This week I continue my conversation with Luke Coffee. If you missed last weeks conversation please go back listen it will be well worth your time.
After graduating from Baylor University with a BA in Film/TV, Luke Coffee moved to Hollywood to pursue his lifelong passion for film and storytelling. He spent five years working long hours as the post-production coordinator on two primetime television shows for both Warner Brothers and NBC/Universal, while spending the TV hiatus working countless roles on various types of sets to gain more knowledge of the industry. After LA, Luke moved across the world to Cape Town, South Africa for six months producing a pilot for a travel-reality series entitled “Gypsy Kings” that was geared toward the World Cup.
In 2010, Luke Coffee moved back to his hometown Dallas,TX
establishing his full service production house under the umbrella of his
mentor director Rocky Powell’s company RockHouse Films. Luke has
produced/directed everything from music videos to corporate industrials
and web-based content to broadcast commercials even earning national
accolades for his first few spots. Luke was brought on as a producer for
Rocky’s first feature film Language of a Broken Heart which had a
successful theatrical run opening in 10 cities nationwide. In the last
few years, Coffee has directed his first feature documentary entitled
Old Man Football, co-wrote, produced and directed the TV pilot Cubicle
Cowboy while also partnering on several other pilot projects. Luke will
produce the feature he has co-written Texas Angel alongside Powell who
will direct the film. The narrative, which is based on a true story, is
in pre-production. In 2016 Coffee was officially added to the roster
become the 2nd ever Rockhouse Films director alongside his mentor Rocky.
Over the last few years he has partnered with The Marketing Arm,
Agency Creative, Greenlight and ProPac Marketing to produce and direct
content for brands like Doritos, FedEx Office, YMCA, SPCA, and Gold’s
Gym to name just a few.
Coffee is a working actor, booking various roles in national
commercials, music videos, television and feature films. His recent
highlights include co-starring roles on NBC’s “Friday Night Lights”,
“Las Vegas”, Jerry Bruckheimer’s “Chase” and a lead role in Ridley
Scott’s “The Hunt,” which was shot in South Africa. He also played a
supporting role as the jock ‘Drake’ in Rocky’s feature romantic comedy.
Luke has used his many experiences in front of the camera to aid in
every project as he hones his skillset as a seasoned Director. Luke
Coffee has also been a featured artist in the publication Art House America.
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After graduating from Baylor University with a BA in Film/TV, Luke Coffee moved to Hollywood to pursue his lifelong passion for film and storytelling. He spent five years working long hours as the post-production coordinator on two primetime television shows for both Warner Brothers and NBC/Universal, while spending the TV hiatus working countless roles on various types of sets to gain more knowledge of the industry. After LA, Luke moved across the world to Cape Town, South Africa for six months producing a pilot for a travel-reality series entitled “Gypsy Kings” that was geared toward the World Cup.
In 2010, Luke Coffee moved back to his hometown Dallas,TX establishing his full service production house under the umbrella of his mentor director Rocky Powell’s company RockHouse Films. Luke has produced/directed everything from music videos to corporate industrials and web-based content to broadcast commercials even earning national accolades for his first few spots. Luke was brought on as a producer for Rocky’s first feature film Language of a Broken Heart which had a successful theatrical run opening in 10 cities nationwide. In the last few years, Coffee has directed his first feature documentary entitled Old Man Football, co-wrote, produced and directed the TV pilot Cubicle Cowboy while also partnering on several other pilot projects. Luke will produce the feature he has co-written Texas Angel alongside Powell who will direct the film. The narrative, which is based on a true story, is in pre-production. In 2016 Coffee was officially added to the roster become the 2nd ever Rockhouse Films director alongside his mentor Rocky. Over the last few years he has partnered with The Marketing Arm, Agency Creative, Greenlight and ProPac Marketing to produce and direct content for brands like Doritos, FedEx Office, YMCA, SPCA, and Gold’s Gym to name just a few.
Coffee is a working actor, booking various roles in national commercials, music videos, television and feature films. His recent highlights include co-starring roles on NBC’s “Friday Night Lights”, “Las Vegas”, Jerry Bruckheimer’s “Chase” and a lead role in Ridley Scott’s “The Hunt,” which was shot in South Africa. He also played a supporting role as the jock ‘Drake’ in Rocky’s feature romantic comedy. Luke has used his many experiences in front of the camera to aid in every project as he hones his skillset as a seasoned Director. Luke Coffee has also been a featured artist in the publication Art House America.
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Michael Edwin Thornton was born in Greenville, South Carolina and raised on the family farm near Spartanburg. Thornton joined the Navy upon graduating from high school in 1967 and completed the rigorous training to join the SEALs, the Navy’s elite sea-air-land special operations force. As overall American conventional forces were gradually withdrawn from Vietnam in the early 1970s, the “unconventional warfare” role of Navy SEALs grew. In the spring of 1972, Petty Officer Thornton was assigned to a mission under the command of Lt. Thomas Norris.
