Office Call Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Ms. Jeanette Duncan, Chief Information Officer Sep 17, 2020

Show notes

In this episode of Office Call, Lt Col John Forbes interviews Ms. Jeanette Duncan, Chief Information Officer for the Air Force Financial Management and Comptroller. The two discuss the current state of Air Force financial systems, the use of robotic process automation, near-term and long-term goals for FM systems, and how Airman can get involved.

WebEx: Financial Management and A1 Career Field Manager Discussion Sep 11, 2020

Show notes

In this episode of Office Call, we share the first of a series of WebEx events hosted by CMSgt Kendall Briscoe, the Executive for Enlisted Matters to the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Financial Management and Comptroller. In this WebEx, CMSgt Heather Stanfield, 3F0 career field manager, joins CMSgt Briscoe and the two discuss priorities for the 6F and 3F career fields, the Air Force Integrated Personnel and Pay Systems, and much more.

Maj Eli Freeman: Senior Professor at the Defense Financial Management & Comptroller School Aug 27, 2020

Show notes

In this episode of Office Call, Lt Col John Forbes interviews Maj Eli Freeman, Senior Professor at the Defense Financial Management & Comptroller School (DFM&CS), Maxwell AFB, Alabama. The two discuss being an academic in the officer corps, the role of DFM&CS in developing financial managers, and a retirement savings project Maj Freemon is leading that could benefit service members and their families across the DoD.

Podcast mentions:

Defense Financial Management & Comptroller School

Shlomo Benartzi: Saving for tomorrow, tomorrow

Misbehaving: The Making of Behavioral Economics by Richard Thaler

Freedom's Forge: How American Business Produced Victory in World War II by Arthur Herman

Debra Benton of Benton Management Resources Aug 20, 2020

Show notes

In this episode of Office Call, Lt Col John Forbes interviews Debra Benton, the founder of Benton Management Resources, a keynote speaker, and executive coach. The two discuss tips and strategies you can implement to develop yourself into a better leader.

Meet Debra…

For over thirty years, my passion has been to help managers and executives take ownership of their career potential. My skill is to give you endless new thinking that challenges your assumptions and explores new behavior outside of your comfort zone. Together we take your leadership style to the next levels — all to create a better future for you and your organization.

I've been honored to work with some of the best and brightest from GE, Microsoft, Pepsi, Novartis, Time-Warner, NASA, American Express, Dell, Kraft Foods, Citicorp, Deloitte, Kellogg's, McDonalds and UAL — to name a few of my client companies.

My ten business books have been published in a dozen different languages, and I've been fortunate to work in eighteen countries and with many more cultural backgrounds.

My expertise has brought front-page coverage in the publications like Wall Street Journal and USA Today, and made me a welcome guest on the Today Show, Good Morning America, CNN, and CBS where I was interviewed by Diane Sawyer.

Condé Nast Portfolio magazine wrote, "Debra Benton is one of the top five coaches to have on speed dial." TopCEOcoaches.com ranked me in the top ten coaches in the world and as the number one female coach in 2013.

My time is divided between advising individuals as their professional mentor and executive coach; speaking to large and small groups; and researching to distill patterns of personal leadership that will enable you to lead the next generation of teams.

My work outside of my company is to teach leadership in Colorado State University's MBA Global Social & Sustainable Enterprise program and serve as an adjunct professor at UNC's Monfort School of Business.

To learn more about Debra Benton, visit her website https://www.debrabenton.com/.

Podcast mentions:

https://conantleadership.com/

Lions Don't Need to Roar by Debra Benton

The Pulse: SSgt Aviana McKethan Aug 06, 2020

Show notes

In this episode of the Office Call, we introduce a new series hosted by Capt Shawn Hempsey called The Pulse. It aims to get junior airmen's perspective about the financial management career field and key issues impacting our Air Force. His guest in this episode is SSgt Aviana McKethan, a Financial Analysis Technician at Davis-Monthan AFB.

Officer's Deployments Jul 23, 2020

Show notes

In this episode of Office Call, Col Frank Verdugo interviews Maj Gabe Denny from the Officer's Assignment Team. The two discuss the officer deployment process.

Dr. Liz Garcia - Resiliency and Vulnerability Jul 16, 2020

Show notes

In this episode of Office Call, Lt Col John Forbes interviews Dr. Liz Garcia, the founder of Courageous Feats. The two discuss suicide, race, inequality, and how leaders can cultivate environments of resiliency to overcome these challenges.

Dr. Garcia works with leaders who feel stuck in the shoulds to own their stories, celebrate the lessons learned from mistakes, and evolve into the person they want to be.

HER MISSION: I know how vulnerable it is to own your story. But I also know that it's the most excited—frickin' terrified—and alive I've ever felt. My mission is to help you own your story, so that you can feel the freedom of being wholeheartedly YOU, so you're free to pursue what you want—in the way that you want—and compassionately connect with those around you.

HER PHILOSOPHY: We all have a story—owning it gives you permission to be who you want to be instead of who others believe you should be. Owning your story helps you to make decisions and create boundaries that are aligned to your values. Sharing your story creates a more human connection with others.

