NCS Bergen County

NCS Bergen County

Podcast by NCS Bergen County

  1. NCS Bergen County Presents Chaplain (Colonel) Dave Bowlus

    10 ENE

    NCS Bergen County Presents Chaplain (Colonel) Dave Bowlus

    Chaplain (Colonel) Dave Bowlus, born in Toledo, Ohio, was commissioned in the U.S. Army in May 1993 as an Armor Officer from the United States Military Academy. He went on to serve as a Platoon Leader, Company Executive Officer, Battalion S-4 and Battalion S-1 in assignments at Fort Carson, CO, Camp Casey, Republic of Korea, and Fort Knox, NY. In 1998, Chaplain Bowlus resigned from active-duty service to attend seminary at Alliance Theological Seminary in Nyack, NY. Returning to active duty in 2002, Chaplain Bowlus served as the chaplain for 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, HAAF, GA; Chaplain Recruiter, Fort Meade, MD; Regimental Chaplain 75th Ranger Regiment, Fort Moore, GA; Instructor at the US Army Religious Leader Academy, Fort Jackson, SC; United States Office of Military Support, Fort Belvoir, VA; Division Chaplain for the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault), Fort Campbell, KY; Senior Mission Command Chaplain of the Maneuver Support Center of Excellence Chaplain (MSCoE), Fort Leonard Wood, MO; Command Chaplain Eighth US Army and United States Forces Korea (USFK), Camp Humphreys, South Korea; Command Chaplain of United States Army Special Operations Command (USASOC), Fort Liberty, NC; and Command Chaplain for US Army Forces Command (FORSCOM), Fort Liberty, NC. He currently serves as the USMA Chaplain at West Point, NY. CH Bowlus’ military schools include the Armor Officers Basic Course, Chaplain Officer Basic Course, Chaplain Captain Career Course, the Command and General Staff College, Jumpmaster School and the Dismounted Armor Scout Course. His awards include the Defense Superior Service Medal, Legion of Merit, Bronze Star Medal (2), Defense Meritorious Service Medal (2), Meritorious Service Medal (7), Joint Service Commendation Medal, Army Commendation Medal (7), and Army Achievement Medal (5). He has earned the Ranger Tab, Parachutist Badge, Air Assault Badge, Combat Action Badge, Instructor Badge, and Gold Badge recruiting award. He has a Bachelor of Science from the United States Military Academy, a Master of Divinity from Alliance Theological Seminary, a Master of International Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College, and a Doctor of Ministry degree from Alliance Theological Seminary. Dave and his wife, Meridee, have been married for thirty-one years and have two children, Andrew (26) and Savannah (20).

    34 min
  2. NCS Bergen County Presents Dave Szott

    09/12/2025

    NCS Bergen County Presents Dave Szott

    Dave Szott spent 35 years in the National Football League, beginning in 1990 with the Kansas City Chiefs and ending with the NY Jets in 2025. A graduate of Penn State, Szott started 171-of-177 games over 14 seasons with Kansas City (1990-2000), Washington (2001) and the Jets (2002-03), earning consensus All-Pro and All-Madden recognition in1997 and received the Ed Block Coverage Award twice, once with Kansas City and again with the Jets. Following his retirement as a player, Dave spent the following 17 years as the assistant offensive line coach (2004-05), team chaplain (2006-07) and his most current as director, player development. As director, player development, Szott oversaw a number of NFL programs, including Players Assistance, Continuing Education, Financial Education and Career Development. Working with Bryce Bevill, the player development department also looks to set up every Jets player up for success before, during and after the player’s football career, providing resources to grow, both personally and professionally throughout their player experience, along with transition training for NFL rookies. Dave’s accolades continued after his playing career was over.  Szott was a key figure in the smooth transition and relocation of the entire Jets organization to the Atlantic Health Jets Training Center in Summer 2008.  He was awarded the Player Development Award in the area of Player Assistance that year - the first rookie player development director to be so honored. Szott was also awarded the 2009 Player Assistance Award. In addition, Dave was given the 2014 Most Valuable Player Award by the Executive Board of the Phil Simms New Jersey All-Star Football Classic, which is given to NFL players that had great careers and continue to promote football at the youth, high school, college and professional levels. Outside of his career Dave is active in helping those with special needs.  While in Kansas City, Szott and his wife, Andrea, started Szott for Tots, a foundation who’s mission is to bring awareness to the special needs community. Szott is on the Board of Directors for the Matheny Medical and Educational Center, a school and medical center for special needs children and adults located in Peapack, NJ.  Andrea Szott, Dave’s wife, now serves on the Matheny Development Committee, as well as the Matheny Parent Advisory Committee. Szott also serves as special advisor and coach of the Morristown Wildcats Football Club, where he is consulted on coach and player code of conduct guidelines.  He also helped establish a playbook, practice plans and coaching clinics for the football club coaches. Within the past year, Dave and his partner founded an organization entitled Alpha International Outfitters.  He and his partner host hunters and non-hunters in Spain, providing “once in a life-time” experiences, either hunting big game and/or touring traditional sites and cities. Originally a native of Clifton, NJ, Szott and Andrea, along with their sons, Shane and Joshua, reside in Morristown, NJ.

