Podcasts about tarrant county

The American Democracy Minute Radio News Report & Podcast for June 13, 2025Apparent Racial Gerrymandering in Tarrant County, TX Draws Condemnation and a VRA Lawsuit.  The County's Reply?  It's OK. It was for Political Reasons.Tarrant County, Texas county commissioners approved a new county redistricting map June 3rd diluting the votes of Black and Hispanic voters, but commissioners claim the gerrymandering was for “political”, not racial reasons.  The map likely eliminates a majority minority district, and has drawn widespread condemnation and a Voting Rights Act lawsuit.Some podcasting platforms strip out our links.  To read our resources and see the whole script of today's report, please go to our website at https://AmericanDemocracyMinute.orgToday's LinksArticles & Resources:Texas Tribune - (2021) Historically red Tarrant County diversified in the last decade. Now Republicans are trying to divide up its voters of color.Tarrant County - Tarrant County Redistricting 2025Fort Worth Telegram - Are Tarrant's proposed redistricting maps racial gerrymanders? We asked expertsUCLA Voting Rights Project - Tarrant County AnalysisKDFW Fox 4 News - SMU researcher says proposed Tarrant County redistricting 'diminishes' voting powerU.S. District Court (via Democracy Docket) - Complaint in Jackson v. Tarrant CountyCBS News Texas -  Tarrant County citizens file lawsuit against new redistricting mapKERA - (Update) Tarrant County approves $250K contract with law firm to fight racial gerrymandering lawsuit Groups Taking Action:Common Cause TX,  Lone Star ProjectRegister or Check Your Voter Registration:U.S. Election Assistance Commission – Register And Vote in Your StatePlease follow us on Facebook and Bluesky Social, and SHARE! Find all of our reports at AmericanDemocracyMinute.orgWant ADM sent to your email?  Sign up here!#News #Democracy  #DemocracyNews #Texas #TarrantCounty #RacialGerrymandering #FairMaps #VRA

In episode 208, Coffey talks with David Miklas about the Department of Labor's evolving definitions and interpretations of independent contractor classification under the Fair Labor Standards Act.  They discuss why DOL interpretations matter for FLSA compliance and overtime requirements; the shift from Biden administration's six-factor economic reality test back to Trump administration's emphasis on control and profit/loss opportunity; the six key factors including nature and degree of control, opportunity for profit and loss, permanence of relationship, worker investments, skill and initiative requirements, and how integral the work is to the principal business; common classification mistakes across industries including misunderstanding IRS versus DOL tests; the risks of supervision and control over workers classified as contractors; how technology can demonstrate control in gig economy situations; the financial consequences of misclassification including unpaid overtime, liquidated damages, and attorney fees; and the importance of proper written agreements and immediate legal consultation when classification issues arise. Good Morning, HR is brought to you by Imperative—Bulletproof Background Checks. For more information about our commitment to quality and excellent customer service, visit us at https://imperativeinfo.com.  If you are an HRCI or SHRM-certified professional, this episode of Good Morning, HR has been pre-approved for half a recertification credit. To obtain the recertification information for this episode, visit https://goodmorninghr.com.  About our Guest: David Miklas owns a Labor & Employment law firm and for 26 years he has practiced all types of labor and employment law exclusively representing Florida employers. He has written hundreds of employment law articles, is the co-author for the premier legal textbook used by lawyers for Florida employment law, is a frequent employment law presenter and is a nationally recognized speaker and an invited guest lecturer addressing employment law and human resource issues with over thirty universities, including Harvard. Mr. Miklas graduated from the University of Florida College of Law. David Miklas can be reached athttps://www.miklasemploymentlaw.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-miklas-301861121/  About Mike Coffey: Mike Coffey is an entrepreneur, licensed private investigator, business strategist, HR consultant, and registered yoga teacher.In 1999, he founded Imperative, a background investigations and due diligence firm helping risk-averse clients make well-informed decisions about the people they involve in their business.Imperative delivers in-depth employment background investigations, know-your-customer and anti-money laundering compliance, and due diligence investigations to more than 300 risk-averse corporate clients across the US, and, through its PFC Caregiver & Household Screening brand, many more private estates, family offices, and personal service agencies.Imperative has been named a Best Places to Work, the Texas Association of Business' small business of the year, and is accredited by the Professional Background Screening Association.Mike shares his insight from 25+ years of HR-entrepreneurship on the Good Morning, HR podcast, where each week he talks to business leaders about bringing people together to create value for customers, shareholders, and community.Mike has been recognized as an Entrepreneur of Excellence by FW, Inc. and has twice been recognized as the North Texas HR Professional of the Year. Mike serves as a board member of a number of organizations, including the Texas State Council, where he serves Texas' 31 SHRM chapters as State Director-Elect; Workforce Solutions for Tarrant County; the Texas Association of Business; and the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, where he is chair of the Talent Committee.Mike is a certified Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) through the HR Certification Institute and a SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP). He is also a Yoga Alliance registered yoga teacher (RYT-200) and teaches multiple times each week. Mike and his very patient wife of 28 years are empty nesters in Fort Worth.   Learning Objectives: 1.       Evaluate worker relationships using the Trump Administration's six-factor economic reality test.2.       Differentiate between US Department of Labor independent contractor definitions and those of the and IRS and state regulators.3.       Respond appropriately to classification concerns to avoid liability.

This week, for our big story, we sit down with Hunter Griffin and Emeri Calloway from the Tarrant County Young Democrats to showcase how young people in Tarrant County make a difference when fighting for democracy. TCYD helped fight Tim O'Hare's attempt to eliminate college campus voting sites, Keller ISD's attempt to resegregate, and get a Fort Worth progressive elected.  We listen to their origin story and how a band of small groups can make a difference while also building community. Enjoy! Watch on YouTube | Join the Discord | Attend an 817 GatherThe short stories for the week are below:SHORT STORIESShort Story #1: Big BullSh!T Bill's Impact on TexasShort Story #2: Tarrant County Spends $250K of Your Tax Dollars to Protect Their Racial GerrymanderShort Story #3: Tarrant County Adds Extremists to Their Historic Commission to Silence LGBTQ RecognitionWINS - LOSSES - ACTIONSWins: Sonidos Northside, New Southside Distillery,  Losses: Kerr County, Defense Capital, Cooper ApartmentsActions: Sonidos Northside September Event, A Strange Loop, Cooper Apartments Fund

In episode 207, Coffey talks with Nicole Morgan about what HR professionals need to know about Medicare to help employees navigate the transition from employer-provided health insurance to Medicare coverage. They discuss the four main parts of Medicare (A, B, C, and D) and how they work together; the differences between Medicare Advantage plans (Part C) and traditional Medicare with supplemental coverage; how creditable coverage determinations affect employees who continue working past age 65; the coordination of benefits between employer group health plans and Medicare based on company size; timing considerations for Medicare enrollment and the importance of planning three months before turning 65; why brokers may have financial incentives to sell Medicare Advantage plans over traditional Medicare; the risks and benefits of different Medicare options including network limitations and out-of-pocket maximums; and the role HR should play in connecting employees with qualified Medicare experts rather than providing specific coverage advice. Good Morning, HR is brought to you by Imperative—Bulletproof Background Checks. For more information about our commitment to quality and excellent customer service, visit us at https://imperativeinfo.com.  If you are an HRCI or SHRM-certified professional, this episode of Good Morning, HR has been pre-approved for half a recertification credit. To obtain the recertification information for this episode, visit https://goodmorninghr.com.  About our Guest: Nicole A. Morgan is a seasoned healthcare professional with over two decades of experience, seamlessly blending her clinical expertise as a Registered Occupational Therapist with her proficiency as a Licensed Independent Insurance Agent. As the founder of Morgan Medicare Solutions, LLC, based in Sherman, Texas, Nicole is dedicated to guiding individuals through the complexities of Medicare, ensuring they make informed decisions tailored to their unique needs.  Her extensive background encompasses various healthcare settings, including inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation, acute care, skilled nursing, home health, and community-based services. This diverse experience has equipped her with a deep understanding of the challenges seniors face, particularly in navigating the transition to Medicare. Nicole holds multiple certifications, such as Certified Senior Advisor (CSA), Certified Long-Term Care (CLTC®), and Certified Living in Place Professional (CLIPP), underscoring her commitment to senior care and wellness.  Beyond her professional endeavors, Nicole is deeply rooted in her community. A native of Sherman, she has been married to her husband, Brad, for nearly 30 years and is a proud mother of three young adults. Her passion for service extends to active involvement in her church and local initiatives, reflecting her dedication to making a positive impact both personally and professionally.  At Morgan Medicare Solutions, Nicole offers personalized consultations, educational workshops, and ongoing support, ensuring clients feel confident and secure in their Medicare choices. Her holistic approach, grounded in compassion and expertise, has made her a trusted advisor for many navigating the intricacies of healthcare in their retirement years. Nicole Morgan can be reached athttps://www.morganmedicaresolutions.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/nicole-a-morganotr/https://www.facebook.com/morganmedicare/  About Mike Coffey: Mike Coffey is an entrepreneur, licensed private investigator, business strategist, HR consultant, and registered yoga teacher.In 1999, he founded Imperative, a background investigations and due diligence firm helping risk-averse clients make well-informed decisions about the people they involve in their business.Imperative delivers in-depth employment background investigations, know-your-customer and anti-money laundering compliance, and due diligence investigations to more than 300 risk-averse corporate clients across the US, and, through its PFC Caregiver & Household Screening brand, many more private estates, family offices, and personal service agencies.Imperative has been named a Best Places to Work, the Texas Association of Business' small business of the year, and is accredited by the Professional Background Screening Association. Mike shares his insight from 25+ years of HR-entrepreneurship on the Good Morning, HR podcast, where each week he talks to business leaders about bringing people together to create value for customers, shareholders, and community.Mike has been recognized as an Entrepreneur of Excellence by FW, Inc. and has twice been recognized as the North Texas HR Professional of the Year. Mike serves as a board member of a number of organizations, including the Texas State Council, where he serves Texas' 31 SHRM chapters as State Director-Elect; Workforce Solutions for Tarrant County; the Texas Association of Business; and the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, where he is chair of the Talent Committee.Mike is a certified Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) through the HR Certification Institute and a SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP). He is also a Yoga Alliance registered yoga teacher (RYT-200) and teaches multiple times each week. Mike and his very patient wife of 28 years are empty nesters in Fort Worth.   Learning Objectives: 1.       Understand the basic structure of Medicare parts A, B, C, and D to provide foundational guidance when employees ask about Medicare options and transitions.2.       Recognize when employer group health plans have creditable coverage for prescription drugs and ensure proper notification letters are sent to Medicare-eligible employees by October 15th annually.3.       Establish relationships with trusted Medicare brokers and implement processes to proactively reach out to employees approaching age 65 to ensure proper planning and coordination of benefits.

The team is joined by Allison Campolo, who is running for chair of the Tarrant County Democratic Party. She ran for the Texas Senate in 2017 and served as the former county chair from 2021 to 2023. She shares why she wants to get back in the saddle and updated plans on how to turn the county blue! Watch on YouTube.BIG STORY: An interview with Allison Campolo- DFW native Kendall Scudder is the Texas Democratic Chair- Democrats Allred, Castro, O'Rourke, Talarico meet to discuss 2026 options- Texas Dems To DC: We're Not You- Become a precinct chairSHORT STORY #1: Trump wants cities to remove DEI programs. How will Fort Worth respond?- Watch City Hall- Fort Worth weighs DEI programs vs. $277M in federal money. What will it do?- Fort Worth council debates DEI programs, delays voteSHORT STORY #2: Dan Patrick wants Bo French Gone- Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick: Bo French should resign as Tarrant GOP chair over ‘bigotry'- Nate Schatzline exits race for Texas Senate after new candidate announces her runSHORT STORY #3: SINIFI Grades House Members Alliance to Christian Nationalism: What does it mean?- Review the full gradesWINS- Fort Worth lights City Hall in rainbow colors for LGBTQ Pride Month- Pictures from Trinity PrideLOSS- Fires: Cooper | Hulen Mall | Metal Recycling Business- Echo Heights- Fort Worth Community Arts CenterACTIONS- Speak at the Commissioner Court. July 1st- Sign up to be a precinct chair

