Podcasts about leadership symposium

The Association of Graduates and Air Force Academy Foundation just dropped a special episode of Long Blue Leadership, featuring our continuing coverage of the 32nd National Character and Leadership Symposium. ----more---- Bryan Grossman, senior director of strategic communications and managing editor of Checkpoints magazine, speaks with this year's Sullenberger Award for Courage recipients. “Atomic,” “Batman,” “Guns,” and “Royal” helped stave off an arial assault on an allied nation. Listen to their stories on any of your favorite podcast apps and watch for more additional coverage in your March Checkpoints. (L-R) OUR GUESTS FOR THIS SPECIAL EDITION OF LONG BLUE LEADERSHIP Capt. Kyle "Royal" Abraham, USAFA '19  Capt. Logan "Batman" Cowan, USAFA ‘18 Capt. Carla "Guns" Nava, USAFA '18 Claire "Atomic" Eddins, USAFA '18 "...All (four of these) warfighter graduates distinguished themselves in what has been called the largest air-to-air engagement in over 50 years when they helped turn away Iran's April 2024 attack against Israel. Their extraordinary airmanship contributed greatly to preserving regional stability, protecting Coalition forces, and saving countless civilian lives." Copy Credit:  USAFA Superintendent's Office   CHECKPOINTS ONLINE     ACCESS THE MOST RECENT ISSUE OF CHECKPOINTS - REQUIRES SIGN-IN   THE LONG BLUE LINE PODCAST NETWORK TEMPORARY STUDIO CADET HONORS CONFERENCE ROOM, POLARIS HALL   VIEW THE FULL NCLS 2025 SPEAKER AND PRESENTER PLAYLIST       The Long Blue Line Podcast Network is presented by the U.S. Air Force Academy Association and Foundation      

In this special episode of Long Blue Leadership, we present our Long Blue Line Podcast Network coverage of National Character and Leadership Symposium 2025. ----more---- SUMMARY The theme for this year's symposium was “Warfighters to Win.” Cadets heard from leaders who model the warrior spirit of our Air Force and Space Force. Host, Ted Robertson, Multimedia and Podcast Specialist for the Air Force Academy Association of Graduates and Foundation, spoke with organizers, speakers, and panelists who came to NCLS from all across the military and academia.   OUR GUESTS FOR THIS EPISODE SEGMENT 1 Topic:  a look inside CCLD, the annual production of NCLS, and a preview of who is guesting in this podcast. Ms. Danielle Brines NCLS Program Director Dr. Michele Johnson NCLS Speaker Engagement Team Lead SEGMENT 2 Topic:  the thinking behind NCLS and how the Academy and cadets benefit and gain from the event and year-round programs. Dr. Doug Lindsay '92 Executive Editor, Journal of Character and Leadership Development Author, In Your Moment:  Mastering Your Leadership Thresholds    SEGMENT 3 Topic:  Sharing their journeys to careers in support of Strike Eagle Squadrons. 1st Lt. Gabrielle "DARE" Sutedjo '21 Intelligence Analyst for the 4th Fighter Wing, Seymour Johnson AFB supporting four Strike Eagle squadrons. Capt. Joel Zamot '18 Lead Weapons Systems Officer, 335th Fighter Squadron, Seymour Johnson AFB supporting four Strike Eagle squadrons.   SEGMENT 4 Topic:  Task Force Hope:  Crisis Leadership and Moral Injury Recovery. Task Force (TF) Hope equips participants with the tools to face adversity head-on, lead decisively through crisis, and recover with resilience from the lasting weight of moral injuries. Forged in the crucible of operational challenges, it embodies 14 years of relentless refinement, evolving from a 2010 Squadron Officer School (SOS) paper into a powerful SOS elective and further sharpened by the innovative rigor of the 2020 SOS Think Tank. Tested and validated by over 2,000 Air Force captains, three academic years of Air War College students and faculty, the 55th Operations Group Global Squadron Command Summit, and multiple Air Force, Army, and USSOF units, TF Hope empowers leaders to master their craft, make bold decisions amidst uncertainty, and outpace the chaos of crisis. The resounding feedback from participants underscores its impact: “Why didn't I hear this earlier in my career?” Col. Jonathan Sawtelle Founder of Task Force Hope Air Force Weather Career Field Manager at Headquarters Air Force, the Pentagon, Washington D.C. Lt. Col. Brandon Murphy '07 Director of Operations for the 306th Operations Support Squadron at the U.S. Air Force Academy. Maj. Tara Holmes Chief of Cadet Development at the Center for Character and Leadership Development at the U.S. Air Force Academy.   SEGMENT 5 Dr. John Torres '82 Topic:  "No Excuses." Dr. John Torres is a self-described “Air Force brat” who graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1982. His 32-year military career in the Air Force included active duty as a C-130 Hercules pilot and service in the Air National Guard and Air Force Reserve as a flight surgeon. His military service also included a tour of duty in Iraq in 2004, as well as rescue missions at the South Pole and in response to Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita. Leveraging his combined medical and military experience, Torres helped establish training courses for NATO Special Forces soldiers to ensure a high level of consistency across various nations, languages and cultures.   SEGMENT 6 Topic:  Preview of our interview with the four winners of the Capt. Sullenberger Award for Courage. The podcast was hosted by Bryan Grossman, Association of Graduates and Foundation Senior Director of Communications. Publication is set for March 13-16, 2025. Capt. Claire Eddins, USAFA '18 Capt. Carla Nava, USAFA '18 Capt. Logan Cowan, USAFA ‘18 Capt. Kyle Abraham, USAFA '19, All warfighter graduates distinguished themselves in what has been called the largest air-to-air engagement in over 50 years when they helped turn away Iran's April 2024 attack against Israel. Their extraordinary airmanship contributed greatly to preserving regional stability, protecting Coalition forces, and saving countless civilian lives." Copy Credit:  USAFA Superintendent's Office     VIEW THE FULL VIDEO PLAYLIST OF ALL SPEAKERS AND PRESENTERS           The Long Blue Line Podcast Network is presented by the U.S. Air Force Academy Association and Foundation      

**Reupload. Originally Posted 4/17/20**In this time of social distancing, it can be hard to stay motivated, moving and positive. Join Eric as he interviews Dr. Matthew Arau on how the power of positivity and a shift to a growth mindset can help you be successful and healthy during these different times.Dr. Matthew Arau is an Assistant Professor of Music, Chair of the Music Education Department and Associate Director of Bands at the Lawrence University Conservatory of Music. He conducts the Lawrence Symphonic Band and student and faculty chamber groups, guest conducts the Lawrence Wind Ensemble, supervises student teachers, and teaches Conducting and Instrumental Methods and Rehearsal Techniques I & II.Arau has presented clinics on student leadership, rehearsal techniques, and unlocking potential at the following: The Midwest Clinic: An International Band and Orchestra Conference, the Western International Band Clinic, the American Band College of Sam Houston State University, the Conn-Selmer Institute, the Pan-Hellenic Wind Band Conference in Cyprus, the Colorado, Oregon, and Wisconsin Music Educators Association, Midwest Music Seminars, and universities and high schools around the country.  He teaches student leadership at the Metro-Capitol Leadership Academy in Sherwood, Oregon and the Colorado State University Band Leadership Academy in Ft. Collins, Colorado, and he is a Conn-Selmer Education Clinician. He conducts honor bands and honor jazz bands of all levels, is an active concert band, jazz band and marching band clinician, and has continued to be an active jazz and classical saxophonist throughout his teaching and academic career.Arau earned a DMA in Instrumental Conducting and Literature from the University of Colorado Boulder, a Master of Science in Music from the American Band College at Southern Oregon University, and a Bachelor of Music in Music Performance, Jazz Studies and Music Education and a Bachelor of Arts in Government from Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisconsin.Prior to pursuing his doctoral degree, Arau was the Director of Bands at Loveland High School in Loveland, Colorado from 2005-2012 where he established the Leadership Symposium for the development of student leaders. The Loveland H.S. Wind Symphony was featured at the Western International Band Clinic (WIBC) in Seattle and two times at the Colorado Music Educators Association Convention. The Loveland Marching Band won the Colorado 4A State Marching Band Championship and the Class AA Championship at the Bands of America Super Regional in San Antonio, Texas. Arau began his teaching career in 1997 as the Director of Bands at Walt Clark Middle School in Loveland, Colorado. The Walt Clark Honor Band was featured at the Colorado Music Educators Association Convention in 2003.Mr. Arau's professional affiliations include the College Band Directors National Association, the National Association for Music Education and the World Association of Symphonic Bands and Ensembles. He is a past Western Region Representative of the American School Band Directors Association and Instrumental Representative of the Colorado Music Educators Association. His writings on music and music education are published in Conn-Selmer Touchpoint, Bandworld Magazine, and The Saxophone Journal.(bio courtesy of https://www.lawrence.edu)Not Your Forte is a music education podcast that is geared towards helping Music Education students survive and thrive throughout their undergrad as well as prepare to enter the "real world". Not Your Forte is brought to you by Eric Tinkler, a senior in music education at Kansas State and Dr. Phillip Payne, the Undergraduate Music Education advisor at Kansas State. You can listen to us on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Youtube and much more!Support the show

Latest Utah Avalanche Center forecast, Park City School District announces new superintendent, Summit County Councilmember Chris Robinson recaps Wednesday's council meeting, Utah DABS accepting applications to run small liquor stores in Kamas, Coalville, Leadership Park City Director Scott van Hartesvelt on this year's Leadership Symposium on Feb. 7th, new Wasatch County high school will be Deer Creek Riverhawks and Arts Council Executive Director Jocelyn Scudder talks about this month's gallery stroll on Friday night and their master planning efforts.

This Episode Brought To You By: All-Hazards Incident Management Teams Association (AHIMTA)Join Randy Collins, the Emergency Management Senior Director for the city of Neom in Saudi Arabia, at the Leadership Symposium, where he shares insights on transforming the field of emergency management. In this compelling presentation, Randy discusses his background, the mega project of Neom, and his revolutionary proposal to replace 'recovery' with 'adaptation' in emergency management. He stresses the importance of adaptive intelligence and emergency managers' need to evolve personally and professionally. Randy challenges traditional doctrines, advocates for a growth mindset, and emphasizes the significance of understanding and implementing adaptive strategies for better resilience and thriving communities post-disaster. Don't miss this deep dive into innovative emergency management concepts influenced by organizational change and leadership.Dr. Randal Collins LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/randal-collins/ All-Hazards Incident Management Teams Association (AHIMTA)The AHIMTA standard's core is the Interstate Incident Management Qualifications System Guide (IIMQS), which highlights the association's core principles.Our association is open to anyone dedicated to incident management's mission, with members from all sectors. By joining us, you'll contribute to the future of incident management and have the opportunity to grow personally and professionally. You'll be part of shaping the future of incident management.https://www.ahimta.org/  This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit emnetwork.substack.com/subscribe

