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Big Story: Mayor Mattie Parker writes a letter drawing anger over a city councilmember's social media post quoting Charlie Kirk, and lowers the flags to half-mast at Trump's order. Fort Worth council members decry political violence clash over now deleted Charlie Kirk postShort Story 1: Fort Worth's biggest budget item is policeFort Worth's Crime Control and Prevention budget rising 2.6% more than $138.9 millionShort Story 2: Tarrant County sheriff refuses to give briefings requested by Commissioner Simmons on jail deathsShort Story 3: Pro-Palestinian activist gets 180 days in jail for North Texas church graffiti@freepalestine.tarrant postWins: Wesley & his wife are having a baby!State of the Arts was a success.JPS Health Network opens new psychiatric emergency center in Fort WorthTrinity Metro builds focus on transit-oriented developmentFort Worth poised to spend $79 million on parks & green space preservation in 2026Losses: How much do Fort Worth council members spend on travel? City officials aren't sureActions:September 16th - City of Fort Worth city council votes on 2026 budgetSeptember 17th - Community Design Fort Worth's transit mixer at Acre Distilling at 4:30pmSeptember 20th - Trinity Metro's bus stop cleanup day at 7:30amSeptember 20th - Grassroots Organizers Summit at Dock's Bookshop at 3pmSeptember 21st - 817 Gather at Blanc Cowork & Studio at 10amJoin the 817 Gather Discord
In episode 217, Coffey talks with HRSouthwest Conference keynote speaker Steve Cadigan about the evolving nature of work.They discuss ongoing remote work debates; the evolution from hiring for skills to hiring for learning ability; the need for experimentation in remote team management; AI's role in skills analysis and internal talent mapping; building learning ecosystems between companies and educational institutions; the importance of knowing employee capabilities outside of their role-specific tasks; and HR's evolving role as facilitators of organizational awareness and AI governance.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:Steve Cadigan is a highly sought-after talent advisor to leaders and organizations across the globe. As Founder of his own Silicon Valley-based firm, Cadigan Talent Ventures, Steve advises a wide range of innovative organizations that include Google, Cisco, Intel, and The Royal Bank of Scotland, Manchester United Football Club, The Country Music Association and the BBC. He is also regularly retained by some leading VC (Venture Capital) and Consulting firms such as Andreesen Horowitz, McKinsey & Company, Deloitte, and Greylock Partners for his counsel on a wide range of talent topics.Since 2021 Steve has been recognized every year as a top 100 thought leader in the world of Talent and People.Steve speaks at conferences and teaches in major universities around the world. His work in helping shape the culture at LinkedIn led Stanford University to build a graduate-level class around this ground-breaking work. Steve is frequently asked to appear on global TV and is a frequent guest on Bloomberg West, CBS, and CNBC.Throughout his career, the teams, cultures, and organizations he has led and helped build have been recognized as exceptional, “world-class” performers by the Wall Street Journal and Fortune Magazine.Before launching his firm, Steve worked as an HR executive for over 25 years at a wide range of companies and industries including ESPRIT, Fireman's Fund Insurance, Cisco Systems, PMC-Sierra, Electronic Arts and capped by serving as the first CHRO for LinkedIn from 2009 through 2012, taking the company from a private firm of 400 employees, through an IPO and helping set it up to be the powerhouse that it has become today. In 2021 Steve received the high honor of being invited by both The University of San Francisco and Stanford University to deliver their commencement speeches.Today Steve serves on the Board of Directors to three companies and also sits on the Advisory Board of several other progressive organizations. His passion is helping leaders and companies build compelling talent strategies.In August of 2021 Steve published a ground-breaking book on the Future of Work titled Workquake: Embracing the Aftershocks of COVID-19 to Create a Better Model of Working.Even before its official release it realized #1 on the Amazon list of Hot New Releases. In the summer of 2025 Steve launched a new podcast series called Workquake Weekly.Over his career, Steve has lived in Singapore, Canada, and the United States. He has interviewed, hired, coached and mentored thousands of employees and leaders within a wide range of industries and geographies. This is what sets Steve apart from others who speak about the future of work. Steve has lived deep inside the world of work as an employee AND as an employer. His experiences and achievements give him a unique and authoritative point of view, essential to all discussions about the future of work.Today Steve lives in California with his family. He is the father of four boys and the stepdad to two girls. When he is not speaking, teaching, or writing, you can find Steve coaching basketball, playing tennis, body surfing, driving his kids everywhere, or cheering them on at their activities.Steve graduated from Wesleyan University with a BA in History and received a Master's Degree in HR & Organization Development from the University of San Francisco.Workquake: Embracing the Aftershocks of COVID-19 to Create a Better Model of Working : https://a.co/d/3uORSF4Workquake Weekly Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/workquake-weekly/id1815731966Steve Cadigan can be reached at https://stevecadigan.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. Shift hiring strategies from evaluating what candidates already know to assessing their capacity to learn new skills quickly, as the shelf life of current competencies continues to shrink.2. Develop comprehensive internal talent mapping systems that identify employees' transferable skills and potential for different roles within the organization, similar to how companies track customer data.3. Create experimental approaches to remote work management rather than rigid policies, to determine what productivity and culture practices work best for specific team dynamics.
