War Room to Board Room

S. 4 Ep. 2 - Ross Dickman - Aviator/TAC Officer to Non-Profit Executive

Ross Dickman is Chief Executive Officer of Hire Heroes USA, the nation's leading employment support nonprofit serving transitioning service members, veterans, and military spouses. A West Point graduate and Army veteran, Ross exemplifies successful military-to-civilian transition while helping thousands of veterans achieve the same. Military Leadership Ross graduated from the United States Military Academy at West Point with a BS in Comparative Politics (2000-2004). His Army career included commanding an Apache Longbow helicopter company of 35 soldiers and 8 aircraft worth over $500 million. Selected ahead of 10 peers, he also commanded a Headquarters Company of 115 soldiers with $12+ million in equipment. His operational roles included serving as Operations Manager for the 1st Air Cavalry Brigade (3,500 soldiers, 120 aircraft), Platoon Leader managing 16 soldiers and 4 aircraft valued at $200+ million, and Logistics Manager for a battalion of 420 soldiers. His final military assignment was Executive Assistant to the Commanding General at the U.S. Army Combat Readiness and Safety Center, coordinating operations and strategic communications for senior leadership. Advanced Education Ross earned his MA in Organizational Psychology from Teachers College at Columbia University (2012-2013) through the Eisenhower Leader Development Program, a selective partnership between Columbia and West Point. He later completed his Executive MBA from the Terry College of Business at the University of Georgia (2018-2020), combining organizational psychology insights with strategic business expertise. Hire Heroes USA Journey Ross joined Hire Heroes USA in March 2016 as Director of the Independence Project, managing a $13 million, five-year research program examining veteran interactions with the VA disability system. He led program design, data analysis, and a six-person team while managing relationships with major partners and funders. His leadership drove rapid advancement: Interim CEO (February 2020), Chief Operating Officer (October 2020-April 2024), and Chief Executive Officer (March 2024-present). Under his leadership, Hire Heroes USA maintains its position as America's most impactful veterans employment organization. Leadership Philosophy Ross operates at the intersection of operational efficiency and strategic vision, believing in collaborative problem-solving, relationship building, and evidence-informed processes. He views employment as the primary vehicle for quality of life and community inclusion after military service, driving his commitment to full lifecycle career interventions that impact veterans, families, communities, and the nation. Selected as a Stand-To Veteran Leadership Program Scholar at the George W. Bush Presidential Center (2021), Ross continues developing veteran leaders committed to service beyond uniform. Impact & Vision Ross's journey from commanding combat aircraft to leading the nation's premier veterans employment organization demonstrates adaptive leadership and mission-driven excellence. His combination of military discipline, organizational psychology expertise, and business strategy enables Hire Heroes USA to provide personalized, no-cost employment services that transform thousands of lives annually—ensuring successful reintegration and meaningful civilian careers for America's veterans. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

S. 4 Ep. 1 - Dr. Meghan Venable-Thomas - Human Resources/Admissions to Public Health/Community Development

Dr. Meghan Venable-Thomas is the Director of Community Development for the City of Birmingham, Alabama, where she leads people-centered initiatives impacting over 200,000 residents. Her career exemplifies adaptive leadership through successful transitions from military service to public health innovation and municipal government. Military Service & Leadership A graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point (BS in Chinese and Spanish Languages), Dr. Venable-Thomas served over 15 years in the U.S. Army, including combat deployments to Iraq. As Battalion Human Resource Director in Balad, Iraq, she led operations for 430+ personnel across 30+ locations in a high-pressure environment with 60% turnover, improving data accuracy by 90%. Her signature achievement was creating "Operation Safe Return," a redeployment program that reduced domestic abuse, substance, and motor vehicle incidents by 99%. The program was adopted organization-wide, benefiting over 4,000 personnel. She was named 2010 Army Adjutant General Officer of the Year for this exceptional leadership. At West Point, she excelled in diversity recruitment leadership. As Diversity Outreach Executive Officer, she led a five-person team and increased the yield of accepted diverse candidates by 24%. As Southeast Outreach Officer, she developed marketing campaigns across 90 congressional districts in eight states, increasing under-represented candidates by 13%. Academic Excellence Dr. Venable-Thomas holds multiple advanced degrees: * Doctorate of Public Health, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health (2015-2018) * Master's in Public Health Management, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health (2013-2015) * Master of Arts in Organizational Psychology, Teachers College, Columbia University * Master's in Human Resources Management, Webster University * BS in Chinese and Spanish Languages, United States Military Academy at West Point (2003-2007) She was selected as a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Culture of Health Leaders Fellow (2019-2022), a prestigious national program supporting leaders addressing health inequities. Her doctoral research focused on health equity in the built environment, community-based design, and healing justice strategies. Civilian Impact At Enterprise Community Partners, Dr. Venable-Thomas served as Senior Program Director, supporting community development organizations nationwide in integrating creative and healing-centered approaches for equitable outcomes. She managed the Climate and Cultural Resilience Grant Program, working with organizations across the country to use creative placemaking strategies addressing climate resilience, equity, and community engagement. She has also served as a researcher at Harvard Graduate School of Design's Just City Lab, investigating urban justice and design's role in creating equitable cities, and as an international consultant in Vietnam evaluating cardiac care training programs. Current Role As Birmingham's Director of Community Development since April 2022, Dr. Venable-Thomas puts people first by engaging communities to build thriving places. Her work focuses on health equity in the built environment, community-based design, healing justice, and cross-sector collaboration. She leads strategic initiatives that combine her military operational excellence, public health expertise, and commitment to equitable development. Her leadership philosophy centers on change management, people-centered design, interdisciplinary collaboration, and strategic communications—demonstrating how core leadership principles translate across military, academic, nonprofit, and government sectors. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

