Bobby Blount joins host Cedric Fisher on San Antonio's INFLUENCE Magazine Show for a wide-ranging conversation about leadership, service, and investing in the next generation. A Northside ISD trustee first elected in 1999, Bobby Blount shares how a student idea grew into a 30-year solar race car tradition, why kids should get on the front end of technology, and what putting kids first looks like in practice. Bobby grew up as a military kid with family roots in Dayton, Ohio, living as far away as Morocco and Panama and attending high school in both Mississippi and Utah. He graduated from the U.S. Air Force Academy with an engineering degree, started his Air Force career right here in San Antonio, earned a master's degree from St. Mary's University and a law degree from George Mason University, and spent 35 years with the MITRE Corporation before retiring in 2023. In 2024 the Texas Association of School Boards honored him with its James B. Crow Innovation in Governance Award. In this episode, Bobby expands on: • How the San Antonio Area African American Community Fund finds and funds grassroots nonprofits, and how partners like Catchafire and LiftFund's Dream Maker Fund extend that work • Juvenile Justice Jeopardy, a game that brings students and police officers together to talk through real situations • Why San Antonio needs more people who invent technology, not just people who operate it • What AI, quantum computing, and AR/VR mean for education and careers, including AI bias • The origin of the Northside solar race car program: 16 kids, one idea, and at least 1,000 students a year today • How the Great SA Reading Challenge turns third-grade reading into a Final Four-style competition • His view on how Texas funds and rates its public schools • Why high expectations matter for every student • Practical advice for young professionals: be excellent, take on everything, and lead early • The book on his nightstand that keeps him working Whether you are a parent, an educator, a young professional, or someone who simply wants to see San Antonio's kids succeed, this conversation is full of ideas you can put to work right away. Bobby's message is simple: expect more from every child, give them hands-on experience, and stay focused on what is best for students. If this conversation gave you something to think about, give it a like, tell us in the comments which idea stuck with you, subscribe so you never miss an episode, and share it with someone who is making a difference in San Antonio. 🔔 SUBSCRIBE to San Antonio's INFLUENCE Magazine Show for more inspiring interviews with San Antonio's most impactful leaders! Web: https://www.influencesa.com || https://www.cedricdfisher.com || https://www.influencemarketing.agency #BobbyBlount #NorthsideISD #SanAntonio #InfluenceSA #CedricFisher CHAPTER TIMESTAMPS: 0:00 Welcome to San Antonio's INFLUENCE Magazine Show 0:58 Meet Today's Guest: Bobby Blount 3:37 Welcome, Bobby 3:50 From Military Family to the Air Force Academy 5:48 The San Antonio Area African American Community Fund 6:00 Community Programs: Grants, Catchafire & Juvenile Justice Jeopardy 9:47 Spreading the Word About the Programs 10:27 A Technology Background: Front End vs. Back End 13:09 AI, AR/VR & Emerging Technologies 16:45 Serving as a School District Trustee 17:43 The Solar Race Car Program Turns 30 18:45 The Great SA Reading Challenge 21:40 State Policy & Belief in Public Education 27:41 Putting Kids First in Board Decisions 28:53 Politics & Big Money in School Boards 31:02 Is It Just a Texas Thing? 31:38 Leadership Roles & Staying Well-Rounded 39:55 Advice for Young Professionals 41:45 1,500 Volunteer Hours a Year 43:21 The Book on the Nightstand 44:43 Closing & Thanks

Margaret Wilson-Anaglia, Chair of the Port San Antonio Board of Directors and founder of Al's Gourmet Nuts, joins host Cedric Fisher on San Antonio's INFLUENCE Magazine Show for a candid conversation about entrepreneurship, economic development and getting ready for opportunity. In 2023 she became the first African-American woman to chair the Port San Antonio board, and in this interview she shares the path that led her there. Born and raised on San Antonio's East Side, Margaret studied at the University of the Incarnate Word and Trinity University's Urban Studies program before a career that has spanned the public, private and nonprofit sectors. She talks about getting laid off ("you only need to be laid off once"), launching a weekend arts-and-crafts business, and buying a gourmet nut business from a retiring vendor that she grew into a Super Bowl XLV tailgate vendor spot. Her NFL negotiation story is a masterclass in knowing your value: "I don't do discounts. I do value added." As board chair, she explains why Port San Antonio's $20 billion annual economic impact, 19,000-plus jobs and $111,000 average salary and benefits package matter to families across every part of the city, and why she calls it "a life wage, not a living wage." As Program Officer for Economic Development at LISC San Antonio and former director of LiftFund's Women's Business Center, she breaks down the biggest challenges facing San Antonio entrepreneurs, what it really means to be bank ready, and where to find small business services that are almost entirely free. In this episode you'll learn: • Why information comes before capital for small business owners • How to prepare for a business loan (and how long it really takes) • Where San Antonio entrepreneurs can find free help through Business Development Organizations, the City, Bexar County and SBDCs • How a "no" can become your biggest opportunity • Margaret's motto: get ready, be ready, and stay ready for opportunities Whether you're a first-time founder, a small business owner looking to grow, or someone who wants to make a difference in your community, Margaret's story will leave you inspired and ready to act. 👍 If this conversation inspired you, LIKE the video, drop a COMMENT with your biggest takeaway, SUBSCRIBE for more conversations with San Antonio's leaders, and SHARE it with an entrepreneur who needs to hear it. 🔔 SUBSCRIBE to San Antonio's INFLUENCE Magazine Show for more inspiring interviews with San Antonio's most impactful leaders! Web: https://www.influencesa.com || https://www.cedricdfisher.com || https://www.influencemarketing.agency #MargaretWilsonAnaglia #PortSanAntonio #SanAntonioSmallBusiness #NFL #AlsNuts CHAPTER TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 Welcome to San Antonio's INFLUENCE Magazine Show 01:00 Meet Margaret Wilson-Anaglia, Port San Antonio Board Chair 01:38 Commercial Break - Mystery in Brightcloud by Lola M. Fisher 03:28 East Side Roots, Incarnate Word & Trinity Urban Studies 05:20 City Finance Internship, Corporate Career & Getting Laid Off 07:30 Becoming a Mom at 40 & Leaving the City 08:53 A Weekend Crafts Business: Hammocks & Wrought Iron 10:28 How She Bought Al's Gourmet Nuts 12:07 First African-American Woman to Chair Port San Antonio 13:12 Port San Antonio's $20B Impact & a Life Wage 14:43 The Reception, the Speech & a Unanimous Vote 15:48 Getting the Word Out: Port PR & the Pearl Farmers Market 16:42 Career Ladders from $20 an Hour & Her Chair Term 17:44 Biggest Challenges for San Antonio Entrepreneurs 19:14 LISC & Free Business Development Organization Services 19:52 Information vs. Education: Do Your Research 20:50 City, County & SBDC Resources and the BDO Alliance 21:53 Are You Bank Ready? Lessons from the Women's Business Center 23:32 Her Role at LISC San Antonio: Supporting the Nonprofits 24:06 Success Story: Grants Plus Technical Assistance 28:29 Public, Private & Nonprofit: Process, Profit, Mission 29:44 Commercial Break 30:43 Civic Engagement: Show Up and Participate 32:31 An Entrepreneur's Empathy: Why a No Is an Opportunity 35:12 Honors, Awards & the San Antonio Women's Hall of Fame 37:18 Advice for Women & Minority Business Owners: Take the Leap 38:14 Super Bowl XLV: Winning a Tailgate Vendor Spot 41:33 Negotiating with the NFL: Value Added, Not Discounts 43:10 San Antonio's Growth: Port SA, Toyota & Project Marvel 45:08 Her Legacy: Everything Is Possible 46:13 Commercial Break - Oscar the Osprey by Edward Martin Polansky 48:15 What People Don't Know: Margaret the Comedian 49:23 Self-Care, Meditation & Mindset Over a Nightstand Book 52:40 What's Next After Port San Antonio & Closing