9.5.2025 #RolandMartinUnfiltered: Tarrant Jail Deaths Outrage, Black Jobless Rate Rises, Tabitha Brown Sparks Debate, RMU 7th Anniv.More than 70 people have died while in custody in the Tarrant County, Texas, Jail since 2017. These unanswered deaths are sparking outrage, and the Sheriff is refusing to appear before the commission to explain what's going on. His reason...Commissioner Alisa Simmons' "hostile" behavior. She's here to explain why she's going so hard demanding accountability and transparency.August's job report signals a significant slowdown in employment growth. Morgan Harper will discuss the uptick in the black unemployment rate. Tabitha Brown has ruffled some feathers by telling some want to be entrepreneurs they need to get a job. One of the Greensboro Four has died. We'll pay tribute to Major General Joseph McNeil.And we're still celebrating our 7th anniversary, sharing some of the best moments and conversations right here on Roland Martin Unfiltered.#BlackStarNetwork partner: Fanbasehttps://www.startengine.com/offering/fanbaseThis 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 episode 216, Coffey talks with Carolyn Troyan about overcoming challenges in delivering effective feedback.They discuss why managers struggle with feedback and difficult conversations; building trust before challenging feedback becomes necessary; cultural differences in feedback acceptance across organizations and countries; avoiding the ineffective "feedback sandwich" approach; when to be specific and when to ask open-ended questions; managing employee emotional responses through the SARA model; addressing resistance and performance improvement barriers; and knowing where to draw the line between performance counseling and trying to solve employees' personal issues.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:Carolyn Troyan currently is the President & CEO of Leadership 360. Leadership 360 is aHuman Resources consulting and leadership coaching firm. Carolyn provides coaching to leaders at all levels to accelerate their learning and take a holistic view on their development.Trained in the Hudson Institute's leadership coaching model, Carolyn works with leaders to design a 3 to 6 month coaching program that results in a comprehensive plan to accelerate their development. Carolyn has over 20 years of HR leadership and coaching experience spanning industries as diverse as technology, healthcare, renewable energy, manufacturing, and interactive entertainment.Carolyn held global HR executive roles at Electronic Arts, TIBCO Software, Siebel Systems, and was a strategic rewards consultant at Mercer Consulting. Carolyn can quickly understand your leaders' strengths and challenges, help them move to insights and partner with them to develop successful strategies in order to thrive and deliver results. Carolyn holds a B.A. in Psychology and Political Science from Miami University and an MBA in Corporate Strategy from the University of Michigan.In addition to running Leadership 360, Carolyn is an advocate for diversity in leadership, regularly contributing to thought leadership in the field and volunteering her time to mentor and support emerging leaders from underrepresented backgrounds.Carolyn can be reached at https://www.leadership-360.org https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolyn-troyan-5861331About 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. Establish trust-based relationships with employees through consistent positive feedback over time before delivering developmental feedback.2. Deliver feedback effectively and in congruence with organizational and cultural norms.3. Respond to employee resistance or external challenges that make performance change difficult.
In episode 215, Coffey talks with Gabriela Norton about employee engagement challenges, performance management approaches, and hiring process improvements based on current workplace trends and research.They discuss Gallup's mid-year survey showing low engagement and high turnover intent; psychological safety and mental health support strategies; individualized management approaches vs one-size-fits-all policies; problems with forced ranking performance systems; ongoing feedback versus annual reviews; the costs of poor management training; rebuilding disengaged teams through bias awareness and peer input; and streamlining hiring processes that currently involve excessive interview rounds.Links to stuff they talked about are on our website at https://goodmorninghr.com/EP215 and include the following topics:Gallup: Anemic Employee Engagement Points to Leadership Challenges.Web Pro News: Big Tech Mandates Low Performer Quotas, Eroding Morale and InnovationHarvard Business Review: 6 Steps to Reset a Demotivated TeamReddit: What is up with 3+ Rounds of Interviews for jobs paying less than $100K? : r/interviewsHR Reporter: Are employees building emotional connections with ChatGPT?Reddit: ChatGPT is my best friend : r/ChatGPTReddit: My Boyfriend Is AIReddit: AI Soulmates HR Reporter: With IBM laying off 100s of HR people, is automation replacing HR? | Canadian HR ReporterThe Wall Street Journal: IBM CEO Says AI Has Replaced Hundreds of Workers but Created New Programming, Sales JobsHarvard Business Review: Research: Executives Who Used Gen AI Made Worse PredictionsTopgrading, 3rd Edition: The Proven Hiring and Promoting Method That Turbocharges Company Performance by Bradford D. Smart, PhD https://a.co/d/9N2pJXlGood 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 three-quarters of a recertification credit. To obtain the recertification information for this episode, visit https://goodmorninghr.com.About our Guest:Gabriela established People Performance Resources (PPR), a full-service Human Capital consulting firm, in 2010. Since then, Gabriela and her team have continued to expand their reach in providing strategic and best practice expertise with a proven track record of enhancing operational excellence.Gabriela is a highly regarded and sought-after trusted advisor to many local, national, and international organizations and their decisionmakers. Here are a few of Gabriela's areas of focus: bilingual/bicultural expertise, organizational analysis and development, C-level business continuity planning, executive coaching, executive compensation, change management, strategic planning, employment compliance, board governance guidance, and more.Gabriela serves as board of directors for Out Teach, Catch Up & Read, and The Dallas Summit. In addition, she supports several local and national causes that empower education, social justice, women's causes, children at risk, and conservation efforts. When not enjoying her professional adventures, Gabriela is a foodie who loves traveling, running, hiking, snorkeling, and spending time with her friends, family, and rescue dog, Harley.Gabriela Norton can be reached at: https://www.pprhr.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabrielanorton https://www.facebook.com/pprhr https://www.instagram.com/ppr_hrAbout 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. Create psychological safety environments where employees can openly discuss workload concerns and receive supportive responses rather than punitive reactions to mental health needs.2. Implement ongoing performance feedback systems with specific behavioral expectations and regular check-ins instead of relying on annual reviews with subjective rating scales.3. Design efficient hiring processes with clear competency rubrics and bias acknowledgment techniques while limiting interviews to three meaningful rounds focused on skills and cultural fit.
