Wow- what an amazing "American Made Story"! 

Dr. Mitchell 'Mick'  Zais has quite the background of service and experience.

Growing up in a military family, Mick attended 10 public schools in 12 years. 

Mick earned a Bachelor of Science in engineering from West Point, a Master of Science and a doctorate in social psychology and organizational behavior from the University of Washington, and a Master of Arts in military history from the School for Advanced Military Studies at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. He did post-doctoral studies in national security affairs at the National Defense University in Washington, D.C.

During his military career, Mick served as deputy commanding general at Fort Riley, Kansas, and as an assistant professor at West Point. 
During 31 years as an Army infantryman, paratrooper, and ranger, he served in Vietnam, Korea, Panama, and Kuwait. He was a social aide in the Nixon White House; at West Point, he taught organizational behavior, leadership, and management consulting; and in the Pentagon, he was Chief of War Plans. His military awards and decorations include the Distinguished Service Medal, the Defense Superior Service Medal, the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Air Medal, the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal, the Humanitarian Service Medal, the Ranger, Airborne, and Combat Infantryman's badges, and the South Carolina Meritorious Service Medal.

Zais most recently served as deputy secretary of the U.S. Department of Education. He was confirmed by the U.S. Senate on May 16, 2018, after being nominated by President Donald J. Trump on Oct. 5, 2017. Prior to serving in the Trump White House, he ran for and was elected South Carolina’s 17th State Superintendent of Education, the second Republican to hold that office.  

Dr. Zais also served for 10 years as president of Newberry College, a private institution founded before the Civil War. While at Newberry, Mick served as chairman of the presidents' councils of both the South Carolina Independent Colleges and Universities and the South Atlantic Athletic Conference. He was also a member of the board of directors for the Foundation for Independent Higher Education, the Lutheran Education Conference of North America, the South Carolina Tuition Grants Commission, the South Carolina Commission on Higher Education, and the Southern Regional Education Board. 

Dr. Zais is currently continuing his service as a Senior Fellow in the Center for Education Opportunity at AFPI during these critical years in American History. 

An ardent philatelist, Zais has been married for 42 years to Susan. They have two adult children. His son is a cyber security professional and sergeant in the South Carolina National Guard. His daughter, the former Miss South Carolina USA, is a full-time mom. Zais and Susan have six grandchildren between the ages of three and 10.

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Charlie Brown

Precision Plumbing

CEO, CCO, AFC

Charlie entered the plumbing industry as an apprentice in 1977. He became a licensed Journeyman in 1980 and shortly thereafter received his Master Plumbing license and organized Precision Plumbing in 1981. At that time the business was one man and a truck focusing on repair work. Today it is a multimillion-dollar business with more than 250 employees. Charlie served as CEO and Chief Culture Officer of the firm until his retirement in 2021. He has served on the board of the North Carolina Plumbing Heating and Cooling Contractor’s Association and the Charlotte Chapter of the American Sub-Contractors Association. Charlie goals were to seek new ideas and innovation in the construction industry while fulfilling God’s purpose with the people and businesses he has been entrusted with.  

Personal (family, ministries and civic organizations)

Charlie is married with three boys and six grandchildren. He was a member of C-12 for 15 years, (A Christian CEO Executive Board). He is an ordained deacon and serves at Mercy Church in Monroe, NC. He is currently serving on boards for “The King’s Kitchen” and the “Charlotte Mecklenburg Dream Center”.  He served several years with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes by serving as a Board Member for them. He is very much involved in volunteer work and is active in both local and foreign missions work. He feels that the workplace is one of the greatest places to bless people and help them find fulfillment. Charlie enjoys mentoring young men and women and spends several days a month meeting with a number of them to help them through life.

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Wow, it was an honor to sit down with a real life Andy Griffith!!! Tune in to hear from the legendary Eddie Cathey. 

Sheriff Eddie Cathey has been in law enforcement for more than 45 years. He grew up in western North Carolina but has lived all around the state during his years with the Highway Patrol. Sheriff Cathey graduated from Pisgah High School in 1967. He worked at construction and at the Enka nylon plant until being inducted into the United States Army in 1969.  He completed basic training at Ft. Bragg and was assigned to the military police training at Fort Gordon, Georgia.  After training he was assigned to Korea at a Nuclear Hercules missile site on the Yellow Sea. While there he was given secret clearance to work inside the missile site. He was later promoted to the section director for the attack dog section responsible for security for the sight.

Sheriff Cathey was honorably discharged after his tour of duty and returned home to the textile plant where he soon decided to pursue a career in law enforcement at the Canton Police Department.

After eleven months he applied and was accepted by the Highway Patrol. In August of 1974 he was assigned to Union County as his first duty station. He was selected to be in the first class of sniper trained Highway Patrolmen in the State and was selected under Governor Martin to be in the first class trained under the secret service training for executive security.  In 1985 he was promoted to Line Sergeant and assigned to Scotland, Hoke, and Richmond counties. He later transferred to Henderson, Polk, and Transylvania counties. In 1989 he was promoted to First Sergeant and assigned to Roanoke Rapids supervising Halifax and North Hampton counties until being transferred back to Union County in 1991 where he remained as the First Sergeant over Union and Anson Counties until his retirement on September 30, 2000.

During his career he transported and was responsible for the security of such dignitaries as President Gerald Ford, Senator Robert Dole, West Virginia Governor Nelson Rockefeller, Jr.; North Carolina Governors’ James Holshouser, Jim Hunt and Jim Martin, United States Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas, United States Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, The Dalai Lama, numerous heads of state and dignitaries and last but not least, Elvis Presley and Mick Jaggar.

