

The Executive Appeal with Alex D. Tremble
Alex D. Tremble
Leadership isn’t just a title—it’s an impact.
The Executive Appeal is the podcast for executive leaders and HR professionals who are serious about growth: their own, their teams’, and their organizations’. Hosted by Alex D. Tremble, bestselling author and leadership expert, this podcast delivers no-fluff strategies, real-world insights, and conversations that matter.
Each episode features top HR executives and senior leaders sharing their experiences, strategies, and lessons learned from the trenches of leadership. On solo episodes, Alex breaks down practical tools and actionable advice to help you:
-Navigate complex challenges with confidence.
-Develop yourself and those around you.
-Build influence, improve team performance, and drive measurable results.
And here’s the best part: we tackle these senior-level conversations with energy, authenticity, and a few laughs along the way. Because learning to lead better doesn’t have to feel like homework—it should inspire, energize, and maybe even make you smile.
If you’re ready to go beyond the buzzwords and lead with clarity, intention, and impact—this is your edge.
Found on all major podcast platforms.
The Executive Appeal is the podcast for executive leaders and HR professionals who are serious about growth: their own, their teams’, and their organizations’. Hosted by Alex D. Tremble, bestselling author and leadership expert, this podcast delivers no-fluff strategies, real-world insights, and conversations that matter.
Each episode features top HR executives and senior leaders sharing their experiences, strategies, and lessons learned from the trenches of leadership. On solo episodes, Alex breaks down practical tools and actionable advice to help you:
-Navigate complex challenges with confidence.
-Develop yourself and those around you.
-Build influence, improve team performance, and drive measurable results.
And here’s the best part: we tackle these senior-level conversations with energy, authenticity, and a few laughs along the way. Because learning to lead better doesn’t have to feel like homework—it should inspire, energize, and maybe even make you smile.
If you’re ready to go beyond the buzzwords and lead with clarity, intention, and impact—this is your edge.
Found on all major podcast platforms.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Apr 10, 2024 • 44min
Ep 126: Stretching Comfort Zones: Empowering Ambitious Employees with Charmayne Beverly
On today's episode of The Executive Appeal join Alex D. Tremble (CEO of GPS Leadership Solutions & Keynote Speaker) and Charmayne Beverly (Vice President Talent at Old Republic International) as they share invaluable insights on pushing ambitious employees beyond their comfort zones. Discover actionable strategies to unlock potential and foster growth within your team.BioCharmayne began her career as an HR Associate and progressively advanced, holding a variety of roles with increasing responsibilities in Human Resources, including focusing on employee engagement initiatives, talent management, employee relations and recruitment. September 2023, Charmayne joined Old Republic Insurance (ORI) as the Vice President, Talent leading Talent Management, Recruitment, Learning and Development, Culture, Employee Relations, and Diversity & Inclusion. Prior to joining ORI, Charmayne served as the Vice President, Sr. HR Business Partner at The Federal Home Loan Bank Chicago (FHLBank Chicago). During the six years at FHLBank Chicago, Charmayne was responsible for the strategic leadership of HR initiatives impacting Community Investment and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Finance, Internal Audit and Risk. In partnership with the Business Group Heads, Charmayne provided comprehensive and integrated business solutions that drove continuous improvements in employee engagement, performance, organizational efficiency, leadership development and succession planning. In addition, Charmayne served on the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Committee, alongside a diverse group of employees, responsible for developing strategies and garnering support for DEI initiatives. Charmayne also played a key role partnering with Senior Leaders identifying areas of opportunity to improve staff engagement and overall culture. As part of this process, Charmayne collaborated with people managers to develop their skills as effective leaders within their teams, set expectations and deliver candid feedback in a manner designed to drive a trusting and transparent culture.Charmayne is an inspiring, highly collaborative, trusted Leader with 20 years of diverse experience in various industries, including the non-profit sector. Charmayne brings deep knowledge of building strong inclusive culture and employee experience, process redesigning, employee relations and modernizing human resources departments. She prides herself on being an authentic leader, with a natural ability to relate to others on all levels, which is critical in cultivating strong and sustainable relationships. She has a thoughtful business approach, sound ability operating in ambiguity, extremely innovative and proven results improving overall employee engagement, empowering leaders, helping employees reach their full potential, deepening diversity and inclusion and driving organizational strategy forward.Outside of work, Charmayne enjoys hanging out with her twin sister, hot Pilates, meditation, dance, and gardening.