For this episode of GoodCast! we're recapping this year's Summer Earn & Learn program! Check out these three stories made possible by Texas Workforce Commission and Workforce Solutions for Tarrant County!
The American Democracy Minute Radio News Report & Podcast for Aug. 28, 2025Tarrant County, TX, Already Embroiled in VRA Racial Gerrymandering Litigation, Cuts Election Day VotingGand Early Voting PrecinctsWe recently told you about Tarrant County, Texas, which in June voted to approve blatantly racially gerrymandered county commissioner districts, and was immediately sued under the Voting Rights Act. Now county commissioners have voted to reduce election day and early voting locations in the county. 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:American Democracy Minute - Apparent Racial Gerrymandering in Tarrant County, TX Draws Condemnation and a VRA Lawsuit. The County's Reply? It's OK. It was for Political Reasons.Texas Tribune - In Texas' biggest purple county, this far-right Republican is creating a playbook for local governingFort Worth Report / KERA - Tarrant County commissioners vote to keep all college early voting sites ProPublica/Fort Worth Report - A Texas County Cuts Over 100 Polling Sites as Trump Attacks Mail-In Voting Nationally Tarrant Commissioners Court - August 19th Agenda & DocumentsTarrant Commissioners Court - CONSIDERATION TO APPROVE PROPOSED EARLY VOTING ANDELECTION DAY POLLING LOCATIONS FOR THE NOVEMBER 4, 2025JOINT SPECIAL AND CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENT ELECTIONGroups Taking Action:Common Cause TX, Lone Star Project, NAACP Tarrant County - Forth WorthPlease 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 #TarrantCounty #Texas #VoterSuppression #RacialGerrymandering #FreedomtoVote #FortWorth
This week Ann Zadeh is out of town, so EJ & Wesley were joined by Chris Tackett.BIG STORY: Chris Tackett of See It Name It Fight It talks about how Fort Worth votes blue, and spells out a playbook for how Fort Worth can become deeper blue to counteract gerrymandering on a couty & state level.SHORT STORY 1: Nicole Collier held in Texas House Chamber & Texas Republicans pass gerrymandered redisticting maps.SHORT STORY 2: Tarrant County dramatically reduces voting locations.SHORT STORY 3: Eddie García tapped to be Fort Worth's next police chief.WINS: ‘Let's ride!': Fort Worth high school students to receive free transit rides from Trinity MetroTrinity Railway Express to be upgraded for World Cup transportationFort Worth names new director for economic development, Jessica RogersNew director at the Modern leans into museum's future following national controversyFort Worth park memorializing Black lynching victim closer to being fundedLOSSES: O'Hare: Anticipated TxDOT master plan ‘huge boon' for Fort Worth-area economic developmentTarrant County Judge O'Hare calls on cities to run ‘business-minded' governmentsFort Worth lands $761M AI supercomputer plants as Wistron selects AllianceTarrant faith leaders urge officials to condemn GOP chair's anti-Muslim social media postsACTIONS:What should Fort Worth spend $3B in taxpayer money on? Here's how to weigh inDistrict 7: 6 pm Aug. 25 at Boswell High School District 6: 6 pm Aug. 27 at Southwest High School LibraryDistrict 3: 6 pm Sept. 3 at LVTRise Community CenterDistrict 4: 10 am Sept. 6 at Basswood Elementary SchoolDistrict 11: 2 pm Sept. 6 at Eugene McCray Community CenterDistrict 9: 6 pm Sept. 8 at University Christian Church District 5: 6 pm Sept. 10 at the Fort Worth East Regional LibraryDistrict 2: 6 pm Sept. 11 at Northside Community CenterDistrict 8: 6 pm Sept. 15 at the William M. McDonald YMCA
Eddie García, the former Dallas police chief who departed for Austin last year despite efforts by city leaders to keep him, will be Fort Worth's next police chief. The appointment comes less than a year after García became an assistant city manager in Austin, joining former Dallas city manager T.C. Broadnax. García's swift return to North Texas was driven by a realization during his time in Austin that he was “born to be a cop.” In other news, Cindy Rodriguez-Singh, the North Texas mother accused of killing her young son, is now in Tarrant County custody, FBI and Tarrant County officials said Thursday; the Powerball jackpot rose to $700 million after no one won the big prize Wednesday night. The odds of winning the jackpot are 1 in 292.2 million, while the odds of winning some sort of smaller prize are about 1 in 25. And the first White Castle burger in Texas is expected to open in The Colony in the summer of 2026, a spokeswoman for the fast-food company confirmed to The Dallas Morning News. And if you'd like to learn more about the North Texas food scene then listen to Eat Drink D-FW, a podcast produced by the Dallas Morning News. A new episode just dropped with the title, ‘Chefs are just like us!' and you can find it in this feed or wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