Thornton and Norris accompanied a three-man South Vietnamese Navy team on an intelligence gathering mission in enemy-held territory. Launched from a Vietnamese Navy junk in a rubber boat, the patrol reached land and found themselves farther behind enemy lines than they had planned. Continuing on foot toward their objective, they came under heavy fire from a far larger force and were in danger of being surrounded. While inflicting heavy casualties on the enemy, they headed for the shore, in hopes of escaping by sea.
On learning that Lieutenant Norris had been hit by enemy fire and was believed to be dead, Thornton returned through a hail of fire to the lieutenant’s last position and found him severely wounded and unconscious but alive. Quickly disposing of two enemy soldiers who approached at that moment, Thornton slung Norris over his shoulder and dashed for life over 400 yards of open beach, returning enemy fire as he ran. He carried Norris and another wounded comrade out to sea, beyond the range of enemy fire. The company floated for approximately two hours before being retrieved by the South Vietnamese Navy.
Close to a year after his heroics in Vietnam, on October 15, 1973, Michael Thornton received the Medal of Honor at the White House from President Richard Nixon. Lieutenant Norris, still a patient at nearby Bethesda Naval Hospital, had been forbidden by his doctors to go to the ceremony, but Thornton spirited him out the back door of the facility and took him along. Almost three years later, Norris himself, received the medal with Thornton looking on. Thornton is the first person in more than a century to receive that honor for saving the life of another Medal of Honor recipient. Now retired after a distinguished Navy career that continued through Operation Desert Storm, he resides near Houston, Texas.
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Dr. Ruth Simmons is one of the most impressive people I have had the pleasure of sitting down with. It was such an honor to sit down and have a conversation with such an accomplished individual. Further, Dr. Simmons is more than just a preeminent professional in the field of higher education. She is also. a trailblazer and a historically significant individual. I hope you enjoy this interview, that I believe will go down as one of the most important I have done thus far and most likely will ever do.
Ruth J. Simmons was appointed 8th President of Prairie View A&M University (PVAMU) in December 2017. She is the first woman to hold the presidency at PVAMU. Prior to taking on the top administrator role at PVAMU, Simmons served as President of Brown University from 2001-2012, becoming the first African American to lead an Ivy League institution. Under Simmons’ leadership, Brown made significant strides in improving its standing as one of the world’s finest research universities.
A French professor before entering university administration, Simmons held an appointment as a Professor of Africana Studies at Brown. After completing her Ph.D. in Romance Languages and Literatures at Harvard, she served in various faculty and administrative roles at the University of Southern California, Princeton University, and Spelman College before becoming president of Smith College, the largest women’s college in the United States. At Smith, she launched a number of important academic initiatives, including an engineering program, the first at an American women’s college.
Simmons is the recipient of many honors, including a Fulbright Fellowship to France, the 2001 President’s Award from the United Negro College Fund, the 2002 Fulbright lifetime Achievement Medal, the 2004 Eleanor Roosevelt Val-Kill Medal, the Foreign Policy Association Medal, the Ellis Island Medal of Honor, and the Centennial Medal from Harvard University. Simmons is a member of the National Academy of Arts and Sciences, the American Philosophical Society, and the Council on Foreign Relations, and serves on the boards of FCA and Square, as well as a number of non-profit boards. Awarded numerous honorary degrees, she received the Brown Faculty’s highest honor: the Susan Colver Rosenberger Medal in 2011. In 2012, she was named ‘chevalier’ of the French Legion of Honor.
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Nick & Jen
Pencis took over the business in 2006 after the death of founder JD
Stanley left his family unable to continue the operation. Nick & Jen
have kept the spirit of JD’s recipes and methods alive, as well as
adding their unique flair to the joint. They have been named “One of the
Best BBQ Joints in the World!” by Texas Monthly Magazine, finding their
story published in David Gelin’s book “BBQ Joints: Stories and Secret
Recipes from the Barbecue Belt,” and Daniel Vaughn’s “Prophets of Smoked
Meat” published by Anthony Bourdain. Nick & Jen have tried to
recruit the best staff to ensure the highest quality food and fun
atmosphere.
Stanley’s has been family owned and operated since 1958. The site
where Stanley’s sits today was a BBQ restaurant for two previous owners
before being bought and renamed by J.D. Stanley in the late 50’s. The
history of BBQ is long and strong in this spot.
In 2013, Nick & Jen expanded the joint’s cooking and seating capacity, introduced the friendliest full-service bar in Texas, and brought back weekly live music. “Mom & Pop” Pencis are proud of their “Little Engine That Could” and are honored, grateful, and proud to carry on a great Texas tradition! As always, they encourage all to “Be Kind and Have Fun!”
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Mr. Thomas Craig Wheat is the Founder, President and Chief Executive Officer of Pediatric Home Healthcare, LLC, (PHH) an exclusively pediatric private duty nursing provider. PHH services pediatric patients from birth to 21 years of age and employs only skilled nurses, LVN’s and RN’s, to care for our patients.
Mr. Wheat oversees the executive team members; as such, he is responsible for the annual revenue, profitability and overall success and growth of Pediatric Home Healthcare, LLC. He is also a part of the marketing team, responsible for educating hospital administrators, case managers and other referral sources regarding services provided by PHH. Mr. Wheat serves on the Board of Managers and the Advisory Committee.
