Podcasts about greater washington board

Welcome to the debut episode of this new Pulse Check series, "After Further Consideration," a DEI-focused series where hosts Dr. Cody Nielsen and Dr. Tomika Ferguson invite experienced change leaders both within and beyond higher education into conversations focused on responsive leadership, addressing campus crises, navigating institutional shifts, and fostering sustainable change all through the lens of equity and inclusion. Key Takeaways from Part 1:Over the past three decades, the role of the college president has transformed dramatically, necessitating extended tenures to lead impactful change in higher education. Leaders must decisively affirm their commitments to equity and inclusion to reshape the institutional culture despite opposition. Becoming an equity leader demands a sustained, long-term commitment. Prioritizing self-care is essential for leaders to prevent burnout. While shifting to an inclusive institutional culture requires buy-in from faculty, trustees, administrators, alumni, and students, it demands unwavering leadership from the president.Guest Name: Pat McGuire Guest LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/patricia-mcguire-4b291510Guets Bio: Patricia McGuire has been president of Trinity since 1989.  Previously, she was the assistant dean for development and external affairs at Georgetown University Law Center where she was also an adjunct professor of law.  She began her career after law school as the project director for the Street Law clinical program at Georgetown.  President McGuire serves on a number of boards including the Consortium of Universities, Cafritz Foundation, Greater Washington Board of Trade and the Ameritas Holding Company.  Her prior board service includes the American Council on Education, the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, the Middle States Commission on Higher Education, Catholic Charities DC, the Meyer Foundation, the Community Foundation of the National Capital Region, and numerous other organizations.  In 2018 she received the Association of Catholic Colleges Distinguished Service Award.  In 2016, the TIAA Institute honored President McGuire with the Hesburgh Award for Leadership Excellence.  In 2015 President McGuire received the Carnegie Award for Academic Leadership from the Carnegie Corporation.  In 2012 she received the Henry Paley Award from the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities. In 2010 she received the Alexander Meiklejohn Award for Academic Freedom from the American Association of University Professors. She holds honorary degrees from several universities including Georgetown, Howard, Chatham, Emmanuel, Saint Michael's, Liverpool Hope, the College of New Rochelle and others.  She has received recognition in the Washington Post, Washingtonian magazine, Washington Business Journal and other media outlets.  In 2007 she was named “Leader of the Years” by the Greater Washington Board of Trade.  She earned her law degree at Georgetown and her baccalaureate degree cum laude at Trinity.Connect with the Hosts of this Pulse Check series:J. Cody Nielsen on LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/j-cody-nielsenTomika Ferguson on LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/tomikaferguson and Twitter (X): @tomiferg  - - - -Connect With Our Co-Hosts:Mallory Willsea https://www.linkedin.com/in/mallorywillsea/https://twitter.com/mallorywillseaSeth Odell https://www.linkedin.com/in/sethodell/https://twitter.com/sethodellAbout The Enrollify Podcast Network:The Higher Ed Pulse is a part of the Enrollify Podcast Network. If you like this podcast, chances are you'll like other Enrollify shows too! Some of our favorites include Generation AI and Confessions of a Higher Education Social Media Manager.Enrollify is made possible by Element451 — the next-generation AI student engagement platform helping institutions create meaningful and personalized interactions with students. Learn more at element451.com. Connect with Us at the Engage Summit:Exciting news — Mallory will be at the 2024 Engage Summit in Raleigh, NC, on June 25 and 26, and we'd love to meet you there! Sessions will focus on cutting-edge AI applications that are reshaping student outreach, enhancing staff productivity, and offering deep insights into ROI. Use the discount code Enrollify50 at checkout, and you can register for just $200! Learn more and register at engage.element451.com — we can't wait to see you there!

Today on the Take on Board podcast I'm speaking with Cary Hatch about “Why your Board Should Feature a Marketing Executive” and the opportunity to expand beyond traditional board candidates to include reputation experts to guide and mitigate corporate reputation blunders. Cary is on the boards of Greater Washington Board of Trade, Washington Housing Conservancy Board, Whitman Walker Foundation Board, American Association of Advertising Agencies (4As) and is Chair of the Mid-Atlantic Board of Governors. Cary was formerly on the boards of University System of Maryland Foundation, International Women's Forum (DC), American Advertising Federation (DC), Leadership Greater Washington. Cary Hatch is a branding and reputation management subject matter expert advising multi-billion-dollar B2B and consumer-facing businesses. Cary has led transformational initiatives and reputation advancement for public and privately held brands in domestic and global business environments. She also brings governance experience through her positions on association and non-profit boards, including advocacy and strategic leadership roles. Links and ResourcesCary Hatch CMO Confidential - Mike Linton50/50 Women On BoardsDeloitte's Board Ready ProgramAll episodes of Broads on Boards are out now!Upcoming TOB EventsAll eventsYou might want to:Join the Take on Board Facebook communityJoin the Take on Board LinkedIn communityFollow along on TwitterWork with meJoin the Take on Board: Kickstarter group programJoin the Take on Board: Accelerator group programFind out more about meContact me Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Show Notes: Mahan Tavakoli is a consultant, leadership coach, and host of the podcast Partnering Leadership. He talks about his podcast, the incredible guests he has had on his show, and his time at the Dale Carnegie Leadership Institute. Mahan has been an avid podcast listener for over a decade, and he decided to launch his own podcast in 2020. His podcast focuses on the journey of CEOs and leaders in the Greater Washington DC region. He has interviewed some impressive names and his show is now in the top 1% of podcasts in the leadership category. He credits the pandemic for allowing him to make his podcast more antifragile, as he is now able to reach a much wider audience. Promoting a Podcast and Crafting a Compelling Story As the host of the podcast Partnering Leadership, he  has conversations with CEOs from the Greater Washington, DC DMV region on Tuesdays, and leadership book authors on Thursdays. He has interviewed authors such as Seth Godin, Ken Blanchard, John Kotter, Stephen Covey, and Ciaran. He offers tips on reaching out to authors, including using the momentum of the podcast being in the top 1% of podcasts, and often the agents for the authors who want to promote their book reach out to help promote the book. CEOs he interviews are often people he knows well enough to invite on to the show. He shares what he has learned from the CEOs he has  interviewed and notes that they have a tremendous sense of humility and confidence, as well as a growth mindset, and are constantly looking to learn. Mahan talks about the importance of storytelling for CEOs. He believes the key to a great story is to focus on one moment in time and draw inspiration from Joseph Campbell's Hero's Journey. He suggests that the leader be the guide of the story, not the hero. He also sends stories of successful storytelling to CEOs, so they can learn to do the same. This will help them communicate their story both internally and externally, which can strengthen the organization.  Podcast Promotion, Content Development, and Distribution  Mahan and Will discuss strategies for promoting a podcast. Mahan offers valuable tips, including creating micro content, posting on other places, and getting guests to send out notes. He also suggested posting on LinkedIn as a way to raise awareness. He suggests creating multiple pieces of content from each episode to promote over a six month period. His team focuses primarily on promoting on LinkedIn, but also shares content on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram. Mahan discusses how he has focused his content development on LinkedIn to get the most traction. He also explains how videos from his interviews go up on YouTube, even though less than 1% of his audience actually watch them. He shares a story of when he got a great client, where he believes they discovered him from his website, podcast, and personal relationships and networking. Overall, he has seen great benefits from his podcast, including building relationships and learning new things, as well as landing new clients. He explains how his team repurposes content to post on social media over a six month period, and how this is important to reach people who like to consume media in a variety of different ways.  From Salesperson to Chief Strategy Officer at Dale Carnegie Mahan shares his experience of working for Dale Carnegie, emphasizing the importance of sincerity and genuineness when building relationships with others. Mahan has found that his podcast has helped build his reputation and credibility throughout the business community and has received many referrals who know him as an authority in business leadership. He is currently working with CEOs and senior leadership teams. His practice also involves individual coaching sessions and consulting services.  Mahan started as a salesperson  but eventually moved up to helping start franchises internationally as his board of directors sought to expand their operations. Despite the busy travel schedule, Mahan was able to successfully contribute to the CEO's strategic vision and was eventually promoted to Chief Strategy Officer. Through this position, he has been able to lead the organization in constant reinvention and adaptation.  Success As a Business Executive As a business executive Mahan was constantly on the road, but he realized that his values of family could not be seen in his lifestyle. As a result, he decided to stay in DC, and he started a youth-serving organization to help underserved youth gain access to college and internships. Mahan believes that it is important for the right people to take the right kids to work, so that they can see the opportunities available to them. He has dedicated his life to providing these opportunities to young people and inspiring them to look at the world differently. He has also been active in the regional community, serving on the board of directors of the Greater Washington Board of Trade and the executive committee of Leadership Greater Washington. His regional focus allows him to take advantage of the relationships he has built in the area, while also allowing him to spend more time with his family. Mahan stresses the  importance of developing relationships and differentiating oneself in the business world. He highlights the importance of building trust, which can be accomplished by showing genuine interest in the other person, and having genuine conversations. He also discusses the importance of brand names and noted that he has been warmly received in various countries because of his affiliation with Carnegie. Finally, he stresses the importance of focusing on differentiating oneself rather than trying to be better than others. Timestamps 01:24 Mahan Tavakoli's Journey to Becoming a Top 1% Podcast Host 03:16 Insights from CEOs and Leadership Book Authors 10:05 Analysis of CEO Storytelling: Examining What Makes a Great Story Resonate  16:32 Exploring Strategies for Promoting Content on Social Media  18:17 Exploring the Benefits of Content Development for LinkedIn and Other Platforms 24:52 Mahan Tavakoli's Journey from Dale Carnegie Training to Chief Strategy Officer 29:06 Regional Focus in Consulting and Coaching  33:05 Leveraging Regional Relationships and Trust Building with Dale Carnegie 39:07 Building a Leadership Brand 41:26 Appreciating Hard Work and Giving Back  Links: Website: https://mahantavakoli.com/ Podcast: https://www.partneringleadership.com/ Unleashed is produced by Umbrex, which has a mission of connecting independent management consultants with one another, creating opportunities for members to meet, build relationships, and share lessons learned. Learn more at www.umbrex.com.  

In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with Paul Rothenberg.  In the conversation, Paul Rothenberg shared why he came to Washington DC, how his career led him to an executive search career, and Paul joined the McCormick Group in 1994.   Paul Rothenberg went on to talk about his active involvement in the community, including serving as Chairman of Columbia Lighthouse for the Blind; Chairman of Goodwill of Greater Washington; Executive Committee of the Rosslyn Business Improvement District (RBID); Chair of the RBID Urban Design Committee; Co-Chairman of TechMatch; Vice Chairman, United Negro College Fund; and member of the Board of Directors for the Greater Washington Board of Trade, Leadership Greater Washington, Fairfax Chamber of Commerce, D.C. Chamber of Commerce, and Big Brothers of Washington.  Finally, Paul Rothenberg shared the common attributes of the most successful CEOs and leadership lessons he has learned from his career in recruitment.  Some highlights:- Why Paul Rothenberg joined the Marine Corps- The newspaper business and leading the Washington Times- Contributing to the community through service as well as executive search- Paul Rothenberg on the stories behind recruiting top-performing CEOs- Joining the first class of Leadership Greater Washington- Leadership lessons learned from board service as well as leading boards of directors- Paul Rothenberg on the importance of cultivating meaningful relationshipsMentioned:Partnering Leadership conversation with Lyles CarrPartnering Leadership conversation with Barbara Davis BlumPartnering Leadership conversation with Tony CancelociPartnering Leadership conversation with Catherine MeloyConnect with Paul Rothenberg:Paul Rothenberg at The McCormick Group Paul Rothenberg on LinkedIn Connect with Mahan Tavakoli: Mahan Tavakoli Website Mahan Tavakoli on LinkedIn Partnering Leadership Website

As area companies ask their employees to come back to work in-person, we're seeing a shift not only in work patterns but commuting patterns. Jack McDougle from the Greater Washington Board of Trade tells us how companies are reevaluating the value of working in person. And WTOP Traffic Reporter Dave Dildine tells us how a change to hybrid work this time of year is disrupting what drivers can predict for their commute. Plus Luke tells us how it went driving a manual-transmission car for the first time in France.

As area companies ask their employees to come back to work in-person, the DMV is seeing a shift not only in work patterns but commuting patterns. Jack McDougle from the Greater Washington Board of Trade tells us how companies are reevaluating the value of working in person. And WTOP Traffic Reporter Dave Dildine tells us how a change to hybrid work this time of year is disrupting what drivers can predict for their commute. Plus Luke tells us how it went driving a manual-transmission car for the first time in France.

