Friday, September 26, from 3:00 pm - 7:00 pm, the community is invited to the City Park in Lander for Trail Mix, an outdoor marketplace featuring gear brands, artists, demos, and interactive booths. A BBQ and live music by Lander-based bluegrass musicians Low Water String Band will keep the vibes rolling from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm.On Saturday, September 27, Alex Honnold will have a conversation with Peter Metcalf, founder and CEO of Black Diamond Equipment, at the Lander Community Center and Convention Center at 10:00 am. Honnold will share stories of mentorship, the surprising lessons of solo and collaborative expeditions, decision-making in the mountains, and how becoming a father has reshaped his perspective on life, leadership, and legacy.Also on Saturday, the Film Fest at the Grand Theater will have screenings of outdoor and adventure films starting at 10:00 am and running through 4:00 pm. The film lineup and screening times will be released shortly and available HERE.To round out the weekend, there will be the NOLS dinner and awards, followed by a concert given by Chadwick Stokes & The Pintos at the Lander Community Center and Convention Center.Please check the event webpage for the full details, schedule, and registration.

Welcome to RIMScast. Your host is Justin Smulison, Business Content Manager at RIMS, the Risk and Insurance Management Society.   In this episode, Justin interviews Thomas Brandt, Chief Risk Officer of the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board (FRTIB) and one of the 2024 RIMS ERM Award of Distinction winners. Thomas shares some of his experiences at the IRS, where he won the 2021 RIMS ERM Award of Distinction, and how he moved from the IRS to join the FRTIB. Tom covers how he successfully integrated strategy and ERM at the FRTIB. He tells how the FRTIB moved from a high-level to a medium-level cyber risk posture, with improved Federal Information Security Modernization Act (FISMA) scores. Tom shares how the FRTIB  works with a managed services model in a way that's scalable and sustainable. Tom relates his views on risk culture and the portfolio view that a mature ERM program supports.   Listen to learn how to nominate your organization's ERM Program for the RIMS ERM  Award of Distinction.   Key Takeaways: [:01] About RIMS and RIMScast. [:14] RIMScast is a proud nominee of the 20th Annual People's Choice Podcast Awards. We are nominated in the category of Government and Organizations, and we would appreciate your support. [:26] Help us win that award by visiting PodcastAwards.com and the link in this episode's notes.  [:36] About this episode of RIMScast. We will be joined by Thomas Brandt, Chief Risk Officer of the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board and one of the 2024 RIMS ERM Award of Distinction winners. [1:05] RIMS-CRMP Workshops! The next Virtual RIMS-CRMP exam prep, co-hosted by Parima, will be held on September 2nd and 3rd. [1:17] The next RIMS-CRMP-FED virtual workshop will be held on November 11th and 12th, and led by Joseph Mayo. Links to these courses can be found on the Certification Page of RIMS.org and through this episode's show notes. [1:34] RIMS Virtual Workshops! On August 5th, we have a day-long course about “Emerging Risks.” [1:42] RIMS has launched a new course, “Intro to ERM for Senior Leaders.” This is a two-day course. The first two-day course will be held on August 12th and 13th and will be led by former RIMS President, Chris Mandel. [1:56] The course will be held again on November 4th and 5th and will be led by Elise Farnham. RIMS members enjoy deep discounts! [2:05] The full schedule of virtual workshops can be found on the RIMS.org/education and RIMS.org/education/online-learning pages. A link is also in this episode's notes. [2:17] Mark your calendars for November 17th and 18th for the RIMS ERM Conference 2025 in Seattle, Washington. The agenda is jam-packed with educational sessions that will resonate with risk practitioners at all stages of their careers. [2:38] See the full agenda at RIMS.org/ERM2025. Nominations are open for the RIMS Global ERM Award of Distinction 2025. The nomination deadline is Saturday, August 16th. The award is presented annually at the RIMS ERM Conference. There is a link in this episode's show notes. [3:05] If your organization's ERM program or one you know of deserves this recognition, we want to hear about it. Remember to send in that nomination form by August 16th. [3:16] RISKWORLD 2026 will be in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, from May 3rd through May 6th. RIMS members can now lock in the 2025 rate for a full conference pass to RISKWORLD 2026 when registering by September 30th. [3:31] This also lets you enjoy earlier access to the RISKWORLD hotel block. Register by September 30th, and you will also be entered to win a $500 raffle. Don't miss out on this chance to plan and score some extra perks. [3:44] The members-only registration link is in this episode's show notes. If you are not yet a member, this is the time to join us. Visit RIMS.org/membership and build your risk network with us here at RIMS. [3:58] On with the show! Our guest today is one of the winners of the 2024 RIMS ERM Award of Distinction. He is also the Chief Risk Officer for the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board (FRTIB). [4:15] Tom Brandt is here to discuss ERM and how it has been a guiding light throughout his risk career, which includes several years at the IRS. He recently participated in the RIMS ERM Q&A Series, and we're going to extend the dialogue beyond those digital pages, so let's get to it. [4:35] Interview! Tom Brandt, welcome to RIMScast! [4:42] At long last, Tom Brandt is here on RIMScast! Tom is one of the members of the Strategic and Enterprise Risk Management Council and one of the recipients of the 2024 ERM Award of Distinction. There's so much to discuss when it comes to ERM! Tom loves ERM. [5:18] Tom was also a 2021 ERM Award of Distinction recipient for his work at the IRS, where he worked for about 27 years, for the last eight of which, he was their Chief Risk Officer. There, he got into the whole ERM space. [5:38] Then, in late 2021, an opportunity opened at the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board (FRTIB), and Tom took on the role of Chief Risk Officer. He enjoys the opportunity to work in a small organization with a different focus. [5:55] The FRTIB is sort of the 401(k) for federal employees and uniformed services. They have a singular mission around that plan. [6:13] Tom was brought into the FRTIB to integrate strategy and ERM. He stresses the importance of linking risk and strategy. When Tom started, the offices of Enterprise Planning and Enterprise Risk had just been brought together. [6:51] They were looking for the first Director of Planning and Risk/CRO. Tom applied and was selected for the role. Even though it's a small agency of 250, those functions had been siloed. [7:07] Tom's first area of focus was getting the staff to know each other and learn more about what each process entailed, and then working with the team to look at how to bring these processes together. [7:23] Tom says, when we're identifying risks and needing to mitigate risks, the next question is, where do we get the resources? When the process is not integrated into your planning and budgeting process, that becomes very challenging. [7:36] As we go through our annual planning process, we work with our business offices, and if they're risk owners, we talk about what risks they are managing or mitigating, and if there are related initiatives or resources needed. [7:51] That information gets captured in the annual plan and becomes an input to the budget process. We're not only raising the risks and talking about them, but also identifying initiatives and getting funding, support, and resources to manage and mitigate those risks. [8:16] Tom's risk group has seven or eight people. They also do internal controls, policies, and procedures. They are the agency's anti-fraud group. They do brand monitoring and run the third-party risk monitoring program. They do work beyond the enterprise risk component. [8:51] The FRTIB moved from a high-level to a medium-level cyber risk posture, which improved Federal Information Security Modernization Act (FISMA) scores. FISMA is an annual cybersecurity audit of federal organizations. [9:27] Years ago, the FRTIB was scoring in the 1s and 2s on most domains in this audit, out of a possible score of 5. That coincided with cybersecurity being one of the FRTIB's high risks. They needed to put in place better governance and protections. [9:53] Because cybersecurity had been one of the FRTIB's high risks, they require any of their enterprise risks that are medium high or higher to have a risk treatment plan. They work with their CISO and the cyber team to develop risk treatment plans each year. [10:08] The risk treatment plans identify resource needs and specific areas of focus. They use the FISMA domains, questions, and assessment criteria to keep in mind where they need to shore things up. [10:20] Justin clarifies that FISMA, the Federal Information Security Modernization Act, is a U.S. Federal law that requires federal agencies to develop a document and implement information security programs to protect government information. [10:36] Tom remarks that as a result of great work done by the CISO and the cyber team, the FRTIB scored a 5 in each domain on their 2024 FISMA audit. That moved the cybersecurity risk score down. It's still at a medium level because the threat landscape continues to evolve. [10:56] Threat actors are always out there, trying to stay one step ahead of you, so you have to stay on your game to get ahead of them. [11:15] The cyber threat is so significant that collectively, we all need to be working as hard as we can to maintain our defenses. Tom says the CISO community is working together to integrate the latest technology and developments and understand where the threat is. [11:49] The CISO community is staying on top of what's happening in the AI space to be able to share good practices across agencies and ensure that our posture government-wide is as strong as possible in detecting and preventing the cyber threat. [12:06] One of the strategic goals for FRTIB is the managed services model. Tom speaks about assessing and monitoring third-party and vendor risks in a way that's scalable and sustainable. [12:18] When Tom moved into his position, in December 2021, the agency was about six months away from implementing that managed services model for their record-keeping service. Record keeping is a huge part of the FRTIB's work. They have almost 7.5 million participants. [12:36] Managing participant transactions and keeping their information is a core responsibility for the agency. They were moving to a managed service model. [12:48] When you shift to that type of model, you don't give up accountability and responsibility for the program. You work with a provider. The Agency needed to look at what its mechanism for oversight was, to manage and understand third-party risk. [13:06] The Agency had some capabilities in place for vendor monitoring and supply chain risk management. Tom's area of focus was to build up the third-party risk management program. [13:18] Tom did a maturity assessment to compare what they were doing to good practices and look for opportunities to enhance their capabilities. He brought in some services from external providers to help with access to data about the performance of third-party services. [13:42] Quarterly, Tom reports to the FRTIB board on their top vendors, their overall operations, whether there are any risks he has concerns about, and if so, what is being done to address those risks. That has helped to put in place a strong third-party risk management program. [14:03] When Tom joined the FRTIB, his predecessor had already built a strong, mature ERM program. There was a repeatable process in place with a risk register and a risk profile. [14:22] The opportunity was in integrating risk with planning and looking at how to enhance the program and bring it to the next level of maturity and build out that third-party risk management monitoring capability.  [14:42] RIMS Events! The very first RIMS Texas Regional Conference will be held from August 4th through August 6th in San Antonio at the Henry B. González Convention Center. Public registration is open. The full conference agenda is live, so you can start planning. [15:00] Don't miss the post-conference workshop, the RIMS-CRMP Exam Prep course available on-site. This event is open to any RIMS chapter member. [15:10] If you are local to the area, you might consider becoming a RIMS member today so you can get all the benefits and begin networking with your new RIMS Texas peers. Visit RIMS.org/TexasRegional. [15:22] Just a month later, we will be up North for the RIMS Canada Conference 2025, which will be held from September 14th through the 17th in Calgary. Registration is open. Visit RIMSCanadaConference.ca and lock in those favorable rates. We look forward to seeing you! [15:41] On September 18th, the 10th Annual Chicagoland Risk Forum will be held at The Old Post Office in Chicago. Register at ChicagoRIMS.org. [15:52] Also on September 18th, the Spencer Educational Foundation will host the 2025 Funding Their Future Gala at the Cipriani 42nd Street. Visit SpencerEd.org. [16:03] On October 1st through the 3rd, the RIMS Western Regional Conference will be held in North San Jose at the Santa Clara Marriott. The agenda is live. It looks fantastic! Visit RIMSWesternRegional.com and register today! [16:20] Let's Return to My Interview with RIMS 2024 ERM Award of Distinction Winner, Tom Brandt! [16:37] Shortly after Tom won the 2021 ERM Award of Distinction, along with Melissa Reynard, for his work with the IRS, he left to go to the FRTIB. Tom talks about the switch. [16:57] Tom had a great career with the IRS. He had a range of different roles and responsibilities. For his last eight years with the IRS, he was the CRO. [17:23] Tom was ready to make a change. He learned about the opportunity at FRTIB to help them bring risk and strategy programs into one department. He was happy to be selected and see the value of having risk and strategy come together. [18:12] Tom was the second CRO at the IRS. In 2013, the IRS had a crisis, so they brought in a CRO from the GAO for about a year. Tom had been doing risk work in one of the business units of the IRS. He was chosen for the CRO position in 2014. [18:50] The IRS crisis in 2013 related to concerns about how the agency had been handling applications for tax-exempt status. It led to Congressional hearings and IRS leadership changes. [19:04] Before going to the FRTIB, Tom was contacted by a recruiter. Someone in the risk community knew of the position and suggested Tom for it. He's thankful he was contacted because it has turned out to be an excellent opportunity. [19:35] Through RIMS, Tom connects with public and private sector colleagues. He sees a lot of similarities. The public sector has been practicing ERM for just under a decade. [20:16] The most essential ingredient in ERM is leadership support. Tom has support at FRTIB from leadership and the Board. Without leadership support, ERM is a compliance exercise. If ERM is truly leveraged, it can add a lot of value. [20.42] Tom thinks we're seeing too many instances where organizations have not had robust risk programs and have had risk events that could have been prevented or had the impact lessened, had they had a risk program.  [21:02] Tom thinks the challenge in the public sector is that there isn't much room for government error. Anything that doesn't go according to plan tends to get attention. [21:22] That oversight creates an environment that tends to be more risk-averse. That's not the way we want to run our risk program, because we want to take advantage of the opportunity that risk prevents, but it's a factor of the environment we operate in. [21:44] Part of what led to the establishment of the IRS ERM program was the 2013 crisis and an after-event assessment of what went wrong. Bad news didn't make it to the top quickly enough. Information that leadership should have been made aware of didn't get there in time. [22:05] As a result, issues and problems were allowed to fester and go out of control. In the IRS, people took a lot of pride in fixing and solving their problems. Sometimes you don't have a lot of time to fix an issue before it goes sideways. [22:41] A real benefit from sharing information is that often you can find other parts of the organization that can help because they've experienced a similar type of issue. They might have additional resources. Ignoring or hiding the problem doesn't make it go away. [23:01] The key value of ERM is creating a culture where people are willing to speak up, information gets escalated quickly, and you're able to bring the right people and resources together to work collectively to manage and mitigate those risks. [23:15] At FRTIB, Tom focuses on creating an environment where people feel comfortable speaking about risk, where it's part of the regular way they operate. [23:32] Since starting in risk many years ago and working with his teams, Tom's approach has been doing risk with offices and not doing risk to offices. He wanted to meet them where they were, understand where they needed help, and nudge them, rather than drag them, along. [24:00] Tom says take time to understand the organization, the unique needs of each office, and work with them to help manage and mitigate a risk, versus trying to force something on them. [24:18] A Quick Plug! If you tuned in to the recent episode featuring James Lam, you will know he is hosting a new six-module workshop for us, the “RIMS-CRO Certificate in Advanced Enterprise Risk Management”. [24:33] The inaugural summer course is completely sold out! We are filled to the virtual capacity! Don't worry, in the Fall, the bi-weekly course will begin on October 9th. Registration closes on October 2nd. A link is in this episode's notes. Check it out and register today! [24:52] If you're getting inspired by Tom Brandt and his ERM Award of Distinction win, remember that nominations are now open for the ERM Award of Distinction 2025. Be sure to listen closely for the tips that he offers about what makes a strong nomination! [25:10] The link to the nomination form is in this episode's show notes. Good luck! [25:13] Let's Return to the Conclusion of My Interview with Tom Brandt! [25:18] Before becoming the CRO at the IRS, Tom was the Director of Planning and Research for the Large Business and International Division with responsibility for case selection, determining risk on corporate and international tax returns, and which ones should be selected for audit. [25:52] This was a compliance risk experience. That provided the stepping stone to take on a more strategic, operational view of risk within the division. When the broader CRO opportunity became available at the IRS, he was considered and ultimately selected for that position. [26:14] Tom's view of risk has evolved. Within a business unit, he focused on the day-to-day operational and compliance risk. He didn't take a view of the whole organization or what choices he made for his unit ight create risk for another part of the organization. [26:51] It's a real value for ERM to have a portfolio view of the most critical risks across the organization, and understanding how actions to address risks in one area could create or exacerbate a risk somewhere else. [27:08] Tom tells of reputational risk. Sometimes decisions don't factor in how they will be perceived. Tom helped people at the IRS understand reputational risk and the stakeholders they may need to engage to help them understand why particular decisions are made. [28:22] Tom shares advice for nominating an ERM Program for the ERM Award of Distinction. What are the results? What are the outcomes that the program accomplished that you can talk about? How did ERM help the organization? What value did it bring? [29:07] Take an example of something you can share, and explain how ERM was able to surface the risk and bring the right people together to help with that risk and help the organization. [29:24] It's critical to have letters of recommendation. At the IRS, Tom had two Deputy Commissioners write letters about what they saw as the value that ERM brought to the agency. [29:42] At FRTIB, Tom had letters from the Executive Director and a member of its Board, who had served for over a decade and had historical knowledge of how ERM had helped the Agency. [30:04] Tom notes that the process of going through the application is a great learning opportunity to reflect on accomplishments as well as areas of remaining opportunity. [30:17] If you are fortunate enough to be selected to receive recognition, it's a great way to recognize the team. Tom used the Awards to recognize his teams at the IRS and at FRTIB, who are the ones who make all of this possible. The recognition turns out to be great kudos for them. [30:41] You can learn more about Tom's achievements through the links on this episode's show notes, which feature his recent ERM Q&A from 2025. I've also included one with his former coworker from the IRS, Melissa Reynard, from 2022. [30:58] This should give you a great sense of not just the great work that Tom has done but also, what it takes to have your nomination seen and heard and get the recognition that you deserve. [31:13] Tom, it's been great getting to know you these past few years, and I look forward to seeing you in Seattle. Thank you for joining us here on RIMScast! [31:32] Special thanks again to Tom Brandt for joining us here on RIMScast. Be sure to check out the links in this episode's show notes for recent ERM Q&A interviews about his work with the FRTIB. [31:46] Tom is a recipient of the RIMS ERM Award of Distinction. The Call for Nominations is open through August 16th. Check this episode's show notes for the link and details. [32:00] The Awards will be presented at the RIMS ERM Conference 2025, November 17th and 18th in Seattle. A link to that event is also on this page. [32:08] Plug Time! You can sponsor a RIMScast episode for this, our weekly show, or a dedicated episode. Links to sponsored episodes are in the show notes. [32:36] RIMScast has a global audience of risk and insurance professionals, legal professionals, students, business leaders, C-Suite executives, and more. Let's collaborate and help you reach them! Contact pd@rims.org for more information. [32:54] Become a RIMS member and get access to the tools, thought leadership, and network you need to succeed. Visit RIMS.org/membership or email membershipdept@RIMS.org for more information. [33:12] Risk Knowledge is the RIMS searchable content library that provides relevant information for today's risk professionals. Materials include RIMS executive reports, survey findings, contributed articles, industry research, benchmarking data, and more. [33:29] For the best reporting on the profession of risk management, read Risk Management Magazine at RMMagazine.com. It is written and published by the best minds in risk management. [33:43] Justin Smulison is the Business Content Manager at RIMS. You can email Justin at Content@RIMS.org. [33:50] Thank you all for your continued support and engagement on social media channels! We appreciate all your kind words. Listen every week! Stay safe!   Links: 20th Annual People's Choice Podcast Awards! Vote for RIMScast (Gov't & Organizations) To vote for RIMScast, please sign up with your email, then select RIMScast on the pulldown under Government and Organizations. Thank you! RIMS ERM Conference 2025 — Nov. 17‒18 | RIMS Global ERM Award of Distinction 2025 Nominations Open Through Aug. 16 “Embedding ERM Into One of the World's Largest Retirement Programs.” — RIMS Interview with Tom Brandt (2025) RIMS Texas Regional 2025 — August 3‒5 | Registration open. RIMS-CRMP In-Person Workshop in Texas Aug. 6 & 7 RIMS Canada 2025 — Sept. 14‒17 | Registration open! 10th Annual Chicagoland Risk Forum — Sept. 18 | Registration open! RIMS Western Regional — Oct 1‒3 | Bay Area, California | Registration open! RISKWORLD 2026 — Members-only early registration! Register through Sept 30! RIMS-Certified Risk Management Professional (RIMS-CRMP) The Strategic and Enterprise Risk Center Spencer Educational Foundation 2025 Funding Their Future Gala — Sept. 18, 2025, in NYC! RIMS ERM Conference 2025 — Nov 17‒18 in Seattle! [Save the Date!] RIMS-CRO Certificate in Advanced Enterprise Risk Management — Featuring Instructor James Lam! Summer course sold out! | Next bi-weekly course begins Oct 9. RIMS Diversity Equity Inclusion Council RISK PAC | RIMS Advocacy | RIMS Legislative Summit SAVE THE DATE — March 18‒19, 2026 RIMS Risk Management magazine | Contribute RIMS Now RIMS Webinars: RIMS.org/Webinars   Upcoming RIMS-CRMP Prep Virtual Workshops: RIMS-CRMP Exam Prep Virtual Workshop — Sept 2‒3, 2025 | Presented by RIMS and PARIMA RIMS-CRMP-FED Exam Prep Virtual Workshop — November 11‒12 Full RIMS-CRMP Prep Course Schedule “Emerging Risks” | Aug 5 | Instructor: Joe Mayo “Intro to ERM for Senior Leaders” | Aug. 12‒13 | Instructor: Chris Mandel “Intro to ERM for Senior Leaders” | Nov. 4‒5 | Instructor: Elise Farnham See the full calendar of RIMS Virtual Workshops RIMS-CRMP Prep Workshops   Related RIMScast Episodes: “Risk and Clarity with Huw Edwards, RIMS Texas Keynote” “James Lam on ERM, Strategy, and the Modern CRO” “ERM, Retail, and Risk with Jeff Strege” “Bigger Risks with the Texas State Office of Risk Management” | Sponsored By Hillwood “ERMotivation with Carrie Frandsen, RIMS-CRMP” “Live from the ERM Conference 2024 in Boston!” “Risk Quantification Through Value-Based Frameworks”   Sponsored RIMScast Episodes: “The New Reality of Risk Engineering: From Code Compliance to Resilience” | Sponsored by AXA XL (New!) “Change Management: AI's Role in Loss Control and Property Insurance” | Sponsored by Global Risk Consultants, a TÜV SÜD Company “Demystifying Multinational Fronting Insurance Programs” | Sponsored by Zurich “Understanding Third-Party Litigation Funding” | Sponsored by Zurich “What Risk Managers Can Learn From School Shootings” | Sponsored by Merrill Herzog “Simplifying the Challenges of OSHA Recordkeeping” | Sponsored by Medcor “Risk Management in a Changing World: A Deep Dive into AXA's 2024 Future Risks Report” | Sponsored by AXA XL “How Insurance Builds Resilience Against An Active Assailant Attack” | Sponsored by Merrill Herzog “Third-Party and Cyber Risk Management Tips” | Sponsored by Alliant “RMIS Innovation with Archer” | Sponsored by Archer “Navigating Commercial Property Risks with Captives” | Sponsored by Zurich “Breaking Down Silos: AXA XL's New Approach to Casualty Insurance” | Sponsored by AXA XL “Weathering Today's Property Claims Management Challenges” | Sponsored by AXA XL “Storm Prep 2024: The Growing Impact of Convective Storms and Hail” | Sponsored by Global Risk Consultants, a TÜV SÜD Company “Partnering Against Cyberrisk” | Sponsored by AXA XL “Harnessing the Power of Data and Analytics for Effective Risk Management” | Sponsored by Marsh “Accident Prevention — The Winning Formula For Construction and Insurance” | Sponsored by Otoos “Platinum Protection: Underwriting and Risk Engineering's Role in Protecting Commercial Properties” | Sponsored by AXA XL “Elevating RMIS — The Archer Way” | Sponsored by Archer   RIMS Publications, Content, and Links: RIMS Membership — Whether you are a new member or need to transition, be a part of the global risk management community! RIMS Virtual Workshops On-Demand Webinars RIMS-Certified Risk Management Professional (RIMS-CRMP) RISK PAC | RIMS Advocacy RIMS Strategic & Enterprise Risk Center RIMS-CRMP Stories — Featuring RIMS President Kristen Peed!   RIMS Events, Education, and Services: RIMS Risk Maturity Model®   Sponsor RIMScast: Contact sales@rims.org or pd@rims.org for more information.   Want to Learn More? Keep up with the podcast on RIMS.org, and listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.   Have a question or suggestion? Email: Content@rims.org.   Join the Conversation! Follow @RIMSorg on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.   About our guest: Thomas Brandt, Chief Risk Officer at the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board   Production and engineering provided by Podfly.  

