PCS to Corporate America

Cameron-Brooks
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A Podcast to Catapult Careers and Help You Master the Military-to-Business Transition

  1. 3d ago

    E240: What JMOs Bring to Coporate America (with Alum George Pesansky)

    In this episode, Lauren Kordzik sits down with Cameron-Brooks alum George Pesansky to discuss what his 30 years of hiring and building teams taught him about JMOs, and why the best companies keep coming back to hire these great leaders. George Pesansky came through Cameron-Brooks in 1996 as an Army officer. He didn’t know exactly what was next. He just knew he was ready for something new. Thirty years later, he’s built a company, hired JMOs, and coached leaders inside some of the most complex manufacturing operations in the world. He wrote a book about it. And he still comes back to the same idea when someone asks what separates good leaders from great ones. We Before Me We before me. It sounds simple. But George will tell you, it’s actually rare. Most organizations, at some point, start optimizing for individuals. Career paths, visibility, personal outcomes. It’s subtle. But over time, it shapes how decisions get made and how teams show up. JMOs come from a different culture entirely. The mission is the priority. The team is what matters. Candor isn’t a personality trait; it’s expected. That doesn’t disappear when someone transitions out of the military. It comes with them. George also pushes back on one of the most common reasons companies hesitate to hire JMOs: they don’t have industry experience. His take? There’s a difference between knowledge and skill. Knowledge (a product, a process, a system) can be learned in weeks. Skill (real leadership, the ability to drive results through people, the discipline to do the hard thing) takes years to build. JMOs already have it. Hiring managers sometimes get those two things mixed up. When you get that hiring decision right, the return isn’t just one good hire. It’s a stronger team. Fewer people walking out the door. A culture people want to stay in. George saw it firsthand. And he’s watched it play out over and over again in the organizations he’s worked with since. Work with Cameron-Brooks If you’re looking to hire a JMO for your team, we would love to connect. Feel free to contact us to learn more about attending a Cameron-Brooks Hiring Conference. Or feel free to email Lauren Kordzik at lkordzik@cameron-brooks.com. For any JMOs thinking the transition? We’re here to help.

  2. May 22

    E239: Alumni Roundtable: 3 successful military to business transitions, study groups, and art

    The April 2026 Cameron-Brooks Career Conference has officially come to a close. We had 48 interviews, 51 companies, and 540 interviews over two days. Every single candidate was pursued. Every single candidate who entered the follow-up process received an offer. In this episode of the Cameron-Brooks podcast, Brock Dudley sits down with three recent alums to talk through what actually happened at conference and what they’d do differently if they were starting over. Learn how these three officers navigated their transitions from business In this episode, you’ll hear: – How Ryan Smith accepted an offer in a location that wasn’t listed originally on the job description, and why that happened – How Scott Hicks honed his ability to answer interview questions confidently without sounding robotic – Why David Tierney (an art major) ended up in financial services and what being “open” really means in practice – What all three wish they had done earlier in their preparation Meet the panel: – Ryan Smith, former Navy officer, now in medical device sales at Boston Scientific CRM in Jacksonville, FL – Scott Hicks, former Army officer, now in medical device sales at Zoll in Atlanta, GA – David Tierney, Army officer, now heading into financial services at Horace Mann If you’d like to learn more from other recent alums about their experience, you can listen to the following alumni roundtables: February 2026 Career Conference November 2025 Career Conference August 2025 Career Conference  If you have any questions, we’re happy to help! For those of you in our program, we know how daunting the process up the career conference can be. We are here for you and we’ve got your back. In the meantime, practice in your study groups, stay active in discord, and attend your interview workshops. And if you’re new to Cameron-Brooks and are looking to explore your transition to the business world, we’re happy to talk. Follow Cameron-Brooks on LinkedIn.

    1h 17m

  3. Apr 30

    E238: 30 Years of Conferences (What Michelle and Candy Want Every Officer to Know)

    30 Years of Conferences: What Michelle and Candy Want Every Officer to Know For more than 30 years at Cameron-Brooks, Michelle Spisak and Candy Belcik have worked with thousands of military officers navigating the transition from active duty to corporate America. In this mini episode of PCS to Corporate America, they share the honest, practical advice they wish every officer heard before starting their transition. Here are the key takeaways: 1. Lead with your leadership. Your degree matters less than you think. Companies hiring through Cameron-Brooks are looking for your leadership experience first. That is your strongest asset and the thing that sets you apart. 2. Going it alone means going through filters. When you apply online you are competing against hundreds of applicants and may never reach a hiring manager. Cameron-Brooks removes those filters and gets you in front of 8 to 12 hiring managers in two days at our career conference. 3. The conference has changed but the support has not. Since the pandemic, Cameron-Brooks moved to a fully virtual conference model, which actually aligns with how most companies now conduct first round interviews. The format is different but the experience, the coaching, and the care behind the scenes is the same. 4. Start early. Not for Cameron-Brooks. For you. The more time you give yourself in the program, the more you will get out of it. Listen to the full episode on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or at cameron-brooks.com. And if you’d like to speak with a career coach, we’re happy to talk. Follow Cameron-Brooks on LinkedIn.