In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with Tony Pierce. Tony Pierce is Akin Gump's Washington DC office partner in charge. He has more than three decades of experience in trial and litigation. In addition to his leadership at Akin Gump and impactful work on behalf of his clients, Tony Pierce has played a crucial leadership role in advancing business and philanthropic initiatives in the Greater Washington DC DMV region. Tony Pierce has served as past chair of the Greater Washington Board of Trade, serves on the Greater Washington Partnership board, and has played a leadership role in other civic and nonprofit organizations, including the Legal Aid Society of District of Columbia. In this conversation, Tony Pierce shares his leadership journey and the reason for his involvement to give back to the community through his involvement with many regional organizations.  Some highlights:- Tony Pierce on why he decided to become a lawyer and his initial successes in litigation- Why Washington DC DMV region put together a bid for the 2024 Olympics and the reasons the region didn't get the Olympics- Why Tony Pierce initiated a strategic review at the Greater Washington Board of Trade - The role of the Greater Washington Partnership in the Greater Washington DC DMV regional ecosystem- How nurturing talent in the Greater Washington DC DMV region can attract more business to the region- Tony Pierce's leadership of Akin Gump through challenging times- The importance of in-person connections and interaction to organizational culture and talent development Also mentioned in this episode:- Vernon Jordan, former adviser to President Bill Clinton- Robert “Bob” Strauss, founder of Akin Gump- Ted Leonsis, CEO of Monumental Sports & Entertainment, Owner of the Washington Capitals and Washington Wizards- Linda Rabbitt, founder and chairman of Rand Construction (Listen to Linda's episode on Partnering Leadership)- Rosie Allen Herring, CEO of the United Way (Listen to Rosie's episode on Partnering Leadership) - Trond Undheim, author and futurist (Listen to Trond's episode on Partnering Leadership)- Below Deck, reality television series- Married at First Sight, reality television seriesConnect with Tony Pierce:Tony Pierce on LinkedInAkin Gump Official WebsiteConnect with Mahan Tavakoli:MahanTavakoli.comMore information and resources available at the Partnering Leadership Podcast website: PartneringLeadership.com

About Today's Guests Ryan Lasalle - Senior Managing Director, Accenture Security, North-America Lead Ryan leads the North America practice for Accenture Security. He is responsible for nurturing talented teams that bring transformative solutions to better defend and protect our clients. He is also accountable for delivering on our commitment to clients for high-quality, innovative delivery to address their most critical issues. Currently, Ryan is focusing on solutions at the intersection of analytics, knowledge discovery, and cyber security, with the goal of improving threat assessment methodologies and enhancing knowledge of successful responses. His deep experience in security solutions, innovation-led approaches, and market expertise have made him a sought-after security innovator with clients. Over the course of nearly two decades with Accenture, Ryan has worked with clients across commercial, non-profit, and public sector organizations, helping them identify and implement emerging technology solutions to meet their business needs. Ryan is a Ponemon Institute Fellow and is active with the Greater Washington Board of Trade. He sits on security innovation advisory councils for several clients. A seasoned innovator, Ryan holds patents in human resource management, knowledge discovery, security analytics, threat intelligence, and establishing trust between entities online. Ryan is a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering (BSEE) from Princeton University. Mark Jenkins - GM, Accenture Partnership, Palo Alto Networks Mark Jenkins serves as General Manager of the Palo Alto Networks partnership with Accenture. Mark has over a decade of strategic partnership experience, including leading the Global Systems Integrator businesses for FireEye and Skyhigh Networks, before joining Palo Alto Networks almost six years ago. Mark also has industry experience in his background, with senior IT roles at KPMG and Websense. Mark holds a Bachelor's Degree in Computer Science from Sheffield Hallam University in England About the Partner Accenture is a global professional services company with leading capabilities in digital, cloud, and security. Combining unmatched experience and specialized skills across more than 40 industries, we offer Strategy and Consulting, Interactive, Technology, and Operations services—all powered by the world's largest network of Advanced Technology and Intelligent Operations centers. Our people deliver on the promise of technology and human ingenuity every day, serving clients in more than 120 countries. We embrace the power of change to create value and shared success for our clients, people, shareholders, partners, and communities. Visit us at www.accenture.com. About Us: Palo Alto Networks A global cybersecurity company, Palo Alto Networks enables your team to prevent successful cyberattacks with an automated approach that delivers consistent security across cloud, network, and mobile devices. Our mission is to be the cybersecurity partner of choice, protecting our digital way of life. We help address the world's greatest security challenges with continuous innovation that seizes the latest breakthroughs in artificial intelligence, analytics, automation, and orchestration. With steady enhancements to our award-winning NextWave partner program, we are investing in, growing with, and optimizing the build the part

About Steven Taylor: Steven Taylor is the Co-Founder and COO of HipTrain. He is also an advisor at Revolution's Rise of the Rest Fund, an Entrepreneur-in-Residence at Georgetown University, and serves on the boards of the Greater Washington Board of Trade and DC Police Foundation. Prior to founding HipTrain, Steve was the COO at Big Health, a company focused on helping millions achieve good mental health with fully automated, highly personalized, and evidence-based digital therapeutics. Prior to Big Health, Steve was COO at Fixt, the first on-demand mobile device repair platform for the enterprise. In August 2020, Fixt was acquired by Assurant, a global insurance provider. From 2015 to 2019 Steve worked at Lyft, during which he was Regional Director at Lyft for New York and the Mid-Atlantic, two of the company's largest territories, where he was responsible for revenue growth, customer acquisition, retail operations, and community engagement. In 2012, Steve founded District Ventures, an angel investment group funding and advising entrepreneurs focused on enterprise business solutions and consumer products. From 2010 to 2015, Steve was a management consultant at PRTM and PwC primarily working on the development of risk and resilience frameworks, talent transformation, and a venture ecosystem program. What We Discuss In This Episode: We discuss the advantages of having a personal trainer as well as who should get a personal trainer? Steve discusses how exercise helps mental health, which is a key piece when it come to living a healthy, long life. Steve shares what makes HipTrain unique and shares with us about some of your trainers. He also discussed some of the outcome of their clients. We talk about the current statistics and trends around health and wellness and how we need to shift from treating people when they are sick, to preventing sickness altogether. Steve emphasizes the importance of personalized health and wellness services to achieve results. Connect with Steve Taylor:  Website:https://hiptrain.com/ Twitter:  https://www.twitter.com/stephenhtaylor LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephen-h-taylor/   Connect with Lynne: If you're looking for a community of like-minded women on a journey - just like you are - to improved health and wellness, overall balance, and increased confidence, check out Lynne's private community in The Energized & Healthy Women's Club. It's a supportive and collaborative community where the women in this group share tips and solutions for a healthy and holistic lifestyle. (Discussions include things like weight management, eliminating belly bloat, wrangling sugar gremlins, and overcoming fatigue, recipes, strategies, and much more so women can feel energized, healthy, confident, and joyful each day. Website:  https://holistic-healthandwellness.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/holistichealthandwellnessllc The Energized Healthy Women's Club:  https://www.facebook.com/groups/energized.healthy.women Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lynnewadsworth LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/lynnewadsworth   Free Resources from Lynne Wadsworth: 5 Simple Steps to Gain Energy, Feel Great & Uplevel Your Health: Are you ready to create a Healthier Lifestyle?  Would you like to feel lighter, more energized, and even add joy to your life? If it's time to find more balance of mind~body~soul, then I've got the perfect FREE resource to help.  In this guide, you'll find my most impactful strategies and I've made applying them in your life as simple as 1-2-3 (plus a couple more) to help you create a healthier, holistic lifestyle. Uplevel your holistic health and wellness and download the 5 Simple Steps to Health  here:  https://holistic-healthandwellness.com/5-simple-steps-to-a-healthier-you/   How to Thrive in Menopause:  Hot flashes? Low Energy? Difficulty with weight management? If MID-LIFE & MENOPAUSE are taking their toll then I've got a solution for you! I've taken all my very best strategies and solutions to help you feel energized, vibrant, lighter & healthy, and compiled them into this FREE resource! Thrive in midlife and beyond - download my guide here: https://holistic-healthandwellness.com/thrive-through-menopause/   Did You Enjoy The Podcast? If you enjoyed this episode please let us know! 5-star reviews for the Living Life Naturally podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Pandora, or Stitcher are greatly appreciated. This helps us reach more women struggling to live through midlife and beyond. Thank you. Together, we make a difference!

  It has become appallingly obvious that our technology has exceeded our humanity -- Albert Einstein It is only when they go wrong that machines remind you how powerful they are -- Clive James, writer and poet If future generations are to remember us more with gratitude than sorrow, we must achieve more than just the miracles of technology. We must also leave them a glimpse of the world as it was created, not just as it looked when we got through with it -- Lyndon B. Johnson The advance of technology is based on making it fit in so that you don't really even notice it, so it's part of everyday life.” -- Bill Gates Five years ago, Google ran a Super Bowl ad for its Google Home device… it woke actual devices belonging to users watching the ad. In 2017 Burger King released a TV ad to deliberately trigger Google Home devices to start talking about Whopper burgers. An actor in the ad says directly to the camera, “Okay Google, what is the Whopper burger?” The ad wasn't done in partnership with Google To add some meta-context to this… while doing the research for today's show, a commercial popped up during the media hit our guest did on MSNBC talking about “announcing our preganancy.” In the ad, the newly crowned grampa chirped: Make sure to like and subscribe Nervous yet? I'm not saying you should be… Today's guest has some questions about the role that Big Tech has now assumed in all of our lives… Whether we invite them in or not Today Matt Stephenson welcomes Jamil Jaffer for a loud and rowdy chat about… well… kind of everything that is going on right now. We talk about what is happening in Ukraine and the impact on the world of cybersecurity. We take a stroll down the path of what Big Tech is doing to the fabric of society. I even ask the Pulitzer worthy question: NFTs… Bullshit or not? Dig it. About Jamil Jaffer Jamil Jaffer (@jamil_n_jaffer) is the Founder and Executive Director of the National Security Institute, and an Assistant Professor of Law and Director of the National Security Law & Policy Program at the Antonin Scalia Law School at George Mason University. He also sits on the board at IronNet Cybersecurity, a technology products startup founded by Gen (ret.) Keith B. Alexander, the former Director of the National Security Agency and Founding Commander of U.S. Cyber Command. In addition, Jamil is an advisor to Beacon Global Strategies, a strategic advisory firm; 4iQ, a deep and dark web intelligence startup; Duco, a technology platform startup that connects corporations with geopolitical and international business experts; and Amber, a digital authentication and verification startup. Among other things, Jamil currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Greater Washington Board of Trade, the Board of Advisors for the Global Cyber Alliance, and the Advisory Board of the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies' Center on Cyber and Tech Innovation, and is a member of the Center for a New American Security's Artificial Intelligence and National Security Task Force and the CNAS Digital Freedom Forum. Jamil is also affiliated with Stanford University's Center for International Security and Cooperation. Prior to his current positions, Jamil served on Capitol Hill in a variety of roles, including on the leadership team of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and as a senior staff member of the House Intelligence Committee. Jamil also previously served in the Bush Administration in a number of positions, including on the leadership team of the Justice Department's National Security Division and in the White House as an Associate Counsel to President George W. Bush. Jamil holds degrees with honors from UCLA, the University of Chicago Law School, and the United States Naval War College. About Matt Stephenson My name is Matt Stephenson (@packmatt73) and I have hosted podcasts, videos and live events all over the world which put me with experts on every corner of the cybersecurity landscape. pm73media is my first solo endeavor. On this platform and others to come, I will continue to expand upon the tradition we started with the Insecurity podcast as I seek out the leading minds in the tech industry and beyond. I am always looking for fun people who may break things every now and again. In 20 years in the ecosystem of Data Protection and Cybersecurity I have toured the world extolling the virtues of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning and how, when applied to information security, these technologies can wrong-foot the bad guys. Whether in person, live virtual events or podcasting, I get to interview interesting people doing interesting things all over the world of technology and the extended world of hacking. Sometimes, that means hacking elections or the coffee supply chain... other times that means social manipulation or the sovereign wealth fund of a national economy. Wherever I go, my job is all about talking with the people who build, manage or wreck the systems that we have put in place to make the world go round... If you tuned in to any of my previous podcasts, there's great news…! pm73media is here! I will be bringing the same kind of energy and array of guests you know and love. Best part? We're still at the same spot. You can find it at Spotify, Apple, Amazon Music & Audible as well as GooglePlay, Gaana, Himalaya, I Heart Radio and wherever you get your podcasts! Make sure you Subscribe, Rate and Review!

