Executive Insights

Bridgette is the owner of B. Austin Consulting (BAC) is a disabled veteran owned small business that works with employers to strategize on ways to attract and retain veterans within their organization.  Prior to starting BAC, Bridgette served honorably in the US Navy for 23 years as a career coach and counselor. 

Dean Harwood is President, Strategy and Development for Wood.  Prior to joining Wood, Dean had a 17-year career with Parsons, where he was most recently Executive Vice President of Operations and President Parsons Enterprises. 

In 2001 Doug founded The International Stability Operations Association (ISOA), then known as the International Peace Operations Association, or IPOA after returning from an eye-opening experience in a very unstable Sierra Leone.  Doug is considered one of the foremost thought leaders on International Stability operations and a proponent of the effective utilization of private sector services in fragile environments and is a specialist in African security issues.  He has testified before the US Congress, South African Parliament and has appeared on numerous TV and Radio programs. 

Matt enlisted in the US Navy at the age of seventeen where he served for over twenty-five years as a Navy SEAL. He was assigned to operational units based in Europe, Middle East, South America and in Virginia, including a tier one Naval Special Warfare unit focused on counter-terrorism and counter-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.   After retiring from the Navy, Matt transitioned into the energy and telecom business and is currently Director Sales and Marketing for Tampnet a leading telecommunications company that provides high speed wireless connections to the oil and gas industry. 

Lee Oughton is Managing Partner of Mexico City based private security firm Fortress Arsh, and former director of global business development for Abby Grey Group, Security Expert Contributor for FOX News, Global Manager of Executive Protection and Security Operations Manager for Halliburton in Iraq. In this episode Jason and Lee discuss the continued threat corporations face when operating in unstable regions and what is involved in running a private security company.  

John Small is Adjunct Professor at UNC Charlotte and Managing Director of JF Small & Associates, LLC. John became Executive Vice President of Samsung C&T after a long career with Parsons and WorleyParsons, where he held several senior leadership roles.

Jason Dedic interviews Garry Higdem, former President CH2M and Parsons. We discuss running an international engineering firm and many of Garry's professional successes.

Mark Williams was Group President for Infrastructure, Government, and Power at KBR, leading an organization of $4 billion and 30,000 employees worldwide. That included over 25,000 employees in Iraq and Afghanistan supporting the NATO war efforts.  

Jason Dedic interview Ty Smith, former US Navy SEAL and Founder and CEO of Vigilance Risk Solutions, Inc. We discuss Ty's career as a Navy SEAL and his thoughts on the future of corporate security.