#hardestworkingmaningovernment

In this conversation, Dr. David B. Morse shares insights from his 25 years of global experience with leading energy companies, fulfilling sales, marketing, business development, manufacturing, and R&D positions. David is a proud member of the World Affairs Council of Houston, the United States Association of Energy Economics (Houston Chapter), and is Treasurer of the U.S. Department of Commerce’s District Export Council (Houston Chapter). Dr. Morse noticed over time that familiar approaches to negotiation never quite explained successes or failures, nor ease or difficulty. Negotiation was not a simple puzzle; it was dynamic and different every time. He developed a unique system connecting common human toolkits to successful everyday negotiation. He has now made this his life mission. He has a Ph.D in Chemistry and an MBA in International Business. More information can be found at DavidBMorse.com, www.linkedin.com/company/david-b-morse/, and https://twitter.com/Listen4Success

Thomas Zermeno has sampled many flavors of life. Currently a Validation Specialist for SSL.com, he's been a radio DJ, technical support analyst, museum docent, religious education teacher, roller derby player and official, record producer, jazz musician, Flipside Ranger, and political candidate. He wakes up each morning looking forward to the adventures to come, thankful for the opportunities he's been given and eager to taste more of what life has to offer. In this conversation, Mr. Zermeno philosophically intertwines introspection with practical advice and offers validation to nonlinear career paths and taking the long road to personal development.

Jerry Jones is a prominent fitness instructor who brings his dynamic presence and expertise to his work as a Pilates trainer and group exercise instructor at several prestigious clubs in Houston, Texas. Hailing from Wilmington, North Carolina, he attended University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the University of Texas at Austin. Mr. Jones pursued a career in fitness and nurtures a passion for  building and maintaining relationships. He strives to help people achieve personal goals through small group training and classes, recognizing an individual's fitness journey impacts more than just physical health and well-being. Beyond Mr. Jones sharing about his work and life experiences, he brings positive energy and encouraging words to this episode. Mr. Jones' experience in various fields, such as pre law, social work, as well as journalism contribute to his breadth of knowledge, and are on display in this conversation.

As Director of Procurement Services for one of the fastest growing independent school districts in the United States, Jennifer Chiu leads a team of more than ten professionals in the strategic procurement of millions of dollars worth of goods and services. In this conversation, she shares how her role is more about creating opportunities for students, teachers, and staff to succeed through providing the appropriate tools, than it is about buying things. Ms. Chiu discusses her path to success as and immigrant and woman in a male-dominated industry. She also shares book recommendations for those seeking to grow personally and professionally.

Oil and gas IT guy, Will Hennegan shares the joys of employer-paid travel and the value of diversity in education. We discuss the importance of adaptability, technology's role in career advancement, and ways to network when moving across country.

Entrepreneur and former corporate executive Kyler Moppert and I discuss gritty realities of small business ownership, extracting the most from college and connections, and proper paradigms for personal success. This interaction takes a winding path to many concepts and questions people are often hesitant to confront. Overall, this is one of the most candid conversations to date.

Experienced business and legal professional David Minton, Esq. provides insights on work-related travel, business development, and law practice. He also shares experiences in personal and professional growth. David Minton has more than ten years of law practice and management experience. He holds multiple degrees from the University of Mississippi.

Jamie Van Auken Schrum is a Children’s Librarian and troublemaker. She knows five songs by heart on the ukulele. She’s lived in the Midwest and Southwest, and currently resides with her ridiculously good looking husband and charming son in North Carolina. Our free flowing dialogue covers life experiences and lessons learned from school, work, and family. A central theme is the value of a positive attitude; Jamie Schrum also shares the value of networking, hobbies, and patience.

You can call him "Mr. President." Gary Sostack is President of CSCMP Houston Roundtable and President and Founder of ElementaLogistics, LLC. Mr. Sostack offers advice and insights from a lengthy career. His knowledge is shared at the Marilyn Davies College of Business at UHD where he serves as a Corporate Fellow, in trainings, and even on Houston Public Media. With a bit of levity, we consider some of the pathways to enjoy professional and personal success.

Two lawyers in academia sit down in this dialogue to explore career selection and advancement. Robin Boyles Hennegan is Assistant Director of Special Projects at South Texas College of Law,  which has an advocacy program that has won more than twice the championships as any other law school in the United States. Her own career has included work with law offices of varying sizes and corporations. We review some of the lessons learned through her work and life experiences. The value of internships, relationship development, and time management are among the topics covered in this discussion.

Twaun Samuel shares his depth and breadth of sage counsel in our conversation. While he now serves as the Chief of Staff for one of the most senior members of the United States House of Representatives, Mr. Samuel has served our national government in various roles. His move across the country without a promised job, during a recession, will resonate with many new graduates. His views on discerning one's vocation or calling are impactful, and his expansive educational and work experiences captivate.

After spending 10 years in secondary education, Katie Pagano Gerwitz, M.Ed. transitioned into instructional design and corporate training where she helps subject matter experts bring their ideas to the training room. Katie shares her perspectives on work-life balance, identifying your professional passion(s), and tying your personal identity into career excellence. She also offers advice for tapping one's full potential and accessing all available resources.

Mr. Wood serves as a Lead Enterprise Applications Analyst with Wellington City Council, and has held various change management, project management, and liaison roles with the Council. Prior to this public sector posting, Mr. Wood worked with major international corporations in support of programming, software infrastructure, and coding projects. In this discussion we explore his international work experience and personal journey.

In this candid conversation, we consider the decision-making process to choose a graduate program of study and the value of working abroad. Professor von Biedenfeld has been an educator in San Antonio, Texas, Honolulu, Hawai’i, and Ishikawa-ken, Japan. College students and graduates seeking to gain international experience will find particularly useful information within this exchange.

City of Pearland Mayor Pro Tem, small business owner, and Keep Pearland Beautiful Executive Director Adrian Hernandez offers his wit and perspective to this candid conversation. Councilmember Hernandez holds a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition Science and a Master of Science in Health Education from Texas A&M. Councilmember Hernandez serves and has served on numerous boards and committees over years of public service and civic contribution. We cover a range of relevant topics, such as communication and business development.

Abigail M. Gonzalez is a small business expert with municipal and federal government experience. She earned a Master of Business Administration from Texas Woman's University, and is a University of Houston - Downtown alumnus. We discuss the value of education, career decision-making, and entrepreneurship. Abigail brings her subject matter expertise and enthusiasm for supporting diverse communities using her knowledge and abilities to this candid conversation.

In this episode, University of Houston - Downtown colleague Professor Elking shares his experiences with private sector work. He also brings perspective on graduate education and ideas on discerning a best path for personal success. Professor Elking brings his knowledge of the Supply Cycle, project management, and PhD education to our discussion intended to benefit working professionals and soon-to-graduate college students.

Sarah Doucet is an experienced Senior Environmental Engineer with more than ten years of experience with air and water quality, compliance, and permitting. In this episode we discuss project and personnel management, academic and professional lessons learned, and other topics relevant to students, recent graduates, and entry level professionals.

This inaugural episode features the highly educated and experienced Kurt Gerwitz. When teaching students at Regis University, Professor Gerwitz seeks to make complex topics within finance and economics “fun, understandable, and meaningful.” Join our conversation intended to benefit students and entry-level professionals.