No matter what God has called you to do, there is purpose in it. As believers, we must honor God by doing our jobs with excellence and love. Find out how to incorporate spiritual values into your workplace setting at the next Leadership Symposium to be held on November 12th, 2024. Hosted by Scenic City Women's Network. Go to Scenic City Women's Network to learn more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A conversation with 2nd Lt. Madison Marsh '23, the first active duty military member to be crowned Miss America 2024, about her  background, leadership experiences, transition to Harvard Kennedy School, and key lessons on empathetic leadership and following one's passions.   SUMMARY Second Lieutenant Madison Marsh, the first active-duty military member and Miss America 2024, discussed her journey and leadership experiences. She highlighted her foundation for pancreatic cancer research, her academic achievements, and her role as a mentor at the Air Force Academy. Marsh emphasized the importance of empathetic leadership, mental health support, and balancing personal and professional life. She shared her transition from aspiring to be an astronaut to focusing on public policy and her current studies at Harvard Kennedy School. Marsh underscored the significance of passion, support from family and mentors, and the impact of diverse perspectives on leadership.   OUR FAVORITE QUOTES "Don't ask your people to do something that you are not willing to do yourself." - Second Lieutenant Madison Marsh "Your life is too short to live it for someone else or to do things that you are not passionate about." - Second Lieutenant Madison Marsh "I knew that if I put 100% into something I'm passionate about, the outcome and the impact that I'm gonna have is going to be far greater than forcing myself into this idea of who other people want me to be." - Second Lieutenant Madison Marsh "Leaning on people, whether it is your partner or a loved one, that is how you're going to succeed in life." - Second Lieutenant Madison Marsh "Being an empathetic leader, being a leader who goes by example. So don't ask your people to do something that you are not willing to do yourself." - 2nd Lieutenant Madison Marsh   SHARE THIS EPISODE FACEBOOK  |  LINKEDIN  |  INSTAGRAM     CHAPTERS 00:00:  Empathetic Leadership: The Foundation of Success 02:43:  Journey to the Air Force Academy: A Personal Story 11:33:  Overcoming Tragedy: The Power of Support 16:18:  Leadership Lessons from the Academy 28:31:  Navigating Career Changes: Finding Passion 45:02:  Key Takeaways: Empathy and Passion in Leadership     TAKEWAYS Embrace empathetic leadership - Truly understanding and supporting your team members, even when they are struggling, is crucial for effective leadership. Lead by example - As a leader, you should be willing to do anything you ask of your team and not ask them to do something you wouldn't do yourself. Follow your passions - Pursuing work and activities you are truly passionate about will lead to greater fulfillment and impact than forcing yourself into a path for others. Build a strong support network - Relying on partners, mentors, and loved ones can provide the encouragement and guidance needed to overcome challenges. Prioritize self-care - Taking time for your own mental, physical, and emotional well-being is essential to being an effective leader and avoiding burnout.     ABOUT MADISON Second Lieutenant Madison Marsh, crowned Miss America 2024, poses in a Colorado Air National Guard hanger on Buckley Space Force Base on August 7, 2024. Marsh embodies service in and out of uniform, proving that you can achieve your dreams and goals while serving in the United States Air Force.  Image Credit:  Ms. Miram Thurber, Air Force Recruiting Service Public Affairs 2nd Lt. Madison Marsh, USAFA class of '23, and Miss America 2024 is the first active-duty member of the military to hold the title.  She is also the first such title holder in 50 years for Colorado. She attained her private pilot license at the age of 16. She is a highly accomplished humanitarian, scholar and service member. After the loss of her mother in 2018 to pancreatic cancer, she established a foundation to raise funds for research to fight the disease. When she became a cadet, she excelled in her physics and astronomy studies, winning a Truman scholarship and is now pursuing her master's in public policy at Harvard Kennedy School.     CONNECT WITH MADISON Instagram:  @‌missamerica  |  @‌madiisabellaa     ABOUT LONG BLUE LEADERSHIP Long Blue Leadership drops every two weeks on Tuesdays and is available on Apple Podcasts, TuneIn + Alexa, Spotify and all your favorite podcast platforms. Search @AirForceGrads on your favorite social channels for Long Blue Leadership news and updates!          FULL TRANSCRIPT OUR SPEAKERS Guest, 2nd Lt. Madison Marsh '23  |  Host, Lt. Col. (Ret.) Naviere Walkewicz '99 Naviere Walkewicz  00:22 My guest today is Second Lieutenant Madison Marsh, USAFA Class of 23 and newly crowned Miss America.  This is a first for an active-duty member of the military and one for the Colorado history books in that she is the first such title holder in 50 years for the Academy's home state. But there is much, much more to Lieutenant Marsh, including her attaining a private pilot's license at the age of 16. She is a highly accomplished humanitarian, scholar and service member. After the very difficult loss of her mother in 2018 to pancreatic cancer, she established a foundation to raise funds for research and to fight the disease. When she became a cadet, she excelled in physics and astronomy, earning a Truman Scholarship, and is now pursuing her Master's in Public Policy at Harvard Kennedy School. We'll talk with Lieutenant Marsh about her most meaningful and impactful experiences at the Academy in research, athletics, leadership and character development. We'll discuss her speaker role at this year's National Character and Leadership Symposium, and ask how her new role as a national speaker and influencer informs her mission and message. And finally, we'll have the lieutenant share a few takeaways on leadership and character development with you, our listeners. Lieutenant Marsh, welcome to Long Blue Leadership. We're so glad to have you.   2nd Lt. Madison Marsh '23  Thank you so much for having me. Naviere Walkewicz  Absolutely. And before we dive in, as we normally do, we'd love to know how things have been going since you've been crowned.   2nd Lt. Madison Marsh '23  01:51 It has been very, very busy. I've been really lucky that the Air Force decided to keep me on active duty this year, because not only am I getting to serve in a uniform like this, but I'm also getting to serve in that crown and sash. And so, there's so many different experiences that I've gotten to have, whether it's a mixture of days that I'm going and promoting the military, or days that I'm doing a very different type of service. So I never know what I'm gonna' get every day that I wake up on the job. So it's been pretty cool.   Naviere Walkewicz  02:16 That is awesome. Can you share something that's really stuck out to you as just really memorable?   2nd Lt. Madison Marsh '23  02:21 So far, one of my favorite trips that we went on was Normandy for the D-Day anniversary, and I loved it because I had actually gone there last year, right after I commissioned with my fiancé, that was one of the first things we saw as officers. And now getting to go back with a year under my belt with a very different experience, I got to really see that history for like firsthand again. And I just think every time that I look at those headstones, it reminds me of what it means to put on our uniform, what our flag really means to me. And now being able to have that firsthand experience and sharing that with students across the nation, because I want people to understand what it means to serve every day, to hopefully invite people to come and join us and get excited about what service is.   Naviere Walkewicz  03:06 Oh, that's incredible. And, I mean, I think just to reiterate your commitment to service, and then to be able to see how you carry that message through history, I think is really powerful. Oh, that's amazing. I imagine that it's been a whirlwind, and you're looking forward to much more as well. Yes, does it feel like it's flown by?   2nd Lt. Madison Marsh '23  03:21 Yes, I feel, I think I have, like, four and a half months left. And I mean, every day I wake up and it's like three weeks later apparently.   Naviere Walkewicz  03:31 Well, I'm sure that to you it feels like it's flying by, but to everyone else it's a moment in time that they can really connect with you. So, your message is so powerful. We're glad that you're representing. Well, we'd love to dive into our podcast so our listeners can get to know you a little bit more and really experience leadership through your journey. So, we like to start by going into childhood. Okay, do you mind sharing a little bit about what you were like as young girl?   2nd Lt. Madison Marsh '23  03:55 Oh, let's see. I'd always loved science. Okay, so that was the big thing. I had wanted to be a paleontologist, a volcanologist. I wanted to be a scientist that lived with gorillas and studied them in the forest, which was…   Naviere Walkewicz  04:08 Was that inspired by a movie, or just…   2nd Lt. Madison Marsh '23  04:10 I don't know where that even started from. I think I was like, that sounds cool. My parents were like, What is she talking about then? And then, kind of going more into junior high, I wanted to be a marine biologist, and because I went on submarine biology camp, that was what sparked my interest in space, so that I had a very big shift that brought me to wanting to be an astronaut, which is ultimately why I ended up at the Academy. So, there was all these little things of interest throughout science my whole life that now made me put on the uniform.   Naviere Walkewicz  04:42 So Wow, very long, weird journey to get there. Well, I'm sure it was an adventure for you and your family. Yes, are you an only child? Or do you have siblings?   2nd Lt. Madison Marsh '23  04:47 I'm one of five. So, we are a mixed family. I have three older half siblings and older brother Nick, older brother Chris, older sister Sarah. Then there's me and my younger sister, Heidi. So, big family.   Naviere Walkewicz  04:59 Yes, and they're all adventurous like you?   2nd Lt. Madison Marsh '23  05:01 I would say so. I think we're all very different, like my older brothers, they were the huge athletes in our high school. I was not as much of an athlete in high school like I still loved fitness and gym, but I was the band geek. I was the one that was on Quiz Bowl and Science Bowl. My brothers did not. They didn't have the same interest in high school but now they're loving, like, they work in the tech industry. My older sister works in the tech industry. So, I'd say all of my siblings, now that we're in our adulthood, are very focused on, like, all STEM careers. So, it's been cool.   Naviere Walkewicz  05:36 That is amazing. And I love that you mentioned, you know, being a band geek. And I think a lot of people wonder, “Can I, what does that look like down the road?” And just to embrace, I think, our passion? So, what did you play?   2nd Lt. Madison Marsh '23  05:46 So, I played clarinet and contrabass clarinet. So that's like the big six foot tall…   Naviere Walkewicz  05:52 Oh my goodness.   2nd Lt. Madison Marsh '23  05:52 I was this tiny little kid in the ninth grade. Whenever I got to play contrabass, they have to put you on this really tall chair. And so, there's very hilarious videos of me that my family basically uses this blackmail of me playing that journey. I was so proud of it when I brought it home, my parents were like, oh, it's six feet tall. When I brought it home, they were like, “Why was Madison picked for this? She's gonna' be playing this in the house all day.” And it's this really deep, extremely loud noise. And they're like, “Okay, we thought we could deal with the clarinet, but this is, this is next level.”   Naviere Walkewicz  06:27 Well, I guess you know the good thing about that, it wasn't a drum set, right?   2nd Lt. Madison Marsh '23  06:30 That's true. There's grateful for that. Absolutely.   Naviere Walkewicz  06:34 Wow, so you all got involved in STEM. Do you have military members in your family as well that you knew? That's when you said astronaut and Air Force Academy that helped guide that for you or no?   2nd Lt. Madison Marsh '23  06:43 So my grandfather had served, but I had never met him. He passed away, I believe, either whenever I was like a newborn, or maybe a couple years prior, so that, I guess, didn't really influence my decision in the military. The biggest part of it was when I went to space camp in junior high, and I met a bunch of astronauts there. And so, after hearing story after story from them, and getting to go and do really cool experiments, like at space camp, you're building rockets, you're pretending to be an astronaut, like we did a mission to Mars where I got to be a botanist. And so, all of that really influenced my decision on how do I become an astronaut? And so, the story I kept hearing was all of them, for the most part, that I'd met were in the military. They were test pilots, they were fighter pilots. So, I started to figure out, how can I go down that path? Discovered the Air Force Academy and knew that was going to be one of the best places to getting a pilot slot, and even though I am not going down that astronaut path anymore because of those initial dreams and those aspirations that has opened up so many doors now for the rest of my career. So, it's been cool to see how it's evolved over time as I've grown up.   Naviere Walkewicz  07:46 Oh, that's amazing. And I think it's part of what you've learned in your journey is there's a bit of, like, flexibility and kind of, you know, learning along the way. So, it sounds like you did some of that even as a young girl. Okay, so how did you get into the Academy? You applied? Was it just kind of the typical application process? Did you talk to a lot of other cadets? I'm just curious what that looked like for you.   2nd Lt. Madison Marsh '23  08:08 I think I don't know if I spoke to a ton of cadets at the beginning. I remember I used to watch on YouTube, like while I was getting ready for bed, I would watch videos of like the jump team, or different anything from the Academy. And I was like, that is where I need to be. And we have a cool thing at our school where they have an entire military day. It's like on a Saturday. So, they bring every branch. They have people that represent active duty, reserve, guard, all of the academies, enlisted officer, anything that you could think of. They have them set up all in our hallway. And I knew at that point that I wanted to go to the Academy. And so, what I did is I basically printed out all of my essays that I knew that people had had to submit in the past for the Academy. I did resumes. I came with my GPA, everything, and I walked right up to my congressman, and I handed it to him, and I said, I went to him, and I said, “I want to go to the Air Force Academy, and I want to be your nominee.” And I'm sure he was like, “Who's this?” So, I was very firm early on, and so we were able to start an incredible relationship with one another. And so, because I did that, I think that was maybe my junior year, early on in my junior year, when it came time my senior year, he fought for me all of the time to get my application in front of people, because I was his principal nominee, and we had a very, very special moment. So, he called me on October 31, and told me that I had gotten early acceptance to the Academy, and so I got to tell my mom, and the next morning, she passed away. So having an experience like that is… that's why the Academy and Congressman Womack are so special to me, because that was my dream for years, and my mom got to know before she passed away. And it's just everything happens at the right timing, and you never know until afterwards. And so now I get to be here. Now I get to wear the uniform, and even though she hasn't gotten to see it, she got to know about it. And just because of those first instances where I marched up to him and I said, like, “I want to be here.” I got to have experiences like that. And now I get to have wonderful experiences of now serving post Academy life.   Naviere Walkewicz  10:16 I think what you just shared was so powerful in multiple ways. I think the first way is, you know, really being clear and what you wanted to do and to not, you know, take a step back and accept anything, unless you walked right up to him and said, This is what I want to do. You establish yourself, I think, and then to have, I think, that moment where he did fight for you and before your mom passed, having that, I mean, I can't even… Just share thank you for sharing that with me.   2nd Lt. Madison Marsh '23  10:45 He is also a huge part of all the scholarships and applications I've ever done. Anytime that I've ever needed someone to write me a recommendation letter. Congressman Womack has been one of the first people to do it. And I remember when I got the Truman Scholarship. I had asked them, like, what do I need to do for the because I was going to go and compete for the Rhodes and Marshall Scholarship the next year. And I was like, what were the strongest parts and what were the weakest parts of my application? And they said one of my strongest parts of my application, literally, was the letter that he wrote. They said that, like, you never get to see what they write, because they have to submit it to a portal. You're not allowed to look. And they were like, what he put in there, put everything like, pushed it far, far past the line. And I'll never know what he said, but I'm extremely grateful for him always believing in me. He actually had a really cool moment after I won Miss America this past year, he went on the floor of Congress and, like, read out all this stuff about what we had done together, being from his home district and growing up there, so it's been really cool to see how our relationship has evolved over time, because he has always supported he's such a big military promoter, and just getting to have that relationship and also use him as a mentor when times were tough at the Academy, being able to call him up and being like, I'm struggling. I know you helped me get in here, but I'm struggling right now. And he was always there to have an open mind to kind of guide me through, to make sure that I made it out at the end of the day.   Naviere Walkewicz  12:12 Wow. I think having those champions in life not only help us get through things, but help shape us that we will be champions for others in the future. Do you see that something that kind of was ingrained in you from that experience?   2nd Lt. Madison Marsh '23  12:22 Yes, I think, I mean, we were kind of talking about this earlier, about how I reflect on all of my experiences and look at the fact that I would have accomplished nothing without the people that had helped me, and I now want to be that person, even if it's only a little fraction in someone else's life to help them, because they recognize you don't go anywhere alone, you don't accomplish anything alone. And there have been countless mentors, teachers, family members, loved ones, that had poured into me, and now it's my turn to give that back to them.   Naviere Walkewicz  12:51 Amazing. So, you got into the Academy, it was a beautiful thing for you and your family, and while you were there, that's when you formed the foundation. Is that what I'm understanding from a timing perspective?   2nd Lt. Madison Marsh '23  13:03 So, I started the foundation my senior year of high school. So, my mom had passed away, and it was something that my family started literally two weeks afterwards, because watching my mom go through everything, I had recognized that we need to give something positive back to people. And a big part of just pancreatic cancer, is that educational aspect of making sure families around the nation know the signs, the warning, the warning signs, the symptoms. Because that was something that we had no clue with my mom. She was 41 years old when she was diagnosed and passed away. It was a very, very quick turnaround, and so we started it then, then I went off to the Academy. So that's something that I have fun doing on the side and learning a lot of leadership through that as well, because now we've expanded, and I lead about 20 volunteers from across the nation, and it is something that I have not done before, especially like virtually, since we have people all over. So that has been a very big learning lesson this past year, and now I'm getting to use all the cool stuff from the Academy to figure out how to lead people in and out of uniform, because that's something that has been a huge part of my life at the academy, was making sure we serve outside of this, because we have so much time. And I think at the Academy, you often feel like your life only exists inside of the black gates, but there's so much that you can do for people outside of that before you even put on the uniform every day.   Naviere Walkewicz  14:22 I think that's really powerful in sharing that because, you know, I think about your family, and first, I just want to thank you for sharing that difficult time. Because, you know, listeners, we have all different experiences in life, and you know, we all experience, at times, some kind of tragedy. And I think sharing how you found a way you and your family to work through that, and, like you said, kind of provide a perspective for others. You know, maybe if I could just touch on that, and we can, we can move forward while you're at the cadet, when you're a cadet. But can you just touch on, you know, how might you suggest someone find a way to get through some tragedy, maybe through a lens of leadership? Or if they're helping others that are experiencing tragedy.   2nd Lt. Madison Marsh '23  15:03 I think there were two really big parts for me. One of them was knowing when to ask for help. That is something that I talk about in academics, and that is something that I also talk about in personal life, because I wouldn't have been able to make it through the Academy had I not received help. So, one of the things that I did whenever I went through basic like I tried to quit on the first day because I was really struggling with obviously, the Academy is difficult and grieving at the same time. So, one of the things that I did to ensure that I would stay was I started seeing a therapist up on the hill. I saw chaplains all the time. I continued that through most of my freshman year, well into covid when I got sent home in 2020 because I knew that there was no way I could be able to lead in the classroom, in uniform, be there for my friends if I couldn't help myself first. So that is the first big step. It is takes a lot of courage and strength to receive help, and I think that is something, a stigma,that we're all having to overcome and change the narrative surrounding the conversation of mental health, you are strong if you get help, and everyone around you is here to help you, and I think as a friend, also being inviting, being conscious of the types of conversations about when other people that you don't know are having to receive help. Because there were definitely times that people had said about me like, “Oh, Madison's just trying to get out of training,” or, you know, you hear things like that. And so I knew that when I became a sophomore, that whoever I was leading, the one freshman that I was going to be in charge of, I could always be a safe space for them and ensuring that anytime, if they needed to go see chaplain, no questions asked, I would be there to walk them to and from the chaplain, whatever anybody needed, because I understand that that sort of help can be life-saving, and we have to be able to invite those sorts of conversations in and allow people to receive the help that they need. And I think that kind of follows throughout the entire culture of your squadron or Air Force wide, and it starts with one person, one leader, being inviting and accepting of those that need help.   Naviere Walkewicz  17:02 That's so powerful, and I'm so glad that you shared that, because I do think sometimes people might think asking for help is weak, or if I just hide it, then no one knows. But I think you're right. Courage is asking for help and receiving it, and that one person like you said you champion someone else, they will do that. So, you just created this train effect of, you know, support, and I think that's really powerful. So, while you're a cadet, you know, you had amazing experiences, I'm sure. Let's talk about what leadership roles you had as a cadet, aside from being, I think, what do they call them now? So, when you are a three-degree and you have a four-degree, you're called like a coach. Okay, so could you talk about that role a little bit? So that's fairly newer…   2nd Lt. Madison Marsh '23  17:45 Yes, it's pretty interesting. So, you go from being a freshman, which is very much so learning how to follow others, into you are assigned a freshman as soon as you hit your sophomore year. So, you'll have a cadet that has just come out of basic, and they're assigned to you, and that might be, I mean, that's many different things, like you're doing the obvious things like feedback with them, that's required. But it goes beyond that, if you make it so, because everything is a leadership opportunity Academy, if you pour into it so that could be, you know, meetings with them to check up, like, “Hey, how's school going?” Or if they're falling behind in school, like, “Let's create a plan to ensure that you pass your classes,” or, “Let's create a plan to ensure that you are going above and beyond and excelling in these areas.” You have those sorts of conversations with them, and I believe you are their protector against the upperclassmen, because obviously the freshmen, like the upperclassmen, duties are to be hard on them so that they become a better person at the end of their year. But as a sophomore, I had always taken as this is my person to protect and lead, because you're the closest first line supervisor to them. So that's how I took the position of if they needed help, if they had gotten in trouble, having those conversations with them to get them back on track, or maybe they're having some difficulty working with some upperclassmen to try to talk that through with them, to make sure our squadron was still meshing with one another. So that is the intention of the role. And you can go as little as just feedback with them, or you can do a lot. And then you also switch at the second semester, so you'll have a new freshman to lead on the back half of the year. Okay, it depends on the squadrons. Sometimes they strategically place you together, like, let's say a freshman said during basic, “I really struggle with academics,” and they knew that academics was my strong suit. We might get linked together so that they have someone that is guiding them, because they know they're going to struggle with that as soon as the school year starts. So, linking up people's weaknesses to their strengths is a big part of it.       Naviere Walkewicz  19:44 That makes sense. I'm glad you shared that, because I think, you know, not all of us are familiar with that, that kind of program now, and I think the term coach is really appropriate. You know, that actually makes sense, and it helps, actually, I think, inform how you can really, like you said, and embrace that role. And what I think is also a theme with you, Lieutenant Marsh, is, you know, you don't do anything just to do it. And you know you do it because you put your whole self into it. And so, while you're a cadet, maybe talk about what were some of the other things that you experienced from a leadership perspective, from peer leadership, because you know, you had the opportunity to help those you said, as you know, four-degree under you. But what about peers and up? Did you see any leadership you experienced in those realms?   2nd Lt. Madison Marsh '23  20:29 Gosh, there are so many leadership stories that I could touch on. I think one that really stands out in my mind was General Clark, who was our superintendent my time at the Academy. And I remember my sophomore year was covid gear, so we had right before recognition, or the night of recognition. My freshman year, we got sent home. I didn't return until the Fall semester. For my sophomore year, that semester was very tough because we were basically locked down. You couldn't leave. You couldn't really go see your family, and that sort of, you know, being contained in those black gates actually, literally, this time was very hard. And I remember there was a time period for at least five weeks when we were kind of stuck in your dorm, and it sucked, to say the least, but the thing that General Clark did was he was not going to ask us to do something as a leader that he was not willing to do himself. So instead of staying home with his family or going out, he came on base almost every night. He was bringing us food from Chick Fil A, Crumbl Cookie, anything that you could think of. He was doing all the cadet things like the, oh my gosh, what's it called when you pour the water?   Naviere Walkewicz  21:38 Oh my gosh, the carrier land, carrier landing, carrier landings, with cadets.   2nd Lt. Madison Marsh '23  21:45 That was fantastic. I mean, awesome. And then there was a night, I believe, that he set up a cot in a spare room and stayed over with the cadets. And it's leadership like that that had shown me, don't ask your people to do something that you are not willing to do. There's going to be times that are extremely tough, and I'm excited to be in an opportunity where I get to lead more people after this year's Miss America, and after I finish up my degree is it situations like that where you can make such an impact and show that as a leader, you are not better than the people that you are leading. You are right there, going with it, alongside them. And General Clark showed that to us from day one, and he is a leader I'm always going to remember and look up to and that was just one of the many stories that he showed that to us.   Naviere Walkewicz  22:25 And it sounds like that, leading by example is something that you also carry with you in your style and how you want to be seen as a leader. Yes, yes. I think that's wonderful. Let's talk a little bit about you know, you said that you've always enjoyed academics and stem so at the Academy, I understand there's an Academic Success Center. Can you talk a little bit about that? Because that's not something I'm as familiar with.   2nd Lt. Madison Marsh '23  22:48 So, under the Academic Success Center, there are, I believe, two portions of it. So, there's the Quantitative Reasoning Center and the Public Speaking Lab. And I used those all the time, sometimes daily for all four years at the Academy. So, the Quantitative Reasoning Center, they also have a writing lab underneath that, which I also used. So, they will help you with anything from uh, calc one problems to maybe engineering, or maybe you need help writing an essay, or you're not understanding your English class, or you need to help, like prep for public speaking, whatever it might be. So, I went down there all the time because my biggest thing is asking for help early and often. These are free resources that they provide.   Naviere Walkewicz  23:32 Does every cadet from E.I., from extra instruction? Or is it part of is extra instruction with your… it's kind of the same?   2nd Lt. Madison Marsh '23  23:37 Okay, so E.I. is with your instructor. Specifically, this is like a place down underneath the comms tower, where it's an entire wing, where people just sit there all day, and you go online and you make an appointment with them for 30 minutes, and they will be assigned to you to go through your essay with you. Or, “I really cannot get this problem on my assignment. Can you help me with it?” So, if your teacher isn't available, you can go there. It is incredible, because if you are falling behind, there's no reason you can't go to the Academic Success Center, because they have people that stay, I think, until like, eight o'clock at night. And they start, I want to, I mean, I it depends on the people, but I know that some of them started like earlier in the school day, like you could go at noon. So, let's say you have an off period, and you're an IC so you can't go after school. You could go during the day if you have time, or even later that night. So, there's so many opportunities to receive help, and I knew that if I was gonna' go be a Truman Scholar or try to go to grad school, I needed to go 110% in all of my classes, and I couldn't do by myself. I'm not some genius guru who just understood everything. That was not how I was as a student, I did well because I got help from people that knew a lot more than me, and I tried to learn from them, and especially in English classes and history, writing is not my most favorite thing. Yeah, so I had people that did love writing that helped me, and then I think the public speaking lab is also one that is an underutilized resource for cadets. I hear a lot of people that go and use the QRC, but never the Public Speaking Lab. So I used the PSL for anything from pageant prep, whether they were watching my talent or we were going through 100 different political questions and they were grilling me on them, or I'm preparing for a scholarship interview, and how are they going to grill me on my entire life, or my stances on particular things, or my plans, anything that you could think of. They're there for a speech for your class or a presentation for a class. If you struggle with being in front of an audience, they are there to help you, and it's free. And I can tell you right now, I cannot think of many other colleges that have resources like we do, and I remember my dad telling me as a freshman, when I had told him about the Academic Success Center, he was like, “You better be going there every single day, because I can guarantee your older siblings did not have that type of opportunity,” because we have such a small environment compared to some of these big schools across the US. You get really close with your teachers, and you have the opportunity to get really close to all the people at the Academic Success Center. And that is how you go far at the Academy, and you do well. So every Cadet needs to visit there, at least at one point, because I know everyone is not strong in every area.   Naviere Walkewicz  26:21 Well, guess what I'm going to be telling my sons about, if you haven't, and it's for all classes. All classes, excellent. And I can assure all of our listeners, as you can also hear and see yourself, that the PSL, the public speaking lab, has been phenomenal for you.   2nd Lt. Madison Marsh '23  26:37 I love it because I think public speaking is such an important part of being an officer, being able to get up and be in a crowd briefing to very important people, those skills that you learn as a cadet are going to carry with you for the rest of your career. So, start on them early and often, so you're not freaked out the first time you're on active duty and someone very important walks in the room and you're having to talk to them.   Naviere Walkewicz  26:59 Exactly, exactly the low threat.   2nd Lt. Madison Marsh '23  27:00 Get over with the low threat stuff. Now, in the safe spaces, we always talk about safe spaces.   Naviere Walkewicz  27:02 I love that. So, let's talk about life after the Academy. Well before we go there, when you were getting your career drops and all of that, what was, what were you hoping for? We shifted from astronauts, so where did, where did you go?   2nd Lt. Madison Marsh '23  27:19 So, I actually ended up being awarded pilot as my AFSE. But one of the things that I had kind of recognized my senior year was that I was not passionate about going the astronaut route anymore, which meant I didn't want to go to grad school for physics, and I really wanted to focus more on policy and pancreatic cancer, which is why I ended up at the Harvard Kennedy School. So, I made the decision over this last year to not go to pilot training anymore, because I've recognized this entire job as Miss America, there are so many opportunities and jobs in the Air Force to do your job well. And I knew that I was not 100% passionate about the pilot career path anymore, but I could be 100% passionate about something else in the Air Force, which is going to make me do so much better at that job for the people around me. So, I'm changing my job now, and I'm very excited about it. My fiancé is still going to UPT right now, and I love getting to support him and watching that, and now moving into this new phase of my life where I'm going to get to experience another job in the Air Force.   Naviere Walkewicz  28:19 So, we have listeners that, you know, find themselves in a path, and they feel, “I might, be stuck here.” Now, talk a little bit about making that decision, and how can you encourage others? I think the key word you used is, “I can do more because I'm passionate about something,” but maybe talk our listeners through how you felt this was the right decision, and at that time.   2nd Lt. Madison Marsh '23  28:41 I did not come to it overnight, that is for sure. I think it took me probably two and a half years to really, finally be comfortable with it. And I think a thing that I struggled with was fear of people judging me because I was stepping away from this big dream of becoming an astronaut, which I can tell everyone right now, nobody cared whenever I stopped doing that, and that was something I was so fearful of. I thought everyone was going to be like, “Oh, she's not doing this big thing anymore. She's not going to do anything.” And that is not what happened when I started. I remember being in scholarship interviews, and one of the things that I'd received in feedback was it sounds like you're just being robotic, talking about this plan to becoming an astronaut, but when I hear you talk about pancreatic cancer, you light up, and those are the best points in your interview. And so, then that made me think. I was like, “Oh, okay, that's kind of odd that they say that I probably should think about that more,” because I thought I was really passionate about this, and my fiancé had kind of sat me down and was like, “We should, like, discuss this. Like, if you're really having second thoughts about it, because you shouldn't be forcing yourself into a career path to make other people happy.” And I remember my dad had called me after this conversation that kind of started, and he was like, “Listen, just because you told your mom you wanted to go astronaut doesn't mean that you need to do it to, like, fulfill the thing that you told her you were going to do.” He's like, “Your mom and everyone else does not care what career you end up in. All they care about is that you're doing something that makes you happy.” And through the loss of my mom, I had recognized every life is very short. Do not waste it on things you don't care about. Do not waste it on things you're not passionate about, because you're not going to do good at them. Like that's just not that's just not how you work. That's not how I work. I know that if I put 100% into something I'm passionate about, the outcome and the impact that I'm gonna' have is going to be far greater than forcing myself into this idea of who other people want me to be, and that's why I ultimately made that change. And there were a lot of tears at first. There was a lot of second guessing, and I don't think it was really until this January, after I had started, I started interviewing a lot of people on different career paths, like I had spoken to a lot of pilots and asking them what their life was like. And it wasn't until I had interviewed them and also people that are in this profession that I thought I could be really passionate about. That's what really put it over the edge. And I felt very comfortable then with my decision of I am okay, walking away from this old dream because it's no longer my current one, and that's okay. Everyone grows up, everything changes, and that's life, and accept that. And I think because I went 110% on this astronaut path, it opened up the doors to do anything else afterwards. Just because I went down this path for eight years does not mean that I was stuck in it. Since I had worked so hard, I had opened up every single opportunity, like going to Harvard, that has now changed the trajectory of my career and my life.   Naviere Walkewicz  31:38 So, Lieutenant Marsh, I have to just say, even sitting here in the room, I'm inspired. I know our listeners are feeling this as well. Talk about how going to Harvard, Kennedy School. What is your vision for how this will impact and where it will take your foundation, or what does this look like to you after?   2nd Lt. Madison Marsh '23  31:56 I think a really cool thing about the fact that the Academy will send you right to grad school afterwards, is because you have so many opportunities to learn from people that are not military and a very different leadership orientation than we might have ever experienced at USAFA or in just the general Air Force. And that's been really cool. I mean, going to Harvard, we are a very small minority of military members that are there, and I'm getting to meet people from all across the globe. Over 60% of our program are international students, really, which is fascinating. Yeah, I'm getting to learn so much about their countries, their government, which I think is extremely applicable to the way that we work in the Air Force, because we are going to be having to work with a lot of these countries, and now I'm getting a deeper understanding of their perspective, their perspective on leadership, so I think that'll be really cool to see how it's going to impact my Air Force career. But my favorite part of it is the fact that it's allowed me to be really flexible, and what I focus on in public policy, my biggest thing has been pancreatic cancer. So how can I take my experience with the loss of my mom and my understanding of medicine and science now put into policy to ensure patients are receiving the best care so they are not going through what my mom went through? And another cool experience that this reminds me of is how I was talking about astronaut to now pancreatic cancer, because I went down physics instead of having to do a conventional physics project my senior year, because I went so hard in that major I was then able to do an artificial intelligence research on pancreatic cancer, wow, and apply like medical scans X-rays to the way that we detect pancreatic cancer in patients. So, it's little things like that that have opened up doors, and now I've gotten to take that research from the Academy, put that into what I'm studying at Harvard. So just so many different ways that you can apply, reapply and change across your life. So that's I'll be excited to see where I get to use it, I think, way down the road, whether I'm in the Air Force or not being able to serve my community with that degree in the leadership that I'm getting to learn there.   Naviere Walkewicz  34:04 I can't wait to see what you have, I mean, just in the short amount of time, the impact and drive that you have. I mean, it's kind of it blows us away. So, it's really impressive. I wanted to go back to something you mentioned about the different perspectives from the other you know, cultures and countries, especially on leadership. Was there anything particular that you took away or that surprised you, or that kind of resonated with you from some of the people you've met?   2nd Lt. Madison Marsh '23  34:29 Gosh, there are just so many times, I think one of the things that I love doing was just, I love picking people's brains. Yes, so we had, like, a house about 30 minutes away from Harvard, and what I would do, or try to do, at least once a month, is we'd have everyone bring their food from their country, and we'd have a huge spread, and everyone would just sit down and talk about their lives. And there was this one girl named Paulina that I was good friends with, and she was from Israel, and so getting to hear her perspective, because they have a very different way of military service, because it is, I think it's required for them after they turn 18. And her perspective on why that is important to their country, and comparing it now to how the US is most like, is volunteer based, and the differences in that. And so, I think that was really cool to hear from her, because it's very different than what we do here. And I mean, there are just so many students. One of them, he was a student that had lived in China almost his whole life. I think he left when he was 14 or 16 for school or work, ended up living in Canada for a long time, and now was back in the US and hearing his entire family's take on covid or military operations or their actual thoughts on America was very different, because it is not what you get to hear every day in mainstream media, because it's someone that actually lived there. So, it was every moment that you get to have there is very fascinating if you're asking the right questions and talking to the right people…   Naviere Walkewicz  35:57 Especially if you're open to listening.  I have to ask, what did you bring for your food dish?   2nd Lt. Madison Marsh '23  36:01 I made a, what was it, green chili chicken soup.   Naviere Walkewicz  36:08 Of that sounds yummy.   2nd Lt. Madison Marsh '23  36:09 Yes. I like a little spicy soup. But it was nice. I was very full that night. I think I have a whole spread of like a table that was 10 feet long, just covered in everyone.   Naviere Walkewicz  36:19 Oh, my goodness. Well, I'm a foodie myself, so I can appreciate that, and I would have probably partaken a little bit of everything too. So, we'd like to know, what do you your time is so busy? What do you do to what I would call like, manage your health, your balance in life? What does that look like for you?   2nd Lt. Madison Marsh '23  36:36 I was really terrible at it my freshman year at the Academy, and so I had to learn very fast to make sure I was on the right track. So, freshman year, I was struggling with grief. Obviously, the Academy is very busy, and I gave zero time back to myself ever. It was, I would get up at 6am and I was studying until midnight, and that's what I did every day. I never took Saturdays or Sundays off. I'd just go, go, go. And I think that took a very big toll on my mental health, my social life. And it wasn't until my fiancé Walker was like, “You are going to leave this place and throw up your hat and you're going to have no memories outside of your textbooks.” And I was like, “That is a terrifying thought, because you're totally right. You're 100% right. I have not poured into any of the other outside opportunities.”, and so I started doing very small things, like reading 10 pages of a book every night. That is what I forced myself to start doing sophomore year that slowly grew into, and not a textbook, not a textbook, a fun book that slowly started growing into going to the gym, making sure I have a full Saturday off to be with my friends and family, and so now that I'm having this very busy schedule, I do the same thing. I carry this very large planner around in my bag that goes down to 30 minutes, and I'm planning out every single part of my day. So, if I need to plan when I'm calling my family that goes on there, if I'm planning times to go to the gym that's on there, reading a book, anything that you could think of. That is how I stay replenished mentally. Because I know if I can't be giving that time back to myself, I can't go out and meet people and travel all the time, because everyone has their limits, and I've really had to figure out where mine are over the past couple of years and be very strict with myself to ensure that I don't pass them.   Naviere Walkewicz  38:20 I love that because you can't pour from an empty cup. What's the most recent fun thing you've read?   2nd Lt. Madison Marsh '23  38:28 Okay, it's this book called Quitting a Life Strategy, and it is about basically the entire social dynamic on why we look down upon people that quit things, and why that is wrong, and it just meant a lot to me after changing career paths and recognizing that quitting is not a bad word, it's not a negative word. It is a redirection in your life, and it applies to relationships, friendships, jobs, volunteer opportunities, whatever it might be. And it was all of these anecdotes about people that had hated their job and had decided to make a change and are now doing something drastically different and are exponentially more happy, and it just made me feel very certain about the path that I was on, and also more empathetic to people outside of never judging people because they're leaving a certain situation of thinking, the only person that really knows what they're going through is them. And at the end of the day, someone else's life and their decisions don't impact you, so support them. There's no reason to be negative revolving around someone else's life or your own. Just allow people to live life, do their own things. And that is exactly what that book exemplified for me.   Naviere Walkewicz  39:40 I love that. In fact, you make me want to read that.   2nd Lt. Madison Marsh '23  39:43 It's great title again, Quitting a Life Strategy.   Naviere Walkewicz  39:46 I love that. Thank you for sharing that. Yeah, so Lieutenant Marsh, one of the things that our listeners love to know, and you obviously have many talents, because you have competed in in them as well for Miss America, but what's something hidden? Or maybe something special about you that you'd be willing to share with some of our listeners?   2nd Lt. Madison Marsh '23  40:07 Oh geez. I don't know if I have, like, a hidden talent, per se. Okay, I will, okay, this is funny. Going back to the band thing earlier, okay, every time I'm home on holiday, I break out my clarinet and I try to relearn the music and play, and it really irritates my entire family, because I'm not good anymore. I'm not good anymore at all, and they're all like someone take that away from her right now. And this last time I tried playing flute for a little bit, I did not catch on to it as easily as clarinet, and I was home for Christmas, or maybe it was some other time with my fiancé and me, and he had the flu, and I had the clarinet, we were walking around the house playing it together, and they were like, “We have to deal with two of them now, instead of just one.”   Naviere Walkewicz  40:48 I love so, that's fantastic. Thank you for sharing this. And I think what's so great, some of the things that you've shared throughout this, well, one, they've been golden. I mean, just amazing leadership lessons. But I think one of the things that has been really special is you talk about your fiancé and that support you've had with him. Maybe just share with our listeners the importance of having kind of a partner or a support network. What did that what does that look like for you? You seem like you lean on him. Does he lean on you? Or is it able to be shared?   2nd Lt. Madison Marsh '23  41:18 Yes, he is. I mean, I would not be able to do this year's Miss America, or really anything without his support, because if you can imagine, I'm traveling all the time, he's going through UPT and is extremely busy. And it's because of our dedication to each other that we're able to come back at the end of each day, calling each other, making life plans, being honest about how we're feeling. And I think that honesty and the ability to lean on each other makes it so much easier to get through everything. And I remember like I talked about earlier my freshman year, I tried to leave multiple times. I tried to leave on the first day basic, my dad told me, “You can quit, but you can't come home to our house.” So I stayed. I wanted to leave after basic, and I decided to stick it out my freshman year. And it wasn't until that Spring semester freshman year, where I had found people like walker or Dr. Anderson or different professors and mentors that I had had that made me want to stay and like I said earlier, you don't go anywhere alone, or at least, you don't go far by yourself. And so, leaning on people, whether it is your partner or a loved one, that is how you're going to succeed in life, and I've had to learn heavily on how can I be there for these people when I'm at 100% because there are definitely days when I'm at home, maybe I'm not traveling as much for Miss America in the Air Force. And Walker had just the worst, most difficult, long week, like he's having this week, lots of tests, lots of Sims, and I get to be there for him, to support him at the end of it. And it's that give and take and understanding that, above all else, we are number one to each other, and that's something that we talk about it a lot, especially when it comes to career planning. For me, our number one is ensuring that we get to be together. Everything else is secondary, because I know I can't go 100% in my job if I don't have my partner there with me, and he feels the same, and so trying to plan life out in a way that always puts us as the priority no matter what. So, he's been very special. And I think you can also get that outside of a partnership, whether that is someone that is your mentor or a family member or a friend, right?   Naviere Walkewicz  43:20 I think that was a key kind of takeaway that you shared there about first making sure you know what your priorities are, and then staying true to them. So, Lieutenant Marsh, there's two more things we have in this one, and I'll give you a little precursor: I'm going to ask you if there's anything that we didn't talk about there. I didn't ask you that you want to make sure that our listeners have a chance to hear and then the second thing is, we're gonna' have kind of those, those few key takeaways that you really want them to kind of indulge in from your perspective. So maybe with the first one, is there anything I didn't ask you that you wanted to chat about today?   2nd Lt. Madison Marsh '23  43:54 I feel like this is gonna' go into the leadership piece of it. And I just think it is so important to be an empathetic leader, kind of tying back into the mental health I had heard a story once about someone who had someone underneath them that they were leading, and they kept saying that, “Oh, this person's getting in trouble. They're not showing up to meetings. They just don't care. They are just a bad Airman.” When their supervisor had actually sat down and spoken to them, they had actually admitted that they were struggling a lot with depression and needed help, and it takes one person to sit down and have that very like quick conversation of just asking how people are every day and being genuine about it that could change someone's life, and ensuring that you know there are probably going to be people that you're going to lead, that are going to mess up, but be there for them, lead them, be empathetic and make sure that your people are okay. That is your duty as a leader, and that is something from that story I had learned, and now I have to take through the rest of my career to be cognizant of what my people are going through. Maybe they're struggling something with their family. Maybe they're struggling. With something personally, maybe like me, they need help figuring out their rest of their life and their career, and it's just things like that where you can make such an impact on people if you make the time to have those conversations with them, and that is being an empathetic leader, above all else, can really help your people go far, because if you're not focusing on them, they're not going to feel attached to the work that you all do together. But if you can be unified and stick up for one another, you can do so, so much more.   Naviere Walkewicz  45:29 Oh man, it's always about the people, right? It's always and I think what you said was really key, and that was asking the question, versus either, you know, just kind of going in and directing, but being really open to listen so well. So now, Lieutenant Marsh, because I know everyone is hanging on to hear what you might leave them with, what really is, what guides you in leadership, and what are the few things that you'd like our listeners to kind of take away?   2nd Lt. Madison Marsh '23  46:15 I would say, going back to earlier, being an empathetic leader, being a leader who goes by example. So don't ask your people to do something that you are not willing to do yourself. And I think those are the two biggest things that I look for. And I've gained at the Academy and now post Academy life, because I'm always looking for things in leadership that I want to take away and things that I don't. And those are the two biggest things that I want to carry in my little toolbox for the rest of my career. And another important personal piece, whether it applies to your job, personal life, family life, whatever it might be, is always doing something that you love. Your life is too short to live it for someone else or to do things that you are not passionate about. If you are passionate, you're going to go so much further and you're going to be happy. That is the only thing that you can really take away from life, is the happiness that one you provided yourself and you can give to other people, and you can only do that if you're doing work that is worthwhile to you. So keeping that in mind, no matter the strife that you might go through or potential changes that you're going to go through in your career and your life, is holding that near and dear to your heart.   Naviere Walkewicz  47:21 So, this has been an absolute pleasure to just spend this time with you. Lieutenant Marsh, I have to ask, as a graduate and the graduate community, you know, I've enjoyed listening to your story, what can we do to continue to support you?   2nd Lt. Madison Marsh '23  47:34 I think the biggest thing that all AOG can do and long blue line is really just being there for the cadets, because it is conversations like this, opportunities to talk on a podcast like this that maybe cadets can listen to, or being mentors for them. That's what helps them get through it, and that's how we create great leaders, is by pouring back into our community where we came from. I know we talked about that earlier off camera. That's the biggest thing for me, looking at the people that gave back to me, and now that I'm a grad, just loving to be a part of this, to give back to the people that are now coming up and are going to be following behind us.   Naviere Walkewicz  48:07 Thank you for being such an outstanding I think, leader, influencer, and we can't wait to share in this journey with you.   2nd Lt. Madison Marsh '23  Thank you.   Naviere Walkewicz  Thanks for your time.   KEYWORDS People, cadet, Academy, leadership, pancreatic cancer, freshman, Academic Success Center, astronaut, family, sharing, empathy, empathetic, experience, lieutenant, cool, listeners, Marsh, passionate, learn           The Long Blue Line Podcast Network is presented by the U.S. Air Force Academy Association and Foundation      