In episode 206, Coffey talks with Jill Koob about the Supreme Court decision on “reverse discrimination,” PTO policy trends, and AI adoption in the workplace. They discuss the Supreme Court's unanimous decision in Ames v. Ohio Department of Youth Services eliminating different standards for "reverse discrimination" cases; how Title VII protects all individuals equally regardless of majority or minority status within protected classes; the challenges and failures of unlimited PTO policies leading employees to take less time off; new flexible PTO approaches allowing conversion to cash, student loan payments, or 401k contributions; mitigating bias in the employee selection process; why diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives should focus on business outcomes and widening candidate pools; the evolution of AI from individual productivity tools to organizational workforce transformation; the need for employees to actively learn and adopt AI tools to remain competitive; and how AI can handle transactional HR tasks while freeing professionals to focus on more strategic human-centered work. Links to stuff they talked about are on our website at https://goodmorninghr.com/EP206 and include the following topics: Breaking—Supreme Court Unanimously Lowers Bar for “Reverse Discrimination” Claims: Ames v. Ohio Department of Youth Services Redefines Title VII Litigation More companies are letting workers cash in their vacation days. Should yours? 2025 Benefits and Compensation Trends Report How enterprise AI is reshaping EX, according to expert Josh Bersin AI superworkers ‘coming on like a freight train.' Are you ready? Amazon CEO Jassy says AI will reduce its corporate workforce in the next few years Message from CEO Andy Jassy: Some thoughts on Generative AI  Good Morning, HR is brought to you by Imperative—Bulletproof Background Checks. For more information about our commitment to quality and excellent customer service, visit us at https://imperativeinfo.com.  If you are an HRCI or SHRM-certified professional, this episode of Good Morning, HR has been pre-approved for half a recertification credit. To obtain the recertification information for this episode, visit https://goodmorninghr.com.  About our Guest: Jill Koob, SPHR, SHRM – SCP is the founder and owner of Energize HR, an HR Consulting Firm that focuses on training solutions, strategic HR and organizational development and human resource support. Prior to starting her company, Jill served as a VP for a Houston Based Professional Employer Organization, where they received numerous awards including Best Places to Work and Inc. 5000 Fastest Growing companies. Jill has over twenty-five years of strategic HR experience working directly with hundreds of businesses with their people strategy needs. Jill Koob can be reached at:https://energizehr.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/jillkoob/   About Mike Coffey: Mike Coffey is an entrepreneur, licensed private investigator, business strategist, HR consultant, and registered yoga teacher.In 1999, he founded Imperative, a background investigations and due diligence firm helping risk-averse clients make well-informed decisions about the people they involve in their business.Imperative delivers in-depth employment background investigations, know-your-customer and anti-money laundering compliance, and due diligence investigations to more than 300 risk-averse corporate clients across the US, and, through its PFC Caregiver & Household Screening brand, many more private estates, family offices, and personal service agencies.Imperative has been named a Best Places to Work, the Texas Association of Business' small business of the year, and is accredited by the Professional Background Screening Association. Mike shares his insight from 25+ years of HR-entrepreneurship on the Good Morning, HR podcast, where each week he talks to business leaders about bringing people together to create value for customers, shareholders, and community.Mike has been recognized as an Entrepreneur of Excellence by FW, Inc. and has twice been recognized as the North Texas HR Professional of the Year. Mike serves as a board member of a number of organizations, including the Texas State Council, where he serves Texas' 31 SHRM chapters as State Director-Elect; Workforce Solutions for Tarrant County; the Texas Association of Business; and the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, where he is chair of the Talent Committee.Mike is a certified Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) through the HR Certification Institute and a SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP). He is also a Yoga Alliance registered yoga teacher (RYT-200) and teaches multiple times each week. Mike and his very patient wife of 28 years are empty nesters in Fort Worth.   Learning Objectives: 1.       Understand that Title VII protects all individuals equally within protected classes, requiring the same burden of proof regardless of whether someone belongs to a majority or minority group within that class.2.       Design flexible PTO policies with clear guidelines and minimum requirements while offering options for employees to convert unused time to other benefits like cash, student loans, or retirement contributions.3.       Embrace AI as a collaborative tool for analyzing data, reducing bias in hiring processes, and handling transactiona...

Plus the head football coach and athletic director at Howe High School is arrested in a Tarrant County sting operation, a Fort Worth woman remains missing and police are charging her room-mate with murder, DFW Airport is getting ready to get even busier, and more!

Ann, EJ, and Wesley attended Bernie Sanders' Oligarchy Tour with some awesome 817 Gatherers. We give a full analysis of the event, but also what is to come! Watch on YouTubeBig Story: Bernie's Fighting Oligarchy Tour at Dickies ArenaShort Story 1: Absences force cancellation of Tarrant County Commissioners Court meetingShort Story 2: Fort Worth City Council weighs ending minority business incentive programsCouncil to vote on suspending Fort Worth's diversity and inclusion departmentShort Story 3: Kelly Hancock, who represents Fort Worth, set to become next Texas comptrollerWins: Trinity Metro approves 10-year, $324M contract extension for TEXRail, TRE rail operationsHigh-speed rail study will highlight economic impact for Fort Worth, ArlingtonFort Worth dives into options to create more publicly accessible pools for residentsCould a Latino cultural museum open in Fort Worth? A study underway explores the possibility.Hundreds of Texans walk for Opal Lee at her annual Fort Worth Juneteenth celebrationMore than $10M awarded for street improvements in 3 Tarrant County citiesLosses: Federal construction disputes push back Panther Island's flood control projectFort Worth is short $66.1M for street maintenance. What options could fill the gap?Actions:Tuesday, July 1st at 10am, Tarrant County commissioners' court meeting.Sign up to speak about the wasteful spending for the inevitable lawsuit over the racist gerrymandering map.Trinity Pride Festival June 28th

In episode 205, Coffey talks with Susan Snipes about challenges and strategies for hiring international talent, particularly through employer of record arrangements.  They discuss the primary drivers for seeking international talent including cost savings and talent shortages; compliance hurdles around employee classification and local employment laws; the role of employers of record versus PEOs in managing international hires; compensation and benefits strategies that account for local customs and legal requirements; integration challenges including time zone coordination and cultural sensitivity; recruitment approaches when working across international borders; data security concerns with remote international workers; managing terminations and severance requirements in different countries; and the importance of understanding local labor laws and cultural differences when building global teams. Good Morning, HR is brought to you by Imperative—Bulletproof Background Checks. For more information about our commitment to quality and excellent customer service, visit us at https://imperativeinfo.com.  If you are an HRCI or SHRM-certified professional, this episode of Good Morning, HR has been pre-approved for half a recertification credit. To obtain the recertification information for this episode, visit https://goodmorninghr.com.  About our Guest: Susan Snipes is a certified HR professional with 15 years of HR experience. She serves as the Head of People at Remote People, a company that recruits top talent in over 150 countries around the world. Susan Snipes can be reached at https://remotepeople.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/susan-poore-hrm/  About Mike Coffey: Mike Coffey is an entrepreneur, licensed private investigator, business strategist, HR consultant, and registered yoga teacher.In 1999, he founded Imperative, a background investigations and due diligence firm helping risk-averse clients make well-informed decisions about the people they involve in their business.Imperative delivers in-depth employment background investigations, know-your-customer and anti-money laundering compliance, and due diligence investigations to more than 300 risk-averse corporate clients across the US, and, through its PFC Caregiver & Household Screening brand, many more private estates, family offices, and personal service agencies.Imperative has been named a Best Places to Work, the Texas Association of Business' small business of the year, and is accredited by the Professional Background Screening Association.Mike shares his insight from 25+ years of HR-entrepreneurship on the Good Morning, HR podcast, where each week he talks to business leaders about bringing people together to create value for customers, shareholders, and community.Mike has been recognized as an Entrepreneur of Excellence by FW, Inc. and has twice been recognized as the North Texas HR Professional of the Year. Mike serves as a board member of a number of organizations, including the Texas State Council, where he serves Texas' 31 SHRM chapters as State Director-Elect; Workforce Solutions for Tarrant County; the Texas Association of Business; and the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, where he is chair of the Talent Committee.Mike is a certified Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) through the HR Certification Institute and a SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP). He is also a Yoga Alliance registered yoga teacher (RYT-200) and teaches multiple times each week. Mike and his very patient wife of 28 years are empty nesters in Fort Worth.   Learning Objectives:  1.       Evaluate the compliance requirements and classification issues when hiring international talent, including understanding the differences between employees, independent contractors, and employer of record arrangements.2.       Develop integration strategies for international team members that account for time zone differences, cultural holidays, communication styles, and local customs to maintain team cohesion.3.       Assess the cost-benefit analysis of different international hiring models, from direct employment and local entity creation to employer of record services, based on hiring volume and risk tolerance.

Ann, EJ, and Wesley walk into the studio with a smile on their faces and hope in their hearts, after attending the No Kings Rally in Fort Worth and a weekend of community events. The trio discusses what's next after Mayor Parker's Gay Pride Proclamation, as Juneteenth is this week and Bernie Sanders is coming to town.BIG STORY: Protesters in downtown Fort Worth declare US has ‘No Kings' Turnout was great for Fort Worth. Easier 2-3 times more than last month.EJ's speechMarch Dissent Short Story 1: Fort Worth mayor declares ‘Y'all means all' with recognition for LGBTQ Pride monthShort Story 2: Fort Worth LGBTQ historical marker abandoned after letter from Tarrant County judgeWhite House Pushes Texas to Redistrict, Hoping to Blunt Democratic GainsShort Story 3: Texas lawmakers allocate $10M to support National Juneteenth Museum developmentInaugural festival aims to make Fort Worth epicenter of Juneteenth celebrationsWINS, LOSSES, AND ACTIONS: WinWesley: SparkFestEJ: CommunityAnn: Momentum from city activismLosses: Wesley and EJ: Echo Heights silencing at city councilActionsEJ: Speak at the city council on June 17th at 6 PMWesley:  Vibefest Juneteenth Week ScheduleAnn: Sign up for Bernie Sanders

In this episode, Dinesh discusses Greta Thunberg’s performance artistry as revealed in her recent boat trip to Gaza. Dinesh considers whether AI will truly eliminate most white and blue collar jobs and explores whether that’s actually a bad thing. Tarrant County, TX sheriff Bill Waybourn joins Dinesh to talk about how illegals have changed America and what can be done to reverse the tide.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In episode 204, Coffey talks with Rosalind Chow about the distinct roles of mentorship and sponsorship in advancing careers and building more inclusive workplaces. They discuss the distinction between mentorship (which helps grow the mentee) and sponsorship (which seeks to change how others see the protege); how sponsorship functions like marketing or PR campaigns for high-potential employees; the four types of sponsorship - creating, confirming, preventing, and protecting; why sponsors risk their own credibility and reputation when advocating for others; how sponsorship doesn't require formal hierarchical relationships but depends on trust and status; how to become more "sponsorable" by being a top performer with clear values and compelling personal story; the risks of having the wrong sponsor or appearing as the "teacher's pet"; and how sponsorship creates inclusion by ensuring high performers are seen, valued, and given opportunities regardless of their background or circumstances. Good Morning, HR is brought to you by Imperative—Bulletproof Background Checks. For more information about our commitment to quality and excellent customer service, visit us at https://imperativeinfo.com.  If you are an HRCI or SHRM-certified professional, this episode of Good Morning, HR has been pre-approved for half a recertification credit. To obtain the recertification information for this episode, visit https://goodmorninghr.com.  About our Guest: Rosalind Chow is an Associate Professor of Organizational Behavior and Theory at Carnegie Mellon University, where she studies the power of social hierarchy and its impact on diversity and inclusion efforts within organizations.  Her forthcoming book, The Doors You Can Open (PublicAffairs, April 8, 2025) distinguishes the concept of sponsorship from mentorship. While mentorship can change mentees for the better through valuable coaching and encouragement, sponsorship takes it one step further — sponsors can change the social environment around their proteges by actively advocating for, raising the social visibility of, and protecting them. Put simply, while mentors act on mentees, sponsors act on external observers – audiences - to change how they see proteges.  We don't just have the ability to change other people; we also have the ability to change other people's relationships with one another. This ability - the power we have as sponsors - is something we can leverage to better ourselves, other people, and our communities. Rosalind Chow can be reached athttp://www.rosalindchow.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/rosalind-chow-6b25541b0/  About Mike Coffey: Mike Coffey is an entrepreneur, licensed private investigator, business strategist, HR consultant, and registered yoga teacher.In 1999, he founded Imperative, a background investigations and due diligence firm helping risk-averse clients make well-informed decisions about the people they involve in their business.Imperative delivers in-depth employment background investigations, know-your-customer and anti-money laundering compliance, and due diligence investigations to more than 300 risk-averse corporate clients across the US, and, through its PFC Caregiver & Household Screening brand, many more private estates, family offices, and personal service agencies.Imperative has been named a Best Places to Work, the Texas Association of Business' small business of the year, and is accredited by the Professional Background Screening Association. Mike shares his insight from 25+ years of HR-entrepreneurship on the Good Morning, HR podcast, where each week he talks to business leaders about bringing people together to create value for customers, shareholders, and community.Mike has been recognized as an Entrepreneur of Excellence by FW, Inc. and has twice been recognized as the North Texas HR Professional of the Year. Mike serves as a board member of a number of organizations, including the Texas State Council, where he serves Texas' 31 SHRM chapters as State Director-Elect; Workforce Solutions for Tarrant County; the Texas Association of Business; and the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, where he is chair of the Talent Committee.Mike is a certified Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) through the HR Certification Institute and a SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP). He is also a Yoga Alliance registered yoga teacher (RYT-200) and teaches multiple times each week. Mike and his very patient wife of 28 years are empty nesters in Fort Worth.   Learning Objectives: 1.       Distinguish between mentorship (developing the individual) and sponsorship (changing others' perceptions of the individual) to provide appropriate support for high-potential employees.2.       Practice the four types of sponsorship - creating visibility, confirming positive impressions, preventing negative associations, and protecting during criticism - to advance deserving talent.3.       Recognize that effective sponsorship requires risking your own credibility and reputation, making it essential to sponsor only high performers whose values align with your own and the organization's goals.