Tune in to the most recent Suite Spot: Independent Hotel Show Series episode to hear from the founder of Salt Hotels, David Bowd, as he discusses the origins of Salt Hotels, founding the Salt School, hospitality industry trends, and the next generation of hotel professionals.  Be sure to follow and subscribe to the Suite Spot so you never miss an episode, and be sure to check out our Travel Media Group YouTube channel as well.   Ryan Embree: Welcome to Suite Spot, where hoteliers check in, and we check out what's trending in hotel marketing. I'm your host, Ryan Embree. Hello everyone. Welcome to another episode of The Suite Spot. This is your host, Ryan Embree, for another edition of our independent Hotel show series. I can feel the anticipation, the excitement building up. We're just a few months away from September where we're gonna have independent hoteliers from all over the country coming down to Miami Beach of the Convention Center. And one of those hoteliers and guests is my special guest today who I'll invite into the podcast for the very first time. David Bow, founder and CEO of Salt Hotels. David, thank you so much for being on the podcast. David Bowd: Thank you for having me. Great to be here. Ryan Embree: Yeah, we're excited. We're gonna talk Independent hotel. We're gonna talk about your beautiful portfolio that you have over there at Salt Hotels and everything about that. But before we do that, we always like to get a little bit of background for our hospitality guests. Talk to us a little bit about your hospitality journey, David, and what led you to ultimately founding Salt hotels? David Bowd: Yeah. My story began crazily 40 years ago now, back in the UK. I started when I left school, and I left school very early at 15 years old. And I became a bellman in a local hotel and absolutely loved it. I realized this was the career for me up to sort of, during my school years, I'd played, my mom had a cafe/restaurant, and I really, really thought I wanted to be a chef, and so I started to go towards that department. But I was too young to go into the kitchen, so I started as a bellman, and then I finally got into the kitchen, and funnily enough, I got into the kitchen and didn't enjoy it as much as I did front of house. So, which is often the case, I think, for a lot of people, they have this dream, and then it's not as, it's not, the reality's not the same. So I sort of spent the time in the kitchen. I did a couple of years in the kitchen, and then I went back to front of house and I worked through all departments and then moved to London where I was working in the more traditional hotels, the more, you know, Hiltons, Marriotts, holiday Inns. And actually at the turn of the century, Ian Trager had just opened his first hotel in the outside of the U.S, in London. And I was out invited to go and to meet with his team. And I met with the team and loved it. And, you know, his first hotel St. Martin's Lane was an absolute masterpiece, as was his second, which was Sanderson. And I was fortunate enough to get the job, and I was hotel manager of one for a period of time. And then I took over as regional general manager of both properties. And I ran those through 2000 through to 2007, which were the phenomenal, phenomenally good years in London. And so we were making a lot of money at that time. And Ian invited me to move over to the US and to take over an operations role focusing on a lot of openings for what had then become Morgan's hotel group. And I did that, moved over to New York, loved New York, and loved the lights in America, and spent some time with Morgans. And then Ian had actually left to go and start addition and public on his own. And so I ended up leaving Morgans and going to Ian and to work on those projects with him before moving on to Andre Bola, sort of the other, what I would consider the other genius celebrity hotelier, you know, who is one of the founders of our sector of the ind...