Illinois Women in Leadership (IWIL) will host its annual symposium on Sept. 25. IWIL members Jen Bettis and Sarah Brewer spoke to Community Voices about the organization and what is slated for the symposium.For more information visit: https://www.iwil.biz/

Don't miss this episode as we sit down with the two keynote speakers for the 2024 Raymond E. Mason, Jr. Leadership Symposium. Anthony Iannarino and Stan Partlow take us through a preview of their keynote talks and give additional insights to their great leadership styles. 

The Explosive Ordnance Women's Leadership Summit, held from August 8-10, marked 50 years of women in the Explosive Ordnance Disposal career field. Attendees from across the globe gathered for two days of leadership, mentorship, and camaraderie, a unique forum focusing on women's leadership and mentorship that had not been seen before. More than 75 service members participated in the summit, including not only female EOD technicians but also men and women from various career fields. Linda Cox, a trailblazer in the field, shared her experiences from being the first woman to graduate from EOD school in 1974 to becoming the first EOD woman to achieve the rank of chief master sergeant in 1994. She highlighted the progress made over the years, with women now running teams and shops in the field. Despite advancements, women remain a minority in EOD, with only 38 women serving as EOD technicians out of 1,337 Airmen in the Air Force, comprising less than 2% of the career field. Chief Master Sgt. Diana Rogers, the second woman EOD Chief and the sole current female serving in that role, discussed the challenges faced by women in EOD and emphasized the importance of more women rising to leadership positions. The summit served as a testament to the progress made and the ongoing efforts to promote diversity and inclusivity in the Explosive Ordnance Disposal career field.

Controlling Warm-Season Perennial Grasses Cooperative Health and Leadership Symposium A Look at the Federal Milk Marketing Order Proposal   00:01:05 – Controlling Warm-Season Perennial Grasses: Starting today's show is K-State weed scientist, Jeremie Kouame, with information on warm-season perennial grasses and what people can do when trying to control them. Control Options for Warm-Season Perennial Grasses   00:12:05 – Cooperative Health and Leadership Symposium: Brian Briggeman, director of the Arthur Capper Cooperative Center at K-State, continues the show as he discusses the health of cooperatives, an anniversary for the center and an upcoming symposium for people interested in cooperatives. accc.ksu.edu Leadership Symposium for Cooperatives   00:23:05 – A Look at the Federal Milk Marketing Order Proposal: The U.S Department of Agriculture has released a recommended decision to update all 11 Federal Milk Marketing orders. To end today's show is K-State dairy specialist Mike Brouk as he takes a closer look at the proposal, which includes changes to pricing formulas and milk composition factors.      Send comments, questions or requests for copies of past programs to ksrenews@ksu.edu.   Agriculture Today is a daily program featuring Kansas State University agricultural specialists and other experts examining ag issues facing Kansas and the nation. It is hosted by Shelby Varner and distributed to radio stations throughout Kansas and as a daily podcast.   K‑State Research and Extension is a short name for the Kansas State University Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service, a program designed to generate and distribute useful knowledge for the well‑being of Kansans. Supported by county, state, federal and private funds, the program has county Extension offices, experiment fields, area Extension offices and regional research centers statewide. Its headquarters is on the K‑State campus in Manhattan

Want to become more heart-centered? There's a new playbook in town! Deb has released her first book The Heart-Centered Leadership Playbook: How to Master the Art of Heart in Life & Leadership. Available in ebook

This week's episode of On Location is coming to you from across the country:  Louisiana, Michigan, California, and Alaska. Join co-hosts Tim Lightner (co-chair of this year's NCSEA Communications Committee, and coming to you from Anchorage, Alaska) and Emily Jernigan (Regional Administrator, Southern Region for the California Department of Child Support Services). Together they host Konitra Jack (Director, Louisiana Child Support Enforcement Services in Baton Rouge, Louisiana) and Sharon Pizzuti (Vice President, Courtland Consulting in East Lansing, Michigan). They have a conversation about an amazing event coming up in August:  the 2024 NCSEA Leadership Symposium in Detroit, Michigan. Learn about the “heart and soul” of this year's symposium, what's in store, and how to get registered. Find out about a community service project for attendees, and a celebration of NCSEA's 50th birthday. Discover what to see and do in the host city, and where to find some of the best and unique places to eat. https://www.ncsealeadershipsymposium.org/

