[rev_slider alias="episode-15-orlando-gomez-recording-engineer"]   Incredible Closeup this week with recording and mixing engineer Orlando Gomez of Beacon Hill Recording studio! Orlando gives us a great insight to the world of producing multi-platinum level musical projects, working with local talent to superstar artists and the teamwork behind the scenes it takes to make it all come together. Orlando discusses his own personal experiences in the industry as well as his recommendations for success in his field. Not surprisingly, his advice will help you succeed in any field.   Time 00:00 Intro 01:06 Role of audio engineer 02:17 The many roles in the production of a song 06:11 At what point did you decide to pursue a career in music? 07:29 How were you able to succeed in both your degree in electrical engineering and still pursue your role in the music industry? 08:58 Where do you see the music industry going with the emergence of sites like Soundcloud, youTube and iTunes? 10:53 What advice do you have for people trying to make it as musicians or producers at these sites? 13:27 What are some of the things you feel have had the most impact on your success as you were going through high school, college, or Apprenticeship? 14:13 Could you share with us some of the resources out there that someone in high school or college could use to help them further their music production knowledge? 15:32 Could you describe an average day of what it is like working as a music producer? 17:52 Are there any eclectic or offbeat ways you tap into your creativity? 19:22 Did you estimate the degree of success Khalid would have as you were working on his music? How did you feel about Grammy nomination? 21:16 Looking back at your success, what advice would you have for yourself when you were starting out? 22:41 What would you like to see happen in El Paso to keep the momentum going in terms of the music scene? 25:55 Working long hours as you mentioned, can you tell us about the challenges you come across in the process? Challenges with an artist, interpersonal challenges, creative challenges? 27:40 Is there anything else you want anyone to know who is interested in the music or production industry? 28:34 Summary   Related Links: Beacon Hill Recording Studio El Paso, TX- See the team at this studio, the artists they work with, and links to samples of their work. Beacon Hill Recording Studio's Soundcloud link Recording Connection  - Real studio education, real studio connections. They offer many certifications in many cities across the United States.  Orlando featured in Recording Connection's Apprenticeship to Employment and  Success stories Audio Engineering Society - for more information on this field. Sokanu - What does an Audio Engineer do? Audio Engineer - career information from TheBalance.com  

[rev_slider alias="episode-14-shandi-keller-blackhawk-pilot-and-instructor"]   Shandi Keller is someone we knew we wanted to speak to due to her accomplishments as a helicopter pilot in the Army and as an instructor for other pilots. We were fortunate she was able to stop by the day before moving to a new training station so we could record this interview.  In this episode, she discusses how she decided to enlist in the Army, what she did to prepare, and what she did to move up through ranks during her time in the Army. She also discusses ways to enter the military with a higher rank, different pathways to becoming a pilot in the military, and some misconceptions people may have regarding those in the military. One of the biggest takeaways is the importance of networking at every level, from sitting down with people who do the job that interests you, to making sure those who evaluate or rank you know who you are. It is important not only to make a name for yourself by doing your best, but to maintain your integrity in a small community where your reputation will most likely precede you.   Show Notes: 0:00 Intro 1:48 High school, decision to join Army and preparation to enlist 6:10 How long were you a Medevac pilot and how did you transition out of active duty? 8:55 Typical day as Instructor 10:00 Favorite part and challenges of job 12:32 Most memorable moments 19:55 Advice for someone wanting to be a pilot in the military? 27:00 What does she know now that she wishes she would have known earlier? 30:34 Any misconceptions about the military she would like to address?   Related Links: FAA - Becoming a Pilot US Army - UH60 Repairer (15T) , US Army - High School to Flight School (Street to Seat) US Army - Aircraft, Helicopters and UAV Book - Shoot Like a Girl Story of Medevac pilot Air National Guard major Mary Jennings “MJ” Hegar Book - Danger Close Story of Kiowa pilot Amber Smith      