In episode 214, Coffey talks with Joe Frodsham about CMP's fourth annual national pulse check on C-Suite mental health, wellbeing, and leadership challenges. They discuss executive mental health normalization since COVID; executive well being; clinical support and performance psychology for executives; individual vs one-size-fits-all wellness approaches; ROI metrics including career health indicators and management reviews; improved communication and engagement trends; remote work impacts on introverts vs extroverts; executive job security varying by ownership structure with private equity creating highest stress; and the importance of clear cultural decisions during mergers and acquisitions. CMP's C-Suite State of Mind Pulse Check 2025 is available at https://www.careermp.com/csuite-pulse-check-2025. 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. Business Credit for SPHRs. To obtain the recertification information for this episode, visit https://goodmorninghr.com. About our Guest: Joe Frodsham is President of CMP, the largest minority- and woman-owned talent solutions firm in the nation. CMP supports thousands of professionals in career transition annually while deploying contemporary assessment, coaching, and training solutions for targeted succession and development. Joe has extensive experience across Fortune 500 companies in leading human resource functions and building cutting-edge talent management systems. Joe is a regular contributor to Forbes, co-hosts the American Narratives podcast, and has co-authored two seminal books on careers—Make it Work and Don't Dread Monday. Joe will be presenting at the Fort Worth HR Strategic Mindset Conference on September 12th. And you can learn more about that conference at fwhr.org. Joe Frodsham can be reached at https://www.careermp.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/jfrodsham 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: Recognize that executive mental health directly impacts business outcomes and implement clinical support resources and individualized wellness strategies rather than generic programs. Develop better metrics for measuring engagement including career health indicators, management reviews with upward feedback, and individual assessment tools that drive real-time conversations. Understand that job security and stress levels vary significantly by ownership structure (private equity vs public vs privately held) and tailor retention strategies accordingly.
Cindy Singh was found and arrested in India. We speak to the Everman police chief
BIG STORY: Taylor Rehmet is a union leader running as the only Democrat in a special election jungle primary for Texas Senate District 9, which comprised roughly half of Tarrant County. The election is in November, going against 2 far right extremists.SHORT STORY 1: Tarrant County Commissioners Court wants to reduce voting locations by 40%.SHORT STORY 2: Fort Worth's city budget proposal focuses on lowering taxes & cutting services.Tarrant County proposed budget considers lower property tax rate & tighter budget.SHORT STORY 3: Regional Transportation Council's Transit sub-committee is working on a plan to spend $217 billion in public transit infrastructure over the next 25 years. WINS: No Cuts to TREConfluence Program by the Conservation Alliance seeks to fund enviromental non-profits led by people of color.Streams and Valley's has a plan called confluence as well, and just hired a new executive director, Lauren Deen.Millions for public art could go before Fort Worth voters in a 2026 bondLOSSES: Lost opportunities without the Community Arts CenterFort Worth weighs the $58 million cost of graveling alleyways to tackle weeds Thankfully this is is not moving forward. ACTIONS:Donate Now -> Support Tarrant For ChangeLet Tarrant County Commissioners Court know that you oppose reducing voting locations before the vote on Tuesday, August 19th. Community Design Fort Worth has two in-person events this week. Transit Mixer on Wednesday August 20th from 4:30-6:30pm at Acre Distiliing and a Urban Design Talk on Design Justice Thursday, August 21st at 6pm at Texas Wesleyan University. SteerFW's Civic Summit is Saturday, August 23rd from 10am - 3pm at Simpli.fi in the Stockyards. It's a half-day conference about the most pressing issues in our city. Buy your tickets here.