The American Democracy Minute Radio News Report & Podcast for June 13, 2025Apparent Racial Gerrymandering in Tarrant County, TX Draws Condemnation and a VRA Lawsuit.  The County's Reply?  It's OK. It was for Political Reasons.Tarrant County, Texas county commissioners approved a new county redistricting map June 3rd diluting the votes of Black and Hispanic voters, but commissioners claim the gerrymandering was for “political”, not racial reasons.  The map likely eliminates a majority minority district, and has drawn widespread condemnation and a Voting Rights Act lawsuit. Some podcasting platforms strip out our links.  To read our resources and see the whole script of today's report, please go to our website at https://AmericanDemocracyMinute.orgToday's LinksArticles & Resources:Texas Tribune - (2021) Historically red Tarrant County diversified in the last decade. Now Republicans are trying to divide up its voters of color.Tarrant County - Tarrant County Redistricting 2025Fort Worth Telegram - Are Tarrant's proposed redistricting maps racial gerrymanders? We asked expertsUCLA Voting Rights Project - Tarrant County AnalysisKDFW Fox 4 News - SMU researcher says proposed Tarrant County redistricting 'diminishes' voting powerU.S. District Court (via Democracy Docket) - Complaint in Jackson v. Tarrant County CBS News Texas -  Tarrant County citizens file lawsuit against new redistricting mapGroups Taking Action:Common Cause TX,  Lone Star ProjectRegister or Check Your Voter Registration:U.S. Election Assistance Commission – Register And Vote in Your StatePlease follow us on Facebook and Bluesky Social, and SHARE! Find all of our reports at AmericanDemocracyMinute.orgWant ADM sent to your email?  Sign up here!Are you a radio station?  Find our broadcast files at Pacifica Radio Network's Audioport and PRX#News #Democracy  #DemocracyNews #Texas #TarrantCounty #RacialGerrymandering #FairMaps #VRA

Ann, EJ, and Wesley provide a comprehensive post-analysis of the June 3rd commissioners court meeting, where Judge Tim O'Hare, Commissioner Manny Ramirez, and Commissioner Matt Krause voted 3-2 to accept Map 7. Why Map 7? Where did Map 7 come from? How does this impact Fort Worth? Watch this episode to get a deep dive.BIG STORY: Tarrant County commissioners vote 3-2 to redistrict, adopting a racially gerrymandered mapThey selected Map 7Citizens MapLawsuit in placeFW Council MeetingTony TinderholtSHORT STORY #1: Mia Hall won District 6: What does it mean for the councilMia Hall wins her race as the first majority female council member in FW historySHORT STORY #2: Tarrant Democratic Party Chair ResignsCrystal Gayden resigns as chairFormer chair announces candidacySHORT STORY #3: Transportation Wins During Hard TimesNew Blue LineTRE still existsHeartland Flyer endsHigh Speed Rail WINS LOSSES ACTIONSAnn's Win: LGBTQ PRIDE PROCLAMATIONTuesday, June 106 PM CSTCity Council Chambers 100 Fort Worth Trl, Fort Worth, TX 76102EJ Win: NO KINGS RALLYSaturday, June 1412 – 2 pm CSTBurk Burnett Park501 W 7th StFort Worth, TX 76102Wesley's Win: MORE ARTS FUNDINGThe Texas Commission on the Arts received a significant increase of $5.7 million in its budget, totaling about $39.8 million to help fund arts organizations throughout the state.Actions:Pride Proclamation - June 10th at 6pm at New City HallSparkFest June 13-22Rally No Kings Freedom Vibes: Juneteenth CelebrationGet involved with the 817 Gather Community

Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:The very public breakup of Donald Trump and Elon Musk is a great example of the dangers our country faces when big decisions are made by impulsive, egotistical billionaires: https://www.wsj.com/politics/elon-musk-trump-fight-gop-bill-c2e0be66?mod=WSJ_home_mediumtopper_pos_1State Rep. Jolanda Jones has announced a run for the U.S. House seat representing Houston's 18th Congressional District: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/05/jolanda-jones-sylvester-turner-congress-texas-legislature/In spite of billions spend in a militarized effort to repel and round up undocumented migrants, Texas will once again pass on requiring businesses to verify the citizenship of their new hires: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/05/texas-e-verify-requirements-immigration/...A migrant woman charged with a Trump-trumped-up charge of trespassing on a military zone has been acquitted of that charge, in its first courtroom trial: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/06/05/texas-el-paso-trial-immigration-military-zone/We're continuing to follow the Tarrant County redistricting story, including a deep dive later today on our In Progress podcast: https://progresstexas.org/blog/racist-republicans-can%E2%80%99t-win-without-changing-rulesWe look forward to celebrating our 15th anniversary! Join us for a celebratory gathering in Dallas on Monday June 9: ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://act.progresstexas.org/a/2025anniversary⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠The merch to match your progressive values awaits at our web store! Goodies at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://store.progresstexas.org/⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.We're loving the troll-free environment at BlueSky! Follow us there at⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://bsky.app/profile/progresstexas.bsky.social⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.Thanks for listening! Find our web store and other ways to support our important work at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ https://progresstexas.org⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠.

We're joined on our weekly airing of the grievances by Progress Texas board member Jason Smith, who's also a Fort Worth civil rights attorney who has had a front row seat to the blatant, racist power grab being executed by the Republican-dominated Tarrant County Commissioners Court, via which a premature redistricting effort is on the verge of successfully drawing one of the two Democrats on that court out of the picture - a game plan to which Republicans nationwide, as they watch their popularity among the electorate fade, are lately more commonly resorting. Fort Worth and Tarrant County are considered political belweathers for the rest of Texas, and this situation is no different.Thanks for listening! Learn more about Progress Texas and how you can support our ongoing work at https://progresstexas.org/.

In episode 203, Coffey talks with Kristi Spaethe about advice for emerging HR professionals navigating their early careers. They discuss how people often stumble into HR careers; the misconception that “loving people” qualifies someone for HR work; the importance of gaining foundational knowledge before jumping into employee relations; showing up authentically while maintaining professional boundaries; building a personal board of directors rather than relying on a single mentor; the balance between employer-provided training and self-advocacy for professional development; the value of HR certifications as confidence boosters; networking through local HR associations and professional organizations; managing up with leaders who don't understand HR's strategic value; and whether HR professionals can be friends with other employees. Good Morning, HR is brought to you by Imperative—Bulletproof Background Checks. For more information about our commitment to quality and excellent customer service, visit us at https://imperativeinfo.com.  If you are an HRCI or SHRM-certified professional, this episode of Good Morning, HR has been pre-approved for half a recertification credit. To obtain the recertification information for this episode, visit https://goodmorninghr.com.  About our Guest: Kristi Spaethe is the Chief Executive Officer of The People Perspective and People Perspective Search and Recruiting designed to be the one stop shop for all things people in the communities that these organizations serve.  Kristi earned a Bachelor's Degree in Psychology with a Human Resources Development option and also holds the SHRM-CP certification. Kristi is the Immediate Past State Director for SHRM Oklahoma where she has served in prior various roles beginning in 2018.  Kristi has also served in various roles, including President, with the Tulsa Area Human Resources Association since 2014. Additionally, Kristi currently serves on the Broken Arrow Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and has served on the Bixby Metro Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors. Kristi also gives back to the community by giving her time to non-profit organizations such as Women in Recovery, Muddy Paws and Lindsey House. Kristi received the President's Award from the Tulsa Area Human Resources Association in 2016 and the Richard R. Messer Excellence in Human Resources award in 2019. She also received the Oklahoma Human Resources Award of Excellence in 2020 from the Oklahoma Human Resources State Council. The People Perspective has also been nominated for various awards through TYPROS Boomtown Awards, the Bixby Metro Chamber of Commerce, Tulsa Chamber of Commerce Small Business Awards and the Broken Arrow Chamber of Commerce. The People Perspective was selected as the Small Business of the year in 2021 through the Bixby Metro Chamber of Commerce and as the Small Business of the Year in 2023 through the Broken Arrow Chamber of Commerce.  Kristi and her family reside in Broken Arrow, OK. Kristi Spaethe can be reached athttps://pplperspective.com/  About Mike Coffey: Mike Coffey is an entrepreneur, licensed private investigator, business strategist, HR consultant, and registered yoga teacher.In 1999, he founded Imperative, a background investigations and due diligence firm helping risk-averse clients make well-informed decisions about the people they involve in their business.Imperative delivers in-depth employment background investigations, know-your-customer and anti-money laundering compliance, and due diligence investigations to more than 300 risk-averse corporate clients across the US, and, through its PFC Caregiver & Household Screening brand, many more private estates, family offices, and personal service agencies.Imperative has been named a Best Places to Work, the Texas Association of Business' small business of the year, and is accredited by the Professional Background Screening Association. Mike shares his insight from 25+ years of HR-entrepreneurship on the Good Morning, HR podcast, where each week he talks to business leaders about bringing people together to create value for customers, shareholders, and community.Mike has been recognized as an Entrepreneur of Excellence by FW, Inc. and has twice been recognized as the North Texas HR Professional of the Year. Mike serves as a board member of a number of organizations, including the Texas State Council, where he serves Texas' 31 SHRM chapters as State Director-Elect; Workforce Solutions for Tarrant County; the Texas Association of Business; and the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, where he is chair of the Talent Committee.Mike is a certified Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) through the HR Certification Institute and a SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP). He is also a Yoga Alliance registered yoga teacher (RYT-200) and teaches multiple times each week. Mike and his very patient wife of 28 years are empty nesters in Fort Worth.   Learning Objectives: 1.       Develop a personal board of directors that includes mentors, advocates, cheerleaders, and critics rather than relying on a single mentor relationship.2.       Advocate for your own professional development by requesting training opportunities, certifications, and cross-functional experience while building external networks through HR associations.3.       Maintain professional boundaries by showing up authentically while filtering your communication and avoiding personal friendships with employees to protect both yourself and the organization.

Plus legal challenges are expected over Tarrant County's controversial new redistricting map, Dallas Animal Services says animal cruelty is still a major problem in the city, Governor Abbott signed Senate Bill 9 as well as Senate Joint Resolution 5, and more!

6.2.2025 #RolandMartinUnfiltered: Texas GOP Gerrymander, Tulsa’s $105M Road to Repair, Joni Ernst & Moral Monday Arrest MAGA strikes again, in Tarrant County, Texas, commissioners are set to vote on a new political map after two months of debate over whether Republicans are trying to politically or racially gerrymander the county. Tulsa's first Black mayor, Monroe Nichols, is unveiling a bold new initiative--The Road to Repair. We'll talk to the mayor and Civil Rights Attorney, and Justice for Greenwood founder Damario Solomon-Simmon about the $105 million investment to help restore what was stolen from Black families impacted by the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre. Republican Senator Joni Ernst of Iowa is under scrutiny for her handling of voter concerns at a recent town hall. A federal appeals court has blocked a Trump-era attempt to slash thousands of federal jobs, ruling that the former president overstepped. We'll discuss the impact. It's Moral Monday! Rev. Dr. William J. Barber will share details about his arrest today and explain how they are standing against Trump's budget, which threatens to harm the most vulnerable among us. #BlackStarNetwork partner: Fanbasehttps://www.startengine.com/offering/fanbase This Reg A+ offering is made available through StartEngine Primary, LLC, member FINRA/SIPC. This investment is speculative, illiquid, and involves a high degree of risk, including the possible loss of your entire investment. You should read the Offering Circular (https://bit.ly/3VDPKjD) and Risks (https://bit.ly/3ZQzHl0) related to this offering before investing. Download the Black Star Network app at http://www.blackstarnetwork.com! We're on iOS, AppleTV, Android, AndroidTV, Roku, FireTV, XBox and SamsungTV. The #BlackStarNetwork is a news reporting platform covered under Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of Raising Joy, join Wini King and Dr. Kristin Pyrc as they welcome Fort Worth Councilman Michael Crain to discuss the revitalization of the Las Vegas Trail community. Councilman Crain, who represents District 3, shares the rich history of this West Fort Worth area and the exciting additions to the community that will open in the coming months. The conversation highlights the significant investments being made to uplift the community and the growth this area will soon see. A major focus of the episode is the upcoming Cook Children's and JPS neighborhood health clinic, a first-of-its-kind public-private partnership in Tarrant County, which will offer comprehensive healthcare services for both children and adults, a food pantry, workforce training, and a demonstration kitchen. Councilman Crain also touches on the vital role of organizations like LVT Rise and the upcoming Head Start facility, emphasizing the importance of affordable childcare for single mothers in the area. Tune in to hear about the collaborative efforts transforming this historic Fort Worth neighborhood and the vision for a thriving future!

Tarrant County redistricting vote; Boulder coverage on lib networksSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ann and EJ have the privilege to be joined on air with former Commissioner of Precinct Two, Devan Allen. She is the youngest commissioner in county history. She was also the first black female to lead as a commissioner in Tarrant County and the 3rd female in the county's 100-year history to hold such an office. She was part of the court when the county underwent the redistricting process in 2020, during which the 3-2 Republican majority court voted 4-1 to maintain the existing maps. She also possesses a deep knowledge of the county's history.BIG STORY: A Conversation with Former County Commissioner Devan AllenNews mapsMayors Letter on Thursday Against RedistrictingNew Mayors Letter For Redistricting2 mayors  backed out, standing against Tim O'HareJudge O'Hare's interview on TV interviewsSHORT STORY #1: Ann goes through a few state bills that impact Fort WorthPeople VetoThe use of flock camerasProtecting Child MarriageProposed ban on sister city relationship with ChinaLGBTQ school club bansSHORT STORY #2: Film Incentive and Breakdown with Producer Wesley on Is this good for local creatives.Economic incentive worth hundreds of millions of dollarsDan Patrick endorses the bill for his conservative Hollywood agendaSHORT STORY #3: Stockyards Phase 2 Gets Bucked Off Its SaddleWINS, LOSSES, AND ACTIONSAnn's Win: Wellman Project finds funding post NEA grant eliminationWesley's Win: Fort Worthians have rented more books this year than last yearEJ Win: Young activists and leadersCollective Loss: Dealing with the ups and downs of activisimCollective Action: Do something on June 3rd

Servant leadership starts by being involved in the community, putting others before self.

