Building Excellence

#265: Lieutenant General (Retired) Mark Hertling served 38 years in the United States Army as a tanker and cavalry officer, culminating as Commander of U.S. Army Europe and Seventh Army. 

During his military career, Hertling spent 38 months in combat. He served as a major and operations officer of a cavalry squadron during Operation Desert Storm, as Assistant Division Commander of the 1st Armored Division in Baghdad in 2003–2004, and later as Commander of the 1st Armored Division and Multinational Task Force Iron in northern Iraq during the 2007–2008 surge. 

After retiring from the Army in 2012, Hertling transitioned to the private sector as a Senior Vice President at a major healthcare organization. He was asked to design and lead a healthcare leadership program, work that led to his first book, Growing Physician Leaders (2016). His second book, If I Don’t Return: A Father’s Wartime Journal, was published by Ballast Books in 2026.

From 2014 to 2024, he served as a senior analyst for CNN. He currently writes for The Bulwark and appears on MSNBC as a freelance national security analyst.

For more on General Hertling check out markhertling.com as well as LinkedIn & Twitter. You can find his book in the amazon link below. 

Enjoy the show! 

Book: 

https://www.amazon.com/If-Dont-Return-Fathers-Wartime-ebook/dp/B0GDJFMF21?ref_=ast_author_mpb 

#264: Chris Garner is a veteran SEC football official, leadership speaker, and author with more than two decades of experience officiating at the highest levels of college football. A graduate of The Ohio State University and former U.S. Navy servicemember, Chris worked his way from Ohio high school football fields to the Big Ten and the Southeastern Conference, earning assignments to major bowl games, conference championships, and College Football Playoff contests. 

Drawing from years of making split-second decisions under intense pressure and his sales experience, he shares insights on leadership, accountability, teamwork, and performance in high-stakes environments. Chris is also the author of Whistles and Wisdom, where he explores the lessons officiating has taught him about excellence both on and off the field.

For more on Chris check out garnerleadership.com 

Enjoy the show! 

#263: Jason Jacobus is the Chief Commercial Officer of Brainerd Chemical, where he leads commercial strategy and growth for one of the country’s established chemical manufacturing and distribution companies. With decades of experience in sales, operations, and leadership, he has built a reputation for combining business performance with long-term relationships, operational discipline, and values-based leadership in a demanding industry.

Outside of business, Jacobus is also the author of Realigned, a book centered on faith, personal growth, leadership, health, family, and purpose. Drawing from his own life experiences, he speaks openly about success, setbacks, and the importance of aligning life around deeper principles instead of external achievement alone. His message resonates with entrepreneurs, leaders, and professionals looking to build meaningful success without losing sight of what matters most.

Book: https://www.amazon.com/Realigned-Jason-Jacobus/dp/B0G8LYBL11/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0

#262: Samyr Qureshi is an entrepreneur, investor, and business leader best known as the co-founder and former Chief Executive Officer of Knack, a nationally recognized education technology company focused on advancing student success through peer learning. Under his leadership, Knack partnered with universities across the United States and raised significant venture capital to support its growth and impact. A Forbes 30 Under 30 honoree and University of Florida “40 Gators Under 40” recipient, Samyr is widely respected for his work at the intersection of education, technology, and entrepreneurship. Today, he advises and invests in emerging companies while continuing to advocate for innovation, leadership, and expanding opportunity through scalable solutions.

https://www.samyr.co/ 

#261: Mark C. Fava is a career aviation lawyer and retired naval flight officer. He is a prolific writer and entertaining speaker. Mark retired from the US Navy as a captain having commanded three units, including an aviation squadron. He has been a law firm partner and a corporate executive lawyer. He has written numerous articles, including “What I Learned from the Judge” in the SC Lawyer and “Steering Through a Crisis: Lawyers as Leaders” in The Washington Lawyer. As a law school adjunct professor, he has also taught aviation law and legal writing.

Mark was the chief operations attorney at Delta Air Lines on 9/11 and spent years in the navy’s P-3 Orion chasing Soviet submarines. He has practiced law for more than thirty years and is currently a vice president at the world’s largest aerospace company.

He lives in his hometown of Charleston, South Carolina, with his wife and three daughters. When not working, reading, or writing, Mark enjoys life in the low country and appreciates a cold glass of sweet tea in the summer and a good oyster roast in the fall.

markcfava.com

#260: Jess Ekstrom is the founder of Headbands of Hope and Mic Drop Workshop, investor in women, best selling author, Forbes Top Rated Speaker and mom.