    28 min
  3. NCS Bergen County Presents Preston Poore

    18/11/2025

    NCS Bergen County Presents Preston Poore

    Preston Poore is a dedicated corporate leader with a storied history at The Coca-Cola Company and further expertise honed at The Hershey Company, Ralston Purina, Dale Carnegie Training, and AmSouth Bank. As the founder of Preston Poore & Associates, LLC, and a Certified Maxwell Leadership Team Speaker, Trainer, and Executive Coach, he seamlessly blends leadership excellence with Christian principles to empower leaders and organizations. His tailored coaching, speaking engagements, and leadership training are designed to inspire ethical leadership and elevate influence in the workplace and community. As a Colson Fellow, Preston is equipped with an understanding of a biblical worldview to be a redemptive influence in the marketplace and beyond. As a board member of Christ Led Communities, he champions the development of men into passionate Christ-followers within small, collaborative groups. He is also the author of the acclaimed “Discipled Leader” and “21 Days to Sound Decision Making,” using his platform to mentor individuals in effective leadership and decision-making. In the defense sector, he shapes the future as a minority shareholder and board member of Numerica Corporation. Preston’s academic foundations include an MBA from Samford University and a BS in Management from Colorado State University. Preston and his wife live in the Metro Atlanta Area, where they live out a commitment to service and leadership in every aspect of their lives. Learn more at prestonpoore.com.

    29 min
  4. NCS Bergen County Presents Major Kornelis “Korky” Vander Ploeg

    04/11/2025

    NCS Bergen County Presents Major Kornelis “Korky” Vander Ploeg

    Major Kornelis “Korky” Vander Ploeg (Retired), enlisted in the New Jersey State Police in December of 1977. During his tenure with the NJSP he was assigned first as a road duty uniformed trooper serving in the rural communities of Sussex County, and then later served in a highway patrol capacity on both the busy interstate highways that connected into and out of New York City as well as toll road duty on the Garden State Parkway. Later in his career he served in the Executive Protection Bureau, providing security for three different Governors: Thomas H. Kean, James Florio and Christine Todd Whitman. After the 9-11 terrorist attacks, he was assigned to supervise the NJSP support team that assisted the Port Authority police with security at Newark/Liberty International Airport, the George Washington Bridge, and the Lincoln and Holland Tunnels. He finished his 27+ year career with the NJSP in the Administration Section rising to the rank of Major and was part of the NJSP Command Staff from where he retired in July of 2005. After his retirement, Vander Ploeg entered the corporate world, going to work for Prudential Financial where he provided security to the Chairman and CEO. He retired from Prudential as Executive Security Director in April of 2020 and continues living in northern New Jersey with his wife of 46 years. He and his wife attend Cedar Hill Christian Reformed Church in Wyckoff, N.J. where he has served as a deacon and elder and is currently part of the worship team. A graduate of Eastern Christian High School, Korky holds an Associates Degree in Criminal Justice from Rockland Community College and a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Business Administration from William Paterson University.

    35 min

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Podcast by NCS Bergen County