Mr. Wheat is a member of Young Presidents’ Organization (YPO) in The Lone Star – Dallas Chapter. He serves on their Executive Board as Member Chairman and on the YPO Regional Board as Membership Officer over the five YPO chapters in North Texas. Mr. Wheat has been a member of Legacy Forum where he served as Member Chairman and he sat on the Legacy Forum Board of Directors.
In 2016, Mr. Wheat was appointed to the Board of Trustees at The ChildCareGroup (CCG) with a three-year term, and he was appointed to The Board of Directors at Make-A-Wish Foundation of North Texas. In 2017, Mr. Wheat was appointed to the Board of Trustees of the North American Development Group “NADG NNN REIT.”
Mr. Wheat has served on the Texas Health and Human Services Commission Council (HHSC) which he was originally appointed by Governor Rick Perry and then re-appointed to serve an additional term. He is also appointed to the E-Health Advisory Committee at HHSC, a selection made by HHSC Commissioner, Charles Smith. As a voting member of this council, Mr. Wheat has been a part of the team responsible for developing rules and policies for the Commission. The HHSC is a state agency which seeks to provide the leadership and innovation needed to achieve an efficient and effective health and human services system for Texans.
Mr. Wheat holds a Master of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies and a Bachelor of Science in Communication Studies from Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas. Along with both degrees, Mr. Wheat received a Tennis Scholarship from Texas Tech University.
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Bobby
Stroupe is the Founder and President of ATHLETE Performance Enhancement
Center (APEC). Coach Stroupe has directed human performance systems
for nearly 20 years while expanding his influence as an author,
consultant, speaker, and educator. His experience includes working with
school systems, collegiate teams, professional teams, businesses,
corporate fitness and individuals alike. His coaching ranges from youth
athletes to some of the top names in multiple professional sports
including 1st round picks, Super Bowl and World Series champions. APEC
has been a part of developing over 20 athletes that trained in the APEC
system in grade school, and continued all the way to the professional
ranks. Stroupe and team currently support over 100 athletes in the NFL
and MLB alone. Among many accomplishments by his athletes, Bobby has
been credited with supporting arguably some of the best in the game of
baseball and football including NFL MVP Patrick Mahomes. Coach Stroupe
has been featured as a top trainer for multiple sports and athletic
performances on ESPN, Sports Illustrated, USA Today, NFL and MLB
network, STACK, Bleacher Report, and many more.
Bobby
has presented on various human performance topics at notable coaches
clinics internationally, including the NIKE Roundtable and the China
City Bowl tour. Stroupe launched the CAPEC certification at Nike World
Headquarters in addition to doing work with Nike Training and the Nike
Young Athlete division. Bobby serves on the Advisory Committee for
Wellness and Exercise at Tyler Junior College. Stroupe and staff have
powered strength & conditioning for TJC baseball during their four
time in a row National Championship run.
As an entrepreneur,
Stroupe and team built APEC from a grass field in 2005 to today, a world
wide training leader in human performance. Bobby serves as the
president for APEC, making strategic decisions, designing training
systems, and guiding an elite team of coaches that power two locations
(Tyler, Fort Worth).
Coach Stroupe belongs to an elite group of physical therapists, athletic trainers, and human performance practitioners as a Fellow of Applied Functional Science. Stroupe has also been named a RSCC*D by the NSCA due to 10+ years of demonstrating high standards and professional practice.
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HOLLY brings her love for Texas and for taking on big ideas to her role as Managing Director, External Affairs, for Texas Central. As a native Texan, she is passionate about bringing the train to her home state and sharing its benefits transforming how people think about travel, putting people to work and saving lives.
Working on the Texas high-speed train is a perfect fit for Holly, as it builds on her career of working on other transformative projects involving critical infrastructure. During Holly’s 25-year career at AT&T, she helped facilitate network deployments of high-speed internet, mobility networks, and communication infrastructure.
At Texas Central, Holly leads the team supporting the external initiatives of the multi-billion dollar project driving awareness of the positive impacts on jobs and economic development, growing support and coordinating with State, Local and Federal stakeholders. Her responsibilities include public policy, outreach, government relations and branding, media and communications activities.
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Dr. Robin L. Pinkley is the Duchossois Endowed Professor of Management and Organizations at the Edwin L. Cox School of Business at Southern Methodist University and past Chairman of the Organizational Behavior Department and Director of the American Airlines Center for Labor Relations and Conflict Resolution. Dr. Pinkley is the founder of the M2M [Master to Master] Center for Profitable Negotiation, focusing on negotiation research, training, consulting and deal-making. She previously served as Visiting Professor of Organizational Behavior at the J. L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University. Dr. Pinkley received a Ph.D. in Social Psychology from the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill.