On this episode of Career Closeup, we take another dive into the world of medicine.  We sat down with Dr. Raul Santos, MD.  A Dallas area Interventional Cardiologist.  From his early years in college and his service in the U.S Army to his residency and fellowship in Cardiology, Dr. Santos gave us a great insight into the training, practice and rewarding aspects of his incredible field.  If you are thinking about medicine or are in medical school and considering a career treating disease of the heart, this is a realistic and informative close up.   Show notes: 00:00 Introduction 01:00  The job of an interventional cardiologist. 02:19  What exactly is a catheterization? 04:10  Tell us about the training to become Interventional Cardiologist. 05:33  What influenced you to go into cardiology and proceeding to interventional cardiology? 07:47  What is a typical day like for an interventional cardiologist? Being “On-Call”? 10:48  How does this field affect your lifestyle, family? 12:10  What would you say are most rewarding and most challenging parts of your job? 13:18  How do you deal with the stress? 14:07  Dr. Santos’ path to success; high school, college and Army days. 17:23  Dr. Santos’ recommendations for high school students, college students that are interested in medicine and cardiology. 18:22  Are there any misconceptions about the medical field, cardiology you want to address? 19:19  Summary   Related Links: US Army - Operating Room Specialist (68D) University of North Texas University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston Medical School Cedars-Sinai Internal Medicine residency Baylor Scott & White Health - Cardiovascular Disease fellowship Baylor Scott & White Health -Interventional Cardiology fellowship Link to: catheterization procedure of Heart  Link to video: Leg, Peripheral vascular disease

[rev_slider alias="episode-8-rick-lopez-showrunner-assistant"][/rev_slider] On this episode of Career Closeup, we meet Rick Lopez.  Rick works on the set of Fox’s hit series Lucifer as the assistant to the Showrunner(s).  While many of us have heard about the executive producer, producer, and directors associated with television shows and in big screen movies, who truly runs everything in a production? The “CEO” of the set on any given television series is the Showrunner.  The Showrunner hires the producers, directors, actors and staff for a series.  This incredibly busy individual gets the praise as well as the blame for the success or failure of a show.  As one of the showrunner's assistants to two showrunners, Rick keeps "the train on the tracks." Rick is the gatekeeper that coordinates everything at his level as assistant, allowing the show runners the time to focus on "a billion decisions a day."  It's not a job for everybody, but it offers insight and contact with many areas involved in getting ideas turned into scenes on TV.  It is an ideal job to gain experience and access if one wants to become a writer.   Links: About the show: Lucifer Link to documentary on Showrunners Blog about a showrunner's assistant Showrunner's Assistant interview on Any Possibility Shownotes: 0:00    Introduction to Rick and summary of show Lucifer 4:00    Description/responsibilities of showrunner 7:51    What the cast and crew/the team is like 11:00 Favorite thing to do and the most challenging part of your job 16:01 How Rick heard about job/became interested in it 17:00 What is common to all writer’s rooms 19:23  An average day and things Rick loves most about his job 25:55  Competitiveness and what can make you stand out 32:47  Tips for college students wanting to go into writing or working on a show 42:59 Qualities that would be beneficial as a showrunner’s assistant 47:08  Summary  

  [rev_slider alias="jessie-mcdonough"][/rev_slider] Jessie McDonough discusses her career path, from studying journalism at Arizona State University in the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication, to her position as a multimedia journalist in South Bend, Indiana to a reporter position in Jacksonville, Florida, to her current position as a morning co-anchor and the solo anchor and producer of the noon show at the CBS affiliate in El Paso, Texas. Jessie offers valuable insight from her experiences and covers aspects such as choosing the right school, what to do while in school, negotiating contracts and what she looks for in the ideal job.  According to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics (link below in notes), the median annual wage for reporters and correspondents was $36,360 and the median annual wage for broadcast news analysts was $65,530. These figures are from May 2015. [divide color="#e8e8e8"]   SHOW NOTES: 0:00   Intro 1:12     What Jessie does daily as anchor and producer 8:18    What sparked Jessie's interest in being an anchor? 9:30    How did she look for and choose a good journalism program? 11:15    Choosing the Living and Learning Community for Journalism 12:20  Importance of Internships and variety 15:16   Cronkite Newswatch at ASU 16:48   Importance of choosing school that specializes in your field and has great resources for networking...Networking is Key to finding jobs 17:45   First job and advice- Multimedia journalist (MMJ) Nightside reporter 20:23   Demo Reels, second job - morning reporter, hard parts of reporting 27:29   Transitioning from reporter to Anchor position 34:09   Favorite job 35:40   Requirements for job 37:14    Best part of her career, rewarding aspects 39:22   Challenging parts of career 40:34   What is it like being a public figure/on tv? 42:52    Advice for those interested in journalism 43:49   Future opportunities in this field 46:00   Dealing with the stress of job 47:14    What Jessie knows now that she wishes she knew earlier [divide color="#a0a0a0"]   LINKS OF INTEREST: Jessie McDonough Bio page Arizona State University - Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication Occupational outlook for reporters, correspondants and broadcast news, according to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics. Journalism Degrees has links for information on this career field and degree programs. 100 Outstanding journalists in the United States in the last 100 years. 24 Top paid News Anchors Learn how to become: a journalist. This website has well organized information for many fields. Great resource! [review]