A conversation between brothers in arms who have known each other since the early 1980s - one an athlete, the other his coach at the time.----more---- SUMMARY Neither has ventured far from the Air Force or the Academy. Lt. Gen. Richard Clark '86, the Academy's 21st superintendent, opens up about his leadership journey to Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Mike Gould '76, the man who first coached him all those years ago. Gen. Clark's leadership story is exceptional and Gen. Gould does a masterful job of helping him tell it.   OUR FAVORITE QUOTES "The one thing that doesn't change is our mission. And our mission is to develop lieutenants, better leaders of character that are ready to go out and win our wars and that are ready to go out support defend the Constitution. That is it." "Whenever there's Americans on the ground, we're going to do whatever it takes to help them you will do whatever it takes." "Seeing those young guys go out there and do that, and do what they needed to do to help other Americans to help their fellow servicemen that made me prouder than anything." "I am very happy and comfortable to leave this torch with them to hand the torch off to them. And I'm just proud to have served with them." "I am leaving with a lot of gratitude in my heart, just from our cadets from our permanent party, from the alumni that helped us do this and the other supporters."   SHARE THIS EPISODE FACEBOOK  |  LINKEDIN  |  TWITTER  |  EMAIL   CHAPTERS 00:00:  Introduction and Mission of the Air Force Academy 01:09:  Lieutenant General Rich Clark's Background and Career 08:27:  Making the Best of Unexpected Assignments 10:18:  Leadership in Challenging Situations 00:09:  Introduction 07:28:  Enhancing the Academy's Facilities and Programs 14:57:  Developing Leaders of Character 31:11:  The Importance of Alumni and Supporters 37:51:  Transitioning to the Role of Executive Director of the College Football Playoff 45:08:  Conclusion   TAKEAWAYS  - Leadership is developed through challenging experiences like overcoming adversity, mentoring others, and leading in high-pressure situations like combat.  - Support from family, mentors, and sponsor families can help one persevere through difficult times and find purpose.  - Having an open mind and making the most of unexpected opportunities can lead to unexpected benefits and career success.  - Giving back to one's alma mater through things like financial support, mentorship, and service helps continue its mission and benefits future generations.  - Expressing gratitude to those who support your mission helps foster positive relationships and a sense of shared purpose.     LT. GEN. CLARK'S BIO Lt. Gen. Richard M. Clark '86 is the Superintendent, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado Springs, Colorado. He directs a four-year regimen of military training, academics, athletic and character development programs leading to a Bachelor of Science degree and a commission as a second lieutenant in the United States Air Force or United States Space Force. Lt. Gen. Clark graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy in 1986. His commands include the 34th Bomb Squadron, Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota; 12th Flying Training Wing, Randolph AFB, Texas; Eighth Air Force, Barksdale AFB, Louisiana, and Joint Functional Component Commander for Global Strike, Offutt AFB, Nebraska. He has also served as a White House Fellow in Washington, D.C.; the Commandant of Cadets, U.S. Air Force Academy, Colorado; Senior Defense Official/Defense Attaché, Cairo, Egypt, and as the Commander, Third Air Force, Ramstein Air Base, Germany. Prior to his current assignment, Lt. Gen. Clark served as the Deputy Chief of Staff for Strategic Deterrence and Nuclear Integration, Headquarters U.S. Air Force, the Pentagon, Arlington, Virginia. - Copy and image credit:  af.mil       ABOUT LONG BLUE LEADERSHIP Long Blue Leadership drops every two weeks on Tuesdays and is available on Apple Podcasts, TuneIn + Alexa, Spotify and all your favorite podcast platforms. Search @AirForceGrads on your favorite social channels for Long Blue Leadership news and updates!            FULL TRANSCRIPT OUR SPEAKERS Our guest is Lt. Gen. Richard Clark '86  |  Our host is Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Mike Gould '76   Lt. Gen. Richard Clark  00:12 The one thing that doesn't change is our mission. And our mission is to develop lieutenants, better leaders of character, that are ready to go out and win our wars and that are ready to go out and support and defend the Constitution. That's it.   Announcer  00:27 Welcome to the Long Blue Leadership podcast. These are powerful conversations with United States Air Force Academy graduates who have lived their lives with distinction. All leaders of character who candidly share their stories, including their best and worst moments, the challenges they've overcome the people and events that have shaped who they are, and who willingly lend their wisdom to advance your leadership journey. Your host for this special presentation of Long Blue Leadership is Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Mike Gould, USAFA class of '76 and currently serving as a member of the Association and Foundation board of directors. And now, Gen. Mike Gould.   Lt. Gen Mike Gould  01:09 My guest today is Lt. Gen. Rich Clark, the 21st superintendent of the Air Force Academy, Class of '86 at USAFA, and if I'm not mistaken, you're about 46 days away from retiring. After a 38-year career, that when you think about it, has spanned so much in our country, starting with the Cold War through conflicts in Southwest Asia, in the Middle East, and the culture wars that we all experience today. I think his experience in active duty is highlighted most by seven commands that he's held; a bomb squadron, a training wing, to numbered Air Force's, the joint functional component command for Global Strike, served as the commandant of cadets here at the Academy. And now like I said, as the 21st superintendent. In addition to that, Gen. Clark served as the senior defense official, and the defense attaché in Cairo during some interesting times, and also served as a White House fellow. And if that's not enough, he's flown over 4,200 hours in the B1, both the EC and KC-135, the T1, the T38, the T6 and the T21. And most notably, 400 of those hours are in combat. So Rich, as you look back on the past nearly four decades of service, I'm sure you have a lot to think about as it's all coming to an end. And really, how it all started. I'd like you to please share with us a little bit about your life as a young child. And you know, some of the influential people who you met in your formative years, and then kind of how that led you here to the Air Force Academy.   Lt. Gen. Richard Clark  02:58 Wow, well, first, can I call you Coach, General Gould?   Lt. Gen. Mike Gould  03:02 You (can) call me Coach…   Lt. Gen. Richard Clark  03:03 I'll call you Coach because you were my coach when I was here, and you saw me walk in the doors here. So, I'll talk a little bit about that. But I just want to thank you for letting me be here today. This is a real honor. So, thank you.   Lt. Gen. Richard Clark  But I grew up in the Bay Area, Oakland, Berkeley, California, and my parents were divorced. So, it was my mother, my brother and I. And then when my mom got remarried, we moved to the East Coast to Richmond, Virginia, and that's where I went to high school, and not a military family. My dad was drafted back in the Vietnam era. He served a short tour, so I don't really remember those days. So, I don't consider myself really from a military family and really hadn't considered joining the military. I played football, I played a lot of sports. Growing up, football was my primary — and track actually, but football the primarily, and I had signed to go to William & Mary in Virginia, and I was going with my best friend from high school and actually in junior high. And Coach Ken Hatfield came to my house. And the Air Force had been recruiting me. So did Army and Navy. And he actually came to my house though and visited my parents. And he had dinner at our house, and my mom thought, “He is such a nice man. And he was like, “Look, just come out and see the Air Force Academy.” Now what he didn't know was that I wanted to, I was very interested in flying more commercial. I always thought I wanted to be a commercial pilot. And he convinced me to come out. My mom was like, “Just go; it's free.” You know, I was like, OK, and so I still had a couple of college visits left. So, I came to the Air Force Academy. I'll be honest, I got here and after seeing the place and seeing the opportunities to fly — just to have a great education and to play Division I college football, I was hooked. And I, my dad — my stepdad who I consider my dad — made me call the coach at William & Mary tell him I was changing my mind. And I signed and came to Air Force. And when I got off the bus and got on those footprints , and they started yelling at me, I was like, “Hey, wait, I'm a football player. You're not supposed to yell at me.” That's what I thought. And that was not true. And the rest is history. And, you know, it was an important decision in my life, certainly. But, you know, I appreciate Coach Hatfield being persistent and coming to get me and, you know, talk to my parents, formative people, obviously. But it was a great decision. Great decision.   Lt. Gen. Mike Gould  05:48 Did you also visit West Point and or Annapolis?   Lt. Gen. Richard Clark  05:52 I did not because I didn't want to go to a — I wasn't interested, really in a service academy. What I will say, though, I did fill out an application to Air Force before Coach Hatfield came. And I did go and do an interview with my congressional member. Because my guidance counselor convinced me to do that in case I didn't get another good offer from somewhere else. And I actually got a congressional appointment. But then the Academy contacted me, and I told them I was going to turn it down. And that's when Coach Hatfield came to my house. But I, I went through the motions, I think, but I didn't really have an intention to come. I wanted to go to William & Mary, and I wasn't even going to visit Army and Navy because, you know, there wasn't something I was interested in.   Lt. Gen. Mike Gould  06:46 I'll bet you've looked back and asked yourself the question, what would you be doing now had you gone to William and Mary, or one of these other schools?   Lt. Gen. Richard Clark  06:54 Hard for me to picture my life without being in the Air Force and the Air Force Academy, right?   Lt. Gen. Mike Gould  07:01 Now, you let on a little bit about falling in on the footprints. But as you look back at arriving at the Academy, and you're in now, you signed up and you're going to be a Falcon, what kind of memories do you have about basic training and leading into your first fall semester?   Lt. Gen. Richard Clark  07:21 Yeah. So, here's the here's one memory I definitely have — and I talk to the cadets about this sometimes — I mentioned the phone-booth to them. And they're like, “What? “What's a phone booth?” Well, you know, I explained to them, there were these big boxes that had a telephone and you had a card that you could call home. And in basic training, about halfway through, you got to call home. And I call my mom. And I said, “Mom, this place is not for me. I'm ready to come home.” She's like, “Oh, that's great. Because the William & Mary coach called last week to see how you're doing. You could probably still get your scholarship.” And I was like, “Oh.” I was expecting her to say, “Well, you better not come home.” But she said, “You know, that's OK.” And truth is, I looked out the door, you know, they had the glass doors, and all my classmates are lined up out the door waiting for their turn to come in. And honestly, I thought, “Man, I'm not ready to leave these guys yet.” And so, she said, “You come on home, it's OK.” And I said, “Well, you know what, mom, I think I'm just gonna' finish basic training. And then I'll see. I want to stick that out with these guys.” You know, I made some great friends. It's not what I expected, but I liked the people. So, I stayed. And then after basic training, she asked me, “Are you still going to come home?” And I said, “Well, you know, I think I'll stick it out one semester, I'd really like to play football because I've gotten in with the team now. And I got some friends on the team. So maybe I could play one season. I think I've got a good chance to make the varsity.” And I did that. And then it was, “You know, Mom, maybe I'll stay for my rest of my freshman year.” It was like one step at a time until eventually I was like, “You know, I'm in.” But it was not a done deal for a while for me, you know, where I just said, “You know what, this is it. I'm in the right place.” I think after that first year, though, I realized that I was, you know — it took some time though. And football had a lot to do with it. The friends you make, the success we had as a team. That was just great. And I love my squadron. I was in 7th Squadron. Great, great friends there. So, after a year though, I feel like I was in but there was that moment in that phone booth and basic training where I was like, “Man, I don't know.” But I did it and I'm glad I did.   Lt. Gen. Mike Gould  09:52 Well, everything you just went through right there was referencing the people. That's what kept you there. But then you get into academics and you get your military training. How did you navigate some of those things? And you know, I know you had fun with your buddies and football is always a hoot. But about the other challenges that the Academy threw at you?   Lt. Gen. Richard Clark  10:15 Yeah. So, I actually, I liked academics, I did pretty well, I was on Dean's List most semesters, like seven of my eight semesters, I made the Dean's List. So not that I didn't have some challenges. I mean, there's those certain courses that you're just like, “Oh, my goodness.” But overall, academics wasn't the big challenge. I think the challenge for me was not having some of the freedoms that you wanted early on because you're sort of getting acclimatized to it, you know, you're getting used to not being able to do certain things, the military lifestyle, you have to get used to that a little bit. But once I got that — and going back to the people, everybody's kind of struggling with that. And when you're all struggling together, it just makes it a lot more bearable and doable. And I think after that first year, I was in, I was like, “You know, I'm in the right place. And I'm gonna' stay here.” I did have a moment though. When I was a sophomore, I tore my knee up playing football, the last game, San Diego State. Just ripped my ACL. My MCL — meniscus cartilage — had [to be] reconstructed. And I wasn't sure if I was going to be able to play football again. And that made me kind of think a little bit about was I going to stay. And I had to come to terms with some things, you know, “Why am I here? What's my real purpose?” And as much as football meant to me, I was here for something bigger than that. And I realized that unfortunately, at that point when I was injured, I think that was also the point where I really came to terms with why I was here, that it was something bigger than myself. And I wanted to be a part of it. And so I stayed. I was still determined to play and I did get to play, you know, the next season. But my purpose was a bit different, you know, and that injury really helped me kind of figure things out and sort through my greater purpose.   Lt. Gen. Mike Gould  12:18 Gave you that confidence of overcoming adversity.   Lt. Gen. Richard Clark  12:21 Absolutely. Like sports does. Right. That's it.   Lt. Gen. Mike Gould  12:24 Now, back in my day, we didn't really have a sponsorship program — sponsor families in town. But I think by the time you were a cadet, that program existed to have a sponsor family.   Lt. Gen. Richard Clark  12:41 They were awesome. The Frables, Neil and Elizabeth. I just had lunch with Neil about four months ago. We still we stay in touch and they're just awesome. And they were so good. They sponsored four of us. And they actually gave each of us a key to their house. And a key to their third car. Oh, my goodness, that was a lifesaver. And they cooked a lot. And we ate a lot. And they just they really opened their homes up to us. So, I credit them. I mean, they were my second family, and still just love them for what they did for us. They were a great, great sponsor family.   Lt. Gen. Mike Gould  13:24 When you were a cadet, did you participate in any formal leadership programs? Did you hold some positions within the cadet wing?   Lt. Gen. Richard Clark  13:35 O don't think they thought that highly of me. I wasn't that kind of cadet. I was the D.O. for my squadron. And that was because one of my buddies was a squadron commander. He's like, “Hey, man, will you help me?” And I was like, “Yeah, I'll do this.” But that was the most leadership experience I got and, you know, informal way. But I was glad to do that. It was my squadron. Although, when I told my friends to clean their rooms up and stuff, they'd always give me grief. You know, all these seniors. We were all seniors together. And they're like, “Who are you to tell me this?” Peer leadership is the hardest thing in the world. But yeah, I didn't rise to the level of like group or wing leadership or anything like that. So, the cadets were already surprised to hear that I'm like not, I wasn't that good of a cadet. I mean, I was like your average kind of cadet that did pretty well.   Lt. Gen. Mike Gould  14:28 Well, you're being modest here. I watched you lead on that football team. You guys had some success and a really tight group.   Lt. Gen. Richard Clark  14:35 We did. I loved our team. We had a lot of leaders on our football team, though. And people — I always characterize the leadership on our football team — people knew when they needed to lead. You know, there was just times where someone needed to step up and be a leader. And it might not be that you were the leader all the time. But when it was needed, somebody always stepped up. And that was I think the hallmark of our team. And it was just a great group of people, humble leaders, all about team success. And I learned as much leadership from football as I did anywhere else here at the Academy. And credit to Coach DeBerry, Coach Hatfield, you know, all of our coaches, and my teammates, for just helping me develop as a man and, and what kind of a leader and person I wanted to be. So that was as much of a leadership laboratory as anything for me.   Lt. Gen. Mike Gould  15:33 So, it sounds like when it came time to toss your hat and put on the gold bars, you were prepared to go out and be a lieutenant in the Air Force.   Lt. Gen. Richard Clark  15:43 I think I was. And my first job was right back and coaching football here. So that was a nice transition from the Academy. I taught unarmed combat, PE, and I coached the JV football team and you, you were at the prep school then I think, Coach, and so… But that was a phenomenal job. And there were like eight of us that stayed back and did that. That was just great. And you know, you had to employ some leadership there because you're trying to lead the cadets. And whether they're on football or in the PE class. So, I learned a lot doing that, but I really enjoyed it. I love being back here. And honestly, it gave me a whole different appreciation for the Academy. Because when you're a cadet, you are looking about five feet in front of you and you don't stop to look at the mountains and you don't stop to look at all that everybody's doing to make this place happen and the passion that people really have for our cadets. That was when I first kind of said, “You know what, this place really is special.” But you don't get that as a cadet necessarily. Some cadets, so they're special anyway, but cadets like me, I didn't know, and I was just ready to graduate. But that one year gave me a whole different appreciation. And I'm grateful for it.   Lt. Gen. Mike Gould  17:00 Right. And then you headed off to pilot training and like most lieutenants, you know, you're gonna' mix in with a new group of people, a new group of friends. Talk to us about your experience as a student pilot, and then on to start your career flying big airplanes.   Lt. Gen. Richard Clark  17:18 Yes. So, me and one of my good friends, Mike Chandler, we decided we were going to go to pilot training together. He was a teammate in football. And we were actually roommates when we traveled. And we decided we're going together. So, we both went to Laughlin. And we thought we'll go to Laughlin so there's no distractions, there's good weather, we're going to kill pilot training. And when we got there, we realized there's no distractions at all. And there was nothing else to do there. But we had a great time because of the people in our class. And we're the only two Academy grads in the class. But we just we bonded well as a class and pilot training was pretty good. I do remember though, I almost washed out, like in the first month, because I had a couple bad rides in a row. And you know how you get a couple, three bad rides, and you're out? And especially in those days, we lost half of our class, they washed out 50% of our class. And I had these bad rides. And I had to go to what they call an 89. You know, and what that was if you if you fail three rides in a row, right? If you couldn't do your no-flap landings, and you couldn't get them right in the T-37, then you went to an 88. You fail the 88, then you go to the 89. 89 was the elimination, right? And so, I had to go to an 89. And I had to fly with the squadron commander. And the night before, I call my mom again. I always called my mom. And I was like, Mom, tomorrow might be my last flight because I flew today, I failed the ride, and I don't think a whole lot is gonna' change between tonight and tomorrow. And she was like, “Well enjoy it. Because it might be the last time you get to fly an airplane, so you need to at least have fun. It's been your dream and my heart goes out to you. But enjoy the flight. Don't make your last flight something that was a bad memory for you.” And I was like, “Well, if I fail, it's gonna' be a bad memory.” She said, “But at least have fun. You can have fun.” But it was great advice because I went up there, Coach, and I was just relaxed. I even stopped studying when I called her. I didn't study that night. I went to bed, got up in the morning, didn't get up early and study. I went in there, I did my ground evals. I was usually pretty good in the ground evals and I just went up and I flew the sortie. I remember, he told me to do a cloverleaf, you know, the maneuver the cloverleaf, which was my favorite. I did the cloverleaf and he goes, “OK, we can head on back to the pattern now get your pattern work done.” And I said, “Can I do one more clover?” And he's like, “I don't recommend it, the one you did was fine.” And I said, “I know I just like the cloverleaf. Sir, can I just do one more?” He was like, “OK.” And I did another cloverleaf thinking, “You know, this might be my last time I did the cloverleaf.” I flew back to the pattern, I'm talking to the IP and stuff. I did my landings, you know, really uneventful. Got out of the plane, we're walking back, and he goes, “I don't even know why you're in this ride. That was a great ride.” And I was like, “You mean, I passed?” And he was like, “Yeah, great job today, Lt. Clark, you passed.” And what I realized, it was about just relaxing and flying the plane. And it was the best lesson I ever got in an airplane, when you can relax and just let your training kick in. And just don't worry and let your instincts take over. You just fly better. And my mom sort of taught me that. She's like, “Just relax and have a good time.” So, I sort of credited her with keeping me at the Academy. She got me through pilot training. I mean, she was my mom, too. So, I give her that credit. But yeah, that was a good pilot training memory. And, you know, everything's been great since then.   Lt. Gen. Mike Gould  21:12 So, you head off, and you're going to the EC135 first, right? So, talk to me a little bit about your career progression there as a captain and major and things you look back on from that period.   Lt. Gen. Richard Clark  21:27 Well, so, here's one big lesson that I got out. When I got the EC135, I wanted to fly C-130. Really I wanted to fly a gunship. And I thought, “I don't even know what that is I didn't put it on my dream sheet. How did I end up getting this?” I was bummed out. And then one of the IP(s) said, “You know, they handpick people to go into the EC135.” Oh, really? Well, because the EC135 was the airborne command post — the nuclear mission at Offutt and you always had a general officer on board. And you could only fly with instructor pilots and a co-pilot. You couldn't have a straight aircraft commander in that plane. And the co-pilot had an immense amount of responsibility in that mission, and you got a whole lot of flying time. And when you got done with that assignment in two years, you got your choice of your next assignment. And a lot of guys went to fighters. They had to compete for that. But then for me, it was the B-1 and I saw that that was available. And I learned that when I first walked in the door because several people got to FP111s and B-1s. And I was like, “Man, I could do this.” I got 2,000 hours in the T-38 because they had the ACE program, the companion trainer program in the EC. And between those two aircraft, I got 2,000 hours, which was plenty for me to go into the B-1. And then I flew the B-1 basically the rest of my career. And so, it was really one of the lessons I learned. Sometimes you get put somewhere that maybe it didn't want or maybe didn't expect, but you make the best of it. And sometimes there's these, sort of, hidden benefits and successes that you didn't even know about. But if you go there and just bloom where you're planted, good things happen. And I learned that early. Fortunately, in the EC135. I flew the B-1 for 17 years. I flew at McConnell which ended up moving B-1s out of there. Dyess Air Force Base, I flew at Ellsworth as a squadron commander. I did do a stint in the Pentagon and legislative liaison in there and I was also a White House fellow, which was an amazing opportunity for me. But those years and the B-1 and doing the Pentagon and the White House fellow were really amazing years. I met Amy in there and we got married. When I was stationed at Dyess as a captain, well, actually I met her as a captain — we dated, and I pinned on just a few months before we got married. But my flying career was just awesome. And my first command was just absolutely a pinnacle point. It was squadron commander and the 34th Bomb Squadron. And I got into that squadron. Sept. 5, 2001, is when I showed up for that and I had just left the White House fellowship, which was just a fantastic opportunity. But I was riding high Sept. 5, and then Sept. 11, happens and everything changed. The squadron deployed and I wasn't checked out yet in the B-1. I had to go through a re-qual program. And so, I can remember when they left. The squadron was heading out and they were, “…or maybe we could just take you as an unqualified pilot,” blah, blah, blah. There was no way that that was going to happen. And so, I can remember that day, when they were leaving, they left about a month after Sept. 11, in October. And I just went and helped pack up bags. I just did whatever I could to help that squadron out. I wasn't the squadron commander at the time. But I remember thinking, “Man, I can't believe the squadron that I was going to go in is going to go without me.” But they did. And I helped. And I tried to be as much of a contributor as I could. And when they came back, I was all qualified. And then a couple of months after that, I took over the squadron. And then they tapped us to go again. And so, I got to deploy the squadron in combat over Iraq. We deployed to Oman and we flew missions at the beginning of OIF. And that was just an unbelievable experience, growth experience, leadership experience, but really, just something I'll never forget, you know, it was hard. It was tough. We're there for about six months. But leading in combat I think is something we all prepare for and want to be ready for. But it's also an honor, you know, to be able to have that kind of responsibility. And I think back on it, and my timing couldn't have been better for me to be able to do that. It was just a highlight of my career.   Lt. Gen. Mike Gould  26:31 Can we entice you to tell a quick war story about a Distinguished Flying Cross that you are awarded?   Lt. Gen. Richard Clark  26:37 Oh, well, I could talk about that. Can I talk about a different story there? I have a better one, I do. This was one of my proudest moments I think I had as the squadron commander. I had to line up all the crews, you know, to put experience within experience and make sure that they were balanced out with the people that I knew, and who was going to perform the best. And I had 24 crews. They actually sent me extra crews from a different squadron to make sure that we had a full complement. And the last crew that I had were two of the most inexperienced people in our squadron. Two captains and two lieutenants. And one of them was a brand-new FAPE. Has just come from T-37s into the B-1. And I had to have 24 crews and they were the last four people. And I didn't really have another way to balance the experience and inexperience. So, I did it. And the flight commanders were like, “Don't do it. We can't send these guys out like that.” And I said, “We have to; they need to go. And so, on the second night, they went out they had 24 JDAM, 2,000 pound GPS bombs. And they started out. They orbited in the area, they did well. First they delivered their 12 bombs on-target, the direct targets from the ATO, and they hit those targets. And then they were orbiting, waiting for what we call it, x-cast, somebody to call in and say, “I need some bombs.” And our mantra in the squadron was whenever there's Americans on the ground, we're going to do whatever it takes to help them. You will do whatever it takes. And so, they're orbiting, and they're about at bingo fuel in there, meaning the fuel that they needed to go back, and they get a radio call from an AWAC. There's troops in contact and they need some air power. So, they give this crew, the aircraft commander, this young FAPE goes, “Well, we're close to bingo, but we're not there yet. So, give us the coordinates and give us the radio frequency,” and they fly. And they get this JTAC — joint tactical air control — on the ground. And he's like, “We're getting shelled from a ridgeline. There's Iraqi armored vehicles, they're hitting us hard. We need some bombs. We got 150 soldiers down here, can you give us some bombs.” He's like, “Got it, give us the coordinates.” So, they start getting a nine-line there. They're loading the coordinates, and the “Wizzo” is just putting the bombs, you know, he starts putting them on target. Boom, boom, one at a time. And they get the coordinates, bomb on target. But then they hit bingo. And so the aircraft commander tells the JTAC, “Hey, we're at bingo fuel, we need to get going or we're not going to be able to get back home. But we'll get somebody else out here.” And the JTAC says, “If you leave us now, we're going to get pummeled. Can you stay a little longer?” He says, “We'll stay as long as you want.” And so, they keep putting bombs on target. And they keep putting them down until they went Winchester and the JTAC says, “Hey, the shelling stopped. You guys are cleared out.” And when they turn their nose to go home, they didn't have enough fuel to get back. And so, they get on with AWACS and they're talking to AWACS trying to figure something out. They're looking at divert. Field diverting into a field in Iraq is not a good idea. But finally, a KC-135 flies into the country, into Iraq, unarmed, unafraid, gives them gas and then those guys can come home. And when they got back, they were three hours past their estimated arrival time. And I met him at the airplane because I'm going, “What happened?” And when the aircraft commander comes down the ladder, he's got salt stains on his back. They were working hard. I said, “What happened? He goes, “Sir, we overflew our bingo.” I said, “Well, certainly there's more to it than that.” And so, we go into the intel debrief and they told that story. And all of those, that whole crew, was awarded Distinguished Flying Crosses for what they did. And so that of all the things that happened, to see those young guys go out there and do that, and do what they needed to do to help other Americans, to help their fellow servicemen, that made me prouder than anything,   Lt. Gen. Mike Gould  30:44 I guess it would. And you took a chance, in a way, by putting this crew together.   Lt. Gen. Richard Clark  30:49 I did. Yeah. As far as I was concerned, I didn't have a choice, you know, but I had to trust them to do their job. And they were trained. I mean, they had received the training that was required for them to go to combat, so we have to trust them to do it. And they did it.   Lt. Gen. Mike Gould  31:05 Well, that's a really cool story. And if my math is right, you are about 15-16 years into your career at that time. Let me shift gears a little bit. How much thought did you give to staying in touch with or staying engaged with the Air Force Academy while you were out? You know, developing your career path.   Lt. Gen. Richard Clark  31:33 I gave a lot of thought to it. I used to come back for football games. I came back for my reunions for sure. And I don't think financially at that point, I hadn't gotten involved. But a couple years later, when our class, our 20th reunion was starting, that's when I really started realizing financially I could and should start to give back to the Academy. So that was when I think from a financial point, I really connected and realized that. But just from a present standpoint and coming back, I came back at every opportunity. I came back for games; I came back for some mentorship opportunities that people asked me to come talk to cadets and things like that. But I never thought I would get to come back here to work. You know, it never crossed my mind until someone asked me to be the commandant years later. And that was like beyond imagination for me, especially knowing what kind of cadet I was. I was like, “OK, you really want me to be the commandant? I don't think so.” But I got that opportunity down the road. I mean, that was after a lot. I went on to be a wing commander, you mentioned I was the wing commander. At 12th Flying Training Wing, I got to fly all the trainers and that was just awesome. And then I deployed to Iraq for a year, which was an intense year, hard year, I would say probably the hardest year I've had, you know, in my career. And then I got promoted to one star. And they sent me to Barksdale Air Force Base as the vice commander of 8th Air Force. And when I came back from Iraq, I knew I'd gotten promoted. And that job was kind of roundabout. They said, “Hey, we're gonna' send you to Barksdale to be the vice at 8th. But that job is actually going to be downgraded to a colonel and you're about to pin on one star. So we're not sure what's going to happen with you next.” I was like, “Oh, man,” trying to remember the lessons of the past though. I said, “OK. This is where I'm going so let's bloom where I'm planted,” right? So, we all move there. Things were great. And then I remember the MATCOM commander called me in one day and he goes, “You know…, they get the phone call from the secretary. I'm gonna', one, I'm a newly pinned on one star. And he goes, “Hey, you know that job you're in is a colonel job?” And I was like, “Yes, sir, I know. But I love it.” You know, I was being positive. He says, “But we're gonna' have to move you out of there.” “Yes sir. Understood.” And he goes, “What would you think about going to the Air Force Academy and be the commandant?” You could have knocked me over with a feather. And that's when you and I first connected, when I got to come be your commandant when you were the supt. And that was just a dream to be able to come back here and that's when I really connected back, you know, when I got a chance to see it, even from a different level. I talked about it as a coach you know, and seeing how special it is and seeing how passionate people are about our school. But being the commandant gave me a whole different view and being able to engage with the cadets and understand what they were doing and trying to push that development for them. Just amazing and I loved it, and Amy loved it, to live in the Otis House, having the cadets over, trying to help them with their, you know, their development. And that's a big job, right? We all know that because you take it very personally, because you want them to be everything that they can be in there. So amazingly talented. You just want to take that talent and give them every opportunity you can to thrive. So, we did that. And after that, even Amy, she might as well be a grad. I mean, she just fell in love with this place after those two years. Our kids, Milo and Zoey, they were 10 and 8 coming in. Our family just was immersed in USAFA.   Lt. Gen. Mike Gould  35:40 So, I was going to ask you about the role that Amy and the kids played in your development as a leader, but I got to see it firsthand. And you just went through that. When you had to leave the Academy, if you can remember, I'm sure you do remember this, I wanted to keep you here for a third year. Because you were that perfect role model in so many ways for the cadets. Not only your leadership, you know, in the job, but your family and the way these kids could then look up and say, “I want to do that someday. I think I can be like that guy.” And we wanted to keep you another year and then you came out on the two-star list and you moved on to what was undoubtedly a really, really tough assignment as the DAT and senior guy in Cairo. Tell us about that little bit.   Lt. Gen. Richard Clark  36:30 Yeah, well, if you remember at first they told me I was going to the Pentagon to be the 8th, which was like the big job. If you're a two-star, you go there, the 8th as the programmer. And Amy loves D.C. And so, they told us we were going there. And then I get a phone call from then-Chief of Staff Gen. Schwartz, actually, he called and said, “Hey, I need you to talk to the GAO management office, the GoMo, who do all the assignments for the general.” And I was like, “Oh, yes, sir. Is there a problem?” And I think you might have known about that — you probably knew about this already. Because it was bad news, I think he wanted to tell me personally or something. And so, I called GoMo. And they go, “Yeah, your assignment's changed. You're not going to the Pentagon, you're going to Egypt.” And I go, “Is there a base in Egypt?” They're like, “No, you're gonna' be working at the embassy as the DET.” And I was like, “Ah, OK. All right. That's good.” And so, then the first thing that came to my mind was telling me, I was like, “Oh man, she's gonna' flip out.” Well, I called her. And I said, “Honey, we're not going to D.C.” And here's the thing. Our movers were already in route, like, they were coming to pack us out. And I said, “We're not going to D.C., we're going to Egypt.” I was bracing for impact. And she goes, “Oh my gosh, are you kidding me? That's amazing.” I was like, she couldn't care less about what job I had, she couldn't care less that I was giving up like the best job to target. She was just looking for that adventure of Egypt. And that actually took a lot of heat off me. Because if she's happy, I'm happy. And so, we went to Egypt. And it actually turned out to be great. But we got truncated on the training. Like, you're supposed to get language school, you're supposed to go through this whole defense attaché course. And I didn't have time because it was a late breaking change. And they said, “Don't worry, you don't need all that training because Egypt's on skids.” That was the exact words of the guy that that told me I was getting a job. And he meant Egypt is in a good place. You know, they just elected a new president, democratically elected, and everything's good. Well, when we got there, I got to the airport and we're all sitting in the lounge at the airport, and I picked up a newspaper, and it was in English. And it said that day, the president fired all the military, all the top military leaders. I was like, I guess we're not on skids anymore. And it just went downhill from there. I was there for a month, and they attacked the embassy. And then a year later, the coup happened. Amy and the kids and all the families within the embassy had to go home. It was an order departure. They all had to leave. I remember telling Amy because I was in the meeting with the ambassador when all this happened. And I said “Hey, you might want to pack a bag because I think you're about to go.” She's like, “Pack a bag?” I said, “You can only pack a carry on.” “How long are we going to be gone?” “I don't know.” And they left and they went to D.C. And we had no idea. They ended up being gone for nine months. The kids started school and everything. Well, there was two thirds of the embassy stayed, but it was actually, from a professional standpoint, awesome. To be involved, often to be our representative on the military side, to work with the Egyptian military to try to help navigate through this coup d'état. And they're a country that we were very interested in keeping as a partner. I got a lot of good experience and just cool, like, opportunities to do things. It was a little scary at times, but I actually loved it. And then Amy and the kids came back. We look at that as one of our best assignments as a family. It was just — the Egyptian people are amazing. The travel that we got to do was incredible. And I just loved the assignment, and it goes back, you know, I mentioned to you, sometimes you get an assignment and you're like, “Gosh, what?” And it turns out to be the best thing ever. And that was one of them.   Lt. Gen. Mike Gould  40:50 And I thought for sure, somewhere in there, you were gonna' say you called your mom.   Lt. Gen. Richard Clark  40:57 Then I was married, so then I just had to stop calling my mom after that. Well, I still call her but not for advice. I gotta' call Amy, so, you know?   Lt. Gen. Mike Gould  41:06 Well, you had a couple more really challenging assignments. But let's talk about your time as superintendent. Not too many people think that you'll grow up someday and have that type of responsibility. And then when you get here, you realize that it's probably one of the most heavily scrutinized positions you can have in the Air Force.   Lt. Gen. Richard Clark  41:26 That's an understatement.   Lt. Gen. Mike Gould  41:29 We can both agree on this.   Lt. Gen. Mike Gould  41:34 But other than the general leadership and the experiences you have throughout your career, this place is different. USAFA is different than any other command, and in many ways more challenging, because you just hadn't had that experience. How do you reflect back on your time as superintendent and the fact that you you've worked through, I think you had two presidents, two commander in chiefs, you had a couple different secretaries, and they all have guidance that comes to you. But your job then is to make that guidance into your own policy. How have you dealt with all that?   Lt. Gen. Richard Clark  42:14 You know, honestly, all of us military members are — our job is to make the commander in chief's policy our policy, and to execute that policy. That's our oath. And that's what we do. And so, you know, for me, I feel like we've all done that. I mean, we've all at some point in our careers had to say, you know, “This is the law of the land.” I mean, I'm gonna' follow my oath to the Constitution, support and defend. And that's a part of it. So, in that aspect, you saw it was no different. But like you said, it's such a, I don't know, everybody has an idea. Everybody thinks they can run the Air Force. Everybody thinks that it should flow along their ideological lines, or whatever. And, frankly, it's about our country's policies that we have to abide by. But the one thing that doesn't change is our mission. And our mission is to develop lieutenants that are leaders of character that are ready to go out and win our wars, and that are ready to go out, support, defend the Constitution. That's it. And the policy things that people get so hung up on, sometimes they're really on the periphery, and they're not as entrenched. And what we do as people might think are — our core mission has never changed. There are some nuances, there's some things that might change a little bit, society changes. Young people change, you know, people that are 18 to 24. It's a pretty volatile group, in a way, and they change with society, too. So, we have to tweak and adjust based on our superiors, you know, people in the Pentagon and OSD and our president. We have to change based on society, and who we have coming into the Air Force Academy. And frankly, parents get a vote in this and the things that happen. And alumni always have a voice in this as well. They make their voice well known. But in the end, what it's my job to do is to make sure that our team is inoculated enough from all that, that we can continue to do our job and make sure that these warfighters are ready to go out and do what those lieutenants and those captains did for me as a squadron commander. That we're putting people out that are ready to go do that. And I always have in mind, like that story that I told you, Coach, it's always in the back of my mind. I hope that I'm developing people that are ready to go out and do what Those guys did that day. If our lieutenants are ready to fight like that, then we've succeeded. And that's my goal. I've never been a political person. But I get dragged into it all the time. And my job is to make sure that when I do get dragged into it, that we're still able to execute our mission, and that I don't drag the entirety of the Academy into it. And you know how it is. That's our job as leaders: to provide that top cover, and that shield, so that our people can do their job and produce those lieutenants that are going to go win wars.   Lt. Gen. Mike Gould  45:34 Well, that's a great attitude, and you've done it well. Tell me about your relationship with the Association of Graduates and Foundation? How have they contributed to your successes here at the Academy? And is there anything that the two organizations could do better?   Lt. Gen. Richard Clark  45:52 Well, I will say, let me start off with, enormous support from the Foundation and the AOG. And it's hard for everyone to really know what kinds of things you guys do for us. But all you need to do is drive around the campus, right? And look at the North Commons area, look at our new hotel, look at our visitor center, that's coming up, look at the Cyber Innovation Center that's coming up, look at our football stadium that's getting built. All those things are either fully private or public-private, that the Foundation has to not only raise the money, but facilitate those things happening. And I would say that, nowadays, we're not going to have very much construction that's going to happen here or any growth that the Foundation isn't involved in. You're going to have to be involved in pretty much everything that we do, if we want to keep evolving as an Academy. And since I've been here, the Foundation has done that. And the Foundation and the AOG are only as strong as our alumni. And I guess I've always known that intuitively. But since I've been here, it is entrenched in me and I will always be a supporter of our Academy from a financial standpoint, from my time standpoint, but it's critical, not just for our Academy, but really for the product, those 1,000 lieutenants that we put out, they benefit enormously from the help that we get. And those are just the big things. Forget about all of the research opportunities, the travel opportunities, the opportunities to bring in guest speakers, NCLS, you know, the National Character and Leadership Symposium is NCLS. There's so many other things that people don't even know that only happened because someone was willing to put their resources behind our Academy. And so, you know, the Foundation makes that happen for us to AOG brings them in, but together, that support is just enormous. And, you know, I get a lot of compliments about people who they see — the visitors that we have coming through the Carlton House, you know, the supt. house — thousands of people that come through there: cadets, donors, dignitaries, all kinds of people. All that happens because of gift funds from the Foundation. We're able to represent our Academy in a way that people can't even understand. And that also, you know — there's a synergy from that and an exponential effect from us being able to do those kinds of things that most universities do. But the government doesn't always support those things because it's not in a funding line. But the Foundation helps us to make those things happen.   Lt. Gen. Mike Gould  48:45 Well, you've summed it up pretty well. Our goal is for the Association to be relevant in the lives of cadets through their time here at the Academy and onto their careers. So that eventually they follow into that continuum where they go to the Foundation and say, “How can I help?” And we're seeing that happen now. And it's nice to hear you recognize that it's been a factor in your time. We're close to running out of time here. Richard, let me ask you about your next big challenge, executive director of the College Football Playoff. This is exciting. What are your thoughts there?   Lt. Gen. Richard Clark  49:19 So, I am enormously grateful and blessed to even have this job. I still kind of don't believe it. You know, because it's such a dream job. I'm going from one dream job to another, you know, but it's funny. What I'll say is, it came out of the blue. A search firm contacted me and I had some, I had known them because I was involved in another search for the Mountain West Conference to find our commissioner. And the people that ran the search knew me just because I was on that panel and everything. And the guy calls me one day. He goes “Hey, Rich, I heard you might be retiring soon. I think you mentioned to us would you be willing to put your name in the hat for the executive director of the CFP.” I was like, “Is that a trick question?” And so, he said, “Now you're the longshot candidate.” They wanted a nontraditional candidate on the, you know — they have 15 or 20 people that they're looking at, but they wanted a nontraditional. I was like, “Yeah, I'll do it.” I said, “Can I ask though, do I really have a shot at this?” He goes, “Yeah, everybody has a shot.” I'm like, “OK, so I got a shot. Let's do this.” And I did a phone interview, then I did a Zoom interview, then it was narrowed down to three and an in-person interview. And I got the job, and I couldn't believe it. But what's really interesting, the things that they liked about me, like, they asked me some questions like, “Do you have any media…?” They go, “Do you have any media experience?” I was like, “No.” “Do you have any experience in managing college athletic teams?” “No.” You know, “Do you have any experience and revenue generation?” “No.” I, you know, and I thought, “I'm just done.” But then they started asking me leadership questions and things that any of us in the military, we would all knock them out of the park. They are things that we've all lived and done things that I learned here, you know, at the Air Force Academy. They weren't hard questions; they were things that are second nature to us. The other thing that they liked was that I played football for four years. And being a student-athlete myself, they thought that that was a big benefit. So really, it goes right back to being here at the Academy and getting that job. And now I look at the challenges that it faces, then you just talked about all the scrutiny we get here as a superintendent. Yeah, I think I'm walking right into another job where I'm going to get scrutinized. It's going to the 12-team playoff, you know, this year. Last year, you know, number five team, everybody was all mad and lost their minds. And I think the committee did it right, though. Next year, it'll just be team 13 that's going to be mad. So, I'm ready, though. I'm excited about it. Amy's excited about it. We're going to move to Dallas, which is where the headquarters is. But I still am, you know, I'm sprinting to the finish in this job. So, I don't have a lot of time to think about it. But it's nice to know that I have another great job that I'm going to be able to flow into. I feel incredibly blessed by it. And just for the opportunity to continue to contribute to student success. And to be a part of that.   Lt. Gen. Mike Gould  52:32 That's a really good thought. And let me just ask you to close this out, Rich. Any parting thoughts to your team here at the Academy, to the cadets and to your teammates as you move on to your second career?   Lt. Gen. Richard Clark  52:50 Well, first of all, and you know this, as much as I do, you know, as the supt, you know, you're at the head of the table, right? And you're trying to provide the top cover. But it's really so that all of the amazing teammates — we have the dean of faculty, the commandant, the athletic director, the prep school, airbase wing, just across the board. You know, all of those people in the flying training group too, even though they're not AETC, there's much of this character development effort that we have. But they're the ones that get the job done. And what makes the Air Force Academy so special is that everyone is so passionate about our cadets, and trying to help them to be ready to go out and do the things that we need them to do. That's what makes us special. It's also what makes it kind of hard, though. But I will take hard when people are passionate any day, you know? They just will do this mission and they will do it, whatever it takes to make it right. And to make sure that we're giving those cadets everything they deserve. I couldn't thank them enough from all of our senior leaders right on down to the, you know, the people in the trenches working in Mitchell Hall. You know, I just love this place because of the people that make it work and that make it go to our cadets. I'll be very honest, there's people that go, “What's wrong with this generation? They don't, you know, they're not patriotic; they're not athletic.” These people don't know what on Earth they're talking about. Come spend an hour, 30 minutes, with our cadets and you'll change your mind. These are the most incredible people. They are patriotic. They want to go serve. They might be different than we were. They might be different than you know, even the classes before us. But there is no lack of patriotism and them wanting to serve and them wanting to do great things and to reach their destiny. And they are every bit as much leaders of character as anybody, this generation. They're better. They're smarter, they're more athletic, they're more in touch with their world around them. I am very happy and comfortable to leave this torch with them, to hand the torch off to them. And I'm just proud to have served with them. And then just to everyone out there, all the supporters of the Academy, and we do have a lot, I just thank them, you know, for letting us do our job at helping us do our job and supporting this Academy. So, I am leaving with a lot of gratitude in my heart, just from our cadets from our permanent party, from the alumni that helped us do this and the other supporters. It just makes me feel good about our country, you know, people still care, people still want to serve and to go do great things. And this place exemplifies that, like no other.   Lt. Gen. Mike Gould  55:48 Rich, that gratitude goes both ways. We're awfully proud of you, Amy, Milo, Zoë, and we just thank you for your years of service and the leadership you've exhibited here at the Academy. You left a mark, trust me, and we wish you all the well in the future as you go on about, and please stay in touch. Thank you.   Lt. Gen. Richard Clark  56:11 Thank you to the AOG and Foundation. And I'll say this, you know, I thank Amy because she's the one that was willing to go an extra four years because I could have retired as a three star when we started and she said, I'm in that passion from our time as commandant, she was like, “I'm in, let's do this.” And another four years wasn't easy for her. I'll be honest with you. She wants to live in her own house. She wants to… she started a new job. But she, she owned it. And she loves this Academy too. And I have to thank her and Milo and Zoë. They've just been my, that's my team. You know, I mean, in the end, you know, I thank God for them. I thank God for every opportunity. But I am just full of gratitude. So, thanks, Coach.   Lt. Gen. Mike Gould  56:59 Well done. Thank you. Lt. Gen.Rich Clark, 21st superintendent of the United States Air Force Academy.   Lt. Gen. Richard Clark  57:03 Thanks very much. Yeah, thank you.   Announcer:  57:08 Thank you for listening to long blue leadership. If you enjoyed this episode, we encourage you to subscribe, share it with your family and friends and post it to your social channels. Long Blue Leadership is a production of the long blue line Podcast Network and presented by the U.S. Air Force Academy Association and Foundation. The views and opinions of the guests and hosts do not necessarily reflect those of the United States Air Force, Air Force Academy, Academy Association and Foundation, its staff or management. The podcast drops every two weeks on Tuesday mornings. Subscribe to Long Blue Leadership on Apple podcasts, Spotify, tune in plus Alexa, and all your favorite podcast platforms. Search @AirForceGrads on LinkedIn, Facebook, YouTube, and more for show announcements and updates and visit long blue leadership.org for past episodes and more long blue line podcast network programming     KEYWORDS Air Force Academy, leadership, character, military career, pilot training, squadron command, Operation Iraqi Freedom, Lt. Gen. Richard Clark '86, superintendent, United States Air Force Academy, executive director, college football playoff, Association of Graduates, Foundation, leadership, character development, support, gratitude     The Long Blue Line Podcast Network is presented by the U.S. Air Force Academy Association and Foundation      