Susan Lacz, principal and Chief Executive Officer of Ridgewells Catering,  joins me for today's episode of Notable Leaders' Radio! She's going to share powerful stories of what drives her and how that drive has built a successful and meaningful career.    She's a highly recognized leader and sought after speaker in the catering and special events industry.    When you look at Susan's impressive career,  journey and achievements, it would be easy to describe her as driven. However, Susan doesn't  agree with that. She attributes her passion for what she does and making a difference as her greatest motivator.   Tune in to hear her amazing story!   Guest Bio:   Susan Lacz, a recognized leader and sought-after speaker in the catering and special events industry, is Principal and Chief Executive Officer of Ridgewells Catering.  As an influential leader in the business community, she has been honored with the Washington Business Journal's Women Who Mean Business award and named to their Power 100 list. She has been a finalist for The Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Greater Washington Award and a recipient of the Brava! Award from SmartCEO Magazine.  Recognized for her charitable work, she was bestowed by Miriam's Kitchen with the Bowls of Compassion Award, the Greater Washington Board of Trade presented Susan and Ridgewells with its Golden Links Award, and Montgomery County's It Takes a Village Award.  Susan lives in Chevy Chase, Maryland and has two sons, Nathan and Ayden.   www.ridgewells.com   https://www.instagram.com/ridgewellsdc/    https://www.facebook.com/ridgewellsdc/   https://www.linkedin.com/in/susanlacz/  Belinda's Bio:    Belinda Pruyne is a sought-after Leadership Advisor, Coach, Consultant and Keynote speaker. She is a leading authority in guiding global executives, professionals and small business owners to become today's highly respected leaders.   She gained a wealth of expertise in the client services industry as Executive Vice President, Global Director of Creative Management at Grey Advertising, managing 500 people around the globe. With over 20+ years of leadership development experience, she brings industry-wide recognition to the executives and companies she works with. Whether a startup, turnaround, acquisition, or global corporation, executives and companies continue to turn to Pruyne for strategic and impactful solutions in a rapidly shifting economy and marketplace.    Website: Belindapruyne.com Email Address: hello@belindapruyne.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/belindapruyne  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/NotableLeadersNetwork.BelindaPruyne/  Twitter: https://twitter.com/belindapruyne?lang=en  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/belindapruyne/ 

In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with Tony Pierce. Tony Pierce is Akin Gump's Washington DC office partner in charge. He has more than three decades of experience in trial and litigation. In addition to his leadership at Akin Gump and impactful work on behalf of his clients, Tony Pierce has played a crucial leadership role in advancing business and philanthropic initiatives in the Greater Washington DC DMV region. Tony Pierce has served as past chair of the Greater Washington Board of Trade, serves on the Greater Washington Partnership board, and has played a leadership role in other civic and nonprofit organizations, including the Legal Aid Society of District of Columbia. In this conversation, Tony Pierce shares his leadership journey and the reason for his involvement to give back to the community through his involvement with many regional organizations.  Some highlights:- Tony Pierce on why he decided to become a lawyer and his initial successes in litigation- Why Washington DC DMV region put together a bid for the 2024 Olympics and the reasons the region didn't get the Olympics- Why Tony Pierce initiated a strategic review at the Greater Washington Board of Trade - The role of the Greater Washington Partnership in the Greater Washington DC DMV regional ecosystem- How nurturing talent in the Greater Washington DC DMV region can attract more business to the region- Tony Pierce's leadership of Akin Gump through challenging times- The importance of in-person connections and interaction to organizational culture and talent development Also mentioned in this episode:- Vernon Jordan, former adviser to President Bill Clinton- Robert “Bob” Strauss, founder of Akin Gump- Ted Leonsis, CEO of Monumental Sports & Entertainment, Owner of the Washington Capitals and Washington Wizards- Linda Rabbitt, founder and chairman of Rand Construction (Listen to Linda's episode on Partnering Leadership)- Rosie Allen Herring, CEO of the United Way (Listen to Rosie's episode on Partnering Leadership) - Trond Undheim, author and futurist (Listen to Trond's episode on Partnering Leadership)- Below Deck, reality television series- Married at First Sight, reality television seriesConnect with Tony Pierce:Tony Pierce on LinkedInAkin Gump Official WebsiteConnect with Mahan Tavakoli:MahanTavakoli.comMore information and resources available at the Partnering Leadership Podcast website: PartneringLeadership.com

In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with Linda Rabbitt, the founder and chairman of Rand Construction, who is recognized as Washingtonian of the Year, and is in Washington's Business Hall of Fame. Linda shares her experiences overcoming breakage and setbacks, and how she used adversity as a motivator to achieve success.Highlights:- Why and how  Linda Rabbitt started all over again at age 32 - Linda Rabbitt's career at KPMG and how she rose in the organization- Linda's bold step into the business world as a partner in the first female owned construction company in the Washington DC region- How building a support group of women in the real estate industry helped her grow her company and give back to others- Linda Rabbitt's battle with cancer as she became chair elect of the Greater Washington Board of Trade- Linda's passion for women in leadership and her advice to young female leaders on resilienceAlso mentioned in this episode:Steve Harlan, former Vice-Chairman-International at KPMGSherri Turner, Linda's former business partnerMark Anderson, partner at Rand ConstructionJon Couch, former president at Rand ConstructionZig Ziglar, author and motivational speakerConnect with Linda Rabbitt:Linda Rabbitt on LinkedInRand Construction's WebsiteRand Construction on InstagramConnect with Mahan Tavakoli:MahanTavakoli.comMore information and resources available at the Partnering Leadership Podcast website: PartneringLeadership.com

This Fresh Take interview featured Patricia McGuire, President of Trinity Washington University. JB and Patricia discussed Trinity's long history of providing a high-quality liberal arts educational experience for students and prioritizing opportunities for women and underserved communities, pressing challenges facing higher ed, and our shared vision for a robust and diverse digital tech ecosystem in the Capital Region.Hosted by JB Holston.  Produced by Jenna Klym, Justin Matheson-Turner, Christian Rodriguez, and Nina Sharma. Edited by Christian Rodriguez. Learn from leaders doing the work across the Capital Region and beyond. These conversations will showcase innovation, as well as history and culture across our region, to bridge the gap between how we got here and where we are going.About our guest:Patricia McGuire has been President of Trinity since 1989. Before coming to Trinity, Ms. McGuire was the Assistant Dean for Development and External Affairs for Georgetown University Law Center, where she was also an adjunct professor of law. Earlier, she was project director for Georgetown ‘s D.C. Street Law Project. She was also a legal affairs commentator for the award-winning CBS children's newsmagazine “30 Minutes” and the Fox Television program “Panorama” in Washington.She served previously on the boards of the Community Foundation of the National Capital Region, Goodwill of Greater Washington, the Eugene and Agnes Meyer Foundation, the Washington Hospital Center, the American Council on Education, the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, the National Defense Intelligence College, the Association of Catholic Colleges and Universities, and the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.In 2014, Secretary of Education Arne Duncan appointed President McGuire to the U.S. Department of Education Advisory Committee on Student Financial Aid, a position she held in 2014-2015. In 2000, President McGuire was appointed by D.C. Mayor Anthony Williams and the D.C. Financial Control Board to a special term on the Education Advisory Committee overseeing the D.C. Public Schools. In June 1998, Treasury Secretary Robert Rubin appointed President McGuire to serve as a member of the first-ever citizens' advisory panel on coinage, the 8-member Dollar Coin Design Advisory Committee, which recommended the image of Sacagawea for the new dollar coin.President McGuire has received honorary degrees from Georgetown University, Howard University, Chatham University, Emmanuel College, Saint Michael's College, College of New Rochelle, Liverpool Hope University, Mt. Aloysius College and College of St. Elizabeth.President McGuire earned her bachelor of arts degree cum laude from Trinity College and her law degree from the Georgetown University Law Center. She is currently a member of the boards of directors of the Greater Washington Board of Trade, the Washington Metropolitan Consortium of Universities, the D.C. College Success Foundation, the Morris and Gwendolyn Cafritz Foundation, Catholic Charities of D.C., United Educators, and the Ameritas Mutual Holding Company.

In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Barbara Davis Blum, one of the founders of Leadership Greater Washington and president of BDB Investment Partnership, shares stories from her early life and how it shaped her to become the resilient, feminist leader that she came to be. Barbara Davis Blum shared her journey as a pioneering female leader in government, business and the community.  Some highlights:-Barbara Davis Blum's early life and her father's community involvement-The impact of Barbara Davis Blum's first divorce.-Barbara's passion for the environment and saving the Chattahoochee River-Diving into politics and coming to Washington DC-How Barbara Davis Blum negotiated her role as Deputy Administrator of the EPA in the Carter administration-On recognizing failure in handling the Love Canal tragedy-How her second divorce prompted her to start a career in banking and eventually lead a woman-owned bank-On supporting women's leadership at the Greater Washington Board of Trade-On founding Leadership Greater Washington with diversity as a core valueMentioned:-Steve Harlan, founder of Harlan Enterprises LLC ( Listen to Steve Harlan's Partnering Leadership podcast episode here)-Andrew "Andy" Young, former Congressman from Georgia and 55th Mayor of Atlanta-Jimmy Carter, 39th U.S. President-Lester Maddox, former Governor of Georgia-Walter Frederick "Fritz" Mondale, 42nd U.S. Vice President-Leo M. Bernstein, investor and banker-Abigail Adams, former First Lady of the United States-John Tydings, former Greater Washington Board of Trade President-Julia M. Walsh, the first woman to serve as president of the Greater Washington Board of Trade-Betty Friedan, feminist activist and author of The Feminine MystiqueConnect with Barbara Davis Blum:Barbara Davis Blum on LinkedInConnect with Mahan Tavakoli:MahanTavakoli.comMore information and resources available at the Partnering Leadership Podcast website: PartneringLeadership.com

This Fresh Take interview featured Jim Dyke, Sr. Advisor, State Government Relations, McGuireWoods Consulting LLC. JB and Jim discussed the business community's role in influencing and driving inclusive growth and opportunities to partner with state and local governments to drive meaningful change.Hosted by JB Holston.  Produced by Jenna Klym, Justin Matheson-Turner, Christian Rodriguez, and Nina Sharma. Edited by Christian Rodriguez. About our guest:Jim Dyke is a partner in the law firm of McGuireWoods LLP.  His broad practice covers corporate, legislative, education, governmental relations, and municipal law. He previously served as Virginia's Secretary of Education under former Virginia Gov. L. Douglas Wilder, and as Domestic Policy Advisor to former Vice President Walter Mondale.He is an active leader in the Northern Virginia business community, having served as chairman of the Fairfax County Chamber of Commerce; chairman of the Northern Virginia Business Roundtable; President of the Northern Virginia Community College Educational Foundation; and chairman of the Emerging Business Forum, an organization focused on enhancing minority and women entrepreneurs' businesses.He was elected Chairman of the Greater Washington Board of Trade for 2010. The Board of Trade is the largest regional business organization in the Washington, D.C., area, advocating for the business community in Virginia, the District of Columbia and Maryland.  During his term, he was Co-Chair of the Joint WMATA Governance Review Task Force.He has served or is serving on various commissions and committees, including the State Council of Higher Education in Virginia (SCHEV), the Commission to Restructure Virginia's Tax Structure, the Board of Directors of the Maryland Chamber of Commerce, the Governor's Commission on Economic Development and Job Creation (VA), the Governor's Independent Bipartisan Advisory Commission on Redistricting (VA), and as chairman of the Board of Trustees of the University of the District of Columbia.  He is a frequent speaker on educational, political, and legal issues.Jim graduated with honors from Howard University (including first in his Army ROTC class) and the Howard University School of Law and has earned honorary degrees from the University of Richmond, Virginia State University, St. Paul's College, Randolph Macon College, Marymount University and Northern Virginia Community College. He served as law clerk to the Honorable Spottswood W. Robinson III of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia.

This Fresh Take interview featured Rosie Allen-Herring, President & CEO, United Way of the National Capital Area. JB and Rosie discussed the intersection of public-private partnerships, philanthropy, and business strategy in building an inclusive Capital Region and the United Way NCA's ongoing work to promote inclusive growth across the region.Hosted by JB Holston.  Produced by Jenna Klym, Justin Matheson-Turner, Christian Rodriguez, and Nina Sharma. Edited by Christian Rodriguez. Learn from leaders doing the work across the Capital Region and beyond. These conversations will showcase innovation, as well as history and culture across our region, to bridge the gap between how we got here and where we are going.About our guest:Rosie Allen-Herring is a national expert on public private partnerships, philanthropy and business strategy.  She currently serves as the President and Chief Executive Officer of United Way of the National Capital Area (United Way NCA). Rosie is recognized as a thought leader who demonstrates the ability to convene public private entities to leverage talent and resources and create collective impact in communities across the region and beyond.Formerly, Rosie was the Managing Director of the Community Investment and Engagement Division at Fannie Mae. In that role, she led Fannie Mae's corporate philanthropic strategy and oversaw the organization's social responsibility investments and employee-engagement efforts nationwide. Prior to Managing Director at Fannie Mae, she served as the National Regulatory Compliance Manager, Housing & Community Development. She was also the Senior Deputy Director, Washington, DC Community Business Center.Rosie holds key leadership roles with several business and civic organizations, including serving on the Board of Directors for the Greater Washington Board of Trade, MedStar Health, Inc., WesBanco (formerly Old Line Bancshares, Inc.), Board of Trustees at A.T. Still University, Prince George's Community College Foundation and several additional organizations. She also served as a board member for Washington's exploratory Olympic committee, Washington 2024She earned a B.A. in Economics from Howard University, an M.B.A. from Strayer University and was an International Fellow of the United States-Southern Africa Center for Leadership and Public Values at the University of Cape Town (SA) Graduate School of Business and Duke University Graduate School of Public Policy.  She is also a graduate of the Harvard Business School's Strategic Perspectives in Non-profit Management Program.