Dr. Pinkley has been a frequent speaker in management development programs and a negotiation consultant for corporate and government organizations in nine countries. A sample of her clients include Accenture, Allstate Insurance, ARCO, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas and Florida, DFB Holding Company, Devon, DPT Laboratories, Freeman, General Electric, Generational Equity, Jones Lang LaSalle, JP Morgan Chase, Kodak, Legacy Bank, Lockheed Martin Vought, Macy’s, Maxim Integrated Products, Mobil, NASA, Physician’s Leadership Association of America, Pioneer Natural Resources, Presidential Leadership Scholars Program (G. H. W. Bush, G. W. Bush, W. J. Clinton, & L. B. Johnson Presidential Centers), Reliant Energy, Remington Hotel Corporation, Rewardstyle, Samson Investment Company, SBC Communications, Sewell Motor Company, 7-Eleven, Sony Ericsson, State Farm Insurance, Staubach Real Estate Company, Southwest Airlines, Southwestern Bell Company, Strasburger & Price LLP, Targetbase Marketing Consultants, Taylor Publishing, Texas Children’s Hospital, Toyota-Lexus, Unilever, Warner Brothers, and Yahoo! She has been a member of the Board of Directors for Solidus Technologies and NW Leadership Society. She is also the Chief Strategic Officer of the newest to market high tech healthcare company, Bed Beacon LLC.
A subset of Dr. Pinkley’s media coverage includes interviews on CNN, ABC, CBS, NBC, Marketplace Radio (NPR), quotes in newspapers such as the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Chicago Tribune, Washington Post, Dallas Morning News, LA Times, Chicago Tribune, USA Today and quotes in magazines such as US News and World Report, Money Magazine, Monster.com, Fortune Magazine, Kiplinger’s Personal Finance Magazine, Redbook, Working Mother, Woman’s Day, Ladies Home Journal and D Magazine.
Dr. Pinkley was the President for the International Association of Conflict Management. She served as a Chairman of the Conflict Management Division of the Academy of Management, as well as, Member at Large and Program Chair. She was also an Associate Editor of the International Journal of Conflict Management.
Dr. Pinkley is co-author (along with Greg Northcraft) of “Get Paid What You’re Worth: The Expert Negotiators Guide to Salary and Compensation”. She is also the author or co-author of articles on negotiation and managerial conflict resolution, which appear in the Academy of Management Journal, Academy of Management Review, Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, Journal of Applied Psychology, Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin, Journal of Social and Clinical Psychology, and the International Journal of Conflict Management.
Dr. Pinkley’s is the creator of the Gain-Gain Approach to Profitable Negotiation. Her research focuses on the sources and consequences of negotiator power, the use of strategic bidding strategies, and the strategic application of “value context theory”. This research has earned Dr. Pinkley the Edwin L. Cox 1994 Outstanding Researcher Award, a Frank and Susan Dunlevy Faculty Research Fellowship, a Corrigan Fellowship, a Dorothy Cullum Fellowship and a Marilyn & Leo F. Corrigan Junior Faculty Endowment. She is also the recipient of the Southern Methodist University’s Golden Mustang Award for innovative teaching and the Carl Sewell Distinguished Service to the Community Award.
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Rogers Healy was born to build, market and sell. Rogers was born in Corpus Christi, moved to San Antonio as a child, and then made his final Texas stop in Dallas in the early 1990’s. From day one, he’s always looked for opportunities to network, learn and work harder than anyone.
Rogers’ real estate launched back in 2001, while an undergrad at Southern Methodist University. A self described opportunist, Rogers saw the need for fellow students to get assistance when looking for off campus housing. “I’ve never had a problem doing the work others didn’t want to do. Everyone needs a place to live, so I found a way to help my friends at SMU, whether they were renting their first apartment, or buying their first condo.”
After a few years of learning the business of real estate, Rogers launched Rogers Healy and Associates Real Estate in 2006. Determination and energy proved to be the perfect ingredients for getting RHA launched, and even still, that’s the approach. In 2008, Rogers founded Healy Property Management, which has grown to one of the most successful property management firms in Texas. In 2009, Rogers founded Healy Global Relocation, which is the only company in the world that helps clients with all their real estate and moving needs, all over the world.
“I’ve been blessed to have found success in business, especially in the world of real estate. That’s always rewarding, but the the truest joy I experience is with my people. Seeing them grow, watching them learn and being a part of their lives gives me a sense of impact and a full heart. No deal will ever replace that.”
Rogers Healy and Associates is a multi-time winner of the ‘INC 5000’ fastest growing companies in the US, ’The Best Places to Work in Dallas,’ by both the Dallas Morning News and the Dallas Business Journal, the ‘SMU 100 Fastest Growing Businesses’ award, and the ‘100 Fastest Growing Companies in Fort Worth,’ by Fort Worth Magazine.
During Rogers’ tenure in business, he’s been the recipient of many notable awards, including REALTOR Magazine’s ’30 Under 30,’ The Dallas Morning News Executioner of the Year, The Dallas Millennial Club’s ‘Entrepreneur of the Year,’ The Dallas Business Journal’s ’40 Under 40,’ the Collin County Business Press’ ’40 Under 40,’ The Park Cities People’s ’20 Under 40,’ The ‘Most Influential Leader in Real Estate,’ by Luxury Home Magazine, ‘Power Player’ by Dallas Modern Luxury, D Magazine ‘Top Producer’ and ‘Best REALTOR.’ In 2018, Rogers was recognized as one of the Top 100 REALTORS in the country (out of over 2,000,000 people). With over $4,000,000,000 in closed deals and counting, Rogers aims to always be at the top of the list. Rogers is the real estate expert on national TV for Fox, Fox News, Fox Business News, CNBC and MSNBC.