Bexar County Clerk Lucy Adame-Clark joins host Cedric Fisher on San Antonio's INFLUENCE Magazine Show to explain how the county's most essential records are kept, protected and delivered to the people who need them. From land records and marriage licenses to DD-214s, probate filings and assumed business names, this interview is a practical tour of an office most Bexar County residents rely on without ever seeing how it works. Lucy shares how she grew up in San Antonio's Alazán-Apache Courts, where her mother, a community leader, brought her to school board meetings, City Hall and Commissioners Court, and how her father's decision to join the Marines changed her family's path. After paralegal studies at Southern Careers Institute, she spent nearly 22 years at the Bexar County Sheriff's Office, including forensic evidence work, before becoming Bexar County Clerk. In this episode, you'll learn: - What the Bexar County Clerk oversees, from land records and historical collections to probate and mental health court records - Why the County Clerk also serves as Bexar County Treasurer, and why she calls Commissioners Court "the people's court" - How birth certificates and DD-214 military discharge records are protected, and why veterans can record a DD-214 for free - How the office keeps records accurate, and why "the record is the record" - What has changed since 2019, from credit card payments to information in 51 languages - How Records on the Run, a mobile clerk's office, reaches rural Bexar County communities like Atascosa - How some couples can skip Texas' 72-hour marriage license wait, and why depositing a will with the clerk costs just $5 - The free Property Alert tool and the monthly records-search training anyone can attend Whether you're buying a home, starting a business, planning a wedding or helping a veteran in your family, this conversation will leave you better equipped to use the records that shape everyday life in Bexar County. 👍 If this interview was useful, like the video, share it with someone who needs it, and tell us in the comments which clerk service surprised you most. Subscribe so you don't miss our next conversation with a San Antonio leader. 🔔 SUBSCRIBE to San Antonio's INFLUENCE Magazine Show for more inspiring interviews with San Antonio's most impactful leaders! Web: https://www.influencesa.com || https://www.cedricdfisher.com || https://www.influencemarketing.agency --- CHAPTER TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 Welcome to San Antonio's INFLUENCE Magazine Show 01:00 Meet Bexar County Clerk Lucy Adame-Clark 02:25 Commercial Break - Oscar the Osprey 04:05 Growing Up in the Alazán-Apache Courts 06:07 From Paralegal Studies to the Bexar County Sheriff's Office 06:52 How a Marine Father Changed the Family's Path 07:45 Civic Roots: A Seat at the Table as a Child 08:58 Family Roots and Heritage 10:07 What the Bexar County Clerk Does: Land Records and Archives 11:23 Mental Health Court, 21 Courts and Commissioners Court 13:07 Why the County Clerk Is Also the Treasurer 13:34 Public Access: Birth, Death and DD-214 Records 14:50 Keeping Records Accurate: Indexing and Quality Control 16:28 Modernizing Since 2019: Credit Cards and 51 Languages 18:32 Filing a DBA: Why You Still Need a Notary 19:39 Marriage Licenses and the Coming Remote Kiosk 20:55 Records on the Run: Mobile Government for Bexar County 22:56 Bringing the Clerk's Office to Rural Atascosa 24:23 Business Continuity: The 2021 Freeze and COVID 26:09 Commercial Break - San Antonio Business Calendar 27:22 Partnering With San Antonio and Bexar County's Cities 29:47 Probate: Why a $5 Will Deposit Matters 30:29 Reaching Every City: Newsletters and Commissioner Precincts 32:16 Free Training: Property Alert, Records Search and TABC 33:53 Marriage License Tips: Skipping the 72-Hour Wait 35:35 Wedding Ceremonies That Give Back 36:28 Accountability: Fixing Problems Fast 38:23 Off the Clock: Soccer Goalie, Basketball and Family 39:21 Leaders Are Readers: Lucy's Nightstand Book

Ernest "Ernie" Stevens joins host Cedric Fisher on San Antonio's INFLUENCE Magazine Show for a powerful conversation about mental health policing, crisis intervention, and the art of de-escalation. Stevens spent 28 years in law enforcement and helped launch the San Antonio Police Department's Mental Health Unit in 2008, work that reached a national audience through the Emmy-winning HBO documentary Ernie & Joe: Crisis Cops. In this interview, Ernie traces his path from Roosevelt High School to the Terrell Hills Police Department and then to SAPD in 1994. He explains how years of DWI enforcement taught him patience, and how a week-long crisis intervention training he tried to get out of, along with the words of one mother he met there, changed the direction of his career. You'll hear what it was like to have a film crew follow him for Ernie & Joe: Crisis Cops, how ABC's Nightline and NBC's A Different Kind of Force showed the person behind the badge, and the single mindset shift he teaches officers everywhere: focus on the person, not the problem, and make a connection over correction. Ernie also shares how Bexar County partners came to the table to build a crisis center and a jail diversion path, why he believes these programs pay for themselves, and how his work with the Council of State Governments Justice Center helps agencies across the country plan co-responder and community responder programs. He talks about the 988 Lifeline, officer wellness, his books Mental Health & De-Escalation and 101 Questions to Ask Before Becoming a Law Enforcement Officer, and the leadership lessons he draws from It's Your Ship. Whether you wear a badge, work in behavioral health, lead a team, or care for a loved one, this interview offers practical and hopeful lessons about patience, empathy, and community partnerships that work. If this conversation inspired you, give it a like, tell us your biggest takeaway in the comments, subscribe for more conversations with San Antonio leaders, and share it with someone who serves, leads, or cares. If you or someone you know is struggling, call or text 988 to reach the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. 🔔 SUBSCRIBE to San Antonio's INFLUENCE Magazine Show for more inspiring interviews with San Antonio's most impactful leaders! Web: https://www.influencesa.com || https://www.cedricdfisher.com || https://www.influencemarketing.agency ---------------------------------------- Check out Ernie's bestselling books online: Mental health & De-escalation: A guide for law enforcement professionals (Real cops training) https://www.amazon.com/Mental-health-escalation-enforcement-professionals/dp/B09QG55XM6 101 Questions to Ask Before Becoming a Law Enforcement Officer: Because This Job Will Test You - Start With the Right Questions https://www.amazon.com/Questions-Before-Becoming-Enforcement-Officer/dp/B0FPBKW3R3 ---------------------------------------- CHAPTER TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 Intro: San Antonio's INFLUENCE Magazine Show 00:59 Meet Ernie Stevens, SAPD Mental Health Unit Pioneer 01:54 Commercial Break - Oscar the Osprey 03:47 San Antonio Roots and the Road to Policing 06:15 What DWI Enforcement Taught Him About Patience 08:15 The Turning Point: Crisis Intervention Training 14:47 Behind HBO's Ernie & Joe: Crisis Cops 16:57 Nightline, NBC and the Person Behind the Badge 18:38 Mental Health & De-Escalation: Connection Over Correction 20:31 Building Rapport and Redefining Safety 21:55 De-escalation When the Uniform Raises the Stakes 23:24 Commercial Break - San Antonio Business Calendar 24:45 Books, Authorship and 101 Questions for Future Officers 26:49 Breaking Through Resistance: Collaboration in Bexar County 28:43 Council of State Governments, DOJ Grants and Co-Responders 31:32 The Next Decade of Crisis Response 33:44 988, Officer Wellness and National Speaking 34:52 Ernie Stevens: A Work in Progress 35:26 Leadership Lessons From It's Your Ship and Closing

