6 Degrees or Less

Jim Priest is a great example of why I created this podcast and why I have such a passion for networking (i.e. relationshiping). I first met Jim about two months ago, as he was the guest speaker at the Oklahoma City Human Resources Society (OCHRS) chapter meeting in late August. I felt an immediate connection to Jim as he talked about culture and the C suite's (not just HR) role in defining corporate culture. I introduced myself after the meeting and suggested we get together soon for coffee. Shortly after that breakfast meeting, we sat down and had this conversation here in a busy McDonald's to talk about his deep and diverse background, how he's managed to impact and lead culture change, and how the HR profession has evolved over the years.

Jim Priest is a husband, dad, columnist, author, community activist and President of Sage counsel, a consulting practice which imparts wisdom and impacts lives through executive coaching, training, strategic advising and legal advice.  https://sage-counsel.com

Jim was previously the CEO of one of Oklahoma’s largest nonprofits and was a trial lawyer for 34 years, focusing on employment and civil rights.

Jim is the husband of one wife, Diane; the father of two children, Amanda and Spencer, and is owned by one dog named Jeter (yes, she’s named after Derek Jeter!). He is also an Olympic-level grandfather to his namesake grandson, James.

www.6degreesorless.com

www.sethmccolley.com

I met Jackie Chabot years ago and we've stayed connected across time, different roles (for both of us) and space. Tune in as we talk about hot topics like ageism, VSCO girls, college football and staying relevant as a job-seeker. This is a fun conversation that took some twists and turns that I never saw coming!

About Jackie Chabot

Having spent over 25 years in Human Resources, Talent Acquisition & Development, and Executive Search, Jackie brings a unique perspective and keen eye for talent - believing that having the 'right person in the right place at the right time' will add immediate value to the business. 

Jackie has worked across all industries (including professional services, healthcare, financial services, business process outsourcing, and defense) and has worked with Executives and Managers at all levels within an organization (from Fortune 50 companies to small privately held firms) to fill key roles.

During the past few years, Jackie has successfully managed searches to fill senior management-level positions in Accounting & Finance, Compensation, Compliance, Human Resources, Legal, Sales & Marketing, and Security.

Jackie has a B.S. degree in Health from SUNY, Cortland, and earned her M.S. degree in Organizational Development from Chapman University in Irvine, California.

www.chabottalentsolutions.com

www.sethmccolley.com

www.6degreesorless.com

I recently connected with Kristen on LinkedIn and we both share the same passion for people, for learning and for empowering others. A virtual "coffee meeting" led to an invitation to be on my podcast, which in turn, led to this conversation here. I'm excited to introduce others to Kristen and hope that you'll enjoy the conversation as much as we had having it!

For the last 12 years Kristen has consulted with hundreds of organizations in various industries helping them create more positive and productive workplaces. Her specialties have been talent management, leadership development, organizational wellness, team effectiveness and performance management.

Kristen is a graduate of McMaster University, having attained her Honors Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and Psychology. She is accredited through the International Coach Federation and completed her coach training and certification through The Coaches Training Institute (CTI) where she achieved her CPCC designation.

On a personal note, Kristen is a big believer in kindness and intentional living. She’s passionate about humanizing the workplace and creating empowering work environments where people thrive.

www.kristenharcourt.com

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristenharcourt/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/@kristenharcourt/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kristenharcourt/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kristenharcourt/

Satyen Pathak (aka Salt) is my oldest and dearest friend, as we grew up together in Sugar Land, Texas and lived through many of life’s highs and lows together. When we both found ourselves living in Dallas and going through the job search process together several years ago, we actually talked about memorializing our interviewing/networking experiences somehow and sharing with others...but it never happened. I never forgot that and those thoughts were a big part of how and why I created this podcast. I hope you’ll enjoy this conversation as much as we enjoyed having it!

Satyen Pathak has been in the material handling industry for 20 years and has held several roles from Product Management, Technical Support, to Business Development. He has traveled the globe to speak at conferences, panel discussions, trade shows, and to support industry educational organizations. Satyen holds industry patents and has won product innovation awards. He holds an MBA from Ashford University in Organizational Leadership. He has a passion for road cycling, golfing, travelling, and most of all spending time with his family.