Stories we're following this morning at Progress Texas:As day 12 of the Texas House quorum break arrives, those Dems have announced plans to return for the promised second special session, in part “to build a strong public legislative record for the upcoming legal battle” https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/14/texas-house-democrats-plan-return-quorum-break-redistricting/...They plan to wait until California's retaliatory redistricting map is unveiled, likely later today: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/14/us/texas-democrats-return.html...California Gavin Newsom will ask that state's voters to approve bypassing their independent redistricting commission on November 4: https://apnews.com/article/texas-california-redistricting-battle-f0ac783b6a5fd6ecaab0ca419125b72a...A Tarrant County judge has put off for about two weeks a ruling on a temporary restraining order against fundraising for the quorum breakers by Beto O'Rourke's Powered By People, Ken Paxton's push to charge O'Rourke with contempt of court, and O'Rourke's petition to move the case to El Paso: https://www.star-telegram.com/news/politics-government/state-politics/article311706474.htmlKen Paxton finds his early polling lead against Senator John Cornyn to have more or less evaporated, as 80% of polled voters pay close attention to the ongoing redistricting drama: https://www.texastribune.org/2025/08/15/paxton-cornyn-texas-senate-poll-august-emerson/After gaining the votes of millions of Texans on promises to improve their economic situation, Donald Trump's policies are directly putting the brakes on the Texas economy: https://www.wfaa.com/article/money/economy/texas-economy-job-growth-slowing-amid-trade-war-immigration-crackdown-dallas-fed-report-says/287-13e06c6e-ea00-4914-a8ef-a352fb725141Considering the lack of condemnation from GOP leadership or their voter base, one can interpret the acceptance of recent racist comments from State Senator Mayes Middleton and Tarrant County GOP Chair Bo French as evidence that by nature, the Texas Republican Party is a racist organization: https://www.dallasnews.com/opinion/editorials/2025/08/15/what-the-racist-attacks-on-democrats-say-about-the-texas-gop/As another weekend of protests and rallies arrives, Progress Texas reminds you to show up, be loud, and be proud - but also be smart, and don't follow anyone into anything unsafe, illegal or destructive: https://www.fightthetrumptakeover.com/Dallas/Fort Worth friends: Join Progress Texas Institute and the Legal Defense Fund in Dallas for a live podcast taping, featuring Tarrant County Commissioner Alisa Simmons, at the DEC Network Center—honoring the years since the signing of the Voting Rights Act and a review of where voting rights stand today, amid redistricting threats. Admission is free! https://act.progresstexas.org/a/vra_event_2025Austin friends: tickets are on sale now for our live podcast taping with legendary Austin FC goalkeeper Brad Stuver on September 15 at Hopsquad Brewing in Austin! Tickets are limited and are available here: https://act.progresstexas.org/a/allstaractivism_2025Progress Texas' financial reserves have dropped to about 3 months worth of funding. Help us avoid going on a permanent vacation this summer by becoming a sustaining member: https://progresstexas.org/join-pt-summer-vacation-membership-driveThanks for listening! Find our web store and other ways to support our important work at https://progresstexas.org.
Beto O'Rourke is a former U.S. Representative, presidential candidate, and one of Texas's most influential political voices. Known for his bold grassroots campaigns and unwavering commitment to democracy, Beto has inspired millions across the country with his advocacy for voting rights, gun reform, and public education. From his 2018 Senate run that galvanized a new generation of Texas voters to his relentless push for civic engagement through Powered by People, Beto continues to challenge the status quo and fight for a more inclusive, compassionate future. In this conversation, we go beyond headlines to hear what continues to fuel his mission and what he sees next for Texas and America. Check out his organization, Powered By People https://poweredxpeople.org/
In episode 213, Coffey talks with Vianei Braun about how HR leaders can effectively work with boards of directors. They discuss the strategic vs operational divide between board oversight and executive execution; skills needed for senior HR roles including broad industry perspective and data-driven insights; the importance of moving beyond compliance mindset to strategic partnership; executive compensation benchmarking and peer analysis; culture preservation during mergers and acquisitions; AI implementation ethics and workforce planning; the critical role of data in board communications; and characteristics of successful senior HR leaders including truth-telling, collaboration, and ambiguity management. 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—business credit for SPHRs! To obtain the recertification information for this episode, visit https://goodmorninghr.com. About our Guest: Vianei Braun leads the employment law practice at Decker Jones, P.C., a full-service law firm in Fort Worth. She has been recognized as a Texas Monthly “Super Lawyer” and is listed in Best Lawyers in America for Labor & Employment Law. Vianei is also a member of the Board of Directors of First Financial Bankshares, Inc. (NASDAQ: FFIN), a banking institution with assets of $14 billion and 79 banking locations throughout Texas. Vianei serves on the board's Compensation, Nom/Gov and Risk Committees and chairs the Advisory Board of First Financial Bank's Chisholm Trail Region. In addition, Vianei serves on the Board of Trustees and the Audit & Compliance Committee of Texas Health Resources. Vianei is an honors graduate of Princeton University and the University of Texas School of Law. Vianei has been honored as a “Great Woman of Texas” by the Fort Worth Business Press, and as a member of the “Fort Worth 500” by Fort Worth Inc. Vianei Braun can be reached at www.deckerjones.com www.linkedin.com/in/vianeibraunattorney 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 strategic thinking capabilities that focus on industry trends and long-term organizational health rather than just operational HR tasks when communicating with senior leadership. Present data-driven recommendations to boards using benchmarking, competitive analysis, and concrete evidence to support HR initiatives and policy changes. Shift from a compliance-focused "department of no" mindset to a collaborative problem-solving approach that offers solutions while managing organizational risks.
