Goal Posts with Tresa Halbrooks Tresa Halbrooks

This week on the Goal Posts Podcast, I’m recapping the first season and sharing my take on the past 6 months of career profiles and interviews with a variety of professionals.  I started Goal Posts in order to not only share my story, but the stories of people who inspire me.  I loved learning about all the different ways these folks achieved success and how they dealt with failure.  It's so important to learn from people with different experiences and backgrounds.  If you want to be inspired, make sure to check out the 'Education' section on Goal Posts and let us know who you’d like us to interview next season on Goal Posts!

Season 2 is coming September 1st, 2020. Stay tuned! 

Erin Kinsey is a gifted songwriter, artist and highly accomplished musician, playing seven instruments. This Rockwall, Texas native began singing and playing guitar at the young age of 11. For the last several years, Erin Kinsey and her band have been wowing audiences in Texas, Music City and beyond, headlining noteworthy venues such as Love and War in Texas, The Gaylord Texan, CMA Fest, The Dallas International Film Festival and the C2C Festival in London, England. In 2017, Erin Kinsey opened for Hunter Hayes during the St. Jude Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Concert at Ascend Amphitheater in Nashville. She can also be seen playing songwriter rounds at the historic Bluebird Café and The Listening Room Cafe.

It’s very rare in today's music industry to come across a young talent with the same love, passion, and tenacity for music as displayed by singer-songwriter Erin Kinsey. Whether it’s listening to her dynamic vocals, observing her skillful multi-instrumental abilities, or hearing her soulful lyrics, Erin is a talent to be watched. She’s been perfecting her craft under the tutelage of some of the biggest names in music and is poised for huge success in the near future.



For more information, visit: https://www.erinkinsey.com/

Rachel Fontenot has been promoted to Vice President of Marketing & Artist Development for Universal Music Group Nashville. In her new role she will lead the artist projects and development team while continuing to oversee her roster, which now includes newly-announced UMG Nashville artist, Reba McEntire.

Fontenot joined UMG Nashville in 2019 to oversee day-to-day artist development and marketing efforts for Lauren Alaina, Gary Allan, Eric Church, Vince Gill, Sam Hunt, Brandon Lay, Parker McCollum, Kylie Morgan, Jon Pardi, Shania Twain and Brothers Osborne.

Deb Fair is the Executive Director of the PEDIGREE Foundation. 

PEDIGREE Foundation is working to find a solution to the problem of the millions of homeless dogs in this country. Through their grant
programs, they support organizations that save the lives of dogs that would otherwise be lost.

The Foundation was established in 2008 by dog lovers with a passionate belief that every dog deserves a loving home. PEDIGREE Foundation is a 501(c)(3) private foundation that supports shelters and rescue organizations, as well as encouraging people to ADOPT, VOLUNTEER, and DONATE.

PEDIGREE Foundation grants are funded by the PEDIGREE® Brand and contributions from dog lovers like you. Your tax-deductible donation* helps them reach even more dogs in need.

For more information, visit: https://www.pedigreefoundation.org/

Mike Rhodes climbed Mount Kilimanjaro a few years ago with his friend, Scott. 

Mount Kilimanjaro in Tanzania is the highest peak in Africa and the world's tallest free-standing mountain. It's also the world's tallest walkable mountain—and what a walk it is. To reach the summit, one must pass through five distinct climate zones ranging from rainforest to alpine desert and eventually glacial Arctic. Although it is possible to climb Mount Kilimanjaro without any specific mountaineering training or equipment, summiting the Roof of Africa is not an easy task.

Approximately 25,000 people attempt to summit Mt. Kilimanjaro annually. Approximately two-thirds are successful. Altitude-related problems is the most common reason climbers turn back.

Ryan’s personal story is like no other artist in country music today. Growing up with a family of eleven in a small town in Floral City, Florida, he joined the Army right after high school. After several years of working as a Military Intelligence Analyst, Ryan followed in the footsteps of his two older brothers, Steve and Aaron, by attending Warrant Officer Candidate School and flight school. He graduated top of his class in flight school, becoming a Black Hawk Aviator.  In April 2003, he deployed to Baghdad International Airport in Iraq. Shortly after, one of his brothers, Aaron, was deployed just west of him in Fallujah.

On January 8, 2004, Aaron was killed in action when the Medivac helicopter he was a passenger in was shot down by enemy fire. Ryan certainly understood mortality and the risks of combat…  After all, Aaron had survived the bloody 1993 battle in Mogadishu, Somalia – the same battle that became the basis for the movie, Black Hawk Down. When Aaron died, however, something changed for Ryan. He returned from combat, taking a new position training the next generation of Army aviators and officers at Fort Rucker, Alabama and has not piloted a Black Hawk since that fateful day.

On December 17, 2013 Ryan’s brother-in-law, Chief Warrant Officer 2 Randy Billings, was killed in action in Afghanistan when the Black Hawk helicopter he was piloting was shot down by an enemy ground-detonated explosive device.  This second heartbreaking loss made the Weaver family a two-time Gold Star family. Both of his brothers’ ultimate sacrifices continue to fuel Ryan’s fire to accomplish his dreams in music.

In late 2016, Ryan released the music video for his single “Burn,” featuring Kris “Tanto” Paronto and John “Tig” Tiegen from the movie 13 Hours: Secret Soldiers of Benghazi. “Burn” aired nationwide on The Country Network and Heartland, and internationally at over 5,000 retailers, restaurants, and entertainment venues throughout the end of 2016 and beginning of 2017. Ryan’s first music video “Crank It” played nationally on ZUUS Country TV and TNN/Heartland Network and spent 8 weeks on their Top 10 Video Countdown – a network record.

In 2017, Ryan was named the Patriotic Voice of the PBR (Professional Bull Riders) for their Celebrate America Campaign.  The World Finals is the biggest global stage in professional bull riding – a booming sport now seen in more than 400 million homes worldwide. The Celebrate America Campaign is a season-long initiative that honors America’s heroes, inspires youth, and brings communities together. Weaver made his debut in the primetime performance slot, which was previously held by Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler in 2016. At that time, the PBR officially launched Ryan as a PBR artist and debuted his new EP entitled Celebrate America.  Ryan worked closely with hit songwriter Wynn Varble on the Celebrate America EP, co-writing three of the four songs. He has toured the U.S. and internationally to Australia with the PBR in 2018 and 2019, performing his songs and singing the “National Anthem” at US events. 

Ryan performed on the first single from the West Point Military Academy’s Benny Havens Band’s  debut album Songs That Save Our Lives. The song was short-listed for GRAMMY Award consideration in the American Roots category. The album also featured Charlie Daniels.