Twitter: @tasteoftech

FB: https://www.facebook.com/satyen.pathak.9

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/satyen-pathak-b3789b13

Email: [email protected]

Phone: 513-496-9639

I sat down recently with Timothy Wheeler, President and CEO of Wheeler Staffing Partners, a staffing firm based in Allen, Texas. We talked about how we got connected, shared stories about networking, and the importance of leveraging tools like LinkedIn as a job seeker and working professional. Timothy's easy demeanor and years of experience in the business made this a great conversation!

For Timothy, recruiting started at an early age as he was a sought after football recruit coming out of his high school near Oklahoma City. Early on, he saw the good, the bad, and the ugly side of recruiting of high-level athletes. After finishing his football career and college degree at Texas A&M University - Commerce, he decided to start a recruiting career with one of the nation's largest staffing firms, Aerotek. The rest, as they say, is history. Over the last 24 years, he's worked several recruiting jobs eventually becoming President/COO of HLP Solutions, an IT, Telecommunications, Engineering staffing firm based in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. In 2012, he became CEO and Partner of WheelHouse Resource Partners, another staffing firm based in Plano, Texas. In June 2014, he founded Wheeler Staffing Partners, a staffing firm focused on contract, contract-to-hire, direct hire, contingency, and executive positions. Wheeler Staffing Partners started in his house and has grown to nearly 90 employees. The firm just celebrated their five-year anniversary. 

When he's not working requisitions and landing people jobs, he spends his time on the football field...as a coach. Timothy's got a passion for youth sports and gives back by coaching young boys who are getting ready to play junior high football in Rockwall, Texas. 

www.6degreesorless.com

www.wheelersp.com

I recently met Gregory Tall at a conference I was attending in Chicago. He was one of several speakers and I was instantly drawn to his high energy, positive personality. With several shared work experiences and a shared appreciation for networking and creating meaningful professional relationships, I knew that Greg was someone I needed to get to know and someone I needed to invite to be a guest on this podcast. Fortunately, he agreed and I'm glad to share our conversation with you here. 

About Gregory Tall:

Gregory Tall is a high-energy speaker and facilitator who helps professionals & entrepreneurs become better communicators. 

After spending 15 years helping high-growth organizations acquire & develop diverse talent and build top workplaces, Gregory now designs and facilitates interactive learning experiences that teach participants how to communicate with employees, peers, customers, investors, and other stakeholders in the most compelling way.

Gregory’s immersive workshops include his signature high-energy delivery, interactive exercises, videos, mobile technology and slide decks that are pure eye candy! Gregory has delivered hundreds of presentations in settings ranging from the boardroom of a 30-person start-up company to the unexplainably chilly hotel ballroom filled with hundreds of heavily-caffeinated conference attendees. Gregory’s past clients have included highly-recognized Fortune 500 companies, mission-driven not-for-profit organizations, and volunteer-led professional associations.

Gregory holds an M.B.A. from the Morris Graduate School of Management, and a Bachelor Degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign. 

Gregory is also an avid reader & walker, a public radio junkie, a shameless abuser of Post-It easel pads and someone who absolutely insists on having a chocolate chip cookie. Every. Single. Day.

www.gregorytall.com

www.6degreesorless.com

I consider myself fortunate to have a friend and mentor in David Alexander. Our relationship has spanned nearly 15 years, starting in Seattle, Washington and landed in the DFW area. I value his wisdom, his experience and his calming presence. David and I recently sat down (again) to talk about our connection, the value of networking, and the importance of putting others first when it comes to relationshiping.

David Alexander is a seasoned global human resources executive with extensive experience building organizational and people capability in top global firms including SAP, AT&T, Washington Mutual and Gateway Computers. David is presently a Managing Director with the Human Capital Group, a global executive search and leadership advisory. He is also currently serving as a board member for Simple Pay, a growing health insurance company based in Dallas.

Prior to joining the Human Capital Group, David served as the Chief People Officer for Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers, one of the fastest growing and most successful privately held restaurant chains. During David’s tenure, the company grew from 10,000 to nearly 20,000 employees and doubled its restaurant count from 200 to 400 worldwide.

Before joining Raising Cane’s, David was recruited to Fleetpride Inc., a TPG portfolio company that is the largest independent distributor of parts for the large truck industry. David was responsible for building Fleetpride’s recruitment and sales training capability. Prior to Fleetpride, David served as the Chief Human Resources Officer for DFC Global, a publicly held global financial services firm with 10 businesses in 13 different countries. During his tenure at DFC, David built the business case and successfully implemented Workday across all businesses globally. He also redesigned and implemented the global talent management and performance management system.