Doc Watkins, the pianist, bandleader and founder of Jazz, TX in San Antonio, joins host Cedric Fisher on San Antonio's INFLUENCE Magazine Show for an honest conversation about music, business and building something that lasts. Brent "Doc" Watkins earned his doctorate in classical piano at the University of Texas, chose jazz instead, and went on to open Jazz, TX at Pearl in 2016 and Doc's in Houston in 2025. In this interview, Doc explains how he got his stage name, why the piano still feels like his first language, and why the CEO role is the one that stretches him the most. He shares the hardest lesson from the early days of Jazz, TX: you can't be all things to all people. Learning that the hard way in San Antonio let the Houston club figure out in weeks or months what once took years. Doc also walks through how a simple guest frustration, not being able to choose your own table, led him to co-found TurnTable, a ticketing and marketing platform built for jazz clubs. He talks about what makes a truly great jazz club, why real hospitality has to come from a place of caring, how Willie Nelson and Lonesome Dove shaped the authentically Texan sound of his 11-piece orchestra, and why Christmas in Jazz, TX is the album that best represents him. Along the way you'll hear why San Antonio became home, how the family helped build the business, the story behind his new book, Jazz, TX: A Love Letter to Live Music, Community, and the Little Club That Could, and what a high school offensive lineman learned about setting a goal and sticking with it. Whether you're an entrepreneur, a working musician, a hospitality pro or simply a jazz fan, this episode is packed with practical lessons on focus, authenticity and caring for the people you serve. 👍 If this conversation inspired you, give it a like, tell us in the comments which lane you're choosing to stay in, subscribe for more conversations with San Antonio leaders, and share it with someone who is building something of their own. 🔔 SUBSCRIBE to San Antonio's INFLUENCE Magazine Show for more inspiring interviews with San Antonio's most impactful leaders! Web: https://www.influencesa.com || https://www.cedricdfisher.com || https://www.influencemarketing.agency -------------- CHAPTER TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 Intro: San Antonio's INFLUENCE Magazine Show 00:59 Cedric Fisher Introduces Doc Watkins 01:50 Commercial Break - Mystery in Brightcloud 03:29 Doc Watkins' Background: Oregon, Classical Piano & UT 05:35 How Brent Watkins Became "Doc" 07:20 Pianist vs. CEO: The Role That Stretches Him Most 09:33 Jazz, TX to Doc's Houston: Lessons in Picking a Lane 11:45 Avoiding Burnout: Family, Faith & Keeping It Fun 15:58 10 Albums: Why Christmas in Jazz, TX Represents Him Best 17:33 Building a Texas Big Band Sound: Willie Nelson & Lonesome Dove 20:49 Commercial Break 22:14 TurnTable: Building Ticketing Software for Jazz Clubs 25:30 What Makes a Truly Great Jazz Club 29:29 How San Antonio Shaped His Music, Business & Family 31:54 Father of Four: Running a Family Business 33:40 The New Book "Jazz, TX": Why Now 35:42 One Takeaway: "It's All About the People" 36:41 Commercial Break - Oscar the Osprey 38:49 What Folks Don't Know: Doc the Offensive Lineman 41:44 On His Nightstand: Chekhov & the Art of Storytelling 43:31 Thank You & Sign-Off

Yen Yan, CCIM has spent 16 years in San Antonio commercial real estate, and in this San Antonio's INFLUENCE Magazine Show interview she tells host, Cedric Fisher, how the whole career started with a single two-inch newspaper ad. Born and raised in Beijing, Yen Yan came to the United States for a master's degree in real estate and land development at Texas A&M, landed in San Antonio in 1994, and spent nearly two decades in international sales and management before commercial real estate ever entered the picture. What follows is one of the more unusual career paths you will hear on this show. Yen describes being sent to Singapore by her employer to open an office in a city where she knew no one, waking up each morning having to ask herself what country she was in, what the time difference was, and what the exchange rate was. She talks about the best meal of her life, eaten at a wobbly table on a rainy street in Malaysia, and what 30 years of travel taught her about what every business owner actually wants: to be treated fairly, respected, and trusted. Back in San Antonio, Yen became known as "the restaurant lady." She explains how her retail and restaurant niche found her rather than the other way around, what she looks for on behalf of a restaurant operator beyond the location itself, and why choosing the right tenant matters more than filling a space quickly. She also breaks down the CCIM designation: what it takes, what it costs, and why she calls her CCIM pin the most expensive jewelry she ever bought. The conversation then turns to civic leadership. Yen discusses her 2024 run for the Bexar Appraisal District Board of Directors and her interest in making the property tax protest process easier for ordinary taxpayers. As a past president of the Alamo Asian American Chamber of Commerce and a leader in the Asian American Alliance of San Antonio, she explains the difference between a chamber and an alliance, and why she believes San Antonio's Asian business owners are stronger with a shared voice. And then there is the part nobody expects: ballroom dance. Yen performed waltz and tango in college, stepped away for decades, and picked it back up in February. She now has her sights set on a country dance competition. Whether you are a small business owner, an aspiring commercial agent, a restaurant operator, or someone building a life in a city you did not grow up in, there is something here worth your time. If this conversation resonated with you, please give it a like, drop a comment telling us the moment that stuck with you, subscribe for more, and share it with someone who needs to hear it. 🔔 SUBSCRIBE to San Antonio's INFLUENCE Magazine Show for more inspiring interviews with San Antonio's most impactful leaders! Web: https://www.influencesa.com || https://www.cedricdfisher.com || https://www.influencemarketing.agency --------------- CHAPTER TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 Show Open: San Antonio's INFLUENCE Magazine Show 00:58 Cedric Fisher Introduces Yen Yan, CCIM 02:10 Commercial Break - I Belong Here by Helen H. Yee (CDFCO Publishers) 04:25 Growing Up in Beijing: Engineer Parents, Seven Schools 07:40 Learning English at Texas A&M 08:16 First San Antonio Job and Opening an Office in Singapore 09:16 Two Decades in International Sales: What Culture Taught Her 12:43 Visiting Clients and Distributors Across Asia 13:35 Property Management Lessons: Details and the Right Tenant 15:20 How Restaurant Real Estate Found Her: The First Deal 17:51 Commercial Break 18:50 Why She Left Keller Williams for Real Broker LLC 21:11 Serving San Antonio's Asian Restaurant Owners 23:51 What CCIM Means and Why It Was Worth It 26:27 Running for the Bexar Appraisal District Board 29:42 Asian Business Ownership and Finding a Collective Voice 32:42 Asian Chamber vs. Asian Alliance: The Difference 34:16 The Thing Nobody Knows: Ballroom, Country and Latin Dance 36:36 On the Nightstand: Eat to Beat Disease 38:05 How to Reach Yen Yan, and Goodbyes

Kevin Coble joins host Cedric Fisher on San Antonio's INFLUENCE Magazine Show for a candid conversation about more than 35 years of public service. Kevin Coble is a military veteran, a retired San Antonio police officer, and an educator who has spent his entire adult life in uniform of one kind or another, and in this interview he walks through all three chapters. Raised in Groton, Massachusetts by a single mother and an Irish immigrant grandmother whose advice he still quotes, Kevin left home at 19 for the United States Air Force, where he served a decade in security police, including a tour at Lackland Air Force Base in San Antonio and time overseas at RAF Bentwaters and Woodbridge in England. In 1993 he joined the San Antonio Police Department, starting on West Patrol Dog Watch and averaging roughly twenty calls a night. He retired from SAPD on July 31st, 2018, and was standing in a high school classroom that same August. From there Kevin taught law enforcement for four years at Douglas MacArthur High School and four more at Samuel Clemens High School before moving to the first responder academy, where he now helps prepare young men and women who want to become police officers and firefighters. Along the way he funneled dozens of students into the SAPD Public Safety Corps pipeline, and today former students of his serve at SAPD, Bexar County, Comal County, and Guadalupe County. This conversation covers what influence really means in public service, how military discipline translates to patrol work and then to a classroom, why Kevin believes every student is reachable, the honest trade-offs of police body-worn cameras and officer discretion, how travel through Europe shaped his view of people, and a story from his senior year of high school that he says almost cost him everything. If you care about leadership, integrity, second careers, or what it actually takes to serve a community, this one is worth your time. LIKE this video, drop a COMMENT with the moment that stuck with you, SUBSCRIBE for more, and SHARE it with someone who serves. 🔔 SUBSCRIBE to San Antonio's INFLUENCE Magazine Show for more inspiring interviews with San Antonio's most impactful leaders! Web: https://www.influencesa.com || https://www.cedricdfisher.com || https://www.influencemarketing.agency ----- ⏱️ CHAPTER TIMESTAMPS 00:00 Intro 01:00 Meet Kevin Coble: 35 Years of Public Service 01:48 Commercial Break - Oscar the Osprey 03:44 Growing Up in Groton, Massachusetts 08:42 What Influence Means in Public Service 10:37 Air Force Discipline to SAPD Patrol 15:03 Integrity When No One Is Watching 18:23 From the Badge to the Classroom 20:41 The Weight Young Officers Must Carry 23:53 A Family Tradition: His Son Joins the Fire Service 24:30 SAPD Public Safety Corps: Pipeline to the Academy 27:57 Commercial Break - Veteran Support PSA 28:28 Marriage, Madrid, and Traveling Europe 32:40 Body Cameras and the Loss of Officer Discretion 37:27 The Story No One Knows: A Second Chance at 17 44:58 On the Nightstand: Faith and Genesis 46:13 Closing Thoughts ---- Correction: 44:13 Mr. Manning was Vice Principal at the time, while Mr. Don Parker was Principal.