In his free time, Rogers loves spending time with his family, his three dogs (Black Lab Batman, Weimaraner-Coach, and Amigo, his German Shorthair), his church at Highland Park Methodist, Crossfit and listening to vinyls on his record player.
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At the young age of 18 S.M. Wright became the Sr. Pastor of his father’s church, the People’s Missionary Baptist Church. In the midst of a mass member exodus and financial troubles Wright went to local Dallas business leaders and made the case for why his ministry was so vital and sought out their guidance. At the urging of John Stemmons, S.M. founded the S.M. Wright Foundation. Today the Foundation serves thousands of underprivileged children and families through programs such as Christmas in the Park and Beds for Kids. S.M. II has continued his father’s legacy of civic and ministerial leadership. S.M. is widely respected as a community leader amongst elected officials, business leaders and other non-profits. It was such an honor to sit down with this Titan and hear the story of growing up learning at the knee of his father S.M. Wright Sr., a leader during the civil rights era and one of Dallas’s most influential leaders. Please enjoy this interview with my friend S.M. Wright II.
About S.M. Wright
S.M. Wright was born in Dallas on February 7, 1927 to the Reverend Calvin and Mary Wright. He grew up in one of the poorest neighborhoods in Dallas, the Bon Ton community. As a child, he was determined to “be somebody” so he focused on his education, graduating from Lincoln High School and earning a bachelor’s degree from Bishop College in Marshall, Texas. He later earned a master’s and doctorate degree from Bishop College.
Dr. Wright became the pastor of the People’s Missionary Baptist Church in South Dallas in 1957. A natural leader, he served as advisor to elected officials, businessmen, and civic leaders. He was known for his ability to unite ethnic groups peacefully. During the turbulent 1960s, Dr. Wright worked with city leaders to foster integration in education, employment, and political representation as well as in restaurants, hotels, shops, and swimming pools. He died on November 3, 1994. To honor his legacy, then Governor George W. Bush changed the name of Highway 175 to the S.M. Wright Freeway in 1995.
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I was honored to sit down with Rogge Dunn this week here is his bio:
The Texas Connection Rogge Dunn is a fifth generation Texan and second generation Dallasite. Dunn and his wife, Cathy DeWitt Dunn, are active in charitable, political and civic causes.
Recognized Trial
Expertise
Dunn was recognized in 2018
as one of the top 100 attorneys in Texas by Thomson Reuters service published
in Texas Monthly. Dunn
has been repeatedly honored as one of the top 100 attorneys in Dallas/Fort
Worth including in 2018 by Thomson Reuters service published in Texas Monthly.
Every year from 2003 through
2019 Dunn has also been designated a Texas “Super Lawyer,” by Thomson Reuters.
Since 2003 Dunn has been
repeatedly honored by D
Magazine as one of the Best
Lawyers in Dallas. Dunn was so honored in 2019.
Dunn is Board Certified in Civil
Trial Law and has taken cases all the way to jury verdicts and arbitration
awards in seven states and eight Texas cities.
Dunn’s closing arguments from
two trials were recorded for the Million Dollar Arguments audio series.
Another closing argument Dunn
made at a trial was printed in Trial
Magazine.
Dunn’s Cases Covered by
the Media
News organizations seek his
expert opinion on legal issues, and report on his cases including: the CBS
Evening News,The Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, BBC
Radio, Anderson Cooper 360, U.S.
News & World Report, the Today Show, CNN, CBS This Morning, USA
Today, MSNBC and The National Law Journal. Click here
Complex Litigation
Dunn is one of only 35
attorneys in Texas Board Certified in both Civil Trial Law and in Labor and
Employment Law. He litigates business, employment and personal
injury disputes throughout the country.
He has represented clients in
disputes arising in Australia, Brazil, Canada, China, Dubai, England, France,
Hong Kong, India, Mexico, the Netherlands, Scotland, Spain and Qatar.
Dunn handles employment,
partnerships, FINRA arbitration, class actions, defamation, privacy issues,
shareholder oppression, “business divorce,” non-competes, trade secrets,
whistleblowing and significant personal injury matters.
Confidentiality
While Dunn’s high-profile
cases have garnered national and international attention, he has discretely
resolved many more cases not listed on our website. Dunn knows that many
clients need a quick, quiet and confidential resolution.
Dunn helps individuals and
corporations in delicate or compromising situations who need a sophisticated
and discrete touch. These include everything from assaults, regulatory
violations, sexual battery, doxxing, secret videotaping and illegitimate
children.
Clients who need an experienced
and politically connected problem solver hire Dunn. We are experts at
controlling the external optics to protect our clients’ reputations.
Representation of High
Profile Individuals
Rogge Dunn represents
ultra-high net worth individuals, Fortune 500, executives, as well as General
Counsels, private equity firms, coaches, professional athletes, Olympic
gold medal winners, Judges and University Presidents.