Plus Fort Worth is growing fast and they're looking at how to write a budget that saves people money, but also plans for all the people moving there. A few schools go back today: Alvarado, Granbury, Kaufman, Red Oak, Valley View, Gordon. State House Republicans have rolled out their version of a THC ban in committee, and more!
On the afternoon of January 13, 1996, 9-year-old Amber Hagerman was riding her bike in the parking lot of an abandoned grocery store in Arlington, Texas, when a man in a black pickup truck pulled up beside her, grabbed her off her bike, and drove away. Four days later, Amber's body was found in a creek just a few miles away. She had been murdered. Twenty-nine years later, Amber's case remains unsolved. But her name has never faded. And her legacy continues to save lives. Amber Hagerman was abducted at around 3:18 p.m. on January 13, 1996, while riding her bike in the parking lot of an abandoned Winn-Dixie store in Arlington, Texas. A witness saw a man force her into a black pickup truck and drive away. Four days later, Amber's body was found in a creek about five miles away. Her killer has never been identified. If anyone has any information, please call Arlington police at 817-575-8823 or Crime Stoppers of Tarrant County at 817-469-TIPS. Editor: Shannon Keirce Research/Writing: Haley Gray SUBMIT A CASE HERE: Cases@DetectivePerspectivePod.com SOCIAL Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/detperspective/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/detperspective FIND DERRICK HERE Twitter: https://twitter.com/DerrickL Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/DerrickLevasseur Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DerrickVLevasseur CRIME WEEKLY AND COFFEE Criminal Coffee Company: https://www.CriminalCoffeeCo.com Crime Weekly: https://crimeweeklypodcast.com/shop ADS: 1. https://www.TryMiracle.com/Detective - Use code DETECTIVE for 3 FREE towels and 40% off! 2. https://www.Smalls.com/Detective - Get 60% off and FREE shipping!
This has been a tough week for Fort Worth, Tarrant County, and Texas, as we see each level of government take further steps towards fascism. In this week's episode we discuss the leaders who are standing up, those who are giving in, and how the people are showing up for the fight.Big Story 1: Fort Worth City Council votes to suspend DEI initiatives, due to 2 latino councilmembers joining conservtive councilmembers in caving to Trump's threat to withhold federal funding, despite near unanimous public outcry in support of diversity, equity, and inclusion as a core value of Fort Worth.Short Story 2: Tarrant County Commissioners Court cut meetings to once a month, and shuts down its Human Services department, with one Democrat joining the 3 Republican commissioners.Short Story 3: Texas House Democrats break quorum to keep Republicans from passing gerrymandered redistricting maps.Wins: Freehaw - Trinity Metro offered free rides from August 4th - 10thFort Worth's live theater venues hold space for local actors to grow their careersAffordable townhomes under construction near Fort Worth hospitalDisplaced tenants sue Fort Worth apartment complex after six-alarm fireLosses: Keller City Council approves partnership with ICE despite public protestFort Worth approves $40M for public parking at Texas A&M campus downtownActions: 8/12 Fort Worth City Budget presented at city hall work session at noon.8/14 Fort Worth police chief candidates public forum at city hall from 5:30 - 8pm.8/16 - 5th Anniversary party for 817 Podcast at Carpenter's Cafe from 6 - 9pm.
Attorney General Ken Paxton argued in a lawsuit filed Thursday evening that Illinois law enforcement officers should be allowed to arrest Texas House Democrats who have been staying in the Chicago area this week. in other news, Dallas' Park and Recreation Department is looking to slash $3 million from its budget by cutting positions, closing pools and reducing hours at recreation centers; an alligator was captured and removed from Eagle Mountain Lake in Tarrant County on Thursday morning. The 11 foot-long adult male alligator “was safely measured, tagged and relocated to a protected, more remote location.” It weighed close to 300 pounds; and did Chicago-based Italian Beef and Hot Dog restaurant Portillo's open too many restaurants in Dallas-Fort Worth? Find out in today's edition. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices
In episode 212, Coffey talks with Elisa Ellis about dress codes, personal authenticity at work, and how employee appearance impacts business performance and career advancement.They discuss research showing dressed professionals outperform casual counterparts in negotiations; Starbucks dress code changes and employee pushback; balancing authenticity with professional standards; remote work appearance challenges; “enclothed cognition” research on clothing's psychological effects; specific vs general dress code guidelines; ways employees can express personality while maintaining consistency; managing difficult dress code conversations with employees; and the business impact of first impressions.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:It takes less than seven seconds to make a first impression. Elisa is a wardrobe stylist, speaker, best-selling author, and online course creator.Elisa says what HR can't and works with businesses to help them guide and educate their teams on professional presence, revealing how upgrading your attire ignites productivity, amplifies sales, and fosters collaboration and overall success.Personal styling is more than a wardrobe haul; it's a transformation that introduces you to your inner awesomeness.For nearly a decade, Elisa has transformed the closets and lives of clients across the US and abroad. Whether you're a business owner, executive, or entrepreneur, how you show up matters.Elisa Ellis can be reached at https://www.turnkeystyle.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/elisaellis https://www.instagram.com/stylishcurvygirlAbout 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 employee appearance directly impacts business outcomes, with research showing significant differences in sales performance and decision-making abilities based on professional dress.2. Develop clear, specific dress code guidelines that provide examples and accommodate different roles while maintaining brand consistency across the organization.3. Frame dress code conversations around employee growth and career advancement rather than personal criticism, emphasizing the connection between professional appearance and business opportunities.