Before joining Fleetpride, David held significant senior leadership roles with SAP, Washington Mutual, AT&T, Gateway Computer, Allied Signal and Compaq Computers. David’s tenure with these global companies provided him a broad and unique set of best in class experiences and skills.

David is a former United States Air Force Officer and received his Bachelor’s Degree from Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas.

www.6degreesorless.com

Jordan Gross is a new connection of mine and this conversation is a testament to the power or relationshiping and being open to saying, "yes". Jordan recently approached me on LinkedIn, inviting me to connect and sharing his quest to be on 90 podcasts in 90 days. I said, "yes" and I'm so thankful that I did. Not only do I have a new connection with shared values around networking, connecting with others, building relationships and positive thinking, but I've got a new friend in Jordan Gross. This conversation is the second conversation we ever had and I know you'll enjoy!

Jordan is a Northwestern and Kellogg School of Management graduate, a two-time startup founder, a TEDx speaker, and a #1 best-selling author. His upcoming book, The Journey to Cloud Nine, provides a new approach to the personal development world by using fictional storytelling to reveal some of life's most meaningful principles. Jordan has been asking hundreds of people around the world how they live their lives on cloud nine, and he cannot wait to share this with all of you!  

#networking

#relationshiping

#cloudnineliving

#thethirddoor

#6degreesorless

I recently spent some dedicated time with Ed Wallace as we're partnering to create a leadership development program at Kirby-Smith Machinery, Inc. that will create "cultural ambassadors" within the organization who embody the "1KS" mindset and develop internal talent, creating future leaders of the organization.  Ed and I took a break during our work session to have a conversation about relationshiping and the power of building relational capital. Ed also shared an abbreviated version of his "cab ride to destiny" story that changed his life and impacted his entire career. Ed is a trusted partner of Kirby-Smith and new friend. I am looking forward to doing BIG things with him at Kirby-Smith!

Ed Wallace is the President of AchieveNEXT Human Capital. Ed consults with and speaks for corporations and associations across the globe with a client list that is a Who’s Who of Fortune 500 companies. He is the author of Fares to Friends, Creating Relational Capital, Business Relationships That Last,  and his most recent the #1 best-selling The Relationship Engine.  In addition, Ed is currently on the Executive Education faculty of Drexel’s LeBow College of Business and Villanova University’s Human Resources Master’s program.

#networking

#relationshiping

#relationalcapital

#6degreesorless

I sat down with Alex Ju just weeks away from his graduation from the University of Texas at Austin to talk about networking, relationshiping, the job search process for a graduating senior, and how he managed to juggle multiple priorities during his time college career. Alex is a friend, a Texas Wrangler brother, and an all-around good guy who's got a very bright future ahead of him as he begins his career with Lockheed Martin in Littleton, Colorado. I especially appreciate his personal mantra - put yourself out there, stay humble, and be resilient.

About Alex Ju

Alex Ju was born and raised in Houston,Texas. After graduating from High School in 2014, Alex decided to follow in his parents footsteps and attend their alma mater, The University of Texas at Austin. While there, he studied mechanical engineering and economics. In addition to his studies, Alex was elected to be the President for Texas Wranglers, a Spirit Organization, focusing on community service in Austin. He led an organization of 108 college students to serve the school and local community. During the summers of 2016 and 2017, Alex returned home to Houston, Texas and interned with TechnipFMC in new product development and supplier quality improvement programs. The new product development internship, he was exposed to the product development process, including concept selection, detailed design, prototyping and functional testing. In the supplier quality improvement internship, he gained knowledge and skills in root cause analysis by assisting suppliers in quality improvement and learned the importance of building relationships with suppliers by working collaboratively with them to drive product quality improvement. During the Summer of 2018, right before his senior year of college, Alex interned at Ford Motor Company as a Process Engineering Intern at the Van Dyke Transmission plant in Detroit, Michigan. Alex was tasked to optimize production cycle time for machining transmission cases.  By applying Six-Sigma principles, Alex collaborated with Union Automotive Workers to implement three improvement ideas to reduce the cycle time by 19%, resulting in a total cost saving of more than $4.5 million over the next five years. After graduating from college in 2019, Alex will move to Colorado to work for Lockheed Martin as a manufacturing engineer. 

Alex can be found on instagram (@alex.xiaoju) and can be contacted at [email protected]

#networking

#relationshiping

#universityoftexas

#texaswranglers

#mfsf