Christopher C. Herring joins host Cedric Fisher on San Antonio's INFLUENCE Magazine Show for a wide-ranging conversation about service, business, and the hard math of poverty in one of America's largest cities. Chris Herring is a retired U.S. Air Force officer, former president of the Alamo City Black Chamber of Commerce, past chairman of the Texas Association of African American Chambers of Commerce, and Executive Director of Global Chamber San Antonio. This interview traces a full arc: growing up in New Windsor, New York, next door to Newburgh, a town he describes as the welfare capital of the state; enrolling at Boston University in 1987 and being told on his first day that he did not belong there; receiving his commission and being selected as one of the Air Force's first minority recruiting officers; and eventually landing in San Antonio, where he led a chamber founded in 1938 and served a decade as the mayor's appointee on the city's Small Business Advocacy Committee under three administrations. The back half is where it gets pointed. Chris Herring walks through what happened to the Texas HUB program, why he believes twenty-plus chambers competing instead of collaborating cost San Antonio its minority business infrastructure, and what city economic development staff consistently miss about the people they are hired to serve. He explains why he now studies cities by ZIP code through the National Data System, why he considers childcare a form of infrastructure rather than a family convenience, and what he is publishing at Texas Capital Report. Along the way: Euretta K. Fairchild and the founding of the Alamo City Black Chamber, a college roommate who became a Massachusetts state representative, forty years of servant leadership, and a candid word on faith, reconciliation, and second chances. If this conversation gave you something to think about, hit like, drop a comment with your biggest takeaway, and share it with a business owner who needs to hear it. 🔔 SUBSCRIBE to San Antonio's INFLUENCE Magazine Show for more inspiring interviews with San Antonio's most impactful leaders! Web: https://www.influencesa.com || https://www.cedricdfisher.com || https://www.influencemarketing.agency --------- CHAPTER TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 Intro 01:00 Meet Chris Herring: Air Force Officer to Global Business Leader 01:55 Commercial Break - The Blessings of Forgiveness by Blaise Labbe 03:39 How Cedric and Chris First Connected in San Antonio 04:45 Euretta K. Fairchild and the Alamo City Black Chamber's Origins 06:55 Growing Up in New Windsor and Newburgh, New York 09:20 Boston University 1987, Racial Profiling, and Dr. King's Legacy 11:44 Commissioned as One of the Air Force's First Minority Recruiters 12:16 The One Value That Never Changed: Service Over Self 15:25 Twenty Chambers, One City: Why Collaboration Was the Hardest Part 18:03 The Fair Contracting Coalition and the 5-Year Diversity Ordinance 18:52 Commercial Break 19:59 The Texas HUB Program and Less Than 1% of State Spend 23:09 Library of Congress, NMAAHC, and the Price of Advocacy 25:51 How the Air Force Shaped His Leadership Style 26:26 Why San Antonio Can't Break Generational Poverty 28:27 Studying Cities by ZIP Code: The National Data System 31:29 Joining Global Chamber and Thinking Globally from San Antonio 34:01 AI, Geospatial Intelligence, and the Next Five Years 37:24 Faith, Reconciliation, and Second Chances 40:03 What's on His Nightstand 41:34 A System to Pair Nonprofits on Shared Missions 42:38 Closing Thoughts

Bill Day of Frost Bank joins host Cedric Fisher on San Antonio's INFLUENCE Magazine Show for a candid conversation about leadership, loyalty, and the power of straight talk in corporate communications. As Senior Vice President and Corporate Communications Manager, Bill has spent a decade shaping the public voice of one of Texas's oldest and most respected financial institutions. In this episode, Bill traces his journey from a childhood in Detroit, Michigan to an academic scholarship at Texas Wesleyan University in Fort Worth, where a front-page byline in the college newspaper hooked him on journalism for good. That reporter's instinct for truth carried him through years in Dallas-area newsrooms, over ten years leading communications at Valero Energy, and ultimately to Frost Bank, where he now handles media relations, executive communication, and crisis response for the entire company. You'll hear the best advice he ever received: a CEO needs someone who will say what the boss doesn't want to hear. Bill shares how Frost chose transparency over cover-up during a cybersecurity incident, why CEO Phil Green crossed out an entire drafted paragraph and replaced it with a single word, and how the bank processed roughly 14,000 PPP loan applications in one week during the pandemic, about 150 percent of its usual annual volume. He also opens up about Frost's Blue Book and a mission statement employees can actually recite, and the three values that define his journey: integrity, caring, and excellence. Whether you're a communications professional, a business leader, or someone weighing what loyalty to an institution really means, this conversation delivers practical wisdom, including why Frost hires nice people and teaches them how to be bankers, never the other way around. 👍 Enjoyed this episode? Give it a like, drop a comment with your biggest takeaway, and share it with a colleague who needs to hear it. 🔔 SUBSCRIBE to San Antonio's INFLUENCE Magazine Show for more inspiring interviews with San Antonio's most impactful leaders! Web: https://www.influencesa.com || https://www.cedricdfisher.com || https://www.influencemarketing.agency ---------------- Chapter Timestamps: 00:00 Intro | San Antonio's INFLUENCE Magazine Show 01:00 Meet Bill Day: A Decade Shaping Frost Bank's Voice 01:48 Commercial Break - "I Belong Here" by Helen Yee 03:59 Welcome Bill Day: Detroit Roots & Texas Wesleyan 08:14 Detroit Sports Talk: Tigers, Red Wings & Dallas Stars 08:44 Inside the Role: SVP of Corporate Communications at Frost 10:07 Joining Frost: CEO Transitions & a Culture of Honesty 13:48 Straight Facts, No Spin: Lessons from Valero 15:09 Crisis Comms: Cybersecurity & "Is My Money Safe?" 17:52 Why Bill Stays: The Blue Book, Mission & Institutional Thinking 22:05 158 Years Strong: Core Values Meet Modern Banking 24:13 The #1 Leadership Skill: Listening 26:03 Pandemic Response & PPP Loans: Frost's Proudest Chapter 31:47 Career Advice: Loyalty, Institutions & His Father's Example 35:40 Integrity, Caring & Excellence: Bill's Three Words 37:30 Commercial Break - "Oscar the Osprey" By Ed Polansky 39:25 The Personal Side: Introvert, Individualist, Full of Surprises 42:08 On Bill's Nightstand: Book Picks & Farewell