    12 min

  4. Mar 12

    E237: Alumni Roundtable: What Three Officers Learned from their Successful Transitions

    Tom Morin went from Army Infantry Captain to the Leadership Program at Extant Aerospace. Matt Horsley went from Marine Corps Logistics Officer to Financial Leadership Program at BD. Josh Klimek went from Army Infantry Captain to Operations at Macerich. Three incredible officers. Three success stories. All Cameron-Brooks, Inc. alums. These are just three of the officers are launching their business careers after our conference. On average, each officer had ~11 interviews. Most officers accepted offers after ~14 days. This isn’t just about landing a job. It’s about building a long-term leadership career. For more than 50 years, Cameron-Brooks has helped JMOs do exactly that. If you are considering your next move, learn from others who have been in your shoes. Listen to what these three officers learned from their successful military to business transitions. If you’d like to learn more from other recent alums about their experience, you can listen to the alumni roundtables from after the November 2025 Career Conference and the August 2025 Career Conference.  And if you’d like to speak with a career coach, we’re happy to talk. Follow Cameron-Brooks on LinkedIn.

    1h 3m

  5. Feb 16

    E236: Navigating Career Transitions (with Dave Parmly)

    Military to Corporate Leadership: Dave Parmly on Navigating Career Transitions, Integrity, and the Trusting the Process With over 40 years of experience spanning the US Military, KFC, Pilot Company, and CSUSA Shoffner, Dave Parmly has navigated multiple career transitions and leadership roles. Each of these transitions required preparation, trust, and the willingness to listen and adapt. In our latest PCS to Corporate America podcast episode, Dave shares the leadership principles that guided him from military service to senior HR and operations roles in business. Here are some of the core themes from the episode: You Don’t Just Transition Once It is easy to view the military to civilian transition as a one-time event. However, each new role, each new company, each new life change is its own transition. Dave partnered with Cameron-Brooks and made the military to business transition in 1990. Through his storied career, he navigated career transitions along the way, across companies, roles, and locations with his family. And he’s picked up incredible wisdom along the way. Listening and Seeking Feedback Are Leadership Fundamentals Dave’s move to corporate leadership taught him that listening is one of the most underrated leadership skills. He encourages leaders to seek feedback from multiple sources: peers, direct reports, even family members. If you’re not actively seeking feedback, you’re missing opportunities to grow. Integrity Means Being a Whole Person Too often, people compartmentalize their lives. They’re one person in the office and another person at home. But, according to Dave, true integrity means aligning who you are in these different spaces and showing up authentically. What are ways you can show up more authentically at work? How are the benefits of increasing trust at work? Listen to the Full Episode This episode was truly a gift. Great conversation, great people, great advice. Thank you to Joel Junker and Dave Parmly for your wisdom and generosity. Listen to the full episode wherever you listen to your podcasts, and if you’re curious about Joel’s own military to business transition, check out this blog. Thinking about your own career transition? If you’re a company-grade or field-grade officer exploring what’s next, Dave, Joel, the entire Cameron-Brooks team, and I are here to help. Feel free to reach out below. We’re here to help and listen and see if this path could be right for you. Email: candidates@cameron-brooks.com  Call: 210-874-1500 Speak with a Coach and Schedule a Personal Marketability Assessment

    39 min

  6. Jan 30

    E235: The Power of Mentorship (Lessons from Jim O’Rourke)