To learn more about Dr. Garcia and assistance she can offer, visit her website Courageous Feats.

Podcast mentions:

Dare to Lead by Dr. Brené Brown

The Speed of Trust by Stephen Covey

Unlocking Us podcast with Dr. Brené Brown

The Education With Industry Experience Jul 02, 2020

Show notes

The Education With Industry Experience

Description: In this episode of Office Call, Lt Col John Forbes interviews Education With Industry (EWI) students Capt Will Liaw and MSgt Inna Lvova. They discuss their experience with Apple and initiatives which we can implement in the Financial Management (FM) to be more efficient. Additionally, we give a sneak peek into the Office Call's new series called Let's Get Fiscal where Capt Garrett Custons and Lt Matt Chumaceiro discuss areas where we can implement innovation within FM.

The Air Force EWI Program is a highly selective, competitive, career development program designed to improve the technical, professional, and management competencies of participating students by partnering with top tier public and private sector companies. During the ten-month tour, students embed with an industry team to meet their specific career desired learning objectives. Through hands-on exposure to industry best practices, students develop the necessary competencies, skills, knowledge, and abilities to build, sustain and retain a mission-ready workforce, as well as learn how to better partner with industry in the future. The Program is sponsored by SAF/AQ and managed by the Air Force Institute of Technology.

The ultimate goal of the program is to develop Air Force leaders with greater business acumen and empathy with the expertise to implement innovative practices when they return to the Air Force. Upon completion, graduates are assigned to Air Force duty consistent with their EWI experience.

Podcast mentions:

The Lean Startup by Eric Ries

Grit by Angela Duckworth

The Infinite Game by Simon Sinek

Change the Culture, Change the Game by Roger Connors and Tom Smith

Stuff You Should Know Podcast

The President's Inbox Podcast

Microsoft Azure

Chief Master Sergeant Kendall Briscoe Jun 25, 2020

Show notes

In this episode of Office Call, Lt Col John Forbes interviews CMSgt Kendall Briscoe, the Executive for Enlisted Matters to the Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Financial Management and Comptroller. This is part of a series of interviews where we have conversations with senior leaders from the Air Force Financial Management community to get to know them better as individuals, gain insights into lessons learned from their successes, as well as challenges they have overcome.

CMSgt Briscoe is the principal advisor to the Assistant Secretary on the utilization, training, and assignment of over 2,000 financial management enlisted personnel throughout the Air Force. He serves as the Air Force Career Field Manager for financial management personnel and is the focal point for all functional, training, contingency, manpower and personnel issues with

other Headquarters Air Force offices. He serves as the ambassador between the secretariat and the financial management enlisted force, disseminating career field information and addressing their concerns.

CMSgt Briscoe entered the Air Force from Houston, Texas in 1989 as a Financial Services Apprentice. His background includes various duties in financial management at wing, direct reporting unit, major command and Air Staff. His assignments include bases in Nevada, Washington, Colorado, California and Texas. CMSgt Briscoe also served overseas in Guam,

Korea, Japan and Germany; and deployed in support of Operations FULL ACCOUNTABILITY, INDY BACKFILL, IRAQI FREEDOM and ENDURING FREEDOM. Before assuming his current position, Chief Briscoe served as the Chief Enlisted Manager, Headquarters U.S. Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa Command (USAFE-AFAFRICA), Ramstein, Germany.

Retention in Financial Management Jun 18, 2020

Show notes

In this episode of Office Call, Lt Col John Forbes and Lt Col Dane Franta discuss retention within the Air Force Financial Management (FM) career field. It is said the military as a whole is in a talent war with the private sector. Both entities are seeking to attract and retain capable hardworking innovated individuals who exhibit strong character. The two give their thoughts on retention through the lens of FM as a whole, what the career field should do, and share personal stories from their careers.

Lt Col Dane G. Franta is the 502d Comptroller Squadron Commander for the 502d Air Base Wing, providing support to Joint Base San Antonio, Texas. Lt Col Franta directly manages the budget execution and accounting of $450 million used for installation support for the 502d's 266 mission partners. He is directly responsible for providing pay and travel services to 250,000 active duty, reserve, civilian, and retired personnel, while providing accounting, budgeting, costing, and resource management services. Additionally, he serves as a liaison for all external audits performed at Joint Base San Antonio as well as the financial institution representative for seven banks and credit unions. He leads a staff of 150 personnel across three bases, Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland, Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston, and Joint Base San Antonio- Randolph.

Lt Col Franta graduated from the University of St. Thomas, St. Paul, MN in 2004 with a degree in Economics and was commissioned through the Air Force ROTC program. He leads without fear to build future leaders.

He strives to challenge the status quo and the concept of doing things the way they've always been done. Ultimately, he seeks to manage resources through efficient, yet effective, processes to provide the maximum impact with a logical effort.

Podcast mentions:

The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck by Mark Manson

Everything Is F*cked by Mark Manson

Catch-22 by Joseph Heller

The Kill Chain by Christian Brose

Meditations by Marcus Aurelius (Gregory Hays's translation)