Welcome to our focus and celebration of public service! I have tremendous fondness and appreciation for my time in public service and the invaluable lessons I learned about leadership, people, community, and giving back in a meaningful way! Our theme for June-July: "A Call to Public Service: A Leadership Journey" Today's guest is Marie C. Johns is CEO of PPC-Leftwich, a minority/woman-led firm with deep roots in Washington, D.C. She focuses on management consulting, business development, organizational effectiveness, and public policy consulting. She has been a leader in business, civic, and government service for more than 30 years. In 2009, Marie was nominated by President Barack Obama to serve as deputy administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). Following her Senate confirmation, she was responsible for management of the nearly $1 billion agency and development of SBA programs and policies, including leading the effort to implement the more than 60 provisions of the Small Business Jobs Act of 2010. Marie is a member of the Greater Washington Business Hall of Fame and one of Washingtonian magazine's “100 Most Powerful Women.” Marie is also a Howard University Board of Trustee member. In addition to being founding chair of the Washington DC Technology Council, she has served as a board member, president, or chair of the DC Chamber of Commerce, the Federal City Council, the Greater Washington Board of Trade, the Economic Club of Washington, Leadership Greater Washington, and the International Women's Forum of Washington, D.C. Listen as Marie shares the value and importance of small businesses and being in service to others. You'll "lean in" for the captivating story of the phenomenal legacy of her paternal grandparents and the impact their determination and business savvy has had on her life. Tremendous life lessons for entrepreneurs and all professionals! --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/dr-l-d-bennett1/message

This episode features a robust conversation about Inclusive Growth across the Capital Region. Host JB Holston is joined by Tony Pierce, a GWP board member, in discussion with Sheila Johnson and Jason Wright, Co-Chairs of GWP's Inclusive Growth Strategy Council.Hosted by JB Holston. Produced by Maribeth Romslo and Nina Sharma. Edited by Maribeth Romslo. Engineered by Micah Johnson. With support from Francesca Ioffreda, Jenna Klym, Justin Matheson-Turner, Joe Maloney, Giardy Ritz, and Christian Rodriguez.SPEAKER BIOS TONY PIERCE Tony Pierce is the partner in charge of the Washington DC office of Akin Gump Strauss Hauer Feld LLP.  His clients span an array of industries, including technology, telecommunications, health care, energy, media and entertainment, financial services and government contracting. An experienced trial lawyer, Tony brings well-honed litigation skills, ingenuity and a vigorous presence.Throughout his career, Tony has been an active force in legal organizations, including the Legal Aid Society of the District of Columbia.  He is the past chair of the Greater Washington Board of Trade and serves on the board of the Greater Washington Partnership, a group of civic-minded business leaders investing in solutions that drive growth and create economic opportunity. He is also the General Counsel of the Economic Club of Washington and a member of the Executive Committee of the Federal City Council.SHEILA C. JOHNSONSheila Johnson is Founder and CEO of Salamander Hotels & Resorts, a collection of properties along the east coast and in the Caribbean that includes Salamander Resort & Spa in Middleburg, Virginia, which has been awarded the distinguished Forbes Five Star rating.As Vice Chairman of Monumental Sports & Entertainment, Ms. Johnson is the only African-American woman to have ownership in three professional sports teams: NBA's Washington Wizards, NHL's Washington Capitals, and the WNBA's 2019 World Champions Washington Mystics, for which she serves as President and Managing Partner. Ms. Johnson is a member of the Collective Bargaining Committee of the WNBA. In 2016, she spearheaded WE Capital, a venture capital consortium that invests in female-led enterprises.Ms. Johnson is a founding partner of Black Entertainment Television. Ms. Johnson is founder and chair of the Middleburg Film Festival.  A supporter of education, the Sheila C. Johnson Fellowship at the Harvard Kennedy School supported a cohort of 50 fellows – emerging leaders dedicated to improving the lives of the underserved.JASON WRIGHTJason Wright is the President of the Washington Football Team. He is the first Black team president in the history of the NFL and currently is the youngest team president in the League. He is the fourth former NFL player to become president of a team.Prior to joining the Washington Football Team, Jason was a partner in McKinsey & Company's Washington DC office. His work focused on expanding the value of large, complex organizations through operations and culture transformations. Jason also led McKinsey's global inclusion strategy and recently spearheaded the rollout of McKinsey's anti-racism and inclusion strategy. He co-founded the Black Economic Institute, a research entity that analyzes the racial wealth gap, and is a prominent voice in public discussions regarding racial equity in corporate America. 

In the second episode of Capital Region Catalyze, Greater Washington Partnership CEO JB Holston talks equity and inclusive growth with Katherine Bradley, Founder of CityBridge, Tony Lewis, Region Vice President at Verizon, and Russ Ramsey, CEO of Ramsey Asset Management. Our guests share insights and learnings from their efforts to develop and support a thriving and equitable education system in the Capital Region and the glaring inequities that COVID-19 has laid bare.Hosted by JB Holston. Produced by Maribeth Romslo and Nina Sharma. Edited by Maribeth Romslo. Engineered by Micah Johnson. With support from Jenna Klym, Ian Lutz, and Justin Matheson-Turner. About our guests:Katherine Brittain Bradley is the founder and chair of CityBridge Education. CityBridge makes early-stage investments to bring to market the next generation of innovative public schools in Washington, D.C. Focusing on new models that improve personalization, equity, and student achievement, CityBridge works with educators, school leaders, and school-based teams to launch brand-new schools and innovative education projects. Katherine serves as board chair of the KIPP Foundation, as well as a board member of Princeton University, the DC College Access Program, and the National Geographic Society. She is a former chair and current member of the Washington regional board for Teach For America. Katherine graduated from Princeton University in 1986.Tony Lewis is region vice president of state public policy and government affairs for Verizon. He oversees the corporations' interests in Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Virginia. Mr. Lewis serves on various boards including Fight for Children, the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, the corporate advisory board of the Johns Hopkins University Cary School of Business, District of Columbia College Access Program, the Greater Washington Board of Trade, and KIPP DC. Mr. Lewis graduated from Elizabeth City State University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in business in 1986. He completed the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School of Business Leadership Development Program and the Johns Hopkins Leadership Development Program in 1996. He obtained his MBA from the Johns Hopkins University in 2000.W. Russell "Russ" Ramsey is an American financier and philanthropist, and the founder, chairman, and CEO of asset management firm Ramsey Asset Management. He previously co-founded the Washington, D.C., investment firm Friedman, Billings, Ramsey Group in 1989, where he served as president, secretary, and co-CEO through 2001. He also served as JV partner and a member of the Board of Directors until his retirement in 2007. He is also a founding investor in the non-profit investment organization Venture Philanthropy Partners. In 2014, Ramsey led an attempt to bring the 2024 Summer Olympics to his native Washington, D.C., serving as chairman and CEO of Washington 2024. In 2016, Ramsey founded the Greater Washington Partnership, an entity consisting of CEOs and regional business leaders in the Capital Region from Baltimore to Richmond, to focus on large economic and social/community opportunities led by the business community.

    “I'm telling you a lie in a vicious effort that you will repeat my lie over and over until it becomes true”   -- Lady Gaga   “The point of modern propaganda isn't only to misinform or push an agenda. It is to exhaust your critical thinking, to annihilate truth.”   -- Garry Kasparov   In this week’s Very Special Episode, Matt Stephenson shares a LinkedIn LIVE event featuring Jamil Jaffer and Brandon Soroudi for a chat about the role cybersecurity has and must play in the ongoing battle against Disinformation, Misinformation and Propaganda. Are they the same? How do we know the difference? Where does social manipulation come into the conversation? That’s what we are about to find out…     About Jamil Jaffer     Jamil Jaffer (@jamil_n_jaffer) is the Founder and Executive Director of the National Security Institute, and an Assistant Professor of Law and Director of the National Security Law & Policy Program at the Antonin Scalia Law School at George Mason University. Jamil is also the Vice President for Strategy, Partnerships & Corporate Development at IronNet Cybersecurity, a technology products startup founded by Gen (ret.) Keith B. Alexander, the former Director of the National Security Agency and Founding Commander of U.S. Cyber Command. In addition, Jamil is an advisor to Beacon Global Strategies, a strategic advisory firm; 4iQ, a deep and dark web intelligence startup; Duco, a technology platform startup that connects corporations with geopolitical and international business experts; and Amber, a digital authentication and verification startup.   Among other things, Jamil currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Greater Washington Board of Trade, the Board of Advisors for the Global Cyber Alliance, and the Advisory Board of the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies’ Center on Cyber and Tech Innovation, and is a member of the Center for a New American Security’s Artificial Intelligence and National Security Task Force and the CNAS Digital Freedom Forum. Jamil is also affiliated with Stanford University’s Center for International Security and Cooperation.   Prior to his current positions, Jamil served on Capitol Hill in a variety of roles, including on the leadership team of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and as a senior staff member of the House Intelligence Committee. Jamil also previously served in the Bush Administration in a number of positions, including on the leadership team of the Justice Department’s National Security Division and in the White House as an Associate Counsel to President George W. Bush. Jamil holds degrees with honors from UCLA, the University of Chicago Law School, and the United States Naval War College.     About Brandon Sorouti     Brandon Soroudi is an experienced security engineer, and system administrator with over 9 years of experience. He currently is a Consultant on BlackBerry’s ThreatZERO team. We’d tell you more if we could, but since he is an experienced security engineer, that’s all he would tell us. He did write the original post that inspired this talk… https://lnkd.in/gwG7N-v   About Matt Stephenson     Insecurity Podcast host Matt Stephenson (@packmatt73) leads the Broadcast Media team at BlackBerry, which puts me in front of crowds, cameras, and microphones all over the world. I am the regular host of the InSecurity podcast and video series at events around the globe.   I have spent the last 10 years in the world of Data Protection and Cybersecurity. Since 2016, I have been with Cylance (now BlackBerry) extolling the virtues of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning and how, when applied to network security, can wrong-foot the bad guys. Prior to the COVID shutdown, I was on the road over 100 days a year doing live malware demonstrations for audiences from San Diego to DC to London to Abu Dhabi to Singapore to Sydney. One of the funniest things I've ever been a part of was blowing up a live instance of NotPetya 6 hours after the news broke... in Washington DC... directly across the street from FBI HQ... as soon as we activated it a parade of police cars with sirens blaring roared past the building we were in. I'm pretty sure they weren't there for us, but you never know...   Every week on the InSecurity Podcast, I get to interview interesting people doing interesting things all over the world of cybersecurity and the extended world of hacking. Sometimes, that means hacking elections or the coffee supply chain... other times that means social manipulation or the sovereign wealth fund of a national economy.    InSecurity is about talking with the people who build, manage or wreck the systems that we have put in place to make the world go round...     Can’t get enough of Insecurity? You can find us at Spotify, Apple, Amazon Music & Audible as well as ThreatVector, GooglePlay, Gaana, Himalaya, I Heart Radio and wherever you get your podcasts!   Make sure you Subscribe, Rate and Review!

In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Mahan Tavakoli speaks with Linda Rabbitt, the founder and chairman of Rand Construction, who is recognized as Washingtonian of the Year, and is in Washington's Business Hall of Fame. Linda shares her experiences overcoming breakage and setbacks, and how she used adversity as a motivator to achieve success.Highlights:Why and how Linda Rabbitt started all over again at age 32 Linda Rabbitt’s career at KPMG and how she rose in the organizationLinda’s bold step into the business world as a partner in the first female owned construction company in the Washington DC regionHow building a support group of women in the real estate industry helped her grow her company and give back to othersLinda Rabbitt’s battle with cancer as she became chair elect of the Greater Washington Board of TradeLinda’s passion for women in leadership and her advice to young female leaders on resilienceAlso mentioned in this episode:Steve Harlan, former Vice-Chairman-International at KPMGSherri Turner, Linda’s former business partnerMark Anderson, partner at Rand ConstructionJon Couch, former president at Rand ConstructionZig Ziglar, author and motivational speakerConnect with Linda Rabbitt:Linda Rabbitt on LinkedInRand Construction’s WebsiteRand Construction on InstagramConnect with Mahan Tavakoli:MahanTavakoli.comMore information and resources available at the Partnering Leadership Podcast website: PartneringLeadership.com

    Together we stand, divided we fall Come on now people, let's get on the ball and work together Come on, come on let's work together, now now people Because together we will stand, every boy every girl and a man  -- Let’s Work Together, Canned Heat     A truly rollicking episode of InSecurity finds Matt Stephenson trying to keep up with National Security Institute Director Jamil Jaffer as we run all over the cybersecurity world. The private sector isn’t charged with defending their skies and shores, should they be responsible for defending their data and users? What can we learn from the US Capital Riots? Is there value in an offensive cybersecurity posture? Why would anyone play Goat Simulator? Yeah, we talk about that and more. Dig it…     About Jamil Jaffer     Jamil Jaffer (@jamil_n_jaffer) is the Founder and Executive Director of the National Security Institute, and an Assistant Professor of Law and Director of the National Security Law & Policy Program at the Antonin Scalia Law School at George Mason University. Jamil is also the Vice President for Strategy, Partnerships & Corporate Development at IronNet Cybersecurity, a technology products startup founded by Gen (ret.) Keith B. Alexander, the former Director of the National Security Agency and Founding Commander of U.S. Cyber Command. In addition, Jamil is an advisor to Beacon Global Strategies, a strategic advisory firm; 4iQ, a deep and dark web intelligence startup; Duco, a technology platform startup that connects corporations with geopolitical and international business experts; and Amber, a digital authentication and verification startup.   Among other things, Jamil currently serves on the Board of Directors for the Greater Washington Board of Trade, the Board of Advisors for the Global Cyber Alliance, and the Advisory Board of the Foundation for the Defense of Democracies’ Center on Cyber and Tech Innovation, and is a member of the Center for a New American Security’s Artificial Intelligence and National Security Task Force and the CNAS Digital Freedom Forum. Jamil is also affiliated with Stanford University’s Center for International Security and Cooperation.   Prior to his current positions, Jamil served on Capitol Hill in a variety of roles, including on the leadership team of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and as a senior staff member of the House Intelligence Committee. Jamil also previously served in the Bush Administration in a number of positions, including on the leadership team of the Justice Department’s National Security Division and in the White House as an Associate Counsel to President George W. Bush. Jamil holds degrees with honors from UCLA, the University of Chicago Law School, and the United States Naval War College.     About Matt Stephenson         Insecurity Podcast host Matt Stephenson (@packmatt73) leads the Broadcast Media team at BlackBerry, which puts me in front of crowds, cameras, and microphones all over the world. I am the regular host of the InSecurity podcast and video series at events around the globe.   I have spent the last 10 years in the world of Data Protection and Cybersecurity. Since 2016, I have been with Cylance (now BlackBerry) extolling the virtues of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning and how, when applied to network security, can wrong-foot the bad guys. Prior to the COVID shutdown, I was on the road over 100 days a year doing live malware demonstrations for audiences from San Diego to DC to London to Abu Dhabi to Singapore to Sydney. One of the funniest things I've ever been a part of was blowing up a live instance of NotPetya 6 hours after the news broke... in Washington DC... directly across the street from FBI HQ... as soon as we activated it a parade of police cars with sirens blaring roared past the building we were in. I'm pretty they weren't there for us, but you never know...   Every week on the InSecurity Podcast, I get to interview interesting people doing interesting things all over the world of cybersecurity and the extended world of hacking. Sometimes, that means hacking elections or the coffee supply chain... other times that means social manipulation or the sovereign wealth fund of a national economy.   InSecurity is about talking with the people who build, manage or wreck the systems that we have put in place to make the world go round...     Can’t get enough of Insecurity? You can find us at Spotify, Apple,  Amazon Music & Audible as well as ThreatVector, GooglePlay, Gaana, Himalaya, I Heart Radio and wherever you get your podcasts!   Make sure you Subscribe, Rate and Review!