    The Power of Mentorship From Military to Corporate America: Leadership Lessons in From A Supply Chain Leader, Jim O’Rourke Transitioning from military service to corporate America isn’t just about landing a job, it’s about preparing for a completely different operating environment. In our latest podcast episode, Cameron-Brooks alum Jim O’Rourke shares how humility, mentorship, and leadership frameworks helped him build a successful supply chain career after the military. Why Military Transition Requires More Than a Resume Most officers underestimate what it takes to succeed in corporate America.”Humility is important in transitioning,” Jim explains. Coming from the military, where rank and experience are clear, the corporate world requires a different approach. You’re no longer the expert. You’re the learner. This mindset shift is critical for officers moving into leadership-intensive roles like supply chain management, operations, or manufacturing—where understanding team dynamics and business processes matters as much as decision-making ability. The Role of Mentorship in Career Development One of the most valuable aspects of Jim’s transition was mentorship. But not just any mentorship: the kind that provides a “safe harbor for growth” and challenges your thinking. “Mentoring is a safe harbor for growth,” Jim notes. In corporate America, you need people who can help you navigate unwritten rules, decode organizational dynamics, and develop the critical thinking skills that separate good leaders from great ones. Cameron-Brooks provides this structured mentorship during the transition process. What about after the transition? According to Jim, finding mentors within your company accelerates your career development long-term. Understanding Supply Chain: More Than Logistics For officers considering supply chain roles, Jim breaks down what this actually means. It’s not just moving products. It requires leadership-intensive work in addition to the following: – Managing across operations: Managing cross-functional teams across manufacturing, distribution, and planning – Process optimization: Understanding the COGS (Cost of Goods Sold) ladder and how every decision impacts profitability – Strategic thinking: Balancing production needs, customer demands, and financial constraints “Clarity of purpose helps teams succeed,” Jim emphasizes. In supply chain, that clarity comes from understanding how your decisions ripple through the entire organization. What Makes Cameron-Brooks Candidates Different In addition to his expertise in supply chain, he has been on the hiring side. When asked what differentiates Cameron-Brooks candidates, Jim pointed to two qualities: 1. Genuine preparation: They’ve done the work to understand industries, roles, and companies before interviews 2. Intellectual curiosity: They ask better questions because they’ve been coached to think critically about fit “Cameron Brooks candidates are well-prepared and genuine in their approach,” he observes. They’re not just looking for any job…they’re looking for the right career trajectory. The Importance of Lifelong Learning Jim’s final piece of advice? Never stop learning. Whether it’s leadership books, industry podcasts, or formal training, lifelong learning is crucial for career advancement. The military teaches you to be adaptable. Corporate America rewards those who continuously evolve. Ready to Start Your Transition? If you’re a company-grade or field-grade officer exploring what’s next, Jim’s story shows what’s possible with the right preparation, humility, and mentorship. Listen to the full episode wherever you listen to your podcasts. Ready to explore your options? Email: candidates@cameron-brooks.com  Call: 210-874-1500 Speak with a Coach and Schedule a Personal Marketability Assessment

    43 min

  7. 12/19/2025

    E234: Launching Pad or Landing Pad? What’s Ahead in 2026

    A Year-End Look at the JMO Transition Market As the year winds down, a lot of Junior Military Officers are asking the same thing: What does the market actually look like right now? And what should I be doing about it? In the latest Cameron-Brooks podcast, our CEO, Chuck Alvarez, and Senior Vice President, Joel Junker, break down where things stand at the end of 2025. The short answer: the market isn’t easy, but there are still great opportunities out there. Uncertain Economy There’s no question the economy feels uncertain. Global conflict, political gridlock, and nonstop headlines about AI have made companies more cautious. Hiring has slowed in many corporate roles, and expectations are higher across the board. But here’s the part that often gets missed: companies are still investing heavily in leaders who can run teams, solve problems, and deliver results. That’s where mindset matters. What does 2026 look like? Looking ahead to 2026, that gap is only going to widen. AI isn’t replacing leaders, but it is raising the bar. Companies expect new hires to show up ready to learn, ready to adapt, and ready to drive outcomes. Officers who prepare early, by learning the basics of business, understanding how data and finance work, and translating their military leadership into real business impact—will stand out. Officers who wait until separation to start thinking about all of this will feel the market’s friction much more sharply. Launching Pad vs. Landing Pad Additionally, Joel and Chuck talk about the difference between a landing pad and a launching pad. A landing pad feels safe. It prioritizes location, familiarity, and getting comfortable quickly. For many officers, that leads to internships or roles that don’t fully use their leadership experience—and frustration sets in fast. A launching pad is different. It treats the transition as the start of a long leadership journey, not the finish line. Launching pad roles are harder. They come with more responsibility, steeper learning curves, and sometimes less geographic control. But they also create momentum: early wins, faster growth, and compounding “opportunity” interest over time. Prepare to Gain Control The year-end message is simple: you may not be able to control the economy, but you can control how prepared you are for it. If you want 2026 to be a year of growth rather than regret, build a launching pad now. Listen to the full Cameron-Brooks podcast for a candid conversation on the market, mindset, and what it really takes to transition well. Thinking about your next steps? We’re more than happy to talk.

    58 min

  8. 12/19/2025

    E233: Alumni Roundtable: Two Career Conference Success Stories

    Check out our latest Alumni Panel after the November 2025 Career Conference. Brock Dudley sits down with: Cody Williams (Army Air Defense, Major | Caterpillar, Senior Production Manager) Ian Burgess (Air Force Intelligence, Captain | Twist Bioscience, Account Manager) You cannot control the market, but you can control how prepared you are. Cody and Ian started early, stayed open to learning, and trusted the process. In turn, their preparation led to fantastic, well-aligned career launches. This is not just about landing a job. It is about building a long-term leadership career. For more than 50 years, Cameron-Brooks has helped JMOs do exactly that. If you are considering your next move, now is the time to prepare. https://youtu.be/oSYdpYoVfPQ If you’d like to learn more from other recent alums about their experience, listen to the alumni roundtable from after the August 2025 Career Conference.  If you’d like to speak with a career coach, we’re happy to talk. Follow Cameron-Brooks on LinkedIn.

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A Podcast to Catapult Careers and Help You Master the Military-to-Business Transition

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