Joust About Careers Podcast

Welcome back to the Joust About Careers podcast! This is the place to learn about careers from the people who are actually doing the work every day. I’m your host, Brian Bratt, and this week’s guest is 2013 Van Buren graduate Zach Wehrle, a Tax Senior (Accountant) for EY. In this episode, Zach shares how a typical day looks in his position, why he moved into accounting from a criminal justice care...

Welcome back to the Joust About Careers podcast! This is the place to learn about careers from the people who are actually doing the work every day. I’m your host, Brian Bratt, and this week’s guest is 1999 Van Buren graduate Abby Yates, a Clinical Supervisor and Mental Health Counselor at The Willow Center. In this episode, Abby shares how a typical day looks in her position, how mental health pr...

Welcome back to the Joust About Careers podcast! This episode features 2015 Van Buren graduate Alexis (Youngpeter) Beachy, a Palliative Care Pharmacist at Ohio Health. In this episode, Alexis shares how a typical day looks in her position, how a five-year internship is not uncommon in pharmacy, why she chose to complete a two-year residency, how participating in the Kappa Epsilon pharmacy fraterni...

Welcome back to the Joust About Careers podcast! This episode features 2015 Van Buren graduate Nathan Maynard, an assistant public defender in the youth defense department of the Ohio Public Defender’s Office. In this episode, Nathan shares how a typical day looks in his position, how an event while in college working toward a supply chain management degree piqued his interest in a law career, wha...

Welcome back to the Joust About Careers podcast! This episode features 2005 Van Buren graduate Tiffany Johnson, who is the Data Asset Manager Within North America Market Operations for Procter & Gamble. In this episode, Tiffany shares how a typical day looks in her position, how data is much more than numbers, the good and bad of working for large companies, the importance of being able to ada...

Welcome back to the Joust About Careers podcast! This episode features a conversation with 2014 Van Buren graduate Michelle Ricker, who is a writer and assistant editor at Emory University in Atlanta, GA. In this episode, Michelle shares how a typical day looks in her position, how AI has affected her career, the value of her internships while in school, the importance of a writing portfolio, and...

Welcome back to the Joust About Careers podcast! This episode features a conversation with Ashley (Erwin) Little, a 2007 Van Buren High School graduate who is the Director of Graduate Admissions at The University of Findlay. In this episode, Ashley shares how a typical day looks in her position, the role a graphic design degree played in her career journey, what students who might go to graduate s...

Welcome back to the Joust About Careers podcast! This episode features a conversation with Stephanie (Boyd) Donahue, a 1997 Van Buren High School graduate who works in the computer science field and is the Americas Workplace Data, Apps, and Workflow Lead for Avanade. In this episode, Stephanie shares how a typical day looks in her position, how there is much more to computer science than coding, w...

Welcome back to the Joust About Careers podcast! This episode features a conversation with Nick DeVore, a 2016 Van Buren High School graduate who is an electrician and project foreman for Bodie Mechanical Services. In this episode, Nick shares how a typical day looks in his position, how he decided to pursue this career through an apprenticeship, the importance of math in his career, and much more...

Welcome back to the Joust About Careers podcast! This episode features a conversation with 1997 Van Buren graduate Todd Bailey, the Senior Vice President - Director of Regional Economic Development at Huntington National Bank. In the interview, Todd shares how a typical day looks in his position, how his degree in communications provided a solid foundation for his career journey, the career opport...

Welcome back to the Joust About Careers podcast! This episode features a conversation with 2009 Van Buren graduate Jacob Sublett, the staff biologist at the Toledo Area Sanitation District. In the interview, Jacob shares how a typical day looks for him, how he focuses on mosquito control in his career, how the field of biology offers a plethora of career opportunities, and much more. Whether you a...

Welcome back to the Joust About Careers podcast! This episode features a conversation with Sawyer Junge, a 2014 Van Buren graduate who is a Partnerships and Account Executive with LinkedIn Talent and Learning Solutions in Chicago, IL. Sawyer shares how a typical day looks for him, how to deal with rejection when making sales, what it’s like to live in Chicago, the importance of being a good listen...