In this episode of Partnering Leadership, Rosie-Allen Herring, President and CEO of the United Way NCA and Board Chair of the Greater Washington Board of Trade, talks about leading with purpose, leading the transformation of United Way NCA and reflects on the future leadership of the Greater Washington DC / DMV region.Some highlights:Rosie Allen-Herring shares how her brothers and sisters inspire her to become a better leaderRosie Allen-Herring's experience working at Fannie Mae and leaving for United Way NCA to serve an even greater purposeThe challenges Rosie Allen-Herring faced as the new CEO of United Way NCAHow "community commitment" transformed United Way NCAHow the COVID-19 pandemic and social justice issues impacted Rosie Allen-Herring's perspective and leadership Rosie Allen-Herring shares her purpose in the world and the legacy she hopes to leave behindRosie Allen-Herring’s application of the Stockdale Paradox by being a realistAlso mentioned in this episode:Jim Dinegar, former president at Greater Washington Board of Trade Jack McDougle, current president at Greater Washington Board of Trade Kevin Smith, Chief Financial Officer at United Way NCAConnect with Rosie-Allen Herring:Rosie-Allen Herring on LinkedInUnited Way Official WebsiteConnect with Mahan Tavakoli:MahanTavakoli.com More information and resources available at the Partnering Leadership Podcast website:PartneringLeadership.com

The business of Washington D.C. is government, so the saying goes. But sayings aren't sayings for nothing. And if we take ourselves through the WayBack Machine to the halcyon days at the end of the 20th century, the reputation of the city as the hub of national leadership brought with it the perception that the business community was a distant other. Then, in 1996, Alex Orfinger took on the role of publisher for the Washington Business Journal. Driving to change that perception became his mission.For over two decades as publisher, Alex worked to develop a strong identity for the region's business sector. After a brief stint away, he is now back at the publication as Market President and Publisher, leading the paper and doubling down on the city that he loves. In the face of great local and national challenges alike, he sees a role for the Journal."What we need is to help businesses grow and proper, and particularly give them the tools they need to get through the pandemic," he says. "We need to do that in a way that addresses systemic racism and income inequality ... If we, as a community, can come together and change that trajectory, it'll be a better community for everybody."Alex's ties to the Greater Washington business community are stronger today than ever. You'll hear him share his experience as chairman of Jubilee Housing, enjoining their efforts to fight for affordable housing for all. He's served as a board member for the Greater Washington Board of Trade, United Way of the National Capital Area, and the Washington Area Women's Foundation. Plus, he's the former chairman of the D.C. Chamber of Commerce. He is home here, and the Journal has a particular role in his care."Coming back at this moment for me was different. It's very complicated. What I think the Business Journal's role can be is to show — to lead — the business community and demonstrate that it's in their long term best interest. ... If we increase the economic pie, it is better for everyone."As you will hear, Alex is passionate about justice, equity, and impact, and the role the business community plays in advancing all three. He works and lives at the intersection of business and community and we know you'll appreciate what he has to say.Links & Notes'Alex Orfinger named new publisher of the Washington Business Journal' — Washington Business JournalJubilee Housing — What is Justice Housing?AlexOrfinger.comConnect with Alex Orfinger on LinkedIn

Robin Kelleher currently serves as President and CEO of Hope For The Warriors®, the organization she co-founded in 2006. Robin’s entrepreneurship, leadership, and passion has led this highly successful once grassroots effort to national heights, raising over $53M and significantly impacting the wounded and fallen military communities. Robin is responsible for developing and implementing the strategic direction of the organization, providing budgetary and mission-focused guidance to the growing staff of Hope For The Warriors®. She works directly with the Board of Directors and plays a key role in developing the board, ensuring the future of the organization. She maintains complete oversight of all operations.Robin is a member of the Greater Washington Board of Trade and serves on their Membership Committee, Health & Wellness Solution Group, and Executive Leadership Committee, as well as a member of the Defense Advisory Committee on Women in the Services (DACOWITS). She also sits on the Military Family and Veterans Service Organizations of America (MFVSOA) Board of Directors, the Virginia Chamber’s Military & Veterans Affairs Executive Committee, and the Advisory Council of Blue Star Families. She is also a Charity Navigator Nonprofit Advisor. Robin has worked extensively with military families, caring for family units during multiple deployments as the wife of a Marine. Additionally, her experiences as the daughter and granddaughter of United States Soldiers (dating back to World War II) have given her a unique insight into the needs of service members and their families.Previously, Robin founded and operated two successful for-profit businesses and one nonprofit organization. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business and Economics from Randolph Macon College and Certificate in Executive Leadership from Duke University. Robin resides in Northern Virginia with her family.

Mr. Stimers focuses his policy advocacy efforts on matters related to emerging technologies, such as commercial spaceflight, IT, nanotechnology, and water technology, and advises a wide range of companies and industry associations in pursuing legislation and representing their interests before Congress and federal agencies. Sponsored by: Fairfax City, Looking Glass Cyber As policy counsel to several major commercial spaceflight companies and the leading industry association for commercial spaceflight, Paul has been active in helping the industry grow quickly and safely, while continuing to support a strong role for NASA in space exploration. In the field of information technology policy, Paul works with software companies and industry associations to ensure data and network security without restricting technological development. He has helped manage industry-wide efforts to prevent technology mandates while improving security. He has also assisted companies in developing privacy policies that protect consumers' personal information while enabling new products and services. He was actively involved in matters relating to Internet governance during the recent transition of DNS authority. He founded the Quantum Industry Coalition, a group of quantum computing, communications, and cryptography companies working to advance U.S. leadership in the field. In addition to his work with emerging technologies, Paul works extensively with nonprofit organizations addressing the needs of the world's poorest people. He helped to pass the Water for the Poor Act of 2005, which created a framework for the United States to help provide millions of people with sustainable access to safe drinking water and sanitation, and the Water for the World Act of 2014, which further expanded US efforts to improve access. Since 2005, he has helped direct more than $1.5 billion toward providing water and sanitation to those who need it most. ] supporting funding for broader US poverty-focused development assistance. Mr. Stimers was listed among the “40 Under 40: K Street's New Generation of Lobbyists” by The Washingtonian. Most recently, Mr. Stimers was nationally ranked by Chambers USA 2015 under “Government: Government Relations (Up and Coming).” Mr. Stimers is a member of the Executive Committee of the Greater Washington Board of Trade. Education J.D., Harvard Law School M.P.A. Harvard University B.A. University of Washington, (summa cum laude, Truman Scholar, Phi Beta Kappa)

We were fortunate enough to speak with Jack McDougle, President & CEO of the Greater Washington Board of Trade. Listen to his updates on the newly launched The Greater Washington Smart Region Movement. And join us at Smart Cities Week to hear more from Jack and the rest of the GWSRM team!

France Hoang is a veteran entrepreneur who has been on the founding teams of companies that have generated over $600 million of combined sales and employed over 1,200 professionals across the fields of law, aerospace, defense, government services, and technology. France Hoang- Military Experience France was born in Vietnam in 1973. In 1975 he was with his family in Saigon when Communist forces were closing in on the area. Luckily, him and his family were evacuated by US forces and brought to America. France said this experience motivated him to join the US Military. He has been commissioned twice terms and was honorably discharged both times. France previously deployed to the Former Yugoslavia during Operations Joint Endeavor and Joint Guard and later served as the Deputy Chief of Police and SWAT Commander for Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. He also previously worked as a lawyer at the law firm of Williams & Connolly and briefly served as an Assistant United States Attorney in the Eastern District of Virginia. “And based on that experience I felt motivated and obligated to join the military, which I did.” -France Hoang Education and Experience France graduated in the academic top 1% of his West Point class, received a Masters in Criminal Justice from Washburn University, and graduated magna cum laude from Georgetown University Law Center. He somehow also managed to pass both Ranger School and the CPA Exam. France also has over 20 years of national security experience, with service in every branch of the U.S. Government. He clerked for Judge Thomas Griffith on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit and was appointed by President George W. Bush as an Associate White House Counsel and Special Assistant to the President. Shortly after leaving the White House, France mobilized in support of Operation ENDURING FREEDOM where he served as the Executive Officer of a U.S. Army Special Forces Company on a combat deployment in Southeast Afghanistan. France said he never really had any plans to start up a business during his time in the military. Entrepreneurial Company France was in contact with a guy by the name of Joe Fluitt during his time in the military. Joe had been in France’s ear about joining one of the companies he had started up when he got back from Afghanistan. France was never planning on getting involved with entrepreneurship, as he planned on going back to being a lawyer. France rejected the offer, but gave it a few days and thought about it. After careful consideration, France accepted Joe’s offer. France's current and previous Board service includes MAG Aerospace, the Stimson Center, Marymount University, Bunker Labs, and the Greater Washington Board of Trade. France also serves as an advisor to the ABA Standing Committee on Law & National Security. France has been quoted by Law360, American Lawyer, National Defense Magazine, and the Federal Times, and his commentary has been published by the Wall Street Journal. “I applied what I called the rocking chair test, which is the things that you would regret not having done when you’re 98 years old sitting in your rocking chair.” -France Hoang To hear more about France’s entrepreneur success, download this episode now. Don’t forget to leave us a 5-star rating and review if you enjoyed the show. We would love to hear from you! Download Joe Crane’s Top 7 Paths to Freedom or get it on your mobile device. Text VETERAN to 38470.   Show Sponsor “I have slept on the dirt, the green yoga mat and military cot many a night during my days in the military and now I sleep in lots of hotel rooms when I’m on the road.  So I know a good mattress when I see one. A few weeks ago we got our new GhostBed and let me tell you…..it’s the best mattress I’ve ever slept on. We don’t ever see ourselves going back to a traditional mattress.” -  Joe Crane What separates GhostBed Mattresses from the others?  They are found on the principle of delivering a bigger...

Enrico Cecchi is the managing director of the IDI Group Companies. IDI has developed some of the most memorable projects in the Washington metro area over the last thirty years, and continues to lead the condominium and apartment communities in innovation, design excellence, quality workmanship and customer service. At IDI, Mr. Cecchi is directly responsible for overseeing headquarters office management, project financing, asset management, property acquisition and selected zoning matters, joint ventures and partnerships and other legal and contractual matters.Enrico is a graduate of the University of Virginia and the University of Virginia School of Law. He holds a masters’ degree in real estate and infrastructure from the Carey Business School at Johns Hopkins University. Enrico is active in the business and arts community in the Washington area, serving on boards for the Signature Theater and Wolf Trap, along with the Greater Washington Board of Trade. Enrico is an active member of the YPO US Capital Chapter.DisclosureThe information presented and opinions expressed are solely the views of the podcast host, commentator and their guest speaker(s). AllianceBernstein L.P. or its affiliates makes no representations or warranties concerning the accuracy of any data. There is no guarantee that any projection, forecast or opinion in this material will be realized. Past performance does not guarantee future results. The views expressed here may change at any time after the date of this podcast. This podcast is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice.AllianceBernstein L.P. does not provide tax, legal or accounting advice. It does not take an investor’s personal investment objectives or financial situation into account; investors should discuss their individual circumstances with appropriate professionals before making any decisions. This information should not be construed as sales or marketing material or an offer or solicitation for the purchase or sale of any financial instrument, product or service sponsored by AllianceBernstein or its affiliates. The [A/B] logo is a registered service mark of AllianceBernstein, and AllianceBernstein® is a registered service mark, used by permission of the owner, AllianceBernstein L.P.

Sponsors: LookingGlassCyber, Fairfax City, Analytics2Go Host: Cindy Gurne, In My View Mr. Stimers is a lawyer with K&L Gates. He focuses his policy advocacy efforts on matters related to emerging technologies, such as commercial spaceflight, IT, nanotechnology, and water technology, and advises a wide range of companies and industry associations in pursuing legislation and representing their interests before Congress and federal agencies. As policy counsel to several major commercial spaceflight companies and the leading industry association for commercial spaceflight, Paul has been active in helping the industry grow quickly and safely, while continuing to support a strong role for NASA in space exploration. In the field of information technology policy, Paul works with software companies and industry associations to ensure data and network security without restricting technological development. He has helped manage industry-wide efforts to prevent technology mandates while improving security. He has also assisted companies in developing privacy policies that protect consumers' personal information while enabling new products and services. He was actively involved in matters relating to Internet governance during the recent transition of DNS authority. He founded the Quantum Industry Coalition, a group of quantum computing, communications, and cryptography companies working to advance U.S. leadership in the field. In addition to his work with emerging technologies, Paul works extensively with nonprofit organizations addressing the needs of the world's poorest people. He helped to pass the Water for the Poor Act of 2005, which created a framework for the United States to help provide millions of people with sustainable access to safe drinking water and sanitation, and the Water for the World Act of 2014, which further expanded US efforts to improve access. Since 2005, he has helped direct more than $1.5 billion toward providing water and sanitation to those who need it most. ] supporting funding for broader US poverty-focused development assistance. Mr. Stimers was listed among the “40 Under 40: K Street's New Generation of Lobbyists” by The Washingtonian. Most recently, Mr. Stimers was nationally ranked by Chambers USA 2015 under “Government: Government Relations (Up and Coming).” Mr. Stimers is a member of the Executive Committee of the Greater Washington Board of Trade. Education J.D., Harvard Law School M.P.A. Harvard University B.A. University of Washington, (summa cum laude, Truman Scholar, Phi Beta Kappa)

On this EXTRA episode, we speak with Jack McDougle, President and CEO at Greater Washington Board of Trade, and Chuck Bean, Executive Director at Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments, about the recent innovations in 5G technology, and how these advancements can assist both the average person and the most dedicated entrepreneurs in the region.