Dr. Melissa Walker, DO, founder of Carol Clinic for Family-Centered Healthcare in San Antonio, joins host Cedric D. Fisher on San Antonio's INFLUENCE Magazine Show for a deeply personal and medically powerful conversation about the healing power of education, the calling of medicine, and building an independent practice rooted in community love. Dr. Walker grew up in Spearsville, Louisiana, the youngest of nine children in a working-class family, and rose to become a valedictorian, a two-time graduate of Grambling State University, and a family medicine physician with over 22 years of experience serving San Antonio's East Side. Her clinic, Carol Clinic, is named in tribute to her late mother, Mrs. Carol Williams Walker, whose stroke and death from preventable health complications shaped Dr. Walker's life mission: to ensure her patients always know why they are sick, what their medicines do, and how to take control of their own health. In this episode, Dr. Walker shares: ✅ Why a yearly checkup is the most powerful preventive tool available — and why too many middle-aged patients skip it ✅ What she witnessed during the COVID-19 pandemic through the National Medical Association's vaccination campaign at the Bayou Classic football game ✅ The medical board complaint that nearly broke her early in her career — and the mentor who helped her rise above it ✅ Her philosophy on patient accountability: why she makes diabetes patients bring a handwritten log instead of relying on the machine ✅ Why she chooses to run her own independent practice instead of joining a corporate group ✅ A passionate defense of HBCUs — and why Grambling State's motto, "where everybody is somebody," changed her life ✅ Her life-changing book recommendation: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho Whether you're a patient, a healthcare professional, a medical student, or simply someone looking for inspiration from a San Antonio leader who walks with purpose every day, this conversation is for you. 👍 If this episode inspired you, please LIKE, COMMENT, and SHARE it with someone who needs to hear it. 🔔 SUBSCRIBE to San Antonio's INFLUENCE Magazine Show for more inspiring interviews with San Antonio's most impactful leaders! Web: https://www.influencesa.com || https://www.cedricdfisher.com || https://www.influencemarketing.agency --- CHAPTER TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 Intro — San Antonio's INFLUENCE Magazine Show 01:00 Welcome to Today's Show — Host Cedric Fisher 04:15 Welcome, Dr. Melissa Walker 04:33 Growing Up in Spearsville, Louisiana — Youngest of Nine 06:42 Full Scholarship to Grambling, Then On to San Antonio 07:42 Leadership Lessons from the Pandemic — NMA & the Bayou Classic Vaccination Campaign 10:43 Cedric's History with the National Medical Association 11:42 Preventive Care: Why a Yearly Checkup Can Save Your Life 13:17 Patients Who Live Their Appointed Years — Stories from Practice 14:43 What Actually Prolongs Life — Statins, Smoking, and Real Talk 16:14 Break — Back with Dr. Walker 18:48 A Career-Defining Moment — The Medical Board Complaint 19:32 Dr. Leo Edwards: A Mentor's Wisdom on Resilience 21:17 Medicine as a Calling — "The Nagging to Be a Doctor Would Never Leave" 22:28 Patient Education Over Prescription — Involving Patients in Their Own Health 23:58 GLP Medications, Ozempic, and the Reality of Underserved Patients 25:18 Excellence in Education Award — HBCU People's Choice Awards 25:32 Education Is the Pathway Out — From Inner Cities to Every Opportunity 26:58 Why HBCUs Matter — "Where Everybody Is Somebody" 29:12 Final Question: The Book That Changed Dr. Walker's Life — The Alchemist 32:51 Closing — Thank You, Dr. Walker

Feliza Salazar, founder of The Wicked Wich sandwich shop, joins San Antonio's INFLUENCE Magazine Show co-host Marissa Garcia for an inspiring Pride Month conversation about building a beloved local food brand from scratch. From her first job making sandwiches at a major chain -- where she secretly crafted off-menu creations for loyal regulars -- to launching as a pop-up inside a neighborhood tienda in 2022, Feliza's journey is a masterclass in starting small, staying creative, and building something real. In this episode, Feliza walks us through the story behind The Wicked Wich name, what makes her half-pound sandwiches unlike anything else in San Antonio, and how her flagship Beacon Hill location on Fredericksburg Road became a neighborhood institution in just a few years. Now with a brand-new second location at 6410 Bandera Road in Leon Valley, Feliza is expanding her reach while staying rooted in the community values that built her business. Feliza opens up about being an openly LGBTQ+ business owner, the philosophy that "y'all means all," and her active involvement with the Pride Youth Foundation, the San Antonio Chamber of Commerce, and the LGBTQ Chamber of Commerce. She shares the real capital challenges every first-time entrepreneur faces, how she found inspiration watching other small business owners build from zero, and the key support she received from Cynthia Gomez at Oscar de la Tienda and the Sadie's Sadie Restaurant Group during her Leon Valley buildout. You'll also get the inside scoop on top menu picks (the Classic Italian, the Wemby Stack, the Beast, and the Ceza sandwich), the story behind the legendary retired "Frankenwich," and what book this San Antonio entrepreneur keeps returning to on her nightstand. If you love San Antonio, local food, and stories of grit and community, this one is for you. 👍 If this episode inspired you, please LIKE this video and leave a comment below: we'd love to hear from you! 📲 SHARE this episode with a fellow San Antonio food lover or entrepreneur. 🔔 SUBSCRIBE to San Antonio's INFLUENCE Magazine Show for more inspiring interviews with San Antonio's most impactful leaders! Web: https://www.influencesa.com || https://www.cedricdfisher.com || https://www.influencemarketing.agency ----- CHAPTER TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 Intro — San Antonio's INFLUENCE Magazine Show 01:02 Cedric Fisher Welcomes Co-Host Marissa Garcia & Introduces Feliza Salazar 01:42 Commercial Break — Oscar the Osprey (Edward Martin Polansky / CDFCO) 03:43 Feliza's Origin Story: First Job, Seven Years of Sandwiches 05:30 Starting Small: The Pop-Up at Oscar de la Tienda (2022) 05:30 Why "The Wicked Wich"? The Name Origin Story 06:20 What Makes The Wicked Wich Different 07:06 Signature Sandwiches: The Wemby Stack, the Ceza, and More 07:47 Commercial Break — Pride Month / INFLUENCE PSA ("All You Need Is Love") 08:54 The Leon Valley Location & Two-Store Overview 09:23 First-Timer Menu Recommendations: Italian, Wemby Stack, The Beast 10:17 What Being a Local Business Owner Means to Feliza 10:57 Mentors & Community Support: Cynthia Gomez and Sadie's Sadie Restaurant Group 12:32 Pride Month: What It Means to Feliza and Her Business 13:15 Commercial Break — My Daddy: Poems from the Heart (CDFCO) 14:31 Communities That Supported The Wicked Wich's Growth 15:07 The Strangest Sandwich: The Story of the Frankenwich 16:15 Leaders Are Readers: Feliza's Go-To Book 16:39 Where to Find Both Locations 17:20 Closing

Kimberly Davolt sits down with host Cedric Fisher on San Antonio's INFLUENCE Magazine Show to share how she built MCES Industries LLC and Davolt Community Advocacy into a dual mission of cleaning excellence and workforce inclusion across San Antonio and beyond. As President and CEO of both organizations, Kimberly leads with a philosophy of servant leadership rooted in her upbringing as the daughter of two U.S. Air Force veterans: a story that takes her from F.E. Warren Air Force Base in Cheyenne, Wyoming, through years of court-appointed child advocacy work, into running multi-state environmental services contracts. In this conversation, Kimberly pulls back the curtain on what most people misunderstand about the cleaning industry: the chemistry, the dwell times, the high-touch protocols, and the simple truth that surgeons can't operate tomorrow if her team doesn't do its job tonight. She walks Cedric through MCES Industries' specialty in EVS (environmental services) cleaning for hospitals, operating rooms, and day surgery centers, including portions of the Seattle airport, and explains how the company's "Empower, Ignite, Succeed" motto translates into real opportunities for foster-care alumni, returning veterans, individuals with disabilities, and second-chance hires. You'll hear Kimberly's most moving story: an autistic young man who joined her team unable to face customers, and who, over months of patient mentorship, walked his way down a corridor and eventually into a full-time IT career. You'll also hear her perspective on San Antonio's homelessness challenge, why zip code shouldn't dictate access to resources, and why she calls herself a "quiet leader" who measures success in lives changed rather than likes received. Whether you're an entrepreneur, a community advocate, or someone who simply needs a reminder of what servant leadership looks like in practice, this episode will leave you with practical wisdom and a renewed sense of purpose. If this conversation inspires you, please like, comment with your favorite takeaway, share with someone who needs to hear it, and subscribe so you don't miss future episodes featuring San Antonio's most impactful leaders. 🔔 SUBSCRIBE to San Antonio's INFLUENCE Magazine Show for more inspiring interviews with San Antonio's most impactful leaders! Web: https://www.influencesa.com || https://www.cedricdfisher.com || https://www.influencemarketing.agency Special thanks to our ongoing sponsor and supporter, Ms. Starley Murray: https://www.starleymurray.com ---- CHAPTER TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 Intro to San Antonio's INFLUENCE Magazine Show 01:00 Host Cedric Fisher Introduces Kimberly Davolt 01:55 Commercial Break - "I Belong Here" by Helen H. Yee (CDFCO) 04:08 Born on an Air Force Base: Kimberly's Military Family Roots 06:11 Behind the Certifications: Why Knowing the System Matters 08:07 Empower, Ignite, Succeed: The Operating Philosophy 10:00 Inside MCES Industries: EVS Cleaning & Medical Facility Specialty 13:13 Two Years In: How MCES Grew as a Woman-Owned Business 15:30 From Social Work to Entrepreneur: Taking the Leap 16:50 San Antonio's Homelessness Challenge & Zip-Code Access 19:08 Misconceptions About the Cleaning Industry 21:17 Commercial Break - Davolt Community Advocacy / Pay It Forward 22:13 Hiring for Attitude: What MCES Looks for in Team Members 24:46 Bridging Corporate Priorities and Frontline Reality 25:28 The Story That Reminds Her Why: An IT Career Begins 29:28 The Quiet Leader: Impact Off Social Media 30:30 Books on the Nightstand: "Broken Country" and "Book and Dagger" 32:00 A Better Tomorrow: Kindness, Grace, and Daily Change-Making 33:08 Closing & Goodbye