Welcome to another insightful episode of The Association 100 podcast. Today, we're honored to have Chris Michaels, CEO of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT), join us. With over 34 years of experience in association management, Chris brings a wealth of knowledge in leading strategic initiatives across various operational domains. Key Highlights: Strategic Leadership and Organizational Impact: Chris shares insights into her leadership journey at AAMFT, emphasizing strategic planning, innovative membership benefits and fostering a supportive work culture. Her efforts have significantly enhanced operational effectiveness and staff retention. Systemic Ethics Textbook: Explore the development and impact of AAMFT's Systemic Ethics Textbook, a groundbreaking resource aimed at advancing ethical practice across the marriage and family therapy profession globally. Expanding Global Reach Smartly: Chris discusses how AAMFT is meeting international needs by providing resources and training when and where they are requested, enhancing the association's global impact without imposing predefined solutions. Advocacy Efforts and Achievements: Hear about AAMFT's advocacy victories, including Medicare inclusion for therapists and portability laws facilitating cross-state practice, which are crucial for expanding access to mental health services. Join host Colleen Gallagher as we delve into how AAMFT is not only advancing the marriage and family therapy profession but also setting standards for association excellence worldwide. Whether you're an association professional or someone interested in the impact of effective leadership, this episode offers valuable lessons on transforming associations into powerful advocates for their members and professions. Resources: Learn more about the Systemic Ethics Textbook and its contributions to the field: https://www.aamft.org/store/detail.aspx?id=EBSET2024  Explore the Minority Fellowship Program and its community engagement projects: https://www.humansyst.org/Foundation/What_We_Do/Minority_Fellowship_Program.aspx  Discover insights from the Leadership Symposium and its focus on developing association leaders: https://networks.aamft.org/leadershipsymposium/home  Stay Connected: Subscribe to The Association 100 podcast on Spotify, Apple Podcasts or YouTube Podcasts to ensure you never miss an episode, and follow us for the latest in association trends and strategies. Follow us on LinkedIn at The Association 100 and OnWrd & UpWrd. Stay tuned for more episodes that delve into the strategies and insights powering successful associations.

Cadet Christen Johnson was selected to represent detachment 605 at the National Character and Leadership Symposium at the Air Force Academy in February of 2024. He traveled with cadets from other detachments to hear form professionals around the world and bring back that knowledge to our detachment. If you have any other questions for Christen or any of our guests, reach out to airforcerotcdet605@gmail.com

Haley McClain Hill is a multi-faceted individual who has achieved remarkable success across various fields. An award-winning entrepreneur, she is also a 2x former NFL Cheerleader and a United States Air Force Veteran.Haley is the founder of two successful companies: TORCH Warriorwear and Seek and Set Free. These companies have collaborated with renowned organizations such as AAFES, The Atlanta Falcons Cheerleaders, and the 49ers Gold Rush Cheerleading Team.Her entrepreneurial prowess was showcased when she secured a deal on ABC's Season 15 of Shark Tank. Additionally, she emerged as the 2022 Veteran Shark Tank Pitch Competition Winner, earning a $50,000 grant. Notably, Haley won the 2023 Founders Live Minnesota Pitch Competition and will be sharing her insights on performing under pressure at TEDx Vandenberg on March 22.A published author, Haley's first book, “Light The TORCH: An Origin Story by the Creator of Warriorwear,” is set to launch in Summer 2024. This book will detail the exact steps she took to turn TORCH into a global brand. Following this, her second book, “Your Itty Bitty Guide to the NFL Cheerleading World,” will be released.Haley's influence extends beyond her entrepreneurial ventures. She has been invited to speak at various military-focused events, including The NYC USO's Fleet Week, Military Influencer Conference, and The Joint Women's Leadership Symposium. Her work has been featured in notable publications such as Essence, Black Enterprise, Yahoo Finance, AfroTech, and several Penn State Publications.Support the show

The Long Blue Leadership team was in attendance at the 2024 National Character and Leadership Symposium and interviewed several NCLS speakers. ----more---- We set up our studio on site and invited several of the speakers to join us to discuss the what and why behind their messages. Two of the lead cadet organizers of the NCLS event and the 2024 cadet class president visited with us to share why they are so heavily involved and what they took away from the event. And we invited the cadet hosts of the Polaris Hall Podcast to share our studio space for their interviews with NCLS speakers, one of which, they shared with us. In this special edition of Long Blue Leadership, producer, Ted Robertson's, conversations with comedian Jose Sarduy, class of '99; NCLS organizers cadet 1st class Rachel Parillo and cadet 2nd class Weiss Yuan; and 2024 class president, cadet 1st class, Adedapo Adeboyejo. Also joining us, astronaut Dr. Kjell Lindgren, class of '95; author and entrepreneur Delovell Earls, class of 2015. Finally, making guest appearances for their interview with NCLS speaker, Olympic gold medal swimmer, Missy Franklin Johnson, Polaris Hall Podcast hosts, cadet 1st class Maya Mandyam and cadet 2nd class Margaret Meehan, hosts of the Polaris Hall Podcast. SEE THE NCLS SPEAKER VIDEOS HERE NCLS 2024 IN REVIEW NCLS 2024 PHOTO GALLERY DOWNLOAD THE NCLS 2024 PROGRAM GET THE POLARIS HALL PODCAST HERE SPECIAL THANKS Our very special thanks to C1C Maya Mandyam and C2C Margaret Meehan, hosts of the Polaris Hall Podcast, for their contribution of excerpts from their excellent interview with Olympic Gold Medalist, Missy Franklin-Johnson.       ABOUT LONG BLUE LEADERSHIP Long Blue Leadership is a production of the Long Blue Line Podcast Network, drops every two weeks on Tuesdays, and is available on Apple Podcasts, TuneIn + Alexa, Spotify and all your favorite podcast platforms. Search @AirForceGrads on your favorite social channels for Long Blue Leadership news and updates!          PHOTO GALLERY NCLS 2024 Top to Bottom:  Jose Sarduy  |  C1C Rachel Parillo, C1C Adedapo Adeboyejo and C2C Weiss Yuan   Dr. Kjell Lindgren  |   DeLovell Earls   Missy Franklin-Johnson, C1C Maya Mandyam and C2C Margaret Meehan         The Long Blue Line Podcast Network is presented by the U.S. Air Force Academy Association and Foundation    

Joe Gagliese is Co-founder and Co-CEO of Viral Nation, a global digital media innovation group powering the social ecosystem through integrated solutions that align strategy, talent, media, and technology. He is a renowned expert in influencer marketing and social technologies, with his insights cited in major publications, including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, WIRED, CNBC, Vox, Business Insider, Forbes, and Inc. Joe's dedication to inspiring and mentoring emerging entrepreneurs has led him to teach marketing courses at academic institutions across North America. Mat Micheli is Co-founder and Co-CEO of Viral Nation, which works with tens of thousands of influencers across the social landscape and fuels growth for the world's leading brands, including Anheuser-Busch, The Coca-Cola Company, Hasbro, Meta, Oculus, Tencent, and Uber. He oversees the company's global operations, finance, and technology functions, establishing himself as an authority on athlete influencer marketing and social technologies with his work featured in Business Insider, Forbes, and Vox. Mat has participated in various events and conferences that support diverse entrepreneurial communities, including the Rotman Commerce Women in Business and Women's Leadership Symposium. In this episode… In today's ever-evolving attention economy, traditional media marketing alone is no longer sufficient for brands to thrive — they must transition toward social media marketing. However, without the requisite expertise, effectively navigating the complexities of social media can be daunting. Influencers and creators struggle to monetize their content, making it difficult to sustain their creative pursuits. In this context, the question arises — where can one find solutions to maximize the creator-brand partnership? Serial entrepreneurs Joe Gagliese and Mat Micheli maintain that we are currently in the “social-first era,” which presents many opportunities for creators and businesses. For influencers and creators, there is a constant need for authentic and engaging content. Accordingly, brands must evolve in turn and leverage these creators' marketing strategies. However, creators often struggle to extract the maximum value of their talent, and brands are often unsure how to transform into social-first organizations. Joe and Mat share how they drive social media transformation and commerce by helping creators and business partners thrive. In this episode of the Inspired Insider Podcast, Dr. Jeremy Weisz chats with Joe Gagliese and Mat Micheli, Co-founders and Co-CEOs of Viral Nation, to discuss how they are combining marketing, talent, and technology to help brands thrive in the attention economy. They talk about how Viral Nation helps influencers and creators monetizer social media content and helps brands transition from traditional media to social media marketing.

Megan Alexander is a National Correspondent with Inside Edition and the Keynote Speaker at The Leadership Symposium in Chattanooga at the Brainerd BX on Tuesday, November 14th at 9am to Noon. This event is sponsored by Scenic City Women's Network. CLICK HERE to learn more about how God is in your business. The question is: Are you on board?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Thursday on Mornings with Eric and Brigitte, Pastor Darren Bennett joins us to co-host with Brigitte and also talk about an upcoming Leadership Symposium at his church, Calvary Chapel North Miami. This event will be held on Saturday, October 21, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., and the theme is "Be Steadfast" from 1 Cor. 15: 58. "Therefore, my beloved brothers, be steadfast, immovable, always abounding in the work of the Lord, knowing that in the Lord your labor is not in vain." Speakers will be Pastor Chris Baselice, Calvary Chapel Plantation, Pastor Robert Fountain, Calvary Chapel Miami Beach, and Pastor Darren Bennett. Leadership Symposium - Saturday, October 21 - Calvary Chapel North MiamiSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bishop talks with Desiree Logsdon about the Illinois Women in Leadership symposium at the Crowne Plaza Thursday Sept. 28. Details at IWIL.biz --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/bishoponair/support

Bishop talks with Desiree Logsdon about the Illinois Women in Leadership symposium at the Crowne Plaza Thursday Sept. 28. Details at IWIL.biz --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/bishoponair/support

Today's episode comes to you from Michigan, North Dakota, and Alaska.  Tim Lightner (CGI) hosts current NCSEA President Erin Frisch (IV-D Director of the Michigan Child Support Program) and Immediate Past-President, Jim Fleming (Director of the Child Support Section of the North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services).  The conversation resumes as they talk about their challenges, successes, and passions, both during the past NCSEA year, and for the new year ahead.  They talk about NCSEA's name change; the Leadership Symposium in Anaheim; Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion; and so much more.  So much in fact, that we've presented this podcast in two parts to capture it all!  You don't want to miss today's completion, and if you haven't heard Part 1, please take the time to listen to it as well. 

This month we sat down with all three keynote speakers for the upcoming Leadership Symposium. If you want to be inspired don't miss out on this podcast! 

Today's episode comes to you from Michigan, North Dakota, and Alaska.  Tim Lightner (CGI) hosts current NCSEA President Jim Fleming (Director of the Child Support Section of the North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services) with President-Elect, and incoming President Erin Frisch (IV-D Director of the Michigan Child Support Program).  The conversation centers around Jim and Erin's leadership roles, how they started with the child support program, their involvement with NCSEA, and how they prepared for the role of president.  Listen as they talk about their challenges, successes, and passions, both during the NCSEA year now ending, and for the new year ahead.  They talk about NCSEA's name change; the Leadership Symposium in Anaheim; Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion; and so much more.  So much in fact, that we will present this podcast in two parts to capture it all!  You will want to hear not only today's edition; don't miss next week's program as well.

Coming to you On Location from the Anaheim Marriott Hotel in Anaheim, California (next door to Disneyland!).  Our On Location podcast reporters scour the halls, workshop, and plenary rooms to talk to NCSEA Leadership Symposium attendees and get their take on the conference.  Brandi Gallebo (Franklin County Child Support), Pat O'Donnell (YoungWilliams) and Tim Lightner (CGI) approach conference guests for on-the-street mini-interviews.  They talk about if this is their first Leadership Symposium, or if they have attended in the past; favorite sessions; favorite foods; what they have gotten to do for fun since arriving in Anaheim – and more!  They also give their perspective and insight on the NCSEA Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Statement (https://www.ncsea.org/dei-statement/).  They share what action steps they would like to see NCSEA take to demonstrate its commitment to DEI; and how embracing diversity, equity and inclusion builds a stronger child support program.  Listen up, as you can hear the excitement all around.

The ninth episode of the Indiana National Guard official podcast. We sit down with CMSgt. David Bush, CMSgt. Josh Raveed, MSG Penny Hinton and our guest host SMSgt Leslie Keiser. We discuss what the Enlisted Leader Symposium is and how to participate.

Women & Leadership Australia partnered with Women's Business for 2023 First Nations Women's Leadership Symposium - a one day event celebrating First Nations women leaders in business and across our communities.

The Government of South Australia presents, The Power of Her, Creating Change for Gender Equality in Leadership. This one-day women in leadership symposium on 8 August 2023 (held at Adelaide Oval / Tarntanya Wama), is timed to coincide with this year's FIFA Women's World Cup, providing our State with a once in a generation opportunity to ensure an enduring legacy to advance gender equality.In this segment, we hear from Kylie Taylor, who was appointed as the Chief Executive of the Office for Recreation, Sport and Racing in July 2018, previously the General Manager from August 2016. Prior to this appointment Kylie was the Director of Sport and Recreation Development, holding this position since August 2009. Moya Dodd AO, who is a leading lawyer, sports administrator and former vice-captain of Australia's women's football team, the Matildas. Having played in FIFA's first ever women's tournament in 1988, twenty-five years later she joined the governing body as one of the first women in its 108-year history and quickly became a driving force for improved equality and ethics within its corridors.

