Podcasts about fourblock

This week, ACP's Kasie Valenti welcomes Ken Davenport, a serial entrepreneur, Coach for The Honor Foundation, FourBlock and trainer at IVMF's Boots to Business, and the Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Mission Edge. Ken takes us through his early days during the dot-com boom, what drove him to pursue entrepreneurship, and his numerous successes in the technology space. He'll also discuss the importance of resiliency and humility to overcome adversity and lead effectively. Support the show

Send us a Text Message.Marc Lopez joined the Army 20 years ago and started his career in the intelligence field as a linguist. He transitioned over to become a warrant officer and is now a cyber warfare operator who is preparing to begin a SkillBridge program before he retires. When two of Marc's closest friends retired three years ago, he was inspired to begin preparing for his own retirement to ensure a successful transition. Using his background in intelligence, Marc decided his first step was to create notes. He uses Microsoft OneNote to organize his notes and has created tabs for every facet of his transition including his family, LinkedIn and informational interviews. With so many job opportunities in the cyber field using very different titles than the military, Marc knew he needed to better understand civilian terms. He leveraged LinkedIn to find veterans in the cyber field and then set up calls to learn about the various roles and the day-to-day responsibilities. He began to build a glossary of terms that helped him understand the civilian equivalent of cyber roles in the military. From his informational interviews, Marc found several mentors that helped him answer important questions to narrow his focus. With retirement right around the corner and over 2+ years of transition preparation, Marc has taken advantage of several resources such as the Lessons Learned for Vets podcast, Veterati, ACP, FourBlock and TAP to ensure a smooth transition. He took nuggets of information from each resource and began to find common threads. Resources like this podcast don't change the fact that the transition journey is full of curves and unexpected challenges, but they do help service members prepare for the unexpected. The genuine connection and relationships that Marc has built with other people continues to enrich his life. Marc has conducted over 50 informational interviews in 3 years. He learned quickly that a customized note through LinkedIn got better results than a generic, template introduction. Before sending a connection request, he took the time to study the person's profile and included any commonalities in his customized note. Marc prepared for each informational interview by having questions prepped and staying within the allotted time frame. Knowing your worth in your chosen industry is important. One of the best ways to assess your worth is through informational interviews. Once you've built rapport in the interview, share your experience and any education or certifications you've completed. Ask the person what level they think you are at and what salary range you can expect. Salary.com, Glassdoor.com and the Bureau of Labor Statistics are excellent resources as well. Remember that salary isn't just about the pay. Benefits can play a significant role when deciding to accept or pass on a job opportunity.The average adult changes careers 7-9 times in their life. It's okay to make a change or pivot completely. Companies have come to expect applicants to have many prior job experiences. If you find that you've made a wrong decision on a job, figure out how you can gain value from the experience and make a plan on how to find a better fit. Subscribe to our YouTube channel at AAFMA, the American Armed Forces Mutual Aid Association is the longest-standing nonprofit association offering life insurance, wealth management, mortgages, survivor assistance and more. AAFMA is dedicated to helping servicemembers be ready for life after the military. AAFMAA would like to offer you their free Transition Timeline, a guide to help you create a solid military transition plan. Let AAFMAA help you get ready for your next step by visiting www.aafmaa.com/ll4v.

In this episode of Veteran Voices, host Mary Kate Saliva welcomes Kurt Robinson, an Air Force veteran and long-time employee at Delta Air Lines, to the show. Listen in as Robinson shares his journey from the military to the corporate world, and his 30+ year career with Delta.Join us as Kurt shares the importance of having a plan and seeking help when transitioning from service, and his involvement with various veteran support organizations, including Best Defense Warrior Alliance, Four Block, and Vetlanta. Learn how organizations can make a more supportive culture for veterans, and the impact that can have on the veteran community itself. Additional Links & Resources:Learn more about FourBlock: https://fourblock.org/Learn more about the Best Defense Foundation: https://bestdefensefoundation.org/Learn more about the Warrior Alliance: https://thewarrioralliance.org/Learn more about Vetlanta: https://vetlanta.org/Learn more about Veteran Voices here: https://supplychainnow.com/program/veteran-voicesSubscribe to Veteran Voices and other Supply Chain Now programs here: https://supplychainnow.com/subscribeLearn more the Guam Human Rights Initiative: https://www.guamhri.org/This episode was hosted by Mary Kate Soliva. For additional information, please visit our dedicated show page at: https://supplychainnow.com/behind-uniform-impact-supportive-veteran-culture-vv91

Shawn Welsh recently retired from the US Army after serving in the intelligence field, but he started his transition years prior. Using his intel skills, Shawn took advantage of 26 military transition programs and obtained 7 different certifications. He currently works in business continuity and is the host of the VET S.O.S. podcast, which he launched in May of 2022.Shawn teamed up with a fellow transitioning service member, and together they explored different events and programs in the months leading up to his retirement. One of the most beneficial events for Shawn was experiencing a Who Ya Know Show Career Summit. This event allowed Shawn to understand what civilians are looking for in a new hire. The Who Ya Know Show encouraged Shawn to start his own podcast. As a result, the VET S.O.S. podcast launched with their support and sponsorship. Through LinkedIn, Shawn connected with others who recommended programs like FourBlock, Vets2Industry and Veterati. The tagline for the VET S.O.S. podcast is Don't drown in the sea of transition; grab the S.O.S. lifeline. With thousands of transition resources available, the amount of information can be overwhelming to navigate, not to mention time consuming to research. To help service members organize their military transition, Shawn hosts different organizations each week on his podcast and allows them 30 minutes to showcase their services.Shawn recently presented at the VET Summit and shared his tactic for organizing the 40,000 VSOs to a more manageable number. He narrowed down his top 3 VSOs to Vets2Industry, The KEY Community and 50strong. Vets2Industry hosts virtual events that bring in 200 attendees and dozens of vetted recruiters and organizations. After the event, a summary is emailed to all the attendees for their reference. The KEY Community and 50strong also offer virtual events and networking opportunities.  Of the 26 military transition programs that Shawn participated in, Veterati ranks in his top 5. The informational interviews with the mentors at Veterati helped him figure out what he didn't want to do. Another organization that Shawn used was American Corporate Partners (ACP). The mentor he was given was such a good match that they continue to regularly talk. FourBlock hosts companies and recruiters that are interested in hiring veterans. The COMMIT Foundation and Leader Transition Institute round out his top 5. Shawn was methodical in his transition preparation. He and his wife had many conversations about finances, moving and career paths. After settling on a location, he networked and conducted informational interviews to help him find his focus. From there he used Hire Our Heroes to find an internship in business consulting. The internship became his current full-time job. You may be wondering how Shawn was able to use so many resources during his transition and still fulfill his military duties. It's not that he had leadership that just let him stop coming to work. Instead, he planned ahead and started 2 years prior to his retirement. Little by little, he slowly went through the programs and earned certifications. He fit in informational interviews when he could and took advantage of virtual opportunities.Subscribe to our YouTube channel at https://tinyurl.com/llforvets22Connect with Shawn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/shawnwelsh00/ Listen to the VET S.O.S. podcast at https://vetsospodcast.com/SUBSCRIBE & LEAVE A FIVE-STAR REVIEW and share this with other veterans who might need help as they transition from the military!

After serving as a commanding officer, aviator and leader at the US Naval Academy, Chris Bailey retired from the US Navy. Even with the added challenge of the COVID-19 pandemic, Chris was able to utilize several transition programs that helped him to articulate what he wanted for his next career. When a role opened up with the Washington Commanders NFL team to lead their SALUTE veteran and military outreach and engagement program, it was like a dream come true. Chris speaks on his difficult transition as well as working in the professional sports industry. In hindsight, Chris realized he coasted into retirement. Even with all the advice to start early, he did not listen. Chris had always dreamed of working in the sports industry, although during his transition he was not able to articulate what that might look like or how to make his dream a reality. Chris and his family had made the decision to stay in the Baltimore/DC area, so when the right opportunities weren't coming up, he settled on looking for roles as a project manager or business development manager. His first role in the private sector came after weeks of surfing job boards and LinkedIn job postings. Looking back, Chris realized he didn't network, take the time to conduct informational interviews or find a real focus. Luckily, he fell into a role that a family friend offered. Chris admits that while he did take advantage of TAP, The COMMIT Foundation and FourBlock, he just went through the motions without putting in the real work of finding his focus and articulating his values.  After a year of working for his friend, Chris was ready to put in the hard work of networking and finding a role that better suited him. Chris conducted informational interviews and grew his network. Through his connections, he learned about a role that was a perfect intersection of his passion for sports and his passion for the military. Leading their SALUTE program, Chris' job encompasses anything military related that touches the Washington Commander's team. If you are interested in pursuing a job in the sports industry, most NFL teams participate in the SkillBridge program, including the Commanders. Chris reflects on the perks of working for a professional sports team. His office overlooks the field, and his meetings often include giants in the football industry. Recognizing that he works with an outstanding community relations team, Chris does struggle with being an individual contributor in his current role. He misses the opportunity to provide leadership. As an officer in the Navy for 25 years, Chris was used to leading and mentoring teams while developing culture. Chris advises transitioning service members to understand their financial situation. If you are retiring or receiving disability, calculate the numbers and know what level of compensation you require in your next career for your standard of living. Start preparing for your transition at least 1 year prior. Conduct informational interviews, find your focus, research companies and their culture and be able to articulate the value that you will bring to an organization.   Subscribe to our YouTube channel at https://tinyurl.com/llforvets22. Connect with Chris at https://www.linkedin.com/in/chrisbailey4660/. SUBSCRIBE & LEAVE A FIVE-STAR REVIEW and share this with other veterans who might need help as they transition from the military!

After a two-year pause in producing this podcast, JB begins this new season by sharing his experience of transitioning out of the U.S. Army following a 23-year career, and how he pursued his passion for sports. He details his need for assistance during his military transition and discusses three Veteran Service Organizations that he contributes to his success outside of the military. You may find more information about these organizations and others mentioned in this podcast through their websites below: - The Leader Transition Institute: https://www.leadertransitioninstitute.org/ - The Honor Foundation: https://www.honor.org/ - FourBlock: https://fourblock.org/ - Vets2Industry: https://vets2industry.org/ - Still Serving Veterans: https://ssv.org/ - USO Pathfinder Transition Program: https://www.uso.org/programs/uso-pathfinder-transition-program - Veterans Business Outreach Center Program: https://www.sba.gov/local-assistance/resource-partners/veterans-business-outreach-center-vboc-program - Onward to Opportunity: https://ivmf.syracuse.edu/programs/career-training/ - Hiring Our Heroes: https://www.hiringourheroes.org/ JB also discusses the 2022 National Veteran Suicide Prevention Annual Report that was published by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, and how 16.8 Veterans commit suicide daily. You may read the full report at: https://news.va.gov/108984/2022-national-veteran-suicide-prevention-annual-report/ If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, contact the Veterans Crisis Line to receive free, confidential support and crisis intervention. It's available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Dial 988 then Press 1, chat online at VeteransCrisisLine.net/Chat, or text 838255.

This week's Soldier For Life Podcast features a discussion with FourBlock, a nonprofit organization that helps veterans and military spouses build meaningful professional relationships and prepare for future employment via its in-person and online career readiness programs.

We are pleased to welcome Ken Davenport to the microphone on this episode of the Lessons Learned for Vets podcast. For more than a decade, Ken has provided mentorship to military veterans in their transition to the civilian world as a board member for the Travis Manion Foundation, instructor for Boots to Business at the Institute of Veterans and Military Families at Syracuse University and FourBlock. As an entrepreneur, he is the founder and CEO of Mission Edge, a social impact organization in San Diego that provides operational and strategy support to nonprofits and small businesses. Ken is the author of The Stoic Transition, a Guide to How Veterans can Thrive in their Next Adventure, which is the focus of today's session. As a long-time entrepreneur, Ken was looking for new opportunities to serve people in meaningful ways. In 2010, he began volunteering at the armed services YMCA at Camp Pendleton. He soon found the purpose he was looking for through mentoring young marines. For over 10 years, Ken has been teaching the transition process from a civilian perspective. Ken believes civilians bring wisdom to the military transition and can help service members understand what employment is like in the private sector.Ken challenges each transitioning service member to ask themselves what they want to do and the why behind it. While nothing can replace one's service in the military, it's important to find a position that brings satisfaction. Ask yourself: Who am I? What do I want? What kind of thing do I want to accomplish in this next story telling period of my life? You have choices in this next chapter. If you choose something that is not the right choice, that's okay. You can choose again. Take the time to reflect and think about what makes you happy. Your career will be made up of many transitions. The military transition is the first of many throughout the rest of your life. In The Stoic Transition, Ken lays out tools that will empower you to make thoughtful choices during all your future transitions. Stoicism refers to an ancient philosophy that is still relevant today. Practiced daily, this philosophy builds resilience and self-empowerment. At its core, the focus is primarily on positive emotions and how to frame the challenges and obstacles that a person encounters.The 4 main stoic virtues are Wisdom, Courage, Temperance and Justice. The goal is to react to everything in life with one of the 4 virtues. Each virtue dovetails together to form a roadmap on how to address the world. Interwoven with these four virtues are 3 stoic disciplines. These disciplines of desire, action and ascent are the foundations to living as a stoic. In The Stoic Transition, Ken divides up the book by the 3 disciplines. The first question asked is what do you desire? From there, the book dives into discovering the why behind your desires, learning how to think about your transition as an individual and focusing on what you can control. Over the years, Ken has noticed that many veterans are introverts. For these people, networking can be a challenge. Ken believes that networking is about making real connections, even friendships. His mindset is quality over quantity. Remember that you are more than your MOS and the military. Subscribe to our YouTube channel at https://tinyurl.com/llforvets22. You can connect with Ken on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kgdavenport/Explore The Stoic Transition at: https://www.amazon.com/Stoic-Transition-Veterans-Thrive-Adventure/dp/B0BLM7CCV1.SUBSCRIBE & LEAVE A FIVE-STAR REVIEW and share this with other veterans who might need help as they transition from the military!

