The Social-Engineer Podcast

In this episode, Chris Hadnagy and Ryan MacDougall are joined by Bernie Acre.  Bernie is the Chief Information Officer for the City of Bryan, TX where he’s responsible for all technology and communications systems, including the Fire, Police, Public Works, the municipal electric utility, and a myriad of general support organizations.  Bernie is currently an appointed Member of the Texas Cybersecurity Council. Bernie has a combined 41-years of experience in information technology; including 20+ in the US Air Force and 21 years in the electric utility industry and municipal government. August 16, 2021

00:00 – Intro 

CLUTCH   

03:34 – Bernie Acre Intro

04:43 – How did your transition into this position take place?

08:18 – What makes you proud of the culture that you created around employee awareness?

12:25 – How do you get all senior management on board?

14:24 – What did it take to find the people to make such a great team?

15:35 – What were you looking for in these people

17:15 – Setting the bar 

19:15 – Team Advocate vs. Adversary 

23:59 – Was your senior management always on board with being part of the testing? 

27:06 – So the third hour of their required training is something the employees choose? 

27:54 – Have you always had the philosophy that the security training you do at work should become personal? 

29:21 – What are three things you would tell someone beginning in the field to focus on? 

32:51 – Taking the time to grow 

34:49 – What do you do to help combat burn out?  How about promoting self-care? 

37:31 – What lacks the most sometimes in an organization is communication

37:43 – Who in this industry do you respect the most? 

  • One of Bernie’s commanders in the service, for overall leadership 

43:55 – What got you so heavily into history? 

44:38 – Finding Bernie on the internet: 

47:04 – Outro 

Thanks to Bernie 

 

 

 

 

 


In this episode, we are joined by Michael Roderick. Michael is the CEO of Small Pond Enterprises which helps thoughtful givers become thought leaders by making their brands referable, their messaging memorable, and their ideas unforgettable. He is also the host of the podcast Access to Anyone which shows how you can get to know anyone you want in business and in life using time-tested relationship-building principles. Michael's unique methodology comes from his own experience of going from being a High School English teacher to a Broadway Producer in under two years.   August 9, 2021

 

00:00 – Intro 

CLUTCH  

02:08 – Intro to Michael Roderick, CEO of Small Pond Enterprises

 

03:20 – High school teacher – where did that come from and what were you teaching?

04:17 – You moved to New York and while teaching high school, you decided you wanted to be a            producer.  How did that come about?

09:49 -  Was all of what you are saying a plan of yours, or you just did it and it worked out?

11:45 – You were doing something for these people with no ask in return.  This makes such a psychological bond with these people.  Why would you do this?

14:41 – What framework did you create out of this experience?

19:45 – You’ve got direct and indirect approach, what are the other two?

23:07 – What methods do you use to find the detail about who you are approaching for the mutually beneficial approach?

27:19 – What’s the “E”?

35:16 – Did you come up with “DIME”?

35:55 – How can an average person use the skills you talked about to cultivate a network?

39:49 – Finding Michael on the Internet:

Social Media links (not mentioned in podcast)

40:37 – Who is your greatest mentor?

41:37 – Favorite Books


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