On Aug. 4, local hotel industry veteran Jim Cook will officially step in as the new president and CEO of the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center. Cook shares his plans to lead the sixth largest convention center in the country as it looks to break ground on a headquarters hotel next year and finish up the first phase of a $557 million capital improvement plan.

Scott talks with Rudemiller from 3CDC about the new Convention Center and Hotel coming to downtown. Also Adam Aaro from Dayton 24/7 Now & ABC 22 discusses the latest death of a child with developmental disabilities, due to parental negligence. Finally Robert Ver Bruggen from the Manhattan Institute debates if it is time to reinstate 'Stop and Frisk'.

Scott talks with Rudemiller from 3CDC about the new Convention Center and Hotel coming to downtown. Also Adam Aaro from Dayton 24/7 Now & ABC 22 discusses the latest death of a child with developmental disabilities, due to parental negligence. Finally Robert Ver Bruggen from the Manhattan Institute debates if it is time to reinstate 'Stop and Frisk'.

The team finds themselves facing off against a ten foot tall slime at the walls of the Dragonborn city of Khall T'Vott! Will they survive? Will they be consumed by ooze? Will there be avoidable friendly fire? FIND OUT!  Come see Knights of the Rolled Table LIVE! at San Diego Comic-Con! We are performing our show at Comic-Con on Friday July 25th at 12pm at the Neil Morgan Auditorium at the Beautiful San Diego Central Library, just a block over from the Convention Center. The whole cast will be there, and we'll be doing a live one shot episode, with audience participation! Come see us! https://sched.co/26z7T   Featuring Carlos Guzman-Verduga as Yenni Jen Stopper Crespo as Diedre Matt Messerman as Branch Chris Daily as Biscuit (and Cookie) Zach Stones as Igneous  and  Jeff Frank as DM   All the links: linktr.ee/rolledtable See Character Art on Instagram @rolledtable and our Discord Art by Chris Daily @dungeonheads Music by Weston Gardner @arcaneanthems Support their patreons! And third party creators!  