We don't just have money problems—we have money perception problems. In Part 2 of our three-part Money Dysmorphia series with Backbone, I'm joined by Melissa Burleson, a certified financial counselor at Tarrant County's Credit Union, who brings nearly 20 years of wisdom, service, and heart to this conversation. Melissa knows firsthand how money dysmorphia—our distorted view of our financial reality—can sabotage even the smartest budgeter or most determined saver. We talk about how money dysmorphia can swing both ways—from feeling constantly behind despite doing all the right things, to overspending and living beyond your means to project financial success. And Melissa shares powerful personal stories, real-life coaching moments, and practical tools to start shifting from emotional chaos to financial clarity. You'll walk away with: A deeper understanding of the emotional triggers behind overspending and avoidance How generational money beliefs and social media comparison fuel money dysmorphia Why many people tie their self-worth to a credit score—and how to break that cycle How to recognize when emotional thinking is clouding financial decisions What it takes to move from “I'm bad with money” to “I trust myself with money” Keep up with all things Everyone's Talkin' Money by following us on Instagram. If you loved what you heard, rate us 5 stars and like and follow us on your favorite podcast app! Thank you to our sponsors! Policygenius - Head to policygenius.com to compare free life insurance quotes from top companies and see how much you could save. Ava - Help build your credit score with Meetava.com. Use promo code: Money Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices
In episode 211, Coffey talks with Michelle Haugh about recent HR-related news stories related to workplace romances, family members intervening in the workplace, and declining employee engagement.They discuss the Astronomer.io CEO and CPO resignation after being caught on a kiss cam at a Coldplay concert; workplace relationship policies and conflict of interest considerations; family members inappropriately intervening in workplace matters including interviews and disciplinary actions; declining employee engagement levels comparable to 2020 COVID-era lows; the impact of economic uncertainty and social pressures on workplace morale; the importance of transparent communication during difficult times; and strategies for addressing engagement issues through accountability and leadership development at all organizational levels.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:Michele Haugh is a seasoned HR expert with decades of experience across various roles, from specialist to senior leadership positions. Transitioning from corporate HR to consulting a decade ago, she co-founded EarlyHR solutions, offering strategic support to over 200 early and growth stage organizations.Recognizing the crucial link between employee engagement and organizational success, Michele introduced EarlyEngage, a subscription-based service focusing on professional development and fostering engagement.With a BS in Business and SPHR certification, she completed her Masters in HR and Organization Development in December, 2024 and was named "HR Consultant of the Year" by DallasHR in February 2025. Her passion lies in promoting inclusive practices, positive leadership, and people-first cultures.She is also the founder of CollabHRate, a thriving HR Consulting Community fostering collaboration and education for external consultants.Outside of work, Michele finds joy in her role as a wife and mother to three children. Her adventurous spirit has led her to live in Bangkok, backpack across Europe, and raft through the Grand Canyon. Yet, she equally treasures quiet moments with her pups, indulging in a good book, and hosting gatherings with loved ones.Michele Haugh can be reached athttps://www.earlyengage.comhttps://www.earlyhrsolutions.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/michele-haugh-shrm-scp-401722bhttps://www.instagram.com/earlyengageAbout 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. Establish clear policies regarding workplace relationships and family member involvement in employment matters to maintain professional boundaries and prevent conflicts of interest.2. Address declining employee engagement proactively by gathering honest feedback, communicating transparently about organizational challenges, and avoiding defensive responses to criticism.3. Develop leadership behaviors and accountability standards at all organizational levels rather than viewing engagement as solely a management responsibility.
In episode 210, Coffey talks with economist Richard Froeschle about the US economy and how generational demographics are affecting the labor force.They discuss the impact of tariff-related economic uncertainty on the labor market; challenges in the quality of federal statistical data; AI's impact on entry-level positions and experienced workers; generational workforce composition; rising reservation wages and skills mismatches among recent graduates; the importance of work-based learning and trades education; remote work patterns in different workforce segments; challenges with mentorship and feedback for younger workers in a remote workforce; and immigration's critical role in addressing labor force needs.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:Rich Froeschle is a labor market economist and a highly regarded speaker on a wide array of topics relating to the Texas economy, regional labor markets, and workforce and education programs. He is the Senior Labor Market Economist for Texas State Technical College and the former Director of the Labor Market and Career Information department of the Texas Workforce Commission. Mr. Froeschle has a Bachelor's degree in Economics from the University of Texas at Austin and a Master's degree in Manpower and Industrial Relations from the University of North Texas, where he also taught microeconomics and regional labor market analysis. He has made presentations at over 600 conference events over the past twenty-five years on a variety of labor market topics. His many writings include the books How Many is Enough? A Practitioners Guide to Occupational Targeting and Supply/Demand Analysis and Where the Jobs Are, plus a dozen monographs including Life After COVID: Economic & Job Market Phenomena to Ponder Post-pandemic. His most recent research has centered on the use of skills to understand regional labor market dynamics, educational alignment, and career progressions.Richard Froeschle can be reached at https://www.linkedin.com/in/richard-froeschle-01a87b13/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 strategic workforce planning for talent development pathways considering demographics and the impact of AI.2. Address the skills mismatch between educational credentials and market demand.3. Develop structured mentorship and feedback systems that accommodate generational communication preferences while ensuring knowledge transfer from experienced to emerging workers.