Consuelo Montoya joins host Cedric Fisher on San Antonio's INFLUENCE Magazine Show to discuss her inspiring journey as the author of My Daddy, Poems from the Heart: a beautiful collection preserving her father's poetic legacy. In this moving interview, Consuelo shares how a man with only a third-grade education created poetry that touches hearts and transcends generations. Born and raised in San Antonio, Texas, Consuelo overcame significant personal challenges including epilepsy and a movement disorder she's lived with since birth. Rather than letting these obstacles hold her back, she built a successful 23-year career as an educator across Texas school districts including Edgewood, Seguin, and Dallas. Her story is a testament to the power of parental encouragement, self-acceptance, and perseverance. In this episode, you'll discover: - The emotional journey of compiling her father's poems decades after his passing - How her parents' unwavering belief helped her overcome a counselor's prediction that she "wouldn't amount to anything" - The process of selecting 36 poems that best represent her father's bright, positive spirit - Why legacy matters more than financial success when publishing personal work - How children can teach us profound lessons about acceptance - The importance of following your dreams and sharing your unique gifts with the world Consuelo's message is clear: everyone has a story worth telling. Whether you're facing personal challenges, preserving family history, or simply seeking inspiration, this conversation offers wisdom about resilience, authenticity, and the enduring power of a father's love expressed through poetry. My Daddy, Poems from the Heart is available now on Amazon. This collection features heartfelt verses about family, love, and life's meaningful moments—perfect for weddings, celebrations, or personal reflection. Buy it here: https://www.amazon.com/Daddy-Poems-Heart-Consuelo-Montoya/dp/B0DRSMKMCZ 💬 Share your thoughts in the comments: What family legacy would you like to preserve? 👍 If this story inspired you, please LIKE this video and help us spread Consuelo's message! 🔔 SUBSCRIBE to San Antonio's INFLUENCE Magazine Show for more inspiring interviews with San Antonio's most impactful leaders! Web: https://www.influencesa.com || https://www.cedricdfisher.com || https://www.influencemarketing.agency #ConsueloMontoya #INFLUENCEMagazine #SanAntonioAuthor #PoetryBook #FamilyLegacy #AuthorInterview #InspiringStory #TexasAuthor #CedricFisher #NeverGiveUp ------ CHAPTER TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 Intro to Influence Magazine Show 01:38 Guest Introduction: Consuelo Montoya 02:10 Commercial Break - Sight by Alexandria Claremont 04:16 Meet Consuelo: San Antonio Roots & Teaching Career 06:50 The Journey to Publish "My Daddy, Poems from the Heart" 09:52 The Royal Typewriter & Her Father's Process 11:13 Curating the Poems: Focusing on Family & Light 13:11 Family Support & Building a Legacy 15:08 Commercial Break 16:09 The Reader Experience: Being There in the Moment 17:35 Overcoming Epilepsy, Movement Disorders, & Bullying 21:16 A Teacher's Impact: Acceptance in the Classroom 22:47 Defying First Impressions & Knowing Your Worth 24:40 Consuelo’s Advice: Shine Your Light 25:55 Leaders are Readers: What's on the Nightstand? 26:36 Closing Thoughts

Starley Murray joins host Cedric D. Fisher on San Antonio's INFLUENCE Magazine Show to reveal how 30 years in television and media production shaped her mission to help leaders, authors, and experts master on-camera authenticity. In this powerful conversation, Starley shares her journey from behind-the-scenes makeup artist working 80 to 100-hour weeks to national field producer for America's Most Wanted, and ultimately to celebrity image expert and founder of Life Mastery Studio and Starley Murray Live. Starley opens up about her deeply personal story of growing up in a home of domestic violence, explaining how that experience fueled her passion for helping others be seen and heard. She introduces her core philosophy: authenticity is better than an Oscar-winning performance, and people forgive flaws but not fakes. Throughout the interview, she shares practical wisdom on diagnosing imposter syndrome as a core-values misalignment, the importance of protecting credibility while growing visibility, and why "fail forward with finesse" is a better mindset than "fake it till you make it." The conversation also covers actionable advice for young professionals entering the media industry, how Dale Carnegie's timeless principles apply to modern media pitching, and details about Starley's upcoming Credibility and Visibility Retreat at Hotel Emma in San Antonio, Texas. Whether you are an author, speaker, entrepreneur, or business leader looking to strengthen your on-camera presence and personal brand, this episode delivers insights you can put into practice immediately. Starley has worked with clients and productions involving Colin Powell, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Eva Longoria, Tommy Lee Jones, and NBA Hall of Famers. She has been a recurring guest expert on KENS 5 (CBS San Antonio) and holds a record for television, stage, and podcast appearances across multiple national networks. Learn more about Starley Murray: Web: https://www.starleymurray.com Instagram: @starley_murray Youtube: @StarleyMurray Starley Murray Credibility & Visibility Retreat! Early interest link: https://studio.starleymurray.com/immersive-retreat-transformation If this episode inspired you, please LIKE, COMMENT, SUBSCRIBE, and SHARE it with someone who needs to hear Starley's message. Your engagement helps us bring more incredible leaders to this platform. 🔔 SUBSCRIBE to San Antonio's INFLUENCE Magazine Show for more inspiring interviews with San Antonio's most impactful leaders! Web: https://www.influencesa.com || https://www.cedricdfisher.com || https://www.influencemarketing.agency ---- CHAPTER TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 Intro and Show Open 01:00 Cedric Fisher Introduces the Team and Guest 01:50 Starley Murray Montage 03:27 Welcome: Starley Murray Joins the Show 03:52 San Antonio Roots and Family 04:39 Career Mission: Protecting Brand While Growing Visibility 05:28 30 Years and Over 3,000 Productions 06:11 The Turning Point: Staying When Everyone Left 08:48 The Call from America's Most Wanted 09:33 Celebrity Clients: Colin Powell, Schwarzenegger, Eva Longoria 10:19 Worst Job, Best Lesson: Leveraging Bad Experiences 11:03 Career Surprises: Behind the Camera, In Front, and Coaching 13:01 Mentoring Philosophy: Trust, Accountability, and Love 14:01 Starleyism: Authenticity Over Oscar-Winning Performance 15:14 Why Rehearsed Can Still Be Authentic 16:23 Advice for Young People Entering Media 17:24 The Greedy Giver Philosophy 18:51 Commercial Break – Oscar the Osprey by Edward Martin Polansky 20:50 Imposter Syndrome: Getting to the Root 22:00 Defining Imposter Syndrome as Core-Values Misalignment 23:25 People Forgive Flaws, Not Fakes 23:52 Vulnerability as a Professional Strength 25:18 Share the Scar, Not the Wound 26:25 How Starley Has Coached the INFLUENCE Magazine Show 28:57 AI Content and Protecting Authenticity 29:21 Leading by Example: Empowering Your Crew 30:20 Commercial Break – Starley Murray Credibility & Visibility Retreat 31:54 What Most People Don't Know About Starley 32:48 Michael Jordan Free Throw Analogy: Try More, Fail More 33:49 Leaning Love Into the Lens 35:08 Books on the Nightstand: Children's Bible and Dale Carnegie 36:46 Carnegie Principles Applied to Media Pitching 38:14 How to Connect with Starley Murray 38:47 Upcoming Penthouse Retreat at Hotel Emma, San Antonio 39:34 Thank You and Outro