Welcome back to the Joust About Careers podcast! This episode features a conversation with Jae Sutherland, a 2004 Van Buren graduate who is an Area Engineer for the US Department of Agriculture and Natural Resources Conservation Service. Jae shares what she does as a civil engineer, how attending a camp at Notre Dame contributed to where she is today, and much more. Whether you are interested in a...

Welcome back to the Joust About Careers podcast! This episode features a conversation with Alan Molyet, a 2010 Van Buren graduate who is a Senior 340B Coordinator at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center. Alan shares how a typical day in his position looks, how he balances his day job with a career as a soccer official at the high school and college levels, the importance of being a life...

Welcome back to the Joust About Careers podcast! This episode features a conversation with Tre Switzer, a 2017 Van Buren graduate who is an Assistant Superintendent of the Buffalo Ridge Springs Golf Course in Branson, MO. Tre shares how a typical day looks as an Assistant Superintendent, how he decided to earn a turf grass degree from ATI in Wooster, what the most rewarding aspects of his career a...

Welcome back to the Joust About Careers podcast! This episode features a conversation with Callie Spears, a 2016 Van Buren graduate who is a Design Strategist and UX/UI Designer with LINK in Oregon. Callie shares how a typical day looks as a designer, how her experience with co-ops through the University of Cincinnati propelled her career, her experiences with both in-person and remote work, and m...

Welcome back to the Joust About Careers podcast! This episode features a conversation with Ryan Harmon, a 2002 Van Buren graduate who is a Critical Care Transport, ER, and Flight Nurse and Paramedic who is currently studying to become a Nurse Practitioner. Ryan shares how a typical day looks in the emergency room, how he became a flight nurse and what that means, how the military helped him choose...

Welcome back to the Joust About Careers podcast! This episode features a conversation with Tori Bookwalter, a 2017 Van Buren graduate who is the social media coordinator for the National Hockey League’s Florida Panthers. Tori shares how a typical day looks for a social media coordinator, explains why she chose social media over journalism, discusses whether someone entering the social media field...

Welcome back to the Joust About Careers podcast! This episode features a conversation with Abby Allen, a 2005 Van Buren graduate who is a physician’s assistant and assistant professor in the PA program at the University of Findlay. Abby shares how a typical day looks for a PA and professor, gives advice on getting into PA school, explains how a PA is different from a nurse practitioner, and much m...

Welcome back to the Joust About Careers podcast! This episode features a conversation with Amanda Couchot, a 2010 Van Buren graduate who is a New Model Delivery Project Manager with Honda Manufacturing of Indiana. Amanda shares how a typical day looks in her career, how she isn’t in the career she expected to have when in high school, the characteristics of people who excel in this field, and much...

Welcome back to the Joust About Careers podcast! This episode features a conversation with Ryan Fennell, a 2001 Van Buren graduate who is a licensed home inspector and owns his own business, Acuity Inspections. Ryan shares how a typical day looks, how he went to school to become a computer-aided designer but decided that was not the right career for him, how to get started in the inspection field,...

Welcome back to the Joust About Careers podcast! This episode features a conversation with 2015 VB graduate Brianna (Orchard) McAlister, who is a registered dietician who currently works as a nutritionist for Community Action Pioneer Valley in Massachusetts. In the interview, Brianna shares how a typical day looks, the differences between being a dietitian and a nutritionist, the many career optio...

Welcome back to the Joust About Careers podcast! This episode features a conversation with 2019 VB graduate Megan Muzy, who is a merchandise associate with the Atlanta Braves and a competitive figure skating coach with Georgia Tech University. In the interview, Megan shares how a typical day looks in both of her positions, how these aren’t the careers she expected when she was in high school, the...

Welcome back to the Joust About Careers podcast! This episode features a conversation with Noah Schumacker, a 2017 Van Buren graduate who has worked in sales and now owns Noah's Ark Boat Wash. In the interview, Noah shares about what he did as an outside sales consultant, what his first sales internship was like in Duluth, GA, how he started his boat wash business, and much more. Whether you a...

Welcome back to the Joust About Careers podcast! This episode features a conversation with Luke Kohls, a former Van Buren High School math teacher who is an account manager for Palo Alto Networks. In the interview, Luke shares about what he does at Palo Alto, what it was like to change careers after seven years as a teacher, what teaching skills have served him best in his new career, and much mor...