Apr 3, 2024 • 44min
Ep 125: Fearless Leadership: Conquering Fear to Achieve Executive Goals with Tony Franklin
On this episode of The Executive Appeal Alex D. Tremble (Founder and CEO of GPS Leadership Solutions & Keynote Speaker) and Tony Franklin (VP, Sales and Client Partnerships at DIRECTV) as they share invaluable insights on overcoming fear to achieve success in leadership roles. Discover practical strategies for managing and leveraging fear to drive towards your organizational goals effectively. Don't miss out on this empowering discussion!BioTony Franklin is VP, of Advertising Sales, and Client Partnerships at DIRECTV. Tony is a seasoned professional with over 26 years of media experience leading teams and driving innovation, revenue & and transformation across sales organizations. Tony has a long and successful record of coaching and building high-performing sales teams.Tony has been with the AT&T Family since 2020 (Xandr/WarnerBros Discovery/DIRECTV). In his current role, he is responsible for driving advertising revenue from Holding Companies as well as Independent/Mid-Market Agencies and Clients for DIRECTV and DIRECTV STREAM products and solutions.Throughout his career, Tony has worked in TV, Print, and Digital Advertising Sales. Tony started his career in 1997 as an Account Executive selling Cable TV advertising for TCI Media Services and Cablevision Rainbow Advertising. He also served as the VP for Global Sales at JustPremium

Apr 1, 2024 • 41min
Ep 124: Finding Clarity: Removing Distractions to Uncover True Happiness with Nicole Killette
On today's episode of The Executive Appeal join Alex Tremble (CEO of GPS Leadership Solutions & Keynote speaker) and Nicole Killette (Human Resources Director at MedStar Health) as they reveal powerful insights on eliminating distractions to discover authentic happiness. Learn actionable strategies to gain clarity, understand personal desires, and achieve fulfillment in both professional and personal spheres. Tune in to this enlightening episode and embark on a journey toward genuine happiness and self-awareness.BioNicole joined MedStar Medical Group, LLC in 2016 as an HR Business Partner providing support primarily to specialty service lines and in 2019, she was promoted to HR Manager and began providing HR guidance to a team of HR professionals. In 2021, Nicole was again promoted to Director, Human Resources and currently oversees HR support for almost 4,000 associates, leaders and physicians. Throughout her career, Nicole has conducted many leader trainings in healthcare and human resources, served as a presenter in several Leadership Development Forums, worked as one of the primary trainers for many of MedStar’s HR initiatives and served as a strategic partner in assisting with the development of career ladders for many entry-level healthcare positions.When asked why she has always worked in healthcare and never tapped into other industries, Nicole stated that she believes there’s nothing more important than providing care for those who care for patients! Prior to her role at MedStar Nicole served in leadership positions at HCR ManorCare and The League for People with Disabilities.

Mar 27, 2024 • 41min
Ep 123: Executive Success Secrets: How Curiosity Drives Leadership Growth with Elizabeth Massing
On today's episode of The Executive Appeal join Alex D. Tremble (CEO of GPS Leadership Solutions & Keynote speaker) and Elizabeth Massing (Chief Human Resources Officer of 14 West and the Agora Companies) as they reveal the pivotal role of curiosity in executive leadership. Discover how asking the right questions can propel your organization and team to new heights, paving the way for unparalleled success at the highest levels of leadership. Tune in to gain invaluable insights and strategies for achieving your leadership goals.BioElizabeth Massing, Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) of 14 West and the Agora Companies, is a seasoned professional with an innate ability to connect with authentic individuals and foster human connections. With over 20 years of global experience, she embodies women leadership working her way through Agora’s ranks from intern to C-suite. Her journey began like many in the publishing industry, evolving into a fulfilling career marked by passion for people and innovative workplaces.Elizabeth is a matchmaker by nature who supports a range of strategic partnerships on behalf of Agora, addressing challenges from talent acquisition to brand awareness. Beyond her corporate role, she's deeply committed to community service, recognized as the 2019 Ally Partner of the Year by the Maryland LGBT Chamber of Commerce.In her role at 14 West, Elizabeth builds inclusive workplaces globally and educates on leadership. Her journey from intern to a key leader showcases her commitment to diversity. She actively supports Baltimore organizations, championing women's leadership and the arts community. Elizabeth's story is not just about climbing the corporate ladder but reshaping it for others.

Mar 25, 2024 • 36min
Ep 122: Strategic Convening: The Key to Executive Leadership Success with Brooks Rainwater
On today's episode of The Executive Appeal host, Alex D. Tremble, connects with Brooks Rainwater (President and CEO of the Urban Libraries Council).Discover how executive leaders achieve success for themselves and their companies by strategically convening the right people. Join host Alex D, Tremble in conversation with expert Brooks Rainwater as they delve into the art of effective leadership through assembling the perfect team. Tune in for insights, strategies, and actionable advice on driving success through strategic convening.Brooks serves as President and CEO of the Urban Libraries Council, an outcomes-driven research and innovations network of more than 160 leading North American public libraries. Under his leadership, ULC champions the future of public libraries by engaging and uplifting members, focusing intently on equity and inclusion and leading on core policy issues that drive our communities forward. Throughout his career, Brooks has worked to advance urban policies that expand local democracy and provide funding for local programs related to economic opportunity, entrepreneurship, infrastructure and sustainability. Prior to joining ULC in July 2022, Brooks served as Senior Executive & Director, Center for City Solutions at the National League of Cities where he drove the organization’s research agenda and oversaw technical assistance efforts and leadership education. Brooks holds a Master of Public Administration from The George Washington University and a Bachelor of Arts in political science from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.