Welcome to RIMScast. Your host is Justin Smulison, Business Content Manager at RIMS, the Risk and Insurance Management Society.   Justin interviews Neil Colclough, RIMS Rocky Mountain Chapter President and 2025 RIMS Volunteer of the Year Award Winner, about his career path, how his Royal Marines service time helped steer his risk management path, and why he moved to Colorado. Neil tells of his years of experience in risk management, his risk philosophy, his DE&I philosophy, and how he feels about volunteerism.   Listen to learn the benefits of making your risk management career more fulfilling through volunteering.   Key Takeaways: [:01] About RIMS and RIMScast. RIMScast is a proud nominee of the 20th Annual People's Choice Podcast Awards. We are nominated in the category of Government and Organizations, and we would appreciate your support. Help us win that award at PodcastAwards.com.  [:35] About this episode of RIMScast. Our guest today is the RIMS Volunteer of the Year Award winner, Neil Colclough. We will learn about his career and all the great work he has done for us at the RIMS Rocky Mountain Chapter. [1:05] RIMS-CRMP Workshops! The next Virtual RIMS-CRMP exam prep, co-hosted by Parima, will be held on September 2nd and 3rd. [1:17] The next RIMS-CRMP-FED virtual workshop will be led by Joseph Mayo on July 17th and 18th. Register by July 16th. Links to these courses can be found on the Certification Page of RIMS.org and through this episode's show notes. [1:34] RIMS Virtual Workshops! We have a day-long course on July 24th, “Risk Taxonomy for Effective Risk Management.” On August 5th, we have a day-long course about “Emerging Risks.” [1:47] We've launched a new course, “Intro to ERM for Senior Leaders.” This is a two-day course. The first two-day course will be held on August 12th and 13th and will be led by former RIMS President, Chris Mandel. [2:02] The course will be held again on November 4th and 5th and will be led by Elise Farnham. RIMS members enjoy deep discounts! [2:11] The full schedule of virtual workshops can be found on the RIMS.org/education and RIMS.org/education/online-learning pages. A link is also in this episode's notes. [2:22] If you tuned in to the recent episode featuring James Lam, you will know he is hosting a new six-module workshop for us, the “RIMS-CRO Certificate in Advanced Enterprise Risk Management”. [2:36] The inaugural summer course is completely sold out! We are filled to the virtual capacity! Don't worry, in the Fall, the bi-weekly course will begin on October 9th. Registration closes on October 2nd. A link is in this episode's notes. Check it out and register today! [2:55] Mark your calendars for November 17th and 18th for the RIMS ERM Conference 2025 in Seattle, Washington. The agenda is being built. Soon, we will distribute a Call for Nominations for the ERM Award of Distinction. I'll update this episode's show notes when that link is ready. [3:19] Think about your organization's ERM program or one you know of, and how it has generated value. We will have more on that in the coming weeks. [3:27] RISKWORLD 2026 will be in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, from May 3rd through May 6th. RIMS members can now lock in the 2025 rate for a full conference pass to RISKWORLD 2026 when registering by September 30th. [3:41] This also lets you enjoy earlier access to the RISKWORLD hotel block. Register by September 30th, and you will also be entered to win a $500 raffle. Don't miss out on this chance to plan and score some extra perks. [3:54] The members-only registration link is in this episode's show notes. If you are not yet a member, this is the time to register at RIMS.org/membership. [4:04] On with the show! Our guest today is Neil Colclough. He has been President of the RIMS Rocky Mountain Chapter since 2023. In 2025, he was named the Volunteer of the Year. A link to his profile in the Awards Edition of RIMS Risk Management magazine is in the show notes. [4:24] Justin is stoked that Neil is joining us on RIMScast to discuss his well-deserved recognition and why he shares it with many other members of the RIMS Rocky Mountain Chapter. [4:37]  We're also going to learn about his military career and how that shaped his risk career and his enthusiasm for volunteerism. [4:45] Interview! Neil Colclough, welcome to RIMScast! [5:00] Neil is incredibly proud of the RIMS 2025 Volunteer of the Year Award. [5:16] Neil continues as the President of the RIMS Rocky Mountain Chapter until September. [5:39] Neil has been in Colorado for 27 years. He left behind family, friends, and a job he loved to move to the Colorado Rocky Mountains to take advantage of the lifestyle the area offers. He wanted to be a semi-ski bum. [6:25] Neil had to learn to ski in the military. He fell in love with the sport. He landed a job on Vail Mountain. He skied over 100 days a year for several years when he lived in Vail. [6:51] Neil is from Stoke-on-Trent, England. As a kid, he wanted to be a soldier. He joined the Royal Marines for six years and travelled the world. He saw communities outside of the resort areas. [8:10] Neil believes his risk management career grew out of his service. Public service is managing risk, considering what could go wrong at all times, and having a Plan B and C for those instances. It's also not being risk-averse. [8:33] His military service left him with the mindset that you can do anything, you just have to put the effort into doing it properly and give it your best shot. They all kept themselves incredibly fit. The risk of not being fit didn't just impact you; it impacted the guys you worked with. [9:17] Neil enjoyed the fitness routine in the military, going for morning runs with his closest friends. [9:34] If Neil hadn't moved to Colorado, he probably would have stayed home. He was focused on moving to the Rocky Mountains. He had been to the U.S. about 10 times before he moved. He moved in 1998. [11:11] Neil says he is of the generation who “fell into” the risk management industry, versus going to school for a risk management degree. He was dragged reluctantly into risk management. [11:28] Neil was asked four times to fill a new role in the corporate headquarters of Vail Resorts. He didn't want to leave Vail, but he liked the person hiring him, and the offer made sense, so he joined the corporate office and did not look back. RIMS membership came with that job. [11:58] At the time, Neil had no idea what RIMS was. He joined the Rocky Mountain Chapter in early 2008. He's been a member of the chapter since then. He attended programming and social events. He progressed in the chapter. [12:14] The operational experience he had gained in the military and from running the Security Team at Vail Mountain fed into the risk management function. It gives him a bit of a leg up when it comes to solving issues. His experience adds credibility with his internal clients today. [12:40] Neil's career has been a natural progression. He loves his job. He loves the people he does it for. It's like a hobby. He's genuinely interested in it. [13:00] Neil loves being in the RIMS Rocky Mountain Chapter as a whole. He joined the board in 2018 with Incoming President Peggy Miller and Past President Emily Bloedel. The board was a great group of people. They have great, respectful discussions. There's no negativity. [13:49] As long as Neil has been a member of the chapter, that has always been the case. He says the board feels proud to be part of the chapter and to have a positive impact.  [14:09] Justin mentions that Emily Bloedel was a RIMS Rising Star recently. Peggy Miller is with Kroenke Sports & Entertainment. Justin met Peggy at the RIMS ERM Conference in Denver. Neil ran the DEI education session at ERM, and he did a great job. [14:52] Neil says Emily Buckley is also on the board. They have a great pipeline of leadership to look forward to, and the future is super bright. [14:58] Justin mentions there's a lot of talent in Colorado. Emily Buckley was a guest on RIMScast last year for Specialized Bicycles on bicycle safety. Justin says, if you're a risk professional looking for a place to move, start with Colorado and look up Neil!  [15:33] DE&I is a passion for Neil. He's super connected to it. Justin and Neil discuss whether it's helpful to speak the words Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion for people who may be less committed. [16:53] You might lean on Inclusion a little more to help people understand that this is about making sure that everybody has the same opportunities. [17:22] Neil is the RIMS Volunteer of the Year. The award used to be called the Heart of RIMS Award, but was rebranded to be more specific. [17:57] Neil thinks that all RIMS chapters should have the succession of vice presidents and presidents built into their bylaws as the Rocky Mountain Chapter does. A lot of presidents have sat on boards for many years, and they struggle to recruit people to become board members. [18:22] Volunteerism takes effort. If you're taking an hour out of your day to do a podcast to talk about yourself, then you've got to make up that time somewhere else. If you're doing chapter work during business hours, you have to have an employer who supports what you're doing. [18:54] You have to have family behind you, that gets it. You can't just disregard your daily job duties in favor of volunteerism. [19:09] Neil says, encourage chances to have an intentional succession plan for chapter leadership. Encourage people early in their careers to serve on boards, become leaders of the chapter, and shape the future. [19:40] If you've just graduated from an RMI program and joined the workforce, you may not think you're qualified to lead on a chapter board. Neil says, we want to hear from the future of the industry so we who are in it can prioritize what is going to be meaningful after we've gone. [20:03] Reach out to younger people, let them know what a safe space it is, and give them the opportunity to serve. [20:12] RIMS Events! The 49th Annual Florida RIMS Educational Conference will be held again at the Ritz-Carlton in Naples, Florida, from July 29th through August 2nd. Visit Florida.RIMS.org for more information and to register. [20:30] The very first RIMS Texas Regional Conference will be held from August 4th through the 6th in San Antonio, Texas, at the Henry B. González Convention Center. Public Registration is open. The full conference agenda is now live. [20:46] Don't miss the post-conference workshop, the RIMS-CRMP Exam Prep Course, available on site. [20:52] This event is open to any RIMS Chapter member. If you are local to the area, you might consider becoming a RIMS member today so that you can get all the benefits and begin networking with your new RIMS Texas peers. Links are in this episode's show notes. [21:07] You can also visit the Events Page of RIMS.org for more information. We look forward to seeing you in Texas! [21:15] A month later, we will be up North for the RIMS Canada Conference 2025, from September 14th through the 17th in Calgary. Registration is open. Lock in those favorable rates; Visit RIMSCanadaConference.CA. We look forward to seeing you in Calgary! [21:34] On September 18th, the 10th Annual Chicagoland Risk Forum will be held at the Old Post Office in Chicago. Register at ChicagoRIMS.org. [21:44] Also on September 18th, the Spencer Educational Foundation will host the 2025 Funding Their Future Gala at the Cipriani 42nd Street. Visit SpencerEd.org. [21:57] On October 1st through the 3rd, the RIMS Western Regional Conference will be held in North San Jose at the Santa Clara Marriott. The agenda is live. It looks fantastic! Visit RIMSWesternRegional.com and register today. [22:12] Let's Return to My Interview with the RIMS 2025 Volunteer of the Year, Neil Colclough! [22:23] Neil joined Sage Hospitality Group in January 2025. He had spoken with his new boss about his role at the RIMS Rocky Mountain Chapter, and she was super supportive. [22:48] The whole company understands the importance of risk management. They see the value of having me remain involved with RIMS at the chapter and society level. It was an easy conversation to have. [23:18] Neil is over a total of seven people at Sage. He says this is rare except in well-established, large companies. This is Neil's first experience with anything that comes close to that. [23:56] Two of Neil's team have been with the company for over 30 years. Another has been with the company for 11 years. That speaks volumes to Neil about the company culture and the investment the company makes in risk management. It was a huge attraction to Neil. [24:18] Neil was previously with Inspirato, another hospitality group. It was high-end luxury travel where you would subscribe to a membership and get access to a portfolio of homes. One client was mad that they didn't inform them that it was hurricane season when they were traveling. [26:06] When Neil moved to Colorado, he went to a job fair for Vail Resorts in Denver. He was offered two jobs, one as a ski instructor and one with the Security Department, a seasonal job. [26:24] When Neil showed up for work on his first day of training for the Security Team, it was October 19, 1998, the day of the terrorist arson at the Two Elk Lodge, the largest act of eco-terrorism in North America at the time. [26:42] Neil's job went from being seasonal to year-round. The department grew. He was promoted a couple of times fairly quickly. He had never ridden a snowmobile, but they put him on it, and he rode 400 miles a week on a snowmobile. [27:12] With this experience, Neil understands the principles of emergency preparedness and response. He worked closely with the public sector in Vail and Eagle County. The local government and the ski resort have to work closely together to align in the same direction. [27:31] Neil says they did some good stuff over the years to mitigate potential risks. A wildland fire was a big concern. They did mass-casualty incident drills with Vail Ski Patrol and the town of Vail. [27:59] Neil lives east of Boulder. His office is in Denver. [28:34] Neil says the award is not just one person. It takes a village. It takes a lot of people who think like you and have the same heart to make good things happen. He's never volunteered at any event where he's walked away feeling down and thinking it was a waste of time. [29:00] A little can go a long way. If you're thinking about ways to volunteer in the risk and insurance industry, the local RIMS chapter is a great vehicle to do that. You can contact Neil, and he can introduce you to some people he has networked with around the country. [29:24] Volunteerism is so rewarding. It takes effort. You can't just go to meetings. You have to put pen to paper in between meetings to take action on what you say you're going to do. Neil battles constantly with the feeling that he's not fully delivering on what he should be. [29:45] You have to give yourself a little bit of grace when it comes to those times. People's capacity ebbs and flows. Surround yourself with people who can pick up the slack when you have to step into your day job a little bit more at certain times. [30:00] When you're juggling the balls, just don't drop the glass ones! Keep your responsibilities prioritized. [30:13] Neil talks of DE&I sponsorship, advocating for somebody who's not in the group. One way to do that is to ask if you can take a young professional along with you when you're invited somewhere as a risk professional. Request that someone be at a meeting who wasn't invited. [31:02] That can create opportunities and give that person experience. It's a simple act with a potentially massive impact. [31:15] Neil, it's been a real pleasure to speak with you again! I appreciate all your insight here. Congratulations again on being named the RIMS 2025 Volunteer of the Year. We've got a link for the RIMS Rocky Mountain Chapter in the notes. Locals, if you want to join, give Neil a shout! [31:37] Neil says, I'll get back to you eventually! There are about 200 professional members in the chapter through the Society, plus Chapter Associates and Student Members. There is a free membership for RIMS Affinity Partners, all of whom have been represented on RIMScast. [33:06] Justin mentions again the RIMS Western Regional Conference; register at RIMSWesternRegional.com. [33:17] Special thanks again to RIMS Rocky Mountain Chapter President and 2025 RIMS Volunteer of the Year Award Winner, Neil Colclough. We appreciate him making the time for us. A link to the special Awards Edition of RIMS Risk Management magazine is in the show notes. [33:35] Check out Neil's profile as well as the other 2025 RIMS Award Winners. A link to the RIMS Rocky Mountain Chapter site is in this episode's show notes. Check out all the great work they are doing. [33:48] Plug Time! You can sponsor a RIMScast episode for this, our weekly show, or a dedicated episode. Links to sponsored episodes are in the show notes. [34:16] RIMScast has a global audience of risk and insurance professionals, legal professionals, students, business leaders, C-Suite executives, and more. Let's collaborate and help you reach them! Contact pd@rims.org for more information. [34:35] Become a RIMS member and get access to the tools, thought leadership, and network you need to succeed. Visit RIMS.org/membership or email membershipdept@RIMS.org for more information. [34:52] Risk Knowledge is the RIMS searchable content library that provides relevant information for today's risk professionals. Materials include RIMS executive reports, survey findings, contributed articles, industry research, benchmarking data, and more. [35:08] For the best reporting on the profession of risk management, read Risk Management Magazine at RMMagazine.com. It is written and published by the best minds in risk management. [35:23] Justin Smulison is the Business Content Manager at RIMS. You can email Justin at Content@RIMS.org. [35:30] Thank you all for your continued support and engagement on social media channels! We appreciate all your kind words. Listen every week! Stay safe!   Links: 20th Annual People's Choice Podcast Awards! Vote for RIMScast (Gov't & Organizations)To vote for RIMScast, please sign up with your email, then select RIMScast on the pulldown under Government and Organizations. Thank you! RIMS Risk Management Magazine 2025 Awards Edition RIMS Texas Regional 2025 — August 3‒5 | Registration open. RIMS-CRMP In-Person Workshop in Texas Aug. 6 & 7 RIMS 2025 Florida Educational Conference | July 31‒Aug 2 | Registration open. RIMS Canada 2025 — Sept. 14‒17 | Registration open! 10th Annual Chicagoland Risk Forum — Sept. 18 | Registration open! RIMS Western Regional — Oct 1‒3 | Bay Area, California | Registration open! RISKWORLD 2026 — Members-only early registration! Register through Sept 30! RIMS-Certified Risk Management Professional (RIMS-CRMP) The Strategic and Enterprise Risk Center Spencer Educational Foundation 2025 Funding Their Future Gala — Sept. 18, 2025 in NYC! Spencer Education Foundation — General Grants 2026 — Application Deadline July 30, 2025 RIMS ERM Conference 2025 — Nov 17‒18 in Seattle! [Save the Date!] RIMS-CRO Certificate in Advanced Enterprise Risk Management — Featuring Instructor James Lam! Summer course sold out! | Next bi-weekly course begins Oct 9. RIMS Diversity Equity Inclusion Council RISK PAC | RIMS Advocacy | RIMS Legislative Summit SAVE THE DATE — March 18‒19, 2026 RIMS Risk Management magazine | Contribute RIMS Now RIMS Rocky Mountain Chapter RSVP for the RISK PAC Reception in Philadelphia | July 16, 2025 | Sofitel Philadelphia at Rittenhouse Square RIMS Webinars: RIMS.org/Webinars   Upcoming RIMS-CRMP Prep Virtual Workshops: RIMS-CRMP-FED Exam Prep Virtual Workshop — July 17‒18 RIMS-CRMP Exam Prep Virtual Workshop — Sept 2‒3, 2025 | Presented by RIMS and PARIMA Full RIMS-CRMP Prep Course Schedule “Risk Taxonomy for Effective Risk Management” | July 24 | Instructor: Joe Mayo “Emerging Risks” | Aug 5 | Instructor: Joe Mayo “Intro to ERM for Senior Leaders” | Aug. 12‒13 | Instructor: Chris Mandel “Intro to ERM for Senior Leaders” | Nov. 4‒5 | Instructor: Elise Farnham See the full calendar of RIMS Virtual Workshops RIMS-CRMP Prep Workshops   Related RIMScast Episodes: “Mid-Year Update: RIMS Legislative and Risk Management News” “RIMS 2025 Rising Star Megan Smalter: Giving Yourself Grace” “Live from RISKWORLD 2025” “RIMS 2025 Risk Manager of the Year, Jennifer Pack” “Julie Bean, 2024 Heart of RIMS Award Winner”   Sponsored RIMScast Episodes: “The New Reality of Risk Engineering: From Code Compliance to Resilience” | Sponsored by AXA XL (New!) “Change Management: AI's Role in Loss Control and Property Insurance” | Sponsored by Global Risk Consultants, a TÜV SÜD Company “Demystifying Multinational Fronting Insurance Programs” | Sponsored by Zurich “Understanding Third-Party Litigation Funding” | Sponsored by Zurich “What Risk Managers Can Learn From School Shootings” | Sponsored by Merrill Herzog “Simplifying the Challenges of OSHA Recordkeeping” | Sponsored by Medcor “Risk Management in a Changing World: A Deep Dive into AXA's 2024 Future Risks Report” | Sponsored by AXA XL “How Insurance Builds Resilience Against An Active Assailant Attack” | Sponsored by Merrill Herzog “Third-Party and Cyber Risk Management Tips” | Sponsored by Alliant “RMIS Innovation with Archer” | Sponsored by Archer “Navigating Commercial Property Risks with Captives” | Sponsored by Zurich “Breaking Down Silos: AXA XL's New Approach to Casualty Insurance” | Sponsored by AXA XL “Weathering Today's Property Claims Management Challenges” | Sponsored by AXA XL “Storm Prep 2024: The Growing Impact of Convective Storms and Hail” | Sponsored by Global Risk Consultants, a TÜV SÜD Company “Partnering Against Cyberrisk” | Sponsored by AXA XL “Harnessing the Power of Data and Analytics for Effective Risk Management” | Sponsored by Marsh “Accident Prevention — The Winning Formula For Construction and Insurance” | Sponsored by Otoos “Platinum Protection: Underwriting and Risk Engineering's Role in Protecting Commercial Properties” | Sponsored by AXA XL “Elevating RMIS — The Archer Way” | Sponsored by Archer   RIMS Publications, Content, and Links: RIMS Membership — Whether you are a new member or need to transition, be a part of the global risk management community! RIMS Virtual Workshops On-Demand Webinars RIMS-Certified Risk Management Professional (RIMS-CRMP) RISK PAC | RIMS Advocacy RIMS Strategic & Enterprise Risk Center RIMS-CRMP Stories — Featuring RIMS President Kristen Peed!   RIMS Events, Education, and Services: RIMS Risk Maturity Model®   Sponsor RIMScast: Contact sales@rims.org or pd@rims.org for more information.   Want to Learn More? Keep up with the podcast on RIMS.org, and listen on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.   Have a question or suggestion? Email: Content@rims.org.   Join the Conversation! Follow @RIMSorg on Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn.   About our guest: Neil Colclough, Vice President of Risk, Compliance, and Audit, SAGE HOSPITALITY GROUP RIMS Rocky Mountain Chapter President   Production and engineering provided by Podfly.  