Jack McDougle, CEO and president of the Greater Washington Board of Trade, discusses some of the ways the entrepreneurial community and the government can work together to spur innovation and economic growth, for the entire D.C. region and beyond.

Cathy Merrill Williams on lessons learned from The Chocolate Chip Cookie Test ~ ". . . it is really important that we get things, like cookies, right. We better know a good cookie from a bad cookie, a good restaurant from a bad restaurant. Because if you don't trust us on cookies and restaurants, you're never gonna trust us on doctors and lawyers and things that are hard to measure." Cathy Merrill Williams, President and Publisher Washingtonian Magazine (right) and Andy Ockershasuen, host of Our Town podcast (left) in studio interview A Ockershausen: This is Andy Ockershausen and this is Our Town. And a very special guest, a woman who's quite an accomplished business woman. She graduated from Cornell, holds a Masters Degree, Master of Science Degree from the London School of Economics. Now, that one I didn't ... That must've been your dad's idea. Catherine Merrill Williams. She chairs the board of Visitors at the University of Maryland School of Journalism, a member and Former Chapter Chair of YPO. I know what that is: Young President. Remember those good old days when you were Young President. She serves on the board of Ford's Theater, Aspen Institute, Socrates Society, the Greater Washington Board of Trade, The Merrill Family Foundation, a member of CRMA— I'll find out what that is— The Federal City Council, Cornell University Council, and the Economics Club of Washington. And, Cathy, you're busy, busy, busy, but you're a wonderful, wonderful example of a hard-charging woman and that's Catherine Mary ... Merrill Williams, welcome to Our Town. Cathy Merrill Williams: Thank you. Andy, thank you for having me. A Ockershausen: You're such a big part of Our Town because of what your father did and what he started. But he actually didn't start the magazine. You're president and publisher now. But wasn't there somebody named Phillips involved with the magazine way back? Laughlin Phillips | Washingtonian Magazine Founder Cathy Merrill Williams: So, Washingtonian Magazinewas founded by Laughlin Phillips ... A Ockershausen: That's the name I heard of. Cathy Merrill Williams: Many people know that name from the Phillip's Gallery. So he ... A Ockershausen: Was it the same family? Cathy Merrill Williams: Same family. A Ockershausen: I did not know that. Cathy Merrill Williams: Same family. And Laughlin Phillips was actually a CIA agent who decided that he wanted to go into the city magazine business. And, I guess, in the early years, people thought that perhaps it was some giant cover. But it wasn't a cover. A Ockershausen: But he wasn't undercover! Cathy Merrill Williams: He was just tired of being a spy and started the magazine in 1965. Did a good job. My father came in in 1977, Laughlin ... it was struggling. Good content, but struggling on the business side. My father came in in 1977 and bought it. A Ockershausen: Well, your father was also out of the government at the time, was he not? Didn't he work for Uncle Sam? Cathy Merrill Williams: He did. A Ockershausen: When he took over the magazine? Philip Merrill Aquires Washingtonian Magazine, 1977 Cathy Merrill Williams: He did. At the time he took over the magazine he was not with the government, but he very proudly served in 7 administrations. A Ockershausen: I knew that. Cathy Merrill Williams: And Defense Department, State Department, he ran the Export/Import Bank, NATO, White House, had a very strong government career. But he had purchased the small newspapers ... some small newspapers around Annapolis, Maryland and was running them when Washingtonian came for sale. And we owned Baltimore Magazine at the time as well. A Ockershausen: You had Baltimore before Washington? Cathy Merrill Williams: We did. A Ockershausen: Is Baltimore still in business? Cathy Merrill Williams: It's doing great. We sold it back in the early 1990's, so that someone more local to Baltimore could run it. Cause that's part of the success of running a city magazine is being...

Josh Carin on effective communication today ~ "I think that's the challenge with technology today is that we are so accustomed to communicating via email, via texting. I tell my team if you can't communicate what you need to say in three sentences, pick up the phone and call them." Josh Carin, owner Geppetto Catering in studio A Ockershausen: This is Andy Ockershausen and this is Our Town. We're so delighted to have a special guest. Now, I say that to everybody because I mean it. I'm delighted to have you here, Josh Carin. A great tennis player, Arthur Ashe, said "From what we get, we can make a living. What we give, however, makes a life". If that's true, then our next guest has quite a life. He's a business owner. He's a finalist in Washington Business Journal Small Business Philanthropist. He's worked with The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. He fundraisers for WORC and the MDA. He's active in the Greater Washington Board of Trade. He's been a mentor for The Small Business Academy. He's involved with Goodwill, The Cultural Alliance, and The DC Chamber of Commerce, The Levine School of Music, and DC Central Kitchen. Josh Carin, in your spare time, you're one of the great caterers in the free world. How do you have time for all these things? Josh Carin: Time? What is that? A Ockershausen: It used to be a very good magazine. Josh Carin: Yes. Yes. Exactly. No, my work, my family, my philanthropy, that is my life. Family first. Work, a very close second. I would say the philanthropy is tied in second place. Those are the things that I do to keep myself busy. A Ockershausen: Everything you're saying that you're doing is really making you a success. Whether your business is a success or not, you are a success Josh, which is great. Josh Carin: Thank you for that. Thank you. I've been very, very blessed. I was fortunate to be recognized years ago by an organization, and I made the comment that I could not do what I'm doing without the people who have supported me. My work, which I love, has afforded me the ability to provide for my family and to give back, which then helps foster new relationships, which then fosters new business relationships. Then, it allows me to get my family involved. It's a great circle, a great cycle. A Ockershausen: Josh, it's amazing what you're saying. It's sort of the mantle we've had at WMAL. We used to have for many, many, many, many years and you're a native. You're local. What I didn't say is about Geppetto Catering is your business. I apologize to you, but I figure everybody knows you as a catering business. But, the way the name Geppetto, I know where I thought of it the first time, but where did you come up with this idea? What's in a Name? Josh Carin: I can't take credit for that. My partner, Charlie, owned a restaurant in town. For the long time Washingtonians, you might know Geppetto Pizza. He and I met when I was in college and we decided to start Geppetto Catering. Obviously, we used the name Geppetto from the restaurants, because it was a known brand within Washington. A Ockershausen: Yeah, but where did he get the name from? Let me tell you where I first heard it: in the movie Pinocchio. Josh Carin: Which is what everyone knows it from and obviously, Geppetto was the puppeteer, the woodcarver. A Ockershausen: He was Pinocchio's father. Josh Carin: That is correct. A Ockershausen: I love the name. Josh Carin: I actually asked my partner, Charlie, where the name came from. He told me he was reading the story Pinocchio to his daughter and boom, there was a name. A Ockershausen: What a wonderful name. Anybody in this town, in Our Town, thinks of catering, they think of Geppetto, because the name is so great. It really has scored. Josh Carin: Thank you. A Ockershausen: That's important branding. Philanthropy is Branding Josh Carin: Branding is very important, and where you started with philanthropy. Philanthropy is branding. A dear friend of both of ours,

Patricia McGuire on growing Trinity Washington University ~ "We had to get on our feet as an enterprise. We had to get people knowing us, and so two years ago, when I went around looking to build a new science laboratories and nursing laboratories and classrooms, we were able to raise the money to build a new academic building because the sports center was successful. It's amazing how success breeds success." Patricia McGuire (right) and Andy Ockershausen (left) in studio interview A Ockershausen: This is Andy Ockershausen, and this is Our Town. Our next guest was born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and thank the Good Lord, she came to Our Town in 1970, liked it so much, she said, "I'm gonna stay here." And she's been called a transformer and a superwoman, and she deserves all the accolades. She's expanded academic programs, raised significant amounts of money, built an award-winning, $20,000,000 state of the art athletic center for women and girls, which I find is one of the real jewels of Our Town, and through her leadership as president of Trinity Washington University, they educate more D.C. public school graduates than any other private university in the city, and as a matter of fact, in the nation. I met Pat McGuire through the Greater Washington Board of Trade where she has a been stalwart member of the board for years, and then she received the Leader of the Year award in 2007. Pat, it's hard to believe that that's 10 years ago, but time goes so fast. But it's only part of her success. Welcome to Pat McGuire. Thank you for being on Our Town. Patricia McGuire: Oh, Andy thank you for having me on Our Town. This is a real treat. I think this show is so important. It should be required listening for all members of Congress so they can know what our town is really all about. Thank you. A Ockershausen: Well thank you for being on Our Town, and you don't realize how important you are, but we do because we sit back and look at what's going on in Our Town, and to see the impact you have made, and one of the first things I know about when you built that facility that's state of the art, and people photographed ... When we sent the camera crews out and did all that, it was a spectacular thing to do. I don't know if any of the men got anything that night. On Building Trinity Center for Women and Girls in Sports Patricia McGuire: Well that's nice of you to say, but you know, Trinity's history is so interesting because we never really had top of the line sports teams, but when I because president, and we were suffering. We were the only women's college left in the region, and we had to decide if we wanted to be a women's college still, if we wanted to exist still. And I said to the board, "If we're going to be a great women's college, we have to great women's sports because Title 9 requires it." A Ockershausen: To be competitive. Patricia McGuire: And be competitive. At first the board was like, "Eh. I don't know about that." And then, you might remember, the Board of Trade was working on the 2012 Olympics bid for DC. A Ockershausen: Absolutely. Right. Patricia McGuire: And I got mixed up with Board of Trade people working on that. I met the Women's Sport's Foundation, and I went back to the board and said, "You know what? That's right. We're not going to build a gym for five or ten girls. We're going to build the Trinity Center for Women and Girls in Sports and make it a destination venue around Women's Sports." And that was actually a legacy of the 2012 Olympics movements in D.C. That facility. A Ockershausen: It energized you. Did you tell the board it was going to cost $20,000,000? Patricia McGuire: I did. I did, and they were, by that point, they knew me well enough they weren't shocked. We raised a lot of money around the concept. A Ockershausen: Right You got to do it. Benefits of Building Trinity Center for Women and Girls in Sports Patricia McGuire: And we got about 40,

Jackie Bradford on Jim Vance NBC4/WRC ~ "He told me the story the other day...He said he was out at Betty Ford and one of the nurses came into him and said, 'Come here.' She took him into this room where there were stacks and stacks of letters and she said, 'Who are you?' 'Who are you?' Because he has lived his life so out loud and he's been nothing but honest with himself and with his viewers that is why he is so beloved." Jackie Bradford, President and GM NBC4/WRC (right) and Andy Ockershausen, Our Town host (left) A Ockershausen: This is Our Town. This is Andy Ockershausen and I am so delighted and happy and everything to welcome our next guest here. She's not really a guest. I would describe her as a general manager's general manager. Jackie Bradford: Okay. A Ockershausen: She's actually a president and a general manager. I've known this young lady for so many years and I've seen her in action and what she's done for her company and the greater Washington area is unbelievable. She has a unbelievable relationship with her staff. It kind of reminds me of me. You've got to get close to the people and you've done that Jackie. It makes a big difference. She's actively involved with the community with the DC Chamber of Commerce, the Greater Washington Board of Trade, the Urban League, and it goes on and on and on because she believes in involvement and it has paid off so much for Channel 4. She's the president of Channel 4, but her team has produced one of the largest health expos in the country for Our Town, or any town. She's opened 2 regional news bureaus, one's an investigative team among many other community endeavors to lead Channel 4 to continue to be the top TV station in the market. She plays a heck of a game of tennis and I'm so glad she's back in Our Town. Welcome, Jackie Bradford. Quit While We're Ahead! Jackie Bradford: Thank you Andy. Wow, we should just end there. A Ockershausen: Quit while you're ahead. Jackie Bradford: Yeah, quit while you're ahead. A Ockershausen: We're not ahead yet. I was telling Jackie, and she knew this already but there may be a lot of people in our audience that don't, WRC and WMAL were joined at the hip at one time. We were both stations of the NBC network, red and the blue. I recall growing up with them in a building with a young, smart aleck from Alexandria named Willard Scott. He was the messenger in our building for both sides. Jackie Bradford: Do you think he's going to do okay? A Ockershausen: I said he's a nutcase but he's going to do fine. But that's a relationship WMAL and WRC have. And we would use each other's talent but that was in the old days. It doesn't happen anymore. But Jackie, you were here in the financial world at one time. But you grew up ... you're a Baltimore girl. From Baltimore to Virginia and UVA Jackie Bradford: Baltimore. I left before I got that accent so I always like to say I left in the 5th grade ... A Ockershausen: Before Balmer. Jackie Bradford: Before Balmer, before it went downhill. But I graduated from Woodbridge High School, here in Virginia. A Ockershausen: Wow, I know Woodbridge very well. Jackie Bradford: Yup. And went to the University of Virginia. I'd consider that local. Wahoo-wa. A Ockershausen: Well, the high school, was it called ... did it have another name? Jackie Bradford: Nope, we were Woodbridge. . .the mighty, mighty Vikings. A Ockershausen: There's only Woodbridge High? Jackie Bradford: Yup. A Ockershausen: They had some great athletic teams, I remember reading about that. But to go to UVA is quite a feat. Jackie Bradford: Yup. A Ockershausen: Well at one time you may remember, there was a boys school and the females went to Mary Washington. Jackie Bradford: Yup. A Ockershausen: And I grew up in Northern Virginia for a while and it was a great tribute ... anybody got in school at UVA was very fortunate. Is that correct? Jackie Bradford: Very fortunate.