This week on The FourBlock Podcast, we welcome USAA's* Military Affairs Relationship Director Charles “Chuck” Bunch, a 20+ year retired U.S. Air Force veteran who works alongside fellow retired officers and senior noncommissioned officers on USAA's Military Affairs team to advocate for those who are currently serving in our military, all those who have honorably served in the past, and their families.  In conversation with FourBlock Founder Mike Abrams, Chuck shares personal stories and lessons learned from his military experience, his transition into the private sector and current role with USAA, and the relationships that helped him along the way.  USAA has been a longtime partner of FourBlock's since 2016. Since then, USAA has hosted more than 30 sessions of FourBlock's Veteran Career Readiness Program in support of transitioning service members across the country. In 2022 alone, USAA supported more than 250 veterans across five FourBlock program locations. As the Military Affairs Relationship Director for Veteran Engagement, Chuck leverages his military relationships to provide advocacy for military families and shepherds USAA's VETNet Employee Resource Group (ERG) for the enterprise.   Prior to joining USAA, Chuck served as the Pathfinder Program Site Manager for USO San Antonio. Chuck's leadership resulted in the successful design, development, launch, and execution of the USO Pathfinder transition program.  Upon joining USAA in 2019, Chuck was selected by the San Antonio Business Journal as an honoree of the inaugural Veteran in Business Awards. This award reflected his community leadership and honored San Antonio military veteran business leaders for their impactful contributions in the workplace and their support of fellow veterans.  Through his continued devotion and passionate support for the military community, Chuck was nominated for the 2022 G.I. Jobs Employee Veteran Leadership Awards list. This exclusive list recognized employee veterans that exemplified determination, teamwork, advocacy of military hiring initiatives, devotion to mentorship, and servant leadership in their organizations and respective communities.    Chuck had the privilege of serving 20 years in the USAF. His military decorations include the Bronze Star Medal and Meritorious Service Medal.  Chuck holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Wayland Baptist University and a Master's in Business Administration from Webster University. Chuck is married to his lovely wife Kriesti, and they enjoy spending time with their son, Jered and daughter-in-law, Haley.     *USAA is a multi-city sponsor of FourBlock's Veteran Career Readiness Program.      ABOUT US Welcome to the FourBlock Podcast, a show that examines veteran career transition and the military-civilian divide in the workplace. General Charles Krulak coined the term "Three Block War" to describe the nature of 21st-century military service defined by peace-keeping, humanitarian aid, and full combat. But what happens next? Veterans are often unprepared to return home and begin new careers. We call this the Fourth Block.  FourBlock is a national non-profit that has supported thousands of transitioning service members across the nation in beginning new and meaningful careers.  Mike Abrams (@fourblock) is an Afghanistan veteran, founder of FourBlock, and author of two military transition books. He represents the military transition perspective. Lindsey Pollak (@lindsaypollak) is a career and workplace expert and New York Times bestselling author of three career advice books. Lindsey represents the civilian perspective of this issue.  Veterans, explore new industries and make the right connections. Find a career that fits your calling. Join us at fourblock.org/ Sponsor our program or host a class to equip more of our veterans at fourblock.org/donate. Follow FourBlock on Social Media  LinkedIn Facebook Instagram Twitter Podcast episodes are produced and edited in part by the Columbia University Center for Veteran Transition and Integration.

David is a retired Naval aviator living in the Jacksonville area. David currently works for Bank of America, a position he earned through the BoA Global Technology and Operations Military Development Program. He is extremely active in the veteran support community serving with organizations like VETS2INDUSTRY, Operations New Uniform, Vets on Tap, FourBlock, and Veterati.

If you are in the military entering the civilian world or are you a veteran who has transitioned already but still struggling to find your path, this episode is a must-listen.     This week, we welcome author and Founder of Mission Edge Ken Davenport. In conversation with hosts Lindsey Pollak and Mike Abrams, Ken shares how his passion for helping people achieve greatness in their lives led him to starting a social enterprise to help nonprofits and small businesses grow and devoting much of his time to helping military veterans transition to the civilian world.     Most recently the author of "The Stoic Transition: A Guide" to help veterans live their best lives after the military, Ken details how his early life led him to discover the concept of stoicism and how it can help veterans embrace their power to thrive in their next adventures.     Ken Davenport is an entrepreneur and writer based in San Diego, California. Ken's built multiple businesses, lived in Switzerland as a kid, did his graduate work in London, spent a nomadic year in Tokyo, where he learned Japanese (or tried), and now spends much of his free time helping military veterans transition to the civilian world. A former Board member at the Travis Manion Foundation, Ken helped bring FourBlock to San Diego and also teaches Boots to Business at the Institute for Veterans and Military Families at Syracuse University.     ABOUT US Welcome to the FourBlock Podcast, a show that examines veteran career transition and the military-civilian divide in the workplace. General Charles Krulak coined the term "Three Block War" to describe the nature of 21st-century military service defined by peace-keeping, humanitarian aid, and full combat. But what happens next? Veterans are often unprepared to return home and begin new careers. We call this the Fourth Block.  FourBlock is a national non-profit that has supported thousands of transitioning service members across the nation in beginning new and meaningful careers.  Mike Abrams (@fourblock) is an Afghanistan veteran, founder of FourBlock, and author of two military transition books. He represents the military transition perspective. Lindsey Pollak (@lindsaypollak) is a career and workplace expert and New York Times bestselling author of three career advice books. Lindsey represents the civilian perspective of this issue.  Veterans, explore new industries and make the right connections. Find a career that fits your calling. Join us at fourblock.org/ Sponsor our program or host a class to equip more of our veterans at fourblock.org/donate. Follow FourBlock on Social Media  LinkedIn Facebook Instagram Twitter Podcast episodes are produced and edited in part by the Columbia University Center for Veteran Transition and Integration.  

"I want to give back to the community that gave me so much."     This week on the FourBlock Podcast, we are honored to be joined by Labor and Employment attorney Allison Kruse, a U.S. Air Force veteran and current associate at Stinson LLP, who serves as the chair of the firm's Veterans Employee Resource Group (ERG).     In conversation with FourBlock Founder Mike Abrams, Allison shares what first inspired her to attend the Air Force Academy and join the military and details her experience transitioning from the Air Force into law school and then the private sector.    Allison delves into her unique familiarity with Federal Acquisition Regulations and how it benefits and supports her clients at Stinson. She then shares more about her participation with the firm's Veterans ERG, why she is inspired to continue giving back, how Stinson helps support and integrate veterans within the law firm, and her advice for veterans transitioning into the civilian workforce.    As we close out Women's History Month, Allison also shares some of the women veterans and leaders who inspired her in her career and influenced her professional values, as well as words of wisdom for young women starting their journey in the military or transitioning out.     Allison is an associate at Stinson LLP, a law firm with 450 attorneys and 12 offices nationwide. She primarily focuses on employment related matters and navigating various facets of employment relationships. She handles each case with precision and integrity, working diligently to deliver results that take her clients to new heights.    Before attending law school, Allison was a Contracting Officer in the U.S. Air Force. Her prior experience in leadership roles enables her to relate quickly with clients and solve complex issues. Allison has received multiple awards and recognitions for her outstanding service while serving.    ABOUT US Welcome to the FourBlock Podcast, a show that examines veteran career transition and the military-civilian divide in the workplace. General Charles Krulak coined the term "Three Block War" to describe the nature of 21st-century military service defined by peace-keeping, humanitarian aid, and full combat. But what happens next? Veterans are often unprepared to return home and begin new careers. We call this the Fourth Block.  FourBlock is a national non-profit that has supported thousands of transitioning service members across the nation in beginning new and meaningful careers.  Mike Abrams (@fourblock) is an Afghanistan veteran, founder of FourBlock, and author of two military transition books. He represents the military transition perspective. Lindsey Pollak (@lindsaypollak) is a career and workplace expert and New York Times bestselling author of three career advice books. Lindsey represents the civilian perspective of this issue.  Veterans, explore new industries and make the right connections. Find a career that fits your calling. Join us at fourblock.org/ Sponsor our program or host a class to equip more of our veterans at fourblock.org/donate. Follow FourBlock on Social Media  LinkedIn Facebook Instagram Twitter Podcast episodes are produced and edited in part by the Columbia University Center for Veteran Transition and Integration.  

US Army veteran Jonathan Fisher spent his military career in aviation maintenance. When he decided to retire, he also made the decision to start his next career in the IT industry. Using SkillBridge as a launching pad to land his first role with start-up company, ByteChek, Jonathan worked as an Auditor and GRC Engineer. With financial trouble looming due to economic uncertainty, Jonathan and his coworkers unfortunately lost their jobs. However, using the power of LinkedIn and relying on his network, Jonathan was hired into a new role within a week. Jonathan is no stranger to the Lessons Learned for Vets podcast. In fact, this is his third appearance. On this episode, he brings fresh perspectives on the military transition and a realization that it continues long after retirement. Jonathan started networking and connecting with people years before he retired from the military. He reached out to organizations like Veterans2Industry, Hire Our Heroes, FourBlock and Veterati and took ownership of his transition. After making the decision to dive into the IT field, Jonathan practiced the basics through CompTIA A+ and Security+ to gain a foundational knowledge of the industry. It was only after talking with mentors that he realized his military skills gave him an edge that could help him bypass an entry-level position. His previous career in aviation maintenance had given him significant experience with risk assessment, documentation management, quality assurance auditing and problem solving – skills that lined up with Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC) roles in IT. Accepting his first role with start-up, ByteChek, Jonathan reflects on the experiences that allowed him to grow professionally. Being the 7th hire for the company, Jonathan influenced the work culture and had the opportunity to influence future hires as a member of the interview panel. He enjoyed the diversity in his new workplace and learned how to become more inclusive. Jonathan played a pivotal role in the standardization and building of processes at the organization. When he lost his job due to company financial problems, Jonathan leaned into his network on LinkedIn. Within 6 days of posting his availability for a new position on LinkedIn, Jonathan interviewed and was hired into a new role. While at ByteChek, Jonathan continued to build his network with people in the IT industry. Keep your connections fresh on LinkedIn and start to build your network beyond the veteran community, even when you are happily employed. To end this episode, Jonathan urges servicemembers to make time for their families. Start building good relationships with family members and don't be afraid to reach out and seek professional help on how to be a better spouse and parent. After taking a more active role in the lives of his children, Jonathan has seen improvement in these relationships. Remember, the military transition is much more than finding a job, and it involves the whole family.Subscribe to our YouTube channel at https://tinyurl.com/llforvets22.You can connect with Jonathan on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/jonfisher11/To learn more about how to navigate the military transition with your family, click here for Season 1 , Episode 8 with Ben Killoy.SUBSCRIBE & LEAVE A FIVE-STAR REVIEW and share this to other veterans who might need help as they transition from the military!

This week on the FourBlock Podcast, we welcome U.S. Army Veteran and Senior Program Manager at General Dynamics Information Technology (GDIT)* Gregory (Greg) Doubek. In conversation with FourBlock Founder Mike Abrams, Greg shares why he was called to serve and decided to join the Army, his personal military transition story, and some of the advice he received and lessons learned along the way. Greg also raises an important point for those in transition about taking the uniform all the way off and provides guidance on how veterans can adjust to their changing role in the civilian workforce and add value regardless of the type or level of work. In addition to his role as Senior Program Manager at GDIT, Greg serves as the co-lead for GDIT's Veteran Employee Resource Group (Honor ERG), and he provides details about the company's commitment to supporting transitioning military, veterans, and their families through its military hiring program and Honor ERG. He also shares actionable advice for getting started in the IT and Cyber world, whether you have experience in that field or you're transitioning fields entirely. Greg was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the US Army in 1991. He has a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Art from the University of Vermont, and a Master's of Science in Telecommunications from the University of Colorado at Boulder. Following his 26 years of service as a US Army Signal Officer, Greg joined the General Dynamics Information Technology Team and is currently a Senior Program Manager, managing two Multiple Award Task Order Contracts with a contract ceiling totaling over $25B.  If you are close to your transition from the military, Greg would welcome a connection via LinkedIn to talk about transition and career goals. Connect with Greg on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gregdoubek/.      *GDIT is a sponsor of FourBlock's Veteran Career Readiness Program.    ABOUT US Welcome to the FourBlock Podcast, a show that examines veteran career transition and the military-civilian divide in the workplace. General Charles Krulak coined the term "Three Block War" to describe the nature of 21st-century military service defined by peace-keeping, humanitarian aid, and full combat. But what happens next? Veterans are often unprepared to return home and begin new careers. We call this the Fourth Block.  FourBlock is a national non-profit that has supported thousands of transitioning service members across the nation in beginning new and meaningful careers.  Mike Abrams (@fourblock) is an Afghanistan veteran, founder of FourBlock, and author of two military transition books. He represents the military transition perspective. Lindsey Pollak (@lindsaypollak) is a career and workplace expert and New York Times bestselling author of three career advice books. Lindsey represents the civilian perspective of this issue.  Veterans, explore new industries and make the right connections. Find a career that fits your calling. Join us at fourblock.org/ Sponsor our program or host a class to equip more of our veterans at fourblock.org/donate. Follow FourBlock on Social Media  LinkedIn Facebook Instagram Twitter Podcast episodes are produced and edited in part by the Columbia University Center for Veteran Transition and Integration.  

Marina Rabinek is a teal-haired bilingual Super Connector, master networker, and 24-year U.S. Navy veteran. Marina is the West Coast Regional Director for the nonprofit FourBlock. In 2021, she was selected as a panelist for the San Diego Military Summit and was a guest on multiple veteran-focused podcasts. Earlier this year she was selected as a Focus Forward Fellow with the Military Family Research Institute (MFRI) at Purdue University. As Founder and President of Military Women's Collective, a women-veteran-focused nonprofit, you can find Marina empowering, mentoring, and supporting military women throughout their careers in the Armed Services.

