Career Spotlight

Through many night shift jobs, and life lessons both outside and inside the classroom, Dr. Ivan Misner shares with us how he founded Business Networking International in 1985. Called BNI for short, Dr. Misner started this networking organization while working his way through graduate school.  He shares with us the very real challenges and unexpected successes the BNI community brought into his lif...

Vance Morris started out in a rock band successful enough to support himself through college. The food service industry came next, then he found himself working for one of the largest entertainment companies in the World. Through all of his life lessons, he decided to start his own consulting business to help others grow their business and reach their dreams. With Deliver Service Now, Vance breaks...

Albert Dweck shares his journey from working for the family Pharmacy business to building his own future as a Real Estate Developer with Duke Properties. Born and raised in New York City, his passion for helping people and connecting with others has helped him succeed.  He shares how he decided to host his own podcast, Ask The Landlord, to help bridge the gap that often pits tenants against landlo...

Lena Meyer is a Transformational Life Coach and founder of Gratitude6. As a coach, she helps people connect to the heart and soul of what matters to them most and clear the blocks that get in the way, so they can live their most joyful and meaningful lives. But she didn't start on this journey until she had about a decade of experience as a Financial Advisor. What we learn in this episode is how h...

Andy McConnell is a visual artist using wood to create wall art and sculptures that some describe as music in visual form. He has had an unconventional path as an artist, working in the trades, food service and as a carpenter - attending college in bursts working to earn money, then attending school, and then working and back to school. Finally, finding his way at Fairhaven College learning from p...

Mark Sincell has a core value for learning. His career path is a clear reflection of that value in action. Today he helps others as a career coach by holding space and helping others see possibilities for them to grow and thrive.  He earned his PhD in astrophysics and while his background researching active galaxies might seem lightyears away from coaching careers, his experience navigating his ow...

Margie Haywood wears many titles as a powerhouse of positive change in the community. With a background as a social worker, her passion and direction were shaped by early experiences as a child. Today she serves the community as a public speaker, DEI Consultant, Advocate, Trainer, Activist and CEO of Work and Play Lounge.  Working in the corporate world, her vision for changing culture took shape...

Preparing for Season Two of the Career Spotlight Podcast, Casey and Holli talk candidly about what they learned from Season One. This peek behind the production of the podcast shares their hopes and ambition for it to become more than simply a collection of interviews. Casey shares the desire to help it grow into something more. And Holli reflects on how it seems to be getting started naturally. L...

Nathan Vass is a multifaceted creative: filmmaker, photographer, and author by day, and a Metro bus driver by night! In this episode, we explored his past jobs and career trajectory to find him where he is today.  Our casual conversation format brings out some fascinating details and we are so inspired by his journey. Nathan's community-building work has been showcased on TED, NPR, The Seattle Tim...

We were both educated and inspired by Eric's story of how he became a TikTok® influencer - his content helps folks reach for what's next in their careers, work teams, and life. This arose from his experiences as a speaker, best selling author, and commitment to invest in his own learning. It is also his commitment to lean into his creativity combined with past career lessons that have helped him a...

Jeremy Stegall's lifelong curiosity about why we do what we do led him to Iowa State University in 2004, where he earned his B.A. degree in Psychology. But he didn't go into that career path directly.  In this episode, we explore his journey to becoming a life coach and author with Where the Change Happens Coaching.  We hear the ways his life has helped him grow into the type of coach he wanted to...

Nancy's first interest for her career path was woodworking. With talents in science and math, she was encouraged to attend college instead. But, her first interest in Environmental Science was not a viable career path. At least, that's what she was told at the time. She found herself as a Civil Engineer working for the City of Seattle. But then an opportunity for lunch-time education sparked her i...

With a background in theater and as a voice actor, Erin MacCoy found herself a career in Marketing.  After helping to support businesses, educational institutions and non-profit organizations, she found herself discovering her path to heart-centered coaching! Today she is a Spiritual Intuitive Life and Business Coach, and focuses on supporting busy women who want to align with their passion and va...

Maggie Greene launched her business amid the first part of the Global Pandemic upheaval. We were so impressed by her swift change from fully employed to full time solopreneur as Chief Everything Officer of Maggie Greene Style.  Following her heart and personal ethics informed how she designed her personal styling business. She earnestly shares about her journey, and how this is her life's path, wh...

Growing up in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Kamila Kennedy learned to work and make money at an early age. She shares how that background and culture motivated her through all the life transitions she's gone through. Coming to Seattle, learning English, going to schoool, working and discovering a new career path, then another, she's accomplished all of these things while also becoming a wife and mother....

Brent LaDoux has had many adventures as an outdoor guide leading groups up mountains here in the Pacific Northwest and abroad. From an unexpected shift in the company he worked for, Brent embarked on a new adventure to find a career path that supported his desire to spend more with his family and in his community. Join us as we learn more about him growing up in the Pacific Northwest, and the many...

Ron Macklin's inclination to leadership grew alongside his career opportunities. Casey and Holli explore his journey from playing football in High School, and how it influenced his leadership style. His story of discovery is intertwined with becoming a husband, father, coach and successful CEO. Along the way, he saw that connection with people was key. He makes it clear how the successes aren't hi...

Shannon Perry is a lifelong student who finds herself getting antsy if she's not learning something new. She launched Audiotocracy just over a year ago, and is the foundation of this very podcast. Holli and Casey worked with her and her team to start it. A full podcast production business, she offers an array of support for anyone looking to start. A family lineage that includes many generations o...

This special episode of the Career Spotlight Podcast finds Casey and Holli in the hot seat as their daughter, Iris, hosts as guest interviewer! She asks some really thoughtful questions that sparks reflection and inspires intention as they move forward.  From a desire to include a broader variety of guests to how the process of running a podcast goes, this unscripted interview is an opportunity to...

Oghale Agbro's story is inspiring from her early desire to work to discovering her drive to start AOA Bookkeeping. This episode is extra special because it launches on her business 6th year anniversary! While a close loss convinced Oghale to leave her job at a large company where her effort and hard work weren't fully supported, she didn't discover her business focus right away. As a Nigerian-Amer...

When Bill Ibsen first started working at 14-years-old, he found it gratifying to show his family he was really a good worker. He's worked off and on for years supporting his Grandfather and Father's Business, the Ibsen Company.  Started as a fun way to enjoy watersports with skis, the company grew into serving the more practical side of water sports, boats! With the Norscot Shaft seal being their...

Zovig Garboushian grew up in her family's business filing actual paperwork into real paper files. The kind that were stored in filing cabinets. Living with business owner parents in a strong community, she discovered her knack for learning how people change, grow and thrive by first pursuing a Psychology Degree.   From California to New York where she worked in advertising, back to Seattle where s...

Cindy Smith was an American Military brat who was sure she'd settle down in one spot, and never enter the life she grew up within as a generational military kid. A continent between her and her family later, and she found her people back in the Army! Thanks to that draw, she met her battle buddy for life, Len. Together they served in the Army until she decided to focus on a new path and explore Re...

Josh Huisenga has been drawing for longer than he can remember. His path to founding Chalkbox Creative wasn't a linear path, but rather a series of life lessons. He shares his journey from starting out as a Chemical Engineering Major at Montana State University to Art and Design.  That big shift in college found him aligning with his talent that flows naturally. From a kid with sketch books to exp...

Girls on the Go! Elise Kloter and Jane Howard titled their business appropriately, not just because they cater to women who want to travel, but also because they are themselves constantly moving forward! From tobacco fields and helping kids be creative to helping women experience exotic foreign travel, their journeys in their careers are as fascinating as the places they and their clients go. For...