In episode 202, Coffey talks with Shannon Norris about a federal court ruling that invalidated portions of the EEOC's 2024 harassment guidance related to sexual orientation and gender identity.  They discuss Norther District of Texas Federal Judge Matthew Kacsmaryk's decision in State of Texas v. EEOC; the narrow scope of the Supreme Court's ruling in Bostock v. Clayton County; the EEOC's broad interpretation of the Bostock ruling in its 2024 Enforcement Guidance on Harassment in the Workplace; the elimination of courts' deference to agency's opinions under the Loper Bright Enterprises v. Raimondo decision; the distinction between agency guidance and actual law post Loper; practical workplace challenges concerning bathrooms, pronouns, misgendering, and dress codes; the difference between harassment based on biological sex versus sexual orientation or gender identity; why the Texas v. EEOC ruling doesn't change existing anti-harassment law; the importance of maintaining respectful workplaces regardless of legal requirements; and advice for employers to avoid becoming test cases in emerging litigation. Links to stuff they talked about are on our website at https://goodmorninghr.com/EP202 and include the following topics: State of Texas and The Heritage Foundation v. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, et al: Memorandum Opinion and Order EEOC  Enforcement Guidance on Harassment in the Workplace Bostock v. Clayton County, Georgia Certiorari to the United States Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit  Federal judge in Texas rules LGBTQ+ people can be discriminated against at work Federal Judge Scraps Biden EEOC's Gender Identity Guidance: Here's What It Means for the Workplace Good Morning, HR is brought to you by Imperative—Bulletproof Background Checks. For more information about our commitment to quality and excellent customer service, visit us at https://imperativeinfo.com.  If you are an HRCI or SHRM-certified professional, this episode of Good Morning, HR has been pre-approved for half a recertification credit. To obtain the recertification information for this episode, visit https://goodmorninghr.com.  About our Guest: Shannon Norris has represented a broad range of clients since he began practicing in 1993 in the areas of employment law, business litigation, trade secrets, civil fraud, and employee benefits.  During that time, he has represented Fortune 100 companies to small businesses and individuals.  Mr. Norris has extensive experience with employment litigation, noncompete agreements, misappropriation of trade secrets, and occupational fraud.  He is a regular speaker on topics relating to employment law, civil litigation, and human resources. Mr. Norris began his career in 1993 at the law firm of Jones Day, where he was a member of the Labor & Employment Law Section.  He formed his own practice in the year 2000.  He is also a Certified Fraud Examiner and a member of the Association of Certified Fraud Examiners. Mr. Norris is Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent Peer Review Rated.  Ratings reflect the anonymous opinions of members of the bar and the judiciary.  Martindale-Hubbell® PEER REVIEW RATINGS™ fall into two categories—legal ability and general ethical standards. Shannon Norris can be reached athttps://www.norrisfirm.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/sdnorris/ About Mike Coffey: Mike Coffey is an entrepreneur, licensed private investigator, business strategist, HR consultant, and registered yoga teacher.In 1999, he founded Imperative, a background investigations and due diligence firm helping risk-averse clients make well-informed decisions about the people they involve in their business.Imperative delivers in-depth employment background investigations, know-your-customer and anti-money laundering compliance, and due diligence investigations to more than 300 risk-averse corporate clients across the US, and, through its PFC Caregiver & Household Screening brand, many more private estates, family offices, and personal service agencies.Imperative has been named a Best Places to Work, the Texas Association of Business' small business of the year, and is accredited by the Professional Background Screening Association. Mike shares his insight from 25+ years of HR-entrepreneurship on the Good Morning, HR podcast, where each week he talks to business leaders about bringing people together to create value for customers, shareholders, and community.Mike has been recognized as an Entrepreneur of Excellence by FW, Inc. and has twice been recognized as the North Texas HR Professional of the Year. Mike serves as a board member of a number of organizations, including the Texas State Council, where he serves Texas' 31 SHRM chapters as State Director-Elect; Workforce Solutions for Tarrant County; the Texas Association of Business; and the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, where he is chair of the Talent Committee.Mike is a certified Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) through the HR Certification Institute and a SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP). He is also a Yoga Alliance registered yoga teacher (RYT-200) and teaches multiple times each week. Mike and his very patient wife of 28 years are empty nesters in Fort Worth.   Learning Objectives: 1.       Understand the constitutional limitations on federal agencies like the EEOC under current law.2.       Understand the limitations of State of Texas v. EEOC and continue to prohibit any workplace harassment or disparate treatment based on sex.3.    &n...

Stories we're covering this week:• Mansfield High salutatorian makes a bold statement• Tarrant County mayors band together in opposition of redistricting proposal• Long-awaited the 287-Lone Star Road exit ramp is now open• And, in Sports, North Texas SC extends their winning streakIn the Features Section:• Fireworks are just around the corner and we'll talk about with Tim Roberts in the Cultural Arts Calendar• Angel Biasatti tells us that not every bad headache is a migraine in Methodist Mansfield News to Know• Brian Certain serves up a bowl of liquid sunshine for the ultimate outdoor entertaining solution in this week's Cocktail of the WeekIn the talk segment, Steve talks in-studio with nonprofit founder Shawn Serfass who is doing great things with Mansfield's youth. Plus, your chance to win a $25 gift card to a Mansfield restaurant of your choice with our Mansfield Trivia Question, courtesy of Joe Jenkins Insurance. We are Mansfield's only source for news, talk and information. This is About Mansfield.

This is our first VIDEO episode! You can watch on YouTube! Subscribe, share with friends, and do not forget to add us on social media!The format of this episode is a little different due to all the announcements and progress we have made over the last two weeks. So we start the show with a little introduction and a description of what listeners can expect. The meat of the episode is Judge Tim O'Hare's Racial Gerrymandering attempt by redistricting our precincts in the middle of a census period with NO NEW DATA!The trio discusses its impact on Fort Worth and why our leadership is not doing more. They also ignited a conversation about what our city council can do now that Democrats have the majority of the seats. Enjoy the show!SHORT STORY #1: Welcome to our first video show!SHORT STORY #2: Welcome Wesley Kirk as 817 ProducerSHORT STORY #3: What to expect from the podcastBIG STORY: Tarrant County Redistricting Efforts and How it Harms All of USCity Council adopts as a resolution in opposition to Tarrant County's redistricting.Articles: https://fortworthreport.org/2025/05/20/fort-worth-council-narrowly-opposes-tarrant-county-redistricting-along-partisan-lines/ County Commissioners Court flooded with opposition.https://fortworthreport.org/2025/05/20/residents-voice-their-support-concerns-over-tarrant-countys-contentious-redistricting-process/The Grand Prairie city council unanimously encouraged the Tarrant County commissioners court to maintain the current precinct lines and reject the proposed lines.Articles: https://www.instagram.com/reel/DJ5sd15uMg0/?igsh=MTl0dzJ1eHEyOGZqMg%3D%3DWINS, LOSSES, and ACTIONS

Why would a person make their own child sick — or lie about it — for attention? In this gripping and eye-opening episode, retired detective Mike Weber joins Gabe Howard to expose the disturbing reality behind Munchausen syndrome by proxy, now medically known as factitious disorder imposed on another. With 40 years of law enforcement experience and over 50 cases investigated, Weber pulls back the curtain on a form of child abuse that's more prevalent — and more chilling — than most people realize. Forget what you think you know from TV dramas. This is not just a mental illness — it often involves calculated crime. Learn how people with this condition can manipulate doctors, deceive family members, and train children to play along in a twisted performance. Discover why nearly all are mothers, how children are affected, and why the justice system struggles to prosecute these complex cases. If you're interested in true crime, psychology, or the darker corners of human behavior, this episode will stay with you long after it ends. “She was given five years probation. That child was left in her care even after criminal charges were filed, even after she was convicted. These offenders have a compulsion very similar to what child sex abuse offenders have. That would be akin to placing a child back in the home with a child sex abuse offender that had offended on that child previously and expecting them to offend no more. That is what family court does quite often in these cases. Because we don't want to believe that a mother could hurt their own child. That is just how we are as a society. We want to believe that all mothers are good and all mothers are not good.”  ~Detective Mike Weber, Author of "The Mother Next Door" Our guest, Detective Mike Weber, has 40 years law enforcement experience, including 15 years as a crimes against children investigator. Detective Weber has investigated over 50 reports of Medical Child Abuse that have led to 13 convictions, 3 cases pending trial. Detective Weber co-authored the APSAC best practice guidelines on Medical Child Abuse titled Munchausen by Proxy: Clinical and Case Management (APSAC Advisor journal March 2018). Weber also authored a separate article in the same issue of the Advisor titled Investigation of Factitious Disorder Imposed on Another and Medical Child Abuse. Detective Weber authored Investigating Medical Child Abuse for the FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin journal (August 2018). Detective Weber was awarded the 2016 NCMEC Texas Hero for Children Award for the investigation of Geronimo Aguilar and Medical Child Abuse Cases. Weber is currently assigned to investigate crimes against children for the Tarrant County Sheriff's Office and handles all reports of medical child abuse in Tarrant County. Detective Weber contributes to the true crime/educational podcast “Nobody Should Believe Me,” which examines medical child abuse through previous cases. Detective Weber co-authored the true crime novel “The Mother Next Door” with Andrea Dunlop. Our host, Gabe Howard, is an award-winning writer and speaker who lives with bipolar disorder. He is the author of the popular book, "Mental Illness is an Asshole and other Observations," available from Amazon; signed copies are also available directly from the author. Gabe is also the host of the "Inside Bipolar" podcast with Dr. Nicole Washington. Gabe makes his home in the suburbs of Columbus, Ohio. He lives with his supportive wife, Kendall, and a Miniature Schnauzer dog that he never wanted, but now can't imagine life without. To book Gabe for your next event or learn more about him, please visit gabehoward.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In episode 201, Coffey talks with Jodi Brandstetter about using “design thinking” to effectively integrate AI into HR processes.  They discuss how design thinking focuses on understanding problems from both business and human perspectives; the importance of starting with one specific HR challenge when implementing AI; how AI can assist throughout each stage of the design thinking process; ethical considerations when selecting AI vendors; concerns about job displacement versus job evolution; the value of transparency when implementing AI that affects employees; practical applications like improving communication and automating administrative tasks; security considerations when using AI tools; and the need to continuously test AI tools for bias and effectiveness. Good Morning, HR is brought to you by Imperative—Bulletproof Background Checks. For more information about our commitment to quality and excellent customer service, visit us at https://imperativeinfo.com.  If you are an HRCI or SHRM-certified professional, this episode of Good Morning, HR has been pre-approved for half a recertification credit. To obtain the recertification information for this episode, visit https://goodmorninghr.com.  About our Guest: Jodi Brandstetter is an HR consultant, bestselling author, and speaker who specializes in integrating design thinking and AI into HR practices. As the founder of Lean Effective Talent Strategies, she helps small to midsize companies in science, manufacturing, engineering, and technology modernize their talent strategies. With over 20 years of experience, she is certified in Design Thinking and has authored books like Hire by Design and HR by Design. Jodi lives outside of Cincinnati, OH with her husband, daughter and fur babies. Jodi Brandstetter can be reached at:https://jodibrandstetter.com https://linkedin.com/in/jodibrandstetter  About Mike Coffey: Mike Coffey is an entrepreneur, licensed private investigator, business strategist, HR consultant, and registered yoga teacher.In 1999, he founded Imperative, a background investigations and due diligence firm helping risk-averse clients make well-informed decisions about the people they involve in their business.Imperative delivers in-depth employment background investigations, know-your-customer and anti-money laundering compliance, and due diligence investigations to more than 300 risk-averse corporate clients across the US, and, through its PFC Caregiver & Household Screening brand, many more private estates, family offices, and personal service agencies.Imperative has been named a Best Places to Work, the Texas Association of Business' small business of the year, and is accredited by the Professional Background Screening Association. Mike shares his insight from 25+ years of HR-entrepreneurship on the Good Morning, HR podcast, where each week he talks to business leaders about bringing people together to create value for customers, shareholders, and community.Mike has been recognized as an Entrepreneur of Excellence by FW, Inc. and has twice been recognized as the North Texas HR Professional of the Year. Mike serves as a board member of a number of organizations, including the Texas State Council, where he serves Texas' 31 SHRM chapters as State Director-Elect; Workforce Solutions for Tarrant County; the Texas Association of Business; and the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, where he is chair of the Talent Committee.Mike is a certified Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) through the HR Certification Institute and a SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP). He is also a Yoga Alliance registered yoga teacher (RYT-200) and teaches multiple times each week. Mike and his very patient wife of 28 years are empty nesters in Fort Worth.   Learning Objectives: 1.       Apply design thinking methodology when implementing AI to ensure solutions address both business needs and employee experiences.2.       Evaluate AI tools with a focus on responsible vendors, data security, and potential bias to protect both organizations and individuals.3.       Prepare employees for workplace evolution by being transparent about AI implementation and providing upskilling opportunities for roles affected by automation.