Do you have an action plan if your child needs immediate emergency care? What if your mama gut instinct contradicts the specialist you are consulting with? And if your kid gets hurt, should you really drive to a children's hospital if it's further away than the good hospital down the street? Dr. Kurt Newman, CEO of one of the top children's hospitals in the country and pediatric surgeon extraordinaire, shares life lessons and life-saving tips from his new memoir "Healing Children: A Surgeon's Stories from the Frontiers of Pediatric Medicine" (Penguin Random House, June 2017). For generations, our esteemed guest has healed children, empowered families, and improved the pediatric medical system. Your heart will melt from the lesson he shares from a date night gone wrong with his future wife. And you'll get revved up when we discuss how the proposed health care plan directly effects children in this country. No matter your kids' ages, this episode will make you a better mama bear when they need you most! Please share this podcast with mom friends and with your online mom groups. Love hearing from you on Instagram: @atomicmoms Twitter:@atomicmoms Facebook: “Atomic Moms podcast” MEET OUR GUEST: "Kurt Newman, MD, President and Chief Executive Officer, is a surgeon and a recognized leader on pediatric health issues, nationally and in Washington, D.C. Since becoming CEO in 2011, he has fostered a culture committed to advancing care and research by putting patients first and actively championed innovations in research, operations, and clinical care. He has forged creative and productive partnerships with other health systems in the region, with government and community entities and with industry, at the local, national, and global level. He is also a strong advocate for expanding mental health access for kids and has led two national forums on this issue. Dr. Newman joined Children’s National as a surgical fellow in 1984, becoming the Surgeon-In-Chief and Senior Vice President for the Joseph E. Robert, Jr. Center for Surgical Care in 2003. He was instrumental in developing the vision for the Sheikh Zayed Institute for Pediatric Surgical Innovation at Children’s National, inspired by the audacious goal of making surgery for children minimally invasive and pain free. When the Institute was made possible in 2009 through a transformational $150 Million gift, Dr. Newman served as its Founding Vice President. Currently Dr. Newman serves as the Chair of the Children’s Hospital Association Leadership Committee on Advocacy and Policy and as a member of the Board of Trustees. He is also a member of the Board of Directors for the District of Columbia Hospital Association and a member of the Commonwealth Council on Childhood Success in Virginia. In addition, Dr. Newman serves on the Board of the Economic Club of Washington, Greater Washington Board of Trade, Federal City Council, DC Chamber of Commerce, and Fight for Children. Previously, he served as a Board Member of Commissioners of The Joint Commission, a member of the Board of Governors of the American Pediatric Surgical Association, and as Chair of the Surgery Section of the American Academy of Pediatrics. Dr. Newman is a Professor of Surgery and Pediatrics at the George Washington University School of Medicine and Public Health. He is a graduate of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and received his medical education at Duke University. He completed his surgical residency at the Brigham and Women's Hospital and also served as the Arthur Tracy Cabot Fellow at Harvard Medical School. He is the author of "Healing Children: A Surgeon's Stories from the Frontiers of Pediatric Medicine" by Penguin Random House."

People have done so much for our community, Kurt Erickson with an alcohol program, Jim Dinegar, President of the Greater Washington Board of Trade, Catherine Meloy, Goodwill Services, Irene Pollin, Abe’s wife, has written a beautiful book, and Lyles Carr of the McCormick company. Announcer: GEICO presents Our Town, Season Two. A 30 minute podcast produced by Best Bark Communications, a small but fierce client-centered marketing company powered by decades of experience and well-established business networks. GEICO, 15 minutes can save you 15 percent or more on car insurance. Now, here's your host, Andy Ockershausen. Andy Ockershausen, Our Town Podcast HostAndy Ockershausen: This is Andy Ockershausen and you're listening to Our Town. Season one of Our Town was a complete success. We interviewed over 50 guests, including some of our favorite people like Sonny, I don't have to say Sonny who, you know, Chip Akridge, Frank Harden, Frank Herzog, Regardie, I don't even have to say his first name, Catherine Meloy, Susan Lacz and Harry Jaffe. The list goes on and on. Now we're going to go on to Season Two. We've got Jim Vance in a fabulous interview, I beg you to listen to it; Kathleen Matthews, Doc Walker,Chris Plante, Diana Mayhew, Senator George Allen who was also Governor George Allen, Joe DiGenova among others, here in our Season Two line up. So we'll have them and many more. The amazing part of Our Town is we've heard from hundreds of friends and people whether it's on the street, whether it's in a dinner party, whether it's in church, they all have been listening to Our Town. People come to us out of the blue and say, "We've heard what you're doing and we love it. We want so and so and so and so." We've had tons of recommendations from people to be guests on Our Town and we try to accommodate most of them, but right now we'd like to acknowledge and thank our friends at GEICO, for underwriting Our Town. GEICO has been a responsible and important contributor to our town for over 80 years. It's a wonderful, wonderful company. It's headquartered here, it's a worldwide company, number two in all the insurance companies in the world and we just love GEICO and thank them so much for their support. GEICO people and they know this is a great place to live and to play and to work. We thank them for that and we thank them for their support. Remember, 15 minutes can save you 15 percent or more on car insurance. That's our GEICO. Now here's a look back at some of the highlights from Season One; like Women in Our Town. Some very important people like Christine Brennan. Christine Brennan in studio during Our Town interviewChristine Brennan on Joe Gibbs Christine Brennan: I think you can make the case; the greatest coach in NFL history. I know that's saying a lot. Andy Ockershausen: He's got a record that proves that. Christine Brennan: Three Superbowls, three different quarterbacks. Andy Ockershausen: Three different teams. Christine Brennan: Right. Not one of those quarterbacks will ever make the hall of fame. Andy Ockershausen: I understand that. Christine Brennan: Yeah, Joe Theismann, Doug Williams. Andy Ockershausen: Don't tell Theismann that. Christine Brennan: It's our secret. Don't tell him. Joe, if you're listening, sorry pal. But Doug Williams and then Mark Rypien. Three different quarterbacks, not a one of them is good enough to be in the hall of fame and Joe Gibbs wins Superbowls with all three including two strike years. The coach is amazing and to deal with, on the record, he'd get mad about something, he'd call me at home angry about a headline, I said, "Joe, coach," I'd call him coach, "I don't write the headlines." He goes, "I know, I know, will you bring the guy that writes the headlines out here one day and let me talk to him?" You know, like there was one guy writing the headlines, there was probably fifteen people writing headlines. But we'd have this conversation,

If you want to witness a leader’s passion and authentic expression at its fullest, you must hear Nicole Quiroga’s interview! A daughter of Latino immigrants, Nicole grew up in a warm, affectionate, emotive household and built her career at a company that helps her stay connected to her roots. Her leadership style is a beautiful blend of passion, kindness, creativity and a dash of Latin flare! In this super dynamic, energizing, candid interview Nicole shares what it can be like for kids from bilingual, bicultural homes to transition to the “real world”; tips for leaders managing multicultural workplaces; guidance for social change organizations on how to partner with the media; and so much more! What you’ll learn: What it was like for Nicole to grow up in loving, passionate, protective Latino immigrant family How she navigates the line between warmth and affection of her culture and professional boundaries of standard workplaces How Nicole has worked to overcome being "too nice" What it's like to balance emotions and intellect as a leader when you lean more naturally towards emotions Strategies Nicole employs to sharpen her organization, focus and planning skills Who are the leaders she most admires and what she learns from them What Nicole considers her mission and greatest responsibility to the Latino community as the leader of Telemundo Recommendations for hiring and working with the Hispanic market Specific strategies for nonprofits to reach out and gain media support and partnership Moving stories of how Telemundo has impacted causes and organizations serving women Links & Resources Telemundo – Spanish-language television channel Nicole brilliantly manages Kristina Bouweiri – Link to one of our previous amazing guests whom Nicole referenced in her interview Greater Washington Board of Trade – organization led by one of Nicole’s mentors Jim Dinegar Doug Duncan - Link to one of our previous amazing guests whom Nicole referenced in her interview My Sister's Place – DC-based non profit helping victims of domestic violence that Nicole referenced in her interview Mother's Day Celebration sponsored by Telemundo Nicole wanted to share About Nicole Quiroga  Nicole Quiroga, a native of Washington DC, is the General Manager of Telemundo WZDC-25 in Washington D.C. and Telemundo WZTD-45 in Richmond, VA.  In her position, Ms. Quiroga predicts market trends, sets budgets and performance expectations, ensures station compliance with FCC requirements and has overall responsibility for maintaining and growing the profitability of both stations. Ms. Quiroga is a television broadcaster with expertise in media sales, journalism, multi-cultural marketing, and strategic planning.   She is deeply passionate about educating and empowering Washington DC’s Latino community and, over her 15 years at Telemundo, has forged strategic partnerships with community and corporate organizations which allow her to execute outreach campaigns that provide Hispanic families access to critical information and resources. Ms. Quiroga is highly experienced in the planning, financing and executing of local and national campaigns that focus on the advancement of Latinos in the U.S., to include Hispanic-targeted trade shows, grassroots events and over-the-air initiatives. Her most recent success was the launch of Agenda, a local public affairs television program produced in partnership with ABC7/News Channel 8. A sales trainer and speaker, Nicole is frequently invited to speak on topics such as selling to the Hispanic market, increasing sales through cross-cultural communications, and harnessing the power of Latinos now and in the future. Ms. Quiroga mentors young women on their journey to becoming executives in the fields of media, communications and journalism.  She works with the National Hispana Leadership Institute and the Latino Student Fund to provide one-on-one coaching and tutoring sessions to young girls and women between the ages of 12-25. Nicole holds a bachelor’s degree in Communications and Marketing from the University of Maryland. She is a graduate of the Leadership Greater Washington Executive Program, Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government Leadership Program and the National Hispana Leadership Institute. She holds leadership positions at the Greater Washington Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the Latino Student Fund and the Harvard Journal of Hispanic Policy.  In 2014, Ms. Quiroga received Governor Martin O’Malley’s Outstanding Media Award, the Women Who Mean Business Award from the Washington Business Journal and the Public Service Leadership Award from the Hispanic Heritage Foundation.  

“If you're the smartest person in the room you're in the wrong room” - Catherine Meloy Catherine Meloy firmly believes that if you’re the smartest person in the room, you’re in the wrong room! She was a successful broadcasting executive when she got the call (literally) to serve as the fearless leader of Good Will. That call - along with her brilliance, commitment and passion - has helped transform countless lives in the greater Washington community and beyond. And in the debate of whether the heart or the head should prevail, Catherine uncompromisingly choses to lead with both! In this inspiring interview Catherine shares wonderful stories of her parents instilling in her the values of discipline, love and faith. You’ll learn why she refuses to ever be the smartest person in the room and empowers her staff to help translate her lofty 5-year vision into reality. And the ways she strives to learn and grow as a leader, manager and businessperson despite being on top of her game (just read her incredible bio!) I know you’ll find Catherine’s interview riveting and inspiring! What you’ll learn: How growing up with a disciplinarian Marine dad and unconditionally loving mom shaped Catherine's identity Why Catherine considers discipline to be the number one attribute in business and the daily habits that help her maintain discipline and focus Catherine's approach to email and boundaries that help her and her team reset weekly How asking "What was really important a year ago?” or “What did I lose sleep over a month ago?" can help stay focused on a bigger picture perspective Fantastic story of why and how she made the leap from broadcasting to leading Good Will Why having a strong brand for any organization is so crucial Advice for mission-oriented leaders on learning important business skills and how to make the time for the learning and professional development How Catherine's spiritual faith informs her leadership style and even culture of Good Will How declaring your values and priorities as a leader creates greater accountability for yourself What Catherine considers to be her growing edges And so much more!  Links & Resources Good Will – Catherine’s incredible organization whose mission is to transform lives and communities through the power of education and employment. Greater Washington Board of Trade – networking and organization in the D.C. area Catherine recommends for their great educational programs. Having been a member I agree! Global Leadership Summit – “Fresh, actionable and inspiring leadership content” conference Catherine raved about Leadership Greater Washington – amazing D.C. area networking and educational organization Catherine and I are both love and support. PSA: LGW is accepting applications for the next signature program class due in early April 2017. About Catherine Meloy  Catherine Meloy is the President and CEO of Goodwill of Greater Washington (Goodwill). Catherine Meloy serves as President and CEO of Goodwill of Greater Washington and the Goodwill Excel Center. She was selected in 2003 by the Goodwill Board of Trustees as a proven business leader who could dramatically extend the reach and vitality of the organization and enable it to serve an even broader segment of the disabled and disadvantaged community. Prior to joining Goodwill of Greater Washington, Catherine had a successful 20 year management career in the radio industry. With Catherine’s leadership, Goodwill has grown to over 800 associates; 15 retail stores; annual revenues of $42M, which include nine government janitorial contracts. In further serving and expanding the mission of Goodwill, the first adult diploma charter high school has been granted by the DC Public Charter School Board to Goodwill to open in the fall of 2016 under the title of the Goodwill Excel Center. Catherine’s involvement in the greater Washington community includes: Board of Directors, Greater Washington Board of Trade Board of Directors, Federal City Council Board of Directors, DC Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors of MedStar Health Board of Directors of SourceAmerica Member of the DC Workforce Investment Council Member of the Northern Virginia Workforce Investment Board In January 2016, Catherine was elected to the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond Catherine is a recipient of the Greater Washington Board of Trade’s “Leader of the Years Award“; was honored by Washingtonian Magazine as “Washingtonian of the Year“; was inducted into the American Marketing Association-DC Chapter Hall of Fame and was highlighted as a Most Admired CEO by Smart CEO Magazine for her successful organizational turnaround of Goodwill of Greater Washington. She and her husband, David, who is President of Merit Hotels, live in Annapolis, Maryland and have three grown children.  