Big Story: The Cooper FireCooper Fire relief fund reached $100,000 and distributes to fire victimsRenters at The Cooper reeling after Fort Worth fire. Many had no insuranceFort Worth firefighters, city learning lessons from six-alarm Cooper fireDisplaced Cooper tenants forge community, demand accountability after Fort Worth fireShort Story 1: Fort Worth Police Chief finalists announcedShort Story 2: Republican precinct chairs refuse to hold Bo French accountableShort Story 3: Innovation in Fort WorthDrone deliveries to take off in East Fort WorthMP Materials and AppleAI supercomputer plant could land in Fort Worth Wins: Transit Zine was released!Heartland Flyer gets $3.5M to keep Fort Worth-Oklahoma City route alive for a yearFort Worth girls raise over $64K for Camp MysticLosses: Greg Abbott called for a special session that starts July 21. Actions:August 5th - Fort Worth City Council meeting to vote on DEIAugust 14th - Fort Worth Police Chief finalists forum at 5:30pm at City HallNext week Wesley & Ann will be gone, so there will be no episode. But we'll be back August 4th.
Plus 4 dead and 16 hospitalized following an awful bus accident operated by company out of Fort Worth, Keller police and the city jail could soon become the first in Tarrant County to enter into a formal partnership with federal immigration authorities, Chiefs wide receiver Rashee Rice is sentenced to 30 days in jail and five years deferred probation, and more!
In episode 209, Coffey talks with Mallory Herrin about how experiences throughout the employment lifecycle affect employers' brands.They discuss how recruiting has changed with shifting employee expectations across generations and labor market scarcity; the definition of employer brand; common recruiting mistakes that impact brand perception; the importance of organized onboarding; strategies for transparent career pathing and professional development; handling employee exits and layoffs to protect employer brand; measuring employer brand; the critical role of manager training; and the need for transparency about business circumstances and organizational changes to maintain trust.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 three-quarters of a recertification credit. To obtain the recertification information for this episode, visit https://goodmorninghr.com.About our Guest:Mallory Herrin is an experienced human resources consultant and industry recognized thought leader, serving as HerrinHR's CEO and Principal HR Consultant. She is a frequent speaker at HR conferences and the author of Intentional HR: A Revolution in Strategic Thinking. With 20 years of HR experience, she holds certifications from both HRCI and SHRM, and has been named one of the Top 5 Most Influential Women Leaders in HR and DallasHR's HR Executive of the Year - Small Company.Mallory Herrin can be reached athttps://www.herrinhr.comhttps://www.linkedin.com/in/malloryherrinAbout 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. Design streamlined recruiting processes that prioritize candidate communication, realistic timelines, and efficient interview structures to protect employer brand.2. Implement comprehensive onboarding programs with detailed schedules, competency roadmaps, and clear performance expectations to ensure new employees feel valued and prepared for success.3. Develop transparent communication strategies about career paths, business circumstances, and organizational changes while training managers to effectively lead and engage their teams rather than simply manage tasks.
If you've ever tried to schedule a behavioral health appointment for your child, you likely know the wait can be longer than expected – even months. But did you know there's a major shortage of child psychiatrists nationwide? In fact, there are roughly 850 child psychiatrists in Texas serving seven million children.On this episode of Raising Joy, we're talking about solutions with Gunit Kahlon, M.D., and Nanette Allison, D.O., who lead Fort Worth's first Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship program at JPS Health Network. The program, which includes rotations at JPS Health Network and Cook Children's, aims to increase access to mental health care for children and teens. With the first graduating class now working in Tarrant County, access to timely care and reduced wait times are more than a dream – they're becoming reality.In this episode you'll learn: The impact of the shortage of child psychiatrists in North TexasHow the Child & Adolescent Psychiatry Fellowship will help reduce wait times for mental health resourcesHow the collaboration between health networks stresses the importance of communityRetaining fellows offers potential growth for mental health services in the future
Progressives across Texas are taking note of the recent return of former Tarrant County Democratic Party Chair Allison Campolo to that important post. As the political tides turn across the nation, a flip in Tarrant County would likely be a harbinger of even more widespread and long-overdue change across the Lone Star State, so having an experienced progressive fighter (and actual Kung Fu champion) in this key position is welcome news indeed. Progress Texas board member and longtime Fort Worth politico Jason Smith joins us for a fun and important discussion.Learn more about Allison Campolo and the Tarrant County Democratic Party at https://tarrantdemocrats.org/.
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.
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.
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.
The Four Star Leadership Podcast: Core Principles of Leadership with General Tommy Franks
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.
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