December’s Employees of the Month at Strategic

• How long have you worked for Strategic Communications?

I joined the team in August 2024.

• What was your background prior to working for Strategic Communications?

Prior to working with Strategic Communications I worked for and with AWS from 2015.  Coming from a FinOps background in Enterprise Support with AWS I took advantage of a few programs that AWS held locally with different schools and associations to build my knowledge of AWS billing structures and to obtain a few different certifications along the way.

• What aspect of your job do you find most rewarding or fulfilling?

When I find something that I can “fix” or optimize to make it a better/more efficient product/process.

• What is the best career lesson you’ve learned so far?

Never be afraid to ask for help, but don’t be stingy with it either.

• Outside of work, what are you passionate about/enjoy doing?

Right now, there’s a lot of sledding going on with my kids. But I love to travel and attend different music events, comedy shows, sporting events  (Saints, Braves, LSU, Pelicans, Capitals, MMA, Boxing). Other than that, we’re probably walking somewhere around the city when the weather is nice.

• What is your current favorite TV Show, Podcast, or Book that you’d like to share with the world?

Current TV show that I’ve been laughing at is “Ghosts.” My favorite Podcasts are probably LORE by Aaron Mahnke and Mysterious Universe by Aaron Wright and Benjamin Grundy. Current book is Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl.

• What is something that people may not know about you?

My dad’s side of the family came from the Louisiana swamps, and so family events were filled up with a bunch of people speaking creole.

• How long have you worked for Strategic Communications?

I’ve been with Strategic for 7 months

• What was your background prior to working for Strategic Communications?

Academically – bachelor’s in communications from University of Phoenix.  Professionally – I spent six years in the United States Marine Corps where I was part of both the Panamanian Invasion and the First Gulf War and served in 7 different countries leaving as a sergeant.  I started my public safety career August 1, 1994, in Wilmington NC working for VisionAIR as a sales rep for NC, SC and GA.  Over the next twenty-five years I moved East Coast-West Coast and back to East Coast 4 times taking on new leadership roles in the CAD, RMS, Mobile and Jail market space for three different companies.  I spent 5 years building and launching a GTM and sales team for Rapid DNA and prior to Strategic, I was the JPS Leader for OPSWAT Cyber Security.  August 2024 was my 30^th year in the justice and public safety market.

• What aspect of your job do you find most rewarding or fulfilling?

Creating JPS TRUST and productizing all the great things Strategic can bring to the table to support sales has been very satisfying and knowing the potential is fulfilling.

• What is the best career lesson you’ve learned so far?

Always take care of your team and do anything you can to help others grow in their roles and positions.

• Outside of work, what are you passionate about/enjoy doing?

I’m only a few credits away from a 2^nd degree in World History and I’m a huge history nerd and try to travel to as many significant historical locations globally as possible with my wife and kids.  I have competed in multiple three-gun shooting competitions and try to play golf as much as possible.  My daughter (Piper) is a musician and performer, so my wife and I spend as much time as possible at her shows and concerts.

• What is your current favorite TV Show, Podcast, or Book that you’d like to share with the world?

Landman and Lionesses on Paramount are top of mind now. I’m a big reader and fan of historical and historical fiction.  Just finished Six Frigates by Tull which I think should be mandatory reading for anyone who wants to really understand the first 100 years of building America.

• What is something that people may not know about you?

I grew up with four older sisters, so I literally jumped at any opportunity to get away from my house and the girl-drama. My grandmother owned a farm in Valdosta GA with 240 acres of tobacco and soybeans.  From twelve to sixteen, I spent at least two months of my summer break cropping tobacco or picking soybeans with her day laborers.  It was a doctorial level education in hard work and understanding people.  

• How long have you worked for Strategic Communications?

I have worked at strategic for 1 year as of January 7^th

• What was your background prior to working for Strategic Communications?

My background before strategic. I was a welder/ fabricator for 4 years right out of high school. I was a union carpenter for about 6 months. I remodeled houses for 1.5 years after that. I worked at a machine shop for about 1.5 years after that. While I was welding the first year out of high school I did 1 year of collage and decided that was not for me.

• What aspect of your job do you find most rewarding or fulfilling?

The most rewarding part of my job is watching all the electronics power up and start working like it should after the job is done. Along with that is putting out quality work that the customer sees and appreciates.

• What is the best career lesson you’ve learned so far?

Let your work speak for itself. Don’t talk about how good you are just do it and let other people see. At the same time stay humble and know your role.

• Outside of work, what are you passionate about/enjoy doing?

Outside of work I I enjoy riding dirt bikes with my son, working on old hotrods with my dad and pushing myself as hard as possible in the gym.

• What is something that people may not know about you?

One time I made a potato gun it shot potatoes about 4-500 feet depending on how much hair spray you put in it.