#WeAllServe Episode #59 with Jim Bland
Jim Bland has approximately 27 years of management, investment, mergers & acquisitions, and leadership experience. Jim began his career as a field artillery officer in the United States Army. He has also worked for corporations such as E&Y and HSBC, North America. He is currently an investment partner at NextGen Growth Partners, a growth-oriented private equity firm making investments in the lower end of the middle market. He also serves as the Civilian Aide to the Secretary of the Army for Illinois (which carries a 3-Star protocol rank) and as a Trustee for a Chicago suburb of approximately 50,000 residents. Over Jim’s career, he has served on nearly 20 private company, non-profit and government boards. Jim holds a Bachelor’s of Science degree from the United State Military Academy and an MBA in Finance from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. Jim is happily married and has two terrific children.
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Driving West Rogers Park Chicago’s Once and Future Jewish Neighborhood
#WeAllServe – Episode #57 with LTC Kelly Meghan Bell
LTC Kelly Bell received her initial commission in 1999 through Marquette University’s ROTC program. She served in the 1/334 Army Reception Battalion where she worked as the assistant S-3, S-1, and as a Commander of a very small company. In 2003 she was recommissioned into the Army Nurse Corps and transferred to the 452d CSH where she served as a staff nurse and the assistant head nurse of the emergency medical treatment section. From July 2009 thru June 2010 she was deployed to Afghanistan where she worked in the Intensive Care Unit at the Craig Joint Theater Hospital at Bagram Air Field. Upon returning home she had the privilege of serving as the 3rd Platoon leader. She then served at the Bravo Company Commander, 452D Combat Support Hospital from January 2012 through October 2014. After this duty, she assumed the role of Head Nurse of the Emergency Medical Treatment Section. LTC Bell then became the Nurse Training Officer in the Clinical Services Operations Section of the 807th Medical Command (Deployment Support). She was mobilized as the Medical Readiness Officer for the 103rd Mission Support Element, the rear detachment asset for the 103rd Expeditionary Sustainment Command. Prior to transferring to the 7203d to assume command, LTC Bell was assigned to the 7456th MORU but continued to serve with the 103D ESC on an ADOS Tour as their Medical Readiness Officer and Nurse Advisor for their Cactus COVID Task Force. She is passionate about advocating for and mentoring Soldiers and has spent that last several years initiating policy changes for pregnant and postpartum service members throughout the DOD. She continue this advocacy work through social media and DA level work groups. In her civilian capacity, LTC Bell worked as an Emergency department nurse at Aurora Sinai Medical Center in Milwaukee, WI for over 11 years. She received her Master’s Degree in Nursing Education in June 2013 and was inducted into Sigma Theta Tau, the International Honor Society of Nursing. She lives in Ankeny, IA with her two daughters: Meghan (Jun 2012) and Caelainn (Dec 2015).