Step into a remarkable conversation as Cedric Fisher of San Antonio's INFLUENCE Magazine Show welcomes Samuel Scott Jr. and Janet Scott, a true power couple whose lives have spanned four continents and six decades of public service. In this riveting interview, the Scotts share an extraordinary journey that took Sam from San Antonio's Phillis Wheatley High School and Prairie View A&M University into the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, then into a full Foreign Service career with USAID across Ethiopia, Tanzania, Cameroon, Malawi, Kenya, Liberia, Ghana, Vietnam, Panama, and Costa Rica. Sam offers a rare insider perspective on what foreign aid actually does, why it directly supports American farmers in Kansas, Nebraska, and Idaho, and what was lost when USAID was dismantled in 2025. He explains the colonial divide-and-rule legacy that still shapes Africa today, shares unforgettable insights on Liberia as an African nation founded by former American slaves, and recounts his post-USAID work with the United Negro College Fund under the late Congressman Bill Gray, including a personal audience with Nelson Mandela in Johannesburg and the establishment of partnerships between American HBCUs and historically Black South African universities. Janet brings her own remarkable story to the conversation, from her East Austin upbringing in a family of educators tied to Huston-Tillotson, through her years as an Embassy Community Liaison Officer, her teaching career at the American School in Kenya, and her tennis exploits as a five-time Cameroon National doubles champion and member of the Ghana team that competed against Nigeria. Her stories of cultural exchange parties in Yaoundé, an attempted coup, and adopting a village in Ghana that built a school still standing today reveal the heart of Foreign Service family life. This is San Antonio history meeting world history; do not miss it. If you enjoyed this episode, please give it a thumbs up, drop a comment with your favorite moment, share it with someone who loves international affairs, and subscribe for more conversations with the city's most impactful leaders. 🔔 SUBSCRIBE to San Antonio's INFLUENCE Magazine Show for more inspiring interviews with San Antonio's most impactful leaders! Web: https://www.influencesa.com || https://www.cedricdfisher.com || https://www.influencemarketing.agency ---- Join our sponsor, world renowned media, TV, and video coach Starley Murray at her upcoming workshop: STARLEY MURRAY CREDIBILITY AND VISIBILITY: IMMERSIVE RETREAT TRANSFORMATION MAY 22-23, 2026 | HOTEL EMMA | TOP 10 HAND-SELECTED ATTENDEES LINK FOR MORE: https://studio.starleymurray.com/immersive-retreat-transformation-invitation?am_id=cedric6878 SEE STARLEY'S INTERVIEW WITH SAN ANTONIO'S INFLUENCE: https://youtu.be/I4Q9f_XMMrY?si=t5TtLsM167hmcL81 ---- 00:00 Welcome to San Antonio's INFLUENCE Magazine Show 00:57 Cedric Fisher Introduces Tonight's Power Couple 01:43 Commercial Break - Starlee Murray Credibility & Visibility Retreat 03:18 Growing Up in San Antonio's East Side & Denver Heights 04:08 Phillis Wheatley High School, Class of 1961 05:03 Prairie View A&M, ROTC & Army Corps of Engineers Commission 07:53 Janet's East Austin Roots & Huston-Tillotson Family 08:22 Blackshear, Kealing Junior High & Austin High Desegregation 09:04 Meeting Sam at Age 12 at a Jack and Jill Event in Dallas 10:36 Sam's USAID Foreign Service Career Across Africa 11:57 Cold War Foreign Aid: Competing With Soviets and Red Chinese 15:48 Cameroon, Liberia & State Department Spouse Restrictions 16:38 USAID Misconceptions: How Foreign Aid Funds U.S. Farmers 19:58 Colonial Divide-and-Rule & Africa's Tribal Politics Today 22:43 Liberia: An African Country Founded by Former American Slaves 24:38 Janet as Embassy Community Liaison Officer 25:22 Cameroon Cultural Exchange Parties at the Scott Home 26:32 The Cameroon Book Club & "The Rape of Michel" Author 28:00 Commercial Break - Anita DeFrantz, My Olympic Life 30:51 Janet's Tennis Career: Inspired by Arthur Ashe & Stan Smith 31:35 Playing for Ghana vs. Nigeria in the Women's Davis Cup 33:38 Adopting a Village in Ghana & Founding the Janet-Coe School 33:55 Five-Time Cameroon National Doubles Champion 34:55 The 2025 Dismantling of USAID & Its Global Impact 37:47 Joining UNCF Under Congressman Bill Gray 38:25 Mandela's Vision for South Africa's Black Universities 40:45 The HBCU & South Africa University Partnership 42:08 An Audience With Nelson Mandela in Johannesburg 44:30 Janet on Teaching: The Kenyan Standard Six Story 45:22 Commercial Break - The Blessings of Forgiveness by Blaise LaBey 46:59 Embassy Stories: The Cameroon Coup Attempt 49:53 International Women, Leprosy Colonies & Panama Outreach 52:55 Gentrification of San Antonio's East Side 53:32 SACIV, Friends of Hospice & Communities In Schools 54:55 Books on the Nightstand: Bishop Curry & Audiobooks 57:25 Closing Thoughts & Goodbye

David Gilbert, chef-owner of Thai Bird -- voted Best New Restaurant in San Antonio, sits down with host Cedric Fisher on San Antonio's INFLUENCE Magazine Show for an on-location interview at the Alamo Heights restaurant that's redefining Thai-inspired dining in South Texas. In this episode, David shares the global culinary journey that led to Thai Bird: from growing up between Toronto and Dallas, through culinary school in Charleston, kitchens at the Ritz-Carlton in Atlanta and St. Thomas, a Michelin-starred internship in Europe, and transformative years living and traveling in Thailand. He pinpoints the exact beach-side moment when Thai fried chicken and green papaya salad changed his life's direction, and explains the surprising connection between South Texas and Thai ingredients like tamarind, chili, and cilantro that makes Thai Bird's flavors resonate so deeply with San Antonio diners. David unpacks his focused menu philosophy of doing fewer things at the highest possible level, applying fine dining precision to a fast-casual format. He reveals how Thai Bird's entirely gluten-free kitchen evolved from the naturally rice-based nature of Thai cooking into a genuine community mission, serving families with celiac disease, autism, and special dietary needs who travel from across the region to eat safely and joyfully. The conversation also covers the upcoming Castle Hills expansion, Thai Bird's innovative self-serve wine station, the monthly Wine Club, and what David is reading to prepare for multi-unit growth. Whether you're a food lover, an aspiring restaurateur, or someone who believes business should serve community, this episode delivers real insight from a chef who turned two decades of global experience into one of San Antonio's most celebrated new restaurants. What you'll learn in this episode: 🍗 How Thai and South Texas flavors share surprising common ground 🌾 Why Thai Bird's 100% gluten-free kitchen matters beyond dietary trends 📈 The mindset shift from chef-craftsman to restaurant entrepreneur 🍷 How a curated wine program builds community around a chicken restaurant 💬 Drop a comment and tell us: have you tried Thai Bird? What's your favorite dish? 👍 LIKE this video if you enjoyed the conversation! 🔔 SUBSCRIBE to San Antonio's INFLUENCE Magazine Show for more inspiring interviews with San Antonio's most impactful leaders! 📤 SHARE this episode with a foodie, entrepreneur, or anyone who loves San Antonio! Web: https://www.influencesa.com || https://www.cedricdfisher.com || https://www.influencemarketing.agency ------ CHAPTER TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 Intro & Welcome to INFLUENCE Magazine Show 01:03 Meet David Gilbert: Best New Restaurant in San Antonio 01:35 Commercial Break – Oscar the Osprey by Edward Martin Polansky 03:33 David's Background: Toronto, Dallas & Culinary School 05:00 Ritz-Carlton, Michelin Stars & the Travel Bug 05:46 First Trip to Asia and Falling in Love with Thai Cuisine 07:05 How David Landed in San Antonio 08:55 How San Antonio's Food Scene Has Evolved Since 2012 09:55 The Dish That Started It All: Green Papaya Salad & Thai Fried Chicken 10:52 Why Thai and South Texas Flavors Are Natural Cousins 12:18 Fine Dining Meets Street Food: Thai Bird's Presentation Philosophy 12:55 Filling a Gap in San Antonio's Dining Market 13:57 Fan-Favorite Side Dishes: Ginger Pickles & Red Curry Corn 15:22 Commercial Break – Starley Murray: Credibility & Visibility Retreat 17:04 Going 100% Gluten-Free: The Story Behind the Decision 18:42 Serving the Celiac & Autism Communities with Trust 20:27 What Still Excites David After 20+ Years of Cooking 21:58 Expansion Plans: Castle Hills, Bowls & Scaling the Brand 23:07 Building & Leading the Thai Bird Team 24:17 Meet Hemingway: The 106-Pound Golden Retriever 25:03 Scuba Diving, Reading & Hidden Passions 25:42 Thai Bird Wine Club & Curated Wine Program 26:35 Books on the Nightstand: Neuroscience Marketing & Multi-Unit Leadership 27:41 Restaurant Tour: Homemade Chili Crisp 28:19 Restaurant Tour: Self-Serve Wine Station Technology 28:55 Closing & Thank You