This episode of On Location comes to you from North Carolina, Michigan, and Alaska.  Co-hosts Tim Lightner (CGI in Anchorage, AK), and Erin Frish (IV-D Director of the Michigan Child Support Program; and NCSEA President-Elect) welcome NCSEA's newest addition, Executive Director Christopher Wood. Listen as they introduce Chris to our membership and have a conversation to learn more about him and his journey to NCSEA.   Hear Chris talk about his experiences with associations, what sparked his interest with NCSEA and what made him apply.  Hear also about what he brings to the table, his vision and what he is excited to see happen.  As you listen to get introduced to Chris, be ready to introduce yourself to him at the 2023 Leadership Symposium in Anaheim, California.

On today's program, Pat O'Donnell (YoungWilliams) in Chicago, Illinois welcomes Leadership Symposium co-chairs Phyllis Nance (Director, Alameda County, CA DCSS) in Oakland, California, and Ellen Rutledge (Director of Professional Development, YoungWilliams) in Jefferson City, Missouri. They share their thoughts and insights on leadership, and talk about the hot topics planned for the plenaries and breakout sessions at the conference this year. And preview some surprises and opportunities for Leadership Symposium attendees.

This episode discusses domestic violence, sexual assault & may be distressing to some listeners.This week Liz Ellis was crowned the queen of the jungle on  I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! Her time on the show was spent supporting Share the Dignity, a charity that works to assist women experiencing period poverty in Australia. Liz's win means a total of $100,000 will be donated to the charity. So it was only fitting that we go Behind Her Brand, with the founder of Share The Dignity, Rochelle Courtenay. Rochelle is currently the QLD recipient of the Australian Awards for Excellence in Women's Leadership will formally accept her award on May 12 at the Australian Women's Leadership Symposium, being held at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre. Tickets are open to the general publicFollow us on Instagram for the latest @itsallherofficial or head to ItsAllHer.com

On Location comes to you today from Georgia, Louisiana, Kansas, California and Alaska.  Tim Lightner (CGI) hosts Ashley Dexter (Deloitte Consulting), John Hurst (Assistant Deputy Commissioner for the Georgia Department of Human Services, Division of Child Support Services), Robbie Endris (Conduent) and Laura Van Buskirk (Director, Placer County, California Department of Child Support Services).   Join them for a conversation of one of NCSEA's premier events, NCSEA U:  it's origins, it's purpose, and its significance.  Find out about the 2023 NCSEA-U at the Leadership Symposium – the dates, the curriculum and the instructors.  Learn how to apply, and when applications are due.  Listen as our guests share about their journey within the child support program and with NCSEA U, and even learn something personal about each!   Check out the NCSEA website for more information:  https://www.ncsea.org/ncsea-u/  

Why is Vermentino such a great wine to pair with food, and which dishes pair best with it? What are the markers and nuances in wine that are tied to a specific place? How is the wine industry changing when it comes to diversity, and what still needs to be done? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with Sommelier of the Year, Tonya Pitts. You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemaclean.com/winepicks   Highlights Why is mentoring so important to Tonya and which organizations is she involved with? How is the wine industry changing when it comes to diversity? Why did Tonya create Women in Wine? How can each of us help to move the wine industry forward with diversity and inclusion? What makes Château de Chamirey Mercurey Blanc so refreshing? Why does Tonya especially love Vermentino? Which types of wine pair best with food? How do zesty whites stimulate the tastebuds? Which controversial opinion does Tonya have about terroir and tasting? Which unexpected red wine pairings pleasantly surprised Tonya?   Key Takeaways I have so much respect for Tonya's leadership in the wine industry on so many dimensions from diversity to mentorship. She walks her talk. It's surprising that women still comprise only 20% of winemakers in the industry. Tonya has some great suggestions on how the industry needs to continue its efforts for inclusion. I can't wait to try Tonya's suggested pairings for Vermentino, my mouth is already watering thinking of this zesty white Italian wine.   Join me on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube Live Join the live-stream video of this conversation on Wed at 7 pm ET on Instagram Live Video, Facebook Live Video or YouTube Live Video. I want to hear from you! What's your opinion of what we're discussing? What takeaways or tips do you love most from this chat? What questions do you have that we didn't answer? Want to know when we go live? Add this to your calendar: https://www.addevent.com/calendar/CB262621   About Tonya Pitts Tonya Pitts is the Sommelier and Wine Director at One Market Restaurant in San Francisco and she has been crowned 2022 Wine Enthusiast Wine Star Sommelier of the Year. Tonya has been a notable mogul within the wine industry for over 30 years. Outside of her Wine Enthusiast recognition, she was recently inducted into the Hall of Femmes (an award that requires being nominated by other women), awarded membership for Les Dames D'Escouffier, added to the advisory board of Women in Wine's Leadership Symposium, and has become an integral contributor to Wine Unify.       To learn more, visit https://www.nataliemaclean.com/227.

Are you curious about what it takes to manage a list of 500 different wine labels at one of America's best restaurants? Why is wine so powerful in creating memories? What is the most important role of the sommelier? In this episode of the Unreserved Wine Talk podcast, I'm chatting with Sommelier of the Year, Tonya Pitts. You can find the wines we discussed at https://www.nataliemaclean.com/winepicks   Highlights How did art play a major role in Tonya's life growing up? Why is wine so powerful in creating memories? What motivated Tonya to switch from pursuing a career in law to becoming a sommelier? What was Tonya's introduction to working in restaurants? Why is smell such a significant part of Tonya's tasting process? What's in Tonya's mental wine Rolodex? What was it like to taste a 1900 Rothschild? How did a tasting of the 1976 Chateau Lafite compare to the 1900 Rothschild? What makes older wines so special? What does it take to manage a list of 500 different wine labels at one of America's best restaurants? Why is it even more powerful to visit the place wine comes from? How did Italy win Tonya's heart? What does Tonya love about the service aspect of being a sommelier?   Key Takeaways I found Tonya's insights into what it takes to manage a list of 500 different wine labels at one of America's best restaurants fascinating. She also shares some great behind-the-scenes observations on the role of the sommelier. My favourite part is when she talks lyrically about how she's transitioned from the artist's canvas to using a plate of food and wine to tell a story and paint a picture for someone. I also think she's bang on when she says, “Wine takes you on a journey, you can go anywhere in the world, with a bottle of wine. The reason I still do what I do, and why it means so much to me, is that I can actually smell a glass, it transports me right back to that time and place when I originally had that bottle of wine. It's amazing.”   Join me on Instagram, Facebook and YouTube Live Join the live-stream video of this conversation on Wed at 7 pm ET on Instagram Live Video, Facebook Live Video or YouTube Live Video. I want to hear from you! What's your opinion of what we're discussing? What takeaways or tips do you love most from this chat? What questions do you have that we didn't answer? Want to know when we go live? Add this to your calendar: https://www.addevent.com/calendar/CB262621   About Tonya Pitts Tonya Pitts is the Sommelier and Wine Director at One Market Restaurant in San Francisco and she has been crowned 2022 Wine Enthusiast Wine Star Sommelier of the Year. Tonya has been a notable mogul within the wine industry for over 30 years. Outside of her Wine Enthusiast recognition, she was recently inducted into the Hall of Femmes (an award that requires being nominated by other women), awarded membership for Les Dames D'Escouffier, added to the advisory board of Women in Wine's Leadership Symposium, and has become an integral contributor to Wine Unify.       To learn more, visit https://www.nataliemaclean.com/226.

Episode 11 - Chief Officer Leadership Symposium In this Episode we discuss the Chief Officer Leadership Symposium which is held annually in Fresno. Chief (Ret) Bruce Martin discusses the origins of the symposium, its purpose, and examples of the kinds of courses that are a part of the educational program.

This week on the podcast we're talking leadership with outgoing AAMFT President Shelley Hanson and AAMFT President-elect Silvia Kaminsky. Shelley and Silvia sit down with Eli to discuss their early-career influences and beginnings of their leadership journey. They also discuss the importance of systemic thinking to leadership, the benefits of having diverse people in positions of leadership, imposter syndrome, and how to look for opportunities to serve where your passion takes you. Finally, they discuss programs such as AAMFT's Leadership Symposium, and how these programs can benefit emerging leaders.

On Location comes to you today from California, North Carolina, Illinois, and Ohio. Pat O'Donnell (YoungWilliams) and Ann Durkin (Job and Family Services in the Stark County, Ohio Child Support Program) co-host today's program. They welcome Dori McCarty (Kings County Child Support in Hartford, California) and Bryan Suter (Catawba County DCSS, in Newton, North Carolina). Dori is the New Leader Scholarship awardee; and Brian was awarded with the Judge Ross Scholarship for the 2022 NCSEA Leadership Symposium. Listen as they share about themselves, share their insights from the 2022 Leadership Symposium in Charlotte, North Carolina and how they will use what they have learned in their respective programs and teams.

Coming to you from on location in Georgia and Alaska, Tim Lightner (Alaska CSSD) hosts John Hurst, the Assistant Deputy Commissioner for the Georgia Department of Human Services, Division of Child Support Services. John talks about his role in the child support program, how he got his start, and his progress up the leadership ladder. John shares some of the things he is most proud of in the Georgia program, where it's heading and where it's growing. Some of you may have heard John during one of this year's Leadership Symposium's plenaries – Level Up Leadership: Transforming Your Leadership Path in Child Support.” Now listen as he shares more of the story.

In this special edition of the Darden Admissions podcast, we catch up with Senior Assistant Dean of Admissions, Dawna Clarke, to reflect on a truly historic opening week for the Darden School of Business. On Monday, 15 August, for the first time in the history of the School, we welcomed Full-Time MBA, Part-Time MBA, and Executive MBA students to grounds for the start of school. In this episode, we discuss key data points for each of these classes and look ahead to a busy fall for the Admissions team, including upcoming deadlines, the annual Diversity Conference, a Women's Leadership Symposium in Rosslyn and more.

In this special edition of the Darden Admissions podcast, we catch up with Senior Assistant Dean of Admissions, Dawna Clarke, to reflect on a truly historic opening week for the Darden School of Business. On Monday, 15 August, for the first time in the history of the School, we welcomed Full-Time MBA, Part-Time MBA, and Executive MBA students to grounds for the start of school. In this episode, we discuss key data points for each of these classes and look ahead to a busy fall for the Admissions team, including upcoming deadlines, the annual Diversity Conference, a Women's Leadership Symposium in Rosslyn and more.

Ever heard of this head football coach named Tony Dungy? Of course you have, and he's known for his ability not only to win football games, but to be a quiet and effective leader in AND out of the locker room. And on this week's Tips from Trestle, I got the chance to speak with the co-author of his biography and leadership expert, Nathan Whitaker. I get some amazing backstory on Nathan's time working with the Super Bowl champion coach, as well as deep dive into how indirect leadership can and should have a significant impact on organizations in the industry. As a diehard football fan (Go Cats!) and student of leadership, this was as much fun as one could have on a podcast. Nathan Whitaker is a motivational speaker, the co-author of eight New York Times best sellers, and a former executive in the National Football League (with a Super Bowl ring). He has spoken to corporations, sports teams, and trade associations across the country and world, including the Miami Dolphins, Duke Business School's Leadership Symposium, the International School of Bangkok, and has delivered numerous commencement addresses. He holds degrees from Duke University, University of Florida, and Harvard Law School. A two-sport athlete in baseball and football at Duke University, he played for Steve Spurrier on Duke's most recent ACC Championship football team. After law school, he spent two years as a law clerk for US District Judge William Terrell Hodges, and then entered private practice. In 1998, he joined the Jacksonville Jaguars, where he was responsible for the football operations & budgeting, as well as salary cap and player contract negotiations. In 2001, he went to work for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In Tampa, he met and worked alongside Tony Dungy, and it was here he earned that Super Bowl ring. Turning his talents to become an author, he helped pen Tony Dungy's 2007 memoir, Quiet Strength. Since its release, it has become one of the best-selling hardcover sports autobiographies ever, and has over two million copies in print. He also written other books, including: Role of a Lifetime, with James Brown of CBS Sports (2009), Uncommon, with Tony Dungy (2009, #2 NYT Bestseller), The Mentor Leader, with Tony Dungy (2010, #2 NYT Bestseller), Through My Eyes, with Tim Tebow (2011, #6 NYT Bestseller Nonfiction List), and Snap Decision, a novel for teens. Whitaker currently lives in Gainesville, Florida with his wife, Amy, and two daughters, Hannah and Ellie. They have a dog, RickyBobby, and three cats, Hemingway, Fezzik & Scout. Tips From Trestle is a podcast focused on discussion about senior living food & hospitality. Hosted by Trestle Hospitality Concepts Founder & CEO Aaron Fish, he shares his thoughts, musings and discussions about the food & beverage operations, trends and happenings in the senior living industry. To support the podcast, click here: https://anchor.fm/tips-from-trestle/support Links: Nathan Whitaker Website: www.nathanwhitaker.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathanwhitaker12/ Aaron Fish: www.linkedin.com/in/aaronfish Trestle Hospitality Concepts: www.trestlehospitalityconcepts.com --- Support this podcast: https://anchor.fm/tips-from-trestle/support

This episode comes to you from Pleasanton, California; Concord, North Carolina; Raleigh, North Carolina; and Anchorage, Alaska. Tim Lightner (Alaska CSSD) hosts a conversation with the co-chairs of the 2022 Leadership Symposium: Phyllis Nance (Director, Alameda County DCSS), Linda Rhyne-McKinley (Quality and Training Supervisor, Mecklenburg County CSE) and Carla West (Sr. Director of Economic Security/State IV-D Director, NC DHHS, Div. of Social Services). Listen as they talk about how they got involved in the child support program, and with NCSEA. Hear them discuss this year's Leadership Symposium – the planning, the location, the plenaries, and workshops –and this year's theme of “Level-Up: Transforming Tomorrow's Leaders.”

Today's episode comes to you on location from Canton, Ohio; Lansing, Michigan; and Seattle, Washington. Hosted by Ann Durkin (Stark County, Ohio Child Support) she welcomes her guests Erin Frish and Wally McClure -- co-instructors of the NCSEA-U Program. NCSEA-U is held in conjunction with the Leadership Symposium, which will take place in Charlotte, North Carolina this August. If you're interested in participating in NCSEA-U, the registration deadline is 3/31/22. It's an excellent opportunity and these are top-notch instructors!

Mo Barrett is a graduate of the United States Air Force Academy, a TEDx speaker and author of the book. Pardon my Quirk. Mo has been keynote speaker at the https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JlpcZ286PsI (US Air Force. Academy's National Character and Leadership Symposium. ) Mo categorizes herself a successful failure. She was the first member of her training team to receive an "Unsatisfactory" rating. She still went on to earn her wings and become an Air force pilot. After September 11th, Mo was part of a team to serve in Uzbekistan and Afghanistan to convert fields to aircraft hubs. Mo has had a distinguished career of overcoming adversity, dealing with shame and the stigma of being a life long non-conformist. Mo is remarkable person with an amazing story to tell. Hope you enjoy our conversation! Please https://6immezvyfcy9yilzpbhhuq.captivate.fm/listen (Hit the Subscribe Button. ) We have a bunch of cool interviews like this one to come. Enjoy my conversation with retired US Air force, Colonel Mo Barrett, TEDx speaker, author and lifelong non-conformist. And remember, "Life is built, not born." Links: US AIr Force Symposium Talk:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JlpcZ286PsI ( US Air Force Colonel (Ret.) Michelle "Mo" Barrett) TEDx Talk: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HE2dttz2oK8 (Mo Barrett) Book: https://www.amazon.com/Pardon-My-Quirk-Anecdotes-Laugh/dp/173544653X (Pardon My Quirk ) LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mobarrett/ (Mo Barrett) Website: https://mobarrett.com/ (Mo Barrett)

In the span of her 20+ year nursing career, Dr. Daihnia Dunkley (aka "Dr. D") has worked extensively in the arena of maternal-child health, leadership, and academia. As she transitioned from bedside nursing to leadership roles, Dr. Dunkley became aware of the inequities within the healthcare system and their impact on patients and practitioners, especially those of color.  Subsequently, her focus shifted towards serving as a change agent by advocating for systematic improvement in matters of diversity, equity, and inclusion within the nursing profession, and eradicating racial health disparities. Her dissertation research focused on the experiences of Black female executive nurse leaders and was the inspiration for founding The League of Extraordinary Black Nurses; a nonprofit organization aimed at supporting current and future Black nurses through the guiding principles of leadership, mentorship, and scholarship. Additionally, Dr. Dunkley serves as a consultant further advancing her efforts to diversify nursing representation, empower minority nurse leaders, and improve maternal health outcomes. Dr. Dunkley is a well-respected and sought after speaker, whose work and reputation has attracted invitations to several international and domestic conferences and other engagements, including the University of Oxford Women's Leadership Symposium in London, England, and an appearance on the recently aired BET network documentary, High Risk.1. Click the link to learn more about the Nurse Wellness Mentorship2. Download your FREE Mindfulness E-Book at stressblueprint.com/353. Follow the Nurse Wellness Podcast on Facebook and Instagram4. Join the Nurse Wellness Hub on Facebook  5. Email Nurse Wellness Podcast at hello@stressblueprint.com6. Background music produced by DNMbeats

Senior Master Sergeant Jenny Gonzalez-Smith Leads with Empower SMSgt Jenny Smith-Gonzalez is the Human Resources Advisor with the 103rd Airlift Wing of the CT Air National Guard. Jenny has over 20 years of service time with the Air Guard and her current role focuses on providing mentorship and coaching, diversity and inclusion training, and victim advocacy for Airmen. Additionally, Jenny serves her civilian community as a therapist. "Leave it better than you found it and freaking take care of your freaking people!" 00:32: Episode Introduction and Roll Call - SMSgt Gonzalez-Smith and I met in the Summer of 2021 as she was planning the first-ever Women's Leadership Symposium for the CT Air National Guard. The symposium took place in the Fall of 2021 and included a leadership training with Empower. Jenny's positive attitude, tremendous leadership, and strong desire to develop a greater sense of mentorship and support amongst the airmen was very evident during our program together and it is an honor for introduce SMSgt Gonzalez-Smith Leads with Empower! 13:34: Leadership in Action - We discuss how leadership plays a role in Jenny's responsibilities as both a civilian and airman; including: Providing mentorship, coaching, diversity training, and victim advocacy services for Airmen through her role as the Human Resources Advisory with the 103 Airlift Wing Serving community members, age 5 to 75, through her work as a private-practice therapist Strategies to help strike a balance between family, personal, Air Guard, and civilian responsibilities Overcoming the challenges of the pandemic with an openness to learn and develop creative solutions 32:37: The Leadership Journey - We learn about Jenny's start in the JROTC program as a high school student and how that helped shape her 20 years of service in the Air National Guard. Jenny also discusses the people and events that have impacted her development as a leader, Airman, therapist, wife, and mother. 53:49: Finish the Drill - Our conversation closes with SMSgt Gonzalez-Smith sharing (1) the advice she's give to 18 year old Jenny, (2) her greatest leadership strength and challenge, (3) her favorite hobby, (4) the best leadership advice she's received, and (5) an inspirational message for those who are facing challenges. Musical Credit to Matt Jaskot Find out more at https://lead-with-empower-podcast.pinecast.co

Thank you for listening to this EarthEx. On this podcast episode we will have a good conversation with Darin Alya Khairunnisa Rizdinanti about her experience after become one of the delegates from Indonesia to join Chevron Student Leadership Symposium Program. Accompanied by Kholifatun Nisa as our host, we will also discuss about their tips and tricks to get the scholarship and also how to write a good essays as a requirement to apply the program. Hope this podcast will inspire you, enjoy this EarthEx. --- Send in a voice message: https://anchor.fm/podcast-seguisc/message

The IAAPA Expo has officially returned in person!  From November 15th-19th, 2021, the global attractions industry convened once again in Orlando for the annual trade show and conference, after a hiatus in 2020 that was replaced with a virtual education conference.  During the show, Matt and Josh were both heavily involved in the conference's education sessions, speaking, moderating, or participating in a variety of topics.  In this episode, Matt and Josh talk about the lost art of listening, reflection & reinvention, the future of the industry, and other takeaways from the sessions they led or spoke in during the expo.   The Lost Art of Listening “The emotional impact of being listened to is so close to that of being loved that most people can't tell the difference.”   At the beginning of the pandemic, Matt published the link to his calendar and extended an offer for anyone in the industry to schedule a call with him, with our without an agenda.  In these calls and combined with his research, Matt shares that when you listen to someone without making assumptions, you can show someone how much you truly care.  Putting it into the context of leadership, if you are trying to look at how you are engaging with your employees, then it is not about the giveaways, incentives, or pizza parties, but about making a personal connection.  There are so many things that can distract us or pull us away from a conversation, but by actively eliminating these distractions you can show the individual who is speaking that you are actively listening. Building a Personal Brand “Your personal brand is more than a business card and a resume.”   If you are looking to get promoted, get a new job, or win new business, you should be in the business of yourself, regardless of your job title or employer.  If you can find a category and own it, it can set you apart from other people.  When listing out your unique qualifications, many people might indicate that they are confident, trustworthy, compassionate, or self-motivated; however, these skillsets do not differentiate you from anybody else.  If you go all-in on a niche, then people have a specific need, they will think of you and the skills that you bring to the table related to solving that specific problem.  Your brand is about your reputation and your actions, and what you want to be known for.  Rather than putting it on a business card or a resume, you need to live it and be consistent, and recognize that this is playing the long game, and you don't decide when you get there.  Don't be impatient, but be persistent. It never hurts to ask for things “As you grow in your business, you get more willing to ask for the things that you think you may not get.”   While planning the Leadership Symposium taking place at Universal Orlando, Matt gently made the request for the group to be able to ride Velocicoaster in addition to the panel discussion focused on networking and learning about leadership.  Had he not asked, it never would have happened.  The takeaway from Matt's request was the importance of speaking up and reaching out with a request or a favor.   Don't Wait for a Pandemic "Reflection and reinvention is cyclical.”   In the Leadership Symposium, Matt King from Meow Wolf shared that the process of “reflection and reinvention is cyclical.”  We don't have to have a pandemic to reflect on what we've done to reflect or reinvent ourselves.  Rather than becoming complacent with where you are, you should have a continual process when you review your past successes and failures and make changes and adjustments as necessary.  Even though we are all tired of the term “the new normal,” there is no going back to the “old normal” from prior to the pandemic.  Many new processes, procedures, and changes to operating models were forced due to the pandemic, which resulted in both reflection and reinvention.  How are you ensuring both R&R even without a pandemic? Using Technology to Enhance the Guest Experience "Your guest experience technology should focus on serving your guests, not just be a fancy tech."   In a conversation about technology, the main focus of the discussion highlighted the guest, rather than the technology.  Fancy technology is just fancy tech unless you are using it to better serve your guests.  For instance, when looking at advance purchases for buying tickets to an attraction, there is a large push for guests to buy their tickets online which will save time and labor resources onsite.  At SkyWheel, however, which has locations in Myrtle Beach and Panama City Beach, the majority of guests are drawn in by the wheel's “curb appeal” and therefore they focus more on impulse buys.  However, instead of ignoring online ticket sales, SkyWheel encourages guests to buy online, even while they're onsite, by positioning QR in their admissions area for guests to quickly load the website and go straight to the ticket purchase page.  The guest can make the purchase with their own device and then proceed directly to the wheel. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion "Be authentic, and if you don't know, don't be afraid to ask."   If someone has a different view of the world from you, they need to know that they can come to work and be themselves, and not feel that they are being marginalized.  One of the conversations that came up during a panel discussion during a lunch and learn for FEC's involved a story where an individual reached out to their local African American Alliance chapter and inquired as to the best ways to interact with them.  The response that the venue operator received was “We're tired of telling you.  Be a nice human being, be kind, and treat me like you would like to be treated yourself.”  Instead, be authentic, which will make the questions more relatable and more specific than a general inquiry of how to interact with someone or a group of people.   The Young Professional View "The young professionals are the future of the industry, and the future is looking good."   In a panel discussion on “Success Stories and Insights for Joining the Industry During Unusual Times,” AttractionPros interns Sam Bercik, Fabiana Fonseca, and Paige Reiter shared the timeline of their experience at the beginning of the pandemic, which led to how they continued their involvement with the industry as well as how they kept up to date with the latest job postings and opportunities.  It was inspiring how each of the panelists has stayed motivated since March 2020, which genuinely spoke to the audience full of young professionals.  In another session geared toward young professionals, Jesse O'Daniel, chair of IAAPA's Young Professional committee, stressed that the audience in the room is in fact the future of the industry.  Not only was her statement inspirational, but also literal in the sense that recent college graduates and those early in their careers will be shaping the industry in the not-too-distant future.   Reflecting on the Galaxy's Edge cast "The people delivering the experience are the ones who make it remarkable."   In 2021, the IAAPA Celebrates event took place at Galaxy's Edge at Disney's Hollywood Studios.  For those who attended or have visited since the land opened in 2020, there is general consensus that Rise of the Resistance and Smuggler's Run are two of the greatest themed attractions ever created.  In addition to being flawlessly immersive and inclusive of the most advanced technology, Matt and Josh reflect mostly on the cast members who delivered the experience.  The cast at these attractions do not just perform operational duties with Disney caliber service, they perform the role that meets where guests are in the phase of the attraction.  The First Order cast carefully balances the line between being the militant “bad guys” but without coming across as rude or offensive, even though the traditional Disney magic takes a different form.  On Smuggler's Run, a cast member put her glasses on crooked as guests were departing to reflect the intensity of the Millennium Falcon's turbulent landing (no spoilers!).  The takeaway feeds perfectly into a quote from Walt himself when he said, “You can design and create the most wonderful place in the world, but it takes people to make the dream a reality.”   We'd like to extend a special thanks to the entire IAAPA team for a phenomenal expo this year, and we are already looking forward to 2022.  Additionally, thank you to those who approached us during the show to let us know that you're tuning in and are fans of the show.  This feedback is what keeps us going.  We are all AttractionPros!   This podcast wouldn't be possible without the incredible work of our amazing team: Audio and video editing by Abigail Giganan Scheduling and correspondence by Kristen Karaliunas Social media marketing by Kate Kujawa Branding and design by Fabiana Fonseca Email marketing by Sam Bercik To connect with AttractionPros: attractionpros@gmail.com

