Celebrating Our Technology Evangelist: Carlos Dominguez ~ Business Mentor and Hero

I salute Carlos Dominguez~former Cisco Systems Sr. VP and technology evangelist~who I worked with and for in a highly complex and competitive market in mid-1990's.  It was electrifying to recruit for Carlos as he challenged and motivated all of us across Cisco's field operations, systems engineering, professional services, marketing and U.S. sales divisions! The mission was to compete-to-win with a laser-focus on the customer experience inside the strategic markets of financial services, media, and pharmaceuticals.  Carlos spent 22 years at Cisco winning! He helped establish and led Cisco’s Service Provider organization to generate more than $14 billion in annual revenue.  In 2015 he joined Spinklr, Inc. as President and COO.  Ragy Thomas, CEO and founder of Sprinklr may have said it best, “Carlos has 3 decades of experience scaling global organizations in stages of hyper-growth, combined with an unparalleled passion for innovation and a contagious energy." "As Sprinklr continues to scale, we will rely heavily on his leadership and expertise to further support large brands on the path toward digital transformation.” In 2017 Carlos was named top executive at the Crain's Hispanic Executive and Entrepreneur Awards. By example Carlos taught us #ExcellenceAlwaysMatters   

#ForgedByTheSea #FromTheDepthsToTheStars #ExcellenceAlwaysMatters ~Meet OC Kyle DeMarco

Honoring Excellence "Forged by the Sea" while Celebrating Officer Candidate Kyle DeMarco "from the depths to the stars!"  Meet NJ native & future Submarine Officer in the US Navy’s Nuclear Propulsion Officer Candidate Program!

#ForgedByTheSea #FromTheDepthsToTheStars  #ExcellenceAlwaysMatters   

Written by LT. Natalie Schibell, MSC USN - Talent Acquisition Manager- New York Navy Recruiting Station

"We shall never forget that it was our submarines that held the lines against the enemy while our fleets replaced losses and repaired wounds." ~ Fleet Admiral Chester Nimitz, USN Congratulations and fair winds to Kyle DeMarco who was selected for accession into the US Navy’s Nuclear Propulsion Officer Candidate Program as a future Submarine Officer! Officer Candidate DeMarco was one of 19 selectees who was sworn in at the Office of Naval Reactors in Washington, DC last week. A native of Old Bridge, NJ, and former Dean’s List student, OC DeMarco earned his BS in Electrical and Computer Engineering and an MS in Engineering Management from New Jersey Institute of Technology. He will report to OCS in Newport, RI for 12 weeks of military indoctrination training followed by one year at Nuclear Power School - Naval Nuclear Power Training Command (NNPTC) in Charleston, SC. He will then complete an additional 8 weeks of schooling at Sub Base New London, CT before reporting to his first submarine assignment. OC DeMarco will receive a $15,000 bonus and a salary of $5,000/month as part of the benefits of the NUPOC program. OC DeMarco is also a martial artist and possesses a third degree black belt! Best of luck to the newest member of the “Silent Service.”

Tech Mecca Bell Works in Holmdel NJ where #ExcellenceAlwaysMatters

Fall 2017, my “Crazy Fast Nephew” who I recently wrote about won the NJ Meet of Champions (3200) in the bucolic setting of Holmdel Park in Monmouth County NJ. It was an exhilarating experience to watch this HS junior scale that final hill on his way to a finish line he had worked for & run towards since middle school.

As I exited this park doing my "Happy Aunt Dance," I simply could not believe the panoramic view that was straight ahead.  OMGosh - There SHE was!  Staring back at me was the site of the old Bell Labs Complex built in 1962 – where pioneers and champions in Research & Scientific Development delivered monumental technological innovations of the 20th Century! 