One of the highest testaments
to Dunn’s abilities is the fact that many companies and individuals Dunn has
sued, later hired Dunn to represent them.
Controlling the
Narrative in Sensitive Cases
In this instant messaging and
social media environment, stories go viral in a matter of seconds.
Working with top PR firms, Dunn ensures the facts involving legal claims are
portrayed accurately.
Paper Pushers Can Take
You Only So Far
Choose your attorney
carefully. Many attorneys are adept at pushing paper, but seldom take
cases all the way to a jury verdict. Ask the lawyer specifically how many times he or she has obtained
a jury verdict. Dunn is Board Certified in Civil Trial Law.
Hiring an experienced trial
lawyer who flourishes at trial increases your settlement leverage. If the
other side knows your lawyer is bluffing, you will leave money on the table or
overpay, if you are a defendant. When
the other side knows they are negotiating against a seasoned trial attorney,
you maximize your settlement position, as either a plaintiff or defendant.
Thinking and Operating
“Outside the Box”
Dunn earned his spurs as a
Senior Partner in two different mega-firms with offices around the world.
While huge firms are a good choice for many matters, they are bureaucratic and
often lack flexibility and entrepreneurial spirit.
Dunn formed our Firm to provide
the contingent fee flexibility and personal service lacking in most big
firms.
Is Your Case Too Small?
Most of Dunn’s work involves
high dollar, “bet the company/bet your reputation” matters. However,
as Dunn says, “I became a lawyer because I enjoy fighting for a good
cause. There is no greater privilege in my work than righting a wrong and
slaying a Goliath.”
Dunn’s success gives him the
financial security to accept smaller matters, work on a contingent fee and a
pro bono basis.
Dunn Understands
Executives and Business Owners
Successfully resolving
business disputes requires more than good negotiating skills. It requires
appreciating how businesses operate and executives think.
Dunn is an Adjunct Professor in
the SMU Executive EMBA program. His 20+ years of teaching, including listeningto and exchanging business solutions with
successful entrepreneurs enables him to reach business-smart solutions.
Change-in-Control
Agreements
Dunn has advised C-level
executives in mergers, change-in-control and “poison pill” battles
involving Baker Hughes, Chevron, Dresser, FedEx, Frozen Food Express, GE
Energy, Halliburton, Kinkos, Pizza Inn, Sperry-Sun Drilling, SunEdison,
Unocal and the Williams Companies.
Corporate Investigations Fortune 500 companies hire Dunn to investigate corporate governance and other sensitive matters. One of Dunn’s investigations was cited by the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals as a basis for his client (CBRE) obtaining a summary judgment. Sandstad v. CB Richard Ellis, 309 F.3d 893 (5th Cir. 2002).
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Josh Tomlin is a pitcher for the Atlanta Braves. Josh is from Whitehouse, TX where he began his baseball career. Upon graduation he went to Angelina College then Texas Tech and was eventually drafted in 2005 by the San Diego Padres but did not sign. He eventually found his way to the Cleveland Indians organization after being once again drafted in 2006.
Josh made his major league debut July 27, 2010 against the New York Yankees. The Indians won the game 4-1. Josh finished his first season with a 12-7 record over 26 games in the 2010 season. Josh was a member of the Indians 2016 ALCS championship team and played in the 2016 World Series. Josh is now a 14 year veteran with the Atlanta Braves after signing with the Braves in 2019. In this interview Josh discusses his career first as a fielder and then surprisingly becoming a pitcher. He also shares his mental mindset in dealing with adversity and as he puts it not being a high rated player.
“I’ve always played like I have nothing to lose because I don’t.” Josh’s mental strength, discipline and level head have helped him survive a 14 year career that has included ups and downs. In August of 2012 he underwent Tommy John surgery. “I never thought I wouldn’t make it back. That was never a thought.”
This was by far one of my favorite interviews yet. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to Josh’s wisdom, insight and humorous take on many of the aspects of climbing your way from the “dirt floor club houses” of the minor leagues to the big stage that is the major leagues.
Please enjoy this visit with MLB pitcher and fellow East Texan, and Texas Titan Josh Tomlin.
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Gillea Allison is the President of D Magazine Partners, responsible for revenue growth and marketing efforts across D Magazine publications, dmagazine.com , and People Newspapers. She has held roles as a digital strategist, marketing director, and community builder across political campaigns, private brands, and nonprofit & advocacy organizations. Before moving back home in 2016, she worked for Blue State Digital in New York, an agency and technology company that develops and executes digital strategy for organizations ranging from Sierra Club to EMILY’s List and Ford. She was also on the digital leadership team for Obama for America 2012 in Chicago. She’s an Executive Board member of Dwell with Dignity and the Coalition for a New Dallas, and graduated from Fordham University with honors.
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Chris Wallace, IOM, CCE is President/CEO of the North Texas Commission, a unique public-private partnership that drives large impactful projects and legislative advocacy benefiting a robust 13-county region.