Today, we have a deep and intimate conversation with Jarred Howard, CEO of the National Juneteenth Museum. We discuss how to celebrate Juneteenth in 2025 with NJM at their inaugural Freedom Vibes Festival. You can get your tickets now.As usual, the pod has three short stories before the big story. We will update you on redistricting and how Fort Worth has amassed a million people, passing Austin!Short Stories #1: Has Fort Worth become a Top 10 City?- Monumental milestone: Fort Worth population officially exceeds 1 million- Discord conversation about Tarrant County's growth- Strong TownsShort Stories #2: What to know about redistricting in Tarrant County- Tarrant residents say their voices are going unheard in fierce debate over redistrictingShort Stories #3 Mayors and cities start standing up against redistricting- Arlington Mayor raises concerns, calls for investigation of Tarrant County redistricting plan- Fort Worth Will Propose a Resolution on Tuesday BIG STORY: Conversation with Jarred Howard with the National Juneteenth MuseumWins and LossesAnn:

In episode 200, Coffey talks with Gary Fowler live from the North Texas SHRM Conference about alternative dispute resolution especially mediation when a lawsuit may be involved.  They discuss the distinctions between mediation and arbitration; the confidentiality protections in mediation; the difference between mediation and arbitration; preparation for effective mediation sessions; why decision-makers need to be present during mediation; economic and non-economic factors that can be addressed through mediation; the mediator selection process; who pays for mediation; and how a good mediator helps parties reach agreement. Good Morning, HR is brought to you by Imperative—Bulletproof Background Checks. For more information about our commitment to quality and excellent customer service, visit us at https://imperativeinfo.com.  If you are an HRCI or SHRM-certified professional, this episode of Good Morning, HR has been pre-approved for half a recertification credit. To obtain the recertification information for this episode, visit https://goodmorninghr.com.  About our Guest: Gary Fowler is a mediator and arbitrator with JAMS. He has been Board Certified in Labor and Employment Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization since 1994 and is a Fellow of the College of Labor and Employment Lawyers. With over 35 years of experience in all areas of labor and employment law, he has served as a mediator and arbitrator since 2015. He is a frequent speaker on alternative dispute resolution, focusing on mediation of discrimination, harassment, trade secret, executive compensation, and wage/hour disputes. He was co-chair of the Jackon Walker L&E section from 2013 to 2021, when he joined JAMS. Gary Fowler can be reached athttps://www.jamsadr.com/fowler/  About Mike Coffey: Mike Coffey is an entrepreneur, licensed private investigator, business strategist, HR consultant, and registered yoga teacher.In 1999, he founded Imperative, a background investigations and due diligence firm helping risk-averse clients make well-informed decisions about the people they involve in their business.Imperative delivers in-depth employment background investigations, know-your-customer and anti-money laundering compliance, and due diligence investigations to more than 300 risk-averse corporate clients across the US, and, through its PFC Caregiver & Household Screening brand, many more private estates, family offices, and personal service agencies.Imperative has been named a Best Places to Work, the Texas Association of Business' small business of the year, and is accredited by the Professional Background Screening Association. Mike shares his insight from 25+ years of HR-entrepreneurship on the Good Morning, HR podcast, where each week he talks to business leaders about bringing people together to create value for customers, shareholders, and community.Mike has been recognized as an Entrepreneur of Excellence by FW, Inc. and has twice been recognized as the North Texas HR Professional of the Year. Mike serves as a board member of a number of organizations, including the Texas State Council, where he serves Texas' 31 SHRM chapters as State Director-Elect; Workforce Solutions for Tarrant County; the Texas Association of Business; and the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, where he is chair of the Talent Committee.Mike is a certified Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) through the HR Certification Institute and a SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP). He is also a Yoga Alliance registered yoga teacher (RYT-200) and teaches multiple times each week.Mike and his very patient wife of 28 years are empty nesters in Fort Worth.   Learning Objectives: 1.       Distinguish between the different forms of alternative dispute resolution2.       Prepare effectively for mediation3.       Understand the confidentiality provisions in mediation agreements and under Texas law

The Environment We Live In and Health: A Complex RelationshipDeploy: Code: WOLVEFDescription:Join us on "The Environment We Live In and Health: A Complex Relationship," where we delve into the intricate dynamics between our environment and human health. This episode explores how environmental factors shape our well-being, examining the complex interplay between health outcomes and the world around us. We'll unpack the latest research, highlight innovative solutions, and tackle pressing challenges at the intersection of environmental science and public health. Whether you're a healthcare provider, an environmental advocate, or simply curious about the world we live in, this podcast will equip you with insights to foster a healthier future for both people and the planet. Tune in and discover how together we can create a sustainable, thriving environment for generations to come!Objectives: Discuss the intricate dynamics between environmental factors and human health and wellness. Explain the impact of the environment on health and well-being and the complex interplay between health outcomes and the surrounding world. Identify and appraise the latest information, innovative solutions, and pressing challenges at the intersection of environmental science and public health. Guests: Gina Alexander, PhD, MPH, MSN, RN, Texas Christian UniversityGina Hill: https://cse.tcu.edu/faculty-staff/view/gina-hill Brendan Lavy: https://cse.tcu.edu/faculty-staff/view/lavy-brendanBios: Gina Alexander, PhD, MPH, MSN, RNDr. Gina Alexander, Professor in the Harris College of Nursing and Health Sciences at Texas Christian University, champions interprofessional collaboration through education, research, and practice. She teaches public health nursing and coordinates interprofessional education initiatives with colleagues on campus and throughout the community.Dr. Alexander leads interprofessional, participatory action research focused on promoting equitable access to nature and food, improving social determinants of health in the local community and beyond. As the project lead of RxPLORE™: Prescribing Life Outdoors and Real Exploration, she develops community-academic-practice partnerships to advance nature-based health promotion and environmental stewardship.With a public health nursing practice grounded in collective action and advocacy, Dr. Alexander co-leads the Fort Worth Climate Safe Neighborhood Coalition and serves on the Immunization Collaboration of Tarrant County. Within the Association of Community Health Nursing Educators, she serves as Policy Committee Chair.Gina Jarman Hill, PhD, RD, LDDr. Gina Jarman Hill is a Professor in and the Chair of the Department of Nutritional Sciences at Texas Christian University (TCU). She joined the faculty of the Department of Nutritional Sciences in 2003. Dr. Hill earned her PhD in Nutrition from Texas Tech University in Lubbock, TX. Hill is a Registered and Licensed Dietitian and a member of the Hunger and Environmental Nutrition (HEN) dietetic practice group and the Dietitians in Integrative and Functional Medicine dietetic practice group. Her current research interests include hunger and food security, sustainability, urban agriculture, and community nutrition education and health. Hill is a Texas Master Gardener, is trained in Permaculture Design, and is an active community volunteer. In her spare time she enjoys gardening, spending time with her family, cooking, traveling and reading.Brendan Lavy, PhDDr. Brendan Lavy is an Assistant Professor at Texas Christian University. As a Professor in the Environmental and Sustainability Sciences, his teaching and research interests include sustainability metrics, business sustainability, urban environmental management, disaster recovery and resilience, watershed resilience, and geographic information systems. Dr. Lavy's research projects include how businesses' sustainability practices align with principles of the circular economy and the UN Sustainable Development Goals, how municipal environmental ordinances and their outcomes support urban sustainability initiatives, and how the recovery of parks and protected places influences the recovery of communities impacted by disasters. References:American Nurses Association. (2023, September 14). Nurses' role in addressing global climate change, Climate Justice, and health. ANA. https://www.nursingworld.org/practice-policy/nursing-excellence/official-position-statements/id/climate-change/ Haq, C., Iroku-Malize, T., Edgoose, J., Prunuske, J., Perkins, A., Altman, W., & Elwood, S. (2023). Climate change as a threat to health: Family medicine call to action and response. The Annals of Family Medicine, 21(2), 195–197. https://doi.org/10.1370/afm.29...

This is a complete show, starting with the cancellation of six figures of NEA funding in North Texas. Mercy Culture breaks ground on its new center, and top county officials praise it. The big story is redistricting updates, and where does funding go in Tarrant and Texas?COMMUNITY UPDATES:Join the DiscordRSVP for the 817 GatherSHORT STORY #1: North Texas arts groups have lost over $280,000 in NEA funding- Fort Worth groups lose $110K in NEA funds to transform former KKK hall after Trump moveSHORT STORY #2: Mercy Culture Church breaks ground on shelter for human trafficking victims, with plans for more- Mercy Culture backs church elder facing dueling reports on sexual misconduct allegationsSHORT STORY #3: Redistricting Updates: - Redistricting: Racial Discrimination in Tarrant- This is not Democracy. It's Manipulation- Legal Letter from Texas Civil Rights Project, Southern Coalition for Social Justice, and ACLU TexasBIG STORY: Tarrant Democrats Funding the Far Right- Texas megadonor Alex Fairly joined forces with the GOP's ultraconservative wing. He didn't like what he saw.WINS AND LOSSES:Ann:

In episode 199, Coffey talks with David McLaughlin about evolving leadership styles and their impact on the workforce. They discuss the evolution of leadership styles from historical figures like Julius Caesar to modern executives; the contrast between transformational and transactional leadership approaches; the connection between leadership, culture, behavior, and results; the importance of developing people rather than just focusing on short-term metrics; and the impact of collaboration on teams. Good Morning, HR is brought to you by Imperative—Bulletproof Background Checks. For more information about our commitment to quality and excellent customer service, visit us at https://imperativeinfo.com.  If you are an HRCI or SHRM-certified professional, this episode of Good Morning, HR has been pre-approved for half a recertification credit. To obtain the recertification information for this episode, visit https://goodmorninghr.com.  Special thanks to Steve Peglar of HR Strategies of Texas for creating the Good Morning, HR theme music.  About our Guest: David B. McLaughlin, M. Ed, SHRM-SCP, CWMF, has been a leader in human resources and organizational development for over 20 years.  He is the founder of Pendulum Coaching, LLC as a coach and consultant, as well as the newly created Modern Leadership Research Lab focusing on leadership research. He has been a leader in the corporate world for some of the most well-known organizations in Oklahoma, including being on the Fortune Best Companies to Work For list in Oklahoma City for 18 years.   David has a M. Ed in Adult Education and B.S. in Accounting from the University of Central Oklahoma. He is also a Ph. D student at Kansas State University researching the intersection of mindfulness and emotional intelligence among leaders.  David is the host of The Modern Leader podcast. He has proudly served on numerous non-profit, association, and business leadership boards across Oklahoma.  David is the author of Modern Leadership: Leaving Vintage Leadership Behind (https://a.co/d/5xxZ7iH).  David McLaughlin can be reached athttp://pendulumcoaching.comhttp://www.linkedin.com/in/davidbmcThe Modern Leader Podcast with David B. McLaughlin  About Mike Coffey: Mike Coffey is an entrepreneur, licensed private investigator, business strategist, HR consultant, and registered yoga teacher.In 1999, he founded Imperative, a background investigations and due diligence firm helping risk-averse clients make well-informed decisions about the people they involve in their business.Imperative delivers in-depth employment background investigations, know-your-customer and anti-money laundering compliance, and due diligence investigations to more than 300 risk-averse corporate clients across the US, and, through its PFC Caregiver & Household Screening brand, many more private estates, family offices, and personal service agencies.Imperative has been named a Best Places to Work, the Texas Association of Business' small business of the year, and is accredited by the Professional Background Screening Association. Mike shares his insight from 25+ years of HR-entrepreneurship on the Good Morning, HR podcast, where each week he talks to business leaders about bringing people together to create value for customers, shareholders, and community.Mike has been recognized as an Entrepreneur of Excellence by FW, Inc. and has twice been recognized as the North Texas HR Professional of the Year. Mike serves as a board member of a number of organizations, including the Texas State Council, where he serves Texas' 31 SHRM chapters as State Director-Elect; Workforce Solutions for Tarrant County; the Texas Association of Business; and the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, where he is chair of the Talent Committee.Mike is a certified Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) through the HR Certification Institute and a SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP). He is also a Yoga Alliance registered yoga teacher (RYT-200) and teaches multiple times each week.Mike and his very patient wife of 28 years are empty nesters in Fort Worth.   Learning Objectives: 1.       Distinguish between "vintage" leadership (hierarchical, metrics-focused) and "modern" leadership (collaborative, people-focused) to adapt leadership style to today's workforce needs.2.       Implement transformational leadership practices that invest in employee development rather than using transactional approaches that treat employees as replaceable assets.3.       Recognize how team-level culture often has more impact on employee experience than organization-wide culture, emphasizing the critical role of frontline and middle managers.