Broadcast on WPFW (89.3FM) on September 23, 2021 Hosted by Chris Garlock This week's show: Why Bill 34-20 in Montgomery County is a sneak attack on all union rights…Oreos are OK again (sort of); workers won their strike against Nabisco, but an “M” or “MS” on the product code means it was made non-union in Mexico…Plus: highlights from next week's Womxn's Labor Leadership Symposium. Produced by Chris Garlock; engineered by Mike Nasella & Kahlia Chapman. @wpfwdc @aflcio #1u #unions #laborradiopod @AFLCIO @UFCW1994 @BCTGM #NabiscoStrike @GeorgetownKILWP @RutgersCIWO #WeSymposium2021 @WomenLeadLabor

Nipuna Ambanpola is a native of Sri Lanka currently living in the United States. Nipuna is a tech-for-good entrepreneur and strongly believes that technology has the capacity and efficiency to mobilize people to strengthen social impact across the world. In 2017, Nipuna founded IVolunteer International, a 501(c)3 tech-nonprofit in the United States with the vision of creating 7-billion volunteers. IVolunteer International's purpose is to create a culture of global contribution through volunteerism. Understanding the impact of local volunteerism and mobility, Nipuna has devoted his life to creating tech solutions to make volunteering fun, easy, and equitable. Since 2017 under Nipuna's leadership, IVolunteer International has connected 6,000+ volunteers to global causes, exposed 200,000+ people to volunteerism, and forged 16 strategic partnerships across the world in local communities through 4 distinct tech-oriented programs Nipuna believes that every single human being has the power to create impact and envisions a society where volunteerism is a lifestyle and part of the culture. Through #BirthdayDeed (a global pledge campaign), Writers' Council (an activist training program), IVolunteer Series (an online talk-show), and other advocacy campaigns, IVolunteer International has empowered people to connect to their community, find their political voice, unite for a common cause, spotlight local issues, and start movements. Nipuna has spoken about IVolunteer International and the impact of tech-for-good at TEDx Savannah, Points of Lights Conference in Atlanta, Global Goals Summit at the United Nations, University Scholars' Leadership Symposium in Malaysia, and a variety of other change-making venues. Nipuna also serves as a Civil Society Representative at the Youth Steering Committee with the United Nations Department for Global Communications. Nipuna holds a Bachelor's of Economics from Georgia Southern University and a Master's of Public Administration and Policy from the University of Georgia. Nipuna is currently pursuing a Masters of Science in Business Analytics at the University of Georgia and envisions expanding IVolunteer International's impact through big-data analytics of volunteer mobility, individual social impact metrics, and volunteer impact. In his free time, Nipuna loves to read, meet new people, and volunteer. Nipuna volunteers with the United Way and Rotary International and has been recognized for his community work as a Will Watt Fellow, Paul Harris Fellow, and a Rotary Youth-All Star.   Discussion Topics What was the impetus behind your founding a new movement for volunteerism and your organization, IVolunteer International? Do you know the origin story of why volunteerism became so normalized within your home country's culture in Sri Lanka? Why do you think many people's involvement in the US is little to non-existent? What is holding people back from serving in their communities? What opportunities have you experienced as a direct result of your volunteerism and how are you leading people towards action in their communities to experience the same outcomes? How do you lead your team to inspire and equip the next generation of volunteers to care deeply about social and environmental impact by giving more of their time, talent, and treasure? Follow/Get In Touch Visit ivint.org  Follow Nipuna Ambanpola on LinkedIn Learn about the #BirthdayDeed pledge: ivint.org/birthdaydeed  Follow IVolunteer International on Facebook Subscribe to IVolunteer's monthly newsletter at ivint.org/subscriber   Guidestar Platinum Seal Nonprofit Organization TEDx Talk: Uniting the world through volunteerism Member of FastForward Tech Nonprofit Incubator Presented By B Local G Georgia: a collection of for-profit companies each dedicated to creating a future where businesses operate as a positive influence on society Inspiredu: Nonprofit Leaders Bridging The Digital Divide AppBarry: Custom Web And Mobile Application Development Classic City Consulting: WordPress Website Development Stratfield Consulting: Consulting, Staffing, Recruiting See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Christie Navarro serves as the Director of the Center for Leadership Learning (CLL) at the University of California, Davis.  She has been a part of the UC Davis community for 16 years, with 15 of those years leading the CLL.  Prior to her tenure at UC Davis, Christie served as the California state representative for the college admission testing organization ACT, as a regional outreach coordinator for UC Merced Early Academic Outreach Program, and as a case manager for Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Tulare County. Christie earned her Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Master of Arts in Higher Educational Leadership from California State University, Sacramento. As a leadership educator, Christie infuses identity development, inclusivity, and social justice, and change into her teachings and is passionate about supporting students on their leadership journey. Christie serves as a co-chair of the National Leadership Symposium (NLS).About the 2021 National Leadership Symposium  Visit the NLS Website to learn more!About the 2021 NLS SymposiumDisruption by Design: Co-Creating Our Approach to Leadership EducationMonday, July 12 – Wednesday, July 14, 2021 - 12 pm-5 pm (EST)Registration Cost= $225.00Graduate student rate = $99 (regardless of membership or institution)Quotes From This Episode"The National Leadership Symposium is not a conference... it is a small cohort of leadership educators from all around the nation that come together for an intensive learning experience.""This is an area I'm very passionate about: bringing diverse voices to the table in our field. I think that there's been a lack of opportunity for scholars from different backgrounds and different lived experiences, especially when it's trying to advance our conversations around what leadership is.""With the pandemic and the long-needed conversation around equity, racial justice, and social justice...we can't go back to what we were doing in 2019. And this is me just humbly trying to put that idea out there for our field. How are we going to adjust, shift, and change to ensure that we are representing, hearing, and inviting all communities to the table?"Resources Mentioned in This EpisodeThe Purpose of Power: How We Come Together When We Fall Apart  by Alicia Garza  Engaging in the Leadership Process: Identity, Capacity, and Efficacy for College Students by Kathy Guthrie, Cameron C. Beatty, and Erica R. Wiborg About The International Leadership Association (ILA)The ILA was created in 1999 to bring together professionals with a keen interest in the study, practice, and teaching of leadership. Today, ILA is the largest worldwide community committed to leadership scholarship, development, and practice. Connect with Scott AllenWebsite

We are coming to you on location today from Virginia, Kansas, Texas and Alaska. On today's episode, Tim Lightner welcomes Ashley Dexter and Charles Smith, co-chairs of this year's NCSEA Leadership Symposium. Also joining them is Gillyn Croog, who is NCSEA's Director of Professional Development. They talk about the upcoming conference, what to expect, and how good it's going to be to be in person after a year of virtual conferences.

Jacey Brooks is in her third season as Cortland's women's basketball head coach. During the 2019-20 season, Brooks led the Red Dragons to a 22-7 record, the finals of the SUNYAC tournament and an NCAA Division III tournament at-large berth. Cortland won its NCAA first-round game and tied for 17th place nationally. Brooks was named the D3hoops.com East Region Coach of the Year, and she and her assistant coaches were selected as the SUNYAC Coaching Staff of the Year. Brooks also guided Cortland to a SUNYAC tournament appearance in her first season in 2018-19. A former standout player at Buffalo State College, Brooks worked with Division I coaching staffs 11 years prior to her arrival at Cortland, most recently as an assistant coach for five years at Bowling Green State University in Ohio from 2013-18. Brooks was part of a Bowling Green program that finished 30-5 overall, captured the Mid-American Conference (MAC) regular-season title with a 17-1 mark, and won three games in the Women's National Invitation Tournament (WNIT) in the 2013-14 season. She co-managed the Falcons' offensive scheme, including in-game decisions, from 2013-16 and served as the program's defensive coordinator and recruiting coordinator from 2016-18. The program had the fifth-highest team grade point average among Division I women's squads in 2014-15 and the seventh-best team GPA in 2016-17. In August 2015, Brooks was one of just 50 coaches across the nation selected to participate in the Women's Basketball Coaches Association's (WBCA) Center for Coaching Excellence's inaugural session for assistant coaches in Atlanta, Ga. She is a June 2017 graduate of the NCAA Women Coaches Academy (WCA) Class #41 in Denver, Colo., and she also attended the NCAA/National Association of Collegiate Women Athletics Administrators (NACWAA) Women's Leadership Symposium in Kansas City, Mo., in May 2016. Prior to her work at Bowling Green, Brooks spent three seasons on the coaching staff at Canisius College. She primarily worked with the team's backcourt players while assisting with the day-to-day operations of the program. Brooks also worked at St. Bonaventure University, where she moved into an assistant coach role for the 2009-10 season after spending two years as the director of basketball operations. The Bonnies finished 23-10 and made their second straight WNIT appearance in 2009-10. A native of Machias, N.Y., Brooks graduated from Buffalo State in 2006 with a Bachelor of Science in Health and Wellness. During her four seasons on the hardwood for the Bengals (2002-05 and 2006-07) she recorded 1,219 points and 554 rebounds, earned two All-SUNYAC honors, and helped lead the team to three straight conference tournaments. She currently ranks sixth in school history in scoring and 15th in rebounding. Brooks is also the Bengals' career free throw percentage leader (84.5 percent), and she holds the school single-season records for 3-point shooting percentage (43.4 percent in 2003-04) and free throw percentage (87.0 percent in 2004-05). Brooks has also coached in the Empire State Games, serving as an assistant coach for the Western region in the women's open division. She earned a Master of Science in Sport Administration from Canisius in May 2012.  Twitter - https://twitter.com/hoopheadspod/Coach_JBrooks (@Coach_JBrooks)

Tea Jay Aikey, President and CEO, Central Pennsylvania Chamber of Commerce, on their work helping the local economy and businesses survive, and thrive during the pandemic, and the upcoming ‘Strength to Persevere Leadership Symposium.

Tea Jay Aikey, President and CEO, Central Pennsylvania Chamber of Commerce, on their work helping the local economy and businesses survive, and thrive during the pandemic, and the upcoming ‘Strength to Persevere Leadership Symposium.

For Episode 21, we have the true honor to interview core members of the leadership team for the Sea Services Leadership Association. Among a number of efforts and services, the SSLA puts on the annual Joint Women’s Leadership Symposium which draws hundreds of women from all areas and branches of the Armed Services. Impressive women, … Continue reading Ep. 21 – SSLA Leadership Team →

Dr. Matthew Arau, founder of Upbeat Global, is the Chair of the Music EducationDepartment and Associate Director of Bands at the Lawrence University Conservatoryof Music in Appleton, Wisconsin. In addition, Dr. Arau is on the faculty of the AmericanBand College of Central Washington University and VanderCook College of Music. Healso serves as a Conn-Selmer Education Clinician and as Member-at-Large on theNAfME Council for Band Education.Dr. Arau has guest conducted and presented on student leadership, mindfulness,growth mindset, rehearsal techniques, and creating positive cultures in over 25 statesand 4 continents. He has presented at the International Midwest Band and OrchestraClinic, the Western International Band Clinic, the NAfME National Conference,numerous State and Regional Music Education Association Conferences, and theConn-Selmer Institute. He has conducted honor bands in Australia, Greece, Cyprus,and Malaysia, and All-State honor bands across the United States. Dr. Arau teaches hisUpbeat! Leadership Program to student leaders and Drum Majors at in-person andonline camps around the United States and abroad.Dr. Arau draws on a deep reservoir of fifteen years of experience as a successfulmiddle school and high school band director in Loveland, Colorado, where he led hisbands at Walt Clark Middle School and Loveland High School to numerous honorperformances and championships and pioneered the Leadership Symposium. Dr. Arauholds a D.M.A. in Conducting and Literature from the University of Colorado Boulderand a Master of Science in Music Education from the American Band College ofSouthern Oregon University. He graduated magna cum laude from LawrenceUniversity, where he earned a Bachelor of Music in Instrumental Music Education,Music Performance (Classical), Music Performance (Jazz Studies), and a Bachelor ofArts in Government. He resides in Neenah, Wisconsin with his wife Merilee, their dogOlive, and two sugar gliders - Little Foot and Flash.https://www.upbeatglobal.com/leadership-summithttps://www.conn-selmer.com/en-us/education/programs/conn-selmer-institute-student-leadership

This week listen to LTC Olivia Nunn speak with Corinne Powers and LaTresha Williams about the Joint Women's Leadership Virtual Series. This leadership series will be a collection of 12 webinars, taking place August through December 2020. These webinars will provide professional development for military servicewomen and veterans. Webinar topics include finance, leadership development, current events, transitioning, and more! Regular updates will be posted on the Sea Services Leadership Association's website and the Joint Women's Leadership Symposium's social media channels. 

Dynamic, energetic and transparent are the words often used to describe U.S.A.F. Veteran, Fitness Olympian, 2019 Exceptional Woman of Color Honoree, Survivor of Domestic Violence, Globally Recognized Health and Personal Development Expert, 13 x Author, Dynamic Speaker, Creator of Healthy Balanced You Wellness Program for working women and CEO of N-Powered Coaching Academy, Laticia “Action” Jackson.Voted Best Personal Trainer on the Gulf Coast 2016, Action has been featured in over 30 health and personal development magazines such as Oxygen Magazine Australia, Muscle and Fitness Hers and Writers Life Magazine where she shares thought leadership on mental, physical and emotional health. You will often find her featured on TV stations such as NBC News, Seattle’s King 5, WEAR Channel 3, WSRE, Blab TV, CW 31, ABC 10, FOX 40 and other stations where she educates communities on public health issues such as domestic violence, obesity and heart disease. Her amazing ability to weave together personal and professional information that ignites personal change has led her to being the keynote speaker for events such as The Joint Commission's Women’s Military Leadership Symposium, Emmett Till's Legacy Foundation’s Loving from the Inside Out Symposium, Alpha Kappa Alpha’s Paint the City Pink Breast Cancer Event, Brokers International Women’s Fall Business Retreat, Girls on The Rise Empowerment Conference, The Next Big Thing Destin Chamber of Commerce Business Conference and Global Strike Commands Women’s Leadership Conference.   Action is on a mission to transform the lives of millions, one presentation, one workshop, one online program and one coaching session at a time!Log on to Action’s website to learn more about her fitness and wellness programs! (https://www.npoweredcoaching.com/fit-n-5).And register for the 6-week online wellness program for African-American women called “Changing the Norm”.  With all of the alarming chronic diseases that disproportionately affect AA women, it’s time to change these Norms! www.npoweredcoaching.com/changing-the-normGet social with Action Today!Social Media Handles-PersonalFacebook@laticiajackson-BusinessInstagram@Npoweredcoachingacademy Facebook@Npoweredcoachingacademy Instagram@Npoweredcoachingacademy Youtube@Npoweredcoachingacademy  Learn More About Her!NBC News Documentary (Over 67 k views)  https://youtu.be/yFFAp1UpZ1QThe Joint Women’s Leadership Symposium https://youtu.be/MoAgC8zr8xIThe Powerful Women of Gulf Coast Presentation: https://youtu.be/ozQobM8Td3YBrunch: https://youtu.be/Gqnx3b2ilXwWEAR Channel 3 Domestic: https://youtu.be/EDtFz0pdKrEBlab TV: https://youtu.be/ZI6SyViNEGQWSRE Interview with Jeff Weeks: https://youtu.be/bezx-hWsgfQAFGSC 's 2018 Women's Leadership Symposium about self- empowerment https://bit.ly/2vfOQAp

Will Reece, Founder of the Collegiate Athletics Leadership Symposium (CALS), visits @1QLeadership to discuss the event and how it has grown in relevance in the college athletics industry. Reece labels his process of allowing attendees from one year to determine who should be invited the following year as, "by invitation, but not exclusive." He also strives to keep the "safe space" atmosphere of the event by not filming sessions or having much, if any, media present.

In this time of social distancing, it can be hard to stay motivated, moving and positive. Join Eric as he interviews Dr. Matthew Arau on how the power of positivity and a shift to a growth mindset can help you be successful and healthy during these different times.Dr. Matthew Arau is an Assistant Professor of Music, Chair of the Music Education Department and Associate Director of Bands at the Lawrence University Conservatory of Music. He conducts the Lawrence Symphonic Band and student and faculty chamber groups, guest conducts the Lawrence Wind Ensemble, supervises student teachers, and teaches Conducting and Instrumental Methods and Rehearsal Techniques I & II.Arau has presented clinics on student leadership, rehearsal techniques, and unlocking potential at the following: The Midwest Clinic: An International Band and Orchestra Conference, the Western International Band Clinic, the American Band College of Sam Houston State University, the Conn-Selmer Institute, the Pan-Hellenic Wind Band Conference in Cyprus, the Colorado, Oregon, and Wisconsin Music Educators Association, Midwest Music Seminars, and universities and high schools around the country. He teaches student leadership at the Metro-Capitol Leadership Academy in Sherwood, Oregon and the Colorado State University Band Leadership Academy in Ft. Collins, Colorado, and he is a Conn-Selmer Education Clinician. He conducts honor bands and honor jazz bands of all levels, is an active concert band, jazz band and marching band clinician, and has continued to be an active jazz and classical saxophonist throughout his teaching and academic career.Arau earned a DMA in Instrumental Conducting and Literature from the University of Colorado Boulder, a Master of Science in Music from the American Band College at Southern Oregon University, and a Bachelor of Music in Music Performance, Jazz Studies and Music Education and a Bachelor of Arts in Government from Lawrence University in Appleton, Wisconsin.Prior to pursuing his doctoral degree, Arau was the Director of Bands at Loveland High School in Loveland, Colorado from 2005-2012 where he established the Leadership Symposium for the development of student leaders. The Loveland H.S. Wind Symphony was featured at the Western International Band Clinic (WIBC) in Seattle and two times at the Colorado Music Educators Association Convention. The Loveland Marching Band won the Colorado 4A State Marching Band Championship and the Class AA Championship at the Bands of America Super Regional in San Antonio, Texas. Arau began his teaching career in 1997 as the Director of Bands at Walt Clark Middle School in Loveland, Colorado. The Walt Clark Honor Band was featured at the Colorado Music Educators Association Convention in 2003.Mr. Arau’s professional affiliations include the College Band Directors National Association, the National Association for Music Education and the World Association of Symphonic Bands and Ensembles. He is a past Western Region Representative of the American School Band Directors Association and Instrumental Representative of the Colorado Music Educators Association. His writings on music and music education are published in Conn-Selmer Touchpoint, Bandworld Magazine, and The Saxophone Journal.Contact by e-mail: matthew.r.arau@lawrence.edu(bio courtesy of https://www.lawrence.edu)Support the show (https://www.patreon.com/notyourfortepodcast)

TODAY’S TOPICS: To honor the birthday of Jeff’s Mom… we talk about our Mom’s! Tim & Jeff went to the Marine Military Academy (in Texas) for a Leadership Symposium… we’ll discuss that experience The Afghanistan Peace deal… will the United State really depart Afghanistan based on this agreement?

This is a really cool episode! Featuring the keynote speakers from the University of Windsor's Georgie-Odette Leadership Symposium with a diverse group of leaders across many sectors to dive deep into some great conversations about leadership.Including: Rory Capern, Vice President of Partnerships, Pelmorex Corp (The Weather Network), former Managing Director of Twitter CanadaFiona Coughlin, Chief Executive Officer & Executive Director, Habitat For Humanity Windsor-EssexDavid Trepanier, Managing Director of Global Credit & Special Situations, Bank of America Merrill Lynch, New YorkDonna Wellington, Chief Operating Officer of Behavioral Health Service, Henry Ford Health SystemTrevor Georgie, President & General Manager of St. John Sea DogsDr. Vincent Georgie, Executive Director of Windsor International Film Festival & Director of University of Windsor's School of Creative ArtsFollow Straight Outta Windsor on:Twitter - @thatwindsorshowFacebook - Straight Outta Windsorbordercitynetwork.com 

Ciara Terry is a Sophomore Political Science Major with a minor in Educational Studies at Spelman College, from Baltimore, Maryland. She was apart of the inaugural cohort at Citi Bank HBCU Innovation and Leadership Symposium. A member of Phi Alpha Delta Law Fraternity. Has a passion for education and wants to pursue a career in Education Policy.

The Global Salesian Leadership Symposium 2019Mon, Oct 28, 2019 7:00 AM - 3:00 PM EDT The third annual Global Salesian Leadership Symposium, a life-changing program steeped in Salesian virtues, based upon the spirituality of Francis de Sales, the Gentleman Saint. GSLS will provide access and proximity to world-class thought leaders in diverse areas of innovation and industry. The event is being held at the Segate Center located at.401 Jefferson AveToledo, Ohio43604Parking is available in the SeaGate Parking Garage located on Summit St between Jefferson Ave and Monroe St.You can get your tickets at globalsls.org

The Global Salesian Leadership Symposium 2019Mon, Oct 28, 2019 7:00 AM - 3:00 PM EDT The third annual Global Salesian Leadership Symposium, a life-changing program steeped in Salesian virtues, based upon the spirituality of Francis de Sales, the Gentleman Saint. GSLS will provide access and proximity to world-class thought leaders in diverse areas of innovation and industry. The event is being held at the Segate Center located at.401 Jefferson AveToledo, Ohio43604Parking is available in the SeaGate Parking Garage located on Summit St between Jefferson Ave and Monroe St.You can get your tickets at globalsls.org

The last of our 4 part series recorded on location at the NCSEA Leadership Symposium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Hosted by Tim Lightner and Lori Rummage Cain, a conversation with Tish Keahna of the National Tribal Child Support Association.

Part 3 of our 4 part series recorded on location at the NCSEA Leadership Symposium in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Hosted by Tim Lightner and is a conversation with NCSEA’s Co-Chairs of the NCSEA-U Committee, Lynda Rhyne-McKinley and Scott Cade. They will be discussing the NCSEA U Program, the goals, origins and where it’s going in the future.

Part 2 of our 4 part series is a conversation with outgoing NCSEA President, Craig Burshem, and incoming President Tanguler Gray. Hosted by Tim Lightner.