This week on the FourBlock Podcast, we welcome The Boeing Company's* Shane R. Chapman and Devon Rumsey, who give us an in-depth look at Boeing's commitment to supporting veterans in transition and share actionable advice for veterans and military spouses interested in beginning a new career with the company.  A U.S. Army Veteran with 30 years of service, Shane now leads the Boeing Global Services Military and Veterans Program (BGS MVP), providing guidance and support to veterans and military spouse candidates and referring them to be seen by a hiring manager for interviews. After more than nine years in the U.S. Navy from 2013-2022, Devon currently serves as a Workforce Development Specialist at Boeing Commercial Airplanes, where he works to create pipelines with organizations and military stakeholders to aid transitioning service members and military spouses in finding gainful employment across The Boeing Company. A sponsoring partner of FourBlock since 2018, Boeing has played a significant role in helping FourBlock expand programming in Washington, D.C. and along along the West Coast. The company has also provided support for the Military Spouse Career Readiness Program as well as the Career Readiness Coach program, which connects working professionals with current FourBlock participants to provide them one-to-one guidance and feedback and to ensure that each veteran is on a path to success during their transition. Boeing has hosted multiple class sessions for FourBlock's Veteran Career Readiness Program across the country. Shane R. Chapman is an Army Veteran with 30 years of Service and a master's degree in Organizational Leadership. He has lead organizations from the platoon to brigade levels. Shane has spent several tours of duty in Europe and has more than 8 years of operational and combat deployments. As a notable military assignment, Shane was selected by the Chief of Staff of the Army to create the Soldier for Life Program. In this role, he partnered with government agencies, private companies, and universities to create hundreds of public-private partnerships now known as the Career Skills Programs. Shane started his career with Boeing in 2019. Initially, he served as a strategic advisor on leadership development and training to Boeing Global Services. He now works in Human Resources, focused on sourcing, recruiting, and hiring Veteran talent. Devon spent just over nine years in the Navy from 2013-2022 and a Nuclear Electrician 1st Class on Submarines. He spent four years on the USS Pittsburg in Connecticut where he deployed three times to the European area of command. Devon finished up his service with three years in Navy recruiting in Seattle Washington where he ran three regional offices. He came to Boeing in April of 2022 after separating from the Navy and currently serves as a Workforce Development Specialist whose main role is to create pipelines with organizations and military stakeholders to aid in transitioning service members and military spouses find gainful employment across The Boeing Company.   To learn more about how The Boeing Company supports veterans and their families, visit https://jobs.boeing.com/veterans.  Note: At the bottom of the page, you can find the direct link to the Military and Veterans Program candidate portal where you can receive 1 on 1 support with your Boeing career journey, as well the link to the Boeing SkillBridge portal.   *The Boeing Company is a national sponsor of FourBlock's Veteran Career Readiness Program.   Find Shane on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shane-chapman-boeing-mvp/  Find Devon on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/devon-rumsey-0143aa229/  ABOUT US Welcome to the FourBlock Podcast, a show that examines veteran career transition and the military-civilian divide in the workplace. General Charles Krulak coined the term "Three Block War" to describe the nature of 21st-century military service defined by peace-keeping, humanitarian aid, and full combat. But what happens next? Veterans are often unprepared to return home and begin new careers. We call this the Fourth Block.  FourBlock is a national non-profit that has supported thousands of transitioning service members across the nation in beginning new and meaningful careers.  Mike Abrams (@fourblock) is an Afghanistan veteran, founder of FourBlock, and author of two military transition books. He represents the military transition perspective. Lindsey Pollak (@lindsaypollak) is a career and workplace expert and New York Times bestselling author of three career advice books. Lindsey represents the civilian perspective of this issue.  Veterans, explore new industries and make the right connections. Find a career that fits your calling. Join us at fourblock.org/ Sponsor our program or host a class to equip more of our veterans at fourblock.org/donate. Follow FourBlock on Social Media  LinkedIn Facebook Instagram Twitter Podcast episodes are produced and edited in part by the Columbia University Center for Veteran Transition and Integration.  

Transitioning service members, do you know how to make the most of your military training once you transition into the civilian workforce?   Corporate leaders, do know how to optimize your veteran employees' potential for success?    That's why author and consultant Captain William Toti, US Navy (Retired) and former CEO of Sparton Corporation, wrote “From CO to CEO: A Practical Guide for Transitioning from Military to Industry Leadership.”  With more than 26 years of service in the U.S. Navy and more than 40 years of experience in the defense industry, Captain Toti joins FourBlock Founder Mike Abrams on this week's episode of The FourBlock Podcast to share his personal experience, professional expertise, and practical insights to help transitioning service members make the most of their military training and learn what more is needed to rise up the ranks in the C-suite. For employers, he also shares what corporate leaders can do to maximize the potential for their veteran employees' success.  Captain Toti has more than 40 years of experience in defense. In three years as CEO of Sparton, he was able to restructure and double the company's value, taking it through the sale of Sparton by Cerberus Capital Management to Elbit Systems of America. Prior to joining Sparton he spent more than a decade running multi-billion-dollar global defense businesses, for both products and services, including as president of the Integrated Maritime Systems sector at L3, as vice president of the defense segment of HP, HPE, and DXC, as president of Cubic Global Defense, and as vice president of Raytheon's Mission Support Operations. He has served on Boards of Directors of ERAPSCO, JT3, and the Italian defense company Calzoni.  Captain Toti also served for more than 26 years in the U.S. Navy, including tours as commander of Fleet Antisubmarine Warfare Command Norfolk, as commodore of Submarine Squadron 3, and as commanding officer of the nuclear fast attack submarine USS Indianapolis (SSN-697). He served for more than nine years in the Pentagon, including tours as special assistant to the Vice Chief of Naval Operations, as Navy representative to the Joint Requirements Oversight Council, and as deputy director of the Navy War Plans Cell, Deep Blue. Mr. Toti is the creator/author of the US Navy's current “Full Spectrum Antisubmarine Warfare” concept of operations.  Captain Toti holds a bachelor's degree in physics from the U.S. Naval Academy, a master's degree in spacecraft systems engineering, the pre-doctoral Electrical Engineer degree from the Naval Postgraduate School, and has done executive coursework at the Harvard Business School. He served as a Federal Executive Fellow at the Brookings Institution and as a Massachusetts Institute of Technology Seminar XXI Fellow in International Affairs. He has more than 30 published articles and op-ed pieces and was the U.S. Naval Institute Author of the Year in 2001. He was a 2012 member of the White House Roundtable on Military Credentialing in support of an initiative to help transitioning service members receive civilian credentials and licenses.  Captain Toti has worked to support the survivors of the World War II cruiser USS Indianapolis (CA-35) for more than 25 years, was named an honorary survivor and their honorary captain in 2005, and has been featured in several global release documentaries on that storied ship, including “USS Indianapolis: Live from the Deep” (2017, PBS), “USS Indianapolis: Legacy Project” (2016, Tiny Horse Productions), and “USS Indianapolis: the Final Chapter” (2019, PBS).  His narrative titled “Antoinette,” describing his experiences during the September 11, 2001, attack on the Pentagon was incorporated into the book Operation Homecoming, published by Random House (2006). He was featured in the 2016 PBS documentary, “9/11: Inside the Pentagon” and the 2020 History Channel documentary “9/11: The Pentagon.”, and the 2021 National Geographic six-part docuseries, “9/11: One Day in America.”  Captain Toti is a seven-time recipient of the Legion of Merit, a recipient of the “Wash 100” list of most influential leaders in the government contractor sector (2016), HP Executive of the Year (2013), the FedScoop 50 Industry Leadership Award (2012), and the Rear Admiral John J. Bergen Industry Award from the Navy League of the United States (2010). He is a lifetime member of the U.S. Naval Institute, the U.S. Naval Academy Alumni Association, the National Eagle Scouts Association, and as an adult leader was awarded the Honor Medal by the Boy Scouts of America (2002).  You can find Captain Toti's book, “From CO to CEO: A Practical Guide for Transitioning from Military to Industry Leadership" at https://a.co/d/5SDmFDE.    ABOUT US Welcome to the FourBlock Podcast, a show that examines veteran career transition and the military-civilian divide in the workplace. General Charles Krulak coined the term "Three Block War" to describe the nature of 21st-century military service defined by peace-keeping, humanitarian aid, and full combat. But what happens next? Veterans are often unprepared to return home and begin new careers. We call this the Fourth Block.  FourBlock is a national non-profit that has supported thousands of transitioning service members across the nation in beginning new and meaningful careers.  Mike Abrams (@fourblock) is an Afghanistan veteran, founder of FourBlock, and author of two military transition books. He represents the military transition perspective. Lindsey Pollak (@lindsaypollak) is a career and workplace expert and New York Times bestselling author of three career advice books. Lindsey represents the civilian perspective of this issue.  Veterans, explore new industries and make the right connections. Find a career that fits your calling. Join us at fourblock.org/ Sponsor our program or host a class to equip more of our veterans at fourblock.org/donate. Follow FourBlock on Social Media  LinkedIn Facebook Instagram Twitter Podcast episodes are produced and edited in part by the Columbia University Center for Veteran Transition and Integration.  

U.S. Army Veteran David Touchton served in Operation Enduring Freedom, deploying to the Middle East on September 9, 2001, just two days before the September 11 attack. On the FourBlock Podcast this week, David shares the impact that had on him and his fellow service members, his career path, and his commitment to continuing to pay it forward to fellow veterans today. David spent several years in the Army before receiving an honorable discharge due to an injury and going into the private sector. He held multiple positions of escalating responsibility as a Facility Security Officer before making the leap to launch his own security company. Founded in 2013, FSO Services helps companies ensure the best security posture against today's modern threats. In conversation with host Mike Abrams, David explains how he transitioned into a career in industrial security and how he got the idea to start his company serving clients that work with the Department of Defense. He identifies some of the biggest challenges and threats that clients could face as they safeguard national security information and how FSO Services helps resolve them. To close out the episode, David shares the reasons he feels veterans have an advantage when transitioning into industrial security and what steps they can take to successfully move into the industry.   ABOUT US Welcome to the FourBlock Podcast, a show that examines veteran career transition and the military-civilian divide in the workplace. General Charles Krulak coined the term "Three Block War" to describe the nature of 21st-century military service defined by peace-keeping, humanitarian aid, and full combat. But what happens next? Veterans are often unprepared to return home and begin new careers. We call this the Fourth Block.  FourBlock is a national non-profit that has supported thousands of transitioning service members across the nation in beginning new and meaningful careers.  Mike Abrams (@fourblock) is an Afghanistan veteran, founder of FourBlock, and author of two military transition books. He represents the military transition perspective. Lindsey Pollak (@lindsaypollak) is a career and workplace expert and New York Times bestselling author of three career advice books. Lindsey represents the civilian perspective of this issue.  Veterans, explore new industries and make the right connections. Find a career that fits your calling. Join us at fourblock.org/ Sponsor our program or host a class to equip more of our veterans at fourblock.org/donate. Follow FourBlock on Social Media  LinkedIn Facebook Instagram Twitter Podcast episodes are produced and edited in part by the Columbia University Center for Veteran Transition and Integration.  

What is your personal brand? In this episode, Head of Field Strategy, Kyle Simpson sits down with Eric Stetson of FourBlock, an organization that bridges the divide between the business community and veterans entering the workforce after serving, to discuss how to build your personal brand, authentically connect with people to build your network, and how to overcome objections. Learn more at https://www.fsthrive.com/ and https://fourblock.org/

I met Thomas Eybl this past fall as we were both members of FourBlock's 2022 Washington, D.C. cohort. This past Saturday, in just his 7th day of retirement, he messaged me to let me know that he had received an offer from T-Mobile.  As this was the first time a colleague and listener had let me know about an offer during the life of this podcast, I asked Thomas to share the story of his career progression while the memories were still fresh. In this episode, Thomas provides insight into applying for Federal jobs, Skillbridge, networking and understanding the audience(s) civilian job advertisements are targeting.  We also learn about perseverance and the importance of not burning bridges. Thomas's LinkedIn profile is accessible at https://www.linkedin.com/in/thomas-eybl/ Note that this episode runs a little longer at 41 minutes.  I have some feedback that perhaps I can improve by running the podcasts a little longer.  What do you think?  Please let me know via the poll.

Happy New Year! Chad Jespersen retired from the United States Air Force in June 2021. With the COVID 19 pandemic ramping up as he was preparing to transition out of the service, he was forced to find innovative ways to network, which he did, including extensive use of Zoom and other online tools to meet people who could help him with his goal to find his next career. What was clear from our conversations, both this one and another that we had offline, Chad is a person who not only talks about the importance of networking, but practices it. Familiar with the numerous programs such as Hiring Our Heroes, Candorful, Fourblock, and American Corporate Partners, Chad is a walking encyclopedia. Now working for Unisys in HR and acquisitions, Chad is a great source for information and tips about making the transition from active duty to the civilian sector. His LinkedIn profile is available at https://www.linkedin.com/in/chad-jespersen/

