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. D...

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 particu...

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...

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 affect...

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...

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 wit...

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 injuri...

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...

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 mach...

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 cou...

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 o...

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 Heal...

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...

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 his...

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, o...

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...

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 ba...

Joining us on this week’s episode of Coffee with Closers are authors Chris Mettler and Jon Yarian. They discuss their new book: Spark: 24 Concepts to Ignite, Unstick or Supercharge Your Work Life . Due out May 16th, Spark is designed to challenge those who are stuck in their jobs and wandering aimlessly through the hallways of bloated companies to lead the life they have always wanted to live. It’...

Joining us on this week’s episode of Coffee with Closers is Dale Buckner, the CEO of the international security firm Global Guardian. A 24-year US Army veteran, Dale explains why many companies are failing to adequately prepare for crises, including regional conflicts, national health emergencies, natural disasters and other security threats. In the face of increased global disruptions, he discuss...

Joining us on this week’s episode of Coffee with Closers is Truckload Carriers Association (TCA) President Jim Ward. He addresses some of the most pressing issues facing the trucking industry today, including the future of autonomous and electric trucks, driver shortages, supply chain, workforce training and more.  

Joining us on this week’s episode of Coffee with Closers is Holocaust historian, curator and American Jewish University professor Dr. Michael Berenbaum. Dr. Berenbaum previews “Auschwitz. Not long ago. Not far away.” This world-renowned traveling exhibition is now open at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley, California.   Through more than 700 original artifacts, this powerful an...

Joining us on this week’s episode of Coffee with Closers is Anne Balcer,  Senior Executive Vice President, Chief of Government Relations and Public Policy at the Independent Community Bankers of America (ICBA).  Anne explains why a highly controversial push in Congress aimed at regulating credit cards would increase costs for Main Street banks and put consumers’ rewards programs and card security...