The Leadership Crucible Podcast

Chief Merkison was born and raised in Clayton County where his family has made their home for over 50 years. After graduating from North Clayton High School, Chief Merkison attended and graduated from Griffin Technical Institute where he majored in Architectural and Engineering Drafting. He furthered his education at Columbia Southern University, where he graduated Summa Cum Laude with a Bachelor’s Degree in Fire Administration and a Master’s Degree in Business.<p>Chief Merkison began his firefighting career as a volunteer with the City of Jonesboro in 1992. In 1993, he was hired by the City of Riverdale and In March of 1996, he began his career with Clayton County Fire &amp; Emergency Services. He was promoted through the ranks serving as a Sergeant, Lieutenant, and Captain within the Fire Marshal’s Office and in 2008 was promoted to Battalion Chief and charged with creating the Technical Services Division. From 2010 through 2013, he served as a member of the Fire Chief’s Executive Staff as the Assistant Fire Chief and Deputy Director of Emergency Management and Homeland Security. On November 5, 2013, he was appointed the sixth Fire Chief of Clayton County Fire & Emergency Services where he also serves as the EMS Director and Director of Emergency Management. In January of 2021, Chief Merkison was appointed to head the new Office of Resilience and Sustainability.<p>In addition to his roles within the department, Chief Merkison serves as Chairman of the Clayton County Citizens Corps Council and as a member of the Region III EMS Council. In October of 2014, the Board of Commissioners appointed him to serve on the Board of Directors for Southern Regional Medical Center and in 2020 Governor Brian Kemp appointed him to serve on the Georgia Firefighter Standards and Training Council.<p> To download the Team Discussion Guide, click here .<br>To watch the Video Podcast on Youtube, click here .

Dr. Mulenga Chella is the founding pastor of Christ Life Church, was born in Zambia, Africa. After completing high school, he was called to serve God in ministry. Since then, Mulenga has served in hospital ministry, street kids’ ministry, youth ministry, and as lead pastor. In 2002-2003 he pastored his first church called Bread of Life Church Luanshya, after that, he pastured Bread of Life Church Chankute (’03-’04) and later on Bread of Life Church Mpatamato (’05, ’09-‘13). <p>Mulenga earned his Theology Diploma from Northrise University Zambia in 2005. In 2006 Mulenga was wrongly imprisoned in Tanzania and spent two years awaiting trial for a crime he did not commit and of which he was subsequently acquitted. This resulted in a spiritually formative time that God used to teach and humble Mulenga for fruitful ministry. He then returned to Northrise University Zambia and earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Theology in 2010 - 2012. In May 2016 Mulenga graduated from Baylor University with a Masters in Divinity. He earned his Doctorate of Ministry at Baylor University’s George W. Truett Theological Seminary (April 2020). <p>Mulenga served as Pastor for Littleville Baptist Church in Hamilton, Texas (2014-2016); Adamsville Presbyterian Church in Adamsville, Texas (2015 -2016); and Cornerstone Christian Church, Chandler, Arizona (June 2016 –January 2017). Mulenga is married to Hellen, and they have a son named Joseph and a daughter named Lisa. They returned back to Zambia from the USA in March 2017 and officially started Christ Life Church in April 2018. <br>For more information on Mulenga's Ministry, visit: https://christlifechurchzambia.com/ <p> To download the Team Discussion Guide, click here .<br>To watch the Video Podcast on Youtube, click here .

Nathan Sheldon was born in Rio-de-Janeiro, Brazil. His parents, linguistic missionaries, moved Nathan to the heart of the Amazon Jungle to live with an indigenous group called the Mura Piraha. At about eleven, the family moved out of the jungle to Brazil's capital, Brasilia. Nathan would live in Brasilia until his senior year of high school when the family moved to the U.S., where Nathan would graduate high school.<p>He attended John Brown University in Siloam Springs, AR, where he played soccer and tennis, and was very involved in Student Government and served as treasurer his senior year in college, graduating in 1989. He started Graduate School at the University of Oklahoma, where he graduated with a Masters in Accounting – Tax emphasis. He married his college sweetheart Staci in the Fall of 1990. They have two grown children, Sarah, and Steven. Nathan started his career in Accounting, working with Deloitte & Touche in the tax department. He transitioned to the Finance side of accounting and served as controller for Candid Color and then as the wholesale controller for the largest whole food distributor in the country, Fleming. <p>He is finishing his 19th year at the premier Independent School in Oklahoma City, first as the Director of Operations, and for the last eight years, as the Head of School at Casady School. Casady School is an Independent day school with approximately 990 boys and girls in grades pre-k through 12th grade.<p>To download the Team Discussion Guide, click here.<br>To watch the Video Podcast on Youtube, click here.