Stories we're covering this week:• Mansfield voters decide city council and school board races; Runoff set for Place 5• NASA astronauts share insights with Mansfield ISD students from the Space Station• First two measles cases of the year in Tarrant County wind up in Mansfield ER• Mansfield man sentenced to 30 years for child sexual abuse material• Hawaiian Falls opens the summer season with a special promotion moms• In Sports, all eyes are on the Legacy BroncosIn the Features Section:• Angel Biasatti has information on measles — what are they and what to do if you get them — in Methodist Mansfield News to Know• Brian Certain serves up a drink that brings your garden to your glass in this week's Cocktail of the WeekIn the talk segment, Steve talks in-studio with first-time Boston Marathon runner Silvia Duncan. Plus, your chance to win a $25 gift card to a Mansfield restaurant of your choice with our Mansfield Trivia Question, courtesy of Joe Jenkins Insurance. We are Mansfield's only source for news, talk and information. This is About Mansfield.

Ann and EJ review the election results. Turnout was at its lowest level in over a decade, yet extremism lost. What does this mean moving forward as we prepare for Tim O'Hare's obsession with gerrymandering Tarrant County? Sign up to make your voice heard!Join the online community.Come to the 817 Gather on May 18th!SHOW NOTES:SHORT STORY #1: Election ResultsSHORT STORY #2: Tarrant County confirms first measles case- Tarrant health officials issue warning about possible measles exposure in Arlington SHORT STORY #3: Tim O'Hare's Christian Nationalism eventBIG STORY: Tim O'Hare Redistricting Agenda Can Ruin Tarrant for Decades- "They're trying to redraw the map to drown out our voices. I won't stand by while Precinct 2 voters are pushed to the sidelines." - Commissioner Simmons- Tim O'Hare's game planWINS AND LOSSESAnn:

In episode 198, Coffey talks with Kelly Baringer about 2025 trends in employee health benefits and strategies for reducing healthcare costs. They discuss value-based care and directed networks that steer patients to providers with better outcomes; consumer-driven healthcare plans with transparent pricing and no balance billing; the rising costs of pharmacy benefits and hidden broker compensation; and fiduciary responsibilities of HR professionals when managing employee healthcare plans. Good Morning, HR is brought to you by Imperative—Bulletproof Background Checks. For more information about our commitment to quality and excellent customer service, visit us at https://imperativeinfo.com.  If you are an HRCI or SHRM-certified professional, this episode of Good Morning, HR has been pre-approved for half a recertification credit. To obtain the recertification information for this episode, visit https://goodmorninghr.com.  About our Guest: Kelley Barringer is a Vice President of Employee Benefits Consulting, with the Employee Benefits team located in Dallas, Texas. She serves as a senior client executive, client advocate, and key liaison with our clients' executive teams, human resources, benefits, finance, and operations contacts. She provides oversight of the USI service team including overseeing the day-to-day needs of clients and is responsible for conducting periodic dialogue with key client contacts to assume overall satisfaction with the USI team. She joined USI in 2022 and has been in the insurance industry since 2015.  Prior to USI, Kelley worked at Ardent Solutions/Alera Group for 6.5 years in employee benefits. Before that, she worked in technology sales and services at Canon USA. Kelley spent time in the medical device industry working with physical therapists and in operating rooms with implants.  She has her B.S. in Exercise Science from (UTA) The University of Texas at Arlington and achieved her M.B.A. through (SMU) Southern Methodist University's executive program. She was a Specialist in the US Army Reserve's 441st Ambulance Unit, deployed to Camp Buehring, Kuwait as a medic.    Kelley is involved in her local SHRM chapter, DallasHR, as a board member, and is a Tri-chair for the Richardson Chamber of Commerce's Women in Leadership Committee. She and her oldest daughter are involved with their local National Charity League chapter. She also sits on the City of Richardson's Tax Increment Financing (TIF) Board.  Kelley was raised in Garland, TX and resides in Richardson, TX.  She and her husband have three school-aged children. Kelley Barringer can be reached athttps://www.usi.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelleybarringer/  About Mike Coffey: Mike Coffey is an entrepreneur, licensed private investigator, business strategist, HR consultant, and registered yoga teacher.In 1999, he founded Imperative, a background investigations and due diligence firm helping risk-averse clients make well-informed decisions about the people they involve in their business.Imperative delivers in-depth employment background investigations, know-your-customer and anti-money laundering compliance, and due diligence investigations to more than 300 risk-averse corporate clients across the US, and, through its PFC Caregiver & Household Screening brand, many more private estates, family offices, and personal service agencies.Imperative has been named a Best Places to Work, the Texas Association of Business' small business of the year, and is accredited by the Professional Background Screening Association. Mike shares his insight from 25+ years of HR-entrepreneurship on the Good Morning, HR podcast, where each week he talks to business leaders about bringing people together to create value for customers, shareholders, and community.Mike has been recognized as an Entrepreneur of Excellence by FW, Inc. and has twice been recognized as the North Texas HR Professional of the Year. Mike serves as a board member of a number of organizations, including the Texas State Council, where he serves Texas' 31 SHRM chapters as State Director-Elect; Workforce Solutions for Tarrant County; the Texas Association of Business; and the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, where he is chair of the Talent Committee.Mike is a certified Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) through the HR Certification Institute and a SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP). He is also a Yoga Alliance registered yoga teacher (RYT-200) and teaches multiple times each week.Mike and his very patient wife of 28 years are empty nesters in Fort Worth.  Learning Objectives: 1.       Investigate value-based care options like UHC's app-based plans that use provider ratings and incentivized co-pays to guide employees toward higher quality care while reducing costs.2.       Identify and understand broker compensation structures within your healthcare plans to fulfill fiduciary responsibilities and ensure transparency in benefit costs.3.       Evaluate personal and company liability protection needs regarding employee benefits decisions, including whether HR professionals need to be covered under errors and omissions policies.

In episode 197, Coffey talks with Adam Dougherty about angry ex-employees and new ways to get sued. They discuss managing post-termination communications from angry ex-employees; responding to threats of litigation; the importance of good people practices when faced with litigation threats; new causes of discrimination claims following last year's Supreme Court Muldrow v. City of St. Louis decision; and the wisdom of always assuming a decision that doesn't go an employees way may constitute an "adverse employment action.” Links to stuff they talked about are on our website at https://goodmorninghr.com/EP197 and include the following topics: -          Evil HR Lady: Former Employee Threatens Lawsuit. How should HR respond?-          Bloomberg Law: Justices' New Bias Test Puts Performance Reviews in Legal Bind Good Morning, HR is brought to you by Imperative—Bulletproof Background Checks. For more information about our commitment to quality and excellent customer service, visit us at https://imperativeinfo.com.  If you are an HRCI or SHRM-certified professional, this episode of Good Morning, HR has been pre-approved for half a recertification credit. To obtain the recertification information for this episode, visit https://goodmorninghr.com.  About our Guest: Adam Dougherty is board certified in labor and employment law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. Adam counsels employers throughout Texas and the United States on a daily basis concerning a multitude of cutting edge and high stakes employment advice matters including terminations disciplinary actions and leave and accommodation issues  Adam also regularly prepares handbooks personnel policies noncompete agreements employment agreements and complex separation agreements In addition to litigating in state and federal courts and arbitration proceedings on various discrimination FLSA and noncompete matters he also regularly appears before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission EEOC US Department of Labor DOL and various state agencies Adam also conducts antiharassment and antidiscrimination training and workplace investigations. In addition to representing companies all across the state of Texas Adam also maintains a national and international practice representing companies operating in each of the states and across the globe In light of his unique experience representing multi state employers he serves on the Steering Committee of the firm's Multistate Advice and Counseling Practice Group. Adam is cocreator along with Sean Urich of “Monthly Conversations with Adam and Sean” an interactive employment law briefing held regularly in Dallas for legal and HR professionals The briefings are also broadcast live to a national and international audience See recent topics and other presentations in “Speeches” below. Adam is a volunteer with DallasHR and has also served as the Co-President of the Shelton School Dads' Group the past president of the University of Arkansas School of Law's National Alumni Association and as a coach of his daughters' basketball and softball teams. Adam Dougherty can be reached at https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-dougherty-6946aa2/ About Mike Coffey: Mike Coffey is an entrepreneur, licensed private investigator, business strategist, HR consultant, and registered yoga teacher.In 1999, he founded Imperative, a background investigations and due diligence firm helping risk-averse clients make well-informed decisions about the people they involve in their business.Imperative delivers in-depth employment background investigations, know-your-customer and anti-money laundering compliance, and due diligence investigations to more than 300 risk-averse corporate clients across the US, and, through its PFC Caregiver & Household Screening brand, many more private estates, family offices, and personal service agencies.Imperative has been named a Best Places to Work, the Texas Association of Business' small business of the year, and is accredited by the Professional Background Screening Association. Mike shares his insight from 25+ years of HR-entrepreneurship on the Good Morning, HR podcast, where each week he talks to business leaders about bringing people together to create value for customers, shareholders, and community.Mike has been recognized as an Entrepreneur of Excellence by FW, Inc. and has twice been recognized as the North Texas HR Professional of the Year. Mike serves as a board member of a number of organizations, including the Texas State Council, where he serves Texas' 31 SHRM chapters as State Director-Elect; Workforce Solutions for Tarrant County; the Texas Association of Business; and the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, where he is chair of the Talent Committee.Mike is a certified Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) through the HR Certification Institute and a SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP). He is also a Yoga Alliance registered yoga teacher (RYT-200) and teaches multiple times each week. Mike and his very patient wife of 28 years are empty nesters in Fort Worth.   Learning Objectives: 1.       Implement proper communication protocols when terminated employees threaten litigation, including directing all communications to one person and preserving relevant documentation.2.       Document performance improvement plans thoroughly and follow through on scheduled check-ins to avoid undermining the company's position in potential litigation.3.       Anticipate more claims under the expanded definition of "adverse employment action" following the Muldrow decision by carefully reviewing workplace decisions that might affect employee status or opportunities.

In episode 196, Coffey talks with Sam Kabert about achieving "soul-life balance" as an alternative approach to traditional work-life balance. They discuss the concept of soul-life balance focusing on inner well-being rather than compartmentalizing work and personal life; the 90-second rule for processing emotions based on neuroscience research; the importance that people leaders model soul-life balance; the BREATH framework (Breathe, Relax, Energy to reveal, Accept, Transform, Habits) for emotional regulation; the "ninja breath" technique for managing stress in real-time; practical applications for incorporating these practices in workplace settings; and the importance of processing emotions rather than compartmentalizing them.Sam will be a keynote speaker at the North Texas SHRM Annual Conference on April 298-29, 2025. You can learn more at https://ntxshrm.org/page-1824327 Good Morning, HR is brought to you by Imperative—Bulletproof Background Checks. For more information about our commitment to quality and excellent customer service, visit us at https://imperativeinfo.com. If you are an HRCI or SHRM-certified professional, this episode of Good Morning, HR has been pre-approved for half a recertification credit. To obtain the recertification information for this episode, visit https://goodmorninghr.com. About our Guest:Sam Kabert is an expert in subconscious reprogramming, nervous system regulation, and breathwork integration. As a successful entrepreneur turned mental wellness coach, he's helped high-performing leaders break free from burnout, stress, and emotional roadblocks—using the same techniques he'll be teaching in this challenge.Sam Kabert can be reached atinstagram.com/samkabert https://www.linkedin.com/in/kabert/ https://www.facebook.com/soulseekrz https://samkabert.com/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCHi-hxuxUe2ZlPJCMkZ7fFQSam Kabert's BREATH Club: samkabert.com/clubSam Kabert's books on Amazon https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B09T262PKP Soul Seekr podcast https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/soul-seekr/id1474728691 About Mike Coffey:Mike Coffey is an entrepreneur, licensed private investigator, business strategist, HR consultant, and registered yoga teacher.In 1999, he founded Imperative, a background investigations and due diligence firm helping risk-averse clients make well-informed decisions about the people they involve in their business.Imperative delivers in-depth employment background investigations, know-your-customer and anti-money laundering compliance, and due diligence investigations to more than 300 risk-averse corporate clients across the US, and, through its PFC Caregiver & Household Screening brand, many more private estates, family offices, and personal service agencies.Imperative has been named a Best Places to Work, the Texas Association of Business' small business of the year, and is accredited by the Professional Background Screening Association. Mike shares his insight from 25+ years of HR-entrepreneurship on the Good Morning, HR podcast, where each week he talks to business leaders about bringing people together to create value for customers, shareholders, and community.Mike has been recognized as an Entrepreneur of Excellence by FW, Inc. and has twice been recognized as the North Texas HR Professional of the Year. Mike serves as a board member of a number of organizations, including the Texas State Council, where he serves Texas' 31 SHRM chapters as State Director-Elect; Workforce Solutions for Tarrant County; the Texas Association of Business; and the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, where he is chair of the Talent Committee.Mike is a certified Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) through the HR Certification Institute and a SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP). He is also a Yoga Alliance registered yoga teacher (RYT-200) and teaches multiple times each week.Mike and his very patient wife of 28 years are empty nesters in Fort Worth. Learning Objectives:Implement simple breathwork techniques in workplace settings to help employees regulate emotions and manage stress Create psychological safety through practices like WIFL (What I Feel Like expressing) to improve team communication Design wellness initiatives that address inner mental-emotional health rather than simply checking boxes for work-life balance

