Ameritocracy

This week, host Troy Edgar is joined in Washington, D.C. by Steve Laurance, Chief Financial Officer at the Federal Trade Commission. Steve shares his insights from a career spanning the Department of Defense, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the FTC.

From his military background to his leadership roles in high-pressure federal agencies, Steve offers unique perspectives on public service, financial management, and the importance of consumer protection. He discusses the challenges of balancing budgets, overseeing investigations, and ensuring the FTC's mission is fulfilled.

Steve also provides his personal stories about the lessons he's learned and the importance of work-life balance.

Ameritocracy™ is produced by Prospect House Media and recorded in studio locations in Los Angeles and Washington DC.

Welcome to our monthly series where we dive into challenging topics, current events, explore faith, and much more. Expect fresh insights from familiar faces and new voices as we engage in candid discussions. Join us for open and honest fellowship, embracing diverse perspectives.

Featured guest: Rev. Barry Richards is a dear friend and mentor. He currently serves the Pentecostal City Mission Church in Los Angeles, California.

Topics explored in this episode:

• The value of a fresh perspective
• Importance of a growth mindset
• The role of contemplation
• Balancing expertise and risk
• Leveraging mastery

Recommended reading: #1 New York Times bestseller "Atomic Habits" by James Clear.

Ameritocracy™ is produced by Prospect House Media and recorded in studio locations in Los Angeles and Washington DC.

This week, host Troy Edgar is joined in Washington, D.C. by Stacy Marcott, the acting Chief Financial Officer for the Department of Homeland Security. Stacy talks about her strategies for overseeing a massive $90 billion budget, modernizing crucial financial systems, and fostering collaboration across multiple agencies.

With a distinguished federal career, beginning in the U.S. Navy, Stacy brings a unique perspective and a commitment to excellence to her role. She discusses how her military experience and great mentors have shaped her approach to financial management, and about the innovative training and workforce development initiatives she has implemented at DHS. Stacy also shares her insights on leadership, collaboration, and the lessons she's learned throughout her career.

This episode offers a fascinating glimpse into the behind-the-scenes work that ensures the security and well-being of our nation are taken care of!

Ameritocracy™ is produced by Prospect House Media and recorded in studio locations in Los Angeles and Washington DC.

This week, host Troy Edgar examines the complex legacy of John D. Rockefeller, the oil tycoon whose business practices and philanthropic endeavors shaped the 19th and early 20th centuries.

Rockefeller's story is one of ambition, innovation, and controversy. In this episode, we discuss his business strategies, including vertical integration, which led to Standard Oil's near-monopoly of the oil industry. And how he channeled his massive wealth into charitable causes that impacted education, healthcare, and scientific research.

Join us as we explore the interplay between business, government, and public interest that remains relevant today.

Recommended reading: Pulitzer Prize-winning author Ron Chernow's acclaimed biography "Titan: The Life of John D. Rockefeller, Sr."

Ameritocracy™ is produced by Prospect House Media and recorded in studio locations in Los Angeles and Washington DC.

This week on Ameritocracy, while in Washington, D.C. host Troy Edgar had the opportunity to interview Benjamin Moncarz, the Food and Drug Administration's Chief Financial Officer.

Benjamin oversees the agency's $7.2B budget, ensuring funds align with the FDA's mission to safeguard the health of over 300 million Americans and accelerate scientific innovation that drives the U.S. economy. Benjamin's previous role as the Deputy CFO of the Federal Emergency Management Agency during the COVID pandemic gave him a unique perspective on managing a large-scale operation in a dynamic environment.

In this episode, we discuss the FDA's budget management, resource allocation, and the critical role that partnerships and user fees play in driving scientific innovation. Lastly, we discussed "What is the potential of AI and technology in finance operations?"

Watch the rest of our Federal CFO series on YouTube!

Ameritocracy™ is produced by Prospect House Media and recorded in studio locations in Los Angeles and Washington DC.

This week on Ameritocracy, host Troy Edgar is joined in Washington, D.C. by Irving Dennis, the former Chief Financial Officer of the Department of Housing and Urban Development. During his time at HUD, Irv served as the Secretary's top financial advisor and managed the Department's $48B Budget. He is also the author of "Transforming a Federal Agency", where he shares his experience leading a comprehensive financial and digital overhaul that resulted in HUD's first clean audit opinion in eight years.