Roee Madai is an accomplished CEO with a proven global track record in developing and executing strategic long-term initiatives in the medical device field. Successfully led global corporate expansion through procurement of new technologies, acquisition of MAS Med Global, sales in new markets and segments, as well as the expansion of manufacturing facilities while adopting the highest quality standards. He has been the CEO if PerSys Medical for the past 8 years, and CEO of First Care Products a group of companies with 150 employees who develop, manufacture and market leading trauma pre-hospital devices for hospitals, EMS, and military markets. He also served as Consul for Economic Affairs for the Government of Israel -Ministry of Finance -Economic Mission to the U.S. and as an Advisor to the Minister of Economy and Industry in Israel. He holds a Master’s Degree in Economics and International Relations and a Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration.<p>To download the Team Discussion Guide, click here .<br>To watch the Video Podcast on Youtube, click here .

Jim Johnson is Executive Vice President of Oshkosh Corporation and President, Fire & Emergency. He is responsible for the overall operations of Oshkosh’s Fire & Emergency business segment, consisting of the Pierce®, Oshkosh® Airport Products and Frontline™ brands.<b>He joined Oshkosh Corporation in 2007, after holding positions in sales and marketing in the recreational vehicle industry. He is an attorney who spent several years practicing law in Indianapolis, Indiana focusing on commercial litigation.<b>He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business from Indiana University, Bloomington and a Juris Doctorate degree from Indiana University, Indianapolis.<p>To download the Team Discussion Guide, click here .<br>To watch the Video Podcast on Youtube, click here .

This is Part 2 of our interview with Marshall. If you haven't yet done so, we recommend listening to Part 1 first. <p>Marshall Levin’s professional reputation spans the globe and includes senior positions in both the profit and non-profit sector. Mr. Levin is an honors graduate of Swarthmore College. He holds a Masters of Social Service from Bryn Mawr Graduate School of Social Work and Social Research. <p>He was the Executive Vice President and Chief Executive Officer of the American Committee for the Weizmann Institute of Science, where upon his departure, they created an educational endowment fund in his name. <p>A Senior Associate National Director and Director of National Development for the Anti-Defamation League, Mr. Levin served as Executive Director of Financial Resource Development for UJA-Federation of New York; Executive Director of Community Planning & Allocations for The Associated: Jewish Community Federation of Baltimore; Supervisor of Northern Israel in charge of Crisis Intervention for the Ministry of Social Welfare; Lecturer at the Haifa University School of Social Work; and Executive Director of synagogues in the Conservative and Reform movements.<p>Marshall was also a professional athlete.<p>To download the Team Discussion Guide, click here.<br>To watch the Video Podcast on Youtube, click here.

Marshall Levin’s professional reputation spans the globe and includes senior positions in both the profit and non-profit sector. Mr. Levin is an honors graduate of Swarthmore College. He holds a Masters of Social Service from Bryn Mawr Graduate School of Social Work and Social Research. <p>He was the Executive Vice President and Chief Executive Officer of the American Committee for the Weizmann Institute of Science, where upon his departure, they created an educational endowment fund in his name. <p>A Senior Associate National Director and Director of National Development for the Anti-Defamation League, Mr. Levin served as Executive Director of Financial Resource Development for UJA-Federation of New York; Executive Director of Community Planning & Allocations for The Associated: Jewish Community Federation of Baltimore; Supervisor of Northern Israel in charge of Crisis Intervention for the Ministry of Social Welfare; Lecturer at the Haifa University School of Social Work; and Executive Director of synagogues in the Conservative and Reform movements.<p>Marshall was also a professional athlete.<p>To download the Team Discussion Guide, click here.<br>To watch the Video Podcast on Youtube, click here.

