Coffee with Closers

Secretary Charles Djou is the CEO of the American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC), as well as an Afghanistan war veteran and former Congressman representing Hawaii.His current organization, the ABMC, honors the more than 200,000 American service members who died, and are buried, overseas by maintaining and promoting America's commemorative cemeteries and memorials.In this episode, Sec. Djou talks about the importance of remembering our country's service and sacrifice, what it takes to commemorate D-Day in Normandy, and his message to young people.

An update on the podcast and its beloved host, Steve Burke.

On this week’s episode of Coffee with Closers, we continue our conversation with Steve DelBianco, the president and CEO of NetChoice, a trade association representing some of the largest e-commerce and technology companies in the world, including Amazon, Google, Meta and eBay. Mr. DelBianco discusses a major antitrust lawsuit the Federal Trade Commission has brought against Amazon, and in particular how both consumers and small businesses will be negatively impacted if the FTC succeeds in court.He also weighs in on efforts by state governments to legally mandate age and identity verification for users accessing online services and why those policies are flawed.

Joining us on this week’s episode of Coffee with Closers is Steve DelBianco, the president and CEO of NetChoice, a trade association representing some of the largest e-commerce and technology companies in the world. In the wake of a sweeping, federal executive order regulating the development of generative artificial intelligence, Mr. DelBianco breaks down the directive. While acknowledging there are some good elements to it, he also takes issue with multiple pain points. He also shares his thoughts on what the future holds for AI and whether the technology should be feared or embraced.

Joining us on this week’s episode of Coffee with Closers is Steve Cone, Chief of Communications, Marketing and Philanthropy at Capital Caring Health, the largest not-for-profit provider of advanced illness care in Greater Washington, D.C. It is also one of the fifteen original hospice providers established in the United States.Mr. Cone unravels some of the misperceptions and fears that are affecting hospice utilization, especially among people of color and the LGBTQ+ community in Washington, D.C. He also discusses the mission Capital Caring Health is on to help change the narrative, so the public and the medical community come to better understand and fully embrace all that hospice care offers patients and their families.

Joining us on this week’s episode of Coffee with Closers is Brian Dodge, President of the Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA), a trade group representing the nation’s largest retailers, which include Target, Best Buy, Home Depot and Walmart. He discusses some of the hottest consumer spending trends right now, as well as steps retailers have taken to help ensure there is enough inventory to meet customer demand this holiday shopping season. We also dive into some of the most pressing issues facing the industry today and ways in which his organization is tackling them head-on. This includes the rise in organized retail theft, continuing efforts to lower payment card “swipe fees” and disruptive labor disputes as well as worker strikes.

As America prepares to honor all of the brave heroes who served our country, on Veterans Day, we are re-aring the Coffee with Closers episode featuring Vietnam Veterans Memorial co-founder Robert Doubek. A former Air Force intelligence officer, Mr. Doubek recounts the powerful and moving story of how the Vietnam Veterans Memorial was created and the challenging responsibility he was entrusted with to ensure the completeness and accuracy of the 58,000 names inscribed on the Memorial's granite wall. He also explains how the controversy that erupted over its design almost doomed the project.

Joining us on this week’s episode of Coffee with Closers is Chris Whatley, Executive Director of The HALO Trust USA and Valeriia Shumska, Field Officer with The HALO Trust, the largest landmine clearance organization in the world.We discuss the organization’s most urgent priority, clearing contaminated land of landmines and other explosives in war-torn Ukraine.  Not only are these devices injuring and killing innocent civilians, but also making it harder for Ukrainian farmers to grow crops, which is threatening the global food supply.

Earlier this year, we were fortunate to interview holocaust historian, curator and American Jewish University professor Dr. Michael Berenbaum. He joined Coffee with Closers to preview the opening of “Auschwitz. Not long ago. Not far away.” This world-renowned traveling exhibition is currently at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley California. In light of the recent atrocities in Israel, we've decided to re-air the episode. Dr. Berenbaum sheds light on the significance of educating people of all ages about one of humanity's darkest chapters and the profound lessons it holds for our present times.Due to overwhelming demand, “Auschwitz. Not long ago. Not far away.” was extended through January 28, 2024 at the Reagan Library.

Joining us on this week’s episode of Coffee with Closers is New York Times bestselling author Annie Barrows. She discusses her new children’s book, Iggy Rules the Animal Kingdom. Ms. Barrows also shares her thoughts on the decline in book reading in America and the advent of ChatGPT technology.