Her first brush with success was selling all of her toys on eBay when she was twelve. Since then, Jess and her companies have been featured on the TODAY Show, Good Morning America and more. More importantly, her companies have helped millions of women and girls around the world.

She’s the bestselling author of Chasing the Bright Side and Making it Without Losing it. Her hobbies include writing, hiking, board games with her husband, playing hide and seek with her kids, and searching for the best breakfast burrito in America.

Social Media links:

www.instagram.com/jess_ekstrom

www.facebook.com/jessekstrom

www.twitter.com/jess_ekstrom

https://www.tiktok.com/@jessekstrom

https://www.linkedin.com/in/jess-ekstrom-59160342/

https://micdropworkshop.com/

https://jessekstrom.com/

#259: Tony Schell is the co-founder and general partner at Escalate Capital Partners, a leading private credit and growth equity firm based in Austin, Texas. Since co-founding the firm in 2005, he has helped build Escalate into a prominent provider of flexible, non-dilutive capital solutions for growth-stage companies across technology, software, services, and healthcare sectors.

With decades of experience in venture lending, structured finance, and growth investing, Schell has played a central role in deploying over $1.3 billion of capital into more than 140 companies, supporting businesses as they scale toward profitability, acquisitions, or public exits.

At Escalate, he focuses on structuring tailored financing solutions—blending debt and equity—to help entrepreneurs extend runway, preserve ownership, and accelerate growth. Under his leadership, the firm has become known for its collaborative, long-term approach and deep relationships across the venture capital ecosystem.

Enjoy the show!

#258: Frank Weisser is a former U.S. Navy fighter pilot best known for flying with the elite Blue Angels and for his role as a pilot and aviation coordinator on the blockbuster film Top Gun: Maverick. A graduate of the U.S. Naval Academy, Weisser logged thousands of flight hours in high-performance aircraft like the F/A-18 Hornet, earning recognition for both his precision in the cockpit and his leadership in high-pressure environments. After his military service, he brought his real-world expertise to Hollywood, helping deliver the film’s authentic aerial sequences while also flying as a stunt pilot. Known for his discipline, humility, and pursuit of excellence, Weisser’s career bridges elite military aviation and storytelling at the highest level.

frankweisser.net

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#257: Michaella Gallina built the career most people spend their entire lives chasing. She is a former Wall Street investor, VP of H&R Block and Chief Financial Officer who walked away from the pinnacle of her career to pursue a greater mission—helping others achieve true financial freedom and design a life on their own terms.

Raised in a small rural town of just 4,000 people, Michaella learned early that money wasn’t about status—it was about access, opportunity, and freedom. By 18, she was financially independent, working multiple jobs while earning both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in finance. She went on to build an elite career on Wall Street, working in investment banking, managing high-level portfolios, and eventually becoming CFO of a $100+ million fintech company. She was a top shareholder in Starbucks, Chipotle, Lululemon, Facebook and many other amazing companies. She met with Howard Schultz, Mark Zukerberg, Cheryl Sandberg, Tim Cook, and many other household name CEO’s.

But despite the success—working with some of the biggest companies and leaders in the world—she realized something was missing. The long hours, high pressure, and constant grind led her to a turning point: success without purpose wasn’t enough.

At 36, Michaella made a bold decision—she walked away from it all.

Today, she’s a speaker, coach, and advocate for financial empowerment, helping people—especially women, create independence, choice, and the ability to live life on your own terms. Her work is rooted in a simple but powerful belief: this isn’t just about money—it’s about building a life of freedom, purpose, and meaning.

www.michaellagallina.com

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#256: Luke Frizzell is a former Navy Seal & real estate entrepreneur with the RAL Room, but he is also one of my best friends and I am excited to share’s story today. He grew up in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where his upbringing was deeply rooted in faith, family, and sports. Influenced by his family's athletic background and his grandfather's wisdom, Luke developed a strong work ethic and a passion for serving others. His journey led him to the Virginia Military Institute, where he thrived academically and athletically, driven by a desire to join the Navy SEALs. Despite facing physical challenges rolling him back during training, Luke's determination and commitment saw him through, ultimately achieving his goal of becoming a SEAL. Now transitioning into civilian life, Luke applies his leadership skills and mission-driven mindset to the senior care industry, aiming to make a meaningful impact through his entrepreneurial ventures. Excited for you all to hear his story and for more on Luke check out theralroom.com 

Enjoy the show!