Northwest Indiana is turning a corner. In this week's episode of Inside Indiana Business with Gerry Dick, we report from Valparaiso University as part of IBJ Media's Innovate Indiana Series. From Gary to Michigan City, billions in infrastructure, tourism, and redevelopment projects are fueling growth across the region. We examine Gary's new convention center partnership with Hard Rock Casino, major investment in U.S. Steel's Gary Works plant, and a downtown revitalization effort led by Mayor Eddie Melton and the University of Notre Dame. Also in this episode: Matt Schuffert, CEO of Hard Rock Casino Northern Indiana, on Gary's hotel and convention center development Plans for a $1 billion expansion at the Digital Crossroads data center campus in Hammond Completion of South Shore Line double tracking and new real estate projects in Michigan City BP's Whiting refinery and the Mammoth Solar Project advancing new energy initiatives The Dean and Barbara White Foundation's investments in education and quality of life IU students launch 9AM Club, a hangover-friendly cocktail made in partnership with Cardinal Spirits Yelp's Brittany Smith highlights five outdoor dining destinations across Indiana News around the state: Muncie approves outdoor drinking districts, Columbus extends public art display, and a $13 million apprenticeship pathway launches statewide Next week: We're in downtown Indianapolis covering the economic impact of the WNBA All-Star Game.  