Having both served as CFOs leading billion-dollar federal agencies, Irv and Troy discuss their journeys from the private sector into government, the Senate confirmation process, and their shared commitment to government modernization. One key takeaway from their conversation is the critical role of transparency, compliance, and effective leadership in achieving lasting change for the betterment of the American people.

Ameritocracy™ is produced by Prospect House Media and recorded in studio locations in Los Angeles and Washington DC.

This week, Ameritocracy is in Washington, D.C. where we explore the world of international finance. Our guest is Reginald Mitchell, the U.S. Agency for International Development's Chief Financial Officer.

Reggie oversees the agency's $25 billion budget, ensuring funds are used effectively to support development programs in over 100 countries. With a background in the Navy and senior financial roles at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission, Reggie's expertise provides a unique lens into managing USAID's budgets, accounting systems, and fiscal policies.

We'll discuss the challenges and rewards of stewarding taxpayer dollars for global impact, the role of technology in modernizing financial management, and the importance of his mission.

Ameritocracy™ is produced by Prospect House Media and recorded in studio locations in Los Angeles and Washington DC.

This week on the Ameritocracy show, host Troy Edgar is joined in Washington, D.C. for an insightful conversation with Michael Parrish, Chief Acquisition Officer and Principal Executive Director for the Office of Acquisition, Logistics, and Construction for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs. Mike serves as a senior advisor to the Secretary and leads over 17,000 acquisition professionals, responsible for the Department's $58 billion Supply Chain spend and over $100 billion in major programs. Mike and his team support the largest integrated healthcare system in the United States, providing care at over 1,200 healthcare facilities, to over 9 million Veterans enrolled in the VA healthcare program.

Tune in for a deep dive into how the VA is adopting innovative procurement strategies and maintaining flexibility to respond to changing needs, artificial intelligence, and new technologies.

Follow-up links mentioned in this episode:

PathFinder, the VA's latest program, seeks your innovative solutions to make a lasting impact on Veterans, families, and caregivers. Discover more at: https://pathfinder.va.gov/

Veterans Legacy Memorial is an online memorial that honors nearly 10 million Veterans interred in VA National Cemeteries, VA grant-funded cemeteries, DoD-managed cemeteries (including Arlington National Cemetery); U.S. Park Service National Cemeteries, and thousands of private cemeteries where Veterans have received a VA-provided gravesite marker since 1996, explore more: https://www.vlm.cem.va.gov/

Ameritocracy™ is produced by Prospect House Media and recorded in studio locations in Los Angeles and Washington DC.

This week, host Troy Edgar explores the life and lasting impact of J.P. Morgan, the titan of American finance.

In this episode, we trace J.P. Morgan's company transformation from a family enterprise to a global financial powerhouse. Learn how his business practices laid the groundwork for modern banking and inadvertently sparked antitrust laws such as the Sherman Antitrust Act and the Clayton Act. Join us as we examine the interplay between business, government, and public interest that is still as relevant today as it was in the Progressive Era.

Recommended reading: Pulitzer Prize-winning author Ron Chernow's acclaimed biography "The House of Morgan: An American Banking Dynasty and the Rise of Modern Finance"

A great follow-up episode is E21: U.S. Rep. Lou Correa (D-CA) on Big Tech Antitrust Issues and Bipartisan Cooperation.

Ameritocracy™ is produced by Prospect House Media and recorded in studio locations in Los Angeles and Washington DC.

Sidebar Conversations is our monthly series where we dive into challenging topics, current events, explore faith, and much more. Expect fresh insights from familiar faces and new voices as we engage in candid discussions. Join us for open and honest friendship, embracing diverse perspectives.

Featured guest: Rich Pierce, a highly respected International Surfing Association (ISA) and Head Olympic judge, returns to the Olympic stage for the 2024 Tahiti Games. The veteran judge, who played a role in surfing's historic Olympic debut at Tokyo 2020, shared his story and insights into the world of professional sports judging in Episode 17 of the Ameritocracy podcast.

Topics explored in this episode:

• The process of selecting judges for the Olympics

• Competitor qualifications

• The dangerous conditions and unique challenges of surfing Teahupo'o

• Wave quality and how it impacts the surfer's score

• Impact of the Olympics on the surfing industry

Ameritocracy™ is produced by Prospect House Media and recorded in studio locations in Los Angeles and Washington D.C.