How can employers go beyond thanking a veteran for their service? Retired Air Force LtCol Kathy Lowrey Gallowitz has devoted her post-military career to equipping civilans to become Veteran Champions. With hosts Lindsey Pollak and Mike Abrams, Kathy shares personal insights from her upbringing as a Navy ‘brat,' her nearly 30-year career in the Air Force as a Public Affairs Officer and Nurse, and experiences educating and engaging civilians in support of troops and their families in response to 9/11. Noticing how different her experiences and mindset were from most Americans, and observing the pride civilians feel when serve Veterans meaningfully, Kathy discusses why she is compelled to narrow the military civilian divide and equip people who have never served in the military to become Veteran Champions. She shares best practices for employers and actionable advice for individual employees and company recruiters to move from veteran friendly to veteran ready. An award-winning businesswoman, Kathy coaches employers how to improve their bottom line by excelling at hiring and retaining Veteran talent, and as a thought leader pioneer, she equips volunteers to build Military Ministries to cultivate a sense of belonging and promote spiritual resiliency for military-connected people. Master's degrees in Nursing and Political Science frame her practice and perspectives. She is also a John Maxwell trained speaker, trainer, and coach. She is the author of “Beyond ‘Thank You For your Service,' The Veteran Champion Handbook for Civilians.” While not serving in uniform, Gallowitz established and managed Buckeye Sports and Orthopedic Specialists and was the President of the Pickerington Area Chamber of Commerce. She has first-hand experience hiring Veterans. As the owner of Vanguard Veteran, she equips civilians to become Veteran Champions as the “Veteran-hiring Concierge” and “Military Ministry Builder.” Kathy serves on the Veteran-hiring Advisor for the Arizona Society of Human Resource Mangement, member of the Southwest Veteran Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and Chair, Arizona Governor's Veterans' Service Advisory Commission. Her husband, Ed is a retired career active-duty soldier with four combat tours. Together they have six sons, one daughter and three grandchildren. Vanguard Veteran Overview: https://vanguardveteran.start.page Complimentary "Veteran-Ready" Employer Assessment: https://vanguardveteran.files.wordpress.com/2022/07/may-2021_-vr-employer-assessment.pdf Vanguard Veteran's Employer Consulting and Training: https://vanguardveteran.com/veteran-champion-consulting-training/ Invite Vanguard Veteran to Speak: https://vanguardveteran.com/invite-me-to-speak/ O*Net Online Mlitary Crosswalk Search: https://www.onetonline.org/crosswalk/MOC/ “Beyond ‘Thank you For Your Service:' the Veteran Champion handbook for civilians:” https://bit.ly/BeyondThankYouForYourService Society of Human Resource Management Veterans free at Work Certificate: https://www.shrm.org/foundation/ourwork/initiatives/engaging-and-integrating-military-veterans/PublishingImages/Pages/Inclusion-Captains-Veterans/Veterans%20at%20Work%20flyer.pdf Women Who Lead: A monthly free virtual Leadership Discussion Forum for women Veterans and non-Veterans that I facilitate to empower women leaders and foster mutual support. We hope you will join us! Register here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/137542143253   ABOUT US Welcome to the FourBlock Podcast, a show that examines veteran career transition and the military-civilian divide in the workplace. General Charles Krulak coined the term "Three Block War" to describe the nature of 21st-century military service defined by peace-keeping, humanitarian aid, and full combat. But what happens next? Veterans are often unprepared to return home and begin new careers. We call this the Fourth Block.  FourBlock is a national non-profit that has supported thousands of transitioning service members across the nation in beginning new and meaningful careers.  Mike Abrams (@fourblock) is an Afghanistan veteran, founder of FourBlock, and author of two military transition books. He represents the military transition perspective. Lindsey Pollak (@lindsaypollak) is a career and workplace expert and New York Times bestselling author of three career advice books. Lindsey represents the civilian perspective of this issue.  Veterans, explore new industries and make the right connections. Find a career that fits your calling. Join us at fourblock.org/ Sponsor our program or host a class to equip more of our veterans at fourblock.org/donate. Follow FourBlock on Social Media  LinkedIn Facebook Instagram Twitter Podcast episodes are produced and edited in part by the Columbia University Center for Veteran Transition and Integration.  

This week on the FourBlock Podcast, we welcome U.S. Navy Veteran Eric Quinn, the CEO of full-service construction consultancy KMI International. In conversation with FourBlock Founder Mike Abrams, Eric discusses his time in the Navy, sharing why he joined, how it changed the trajectory of his career, and the leadership skills he gained during his service. He takes us through his transition to the business world, his move to the Architectural Engineering and Construction (AEC) industry, and how he worked his way to where he is today. Throughout the episode, Eric provides invaluable insights on leadership and building trust, sharing his personal experience from his time in service military and his successful career. To close out the episode, Mike asks Eric what advice he has for transitioning service members as well as any veterans looking to start a career in the AEC space. Eric Quinn leads KMI as the company's CEO. His leadership career began at an early age while he attended the U.S. Naval Academy and served his country as a Lieutenant in the Navy, learning quickly the importance of having the right team in place to accomplish the mission. His focus is on having the best people, processes, and organizational structure in place to deliver the highest quality of services for KMI's clients. Eric will tell you that one of his primary focuses is maximizing the potential in people he leads to ensure KMI is a distinct company with a stellar reputation, thus becoming the most sought-after employer in the industry. Eric held leadership positions in several organizations, including Procter & Gamble, ES3, and President of GBI Tile and Stone, before coming to KMI to serve as the company's COO, later being promoted to CEO. His background in mathematics gives him a strong understanding of figures and analytics, but he also has extensive experience in business development and generating revenue. His proudest accomplishments included turning around a former company in order to save hundreds of jobs, as well as helping facilitate a partnership between his current company, KMI, and the School of Architecture and Engineering Technology at Florida A&M University (FAMU). The partnership includes a student chapter of the Construction Management Association of America (CMAA), and guest lectures by KMI to mentor the next generation of construction managers and give them the tools they need to succeed. Eric has a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from the United States Naval Academy and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Florida.   ABOUT US Welcome to the FourBlock Podcast, a show that examines veteran career transition and the military-civilian divide in the workplace. General Charles Krulak coined the term "Three Block War" to describe the nature of 21st-century military service defined by peace-keeping, humanitarian aid, and full combat. But what happens next? Veterans are often unprepared to return home and begin new careers. We call this the Fourth Block.  FourBlock is a national non-profit that has supported thousands of transitioning service members across the nation in beginning new and meaningful careers.  Mike Abrams (@fourblock) is an Afghanistan veteran, founder of FourBlock, and author of two military transition books. He represents the military transition perspective. Lindsey Pollak (@lindsaypollak) is a career and workplace expert and New York Times bestselling author of three career advice books. Lindsey represents the civilian perspective of this issue.  Veterans, explore new industries and make the right connections. Find a career that fits your calling. Join us at fourblock.org/ Sponsor our program or host a class to equip more of our veterans at fourblock.org/donate. Follow FourBlock on Social Media  LinkedIn Facebook Instagram Twitter Podcast episodes are produced and edited in part by the Columbia University Center for Veteran Transition and Integration.  

This week on the FourBlock Podcast, we are honored to welcome Vice Admiral Timothy “TJ” White, a 30-plus year national security practitioner, strategist, and cyber operations expert leading joint military formations and combined intelligence community organizations. In conversation with FourBlock Founder Mike Abrams, Admiral White shares insights from his impressive career in the Navy and what continued to make it fun and challenging for more than three decades; a detailed discussion of cybersecurity in a military context; and his transition to the civilian sector and starting his own business. He closes the episode with invaluable insights about what makes a good leader and motivating advice for fellow service members in transition: “Cultivate your curiosity and be passionate about it.” Admiral White has commanded at all levels within the Navy and Joint Service, most recently as the Commander, United States Fleet Cyber Command / United States TENTH Fleet / United States Navy Space Command and previously as the Commander, United States Cyber National Mission Force / USCYBERCOM. He is a former Director of Intelligence for United States Indo-Pacific Command and has served globally in various combat zones and conflict areas supporting competition dynamics. A former CINCPACFLT Shiphandler-of-the-Year, he misses his days driving a Battleship. He is a 1987 graduate of the United States Naval Academy and holds additional diplomas from the Naval Postgraduate School, Naval War College, National Defense University and myriad professional education institutions. Admiral White's focus of effort remains risk assessment and consequence management with respect to cybersecurity, critical infrastructure, supply chain, technology policy, and trust relationships. OneNetworkConnection, LLC was created to help individuals & organizations understand the value and opportunity found in collective cybersecurity by leveraging technical acumen, expanded operational horizon, and trusted strategic vision to assess and manage current and future risks.   ABOUT US Welcome to the FourBlock Podcast, a show that examines veteran career transition and the military-civilian divide in the workplace. General Charles Krulak coined the term "Three Block War" to describe the nature of 21st-century military service defined by peace-keeping, humanitarian aid, and full combat. But what happens next? Veterans are often unprepared to return home and begin new careers. We call this the Fourth Block.  FourBlock is a national non-profit that has supported thousands of transitioning service members across the nation in beginning new and meaningful careers.  Mike Abrams (@fourblock) is an Afghanistan veteran, founder of FourBlock, and author of two military transition books. He represents the military transition perspective. Lindsey Pollak (@lindsaypollak) is a career and workplace expert and New York Times bestselling author of three career advice books. Lindsey represents the civilian perspective of this issue.  Veterans, explore new industries and make the right connections. Find a career that fits your calling. Join us at fourblock.org/ Sponsor our program or host a class to equip more of our veterans at fourblock.org/donate. Follow FourBlock on Social Media  LinkedIn Facebook Instagram Twitter Podcast episodes are produced and edited in part by the Columbia University Center for Veteran Transition and Integration.  

Saving lives: Bridging the Knowledge Gap for Military Service Members and Families to Avoid Loss of Life, and the Loss of HOPE! Brian Arrington, USAF (ret), M.S. is President/Founder of VETS2INDUSTRY LLC and Vets2Industry Foundation Inc. and is Director, Military Programs and Recruiting for Military Hiring Accelerator, LLC.  Brian retired July 2019, from the United States Air Force with Robins AFB, GA as his final duty station. His distinguished career led him to deploy to Iraq, Afghanistan, Thailand, and Qatar and provide humanitarian relief throughout SE Asia during the tsunami, Haiti during the earthquake, and in Turkey supporting refugee  evacuations during the Israel-Lebanon Mideast Crisis. Brian's career has taken him to 90 countries and 5 of the 7 continents.  In his last year of 20-years devoted service to the U.S. Air Force, Brian learned there were over 45,000 Veteran Service Organizations nationwide that provided free services and support to U.S. military families and realized a huge gap existed between available free Veteran, Military Spouse, and dependent children resources and benefits and the knowledge of their existence among our nations heroes and their families.  With this newly discovered knowledge, Brian vowed to eliminate the knowledge gap and ensure the success of every veteran and their families by creating an online library, a free single-site repository of every free Veteran Service Organization to include providing mentorship and information services to each knowledge-seeker.  Since the library's creation, March 2019, Brian has led VETS2INDUSTRY's growth by reaching 100,000+ veterans and military spouses with over 300,000 page-views on the website and he continues to supply employment opportunity success with the ever-growing grassroots volunteer force of veterans and military spouses he leads.  Brian is married with 6 children, resides in Atlanta, is an active alumnus of Centurion Military Alliance, Hiring our Heroes Corporate Fellowship Program, FourBlock, American Corporate Partners, volunteers with VETLANTA, the National Black MBA Association Atlanta Chapter, and is a student veteran leader and student ambassador at Syracuse University where he is currently pursuing his MBA and an M.S. in Entrepreneurship.  He holds 2 A.A.S. from the Community College of the Air Force, a B.A. in History, a Graduate Certificate in Homeland Security, and a M.S. in Management from Thomas Edison State University, and is a certified Georgia State Hostage Negotiator.  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In an exciting first for the FourBlock Podcast this week, co-hosts Lindsey Pollak and Mike Abrams are joined by two special guests: Natalie Schibell, a FourBlock alumna and 10-year U.S. Navy veteran who now serves as a VP, Research Director at Forrester, and Jessica Marotta, the Talent Acquisition Manager at Forrester who first found Natalie through FourBlock Connect, our online networking and community-building platform available exclusively to FourBlock participants, mentors, and partner companies. In this episode, Natalie and Jessica discuss how they met on the FourBlock Connect platform, the conversations that ensued, and the hiring process at Forrester. Jessica shares what using the platform has helped her learn about recruiting the veteran community, and her philosophy for hiring: “I'm not just finding the best fit for Forrester; I'm finding the best fit for Natalie.” Natalie shares details about her incredible military career, her transition, and the interview process with Forrester, noting that: “I felt like not only was [Jessica] a recruiter, but she was also a friend.” A Talent Acquisition professional dedicated to behavioral based interviewing and equitable sourcing practices, Jessica has more than 20 years of recruiting experience. She started at Capital One and has spent the last 8+ years at Forrester as a Talent Acquisition Manager. At the time of this episode's recording, Natalie was a Senior Analyst for Healthcare Strategy at Forrester. She is now serving as a VP, Research Director for Forrester. She previously served 10 years in the U.S. Navy's Medical Service Corps as a Director of Public Health and as a Director of Operations for Healthcare Talent Acquisition. She is presently serving as a Lt. Commander in the U.S. Navy Reserves. Natalie is an alumnus of FourBlock's Spring 2021 Atlanta Veteran Career Readiness Program.   ABOUT US Welcome to the FourBlock Podcast, a show that examines veteran career transition and the military-civilian divide in the workplace. General Charles Krulak coined the term "Three Block War" to describe the nature of 21st-century military service defined by peace-keeping, humanitarian aid, and full combat. But what happens next? Veterans are often unprepared to return home and begin new careers. We call this the Fourth Block.  FourBlock is a national non-profit that has supported thousands of transitioning service members across the nation in beginning new and meaningful careers.  Mike Abrams (@fourblock) is an Afghanistan veteran, founder of FourBlock, and author of two military transition books. He represents the military transition perspective. Lindsey Pollak (@lindsaypollak) is a career and workplace expert and New York Times bestselling author of three career advice books. Lindsey represents the civilian perspective of this issue.  Veterans, explore new industries and make the right connections. Find a career that fits your calling. Join us at fourblock.org/ Sponsor our program or host a class to equip more of our veterans at fourblock.org/donate. Follow FourBlock on Social Media  LinkedIn Facebook Instagram Twitter Podcast episodes are produced and edited in part by the Columbia University Center for Veteran Transition and Integration.  

After spending 20 years as a US Navy Flight Officer, David Nava was ready for a new challenge. He started preparing for his transition four years in advance with a goal of landing a role in project management. After earning his MBA, PMP, Lean Six Sigma Black Belt and Scrum Master certification, David realized he did not want to be a project manager. A mentor introduced Salesforce (SF) to him, and he immediately began utilizing their free resources. After gaining hands-on experience through volunteering and using the DoD SkillBridge program, he landed an internship which led to a full-time role as a Solutions Architect. Even if you have no interest in the tech industry, keep listening. Dave shares his wisdom on how to define your military skills, translate them to an employer and find career fulfillment. Dave discusses how volunteering not only helped him test-drive different roles within Salesforce but also gave him work experience to leverage with his soft skills, education and training. While informational interviews hold immeasurable value, volunteering is a way to determine what role best fits your goals and personality. Just three months into a year-long free SF program for transitioning service members, veterans and military spouses, Dave volunteered for FourBlock using his skills as a Salesforce Systems Administrator. Wanting to learn faster, he also reached out to Merivis and began volunteering for them as a SF Consultant. The SF Military program provides free certification, courses and training vouchers to the military community. To get started a person signs up for a free profile and chooses one of 18 learning paths. After completing the guided learning path through Trailhead, a course voucher and eventually a certification voucher are issued. To date, Dave has earned 14 Salesforce certifications and has paid $0. He believes his certifications were more than enough to establish him in the SF ecosystem and be successful in his roles. Providing not only certifications, SF has also built a community of 40,000 like-minded individuals from the military that form a powerful support network. The Salesforce Hiring Alliance is a partnership that includes 300+ companies that guarantee a first-round interview for military trailblazers that have earned at least 1 certification. This opportunity is a great way to get your foot in the door and provides instant relationships. When David was preparing to leave the military and the field of aviation, he knew he would need to leverage his soft skills while he was learning new hard skills. He believes the military community can be successful in any environment given their ability to learn quickly, adapt to various situations and pivot when necessary. He challenges people to not overlook their work ethic, flexibility and critical thinking skills when writing their resume and during the interview process.Each week, David offers Trailblazer office hours for the military community. Current SF employees, in a variety of roles, are interviewed by David with a goal of providing collaborative mentoring to a large audience. It's a great place to start researching SF and the positions available. Plus, the office hours are recorded and housed on David's YouTube channel. Head over to the Lessons Learned for Vets YouTube channel at https://tinyurl.com/llforvets22 to hear a bonus clip on personal branding. You can connect with Dave at https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-nava-awesome-engineer/Explore Salesforce military certification programs at https://veterans.force.com/s/Follow Dave on his YouTube channel at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVNoZ2zfPdwFEXSbNQ47WVgSUBSCRIBE & LEAVE A FIVE-STAR REVIEW!