Prior to joining the NTC, Wallace was President/COO of the Texas Association of Business, the state chamber of commerce. In this role, he managed TAB’s statewide team responsible for legislative advocacy and strategy, operations, membership/marketing, as well as board and chamber relations. As a registered lobbyist, Chris led TAB’s advocacy initiatives in the areas of economic development having founded the highly recognized and successful Keep Texas Open for Business Coalition.
Wallace also successfully led a nationwide campaign reauthorizing the Export-Import Bank as well as a NAFTA 2.0 initiative (Texas-Mexico Trade Coalition). Prior to joining the TAB team, Wallace was President/CEO of the Greater Irving-Las Colinas Chamber, the third largest chamber of commerce in North Texas and the first national Five-Star Accredited Chamber in Texas. He also managed the Irving Economic Development Partnership. Wallace is chairman of the National Board of Trustees of the U.S. Chamber’s Institute for Organization Management as well as a former Regent of Northeast Institute at Villanova University. He is among only 570 executives in the nation who have earned their CCE (Certified Chamber Executive) designation. He also serves on the national board of the Business & Industry Political Action Committee (BIPAC) and on the Texas Advisory Committee of the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition.
Wallace has also served as the Vice President of Administration for the Las Colinas Associationwhere he successfully developed and implemented a corporate communications and marketing program for the 12,000-acre Las Colinas development.
He is a 1992 graduate of Texas Tech University and serves as a member of the Texas Tech Chancellors Council and previously on the Professional Advisory Board of the College of Media and Communication where he was named an outstanding alumnus in 2008. Wallace has experience in economic development marketing, strategic planning, and public relations including management in both the public and private sectors. He has played an active role in several local and state political campaigns. Wallace is an advocate of strong civic engagement through his involvement with numerous social service, education, arts and municipal-related boards/commissions. He was a finalist for a 2010 White House Fellowship.
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Education- BS Degree in Electrical Engineering Technology from LeTourneau University (1974), Longview, Texas
Previous Employment – KHYM-AM, KFRO-AM, KLTV-TV, Motorola, Jecca Towers, Inc.
Current Employment (29 years) – Founder / CEO of Burks GenCore Co., Inc.; GenCore Candeo, Ltd.; GenCore International, Ltd.; GenCore, LLC; MBCG, LLC., Phirst Technologies, LLC
HISTORY:
Shortly after college, Phil Burks began a rising career in sales with Motorola. An oilfield client offered a new position and opportunity for Phil to start a tower rental company and in 1980 Jecca Towers was born. Jecca owned towers and also sold and installed towers for MCI, AT&T and various communication firms. Jecca grew to 65% cash flow and in 1988 Motorola made an offer that was accepted to purchase all assets of Jecca Towers, and The Genesis Group began.
In 1989, Genesis grew from a single DOS based billing software product that Phil wrote in his bedroom, to now over 30 Windows and browser-based software products that are designed to enhance Motorola critical two-way radio systems. Genesis software is globally installed for clients like: Motorola Australia, The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Bell Mobility Canada, the States of Florida, Virginia, Louisiana, Arkansas, Illinois, South Carolina, Cities of New York, San Francisco and many, many others. Genesis has grown to include over 60 full time employees at their Tyler, office; an office in London and close affiliates in Melbourne and Mexico City. In April, 2013, Phil stepped down as president and promoted Jim Nipp (VP of Business Development) to President. Phil remains as owner and CEO of the software enterprises.
CURRENT:
Most recently, Phil became an investor and Director of xCraft Enterprises, a drone manufacturing company in Idaho. Along with xCraft’s CEO, JD Claridge (who was on Shark Tank), Phil has created Phirst Technologies, LLC to develop and market a specialized drone for police, fire, and ambulance called FIRST iZ (pronounced First Eyes). http://FirstiZ.co
Civic- Many local non-profit boards including being a founding member of Tyler Innovation Pipeline.
Management Style- Phil defines his management style as first being a servant. “I want to set an example that others will follow. If I have a problem doing that, then I have no business leading others. I give responsibility and authority for each person to run their areas, and I stand behind their decisions – right or wrong. If there is an occasion where an employee has made a bad decision, I will correct them in private and give them a chance to make it right,” he says. Phil works hard to empower his employees with responsibility and freedom to do the tasks that are present and will only do follow up as needed.
Vicki Spriggs is a dedicated advocate for children who has worked for more than 40 years in the child services arena. Known for her leadership on youth-related issues, she is a national speaker, a decisive leader and a fierce believer in the rights of all children, especially their right to a safe, loving and permanent home.
Prior to joining Texas CASA in January 2012, Spriggs served in a variety of positions dedicated to child welfare, including 16 years as executive director of the Texas Juvenile Probation Commission and director of the Travis County Juvenile Court Informal Adjustment Unit. She has also opened her home as a foster parent.
She received a bachelor’s degree in education and Master of Education in juvenile justice and secondary counseling from the University of Massachusetts Amhurst.
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Britt Berrett served as the president of Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Dallas, an 898-bed hospital. In addition to his role as president of the Dallas hospital, Berrett also served at the system level as an executive vice president of Texas Health Resources. He oversaw strategic planning and operations for Texas Health Dallas, guiding the hospital in its mission to improve the health of the people in the community it serves.