ICYMI On Mobile Mornings this morning Dan Brennan and Dalton Orwig talked to fmr Mobile Police Chief Paul Prine talked about his Mayor of Mobile campaign.  The conversation covered Prine's experience in the Mobile Police Department and crime in the city.   They also discussed education and taking care of the infrastructure.  The Civic and Convention Centers were topics as well as building in Mobile.  Listen to their conversation here:  

John Craemer is in the house with the Green Bay Press Times' Headlines segment, and Mai Nu Vang and Tou Yang join him from the Hmong community in Green Bay to talk about some of the events they have been a part of this year. They also discuss the strength and resilience in the community. Then Maino is joined by Adriana Vander Leest and Chef Lauren Rue from the Oshkosh Marriott Waterfront Hotel & Convention Center. As the hotel undergoes the third phase of renovations, they're excited to kick off the Grand Opening for the "Anchor & Port" restaurant inside the Marriott. The event is planned for July 29th. Maino and the Mayor is a part of the Civic Media radio network and airs Monday through Friday from 6-9 am on WGBW in Green Bay and on WISS in Appleton/Oshkosh. Subscribe to the podcast to be sure not to miss out on a single episode! To learn more about the show and all of the programming across the Civic Media network, head over to https://civicmedia.us/shows to see the entire broadcast lineup. Follow the show on Facebook and X to keep up with Maino and the Mayor! Guests: John Craemer, Mai Nu Vang, Tou Yang, Lauren Rue

Dana In The Morning Highlights 7/2George R. Brown convention center expansion is beiing debated by local residentsNon-profit 'Nate's Next Kid Up' recently brought 150 foster kids to an Astros gameLots of events going on around Houston for the 4th of July - what are YOUR plans?

In this week's Travel Flashback Episode, we're taking you on an epic road trip through the Dakotas! In this episode we detail our 6-day road trip that takes you through both North and South Dakota as we explore new cities, state parks, national parks, and unique roadside attractions including:Mount Rushmore National MemorialCuster State Park Jewel Cave National MonumentWind Cave Tour National ParkBadlands National ParkTheodore Roosevelt National ParkCrazy Horse MemorialWall Drug Spearfish Scenic BywayWe even talk about add ons like Carhenge and Toadstools Geological Park If you want to take this exact trip, you can download our 6 day ⁠Dakotas Itinerary⁠. The Dakotas itinerary gives travel tips, restaurant and hotel recommendations, links to every activity we booked, packing list, and a day by day itinerary for you to follow. If you are looking for activities & experiences in the area, check out our recommended ⁠Viator list⁠. We've listed hotel recommendations for this trip below: ⁠Bavarian Inn⁠ and ⁠Holiday Inn Express⁠ are both good choices for stays in Custer Stay at the ⁠Best Western⁠ or ⁠Cambria Hotel in Rapid City⁠Choose to stay at ⁠AmericInn by Wyndham⁠ in Medora or the ⁠Bowman Lodge & Convention Center⁠ in Bowman when visiting Theodore Roosevelt National Park Find a great flight deal to the Dakotas by signing up for⁠ Thrifty Traveler Premium⁠ and watching the daily flight deals (points & cash) that are emailed directly to you! Use our promo code TS10 to get $10 off your first year subscription- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -Shop:⁠ Trip Itineraries ⁠⁠&⁠ ⁠Amazon Storefront ⁠⁠Connect:⁠ ⁠YouTube⁠⁠,⁠ ⁠TikTok⁠⁠, and⁠ ⁠Instagram⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠⁠and contact us at travelsquadpodcast@gmail.com to submit a question of the week or inquire about guest interviews and advertising. Submit a question of the week or inquire about guest interviews and advertising.

