#WeAllServe – Episode #40 with Jim Vaselopulos
Jim Vaselopulos is a C-level executive with a proven record as a rainmaker and new business development expert. With a reputation for principled leadership, strategic vision, and effective execution, Jim has built successful new enterprises and turned around underperforming organizations. Jim has been a consultant to many companies across nearly every industry. An entrepreneur at heart, Jim has started many companies, managed partnerships and participated in several well-orchestrated exits.
As the founder of Rafti Advisors, Jim helps early stage companies get off on the right foot, growth stage companies push through plateaus and mature companies with strategic shifts and complex challenges.
Jim teaches sales and professional development, is a frequent speaker on leadership and innovation and volunteers regularly with veterans groups and business incubators.
A graduate of the University of Illinois with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Jim also earned his MBA at Marquette University. Jim is currently the co-host of The Leadership Podcast.
Join Angel L. Torres and I for episode #40 of #WeAllServe!
#WeAllServe – Episode #39 with Eric Lazar
Eric Lazar is a United States Marine Corps veteran as well as a highly accomplished professional with 30 years of combined experience in entrepreneurship, sales, leadership, custom marketing, client strategy and project execution in both traditional media and mobile realms. Mr. Lazar has lived in Chicago since 1999, hailing from Port Jefferson, New York, the son of a Jr High School Principal and secondary school teacher. In 1986, at the age of 17, he enlisted in the Marine Corps, where he was accepted into the Defense Language Institute (DLI) in Monterrey, California and trained as an Arabic translator. He went on to further schooling in Dam Neck, Virginia where he became an Intelligence Analyst. He spent the majority of his enlistment serving in an Intelligence Specialist capacity with both a Combat Engineer Battalion and Electronic Warfare Squadron gaining an expertise in South East Asian affairs; he was honorably discharged at the rank of Sergeant in 1994. Eric’s professional career is broad and varied, while mainly operating in a sales leadership capacity within the advertising and marketing fields, he has had ‘bouts’ with entrepreneurship and is now into his third owned start-up venture as a franchisee within the SpeedPro Imaging organization.
#WeAllServe – Episode #38
A weekly podcast hosted by Angel Torres and Shalom Klein featuring leaders in the veteran community.
#WeAllServe – Episode #37 with Megan Everett
#WeAllServe – Episode #36 with Mike Hall
#WeAllServe – Episode #35 with Joe Conver
#WeAllServe – Episode #34 with D. Vincent Thomas Jr. Ph.D, MTS
LTJG. D. Vincent Thomas Jr. Ph.D, M.T.S. has two B.A. degrees in Theology and Philosophy, a Masters Degree in Theological Studies, as well as a Ph.D in Public Policy &Administration. ENS D. Vincent Thomas Jr. is a Commissioned Officer who began his Coast Guard career as an enlisted Operations Specialist. Dr. Thomas’ studies have focused on religious history, philosophy of religion, the relationship between religion and politics, military history, politics, public policy, as well as the effects climate change has on international relations, global economics, and global security. Dr. Thomas has also run for the U.S. House of Representatives in 2018. Seeking to serve the district as an American citizen concerned with the well-being of all Americans irrespective of party affiliation. Assigned to the CGC BOUTWELL, a 378’ High Endurance Cutter in California, he stood duty in the Combat Information Center, qualified as an Electronic Warfare Specialist, and performed flight following operations as an Air Direction Controller tracking and communicating with helicopters deployed to BOUTWELL for counter-narcotic operations. While on active duty aboard BOUTWELL, he was part of a team that seized over 10 tons of cocaine in International Waters bound for the United States. After leaving Active Dr. Thomas joined the Selective Reserves (SELRES) as a Maritime Enforcement Specialist, and completed his Ph.D in Public Policy and Administration. Commissioned in 2019, he is a Philosophy and Political Science Professor at Elmhurst University and DePaul University teaching courses in Moral Philosophy, Western Political Philosophy, Ethics, Intro. to Western Philosophy, American Government, Comparative Politics, and International Relations. Dr. Thomas currently represents the U.S. Coast Guard Academy as the Recruiting, Outreach, and Diversity Admissions Officer, tasked with helping diversify the U.S. Coast Guard Academy and Officer Core of the U.S. Coast Guard.
#WeAllServe – Episode #33 with Adam Carr
Adam Carr has over 12 years of service in the U.S. Army. As a Special Forces Green Beret, Adam hunted Al Qaeda operatives, developed intelligence networks, conducted diplomatic relations, and briefed Ambassadors and Generals on Geopolitical environments. In 2006, Adam earned his B.A. in Security and Intelligence from The Ohio State University. He spent the next eight years deploying to Asia, including Operation Enduring Freedom – The Philippines and Operation Enduring Freedom – Afghanistan. Adam’s passion comes from a deep-rooted desire to serve others and save lives. Adam has been profoundly affected over the loss of his teammates, mentors, and close friends to suicide. He currently speaks to students, corporations, and a wide variety of audiences all over the country. He has over 20 years of leadership and managerial experience and is a Business Coach for MBA Students at The Ohio State University. Adam is a graduate of the Ignite Program at Stanford Graduate School of Business. Adam earned his MBA at The Ohio State University’s Fisher College of Business and was selected as the Most Outstanding Student of his 2019 MBA Cohort. Adam lives in Dublin, OH with his wife Tarah and their three children, Noah, Jonah, and Norah.
#WeAllServe – Episode #32 with Brendan D. O’Brien
Brendan O’Brien is a retired USAF LCol and Director at Kin+Carta. There he supports client’s digital transformation initiatives for the past 6 years. Prior to retiring from the USAF, Brendan began his career of service attending the United States Air Force Academy. During his 20 illustrious career, he filled roles as an intelligence officer and A-10 (Warthog) pilot. During his Air Force career, he deployed to the middle east several times, including Afghanistan in 2002 and 2010. His final tours on active duty were focused on developing the next generation of leaders as commander of the Air Force ROTC program in Chicago.
Brendan’s career of service continued after his active duty years and he now coordinates the Hiring Our Heroes Fellowship for Kin+Carta, was the Communications Director for Chicago’s Red White and Blue chapter, and after serving in a variety of leadership roles is now a board member for the Veterans Leadership Council. Brendan earned his Executive MBA from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University.
Brendan and wife, Amanda, their two children, and dog Biscuit now reside in Parker, Colorado.