Gordon Graham has been actively involved in law enforcement since 1973. He is an Attorney, consultant, lecturer, and author focusing on organizational and operational risk management issues. He has developed training systems and programs used by both private and public sector organizations around the world. His training program, “Six Minutes for Safety” has been adopted by Fire Departments around North America, and by all Federal Fire Fighting Agencies and has been credited with reducing wildland firefighter injuries and deaths. His innovative safety system “Non Punitive Close Call Reporting” is receiving international acclaim from firefighter organizations, and was the genesis for the firefighternearmiss.com safety website.<p>In 2005, Gordon received the prestigious Presidential Award from the International Association of Fire Chiefs for his lifelong work in improving firefighter safety and performance. In 2015 he received the lifetime dedication award from the International Public Safety Leadership and Ethics Institute. In 2018 he received the James Oberstar Sentinel for Safety Award for his lifetime work in improving aviation safety internationally. In 2019 he received the Howard W. Rayon Distinguished Service Award. Gordon is the Co-Founder of Lexipol, a company designed to standardize policy, procedure and training within public safety agencies around America.<p>Click here to watch the Video Podcast on Youtube <br>Click here to download the Team Discussion Guide

Jack L. Rives received both his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and law school degrees from the University of Georgia.<p>Following graduation from law school, he began a 33-year career in the United States Air Force as a military attorney, or judge advocate (JAG). He served as The Judge Advocate General of the United States Air Force, the senior U.S. Air Force attorney, and he was the first military attorney to attain the three-star rank of lieutenant general. Jack led some 4,600 legal professionals worldwide, including 2,600 active duty, reserve component, and civilian lawyers. Among his many military awards and decorations are the Distinguished Service Medal with oak leaf cluster and the Defense Superior Service Medal.<p>On Law Day (May 1), 2010, Jack began his service as the Executive Director of the American Bar Association. He has overall management responsibility for staff operations at the Association’s headquarters in Chicago, at its Washington, DC office, and at program sites in California, Texas, and several dozen countries throughout the world.<p>Jack oversees a staff of more than 1,000 and a consolidated budget of over $200 million, and he ensures the effective development and direct implementation of the Association’s strategic goals. He has responsibility for the programs and policy activities adopted by the ABA’s governing and policy-making bodies, the Board of Governors, and House of Delegates. He is responsible for membership and non-dues revenues programs, and for budgets that reflect the right priorities and appropriate cost-cutting initiatives. Jack helps to ensure the ABA’s position as the largest voluntary association of lawyers in the world.<p>Click here to watch the Video Podcast on Youtube<br>Click here to download the Team Discussion Guide

PATRICK J. KENNY has been a member of the fire service for over 38 years, and before retiring in January 2021 served as the Fire Chief in Hinsdale and Western Springs, Illinois. He has been a Chief Officer for over 25 years and a speaker in multiple countries on Mayday for Mental Health® for more than a decade. He is the international best-selling author of TAKING THE CAPE OFF: How to Lead Through Mental Illness, Unimaginable Grief and Loss and has articles published in the areas of mental health, leadership, fire safety, and fire code challenges. He was awarded the Fire Chief of the Year in 2004 by the Illinois Fire Chiefs Association and in 2021 he was awarded Fire Chief Emeritus status by the Executive Board of the Illinois Fire Chiefs Association. He was awarded the Fire Engineering/International Society of Fire Service Instructors (ISFSI) George D. Post Instructor of the Year Award for 2020-2021.<p>To learn more about Pat or to schedule him as your Keynote Speaker, visit:<p>https://patrickjkenny.com/<p>This is Part 2 of a two part interview with Pat. If you haven't done so already, listen to our previous epsiode first where Pat shares his incredible story.<p>Click here to watch the Video Podcast on Youtube<br>Click here to download the Team Discussion Guide