Ann and EJ sit down with Daryl Davis II, a candidate for City Council District 6, this week for the big story. We also discuss how anti-DEI is impacting TCU and TCC. We give you updates on redistricting talks at the county level as Tim O'Hare's voter fraud law firm gets approved for tens of thousands of our tax dollars.SHORT STORY #1: Anti-DEI impacts TCU and TCC:- TCU cuts Diversity & Inclusion office amid funding cut threats, higher-ed politicization- Tarrant GOP attacks TCU- Texas DEI ban leads to NAACP event abruptly moving from Tarrant County CollegeSHORT STORY #2: Updates on Redistricting- Tarrant County Republicans' plan to redraw commissioners' precincts worries Democrats- Tarrant County takes steps to redraw commissioners' precinctsSHORT STORY #3: State vs. Local Control- Legislation could overturn downtown Fort Worth district's authorityBIG STORY: Interview with Daryl Davis II City Council Candidate for District 6WINS AND LOSSESAnn:

In episode 195, Coffey talks with Diane Allen about achieving flow state at work to maximize productivity, creativity, and fulfillment. They discuss the definition of flow as an optimal state of mind where people perform and feel their best; the neurological and physiological aspects of flow including the release of performance-enhancing hormones; how the intersection of skill, challenge, and purpose creates entry points into flow; the impact of workplace interruptions on productivity; how individuals can identify their unique flow strategy; the mechanics of creating group flow in teams; practical workplace design elements that support flow states.Diane will be a keynote speaker at the North Texas SHRM Annual Conference on April 28-29, 2025. You can register for that event at https://ntxshrm.org/event-5716977. Good Morning, HR is brought to you by Imperative—Bulletproof Background Checks. For more information about our commitment to quality and excellent customer service, visit us at https://imperativeinfo.com. If you are an HRCI or SHRM-certified professional, this episode of Good Morning, HR has been pre-approved for half a recertification credit. To obtain the recertification information for this episode, visit https://goodmorninghr.com. About our Guest:Violinist Diane Allen is an international speaker, thought leader, and best-selling author of Flow: Unlock Your Genius, Love What You Do. She helps leaders and teams activate their flow state, enabling them to navigate disruption, combat burnout, and create thriving cultures where purpose and passion drive peak performance.Her journey into the transformative power of flow began as a young violinist. Feeling bullet-proof with her New York City violin training, she'd show up to auditions with visions of winning the job of her dreams, but fear would get the better part of her.After ten years of experimentation, Diane made a breakthrough. By focusing deeply on her musical interpretation, she activated the flow state, an optimal state of mind where fear dissolves, and performance soars beyond one's imagination.It only took one fearless audition for Diane to become a 15-year Concertmaster (lead violinist) of the Central Oregon Symphony, a beloved violin teacher for 28 years, and author of the Fingerboard Workbook series for violin, viola, cello and bass.It was her groundbreaking Flow Strategy™ system that earned her a spot on the TEDxNaperville stage with features on TED, ABC, CBS, NBC, and FOX.With the elegance of drawing the bow across her Copper Dragon violin, Diane's experiential programs blend live musical performance, scientific principles, storytelling, positive psychology, inspiration, and actionable takeaways, empowering people to activate their flow state, be in their genius, and love what they do.Diane Allen can be reached at:TEDx/TED Talkhttps://dianeallen.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/dianeallenspeaker/https://www.instagram.com/dianeallenspeaker/https://www.facebook.com/dianeallenspeaker/https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZOk_r1n2X2FmbRcoiUhIHQAbout Mike Coffey:Mike Coffey is an entrepreneur, licensed private investigator, business strategist, HR consultant, and registered yoga teacher.In 1999, he founded Imperative, a background investigations and due diligence firm helping risk-averse clients make well-informed decisions about the people they involve in their business.Imperative delivers in-depth employment background investigations, know-your-customer and anti-money laundering compliance, and due diligence investigations to more than 300 risk-averse corporate clients across the US, and, through its PFC Caregiver & Household Screening brand, many more private estates, family offices, and personal service agencies.Imperative has been named a Best Places to Work, the Texas Association of Business' small business of the year, and is accredited by the Professional Background Screening Association. Mike shares his insight from 25+ years of HR-entrepreneurship on the Good Morning, HR podcast, where each week he talks to business leaders about bringing people together to create value for customers, shareholders, and community.Mike has been recognized as an Entrepreneur of Excellence by FW, Inc. and has twice been recognized as the North Texas HR Professional of the Year. Mike serves as a board member of a number of organizations, including the Texas State Council, where he serves Texas' 31 SHRM chapters as State Director-Elect; Workforce Solutions for Tarrant County; the Texas Association of Business; and the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, where he is chair of the Talent Committee.Mike is a certified Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) through the HR Certification Institute and a SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP). He is also a Yoga Alliance registered yoga teacher (RYT-200) and teaches multiple times each week.Mike and his very patient wife of 28 years are empty nesters in Fort Worth. Learning Objectives:Identify the three key elements (skill, challenge, and purpose) necessary to create flow states for individuals and teams.Design work environments that minimize interruptions and allow for uninterrupted blocks of focused time.Develop strategies to help employees recognize and access their unique flow triggers.

"What happens when a train collides with a semi carrying hundreds of cans of beer on National Beer Day?" In this episode, Ben and Skin recount the chaotic scene in Tarrant County where a train collided with a semi, spilling hundreds of cans of beer everywhere. They share eyewitness accounts and discuss the humorous aftermath of this unexpected event. The duo also explores the scandalous story of a high school baseball player facing 15 counts of battery for a shocking act involving the opposing team's water cooler.Notable Quotes:"The tracks crossing arms were going down and ding, ding, ding. I saw the train coming from right over here. Let me tell you, it was coming. And all I saw was bam." - Eyewitness"Reports say that he took a wee wee in the water cooler belonging to the other team." - KT Turner"There's a reason that the windshield is bigger than the rearview mirror." - Jelly Roll

Ann and EJ present three short stories and an interview with Cowtown Democrats President Geoffrey Hyder, who will host the new Texas Democrat Party Chair, Kendall Scudder, on April 15th! Enjoy the episode, and we apologize for the audio, as we had to move into an outdated studio. We will be better in the future!SHORT STORY #1: Measles Exposure in Tarrant County- RFK Jr. Heads to Texas Kid's Funeral Who Dies from Measles- Tarrant health officials issue warning about possible measles exposure in Grapevine - Tarrant County Public Health lays off staff amid nationwide federal funding cutsSHORT STORY #2: Fort Worth Way Obsessed with Literacy Feels Sketchy- This new Fort Worth advocacy group wants every elected leader focused on literacy- Fort Worth ISD shifts $22.7M to support renewed literacy focus. Here's howSHORT STORY #3: Fort Worth Council Candidates Financing Reports Are In: What do we see?- Fort Worth City Council candidates raise $1M ahead of May 3 electionBIG STORY: Interview with Geoffrey HyderWINS AND LOSSESAnn:

In episode 194, Coffey talks with Lucy Adams about transforming people practices to meet modern business needs.They discuss how traditional HR processes focus on conformity rather than flexibility; the tendency to design policies around the lowest common denominator rather than individual needs; regulation burdens in the UK versus the US; opportunities to reframe DEI initiatives to be more effective and inclusive; the challenges of the hybrid workplace model; the importance of carefully selecting managers who actually want to lead people; the impact of AI on HR functions and employee roles.Good Morning, HR is brought to you by Imperative—Bulletproof Background Checks. For more information about our commitment to quality and excellent customer service, visit us at https://imperativeinfo.com. If you are an HRCI or SHRM-certified professional, this episode of Good Morning, HR has been pre-approved for half a recertification credit. To obtain the recertification information for this episode, visit https://goodmorninghr.com. About our Guest:Lucy Adams was the BBC's HR Director during one of its most turbulent periods. Responsible for all aspects of employee relations, reward, training and development, she reduced the BBC management by over 30%, saving the organisation £25m a year. In her five year tenure Lucy saw four Directors General come and go, oversaw the move to Manchester site and coped with numerous, very public crises including executive pay-offs and the Savile scandal. This alongside the everyday work of talent retention, development and remuneration, HR policy, and the challenges of delivering multiple changes in a publicly-funded organisation working in a highly commercial, fast-moving sector with over 20,000 employees.Prior to working at the BBC, Lucy was Group HR Director at Serco, the government services business, and at the law firm Eversheds.For the last 10 years Lucy has been the CEO of Disruptive HR with the mission of 'changing people practices for good'. Lucy challenges business leaders and HR professionals to reappraise their approaches and to consider how relevant and productive they are in a disrupted world. She offers new ideas and practical innovative approaches that the more progressive companies are already adopting. Combining her strategic HR expertise with practical implementation, she advocates for an innovative yet grounded approach which aims to put the “human” back into Human Resources.
Lucy is not just a business leader and hugely popular keynote speaker, but also a well-known author of the bestseller “HR Disrupted” a book packed with practical ways to innovate your approach to leading people in a disrupted world. Her latest book bestseller “The HR ChangeToolkit” provides the complete guide to making it happen.Lucy Adams can be reached athttps://disruptivehr.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucykadams https://www.facebook.com/hrdisruptive https://www.instagram.com/disruptive_hr About Mike Coffey:Mike Coffey is an entrepreneur, licensed private investigator, business strategist, HR consultant, and registered yoga teacher.In 1999, he founded Imperative, a background investigations and due diligence firm helping risk-averse clients make well-informed decisions about the people they involve in their business.Imperative delivers in-depth employment background investigations, know-your-customer and anti-money laundering compliance, and due diligence investigations to more than 300 risk-averse corporate clients across the US, and, through its PFC Caregiver & Household Screening brand, many more private estates, family offices, and personal service agencies.Imperative has been named a Best Places to Work, the Texas Association of Business' small business of the year, and is accredited by the Professional Background Screening Association. Mike shares his insight from 25+ years of HR-entrepreneurship on the Good Morning, HR podcast, where each week he talks to business leaders about bringing people together to create value for customers, shareholders, and community.Mike has been recognized as an Entrepreneur of Excellence by FW, Inc. and has twice been recognized as the North Texas HR Professional of the Year. Mike serves as a board member of a number of organizations, including the Texas State Council, where he serves Texas' 31 SHRM chapters as State Director-Elect; Workforce Solutions for Tarrant County; the Texas Association of Business; and the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, where he is chair of the Talent Committee.Mike is a certified Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) through the HR Certification Institute and a SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP). He is also a Yoga Alliance registered yoga teacher (RYT-200) and teaches multiple times each week.Mike and his very patient wife of 28 years are empty nesters in Fort Worth. Learning Objectives:Develop HR practices that prioritize customization for individuals rather than enforcing broad conformityImplement people leadership strategies that balance compliance requirements with genuine human engagementEstablish alternative career paths that don't force skilled individual contributors into management roles they don't want

In this inspiring episode of Raising Joy, Dr. Pyrc sits down with Dr. Ashley Elgin, CEO of Lena Pope, a Fort Worth organization with a remarkable 95-year legacy of service to Tarrant County children and families. Lena Pope uses evidence-based, research-tested programs focused on prevention and early intervention services that support child development and improve the behavioral and mental health of children. This conversation delves into how Lena Pope has consistently evolved to meet the changing needs of its community, demonstrating a deep commitment to providing crucial support and fostering positive change in young lives.Listeners will discover the breadth of Lena Pope's impact through its diverse programs, including early childhood education focused on social-emotional development, counseling services addressing trauma and mental health, and juvenile justice interventions aimed at helping young people find a path to success. The episode also features inspiring success stories that illustrate the transformative power of Lena Pope's work, highlighting the resilience of children and families and the dedication of the organization's staff.Connect with Raising Joy on Instagram @raisingjoypodcast and TikTok @Raising.joy to see video content from episodes.   