“The most successful people are the ones that are hyper aware of their strengths.” This week we are honored to welcome Christian Gomez, Vice President of Talent Activation Strategy for The Marcus Buckingham Company (TMBC), an ADP Company, where he spearheads TMBC's client partnerships, helping to redefine the engagement and performance space. In conversation with FourBlock Founder Mike Abrams, Christian shares his deeply personal story of how he overcame a lot of adversity growing up, why he joined the military as the first person in his family to serve in any military capacity, and his fascinating professional journey from his service as a Sergeant in the U.S. Marines Corps to his corporate career today as a thought leader in the human capital management space. Christian and Mike also discuss the results of their StandOut Assessments, a 15-minute assessment powered by ADP that identifies people's top two strengths and delivers personalized coaching. At TMBC, Christian works with innovative people-focused organizations to design strategies that scale the practices of the world's best leaders. His mission is to help talent HR functions design strategies that set up people to succeed at work. Christian began his career in the U.S. military, serving in several capacities as a Sergeant of Marines. He translated his experiences to the civilian world spending 11 years at ADP where he served as a senior global business consultant, advising some of the largest and most respected multinationals and designing their BPO and HRIS strategies. A frequent speaker and thought leader with over 15 years of experience in the human capital management (HCM) space, Christian has particular expertise on the subject of managing cultures across geographies, expanding into emerging markets, and leading across cultures. Christian holds a B.S. in Political Science from Florida International University and an M.S. in Leadership from Nova Southeastern University. Born in Queens, NY, he lived and worked abroad for many years before settling down in Florida, where he can sneak in a round of golf year-round.   ABOUT US Welcome to the FourBlock Podcast, a show that examines veteran career transition and the military-civilian divide in the workplace. General Charles Krulak coined the term "Three Block War" to describe the nature of 21st-century military service defined by peace-keeping, humanitarian aid, and full combat. But what happens next? Veterans are often unprepared to return home and begin new careers. We call this the Fourth Block.  FourBlock is a national non-profit that has supported thousands of transitioning service members across the nation in beginning new and meaningful careers.  Mike Abrams (@fourblock) is an Afghanistan veteran, founder of FourBlock, and author of two military transition books. He represents the military transition perspective. Lindsey Pollak (@lindsaypollak) is a career and workplace expert and New York Times bestselling author of three career advice books. Lindsey represents the civilian perspective of this issue.  Veterans, explore new industries and make the right connections. Find a career that fits your calling. Join us at fourblock.org/ Sponsor our program or host a class to equip more of our veterans at fourblock.org/donate. Follow FourBlock on Social Media  LinkedIn Facebook Instagram Twitter Podcast episodes are produced and edited in part by the Columbia University Center for Veteran Transition and Integration.  

This week we are honored to be joined by Heather Burns, Senior Vice President in Securities Finance at Jefferies, a diversified financial services company engaged in investment banking and capital markets, asset management and direct investing. Throughout this episode, Heather covers a variety of topics, from her personal military experience as a U.S. Army Black Hawk pilot to her transition to the world of corporate finance to her passion for endurance sports as an ultramarathon runner. In conversation with hosts Lindsey and Mike, she shares why she joined the Army, how she decided to go to business school, and what made her choose a career on Wall Street. Heather also discusses her current career at Jefferies and shares why Jefferies is a great place for veterans to work, from their Veterans Affinity Group that provides one-on-one mentorship to their organizational commitment to all employees' physical and mental wellness. She closes out the episode with some invaluable advice for veterans who are just starting their transition out of the military as well as veterans looking to begin a career on Wall Street. Heather has been working on Wall Street for over a decade. Prior to pursuing a civilian career in financial services, Heather served as a UH-60 Black Hawk pilot stationed at Fort Campbell, KY. She received a B.S. from Penn State University and an M.B.A from the University of Notre Dame. Heather is also an ultra-marathoner, triathlete, and mom.   ABOUT US Welcome to the FourBlock Podcast, a show that examines veteran career transition and the military-civilian divide in the workplace. General Charles Krulak coined the term "Three Block War" to describe the nature of 21st-century military service defined by peace-keeping, humanitarian aid, and full combat. But what happens next? Veterans are often unprepared to return home and begin new careers. We call this the Fourth Block.  FourBlock is a national non-profit that has supported thousands of transitioning service members across the nation in beginning new and meaningful careers.  Mike Abrams (@fourblock) is an Afghanistan veteran, founder of FourBlock, and author of two military transition books. He represents the military transition perspective. Lindsey Pollak (@lindsaypollak) is a career and workplace expert and New York Times bestselling author of three career advice books. Lindsey represents the civilian perspective of this issue.  Veterans, explore new industries and make the right connections. Find a career that fits your calling. Join us at fourblock.org/ Sponsor our program or host a class to equip more of our veterans at fourblock.org/donate. Follow FourBlock on Social Media  LinkedIn Facebook Instagram Twitter Podcast episodes are produced and edited in part by the Columbia University Center for Veteran Transition and Integration.  

Speaking Podcast Social Media / Coaching My Other Podcasts + Donations https://bio.link/podcaster ==================== About my Guest: Lindsey Pollak is a New York Times bestselling author and one of the world's leading career and workplace experts. She is passionate about helping individuals and organizations navigate and thrive in the ever-changing world of work. Lindsey was named to the 2020 Thinkers50 Radar List, which honors the top global management thinkers whose work is shaping the future of how organizations are managed and led. Her latest book is a response to the Covid crisis: Recalculating: Navigate Your Career Through the Changing World of Work was published by HarperCollins on March 23, 2021. Her previous book, The Remix: How to Lead and Succeed in the Multigenerational Workplace (HarperCollins, 2019) was named a Book of the Month by both the Wall Street Journal and Financial Times. She is also the author of two career advice books for young professionals: Becoming the Boss: New Rules for the Next Generation of Leaders and Getting from College to Career: Your Essential Guide to Succeeding in the Real World. Lindsey's speaking audiences and consulting clients have included more than 250 corporations, law firms, conferences and universities, including Aetna, Citi, Estée Lauder Companies, GE, Goldman Sachs, Google, Pfizer, Verizon, Yale, Harvard, Wharton and Stanford. Her advice and opinions have appeared in such media outlets as The TODAY Show, The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, CNN and NPR. Lindsey is a Cappfinity VEE Brand Ambassador and has served as an official ambassador for LinkedIn, a Millennial workplace expert for The Hartford and chair of Cosmopolitan Magazine's Millennial Advisory Board. In her philanthropic work, she serves as a board director of FourBlock, a national nonprofit that supports veteran career transition. Lindsey is a graduate of Yale University. What we Discussed: - Adjusting for a Different Audience - Making the Transition from Free to a Paid Speaker - Keynotes in Corporate Training - Look at the Faces that are Engaged - The Speaker needs to make the Audience come Alive - Hybrid Meetings - Having a Targeted Audience - Why Linkedin in the Best for Social Media - PR Tips and more How to Contact Lindsey: https://lindseypollak.com/ https://twitter.com/lindseypollak/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/lindseypollak/ =============== Speaking Podcast Social Media / Coaching My Other Podcasts + Donations https://bio.link/podcaster --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/roy-coughlan/message

FourBlock is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to supporting separating/retiring service members in their transition from military service to meaningful civilian careers. In this episode, Eric Stetson, a retired Army officer, gives us the gouge on FourBlock. Eric's LinkedIn profile can be found at https://www.linkedin.com/in/ericstetson1. Information on FourBlock is available at https://fourblock.org/.

Career and Workplace expert Lindsey Pollak joins Cassie on Happenstance to talk about the happenstance moments throughout her own career.  From saying yes to an opportunity to go abroad to navigating a freelance career before freelancing and side gigs were as common as they are, Lindsey's path has included numerous moments of happenstance and emphasizes the important of knowing what you enjoy doing, building long lasting relationships and, when necessary, recalculating. I'm so happy you're here and I can't wait to see where happenstance leads us...Episode Topics:- Daily POP (00:05:29)- Career Overview (00:08:16)- Owning our Career and Job Titles (00:16:59)- Recalculating and Handling Change (00:20:54)- Navigating the Speed of Change in our Careers (00:26:40)- Trying Things and Saying No (00:32:24)- Generational Models of Success (00:36:54)- Personal Branding and Building a Foundation (00:40:58)- Looking Ahead for Lindsey Pollak (00:41:52) Guest Bio:Lindsey Pollak is a New York Times bestselling author and one of the world's leading career and workplace experts. She is passionate about helping individuals and organizationsnavigate and thrive in the ever-changing world of work. Lindsey was named to the 2020 Thinkers50 Radar List, which honors the top global management thinkers whose work is shaping the future of how organizations are managed and led. Her latest book is a response to the Covid crisis: Recalculating: Navigate Your Career Through the Changing World of Work was published by HarperCollins on March 23, 2021.Her previous book, The Remix: How to Lead and Succeed in the Multigenerational Workplace (HarperCollins, 2019) was named a Book of the Month by both the Wall Street Journal and Financial Times. She is also the author of two career advice books for young professionals: Becoming the Boss: New Rules for the Next Generation of Leaders and Getting from College to Career: Your Essential Guide to Succeeding in the Real World.Lindsey's speaking audiences and consulting clients have included more than 250 corporations, law firms, conferences and universities, including Aetna, Citi, Estée Lauder Companies, GE, Goldman Sachs, Google, Pfizer, Verizon, Yale, Harvard, Wharton and Stanford.Her advice and opinions have appeared in such media outlets as The TODAY Show,The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, CNN and NPR. Lindsey is a Cappfinity VEE Brand Ambassador and has served as an official ambassador for LinkedIn, a Millennial workplace expert for The Hartford and chair of Cosmopolitan Magazine's Millennial Advisory Board. In her philanthropic work, she serves as a board director of FourBlock, a national nonprofit that supports veteran career transition.Guest Links:www.lindseypollak.comLet's Connect:Instagram: @HappenstanceThePodcast & @CareerCoachCassie

In this episode, Brock talks with Tom Sietsema. Tom is a former marine who had an early interest in finance as well as M&A. We talk about his time at Columbia after his exit, why it's a great school for veterans particularly those interested in finance, and the importance of networking outside the veteran circle while at college. The finance industry has incredibly high barriers to entry and we talk through some of the best ways to tackle those. Tom is now the COO at Newbury Franklin Home Services. Tom discusses how better understanding his life priorities led him to pursue the autonomy that comes with the ETA (entrepreneurship through acquisition) space. You can follow or reach out to Tom on LinkedIn and on Twitter. Resources mentioned: FourBlock, American Corporate Partners Whether you're in the service for four years or twenty, you have learned skills, led teams, and learned what it takes to execute under pressure. While those past successes are valuable, they don't always translate to a life or career when you get your DD214. Join Tim and Brock as they break down the skills and strategies current and former military members are using to build a successful careers on the outside the service. Get a weekly episode breakdown, sneak peak of the next episode, and other resources in your inbox for free at https://scuttlebutt.substack.com/. Follow along with us. • Tim: @Mccaurthor, Youtube • Brock: @BrockHBriggs • Instagram: Scuttlebutt_Podcast • Send us an email: scuttlebuttpod1@gmail.com

This is the second of two episodes this week in honor Mental Health Action Day which this year falls on Thursday, May 19th. Dr. Ron Hirschberg talks with U.S. Army Veteran, burn survivor, actor, motivational speaker, The New York Times best-selling author of the book Full of Heart: My Story of Survival, Strength, and Spirit, and Dancing with the Stars Season 13 winner. Ron and JR talk about service, survival - or rebirth as JR describes it - overcoming trauma and resilience, the importance of connecting with the world and with others, and so much more. ---May is mental health awareness month. The second annual Mental Health Action Day is Thursday May 19, 2022. Setting the theme of “connection,” MTV and about 1,700 companies and organizations will drive calls to action to address the surge of loneliness and isolation felt by millions because of the pandemic. Mental Health Action Day is an open-source movement to drive culture from mental health awareness to mental health action. The 1,700 partners will encourage people to take their first steps towards mental health action. Free resources and tools, such as an employer toolkit and platforms for hosting and organizing events, are available for organizations and groups to help support their audiences through a myriad of ways – from starting a meditation practice to learning how to support a friend to advocating for change. For more information on how you can participate, please visit MentalHealthActionDay.org.Today, May 19 at 4:00m ET,  join Home Base, Paramount Veterans Network, Movember, GI GoFund, FourBlock, Veterans In Media & Entertainment, Empire Vets, Student Veterans of America, Operation Homefront, Wounded Warrior Project, and JobPath as they unite to create an amazing panel on “Making Connections for Mental Health & Wellness”. The session will be moderated by CBS New York's very own, John Elliott joined by an esteem panel of mental wellness experts including veterans. Opening remarks will be given by Stephen Hill of CBS' Magnum P.I. And, In addition to the panel discussion there will be a mental wellness activity that we can use to incorporate into our daily routines. Incredible right? RSVP at http://bit.ly/MHAD51922 You don't want to miss it. For more information you can visit Paramount Veterans Network at www.paramountvetnet.com---If you are your loved one is experiencing any emotional, mental health struggles, you are not alone and please contact Home Base at (617) 724-5202, or visit www.homebase.org  **REMEMBER FOLKS THE ANNUAL RUN TO HOME BASE IS 7-30-22 THIS YEAR! ALL FUNDRAISING GOES DIRECTLY TO THE CARE OF OUR VETERANS AND MILITARY FAMILIES, SO SIGN UP HERE: www.runtohomebase.orgTheme music for Home Base Nation: "Rolling the tree" by The Butler FrogsAdditional music credits include "Cadillac" by Ron Hirschberg. Follow Home Base on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedInThe Home Base Nation Team is Steve Monaco, Maureen Roderick, Laurie Gallagher, Karianne Kraus, Lucy Little, Taylor Orlando, with COO Michael Allard, Brigadier General Jack Hammond, and Peter SmythProducer and Host: Dr. Ron HirschbergProducer, Sound, Editor: Lucy LittleChairman, Home Base Media Lab: Peter SmythHome Base Nation is the official podcast of Home Base Program for Veterans and Military Families, a partnership of the Massachusetts General Hospital and the Red Sox Foundation. To learn more and connect with us at Home Base Nation: www.homebase.org/homebasenation. To Donate to Home Base where every dollar goes to the care of veterans and military families that is cost to them, go to: www.homebase.org/donate.The views expressed by guests to the Home Base Nation podcast are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. Views and opinions expressed by guests are those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect the view of the Massachusetts General Hospital, Home Base, the Red Sox Foundation or any of its officials.