Matthew Arau is the Chair of the Music Education Department and Associate Director of Bands at the Lawrence University Conservatory of Music in Appleton, Wisconsin. He also teaches conducting at the American Band College and student leadership at numerous clinics and academies.  Topics: How a tennis racket, some empty Baskin Robbins tubs, and a 6th grade Dixieland group launched a musical career. The tremendous program at Rio Americano High School in Sacramento, California and Matthew’s appearance on the Mickey Mouse Club Show with his own Dixieland group. Thoughts about building a culture of excellence in a band program. Matthew's experience as an undergraduate at Lawrence University where he earned a quadruple degree! Early teaching in Colorado and how it ultimately led to his current position as the Director of Bands at Lawrence University. Thoughts on leadership and how to create servant leaders in your band program. Links: Matthew Arau at Lawrence University Matthew Arau - Conn-Selmer Clinician Rio Americano High School Band Instrumentalist: "Developing the Right Mindset" YouTube: Believe in Students Pann: Hold This Boy and Listen Aakash Mittal: Samay Raga for Wind Ensemble Grainger: Lincolnshire Posy Biography: Dr. Matthew Arau is the Chair of the Music Education Department and Associate Director of Bands at the Lawrence University Conservatory of Music in Appleton, Wisconsin where he teaches conducting and instrumental music education courses and is the conductor of the Symphonic Band, associate conductor of the Wind Ensemble, and guest conductor of the Symphony Orchestra. In addition, Dr. Arau is on the faculty of the American Band College of Central Washington University where he teaches conducting to graduate students, and he is on the staff for the Western International Band Clinic in Seattle, Washington. Dr. Arau also serves as a Conn-Selmer Education Clinician and he is the founder of Upbeat Global, LLC. In demand as a music teacher and speaker, Dr. Arau has presented on leadership, growth mindset, rehearsal techniques, and creating positive cultures at the following: the International Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic, the Western International Band Clinic, numerous State and Regional Music Education Association Conferences, the American Choral Directors Association NextDirection Conference, the Conn-Selmer Institute, the International San Diego Mariachi Summit, and universities, music camps, school districts, and schools in 26 states and 4 continents. Dr. Arau has taught student leadership in Singapore, Malaysia, Greece, and Cyprus. In February 2019, Dr. Arau delivered the keynote address at the Northwest NAfME (National Association for Music Education Conference) and he will deliver the keynote address at the National NAfME Conference in November 2019 in Orlando, Florida to all of the high school national honor ensembles. In addition, Dr. Arau conducts and clinics all-state bands and honor groups across the United States and around the world. He has conducted honor bands in Australia, Greece, Cyprus, and Malaysia, the Michigan and Utah All-State Middle School Honor Bands, the Texas Region 26 Honor Band, and the South Carolina All-State Band, and honor bands across the country. The Instrumentalist, Bandworld Magazine, Make Music Inc., and Conn-Selmer have published his articles on leadership and teaching music. His wind chamber music transcriptions are published by C. Alan Publications. Dr. Arau draws on a deep reservoir of fifteen years of experience as a successful middle school and high school band director in Loveland, Colorado, where he led his groups at Loveland High School to numerous championships and pioneered the Leadership Symposium. Dr. Arau holds a Doctor of Musical Arts in Conducting and Literature from the University of Colorado Boulder and a Master of Science in Music Education from the American Band College of Southern Oregon University. He graduated magna cum laude from Lawrence University, where he earned a Bachelor of Music in Instrumental Music Education, Music Performance (Classical), Music Performance (Jazz Studies), and a Bachelor of Arts in Government. He resides with his wife, Merilee, in Neenah, Wisconsin.

Part one of our 4 part series recorded on location at the NCSEA Leadership Symposium in Minneapolis, MN. This episode is an interview with NCSEA Executive Director Ann Marie Ruskin, with Tim Lightner.

Join AHIMA President/Chair Valerie Watzlaf and House Speaker Shawn Wells as they discuss comments and questions raised about the current AHIMA election during a breakout session at the CSA Leadership Symposium held in Chicago July 11 and 12. Don't forget to vote!

Hello and welcome to the Women Leaders Podcast! I am Patti Phillips, CEO of Women Leaders in College Sports, and I am thrilled to be joined on today’s podcast by Alfreeda Goff, former senior associate commissioner and chief championship administrator at the Horizon League and long-time advocate and champion of our organization since our inception 40-years ago. Alfreeda is one the most highly respected trailblazers in the industry and has been instrumental in building and growing our organization. In fact, Alfreeda was the founder of the Women’s Leadership Symposium back in 2001 and it’s still going strong today! Listen in to hear Alfreeda voice the importance of mentoring, the value in women helping women, and how she has paved the way as a mentor and advisor for countless women and men in the industry. Enjoy, and remember, we are Women Leaders. Head to womenleadersincollegesports.org for more about us and to become a member! Follow us at fb.com/WomenLeadersCS, and on Twitter and Instagram @WomenLeadersCS.

Fuel Yourself and Inspire Others. Learn to be powerful and collaborative. Uncover your blindspots and build a strategy to get you and your team winning. Join leadership psychologist and team performance conultant Dr. Krystal White and like-minded growth oriented leaders this early fall, September 5th-8th, 2019. Port Angeles, WA. We start in the evening and end in the early morning. Come a day early and tour with us to awesome Victoria Canada. 

This episode's guest is Dr. Tracy Todd. With years of experience as an MFT and the current CEO of AAMFT, Tracy and Eli discuss the future of AAMFT and the new programs we are introducing to benefit the advancement of the profession. He describes how MFTs can benefit from mixed-reality simulation training, new Topical Interest Networks, future-building events like the Leadership Symposium, and the Disruptive Innovation Challenge. Tracy shares how AAMFT's new initiatives allow us to stay current and continuously evolve within the growing field, and highlights the significance of providing opportunities for members to become involved and engaged with their profession.  

Today's story: Air Force Chief of Staff General David Goldfein delivers a speech at the National Character and Leadership Symposium at the Air Force Academy.

Today's story: Air Force Chief of Staff General David Goldfein delivers a speech at the National Character and Leadership Symposium at the Air Force Academy.

Join a sleep deprived Scott as he shares random moments from Midsummer Scream and The Leadership Symposium for Seasonal Attractions.

Topics We Cover On This Episode [0:26] How you can get the new and improved 40DFL app or a new T-shirt [2:20] Updates from the Arizona leader’s Symposium - record high of 117 degrees [9:08] The Leadership Symposium was an eclectic gathering of great people [10:40] Powerful testimonials and personal stories were shared [15:09] Steve and Robert’s experience at a Diamondback baseball game [20:05] The devastating dropped ball - Steve’s error at a MLB game [24:07] A big announcement coming in spring - and a message from President Trump The 40 Days For Life team is always encouraged when we are able to hear Pro-Life stories from everyday people who have taken the huge step of faith and courage to get involved in the fight to stop abortion. This episode recounts some of the stories heard at the recent Leader’s Symposium in Arizona. You’ll be encouraged too, by the amazing things God has done through the work of common people who were willing to step out and make a difference. Pro-Life Stories Don’t Happen Because Of Courageous People One of the speakers at our recent Leadership Symposium was Sue Thayer, a woman who formerly managed a Planned Parenthood abortion facility. In delivering her speech, the first line out of her mouth was something to this effect: “People often say I’m courageous, but I’m not.” It may sound like false humility but we can assure you, Sue is one of the most genuine and humble people working in the Pro-Life movement. As she shared her story in a very relatable way, it was easy to see how anyone can get involved and make a massive difference in bringing about the end of abortion in their community. Stories of Abortion Opposition Came From All Corners of the Globe One of the most beautiful things experienced at the Arizona Leadership Symposium was the eclectic nature of the people who gathered. It seemed there were people of any race you could imagine, young and old, experienced and inexperienced, all gathered for one reason - to learn how they could be more effective in their part of the battle to end abortion. It was encouraging to watch as relationships were formed and encouragement was doled out in ample supply among the participants. It was a great demonstration of the power of stories and the example of faith. It’s Not Just The 40DFL Leadership That Does The Equipping Among the bright spots at the Leadership Symposium were the many stories we heard from the most unassuming people. Many told of their participation in 40DFL campaigns and the dramatic difference they’ve seen happen as a result. Friends, it’s happening, abortion is coming to an end one faithful action at a time. Whether its people praying in front of abortion facilities or humble servants organizing full-fledged campaigns, momentum is growing. Listen to this episode to hear what people just like you are doing to end abortion in their communities. There’s Always Time For a Bit of Fun At Our Leadership Symposiums After this year’s Symposium, Steve and Robert stayed after for a bit and decided to take in a Diamondback Baseball Game. For Steve, it was a great opportunity to show his stuff on national TV as a home run ball came his way. For Robert, it was an interesting and unusual cultural experience (he’s from the UK). In this episode we give Steve a hard time about his nationally televised flub, talk about the differences between baseball and cricket, and pray for the end of abortion - at least in part - so that we’ll all have time to do more fun stuff like Steve and Robert did. It’s all on this episode. Resources & People Mentioned Get the new app - www.40DaysForLife.org/app www.40DaysForLife.com/gear - use promo code “podcast” for 20% off BOOK: The Beginning of the End of Abortion Live Action Sue Thayer (former Planned Parenthood manager) Bishop Olmsted Lisa Blevins - 2018 Leader of the Year Pamela Delgado (from Columbia) Patti Flores (led her 21st campaign) Alison Centofante of Live Action Pro-Life Action Ministries Podcast episode featuring Sue Thayer www.40DaysForLife.com/location - join your local campaign   Connect With 40 Days For Life www.40DaysForLife.com On Facebook On Twitter Email Sign Up App Subscribe to 40 Days For Life on Apple Podcasts & Google Play

In this PODCAST EPISODE, we chat with the organizers of SEHEC (Southeast Halloween Enthusiast Convention) and the Seasonal Attraction Leadership Symposium. Philip Hernandez: Director of Marketing & Sales for Gantom Lighting and Controls, a reputable company in the attraction space known for their quality lighting and controls. William Ramsay: Also known as Dr. Terror Eyes, has taught his Haunting skills in various conventions all over the United States. Seasonal Attraction Leadership Symposium The Seasonal Attraction Leadership Symposium is the one event for industry professionals in Southern California where you can learn and network with the best and the brightest in the themed entertainment industry. Philip Hernandez The 2nd Annual Leadership Symposium is July 30th, 2018, aboard the historic and haunted Queen Mary in Long Beach, California. The theme of this year’s event is “First Impressions.” Besides presentations by leading industry professionals on this theme, the day’s activities will include a tour of the Queen Mary and a preview of the upcoming “Dark Harbor” Halloween event. Dive Deep into the Theme with Industry Experts & Moderators Crafting Memorable First Impressions using the key elements of Elevation, Insight, Pride, and Connection is the touchstone for presentations at this year’s event. Deepening the learning using the discussion and workbook format assures the information goes home with the participant and becomes part of their reservoir of knowledge. Plus, tour the ship with The Queen Mary attractions team and enjoy the opportunity to discover more about the ship's operations directly from the team. Southeast Halloween Enthusiast Convention (SEHEC) The Southeast Halloween Enthusiast Convention (SEHEC) is both a Halloween fandom-based educational event and a charitable fundraiser dedicated to the largest portion of Halloween-lovers: the Halloween Enthusiast. It's for folks who share their love of Halloween (and the Paranormal) with others and just wait until October! Southeast Halloween Enthusiast Convention (SEHEC) CHARITABLE CAUSE: A portion of the event’s proceeds go to the Tampa Shriners Hospital for Children to help pay for necessary medical care for afflicted young patients. HISTORY: Born out of eight years of make-n-take (instructive prop building) gatherings so popular, they outgrew the venue! SEHEC is the next masterful step to bring Halloween enthusiasts together to learn, share and grow their love for all things Halloween. This event features a variety of educational seminars (Halloween-related and Paranormal), instructional demonstrations, Make-n-Take courses (learn-how-to courses where you bring home the creation you made with guided assistance), guest speakers, product vendors, master artists – even from hit television shows, and provides a welcoming atmosphere for Halloween socializing. LOCATION: The SEHEC show is in Central Florida and is conveniently located about 75 miles from Universal Studios, Disney World and Sea World. THE EVENT: -Friday night: Ocala Ghost Walk Tour: 7:30 PM to 9:00 PM and away from the event venue. - Saturday day is the Convention Show and Courses: 8 AM to 6 PM -Saturday night is the "Haunted Eye Ball" adult costume party with food, freshly-brewed beer and local vineyard-produced wine, 8 PM to Midnight. - Sunday in the Convention Show and Courses: 9 AM - 2 PM. REGISTRATION: - Registration will only be available ONLINE at www.SEHEC.com - AFTER JUNE 30th, ALL prices are at-the-door purchases and are higher at the venue. - No 2018 T-shirts will be available for ordering after June 30, 2018 as they are a Limited Edition run. - You will receive one T-shirt (valued at $20) with your paid admission ticket purchase online. You'll receive it upon check-in at the show on July 14th/15th.

In this PODCAST EPISODE, we chat with the organizers of SEHEC (Southeast Halloween Enthusiast Convention) and the Haunted Attraction Leadership Symposium. Philip Hernandez: Business Director for Gantom Lighting and Controls, a reputable company in the attraction space known for their quality lighting and controls. William Ramsay: Also known as Dr. Terror Eyes, has taught his Haunting skills in various conventions all over the United States. Haunted Attraction Leadership Symposium The Seasonal Attraction Leadership Symposium is the one event for industry professionals in Southern California where you can learn and network with the best and the brightest in the themed entertainment industry. Philip Hernandez The 2nd Annual Leadership Symposium is July 30th, 2018, aboard the historic and haunted Queen Mary in Long Beach, California. The theme of this year’s event is “First Impressions.” Besides presentations by leading industry professionals on this theme, the day’s activities will include a tour of the Queen Mary and a preview of the upcoming “Dark Harbor” Halloween event. Dive Deep into the Theme with Industry Experts & Moderators Crafting Memorable First Impressions using the key elements of Elevation, Insight, Pride, and Connection is the touchstone for presentations at this year’s event. Added to this year’s symposium will be discussions following each speaker’s presentation. During these discussions, attendees will meet and share their thoughts about what they just learned and use workbooks to integrate this into their experience and vision for their own attractions. Deepening the learning using the discussion and workbook format assures the information goes home with the participant and becomes part of their reservoir of knowledge. Experience The Queen Mary Enjoy an exclusive preview of "Dark Harbor" and Q&A with the team. Plus, tour the ship with The Queen Mary attractions team and enjoy the opportunity to discover more about the ship's operations directly from the team. Not Convinced? Watch the Talks from for Last Year Last year’s Symposium, titled, “Innovation in Interactivity,” was held at Knott’s Berry Farm on August 1. Watch the trailer here. This symposium featured keynote talks by: Ricky Brigante of Pseudonym Productions Jon Cooke and Ken Parks of Knott’s Berry Farm Quan Gan of Gantom Sociologist/Author Dr. Margie Kerr The Queen Mary’s Brian Luallen Industry Veteran Scott Swenson   Southeast Halloween Enthusiast Convention (SEHEC) The Southeast Halloween Enthusiast Convention (SEHEC) is both a Halloween fandom-based educational event and a charitable fundraiser dedicated to the largest portion of Halloween-lovers: the Halloween Enthusiast. It's for folks who share their love of Halloween (and the Paranormal) with others and just wait until October! CHARITABLE CAUSE: A portion of the event’s proceeds go to the Tampa Shriners Hospital for Children to help pay for necessary medical care for afflicted young patients. HISTORY: Born out of eight years of make-n-take (instructive prop building) gatherings so popular, they outgrew the venue! SEHEC is the next masterful step to bring Halloween enthusiasts together to learn, share and grow their love for all things Halloween. This event features a variety of educational seminars (Halloween-related and Paranormal), instructional demonstrations, Make-n-Take courses (learn-how-to courses where you bring home the creation you made with guided assistance), guest speakers, product vendors, master artists – even from hit television shows, and provides a welcoming atmosphere for Halloween socializing. SEHEC’s producer and Halloween zealot, Dr. TerrorEyes, has been involved with Halloween and prop creation for 44 years. He has been a presenter at all major Halloween industry conventions since 2010. This includes popular conventions such as: HAuNTcon, TransWorld, Midwest Haunters Convention, HauntX, Halloween Extreme, ScareLA, National Haunters Convention, West Coast Haunters Convention, Halloween & HauntFest, Canadian Haunted Attractions Conference, Midsummer Scream, Chicago Frights, Lakeland ZombieFest, and Florida Haunters Annual Ocala Make-n-Take/Social. LOCATION: The SEHEC show is in Central Florida and is conveniently located about 75 miles from Universal Studios, Disney World and Sea World. THE EVENT: -Friday night: Ocala Ghost Walk Tour: 7:30 PM to 9:00 PM and away from the event venue. - Saturday day is the Convention Show and Courses: 8 AM to 6 PM -Saturday night is the "Haunted Eye Ball" adult costume party with food, freshly-brewed beer and local vineyard-produced wine, 8 PM to Midnight. - Sunday in the Convention Show and Courses: 9 AM - 2 PM. REGISTRATION: - Registration will only be available ONLINE at www.SEHEC.com - AFTER JUNE 30th, ALL prices are at-the-door purchases and are higher at the venue. - No 2018 T-shirts will be available for ordering after June 30, 2018 as they are a Limited Edition run. - You will receive one T-shirt (valued at $20) with your paid admission ticket purchase online. You'll receive it upon check-in at the show on July 14th/15th. Coming Jan.25-27, 2019 in New Orleans. HAuNTcon!  

The hosts discuss the value of local business partnerships. News: Google Duplex, Skorr, AI Influencers.Leadership Symposium: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/seasonal-attraction-leadership-symposium-2018-registration-45141589710?aff=0a3e2d60b4Use ‘GANTOMINSIDER’ for $30 OFFFree Subscription to Seasonal Entertainment Source: http://seasonalentertainmentsource.com Subscribe to show notes: www.marketingyourattraction.com

The hosts discuss the value of local business partnerships. News: Google Duplex, Skorr, AI Influencers. Leadership Symposium: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/seasonal-attraction-leadership-symposium-2018-registration-45141589710?aff=0a3e2d60b4 Use ‘GANTOMINSIDER’ for $30 OFF Free Subscription to Seasonal Entertainment Source: http://seasonalentertainmentsource.com Subscribe to show notes: www.marketingyourattraction.com

Welcome to North America CSR Radio. In this episode, we have with us Nolan Melson, Veterans Employee Resource Group NA Co-Lead, as he discusses his recent experience attending the Women In Leadership Symposium hosted by the National Diversity Council. Leave your thoughts in the comment section below.

In episode 42, we are thrilled to be joined by Duke's Katie Colleran, Clemson's Kate Radford, and the University of Miami's Andrew Wiemer to discuss the annual ACC Leadership Symposium. This amazing leadership initiative brings together students from all 15 ACC member institutions every February. You'll hear about Andrew's Oscar pick, Katie's work to keep libraries "in business," and Kate's struggle with household wizards. Our guests also shared insights about student learning at the Symposium, advisor development as a by-product, and student impact.

From 22 to 24 September 2017, fifty students from fifty student chapters around the world, representing twenty-seven countries, connected in Houston for the 2017 SEG/Chevron Student Leadership Symposium (SLS). In this episode, Magdalena Mita, a 2017 SEG/Chevron Student Leadership Symposium participant, from the University of Silesia, Poland; Kathryn Elkins, SEG Student and Early Career Advisor; and other SLS students tell their stories. If you enjoy the show, please leave us a 5-star review on iTunes – your review helps others find the show. Subscribe to Seismic Soundoff on the podcast app of your choice to receive the latest episodes first. Full show notes at https://seg.org/podcast. Sponsor Chevron is proud to sponsor the SEG/Chevron Student Leadership Symposium to help current student leaders build their skills and become our next generation of leaders in geophysics. If you are a student chapter leader, please go online to https://seg.org/SLS to see how you can apply to attend the SEG/Chevron Student Leadership Symposium in Anaheim.

Please Support The Show with a DonationJohann Berlin has worked with some of the world's greatest leaders, Fortune 500 companies, has spoken at a Ted conference and is in the process of writing a book about what it means to live a fulfilling life. Have you ever found yourself hating your day job? Wishing you could do the thing you truly love? Not sure what would make you happy at work but you know what you're doing now isn't helping? In this episode, Johann shares really helpful and practical approaches that you can start applying today in order to bring more meaning and fulfillment into your daily life - both at work and otherwise.Johann Berlin is the CEO of TLEX U.S. Johann has grown TLEX nationwide and into leading institutions and Fortune 500 companies. Prior to joining TLEX, Johann scaled boutique triple bottom line and social sector companies from concept to high-impact with a special focus on innovative and disruptive wellness, leadership, innovation initiatives with the project being mentioned in Harvard Business Review, New York Times, and Wharton Journal.Johann has participated as a speaker/facilitator at TEDx London, Stanford Center for Compassion, Harvard Executive MBA Alumni Summit, Wharton School of Business, UC Berkeley’s Leadership Symposium, Yale School of Management, Impact Investor Sustainatopia Conference, GE HealthCare’s Health Ahead Summit Paris, and Dartmouth on Purpose.In This Interview, Johann Berlin and I Discuss...The Wolf ParableThat what you put your attention on growsWhat love means in a corporate environmentThe difference between a question and a wonderMoving from desire to finding things that bring you contentmentIt's not always what you do but that you have meaningful relationships at work"Do service", doing things with honor, treating things as specialHow if you hate your job, you don't have the energy to do the things you loveWhat you resist, persistsSuppressing your thoughtsHow hating your job causes you to sufferHis troubled youthThe role that the kindness of other people has played in his lifeHis three reflections on kindness:We choose who we are kind toNo act is too smallThe starfish storyDon't lose hopeChoosing to show up in the momentIf you honor the moment, you can choose to show up for itLiving wisely with the changing, advancing ageJohann Berlin LinksHomepageTwitter Please Support The Show with a Donation

As emerging leaders, we are challenged by the question of where to focus our time and energy that makes a difference. What does it mean to be an orchestrator of change and lead others through these historical times in education? Orchestrating change demands a mindset and cultivation of mood that opens possibilities for us and those around us. Now more than ever, we need to build bridges between our administrative functions, the academy and countless constituents we serve. On Thursday, January 18th, Howard Teibel will be delivering the opening keynote address at WACUBO’s Leadership Symposium, exploring the type of personal skills and sensibilities that build a resilient and adaptable culture and keep us focused on the larger mission of our institutions. Today on the show, we’re thrilled to welcome Lisa Frace, Associate Vice President, Budget and Planning and Chief Budgeting Officer for Arizona State University. Lisa serves on the WACUBO board as chair for the Annual Leadership Program and she’s joining us to share WACUBO’s efforts to further change in our field through research into how the field is evolving, and how we can better prepare tomorrow’s finance leaders today. Links & Notes Register Now for the WACUBO Leadership Symposium    

This time, we’re getting spooky at Knott’s Berry Farm, as we cover the Haunted Attraction Network Leadership Symposium. It was a day filled with great speakers, conversations, and networking and a night filled with scares, as we experienced a full preview of the new Gantom-Knott’s connection, in the re-imagined Trick or Treat maze. It’s Halloween […]

The 30th annual Joint Women's Leadership Symposium kicks off this Friday in Norfolk. It is the largest gathering of military women world-wide. Today we're discussing the concerns of women who serve. And later, it's PrideWeek! We're talking with the President of Hampton Roads Pride and Pridefest's Grand Marshal about this year's festival highlights. Join us at 440-2665, connect with us on Facebook and Twitter or send us an email: hearsay@whrv.org. 

Military leaders come together for annual symposium on Guam.

The California Attorney General is bringing visibility to the prevention of human trafficking. Sandra Morgan, the Director of the Global Center for Women & Justice and Dave Stachowiak, one of the Center’s board members, discuss Sandie’s recent attendance at this symposium and some new trends in the fight against trafficking. If you enjoyed this episode,…

Cynthia Chang, Preseident of Females in Engineering, Science and Technology introduces the International Women's Leadership Symposium.

Cynthia Chang, Preseident of Females in Engineering, Science and Technology introduces the International Women's Leadership Symposium.