In May 2025, the Emerging Technologies Institute and MITRE Corporation released a report that explores how artificial intelligence (AI) can improve the Department of Defense's acquisition system and support its workforce. Several of the authors, including Adam Bouffard (Group Leader and Principal Decision Analyst at MITRE), Chris Barlow (Senior Acquisition Analyst), and Wilson Miles (Associate Research Fellow at ETI) joined the podcast to discuss both the opportunities of inserting AI into the acquisition lifecycle and barriers to implementation. Additionally, the guests describe several potential paths forward to accelerate the adoption of AI for acquisition needs. Accelerating the Future: Leveraging AI for Transformative Federal Acquisition, https://www.emergingtechnologiesinstitute.org/publications/research-papers/accelerating-the-future To receive updates about the NDIA Emerging Technologies for Defense Conference and Exhibition on August 27-29, 2025 at the Washington D.C. Convention Center, please join our mailing list here: https://www.emergingtechnologiesinstitute.org/sign-up or visit our website at: https://www.ndiatechexpo.org https://emergingtechnologiesinstitute.org https://www.facebook.com/EmergingTechETI https://www.linkedin.com/company/ndia-eti-emerging-technologies-institute https://www.twitter.com/EmergingTechETI

//The Wire//2300Z June 9, 2025////ROUTINE////BLUF: LOS ANGELES RIOTS CONTINUE, RIOTS IN OTHER MAJOR CITIES PLANNED. CHINESE RESEARCHER ARRESTED IN MICHIGAN.// -----BEGIN TEARLINE------HomeFront-Michigan: This afternoon the DoJ announced the arrest of another Chinese national conducting research at the University of Michigan. In their press statement, the DoJ stated that Chengxuan Han was a Ph.D. student who had allegedly mailed biological material from China to the United States via the postal system some time ago. Han was arrested at the airport after landing in Detroit yesterday.California: Riots have continued throughout the Los Angeles area as local authorities become overwhelmed. Most of the rioting has been contained within the city center, however overnight roving bands of rioters began movement around the city, expanding unrest to other areas such as the *L.A. Live* area and the Convention Center.This afternoon U.S. NORTHCOM announced the deployment of 2nd Battalion, 7th Marines, 1st Marine Division to the Los Angeles area, effective immediately. This deployment incorporates roughly 700x U.S. Marines, who's primary mission will be to provide point security at Key Terrain and critical infrastructure sites around the city. This is intended to supplement the National Guard resources already deployed, and help free up local law enforcement personnel to respond to more dynamic situations as the chaos continues.USA: The LA Riots have sparked additional events in many cities around the nation. There are over 1,000 protests planned in hundreds of cities around the United States, most of which are planned for June 14th. Almost all of these planned protest events are organized by large, well-funded organizations.-----END TEARLINE-----Analyst Comments: The riots in Los Angeles have been made much worse by statements by local authorities. LAPD and LA County Sheriff officials have done everything in their power to distance themselves from the ICE raids that started all of this, and political leadership has worked to prevent police and National Guard soldiers from maintaining order. This has made problems worse for officers on the ground who continue to work with federal resources to keep control of the city; all while their leadership undermines their work to keep the peace.Overnight, reports leaked from within the LAPD that indicate Mayor Karen Bass personally interfered with operations by insisting that she assume command of the response instead of the Incident Commander. In this role, she allegedly intentionally delayed resources and hindered the response to maintain order. Though this will need to be investigated later, right now it seems as though Karen Bass put herself in charge of making decisions over the IC, and then promptly didn't make any decisions, stalling disaster response efforts. Governor Gavin Newsom has likewise made statements condemning the National Guard, and has demanded that they leave the city. Rep. Maxine Waters is on the ground and has been recorded verbally abusing National Guard soldiers on video several times. As such, though the personnel on the ground are doing the best they can, a very tenuous situation remains between local authorities and politicians in California, and the federal authorities seeking to maintain order.Analyst: S2A1Research: https://publish.obsidian.md/s2underground//END REPORT//

ÉCLAIRCISSEMENT: Texas Teen Wins 2025 Scripps National Spelling BeeFaizan Zaki, a 13-year-old from Allen, Texas, clinched the 2025 Scripps National Spelling Bee on Thursday, correctly spelling “éclaircissement” to claim the title and over $50,000 in cash and prizes in a dramatic final round.Zaki, last year's runner-up, triumphed over eight finalists in the centennial Scripps National Spelling Bee, hosted at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center near Washington, D.C. The contest began with 243 spellers aged 11 to 14, narrowed to Zaki, Sarv Dharavane, 11, and Sarvadnya Kadam, 14. All three misspelled words in one round, forcing a tense additional round.“I can't remember the last time we've seen this kind of late-round drama here at the spelling bee,” Paul Loeffler, the Bee's TV analyst, said, per CBS News.In the 21st round, Zaki faced Kadam and spelled “éclaircissement,” a noun meaning a clearing up of something obscure. He pumped his fists and collapsed to the floor in excitement after finishing the word.“I'm really happy,” Zaki said afterward. Earlier, he faltered on the spelling of “commelina” but was reinstated after collective missteps by his fellow finalists.Grief tech: redefining death in the age of AIFew experiences are as profoundly impactful as losing a loved one. The void left behind can seem insurmountable, leaving us yearning for just a little bit more time with those we miss. This deeply human desire is fueling the rise of grief tech, which promises to forever change how we preserve the memory of those who are no longer alive.There is a growing number of grief tech start-ups that allow people to have virtual conversations with AI chatbots of their deceased loved ones.While some believe grief tech could help people find closure, there are also concerns that it could have a negative impact on their mental health.“There is evidence from multiple studies that proximity seeking [behaviours aimed at restoring a closeness with the person who died] is actually linked with poorer mental health outcomes,” explains Dr Kirsten Smith, clinical research fellow at the University of Oxford.“Who gets to decide what ‘helping people grieve' means?” asks psychotherapist and grief consultant Megan Devine.“People have always engaged in various kinds of rituals where things are done with the belongings of the deceased, where certain kinds of possessions are preserved,” remarks Dr Elaine Kasket, bereavement lead at the Digital Legacy Association. “This could be seen as a technological version of these analogue, physical rituals.”One thing is certain: as AI continues to evolve, so too will our approach to death and remembrance. The challenge lies in harnessing this technology thoughtfully, ensuring that we do not commit further harm in our efforts to help. By extension, we cannot lose sight of our humanity in our pursuit of digital immortality. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

ÉCLAIRCISSEMENT: Texas Teen Wins 2025 Scripps National Spelling BeeFaizan Zaki, a 13-year-old from Allen, Texas, clinched the 2025 Scripps National Spelling Bee on Thursday, correctly spelling “éclaircissement” to claim the title and over $50,000 in cash and prizes in a dramatic final round.Zaki, last year's runner-up, triumphed over eight finalists in the centennial Scripps National Spelling Bee, hosted at the Gaylord National Resort and Convention Center near Washington, D.C. The contest began with 243 spellers aged 11 to 14, narrowed to Zaki, Sarv Dharavane, 11, and Sarvadnya Kadam, 14. All three misspelled words in one round, forcing a tense additional round.“I can't remember the last time we've seen this kind of late-round drama here at the spelling bee,” Paul Loeffler, the Bee's TV analyst, said, per CBS News.In the 21st round, Zaki faced Kadam and spelled “éclaircissement,” a noun meaning a clearing up of something obscure. He pumped his fists and collapsed to the floor in excitement after finishing the word.“I'm really happy,” Zaki said afterward. Earlier, he faltered on the spelling of “commelina” but was reinstated after collective missteps by his fellow finalists. Grief tech: redefining death in the age of AIFew experiences are as profoundly impactful as losing a loved one. The void left behind can seem insurmountable, leaving us yearning for just a little bit more time with those we miss. This deeply human desire is fueling the rise of grief tech, which promises to forever change how we preserve the memory of those who are no longer alive.There is a growing number of grief tech start-ups that allow people to have virtual conversations with AI chatbots of their deceased loved ones.While some believe grief tech could help people find closure, there are also concerns that it could have a negative impact on their mental health.“There is evidence from multiple studies that proximity seeking [behaviours aimed at restoring a closeness with the person who died] is actually linked with poorer mental health outcomes,” explains Dr Kirsten Smith, clinical research fellow at the University of Oxford.“Who gets to decide what ‘helping people grieve' means?” asks psychotherapist and grief consultant Megan Devine.“People have always engaged in various kinds of rituals where things are done with the belongings of the deceased, where certain kinds of possessions are preserved,” remarks Dr Elaine Kasket, bereavement lead at the Digital Legacy Association. “This could be seen as a technological version of these analogue, physical rituals.”One thing is certain: as AI continues to evolve, so too will our approach to death and remembrance. The challenge lies in harnessing this technology thoughtfully, ensuring that we do not commit further harm in our efforts to help. By extension, we cannot lose sight of our humanity in our pursuit of digital immortality.See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.