Recently, men & women used their imagination & great skills to redevelop this historic site into an amazing workplace for the future called BELL WORKS.  This massive and remarkable effort was the brain-child of Ralph Zucker and it is a glorious gift to NJ!  You must go see it! Check out the iconic open-atrium where only the sky is the limit.  A 21st Century “Meet of Champions” driven by innovation, technology, possibilities & inspiration are positioned to exceed expectations again!  I had the best Saturday.   #BellWorks where #ExcellenceAlwaysMatters 

#ExcellenceAlwaysMatters - A Lesson from my "Crazy Fast Nephew"

I have a "Crazy Fast Nephew" ~HS junior & Cross Country/Indoor Track All-American-(3200). He competed & placed in both the Foot Locker & New Balance Nationals & received 2017-2018 "U.S. Gatorade Player of the Year~Boys Cross Country Runner of the Year" for Athletic Excellence, Academic Achievement & Exemplary Character.

As an aunt, I'm Alive-with-Pride, but I get so darn nervous when he runs State & National Races. In a poignant effort to calm me down, my "Crazy Fast Nephew" had a message for me. He said, "Aunt Tish - I love running with the BEST! When the people you are competing against or work beside are all excellent, everyone's game goes up! The best runners in the nation inspire & push me to run faster!"

At Freedom Mortgage we are motivated by high caliber colleagues for the very same reasons!  If YOU operate consistently with leader behaviors & celebrate excellence in your daily life, Freedom Mortgage would like to know who YOU are.  Go to our FMC Career Page OR contact me at patricia.ferguson@freedommortgage.com

TishTrek - 3/30/18

FBI Special Agent Charles: When the Man is the Motto~"Fidelity, Bravery, Integrity"

In summer of 2012, my friend Charles retired from the Federal Bureau of Investigation after 26 years of service... so 130 of us made our way to the Molly Pitcher Inn in Red Bank NJ to honor him and his distinguished career.

His high profile intelligence gathering and investigative genius on cases that spanned the globe saved countless lives, thwarted planned attacks directed at innocent citizens inside tunnels, bridges and across the land. He brought criminals and international terrorists to justice; and he mentored countless colleagues throughout their careers.

At this event a single American Flag was placed in a memory box after it was flown over the U.S. Capitol Building in D.C., at the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, at NJ operations offices in Newark, Ventnor, Red Bank and 104 floors up at the very top of our new One World Trade Center in Downtown Manhattan.

The flag was presented to him in the traditional triangular fold and placed under glass after it was raised by bands of brothers-and-sisters in law enforcement during special ceremonies held at every field office Charles had ever worked from.  They honored and thanked him as they celebrated excellence of the highest caliber.

Every speaker rose with emotion to share poignant stories from the silent and dangerous trenches of their lives to explain how they were inspired by him, his values, work ethic, knowledge-sharing; as well as how his intense personal interest in their success motivated all of them.

Our Charles - a humble U-Penn Wharton Graduate - managed and solved the 1993 World Trade Center Bombing Case.  He and his FBI Team brought Ramzi Yousef, Blind Sheikh Omar Abdul-Rahman and others to justice for their individual contributions to the horrific '93 terrorist act that left six fellow citizens dead and 1,042 injured in the rubble beneath the 10-story gaping hole they intentionally created with explosives from the lower-level parking garage at the World Trade Center.

  

He never talked about his work so it was utterly shocking to hear about his role in solving the 1993 WTC Attack while watching him on TV during a History Channel Documentary that I found by accident as a result of a channel surfing exercise.  

At this retirement party, Charles was also honored for leveraging his skills and subject matter expertise to help solve the Oklahoma Bombing case of April 1995 after a 5,000 pound truck bomb killed 168 innocent people, including 19 children - all under the age of 6.

  

As the event drew to a close, the crowd stood silent and transfixed. Some of us burst into tears and applause as FBI Leaders detailed and saluted my friend’s tireless work which helped piece together key elements for the 9/11 Investigation.

Standing among these Giants in Law Enforcement, my life and work on both sides of the Hudson River Corridor had just come full circle. As a speaker, I said "thank you" to Charles on behalf of "faceless mothers and commuters" everywhere. With utmost reverence, I bowed my head in this magnificent banquet hall for the heroes present who wake up every day to protect the health, welfare and safety of citizens like all of us worldwide. 

As I headed home moved and motivated, it was clear to me #ExcellenceAlwaysMatters ~ especially when “The Man is the Motto;” and that Motto is “Fidelity, Bravery, Integrity.” 

TishTrek - 03/27/18