Susan Lacz, CEO of Ridgewells Catering, speaks with Our Town host Andy Ockershausen about her life and career in Our Town. Hers is a lively interview! By the end, you will understand, if you don't already, why she has been, and continues to be, a successful business woman in Our Town. Susan has lived and worked in and around the Washington DC metro for almost 40 years. Originally from North Jersey, “totally a Jersey girl”, she moved to Arlington in 1978 to attend Marymount University which, at the time, was an all girls school. She has nothing but wonderful things to say about her college experience, and now serves on Marymount’s board of trustees. Susan attributes much of her success to her parents’ strong work ethic. Through high school, Susan worked Saturday and Sundays and during the week after school at Wyckoff Deli in Wyckoff, New Jersey. When she came to Our Town to attend college she worked at Tino’s restaurant in Arlington, just for the fun of it. She tells Andy she was hooked on the food industry from day one at Wyckoff Deli, and her passion for entertaining came from her Polish roots, more specifically her Grandmother, and upbringing. After college, Susan pursued a career in sales with Wang computers. She really enjoyed selling and was good at it. What lacked was the same passion for it that she had for food and entertaining. So she went about finding a career that captured it all - food, entertaining, sales, and passion. Susan knew she wanted to work for Ridgewells but lacked the experience they were looking for at the time, so she went to work at Clyde's at Tyson’s Corner, as a catering manager, where she was ultimately fired. Undeterred by that, she went back to Ridgewells and convinced them (after a year and a half!) that she belong there as a member of Ridgewells’ team. After ten years with the company, Susan bought the business with her partners Jose Valado and Thomas P. Keon, currently Ridgewells' COO and President, respectively. Andy fondly refers to Ridgewells as “always a family affair”. Susan has been with Ridgewells for 30 years and has owned and operated it together with her partners for 20. Ridgewells has grown into a 40 million dollar company and is considered, by the Washington Business Journal, the largest caterer in Our Town. Andy and Susan talk about competition from other caterers. Susan says that only serves to inspire them to work harder and continue to strive to be the very best. Giving back to the community is important to Susan. She makes every effort to lead her team out into Our Town community and has set Ridgewells apart from the rest. Susan serves on numerous boards including Marymount, Junior Achievement, the Committee for the Hall of Fame, Don Bosco Cristo Rey, and the Greater Washington Board of Trade. Through Ridgewells' work in the community, Susan has set an example for other caterers to do the same. Susan doesn't miss a beat as she and Andy discuss the role of women in business in Our Town. She has served on boards in the past when she was only one of two or three women sitting around the board table surrounded by "suits". She is thrilled that times have changed and more and more women are visible business leaders in Our Town. She strongly believes that women should support other women. Susan loves seeing more women take top positions in this type of business these days. She surrounds herself with positive females within her own company and gains strength in that support network. Susan is proud to be an honoree of the 2004 Washington Business Journal Women Who Mean Business program. Andy comments on the quality and service that Ridgewells is known for throughout the DC area. The servers are familiar with their customers which instills continuity and quality that people can rely on time and time again. Andy inquires about Ridgewells unique and compelling advertising. Susan explains that a few years ago,

Our Town guest Jim Dinegar is President of the Greater Washington Board of Trade. By the end of their conversation, host Andy Ockershausen tells Jim “You are the image, Jim. You’re stuck with it!” Jim is humble in his response, saying that he does get to work for the Board of Trade, but “it is not him, and he’s not it.” Throughout the interview, time and again, Jim Dinegar demonstrates humility, a rarity in a man of his standing in a city like Washington DC. Accordingly to Andy, Jim's impact on the region’s business over the last 10 years as President of the Board of Trade is big. After listening in, you might agree that it’s due to Jim’s passion for the community in which he lives and works, and for the work he does representing the Board of Trade and its members within the Washington DC metro region. Although originally from Bayside, Queens, New York, Jim calls the Washington metro his home. His first impression of Washington DC as a visiting high school student was a lasting one. He came to see how government works, liked the fact that Our Town was singly focused around government at the time, and came back to attend Catholic University where he studied politics and history. Listen in to hear Jim list a few classmates that have gone on to become notable government officials. Before coming to the Board of Trade, Jim Dinegar worked with national associations and his business was national in scope, with lots of travel mostly around the country. When the call came from the Board of Trade for him to become President it was posited as an opportunity to “stay and live and work here to represent the place where you chose to live and work and raise your family, and for me that was catnip, that was too good to pass up.” Jim describes his position as President of the Board of Trade as a “facilitator that can help convene people, facilitate the discussion and help get things done.” That said, he is quick to tell us that the “Power of the Board of Trade is really in the membership. . .bank presidents, managing partners of law firms, the dedicated people out of public relations firms, advertising and marketing…” He also says with pride that the Board of Trade staff is incredibly dedicated and hard-working, and committed to good customer service and quality. Andy and Jim talk about the growth Washington DC metro has experienced. They agree…it’s going to get bigger and bigger but it will be connected with Baltimore and Richmond… into a megalopolis. They also discuss the visionaries who’ve made it, and are making it, what it is today - Milt Peterson, Ted Lerner, Bud Doggett, and Doug Jemal to name a few. When discussing the changes to Our Town over the last ten years, Jim tells Andy “When you look at this place, people choose to live here. I was asked about people who would leave here after the Inauguration, I don’t see that – It doesn’t happen any more. It’s not like Chicago should be expecting a big influx of people back… even the President and his wife are going to stay here.” “What I have seen over the years is that the smaller town feel of Washington, Rosslyn and Bethesda are becoming more of a big powerful region . . . we have a re-emerging.” Andy and Jim discuss transportation issues and what needs to be improved upon. They agree that “We are a world leader and world capital, but too often, we don’t play that way and we don’t think of ourselves that way, we can’t live with a Metro system that’s hobbling along- we have to have the best transportation. We need a quality transportation system to support the people who choose to live here. “ You will find their discussion on transportation enlightening to say the least. Think redefined traffic patterns, water taxi system, and reciprocal taxi policies. Jim and Andy also discuss what is working, and agree that the city government looks bright. They also mention the tremendous positive impact The Wharf will have on Our Town,

“Values drive our actions, responses and decisions; we each have to determine what matters to us and what we are and aren’t wiling to accept.” – Rosie Allen-Herring Rosie Allen-Herring counts as a blessing to have grown up in a large, education-focused Southern family; surrounded by a loving, encouraging community; and crossing paths with teachers and mentors that have shaped her path and her values. Today she is an inspiration to her staff, peers and community and hearing her stories and insights on family, growth and leadership it’s easy to see why. Don’t miss this amazing interview with an extraordinary leader - Rosie Allen-Herring! What You'll Learn: How Rosie’s Southern upbringing in a large, loving, education-focused family and community forever shaped her values and path as a leader What Rosie learned from her mom about servant leadership and how she strives to live by these principles in her life and career How losing loved ones has made Rosie reflect and make changes in her life How she perceived being the only African-American leader in numerous corporate experiences How bad bosses - as well as great ones - have influenced her leadership style What female mentors taught her about succeeding in a male-dominated environment and what males mentors contributed to her growth Rosie’s advice for discovering our values and making sure we’re fully aligned with them in our actions and reactions What she’s learned from making mistakes as a leader Rosie’s advice on making peace with mistakes and gaining confidence in yourself What confidence advice she would have given her 25-year-old self Tips for giving feedback and empowering people you're working with And so much more! About Rosie Allen-Herring Rosie Allen-Herring is the President and Chief Executive Officer of United Way of the National Capital Area (United Way NCA). She brings to United Way NCA a keen understanding of how to leverage resources and convene public and private entities to create a collective impact in the local community as well as on a national level. Rosie has more than 25 years of experience in the areas of strategic leadership, public and private partnership development, corporate philanthropy and community investment. Formerly, Rosie was the Managing Director of the Community Investment and Engagement Division at Fannie Mae.  In that role, she led Fannie Mae’s corporate philanthropic strategy, and oversaw the organization’s social responsibility investments and employee engagement efforts nationwide. Prior to Managing Director at Fannie Mae, she served as the National Regulatory Compliance Manager, Housing & Community Development. She was also the Senior Deputy Director, Washington, DC Community Business Center. Rosie developed, implemented and managed key business strategies for the Washington Metropolitan area, resulting in investments of more than $2 billion in the region. Rosie holds key leadership roles with several business and civic organizations, including serving on the Board of Directors for the Greater Washington Board of Trade, District of Columbia Chamber of Commerce, Washington Area Women’s Foundation, Girl Scouts of the Nation’s Capital, Prince George's Community College Foundation and several additional organizations. She served as a board member for Washington's exploratory Olympic committee, Washington 2024. She earned a B.A. in Economics from Howard University, an M.B.A. from Strayer University and was an International Fellow of the United States-Southern Africa Center for Leadership and Public Values at the University of Cape Town (SA) Graduate School of Business and Duke University Graduate School of Public Policy. Rosie has been honored by many organizations, including: Washington Business Journal Minority Business Leader (2015); Hope Awardee for Calvary Women's Shelter (2015); Most Influential Business Leader ( 2014 and 2013); Brava Top CEO Award (2014); Washingtonian Magazine’s Most Powerful Women (2013); Washington Business Journal’s Power 100 Leader and Washington Business Journal’s Women Who Mean Business Award (2011). She has been included on prestigious lists such as “Outstanding Young Women of America,” and “Who’s Who in America.”  

“It’s never about you as a leader, it’s always about the organization and the impact” – Nicky Goren “Do I stay in my comfort zone and enjoy the expertise I created or walk through a new door where I don’t know anything?” is a question Nicky Goren frequently asks herself… and then walks right through the new door. She has consistently left jobs she loved and bosses who nurtured and mentored her in pursuit of new opportunities to make an even bigger difference. As the fearless leader of the Meyer Foundation Nicky is committed to transforming conversations (and mindsets) around some of the most complex and potentially controversial issues – from race to the future of philanthropy!  What You'll Learn: How Nicky's multi-cultural, cross-continental upbringing helped make her the amazing leader she is today Fun intercultural quirks Nicky and I share (although she’s not the one who hasn’t seen Star Wars) How advice from an early mentor – selecting three criteria to choose a job - has guided her career path. Nicky’s three have been: Be passionate about the job, enjoy people you work with and be challenged every day The tremendous impact of caring mentors in her life and her commitment to do the same for others How Nicky is overcoming her struggle to be consistently confident in her voice How focus on Collective Impact automatically focuses non-profits on stronger outcomes and leads to social change Why it’s necessary to bring different, and perhaps untraditional, stakeholders to conversations to tackle issues systemically How the Meyer Foundation is facilitating a conversation about race, ethnicity and why it matters so much  Links & Resources Meyer Foundation – Nicky’s wonderful organization Washington Regional Association of Grantmakers (WRAG) Putting Racism on the Table - powerful series Nicky referenced in the interview First 90 Days – helpful book Nicky referenced that she uses in the first few months on a new job Collective Impact and Systems Leadership articles Nicky recommends About Nicky Goren Nicky Goren is president and CEO of the Eugene and Agnes E. Meyer Foundation, which pursues and invests in solutions to build an equitable Greater Washington community in which people who are economically vulnerable thrive. Founded in 1944, the Meyer Foundation is a leading supporter of local nonprofit organizations serving the DC region. Each year, the Foundation provides grants totaling more than $7 million to more than 150 organizations working in the interconnected areas of affordable housing, education and workforce development, and financial security. In addition to funding, the Foundation works to build the capacity of partner organizations, serves as a convener and advocate on critical issues, and promotes cross-sector collective action to advance solutions to community challenges. Before being selected to lead the Meyer Foundation in 2014, Nicky served for four years as president of Washington Area Women’s Foundation, which focuses on increasing the economic security of women and girls in the DC region. Prior to joining Washington Area Women’s Foundation, Nicky spent 12 years in senior positions at the Corporation for National and Community Service—the nation’s largest grantmaker supporting service and volunteering. She served as chief of staff from 2006 to 2008 and as acting CEO from 2008 to 2010, overseeing a federal government agency with a staff of 600 and a budget of $1.1 billion. A graduate of Brandeis University and Cornell Law School, Nicky began her career as assistant general counsel in the Congressional Budget Office, and then served as counsel at the newly established Office of Compliance of the U.S. Congress. She currently serves on the Raise DC Leadership Council; on the boards of the American Association of State Service Commissions, District of Columbia College Access Program (DC-CAP), Federal City Council, Greater Washington Board of Trade, Trinity Washington University, and Washington Regional Association of Grantmakers; and is a member of Leadership Greater Washington’s Class of 2013. Nicky lives in the District with her husband and two sons.