Mattie Parker is the 45th mayor of the 11th largest city in the U.S. In today's episode we get know Mattie a little better than the information you find on Wiki and get a bit of her history leading up to where she is today. We are so grateful to get this opportunity! This is a recording we've wanted to have for years. Special thanks to The Fort Worth Hispanic Chamber of Commerce for letting us use their beautiful studio. Thank you to Sam Esquivel of The Failed Podcast for handling the production side of our recording. Thank you to our friend Kinsey at the mayors office for getting this all scheduled. Thank you to our homie Robbie for making the connection. Also, a huge thank you to Mattie for making time for us!!! You can contact the mayor through the City of Fort Worth's web site: www.fortworthtexas.gov   Here is a list of some of the amazing organization's that we talked about in this episode! Recovery Resource Council- recoverycouncil.org -info@recoverycouncil.org -817-332-6329Our mission is to promote wellness and recovery from disorders relating to alcohol, substance use, trauma, and mental health. With campuses in Fort Worth, Dallas, and Denton, Recovery Resource Council is the most comprehensive nonprofit behavioral healthcare provider in North Texas, offering a pathway to recovery since 1946.  T3 - t3partnership.orgT3 is a local partnership of school districts, colleges, universities, employers, and organizations, anchored by a dedicated backbone staff focused on serving students and families in Tarrant County. Launched in 2020, T3 provides a variety of programs designed to inform and engage students and families about college and career pathways. Learn more in this overview video. Gladney - adoptionsbygladney.com Gladney believes every child deserves a loving and caring family. For over 135 years, we have provided help to expectant parents, birth parents, adoptive parents. If you need help call us at 817-859-8348 or email hello@gladney.org. We are here to help and get you connected to resources. Casa of Tarrant County - www.speakupforachild.orgCASA (Court Appointed Special Advocates) of Tarrant County is an organization of volunteer advocates who stand up on behalf of abused and neglected children.   Good Natured InitiativeFind information on the Good Natured Initiative by doing a quick google search. Local publications have done a dozen stories covering this project. Copied from www.oncor.com: Oct. 6, 2023, Fort Worth Mayor Mattie Parker has announced her creation of Good Natured, a Fort Worth Greenspace Initiative. The efforts seeks to bring public and private partners together to shape and enhance greenspace investment in Fort Worth for the next 100 years in a city that loses roughly 50 acres of natural open space per week to development. Fort Worth Hispanic Chamber of Commerce - fwhcc.orgThe Fort Worth Hispanic Chamber of Commerce was created when a small group of minority business and community members recognized the need for effective representation in the local business community. The organization was chartered August 3, 1973, as only the fourth Mexican-American Chamber of Commerce to be established in the State of Texas. Among the founding members of the chamber were Dick Salinas, who served as its first president; Pete Zepeda, president-elect; Ron Fernandez, vice president; and Manuel Jara, treasurer. Thank you for listening to this episode of the Fort Worth Roots! This is the only show that is independently operated and pumping out a minimum of 5 episodes each week and we do this for you Fort Worth. Hoppin Fort Worth is Located at 2616 Weisenberger on Instagram as @hoppinfwtxMusic by Taylor Pace on Instagram as @taylorpacemusicCall in to the morning show and let us tell North Texas about your upcoming event!Email: media@fortworthroots.comCall:817.988.1292 Find all of our sponsors under our "Trusted Sponsors" Tab on our soon to be renovated web site, www.fortworthroots.com Donovan Manufacturingwww.donovanmfg.comNight vision, thermals, machine gun rentals, AR-15 parts, classes, and more!Also under the same umbrella get all of your print needs through our friends. Banners, vehicle wraps, business cards, brochures, tshirts, and anything else you might need. Find information on the print shop on Facebook at dillon-press. Also, you can email them at  dillon@dillon-press.com Purple Web Consultingwww.purplewebconsulting.comWebsite design and hosting, E-commerce integration, digital strategy and consulting.817.629.6069Making modern business tools accessible to the small business owner so that they can compete with the big dogs! Fort Worth Float CompanyIs your day filled with noise and distractions? Overstimulating sounds and activity? Our daily lives have become overwhelmed with tasks and responsibilities, with very few ways to shut off the world for a brief moment. WELCOME TO FORT WORTH FLOAT COMPANY. They specialize in providing sensory deprivation flotation tanks, providing the ultimate relaxation experience. Offering various pricing and packages, and three different tanks, Fort Worth Float Company meets everyone's floating needs. Hoppin (Fort Worth)Weisenberger St, Fort Worth TX 76107No more waiting for the bar tender. Simply walk up to the wall of taps, scan your arm band, and enjoy!!! This place charges you by the ounce. A great place to unwind or for your next big event. Find them on Instagram as @hoppinfwtx.Have a Fort Worth Event coming up this week? Call during our recording window and let us share it with the city. 817.988.1292. The Davis TeamLook no further than our friends at The Davis Team for all of your property needs. They have already sold two homes for us at the Fort Worth Roots and helped us find and close on our most recent home purchase. We wouldn't have accepted any other offer of sponsorship from a realtor in Fort Worth because in the back of our minds we would have always known the best was still out there. No commitment necessary. If you have questions about property then visit them online : yourdavisteam.com or give them a call 817.755.0504   Galaxy Wilderness Disc Golf  Galaxy Wilderness is dedicated to promoting Disc Golf to the masses for its health benefits through outdoor therapy, exercise, and camaraderie.Find them on Facebook as Galaxy Wilderness Disc GolfGalaxyWildernessDG@gmail.com(682) 228-0399 The Body Scrubberyon Instagram @thebodyscrubberyOnline at www.thebodyscrubbery.comPhone:925.808.8222A boutique and unique spa experience. "Don't cheat yourself, treat yourself!!" Luxury foot spa, full body scrubs, infrared heat wraps, massage, bubble tub, mud wraps, facials, couples packages, and small group parties.   Eaton Data SolutionsWe work to have relationships with vendor partners who specialize in different methods of vulnerability detection and management so that we can offer enterprise tools and solutions to small and medium sized companies (SMB's).Find them online www.eatondatasolutions.com Roofing Solutions by Darren Houk!Roofing Solutions can help with all your residential and commercial roofing needs. Roofing Solutions by Darren Houk islocally owned and operated. We are insured and have the experience to carry out most roofing projects.Web Page: https://www.roofingsolutionshouk.com/Phone : 817-882-6520 McFly's Pub6104 LTjg Barnett Rd, Fort Worth, TX 76114 · 4.1 miA BADASS little 1980's/ Back to the Future themed bar with an excellent outdoor patio complete with fire pit and room for your fur baby. Daily drink specials and fun activities almost every day of the week. See whats new at McFly's on their Instagram page @McFlysPub. Tres Amigos Tacos and Tequilatresamigostacosandtequila.comChef Sandy brings a fresh perspective and culinary expertise to Tres Amigos, continuing the spirit of female led entrepreneurship and the culinary excellence that Chef Paul was known for.909 W Magnolia Ave, Fort Worth, TX 76104 Cloudland Recording Studiowww.cloudlandrecordingstudio.comCloudland Recording Studio is an analog and digital recording studio located in the heart of Fort Worth, Texas. We are just one mile from downtown and five minutes from the Near Southside entertainment district of Magnolia Avenue. Baez Maintenance Services.www.baezmaintenance.com817-528-3056BMS is family owned and operated providing professional commercial cleaning services to establishments throughout DFW.With client satisfaction as a primary goal, high quality maintenance is available as frequently as requested. This includes a 24-hour support system, which guarantees a quick response. Since our beginning in 2017 there has only been one major goal here at BMS; customer satisfaction.

In episode 193, Coffey talks with Terri Swain about recent HR news items including return-to-office mandates, “illegal DEI”, and whether it is Alt+Ctrl+Delete or Ctrl+Alt+Delete. They discuss SHRM's report showing significantly higher workplace incivility in companies with return-to-office mandates; challenges with remote work including leadership development and communication skills; the "over-employment" phenomenon where remote workers secretly hold multiple full-time jobs; the Trump administration's position on DEI programs and the EEOC's new guidance; how political affiliation affects hiring decisions; the importance of rebranding DEI efforts while maintaining their core purpose.Links to stuff they talked about are on our website at https://goodmorninghr.com/EP193 and include the following topics:- SHRM: How Return-to-Office Mandates Are Affecting Workplace Civility- Business Insider: Secretly Working 2 Remote Jobs, RTO Could Hurt Overemployment - Business Insider- HR Dive: EEOC Outlines How DEI Might Be ‘Unlawful'- HR Morning ‘Illegal DEI' Explained: 12 Warnings in New EEOC Guidance- EEOC: What To Do If You Experience Discrimination Related to DEI at Work- EEOC: What You Should Know About DEI-Related Discrimination at Work- Reddit: [OR] Not Hiring Trump SupportersGood Morning, HR is brought to you by Imperative—Bulletproof Background Checks. For more information about our commitment to quality and excellent customer service, visit us at https://imperativeinfo.com. If you are an HRCI or SHRM-certified professional, this episode of Good Morning, HR has been pre-approved for .75 recertification credits. To obtain the recertification information for this episode, visit https://goodmorninghr.com. About our Guest:Terri is the founder and Chief Truth Seeker with DecipHR a Fort Worth based, human resources consulting firm specializing in Equal Employment Opportunity investigations, employee relations and interim HR leadership. The company was founded in 2022 after the sale of her 24 year old company, The HR Consultant in 2021. DecipHR has a nationwide and diverse client base, specializing in solving complex employee relations issues and providing interim HR leadership to growing companies.  Prior to her consulting role, she had Fortune 200 human resource leadership experience in the areas of employee relations, human resource planning, and training and development.Terri began her career in human resources via government compliance as an investigator for the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).  In her spare time, she enjoys a good book, a brisk walk, loud live music and travel to new places.Terri Swain can be reached athttps://www.linkedin.com/in/terriswainAbout Mike Coffey:Mike Coffey is an entrepreneur, licensed private investigator, business strategist, HR consultant, and registered yoga teacher.In 1999, he founded Imperative, a background investigations and due diligence firm helping risk-averse clients make well-informed decisions about the people they involve in their business.Imperative delivers in-depth employment background investigations, know-your-customer and anti-money laundering compliance, and due diligence investigations to more than 300 risk-averse corporate clients across the US, and, through its PFC Caregiver & Household Screening brand, many more private estates, family offices, and personal service agencies.Imperative has been named a Best Places to Work, the Texas Association of Business' small business of the year, and is accredited by the Professional Background Screening Association. Mike shares his insight from 25+ years of HR-entrepreneurship on the Good Morning, HR podcast, where each week he talks to business leaders about bringing people together to create value for customers, shareholders, and community.Mike has been recognized as an Entrepreneur of Excellence by FW, Inc. and has twice been recognized as the North Texas HR Professional of the Year. Mike serves as a board member of a number of organizations, including the Texas State Council, where he serves Texas' 31 SHRM chapters as State Director-Elect; Workforce Solutions for Tarrant County; the Texas Association of Business; and the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, where he is chair of the Talent Committee.Mike is a certified Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) through the HR Certification Institute and a SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP). He is also a Yoga Alliance registered yoga teacher (RYT-200) and teaches multiple times each week.Mike and his very patient wife of 28 years are empty nesters in Fort Worth. Learning Objectives:Evaluate return-to-office policies based on business needs rather than blanket mandates.Implement performance management systems that effectively monitor productivity regardless of work location.Develop inclusive workplace initiatives that comply with legal requirements and meet business objectives

Six years after the February 1967 slaying of Mildred May, 21-year-old Becky Martin disappeared. All she left behind were school papers scattered across the parking lot of Tarrant County Junior College and a car that showed definitive signs of a struggle. Though the Fort Worth Police wanted to wait 72 hours before any intensive search took place, Becky's husband David, with the help of the top lawman from the suburb where he lived, looked everywhere they could think of for the young woman. It wasn't until 7 weeks later that Becky Martin's body would be found in a culvert in rural Tarrant County.If you have any information about the murder of Becky Martin, please contact Fort Worth police department cold case unit at 817-392-4307.You can support Gone Cold – Texas True Crime and listen to the show ad-free at patreon.com/gonecoldpodcastFind us at https://www.gonecold.comFollow gone cold on Facebook, Instagram, Threads, TikTok, YouTube, and X. Search @gonecoldpodcast at all or just click linknbio.com/gonecoldpodcastSources: The Fort Worth Star-Telegram, The Fort Worth Press, and The Dallas Morning News.#JusticeForBeckyMartin #FortWorth #FTW #Texas #TX #TrueCrime #TexasTrueCrime #TrueCrimePodcast #Podcast #Unsolved #GoneCold #GoneColdPodcast #UnsolvedMysteries #TrueCrime #Homicide #UnsolvedMurder #ColdCase #CrimeStories #PodcastRecommendations #SerialKiller #TrueCrimeCommunity #CrimeJunkie #MysteryPodcast #TrueCrimeObsessed #CrimeDocs #InvestigationDiscovery #PodcastAddict #TrueCrimeFan #CriminalJustice #ForensicFiles #TrueCrimeAddict #TrueCrimeLovers #CrimeScene #PodcastLife Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/gone-cold-texas-true-crime--3203003/support.

Amber Alert ////// Part 1Episode: 813 Amber Alert: The Unsolved Case of Amber HagermanPart 1 of 2www.TrueCrimeGarage.com January 13, 1996 - 9 year old Amber Hagerman was taken off of her pink bicycle and we are still looking for her killer. A still unidentified man snatched Amber off of her bike in broad daylight in a public area. Sadly her body was found 4 days later in a location nearby. Today we have the Amber Alert, an emergency broadcast alert system aimed at saving lives and bringing children home. If you have any information about Amber's case please contact the Arlington Police Department Detectives at 1-817-274-4444 or remain anonymous and contact crime stoppers of Tarrant County at 1-817-469-TIPS (8477). If you would like to help to bring more kids home - consider donating to the True Crime Garage / National Center for Missing and Exploited Children campaign by typing True Crime Garage NCMEC into your search engine browser. Beer of the Week - Angel's Perch Amber by Sockeye Brewing Garage Grade - 3 and 3 quarter bottle capswww.TrueCrimeGarage.com

Amber Alert ////// Part 2Episode: 814 Amber Alert: The Unsolved Case of Amber HagermanPart 2 of 2www.TrueCrimeGarage.com January 13, 1996 - 9 year old Amber Hagerman was taken off of her pink bicycle and we are still looking for her killer. A still unidentified man snatched Amber off of her bike in broad daylight in a public area. Sadly her body was found 4 days later in a location nearby. Today we have the Amber Alert, an emergency broadcast alert system aimed at saving lives and bringing children home. If you have any information about Amber's case please contact the Arlington Police Department Detectives at 1-817-274-4444 or remain anonymous and contact crime stoppers of Tarrant County at 1-817-469-TIPS (8477). If you would like to help to bring more kids home - consider donating to the True Crime Garage / National Center for Missing and Exploited Children campaign by typing True Crime Garage NCMEC into your search engine browser. Beer of the Week - Angel's Perch Amber by Sockeye Brewing Garage Grade - 3 and 3 quarter bottle capswww.TrueCrimeGarage.com