Mar 20, 2024 • 37min
Ep 121: Building Bridges: Strengthening Bonds Between Executives and Employees with Jamie Fischer
On today's episode of The Executive Appeal our host Alex Tremble speaks with Jamie Fischer (Vice President of Operations for DriveTime Automotive group).Discover how executives can forge deeper connections with employees through increased transparency. Join us as Jamie Fischer shares invaluable insights and strategies to foster trust and collaboration in the workplace.Jaime is an award-winning executive, a mentor and a visionary leader in the automotive industry. Serving as the Vice President of Operations for DriveTime Automotive group headquartered in Tempe, Arizona she leads and manages diverse teams across various functions to deliver exceptional results and customer satisfaction while driving innovation and transformation in their operations. She is originally from Florida, has a Masters degree from the University of Alabama and, more importantly, is a mother of two teenagers and a proud wife of 20 years.

Mar 15, 2024 • 51min
Ep 120: The Power of Humility: Embracing Ignorance as a Senior Leader w/ Dr. Kumar Ramlall & Amit Ramlall
Dr. Kumar & Amit Ramlall discuss embracing ignorance as a leader, overcoming challenges, discovering purpose, and the significance of humility and effective communication in leadership. They highlight the power of focusing on unique strengths, learning from personal challenges, and the importance of testing leaders' thinking for impactful contributions.

Jan 31, 2024 • 43min
Ep 119: Embracing Complexity: The Key to Effective Leadership in a Multidimensional World w/ Beth Gullette
Beth Gullette is Chief People Officer at Well and an executive board member at the Institute for Contemporary Leadership. She has served as a trusted adviser to senior executives, boards and investors and a thought leader on issues of individual and organizational change, culture, leadership development, executive selection assessment and cultivating high performance teams. Prior to her role at Well, Beth served as the Managing Partner at Contemporary Leadership Advisors; Vice President, Leadership & Organizational Effectiveness (LOE) at AlixPartners; and Senior Faculty at the Center for Creative Leadership. Beth also received her Ph.D., in Clinical Psychology from Duke University and B.A. from William and Mary.

Jan 24, 2024 • 46min
Ep 118: Resilience Rising: Transforming Life's Trials into Triumphs with Michael Raimondi
Michael Raimondi has accumulated extensive work experience in various roles and industries. At the time of this interview Michael currently served as the Vice President of HR Operations at The Hollister Group, where they collaborate with executive leadership to define the organization's long-term mission and goals. Michael is responsible for talent management, attraction, onboarding, training, and implementing technology solutions. Additionally, Raimondi manages the HR team and ensures compliance with employment laws and regulations.Prior to their current role, Raimondi held positions of increasing responsibility at The Hollister Group. Michael served as the Vice President of Administrative & HR Staffing, where they developed and executed talent acquisition and hiring processes for the entire organization. Michael also oversaw EEO compliance training. Before that, Raimondi was the Division Director of Administrative & HR Staffing, responsible for leading a team and managing the division's recruitment, hiring, and performance management processes.Raimondi's earlier experience includes serving as a Recruiting Director for Administrative & HR Staffing, where they provided efficient customer service, oversaw job postings and recruiting strategies, and ensured a diverse candidate pool. Michael also worked as a Higher Education Recruiter, responsible for full-cycle recruitment for various positions at colleges and universities.Prior to their tenure at The Hollister Group, Raimondi worked as an Admissions Representative at Le Cordon Bleu College, where they led a team of recruiters and guided prospective students in choosing the right educational program. Michael also worked as a General Manager at West Elm Variety, overseeing day-to-day operations, customer service, purchasing, and budget analysis. Raimondi started their career in customer service as a part-time employee at Ellsworth Supply.Overall, Michael Raimondi has a diverse and well-rounded background in HR, staffing, recruitment, and operations management.Michael Raimondi pursued their education in the field of Business Administration and Management. Michael first obtained an Associate's degree in Business Administration and Management from Quincy College, where they studied from 2001 to 2004. Michael then pursued a Bachelor's degree in the same field from Bridgewater State College, completing their studies from 2004 to 2006. Making further progress in their educational journey, Michael earned a Master's degree in Business Administration and Management from Eastern Nazarene College, studying from 2011 to 2012. In addition to their formal education, Michael Raimondi also obtained a Professional in Human Resources (PHR) certification from HRCI in March 2021.

Jan 17, 2024 • 43min
Ep 117: From IPO to Icon: Crafting Culture & Capturing Success in Public Leadership with Chad Thompson
Chad Thompson currently serves as the Chief People Officer at LanzaTech and has over 28 years of HR experience spanning 3 industries. LanzaTech is leading the development of clean and pollution free manufacturing. Global outsourcing, information technology, Energy and chemical manufacturing. Chad has extensive international experience having worked in the Caribbean , Latin America, North America and Asia Pacific and responsible for operations in Africa and Europe.HR Generalist with experience in HR shared service, benefits administration, HR business partnership, organization design, change management and strategic HR as well as Mergers and acquisition. He is a trusted advisor and executive team member and has a proven track record of building leadership capability within HR and strong business partnership. Ability to lead.Prior to this role, Chad served in various leadership roles such as the HR Director for North America Exploration and Production at Chevron.