This is the first of two episodes this week in honor Mental Health Action Day which this year falls on Thursday, May 19th. Dr. Ron Hirschberg talks with U.S. Army Veteran and country music artist Craig Morgan. Craig spent nearly 11 years with the 82nd and 101st Airborne Divisions, serving in both Panama and Desert Storm. As a country music artist for more than 20 years, Craig has had 25 songs on the Billboard Charts, including his songs - "Almost Home", "This Ole Boy", "Wake Up Loving You", and the four-week No. 1 hit "That's What I Love About Sunday". Ron and Craig talk about service, the healing power of music, the loss of Craig's son Jerry in 2016 that led to the powerful and beautiful song, "The Father, My Son, and the Holy Ghost", and about the CBS/Paramount hit show "Beyond The Edge," set in the jungles of Panama that Craig co-stars in along with eight others. The season finale of Beyond The Edge airs Wednesday, May 18 at 9pm ET.---May is mental health awareness month. The second annual Mental Health Action Day is Thursday May 19, 2022. Setting the theme of “connection,” MTV and about 1,700 companies and organizations will drive calls to action to address the surge of loneliness and isolation felt by millions because of the pandemic. Mental Health Action Day is an open-source movement to drive culture from mental health awareness to mental health action. The 1,700 partners will encourage people to take their first steps towards mental health action. Free resources and tools, such as an employer toolkit and platforms for hosting and organizing events, are available for organizations and groups to help support their audiences through a myriad of ways – from starting a meditation practice to learning how to support a friend to advocating for change. For more information on how you can participate, please visit MentalHealthActionDay.org.On Thursday, May 19 at 4:00m ET,  join Home Base, Paramount Veterans Network, Movember, GI GoFund, FourBlock, Veterans In Media & Entertainment, Empire Vets, Student Veterans of America, Operation Homefront, Wounded Warrior Project, and JobPath as they unite to create an amazing panel on “Making Connections for Mental Health & Wellness”. The session will be moderated by CBS New York's very own, John Elliott joined by an esteem panel of mental wellness experts including veterans. Opening remarks will be given by Stephen Hill of CBS' Magnum P.I. And, In addition to the panel discussion there will be a mental wellness activity that we can use to incorporate into our daily routines. Incredible right? RSVP at http://bit.ly/MHAD51922 You don't want to miss it. For more information you can visit Paramount Veterans Network at www.paramountvetnet.com---If you are your loved one is experiencing any emotional, mental health struggles, you are not alone and please contact Home Base at (617) 724-5202, or visit www.homebase.org  **REMEMBER FOLKS THE ANNUAL RUN TO HOME BASE IS 7-30-22 THIS YEAR! ALL FUNDRAISING GOES DIRECTLY TO THE CARE OF OUR VETERANS AND MILITARY FAMILIES, SO SIGN UP HERE: www.runtohomebase.orgTheme music for Home Base Nation: "Rolling the tree" by The Butler FrogsAdditional music credits include: "Warrior-Healer" by James House, Blair MorinFollow Home Base on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedInThe Home Base Nation Team is Steve Monaco, Maureen Roderick, Laurie Gallagher, Karianne Kraus, Lucy Little, Taylor Orlando, with COO Michael Allard, Brigadier General Jack Hammond, and Peter SmythProducer and Host: Dr. Ron HirschbergProducer, Sound, Editor: Lucy LittleChairman, Home Base Media Lab: Peter SmythHome Base Nation is the official podcast of Home Base Program for Veterans and Military Families, a partnership of the Massachusetts General Hospital and the Red Sox Foundation. To learn more and connect with us at Home Base Nation: www.homebase.org/homebasenation. To Donate to Home Base where every dollar goes to the care of veterans and military families that is cost to them, go to: www.homebase.org/donate.The views expressed by guests to the Home Base Nation podcast are their own and their appearance on the program does not imply an endorsement of them or any entity they represent. Views and opinions expressed by guests are those of the guests and do not necessarily reflect the view of the Massachusetts General Hospital, Home Base, the Red Sox Foundation or any of its officials.

This week, FourBlock alumna and our new West Coast Regional Director Marina Rabinek joins FourBlock Founder Mike Abrams for a personal conversation about her military experience, her transition after 24 years in the U.S. Navy, how she came to start the Military Women's Collective, and her passion for mentoring female veterans and being of service to others. After completing FourBlock's Veteran Career Readiness Program as a participant, Marina came back to serve as a Career Readiness Instructor for the Virtual West cohort of our program before joining the FourBlock team full-time as West Coast Regional Director earlier this year. In this episode, Marina shares insights from her own transition experience along with advice for fellow veterans preparing to transition. Marina is a teal-haired bilingual Super Connector, master networker, and 24-year U.S. Navy veteran. As the Founder of Military Women's Collective, you can find her working with women-focused nonprofits – mentoring veterans and service members transitioning from the military – on LinkedIn and Veterati. When she isn't taking California road trips, playing board games or video games, or hanging out with her husband, daughter, and three cats, you can find her collaborating with local and national nonprofits and advocating for women veterans by empowering them to feel less invisible, giving them a voice and engaging in dialogue about resources.   ABOUT US Welcome to the FourBlock Podcast, a show that examines veteran career transition and the military-civilian divide in the workplace. General Charles Krulak coined the term "Three Block War" to describe the nature of 21st-century military service defined by peace-keeping, humanitarian aid, and full combat. But what happens next? Veterans are often unprepared to return home and begin new careers. We call this the Fourth Block.  FourBlock is a national non-profit that has supported thousands of transitioning service members across the nation in beginning new and meaningful careers.  Mike Abrams (@fourblock) is an Afghanistan veteran, founder of FourBlock, and author of two military transition books. He represents the military transition perspective. Lindsey Pollak (@lindsaypollak) is a career and workplace expert and New York Times bestselling author of three career advice books. Lindsey represents the civilian perspective of this issue.  Veterans, explore new industries and make the right connections. Find a career that fits your calling. Join us at fourblock.org/ Sponsor our program or host a class to equip more of our veterans at fourblock.org/donate. Follow FourBlock on Social Media  LinkedIn Facebook Instagram Twitter Podcast episodes are produced and edited by the Columbia University Center for Veteran Transition and Integration.  

This week, we're sharing an interview that FourBlock Founder Mike Abrams recorded previously with FourBlock Career Readiness Instructor Jeffrey Lodick for an episode of his podcast, “On the Other Side: Leadership After Transition," a podcast designed to bring leaders from all branches of service that have already made the transition to give some insight to transitioning service members and veterans who have already made the transition who may be struggling or seeking support.  In the interview, Mike sits down with Jeffrey to discuss his transition and how the vision of FourBlock came to reality. A retired Master Sergeant in the U.S. Army, Jeffrey is now a professional speaker who does leadership development with student athletes and continures to serve as an advocate for service members in transition. Jeffrey retired from the United States Army after 20 years. He served as a Squadron Sergeant Major, Operations Sergeant Major, First Sergeant, Platoon Sergeant, and Drill Sergeant. He was a Master Rated Jumpmaster, a Pathfinder and a graduate of the Battle Staff Noncommissioned Officer Course. He has continued his service by assisting transitioning veterans as the podcast host of “On the Other Side: Leadership After Transition,” where he seeks advice from transitioned service members as tools for current transitioning service members to use. He is an inspirational speaker, a member of the National Speakers Association and owner of Change Your Forecast, LLC.   ABOUT US Welcome to the FourBlock Podcast, a show that examines veteran career transition and the military-civilian divide in the workplace. General Charles Krulak coined the term "Three Block War" to describe the nature of 21st-century military service defined by peace-keeping, humanitarian aid, and full combat. But what happens next? Veterans are often unprepared to return home and begin new careers. We call this the Fourth Block.  FourBlock is a national non-profit that has supported thousands of transitioning service members across the nation in beginning new and meaningful careers.  Mike Abrams (@fourblock) is an Afghanistan veteran, founder of FourBlock, and author of two military transition books. He represents the military transition perspective. Lindsey Pollak (@lindsaypollak) is a career and workplace expert and New York Times bestselling author of three career advice books. Lindsey represents the civilian perspective of this issue.  Veterans, explore new industries and make the right connections. Find a career that fits your calling. Join us at fourblock.org/ Sponsor our program or host a class to equip more of our veterans at fourblock.org/donate. Follow FourBlock on Social Media  LinkedIn Facebook Instagram Twitter Podcast episodes are produced and edited by the Columbia University Center for Veteran Transition and Integration.  

Why do you or did you work beyond the money? Do you have enough money to retire to do what fulfills you? How many of us really know what really fulfills us? This week, motivational speaker, social researcher, and co-author of the nationally acclaimed book, Don't Retire, REWIRE! Third Edition Jeri Sedlar shares her expert insights on retirement life planning and how we figure out what will truly fulfill us after retiring or making a life or career transition. In conversation with FourBlock Founder Mike Abrams, Jeri discusses her background and career path, detailing how she developed an interest in aging from a young age and how it ultimately helped shape her career. Mike and Jeri also discuss current trends, and Jeri shares invaluable advice throughout for anyone preparing to retire or looking to find their next act. Jeri is a master of retirement life planning and has earned the title of America's “rewiring” expert. She has interviewed hundreds of professionals, executives, entrepreneurs, partners and pre-retirees in all industries about their hopes, dreams and fears about the future. She has discovered both the pleasures and pain and possibilities and pitfalls associated with retirement. Since the introduction of Don't Retire, REWIRE! in 2002, Jeri has been traveling the globe challenging individuals to get out of their own way and break through society's as well as their own individual “silver ceilings” to find the fun and fulfillment they deserve and desire at this life stage. Jeri's career has predominantly been in the personal development and transition arena, fostering change as Editor at Large of WORKING WOMAN and Senior Advisor at The Conference Board on the Mature Workforce. As a delegate to the White House Conference on Aging and a member of the New York State AARP Executive Council she continues to advance the concept of positive aging through engagement. Her rewiring message has resonated across the globe from workshops in Dubai to keynotes in Dallas to interviews with traditional media both on air and online. She writes a blog and as she says…”people are my passion and I want them to get their futures right!”   ABOUT US Welcome to the FourBlock Podcast, a show that examines veteran career transition and the military-civilian divide in the workplace. General Charles Krulak coined the term "Three Block War" to describe the nature of 21st-century military service defined by peace-keeping, humanitarian aid, and full combat. But what happens next? Veterans are often unprepared to return home and begin new careers. We call this the Fourth Block.  FourBlock is a national non-profit that has supported thousands of transitioning service members across the nation in beginning new and meaningful careers.  Mike Abrams (@fourblock) is an Afghanistan veteran, founder of FourBlock, and author of two military transition books. He represents the military transition perspective. Lindsey Pollak (@lindsaypollak) is a career and workplace expert and New York Times bestselling author of three career advice books. Lindsey represents the civilian perspective of this issue.  Veterans, explore new industries and make the right connections. Find a career that fits your calling. Join us at fourblock.org/ Sponsor our program or host a class to equip more of our veterans at fourblock.org/donate. Follow FourBlock on Social Media  LinkedIn Facebook Instagram Twitter Podcast episodes are produced and edited by the Columbia University Center for Veteran Transition and Integration.  