He was elected Sheriff of Union County and was sworn in on December 1, 2002.

Sheriff Cathey has been quoted as saying that becoming Sheriff has been one of the best decisions he has ever made and hasn't found anything about the job that he does not like.

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An amazing interview with the founder of Public Square, Michael Seifert. We love hearing the story behind the founding of America's Marketplace! Tune in to hear about the first years of pioneering,  ringing the bell at the New York Stock Exchange, and the future vision for the company! 

Michael Seifert is the Founder, CEO, and President at PublicSq. Michael is a recognized thought leader in the areas of business development, politics, and culture. Michael has a proven track record of growing businesses with past experience as the head of marketing for a notable recreational equipment firm with over $1 billion in assets and $3 billion in in sales. He also has a proven track record for leadership as the Executive Director of the University Program for one of the most successful non-profit organizations in the United States. Michael lives in Carlsbad, California, with his wife, Sarah Gabel and their daughter, Lily.

Join the Public Square movement:

https://publicsq.com/

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Nick Hakim is a Co-Founder and Principal of Pioneer Communities. As Chief Executive Officer, he is responsible for overseeing all aspects of the due diligence process as well as managing the implementation and oversight of capital improvement plans, and day to day management of Pioneer’s portfolio.

Having held various professional roles since a young age, Nick has more than 11 years of experience in the real estate industry. Prior to co-founding Pioneer, Nick worked at City Urban Realty, a leading commercial real estate investment firm in New York City. During his tenure at City Urban, Nick led the acquisitions team in sourcing, repositioning and operating a wide range of asset classes including land, office, multifamily, mixed-use and ground-up construction.

Nick holds a B.S. in Entrepreneurship & Business Management from Quinnipiac University. Nick is a recipient of the Eagle Scout Award, B.S.A.’s highest honor, and is a Licensed New York State Real Estate Salesperson. Nick is a frequent guest at the Society of Exchange Counselors (S.E.C.), the Nation’s premier real estate exchange and investment group.

Born and raised in Upstate New York, Nick is an avid skier, cyclist, and outdoorsman.

Nick resides in Charlotte, NC and shares of his entrepreneurship journey from New York to North Carolina. 

Listen to hear about the start of his entrepreneurship journey! 


Mackenzie Moser Contact Information: 
Email: [email protected]

If there is someone whose story needs to be shared on American Made Stories, please feel free to reach out! 

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Entrepreneurship with founder of Jetton & Meredith, PLLC & Elite North Carolina Lawyer- Mark S. Jetton, Jr. 

Mark S. Jetton, Jr. is an accomplished trial attorney who focuses his practice on criminal defense, personal injury, and workers compensation. He has been named one of the Best Attorneys of America, a legal Elite and has won many prestigious awards. 

Mark S. Jetton Jr. played college football and brings a competitive approach to the courtroom. He has earned an impressive reputation of being an aggressive, hard working attorney inside and outside the courtroom. 

"I apply the two basic principles to the practice of law which I have lived my life by: hard work and toughness. I am a firm believer if a person is willing to work hard and stay tough, they will be successful in whatever they do. I promise my clients from the outset, I will work hard an be a tough advocate for them to the conclusion of their case." - Mark S. Jetton, Jr. 

If you would like to learn more or reach out to Mark S. Jetton, Jr.: 

www.jettonmeredithlaw.com 


Mackenzie Moser Contact Information: 
Email: [email protected]

If there is someone whose story needs to be shared on American Made Stories, please feel free to reach out! 

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July 4th! An incredible day to celebrate!

In Congress, July 4, 1776

The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America, When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.--Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world…

…We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these United Colonies are, and of Right ought to be Free and Independent States; that they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.

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Ground 40 Ministries is the first non-profit interview on American Made Stories! 

Today's interview is with Wesley Keziah, founder of Ground 40 Ministries. 

Recovery is possible. 

From 82 arrests, alcoholism, addiction and hopelessness, Wesley Keziah shares the story behind Ground 40 Ministries. 

Ground 40 Ministries  help men transition back into the community from homelessness, addiction, and incarceration.

Ground 40 Ministries facilitates this through discipleship, and educating them on strong, biblical principles, through a practical three stage process listed below.

The process starts at our Ground 40 Farm. This is where, for one month,  men get the chance to disconnect, and solely focus on their sobriety and relationship with the Lord, free of all noise and distractions. 

After the farm, the men move on to our second stage, the Ground 40 Ranch. For 5 months, at the ranch, the men get the chance to begin community service outreach, work on getting a job, and restoring broken relationships.

Lastly, the men graduate from the free, 6 month program, they then have the opportunity to move into one of our transitional homes. This is where they get the chance to live on their own, while still having accountability, working, and being back in the community.

Ground 40 Ministries cannot continue to help these men without your support. Your giving directly impact’s their futures. We humbly ask you to consider becoming a monthly donor to help us save these men’s lives.

After listening to Wesley Keziah's story and the heart behind Ground 40 Ministry, if you feel a call to donate, please see the link below: 

https://app.clovergive.com/app/giving/clodo-ground40

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A young Ecuadorian dreamer seeking to accomplish her goals, explore new opportunities and find out what America is all about! 


Mackenzie Moser Contact Information: 
Email: [email protected]
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mackenziemoser_realestate/ 
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mackenzie-moser-ccim-8191b576/
Phone: (704) 280 4649 

If there is someone whose story needs to be shared on American Made Stories, please feel free to reach out! 

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