S. 3 Ep. 5 - Samir Patel - Armor/Real Estate to Entrepreneur/Reservist/Fund Manager

Samir Patel [https://www.linkedin.com/in/samir-patel-atlanta/] joining us. Samir is the managing partner of Trophy Point Investment Group, an Investor, entrepreneur, military officer, teacher, and traveler. He's an alum of United States Military Academy at West Point [https://www.linkedin.com/company/united-states-military-academy-at-west-point/], Emory University - Goizueta Business School [https://www.linkedin.com/company/goizueta-business-school/], and Georgia State University [https://www.linkedin.com/company/georgiastateuniversity/]. He currently teaches Leadership at West Point and Real Estate at Georgia State University. Samir’s diverse background brings a unique perspective on leadership, education, and entrepreneurship. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

S. 3 Ep. 4 - Hon. David E. White, Jr. - Cavalry Officer/ Harvard Law to Big Law/White House/Peace Corps

David E. White Jr. served as the 14th Deputy Director of the Peace Corps. He was unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate on December 20, 2023, and sworn in by Director Carol Spahn on December 29, 2023. He previously served as Senior Advisor to the Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources at the U.S. Department of State. Prior to joining the State Department, he served as Special Assistant to the President in the White House Office of Presidential Personnel (PPO). Earlier in the Biden-Harris Administration, White served on the National Security Council as Senior Advisor to the White House Coordinator for Operation Allies Welcome, where he facilitated whole-of-government efforts to provide housing, health care, education, employment, and other resources at scale for nearly 90,000 Afghan allies resettled in the United States. An attorney by training, White joined the Biden-Harris Administration as Deputy Associate Counsel in PPO. In 2019, White served as a policy advisor to Vice President Kamala Harris’ presidential campaign. He later served in a similar capacity with President Joe Biden’s 2020 presidential campaign. Following their election, White served as an attorney on the Biden-Harris Transition Team. White began his career in public service as a cavalry officer in the U.S. Army. He served on active duty in a variety of domestic and overseas assignments, including as a Scout Platoon Leader in Kandahar, Afghanistan, in support of Operation Enduring Freedom from 2011 to 2012. After being wounded in combat, White served as second-in-command of the Warrior Transition Unit at West Point, where he coordinated care for other wounded, ill, and injured service members. His military awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart, and Combat Action Badge. White is a graduate of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point and earned his law degree, cum laude, from Harvard Law School. After law school, he clerked for Judge Paul J. Watford of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit and worked as an attorney at Wachtell, Lipton, Rosen & Katz in New York City. Born and raised in New York’s Hudson Valley, White splits his time between Washington, DC and Cambridge, MA, where his wife, Dana McKinney White, is a professor at the Harvard University Graduate School of Design. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.

S. 3 Ep. 3 - Herman Bulls - Army Colonel/USMA Econ to Real Estate Executive/Board Member

Herman Bulls is an International Director and Vice Chairman at JLL, a global financial and professional services firm specializing in real estate operations and investment management. With over 35 years of experience, I help senior executives solve complex real estate challenges and achieve their strategic goals. He served as a Member of the Defense Policy Board at the US Department of Defense, providing advice and opinions on matters of defense policy. Additionally, I am the Vice Chairman of the Board at USAA, a Fortune 100 diversified financial services firm serving the needs of military members and their families. I also serve as Chairman of the board at Fluence Energy (Nasdaq:FLNC) and serve on the boards of Host Hotels (Nasdaq:HST) and Comfort Systems, USA (NYSE:FIX). I am a NACD Fellow and have been recognized as one of the most influential individuals in corporate America and one of the top 100 corporate governance professionals in the nation. My specialties include real estate, finance, strategy, leadership, governance, and communication. I am passionate about delivering value, creating impact, and building trust. ---------------------------------------- Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy [https://acast.com/privacy] for more information.