Joining us on this week’s episode of Coffee with Closers is Tom Miller. He is the CEO and Co-Founder of ClearForce, a technology company that helps the commercial sector and government agencies address safety and security challenges in the workplace.  As September marks National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, Mr. Miller discusses a new tool ClearForce has developed that leverages AI and machine learning to help veteran organizations engage with at-risk veterans and service members who are struggling with mental health challenges.He also shares his thoughts on some of the greatest workplace safety and security challenges facing businesses today and why routine employee background checks are no longer sufficient in guarding against reputational and other organizational threats.

Joining us on this week’s episode of Coffee with Closers is #1 New York Times bestselling author Brad Thor. He discusses his new thriller, “Dead Fall,” in which his protagonist, ex-Navy SEAL and America’s top spy, Scot Harvath is sent to Ukraine to try to find an American aid worker who has gone missing. Time is of the essence and Harvath has to carry out this dangerous mission in a war-torn country without the help of his teammates. Thor was a member of the Department of Homeland Security’s “Red Cell” Program. Created in the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the program brought elite writers and artists together to brainstorm terrorist scenarios for the U.S. government.

Joining us on this week’s episode of Coffee with Closers is Kevin McAleenan, the former Acting Homeland Security Secretary and former Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection. He is currently the CEO of Pangiam, a  technology company that leverages artificial intelligence to screen airline luggage and cargo as well as biometrics to verify a passenger’s identity. He discusses the state of aviation security today and the need to balance security with efficiency and convenience. He also shares his thoughts on emerging threats facing our nation’s critical infrastructure.

Joining us on this week’s episode of Coffee with Closers is Vince Proffitt, the founder and president of Spartan Medical, a leading veteran-owned and operated medical solutions company.  A former Air Force intelligence officer, Mr. Proffitt discusses a “military-like mission” he is on to combat our nation’s chronic disease epidemic, which afflicts 13 million U.S. veterans. Called the Veteran HealthPak, this comprehensive program provides veterans with remote medical monitoring, condition-specific nutritious meals, a one-click direct connection to the Veteran Crisis Line and more, to their doorsteps.  He also discusses how Spartan Medical is working to address the mental health crisis on college and university campuses as well as helping provider organizations and clinicians improve health outcomes for more people through its surgical and clinical solutions.

Joining us on this week’s episode of Coffee with Closers is Peter Kant, the CEO of the technology company Enabled Intelligence. More than 50% of its workforce is neurodiverse, and it’s by design. Mr. Kant explains how these professionals, many of whom have been underutilized in prior employment, are particularly adept at performing the highly-skilled and time intensive task of secure data labeling that enables AI technology in support of critical national security missions for the U.S. government. As Israel learned, neurodiverse individuals “almost had superpowers” when it comes to this kind of work, which requires technical savvy, attention to detail and focus, accuracy, pattern recognition proficiency and puzzle solving skills.

Joining us on this week’s episode of Coffee with Closers is Shirley Bloomfield, the CEO of NTCA-The Rural Broadband Association, which represents approximately 850 independent, community based telecommunications companies across the country through advocacy, education and training.With $42 billion having been allocated to expand high-speed internet access across the U.S, she explains why this historic funding provides a unique opportunity to help connect more Americans, especially in rural parts of the country, but only if the job is done right.   She also discusses some of the hurdles that still stand in the way of achieving “Internet for All” and what steps policymakers and industry stakeholders can take to help remove them.

Joining us on this week’s episode of Coffee with Closers is Major General (Ret.) Dr. Richard A. Stone, a physician, former Acting Under Secretary for Health at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs and author of Save Every Life You Can.Dr. Stone discusses some of the most difficult decisions he had to make while leading clinical teams in Afghanistan and at the Veterans Health Administration, our nation’s largest integrated health care system.  He also shares leadership principles gleaned from navigating multiple crises throughout his career and how they can help transform U.S. healthcare.

Joining us on this week’s episode of Coffee with Closers is Lynk Co-Founder and CEO Charles Miller. He discusses how he and his team achieved what many in the telecommunications industry thought was not possible–turning satellites into cell towers in space–which, in the very near future, will enable mobile phone users to stay connected everywhere on the planet.

Joining us on this week’s episode of Coffee With Closers is Mohammed Iqbal, the Founder & CEO of the fitness design and technology company SweatWorks. He discusses how AI and other technologies are changing the gym experience while improving the fitness journey. He also shares his thoughts on what consumers are demanding today when it comes to their workouts, how Covid changed America’s view and approach to fitness and why achieving wellness requires both patience and persistence.

Joining us on this week’s episode of Coffee with Closers is Jack McKenna, the President & CEO of Prescient, a global risk management and intelligence services firm.  He discusses some of the most serious organizational and reputational challenges facing companies today, including cyber and insider threats, which he calls a “tough nut to crack.” He also explains ways businesses can identify bad actors and mitigate against this and other risks.