Our authorsThe Top HR and Government experts

Brigham A. McCown has more than 26 years of executive management, legal, and operational experience at the local, national, and international levels of government. Mr. McCown primarily advises private sector clients in matters pertaining to federal security and safety regulations, government enforcement of regulated industries and risk mitigation, including areas relating to crisis response and complex private sector litigation. Currently, McCown serves as the Chairman of The Alliance for Innovation and Infrastructure, Chairman and CEO of Nouveau Inc., and is a Managing Member of Kilgore McCown, PLLC. Prior to 2007, McCown served as a member of the United States Senior Executive Service during both terms of George W. Bush’s presidency. Appointed by Transportation Secretary, Norman Y. Mineta (D-CA), McCown helped shape the nation’s laws, regulations and policies pertaining to transportation safety and security for the surface, maritime, pipeline, rail and aviation industriesDuring his tenure, Mr. McCown served as the first acting administrator and interim CEO of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHSMA). While in this position, McCown was in charge of the federal government’s oversight of more than one million daily shipments of hazardous materials by all modes of transportation, including pipeline. It was also during his time with PHMSA that he was given the task of coordinating the federal government’s response to the largest oil spill on Alaska’s North Slope. He also helped oversee the restoration process of the Gulf Coast’s energy infrastructure following Hurricanes Rita and Katrina. He helped author the PIPES Act of 2006 which improved safety and increased government oversight of the pipeline industry while also providing additional operational flexibility to pipeline operators. Mr. McCown also served as the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s first chief counsel. While managing a staff of 55 attorneys, legislative affairs specialists and support staff, Mr. McCown was responsible for ensuring implementation of the nation’s laws and regulations for the motor carrier, motor coach and moving industries. McCown is currently a contributor to Forbes, National Journal, Huffington Post, and Fuel Fix on matters pertaining to transportation, energy and public policy. McCown graduated from Miami University in 1988 with a degree in diplomacy and foreign affairs. He later went on to receive his law degree from Northern Kentucky University in 1997.

Felicia Tatum has a deep passion for writing and helping people. Equipped with an MBA with a concentration in HR, she utilizes her knowledge and skills to help others land the jobs of their dreams while pursuing her own.

Mark Nation is a globally-recognized management expert, leadership consultant, executive coach, author, and speaker with an MBA from Harvard Business School. He is the founder and president of Nation Leadership and the Made for Amazing Project. He is the author of the forthcoming book, "Made for Amazing: An Instrumental Journey of Authentic Leadership Transformation", which will be released in October 2017 from Greenleaf Press. He is personally driven to discover what makes individuals, teams, and organizations amazing—those elements which power the heart and soul of individuals and businesses worldwide.

As the Director of Admissions at Florida Polytechnic University, Lauren Willison is responsible for supporting the Executive Director of Enrollment Services and the Associate Director of Admissions in managing recruitment efforts. She develops and coordinates on- and off-campus events, as well as manages the campus visit experience.

June Catalano has served as City Manager of Pleasant Hill since September 2006. Prior to that, she was City Manager for the City of Martinez and Assistant City Manager for the City of Milpitas. She as has also served as Director of Development Services for the City of San Leandro, Director of Planning and Building for the City of Santa Ana and Community Development Director for the City of Laguna Beach. She is currently President of the California Redevelopment Association and a Board Member of the East Bay Regional Communication System Authority.

Justin Harris, PHR, M.B.A. is an HR Practitioner and Cigar Aficionado specializing in Employee Relations, Management Development and Organizational Behavior. He has spent the last 10 years helping managers in higher education, banking, and in the retail industry get the most out of themselves and their employees. Justin prides himself on being an "Unlikely HR Guy and uses practical, everyday examples to teach lessons on employee engagement, communication and self development.

Karen Kimsey-House is the co-author of Co-Active Leadership and Co-Active Coaching. Additionally, she is the co-founder and CEO of the Coaches Training Institute (CTI) and a frequent contributor to the Huffington Post. Learn more about Karen's work at www.coactive.com or connect with her on Twitter @kkimseyhouse.

Kari Reston is the Founder and Chief Executive of Boredom to Boardroom, where she shares honest advice as well as secrets from HR and the corporate world to help her subscribers find work and build successful careers. As both a senior HR executive and a manager myself, I dealt with tons of interns, new grads, and experienced employees – hiring, firing, promoting, and everything in between. What frustrates me is seeing so many people, lots who have amazing educations too, totally struggle when it comes to finding a job and then navigating work! I know it’s tough. I’ve been there – applying for millions of roles, stressing over interviews, offers, and work permits even. Eventually, I got a great job and worked my way up. I made mistakes along the way, and learned a lot in the process. My goal now is to help more people succeed – finding jobs, getting promoted, earning $$$, and enjoying it at the same time.

Karlyn is a writer who specializes in the technology and insurance spaces. She believes the best ingredients for success are passion and purpose.

Karolin Helbig, who spent more than 15 years with McKinsey as a top management consultant and has a deep expertise in science, helps leaders increase their effectiveness, optimize team performance, and transform their organizations through mindset, emotional intelligence, and psychological safety. Building on her three decades leading global, technical teams in the software industry, Minette Norman focuses on developing transformational leaders who create inclusive working environments with a foundation of psychological safety. Together, Karolin and Minette developed The Psychological Safety Playbook (Page Two), which will launch on February 22, 2023.

Kayla is a content writer who enjoys writing on a variety of topics, from career to lifestyle. When she’s not putting pen to paper, you can find her cuddled up with a good book or walking her dog Arnold.