While on a two-year mission in Peru, Berrett developed a great appreciation for the role that healthcare providers can play in improving the quality of life for an entire community. It is his concern for the quality of life in the community that makes him a passionate advocate for excellence in healthcare and a perfect fit for Texas Health Dallas.
Prior to joining Texas Health Dallas, Berrett served as president and chief executive officer of Medical City, a 677-bed hospital, since April 2000. He received his bachelor’s degree in finance from Brigham Young University and his master’s degree in hospital administration from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. Berrett also received his PhD in Public Administration from the University of Texas at Dallas.
Texas Health Dallas was recognized in 2007 as a U.S. News and World Report Best Hospital for Digestive Disorders, Neurology and Neurosurgery and Orthopedics specialties. Texas Health Dallas received the Magnet Recognition Program Award for excellence in nursing services from the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), the nation’s largest and leading nursing credentialing organization within the American Nurses Association (ANA).
Currently Dr. Berrett is the program director of the Jindal School of Management’s undergraduate Healthcare Management program, as well as the director of UTD’s Center for Healthcare Leadership & Management. He lectures nationally and internationally on transformational leadership, organizational change and performance. In 2013, he co-authored Patients Come Second – Leading Change by Changing the Way you Lead
which has become a New York Times, USA Today and WSJ Best Seller.
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Interview with Trey Bowles, Chairman and Co-founder of Dallas Entrepreneur Center and Co-founder of the Dallas Innovation Alliance
Trey Bowles is a serial entrepreneur, social capitalist, and educator. Trey cofounded the Dallas Entrepreneur Center (DEC), a central location for entrepreneurs to learn how to start, build and grow businesses through training, education, mentorship, promotion, and capital investment. As Co-Founder and CEO, Trey leads strategy, vision, and drives the overall planning and development efforts for the DEC. Bowles also recently cofounded and launched the Dallas Innovation Alliance (DIA), a public-private partnership dedicated to the design, development and execution of a Smart Cities plan for Dallas.
In addition to his work with the DEC, Trey worked closely with the Startup America Partnership, a non-profit organization started by Steve Case and the Kauffman Foundation, leading a team of entrepreneurial experts across the country to help high-growth startups find greater success. Trey also helped launch the Arts Entrepreneurship Department in the Meadows School of Arts at Southern Methodist University and currently serves as an Adjunct Professor on staff teaching Social Entrepreneurship and an Accelerate Your Startup Class. Bowles also cofounded the Mayor’s Star Council with Mayor Mike Rawlings of Dallas to find a culturally diverse and civically minded group of emerging leaders who want to embrace and engage the City of Dallas as opposed to inheriting the city in 20 years.
Trey has built companies in both the for-profit and non-profit space with an expertise in strategy, operations, and marketing. Bowles has held key leadership roles in the industries of music, entertainment, and disruptive technology including running the popular peer-to-peer file-sharing site, Morpheus. He led the turn-around and sale of Big Jump Media Inc. to Salem Communications (NASDAQ: SALM) in 2010.
Trey lives in Dallas with his wife and three children and is committed to building collaborative ecosystems at the intersection of technology, entrepreneurship and education.
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I enter the North Dallas offices of Spaeth Communications. It’s an unassuming suite. On the wall facing me as I look to the right of the glass conference room is a framed D CEO Cover with a photo of Merrie Spaeth sitting cross legged on top of a large executive desk. The caption reads, “The Fixer.” The name Merrie Spaeth has become synonymous with crisis management and effective messaging in board rooms across the United States. She is the founder and CEO of the company that bears her last name.
However, it was a long and winding road to these offices just across from North Park Mall off the LBJ freeway in North Dallas. It was a road that lead to Hollywood, Washington D.C., New York and finally led to the Lone Star State.
Merrie’s official bio reads as follows:
Merrie has a unique background in media, government, politics, business and entertainment. She is a thought-leader in communication theory, a master of executive coaching and acknowledged as one of the most influential communication counselors in the world. Before founding Spaeth in 1987, Merrie was a producer for ABC’s 20/20, a speechwriter for the legendary founder and chairman of CBS, William S. Paley, and was assigned to FBI Director Judge William Webster while serving as a White House Fellow. All of this culminated into her roles as director of public affairs for the Federal Trade Commission, and ultimately her appointment as director of media relations at the White House in the Reagan Administration. Merrie is a sought-after public speaker who provides strategic communication counseling for companies and executives across the globe. She is also a dedicated mother, dog-lover and needlepoint enthusiast.
I can’t help but describe Merrie as a true renaissance woman. She is in every way a Texas Titan, and gives me great pleasure to introduce you to my friend Merrie.
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John Wilding is a master networker, military veteran, corporate attorney and deal maker. John is the is the founder and host of the Last Tuesday Happy Hour at the Ritz Carlton in Dallas. He’s also an active community volunteer and philanthropist. In the world of mergers and acquisitions John Wilding is definitely a Texas Titan.
John Willding is a partner in Barnes & Thornburg’s Dallas and Washington, D.C., offices and a member of the Corporate Department. John’s practice focuses on complex business matters, including mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance and securities law compliance.
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