This week, we welcome Susan Rietano Davey and Kelley Kelley Biskupiak, co-founders of Prepare 2 Launch U (PLTU), a learning company that provides instruction, inspiration, and community primarily to women and caregivers navigating work-life transitions along the continuum of life. In 2020, FourBlock joined forces with PTLU to create a comprehensive, instructional career transition program for military spouses looking to return to work or pivot into new careers. In this episode, Kelley and Susan are joined by Lisa Stern, Ed.D., FourBlock's Director of Program Impact and Assessment and our podcast co-hosts: Lindsey Pollak, career and workplace expert, New York Times bestselling author, and FourBlock Board member; and Mike Abrams, FourBlock founder and Afghanistan veteran. Over the course of the episode, Susan and Kelley discuss their professional backgrounds and how PTLU started, and the group discusses how the joint FourBlock-PTLU Military Spouse Career Readiness Program came to be, what they have learned together from working with military spouses, what the future of the program holds, and what it means to be ‘ready' to apply to the program. The FourBlock-PTLU Military Spouse Career Readiness Program features live video coaching, flexible online learning modules, and all the instruction, tools, and inspiration a military spouse will need to navigate her or his way to a meaningful career. Military spouses who complete the program also gain access to an expanded community of FourBlock alumni, employers, and instructors for additional networking and mentorship. The program is offered at no cost. As career women and moms, too, PTLU co-founders Kelley and Susan have been helping women navigate work-life transitions for a combined 30 years. Susan and Kelley met while speaking at a women's conference in 2016. At the time, they were both independently consulting with companies and coaching a range of women (from seasoned professionals to young women navigating new motherhood) through life and career transition. Immediately, they felt a connection and knew that they could better help more women if they teamed up. So, the two joined forces first to share clients, then to run workshops, and, ultimately, to create the learning company Prepare to Launch U that provides instruction, inspiration, and community to women navigating work-life transitions along the continuum of life. Their original, signature online career re-entry course boasts students in 26 states and counting. In just a few years, Prepare to Launch U has introduced multiple online and live instructional offerings including a first-of-its-kind online maternity leave planning course, a proprietary family leave planning course on the LinkedIn Learning platform, and widely popular live corporate workshops on Negotiating and Work-Life Synergy, to list just a few. Susan and Kelley regularly collaborate with universities and Fortune 500 companies, and they are sought-after speakers and moderators for conferences across the country.   ABOUT US Welcome to the FourBlock Podcast, a show that examines veteran career transition and the military-civilian divide in the workplace. General Charles Krulak coined the term "Three Block War" to describe the nature of 21st-century military service defined by peace-keeping, humanitarian aid, and full combat. But what happens next? Veterans are often unprepared to return home and begin new careers. We call this the Fourth Block.  FourBlock is a national non-profit that has supported thousands of transitioning service members across the nation in beginning new and meaningful careers.  Mike Abrams (@fourblock) is an Afghanistan veteran, founder of FourBlock, and author of two military transition books. He represents the military transition perspective. Lindsey Pollak (@lindsaypollak) is a career and workplace expert and New York Times bestselling author of three career advice books. Lindsey represents the civilian perspective of this issue.  Veterans, explore new industries and make the right connections. Find a career that fits your calling. Join us at fourblock.org/ Sponsor our program or host a class to equip more of our veterans at fourblock.org/donate. Follow FourBlock on Social Media  LinkedIn Facebook Instagram Twitter Podcast episodes are produced and edited by the Columbia University Center for Veteran Transition and Integration.  

This week we welcome West Point graduate and U.S. Army veteran George Chewning, who served five years as a U.S. Army Infantry Officer including a deployment to Afghanistan. In conversation with FourBlock Founder Mike Abrams, George shares details of his time in the Army and his service in Afghanistan; his military transition and what made him realize he needed support with the transition; and his post-military career as a non-technical veteran who transitioned into a civilian career in technology. He shares insights from his transition journey and what he's learned from making multiple transitions throughout his career. George also discusses how he found his way back to a career serving his community and shares his advice for fellow veterans in transition now. After his transition out of the military, George earned his MBA from the George Washington University. He served as a Legislative Director for the Global War on Terror Memorial Foundation and then transitioned to a Program Manager role at Facebook before being selected as a Presidential Innovation Fellow at the Department of Veteran Affairs. He just recently began a new role as Deputy Director for the Beeck Center for Social Impact + Innovation. George is an alumnus of FourBlock's Veteran Career Readiness Program and also serves as a volunteer member on our National Leadership Council.   ABOUT US Welcome to the FourBlock Podcast, a show that examines veteran career transition and the military-civilian divide in the workplace. General Charles Krulak coined the term "Three Block War" to describe the nature of 21st-century military service defined by peace-keeping, humanitarian aid, and full combat. But what happens next? Veterans are often unprepared to return home and begin new careers. We call this the Fourth Block.  FourBlock is a national non-profit that has supported thousands of transitioning service members across the nation in beginning new and meaningful careers.  Mike Abrams (@fourblock) is an Afghanistan veteran, founder of FourBlock, and author of two military transition books. He represents the military transition perspective. Lindsey Pollak (@lindsaypollak) is a career and workplace expert and New York Times bestselling author of three career advice books. Lindsey represents the civilian perspective of this issue.  Veterans, explore new industries and make the right connections. Find a career that fits your calling. Join us at fourblock.org/ Sponsor our program or host a class to equip more of our veterans at fourblock.org/donate. Follow FourBlock on Social Media  LinkedIn Facebook Instagram Twitter Podcast episodes are produced and edited by the Columbia University Center for Veteran Transition and Integration.  

This week on the FourBlock Podcast, FourBlock Founder Mike Abrams welcomes U.S. Marine Veteran and Regional President at TK Elevator Benjamen (Ben) Herther. A recently retired U.S. Marines Lt. Col. who also served as the Battalion Commander, 3rd Battalion, 14th Marines for the Marine Forces Reserve before passing the torch to Mike, Ben brings a unique perspective on leadership to his corporate career, where he currently serves as the Regional President for the Midwest Region at TK Elevator. In conversation with Mike, Ben shares why he decided to serve, discusses his time in the Marine Corps, and explores the parallels between leadership in the Marines and the corporate world, sharing his experiences serving as both a Battalion Commander in the Marine Reserves and a leadership role in the corporate world at the same time. Ben also provides some informative background on TK elevator, the company culture, and how the entrepreneurial mindset of the company helps empower its leaders. To close out the episode, Ben shares his advice for both transitioning service members looking as well as those in the corporate world looking to hire veterans.         ABOUT US Welcome to the FourBlock Podcast, a show that examines veteran career transition and the military-civilian divide in the workplace. General Charles Krulak coined the term "Three Block War" to describe the nature of 21st-century military service defined by peace-keeping, humanitarian aid, and full combat. But what happens next? Veterans are often unprepared to return home and begin new careers. We call this the Fourth Block.  FourBlock is a national non-profit that has supported thousands of transitioning service members across the nation in beginning new and meaningful careers.  Mike Abrams (@fourblock) is an Afghanistan veteran, founder of FourBlock, and author of two military transition books. He represents the military transition perspective. Lindsey Pollak (@lindsaypollak) is a career and workplace expert and New York Times bestselling author of three career advice books. Lindsey represents the civilian perspective of this issue.  Veterans, explore new industries and make the right connections. Find a career that fits your calling. Join us at fourblock.org/ Sponsor our program or host a class to equip more of our veterans at fourblock.org/donate. Follow FourBlock on Social Media  LinkedIn Facebook Instagram Twitter Podcast episodes are produced and edited by the Columbia University Center for Veteran Transition and Integration.  

This week on the FourBlock Podcast, we welcome Acting Director of the Military Civilian Transition Office (MCTO) Mike Miller to take us on a deep dive into the Transition Assistance Program (TAP) for transitioning service members. In conversation with FourBlock Founder Mike Abrams, Mike Miller walks us through the program's history and evolution, sharing how it has progressed, where it stands today, and what the vision is for the future of TAP. Mike serves as the Acting Director of the Military Civilian Transition Office (MCTO). The MCTO designs, supports, oversees, and evaluates the DoD Transition Assistance Program (TAP), the Yellow Ribbon Reintegration Program (YRRP), and the Beyond the Yellow Ribbon program (BYR). MCTO provides streamlined transition and reintegration services to efficiently deliver resources, training, information, and deployment-cycle support to transitioning service members, members of the National Guard and Reserve, and their families worldwide. Mike has over 38 years of civilian and military leadership experience that includes team building, talent management, leader development, policy development, strategic planning, corporate culture change, diversity and inclusion, organizational management, and resource management. He is a retired U.S. Army Veteran and “Soldier for Life” who served strategic enterprise assignments with United States Forces Korea and Headquarters, Department of the Army; Chief Human Capital Officer assignments at U.S. Army installation, Division, Combined Joint Task Force, and Corps; and operational deployments in Somalia and Afghanistan. ABOUT US Welcome to the FourBlock Podcast, a show that examines veteran career transition and the military-civilian divide in the workplace. General Charles Krulak coined the term "Three Block War" to describe the nature of 21st-century military service defined by peace-keeping, humanitarian aid, and full combat. But what happens next? Veterans are often unprepared to return home and begin new careers. We call this the Fourth Block.  FourBlock is a national non-profit that has supported thousands of transitioning service members across the nation in beginning new and meaningful careers.  Mike Abrams (@fourblock) is an Afghanistan veteran, founder of FourBlock, and author of two military transition books. He represents the military transition perspective. Lindsey Pollak (@lindsaypollak) is a career and workplace expert and New York Times bestselling author of three career advice books. Lindsey represents the civilian perspective of this issue.  Veterans, explore new industries and make the right connections. Find a career that fits your calling. Join us at fourblock.org/ Sponsor our program or host a class to equip more of our veterans at fourblock.org/donate. Follow FourBlock on Social Media  LinkedIn Facebook Instagram Twitter Podcast episodes are produced and edited by the Columbia University Center for Veteran Transition and Integration.  

On this episode of the FourBlock Podcast, we are honored to be joined by former Under Secretary for Benefits in the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and U.S. Army Veteran Dr. Paul R. Lawrence. In conversation with FourBlock Founder Mike Abrams, Lawrence generously shares details of his background and upbringing, his military career and transition, and his post-military career in the private sector before giving us a behind the scenes look at his time as the Under Secretary for Benefits at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Lawrence talks about the priorities that he focused on as Under Secretary, including getting veterans the benefits they earned in a manner that honors their service, fiscal stewardship, and collaboration -- working more with veterans' stakeholders like VSOs, nonprofits, and others who wanted to help. A businessman, author, and passionate veteran advocate with 35 years of experience solving management problems in large, complex organizations, Lawrence also shares what he continues to do to advocate for veterans today. As a private sector executive, Lawrence was a consulting Partner at two Big-Four accounting firms and a Vice President in two Fortune 500 companies. He is a government management thought leader, having written several books on the subject. For almost three years, Lawrence served as Under Secretary of Benefits at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, unanimously confirmed by the Senate on April 26, 2018. As Under Secretary, he was in charge of the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA) leading a team of 25,000 people with an operating budget of $4 billion, administering $120 billion in benefits annually. He implemented proven business practices, streamlined the bureaucracy, and created a public presence rebranding VBA as an organization successfully supporting Veterans. Prior to becoming a political appointee, Lawrence was a Vice President at Kaiser Associates, a Partner at Ernst & Young, a Vice President at Accenture, a Senior Director at the MITRE Corporation, a Vice President with IBM, and a Partner at PricewaterhouseCoopers. He has written extensively on management, government, and technology. He is the co-author of Succeeding as a Political Executive: 50 Insights from Experience, What Government Does: How Political Executives Manage, Paths to Making a Difference: Leading in Government and the co-editor of Transforming Organizations and Learning the Ropes: Insights for Political Appointees. He serves on the Board of Directors of Vets2Industry, a non-profit organization helping Veterans pursue a career in the private sector. He is also a Senior Advisor to Search & Acquire, a non-profit focused on helping Veterans become CEOs via Entrepreneurship through Acquisition. He was selected three times by Federal Computer Week as one of the top 100 public service leaders. In 2019 he was recognized as Government Executive of the Year by Service to the Citizen. He is a Fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration. Lawrence earned his Master of Arts and Ph.D. in economics from Virginia Tech. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in economics from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, graduating Phi Beta Kappa. He is an Army Veteran. He completed his ROTC requirement as an Airborne-qualified Captain. Find Paul Lawrence on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/drpaullawrence/. Lawrence's book, “Transforming Service to Veterans: How I Pursued Performance Excellence at the Veterans Benefits Administration in the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs is available here: https://www.amazon.com/Transforming-Service-Veterans-Performance-Administration/dp/B09DMQZN4N/   ABOUT US Welcome to the FourBlock Podcast, a show that examines veteran career transition and the military-civilian divide in the workplace. General Charles Krulak coined the term "Three Block War" to describe the nature of 21st-century military service defined by peace-keeping, humanitarian aid, and full combat. But what happens next? Veterans are often unprepared to return home and begin new careers. We call this the Fourth Block.  FourBlock is a national non-profit that has supported thousands of transitioning service members across the nation in beginning new and meaningful careers.  Mike Abrams (@fourblock) is an Afghanistan veteran, founder of FourBlock, and author of two military transition books. He represents the military transition perspective. Lindsey Pollak (@lindsaypollak) is a career and workplace expert and New York Times bestselling author of three career advice books. Lindsey represents the civilian perspective of this issue.  Veterans, explore new industries and make the right connections. Find a career that fits your calling. Join us at fourblock.org/ Sponsor our program or host a class to equip more of our veterans at fourblock.org/donate. Follow FourBlock on Social Media  LinkedIn Facebook Instagram Twitter Podcast episodes are produced and edited by the Columbia University Center for Veteran Transition and Integration.  

This week, we're honored to share an interview that FourBlock Founder Mike Abrams did with Dr. Mark Goulston for Dr. Goulston's podcast, “My Wakeup Call,” where guests share how their own wake up calls changed their lives and changed how they would go on to spend the rest of their lives. During the conversation, Mike shares his personal experiences growing up, serving in the Marines, having a family of his own, and how the concept of service has been a constant throughout his life. A Marshall Goldsmith 100 Coaches Member, Dr. Goulston coaches entrepreneurs, CEOS, chairs, managing directors, and other executives to become the best version of themselves. He is also an international keynote speaker helping audiences do the same. Originally a UCLA professor of psychiatry for over 25 years, and a former FBI and police hostage negotiation trainer, Dr. Goulston's expertise has been forged and proven in the crucible of real-life, high stakes situations. He is the author or co-author of nine books with his book, “Just Listen,” being translated into twenty-eight languages and becoming the top book on listening in the world. He is the host of the highly rated podcast, “My Wakeup Call” and the co-host of “Out of Our Minds and In Your Space” on Twitter Spaces, which is a mashup for creatives and thinkers.   ABOUT US Welcome to the FourBlock Podcast, a show that examines veteran career transition and the military-civilian divide in the workplace. General Charles Krulak coined the term "Three Block War" to describe the nature of 21st-century military service defined by peace-keeping, humanitarian aid, and full combat. But what happens next? Veterans are often unprepared to return home and begin new careers. We call this the Fourth Block.  FourBlock is a national non-profit that has supported thousands of transitioning service members across the nation in beginning new and meaningful careers.  Mike Abrams (@fourblock) is an Afghanistan veteran, founder of FourBlock, and author of two military transition books. He represents the military transition perspective. Lindsey Pollak (@lindsaypollak) is a career and workplace expert and New York Times bestselling author of three career advice books. Lindsey represents the civilian perspective of this issue.  Veterans, explore new industries and make the right connections. Find a career that fits your calling. Join us at fourblock.org/ Sponsor our program or host a class to equip more of our veterans at fourblock.org/donate. Follow FourBlock on Social Media  LinkedIn Facebook Instagram Twitter Podcast episodes are produced and edited by the Columbia University Center for Veteran Transition and Integration.  

Over two years ago in the fall of 2019, we launched the FourBlock Podcast to help bridge the military civilian divide in the workplace through conversations with veterans, thought leaders, and executives. Over 100 episodes and 30,000+ downloads later, we're excited to continue these conversations in the new year with some enhancements. Moving forward, we will be releasing episodes every two weeks. With each full episode, we will be creating additional pieces of content to include videos, articles, lesson plans for our classes, and most importantly, continuing the conversation with our listeners here on LinkedIn. We have some great people and interesting conversations lined up in the new year. Next week, we'll be releasing an episode with Dr. Mark Goulston, author of the book “Just Listen.” Thank you for listening to our podcast. We sincerely appreciate it. We would love to hear your recommendations for topics as well as any guests that you would like us to interview. Please reach out to podcast@fourblock.org. Thank you and have a great 2022!   ABOUT US Welcome to the FourBlock Podcast, a show that examines veteran career transition and the military-civilian divide in the workplace. General Charles Krulak coined the term "Three Block War" to describe the nature of 21st-century military service defined by peace-keeping, humanitarian aid, and full combat. But what happens next? Veterans are often unprepared to return home and begin new careers. We call this the Fourth Block.  FourBlock is a national non-profit that has supported thousands of transitioning service members across the nation in beginning new and meaningful careers.  Mike Abrams (@fourblock) is an Afghanistan veteran, founder of FourBlock, and author of two military transition books. He represents the military transition perspective. Lindsey Pollak (@lindsaypollak) is a career and workplace expert and New York Times bestselling author of three career advice books. Lindsey represents the civilian perspective of this issue.  Veterans, explore new industries and make the right connections. Find a career that fits your calling. Join us at fourblock.org/ Sponsor our program or host a class to equip more of our veterans at fourblock.org/donate. Follow FourBlock on Social Media  LinkedIn Facebook Instagram Twitter Podcast episodes are produced and edited by the Columbia University Center for Veteran Transition and Integration.  

“There's nobody who doesn't want to live a life of significance.” This week, we complete our look back at the top ten most-downloaded episodes of the FourBlock Podcast since it first launched in the fall of 2019. Topping the countdown as the #1 most-downloaded episode is “How to Live a Life of Significance” with retired General and the 31st Commandant of the United States Marine Corps, General Charles C. Krulak. In this episode, General Krulak discusses his own military transition and shares the three things you need to be successful in life and the workplace. General Krulak started his career commanding a rifle platoon and two rifle companies during the Vietnam War. Throughout his 36 years of service, he held just about every single command and staff position that an infantry officer could hold. His awards include the Defense Distinguished Service Medal with bronze oak leaf cluster, Silver Star, Bronze Star with Valor device and two gold stars, and the Purple Heart with Gold Star. General Krulak also rewrote the Marine Corps' basic combat study text, MCDP 1: Warfighting, incorporating his theories on operations in the modern battlefield. After retiring from the Marine Corps, General Krulak joined MBNA America as the chief administrative officer and went on to serve as the Senior Vice Chairman and CEO of MBNA Europe. He then went on to be the 13th president of Birmingham Southern College and continues to serve on the board of several companies including as the honorary chairman of FourBlock.   ABOUT US Welcome to the FourBlock Podcast, a show that examines veteran career transition and the military-civilian divide in the workplace. General Charles Krulak coined the term "Three Block War" to describe the nature of 21st-century military service defined by peace-keeping, humanitarian aid, and full combat. But what happens next? Veterans are often unprepared to return home and begin new careers. We call this the Fourth Block.  FourBlock is a national non-profit that has supported thousands of transitioning service members across the nation in beginning new and meaningful careers.  Mike Abrams (@fourblock) is an Afghanistan veteran, founder of FourBlock, and author of two military transition books. He represents the military transition perspective. Lindsey Pollak (@lindsaypollak) is a career and workplace expert and New York Times bestselling author of three career advice books. Lindsey represents the civilian perspective of this issue.  Veterans, explore new industries and make the right connections. Find a career that fits your calling. Join us at fourblock.org/ Sponsor our program or host a class to equip more of our veterans at fourblock.org/donate. Follow FourBlock on Social Media  LinkedIn Facebook Instagram Twitter Podcast episodes are produced and edited by the Columbia University Center for Veteran Transition and Integration.  

This week, we continue our look back at the top 10 most-downloaded episodes of the FourBlock Podcast with #2 on the countdown, “How to Seize Opportunity in Your Career and Market Yourself as a Veteran” with former Army Pilot, Global Account Manager at LinkedIn, and FourBlock Board Member Darren Sumter. In this interview, Darren recounts his experiences growing up, serving in the Army, and transitioning into the civilian workforce. Darren also shares his expert recommendations for veterans on how to market yourself and how to seize opportunities in your post-military careers. For over 20 years, Darren has worked as a management consultant and a business development strategist specializing in providing companies with business-to-business software solutions to drive innovation and improve profitability. Currently, Darren works as a Global Account Manager at LinkedIn, where he manages responsibilities for several strategic customers in North America across several sectors. Prior to LinkedIn, Darren was a member of several big data B2B software strategic consulting companies where he held responsibilities for new market and new customer business development. Prior to his software career, Darren was a strategy consultant in the US and Europe. He attended Harvard Business School (HBS), where he earned his MBA. Prior to HBS, Darren attended the US Military Academy at West Point where he earned a B.S. in mechanical and aerospace engineering and served in the U.S. Army's aviation branch. He is a veteran of the first Gulf War where he served in Saudi Arabia and Iraq for Operations Desert Storm and Desert Shield. Resources: LinkedIn Resources for Military Spouses LinkedIn Resources for Veterans   ABOUT US Welcome to the FourBlock Podcast, a show that examines veteran career transition and the military-civilian divide in the workplace. General Charles Krulak coined the term "Three Block War" to describe the nature of 21st-century military service defined by peace-keeping, humanitarian aid, and full combat. But what happens next? Veterans are often unprepared to return home and begin new careers. We call this the Fourth Block.  FourBlock is a national non-profit that has supported thousands of transitioning service members across the nation in beginning new and meaningful careers.  Mike Abrams (@fourblock) is an Afghanistan veteran, founder of FourBlock, and author of two military transition books. He represents the military transition perspective. Lindsey Pollak (@lindsaypollak) is a career and workplace expert and New York Times bestselling author of three career advice books. Lindsey represents the civilian perspective of this issue.  Veterans, explore new industries and make the right connections. Find a career that fits your calling. Join us at fourblock.org/ Sponsor our program or host a class to equip more of our veterans at fourblock.org/donate. Follow FourBlock on Social Media  LinkedIn Facebook Instagram Twitter Podcast episodes are produced and edited by the Columbia University Center for Veteran Transition and Integration.      

This week, we're continuing with our countdown of the top 10 most-downloaded episodes of the FourBlock Podcast since it first launched in the fall of 2019. Number three on the countdown is a conversation with Deputy Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security and retired Army Colonel John Tien, originally released on January 13, 2020 and recorded when John was serving as a managing director with Citigroup. In this episode, Tien discusses his incredible service, the impact of his time in the Army on his family, and the similarities and differences between leading troops in combat and teammates at Citigroup. If you are a civilian seeking to better understand military service or a veteran trying to learn how to most effectively transition military leadership principles to a corporate environment – this is a must-listen episode! Prior to becoming the Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security, Tien spent ten years serving in senior executive roles in the critical infrastructure financial services sector as a managing director at Citigroup. As a chief operating officer, he provided customer service support to tens of millions of customers to include safeguarding their accounts against fraud, data breaches, and other cyber threats. Tien previously served in the Obama Administration as the National Security Council Senior Director for Afghanistan and Pakistan from 2009-2011, the Bush Administration as the National Security Council Director for Iraq from 2008-2009, and the Clinton Administration as a White House Fellow in the Office of the United States Trade Representative from 1998-1999. Tien began his career of public service at the United States Military Academy at West Point where he was the first Asian American to ever serve as the First Captain and Brigade Commander, West Point's top ranked cadet position. For the next 24 years, he served as a U.S. Army combat arms officer, retiring in 2011 at the rank of Colonel. He is a veteran of three combat tours to include serving as the Task Force 2-37 Armor Battalion Commander in Operation Iraqi Freedom. He and his unit were responsible for securing and stabilizing the Iraqi cities of Tal Afar and Ramadi with an emphasis on counterinsurgency operations, community partnership, creating rule of law institutions, and the training of thousands of Iraqi police officers. His military decorations include the Bronze Star Medal with one oak leaf cluster, the Combat Action Badge, and the Valorous Unit Award. Tien holds a Bachelor of Science from West Point and a Master of Arts from Oxford University where he was a Rhodes Scholar, and was also a National Security Fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School.   ABOUT US Welcome to the FourBlock Podcast, a show that examines veteran career transition and the military-civilian divide in the workplace. General Charles Krulak coined the term "Three Block War" to describe the nature of 21st-century military service defined by peace-keeping, humanitarian aid, and full combat. But what happens next? Veterans are often unprepared to return home and begin new careers. We call this the Fourth Block.  FourBlock is a national non-profit that has supported thousands of transitioning service members across the nation in beginning new and meaningful careers.  Mike Abrams (@fourblock) is an Afghanistan veteran, founder of FourBlock, and author of two military transition books. He represents the military transition perspective. Lindsey Pollak (@lindsaypollak) is a career and workplace expert and New York Times bestselling author of three career advice books. Lindsey represents the civilian perspective of this issue.  Veterans, explore new industries and make the right connections. Find a career that fits your calling. Join us at fourblock.org/ Sponsor our program or host a class to equip more of our veterans at fourblock.org/donate. Follow FourBlock on Social Media  LinkedIn Facebook Instagram Twitter Podcast episodes are produced and edited by the Columbia University Center for Veteran Transition and Integration.  

This week, we're continuing with our countdown of the top 10 most-downloaded episodes of the FourBlock Podcast since it first launched in the fall of 2019. Number four on the countdown is a conversation with former U.S Army officer and author Jason Dempsey, PhD, discusses his own transition, explores the meaning of service, and shares insights from his research on the military to civilian career transition. Jason served for over twenty years in the Army as an infantry officer, deploying twice to Afghanistan and once to Iraq. He last served as Special Assistant to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. In that capacity he oversaw the Chairman's strategic priority of Keeping Faith with the Military Community and led the development and launch of the Call to Continued Service, an initiative endorsed by all of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, which encourages members of the military to continue their public service after they take off the uniform. Jason is the co-founder of MILLIE, a company that seeks to empower the community of veteran and military spouse real estate agents and to help military families through the moving process. He is also a Senior Adviser to the Columbia University Center for Veteran Transition and Integration and an Adjunct Senior Fellow of the Military, Veterans, and Society Program at the Center for a New American Security. Jason has written extensively on Army efforts toward gender integration, the experiences of Hispanics in the military, and our counterinsurgency efforts in Afghanistan. His book, Our Army: Soldiers, Politics and Civil-Military Relations was published by Princeton University Press and was the first major work to delve into the social and political attitudes of the active-duty military. Jason is a graduate of the United States Military Academy and holds a PhD in political science from Columbia University.   ABOUT US Welcome to the FourBlock Podcast, a show that examines veteran career transition and the military-civilian divide in the workplace. General Charles Krulak coined the term "Three Block War" to describe the nature of 21st-century military service defined by peace-keeping, humanitarian aid, and full combat. But what happens next? Veterans are often unprepared to return home and begin new careers. We call this the Fourth Block.  FourBlock is a national non-profit that has supported thousands of transitioning service members across the nation in beginning new and meaningful careers.  Mike Abrams (@fourblock) is an Afghanistan veteran, founder of FourBlock, and author of two military transition books. He represents the military transition perspective. Lindsey Pollak (@lindsaypollak) is a career and workplace expert and New York Times bestselling author of three career advice books. Lindsey represents the civilian perspective of this issue.  Veterans, explore new industries and make the right connections. Find a career that fits your calling. Join us at fourblock.org/ Sponsor our program or host a class to equip more of our veterans at fourblock.org/donate. Follow FourBlock on Social Media  LinkedIn Facebook Instagram Twitter Podcast episodes are produced and edited by the Columbia University Center for Veteran Transition and Integration.  

This week, we're continuing with our countdown of the top 10 most-downloaded episodes of the FourBlock Podcast since it first launched in the fall of 2019. Number five on the countdown is a conversation with entrepreneur, writer, coach, transition and retirement life planning expert, and FourBlock Board Member Rick Miners. Rick was the co-founder and president of FlexCorp systems, a business process outsourcing company. Shortly after Inc. Magazine named FlexCorp as one of the fastest-growing privately held companies in the United States, he unexpectedly sold the company and quickly realized he didn't have a plan for what he was going to do next. Rick co-authored the books, Don't Retire, REWIRE!: 5 Steps to Fulfilling Work That Fuels Your Passion, Suits Your Personality, and Fills Your Pockets and On Target: Enhance Your Life and Ensure Your Success. Rick has made appearances on The Today Show, CNN, and PBS about the rewiring process and is frequently quoted in the press on the changing face of retirement. He is a graduate of Wake Forest University and an Army Veteran. He is also a FourBlock Board Member and currently serves as its treasurer.   ABOUT US Welcome to the FourBlock Podcast, a show that examines veteran career transition and the military-civilian divide in the workplace. General Charles Krulak coined the term "Three Block War" to describe the nature of 21st-century military service defined by peace-keeping, humanitarian aid, and full combat. But what happens next? Veterans are often unprepared to return home and begin new careers. We call this the Fourth Block.  FourBlock is a national non-profit that has supported thousands of transitioning service members across the nation in beginning new and meaningful careers.  Mike Abrams (@fourblock) is an Afghanistan veteran, founder of FourBlock, and author of two military transition books. He represents the military transition perspective. Lindsey Pollak (@lindsaypollak) is a career and workplace expert and New York Times bestselling author of three career advice books. Lindsey represents the civilian perspective of this issue.  Veterans, explore new industries and make the right connections. Find a career that fits your calling. Join us at fourblock.org/ Sponsor our program or host a class to equip more of our veterans at fourblock.org/donate. Follow FourBlock on Social Media  LinkedIn Facebook Instagram Twitter Podcast episodes are produced and edited by the Columbia University Center for Veteran Transition and Integration.