Sonny Melendrez, legendary San Antonio broadcaster and two-time Billboard Magazine National Radio Personality of the Year, joins host Cedric Fisher for an unforgettable episode of San Antonio's INFLUENCE Magazine Show. In this deeply inspiring interview, Melendrez shares the remarkable journey from growing up behind his father's two-seat barbershop on San Antonio's East Side to becoming one of the most celebrated voices in American broadcasting history. Discover how Melendrez's childhood dreams of radio stardom, cartoon voice acting, and working for Disney all came true through his philosophy of Intentional Enthusiasm - a powerful framework built on belief, vision, and service to others. Learn the incredible story of how his father budgeted their family's survival one quarter at a time using cigar boxes, and how a treehouse "dream machine" became the launching pad for an extraordinary career. This episode takes you behind the scenes of Hollywood's golden age of voice acting, where Melendrez worked alongside legends like Mel Blanc (Bugs Bunny) and the original cast of The Jetsons at Hanna-Barbera Studios. Hear how he landed iconic voice roles including the Raid bug, Fred the cockatoo from Baretta, and the Parkay Talking Tub: and the mentorship wisdom Blanc shared about the "ladder of life." One of the episode's most powerful moments reveals the story behind the Children of the World project: Melendrez's Grammy-nominated children's version of "We Are the World" that mobilized 1,500 young performers and featured a seven-year-old Stacy Ferguson (later known as Fergie) on his first-ever duet. Whether you're an aspiring broadcaster, entrepreneur, community leader, or simply seeking inspiration, this conversation delivers timeless wisdom on finding your authentic voice, the power of service, and why "we're not just the age we are: we're every age we ever were." In this episode, you'll learn: ✅ The three pillars of Intentional Enthusiasm for achieving your dreams ✅ Why practicing before you're ready is the secret to success ✅ How to find your authentic voice in any creative field ✅ The sleep visualization technique that programs your mind for success ✅ Why Toastmasters is the "gold mine" for aspiring speakers ✅ How random acts of kindness create ripple effects reaching 50+ people 💬 What childhood dream are you still working toward? Share in the comments below! 👍 If this conversation inspired you, hit LIKE, SUBSCRIBE, and tap the 🔔 notification bell so you never miss an episode featuring San Antonio's most influential leaders! 📲 SHARE this episode with someone who needs to hear Sonny's message about never being too old to dream. 🔔 SUBSCRIBE to San Antonio's INFLUENCE Magazine Show for more inspiring interviews with San Antonio's most impactful leaders! Web: https://www.influencesa.com || https://www.cedricdfisher.com || https://www.influencemarketing.agency ---- EPISODE CHAPTER TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 Intro 01:45 Commercial Break - P.G. Taylor Book 02:37 Sonny Melendrez Origin Story 06:19 Three Childhood Dreams 08:16 San Antonio College Discovery 13:47 The Power of Intentional Enthusiasm 15:28 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame 19:16 KMPC Hollywood & Radio Culture 23:25 Voice Acting: The Jetsons & Mel Blanc 32:37 The Sonny Melendrez Community Center 39:43 The "We Are The World" Children's Version 48:17 Philosophy: Don't Take Yourself Too Seriously 50:51 The Power of Kindness 55:23 Commercial Break - Adoption PSA 56:20 Advice for Aspiring Broadcasters 01:00:41 The First & Last 30 Minutes of the Day 01:05:46 Recommended Reading: Marcus Aurelius

Join host Cedric D. Fisher with San Antonio's INFLUENCE Magazine for an inspiring conversation with Melody Woosley, Director of the Department of Human Services for the City of San Antonio, as she shares insights from her 27-year career serving the community. In this episode, Melody discusses the critical work her department does to support San Antonio's most vulnerable populations through programs spanning early childhood education to senior services. With oversight of a $152 million budget and 350 employees, Melody addresses San Antonio's poverty challenges: the city ranks as one of the poorest in Texas with rates exceeding both state and national averages. She reveals eye-opening statistics about elder abuse rates in San Antonio and shares innovative solutions the city is implementing, including comprehensive employee training programs and financial counseling services at senior centers to protect older adults from scams. Discover how the department responded to immigration policy changes, including operating a migrant resource center that served hundreds of thousands of asylum seekers before closing in February 2025. Learn about the power of nonprofit partnerships in extending the city's reach into communities where trust with government agencies may be limited. Melody also shares her personal journey from intern to director, emphasizing the importance of mentorship and flexibility in public service leadership. She discusses her pivotal role in developing the Haven for Hope campus from 2006-2010 and how pandemic funding allowed the department to launch innovative programs like door-to-door outreach for disconnected youth. Hear about the Ready to Work program addressing educational attainment as a key poverty predictor, climate change preparedness strategies protecting vulnerable populations during extreme weather, and the department's focus on early childhood behavioral health through Head Start programs. Whether you're a young professional considering public service, a community leader seeking collaboration opportunities, or a San Antonio resident wanting to understand city services, this episode offers valuable insights into how local government directly impacts lives. About Melody Woosley: With 27 years serving the City of San Antonio, including 11 years as Director of Human Services, Melody oversees comprehensive programs supporting families from early childhood through senior services. Her work focuses on poverty reduction, elder protection, and creating pathways to financial stability for San Antonio residents. 🔔 SUBSCRIBE to San Antonio's INFLUENCE Magazine Show for more inspiring interviews with San Antonio's most impactful leaders! 🌐 Web: https://www.influencesa.com || https://www.cedricdfisher.com || https://www.influencemarketing.agency #MelodyWoosley #SanAntonioLeadership #HumanServices #CommunityImpact #PublicService #INFLUENCEMagazine #CedricFisher #SanAntonio #PovertyReduction #ElderCare #NonprofitPartnership Timestamps: --------------------- 00:00 Intro 01:02 Guest Introduction: Melody Woosley 01:40 Commercial Break - Sight by Alexandria Claremont 03:46 Interview Begins: Melody's Background 04:29 Overview of the Department of Human Services 06:08 Addressing High Poverty Rates in San Antonio 08:58 The Shift in Immigration Services & Migrant Center 11:11 Why the City Partners with Nonprofits 13:46 Mental Health & Post-Pandemic Initiatives 15:23 Commercial Break - Veteran Support PSA 16:23 Advice for Careers in Local Government 18:46 Climate Change Impact on Vulnerable Populations 21:25 Senior Services: Combating Financial Scams 23:42 The Origin Story of Haven for Hope 25:25 A Day in the Life of a DHS Director 27:37 Commercial Break - Adult Literacy Center 28:37 The "Ready to Work" Workforce Initiative 31:00 Leaders are Readers: Book Recommendation 32:12 Melody's Early Career in Surfing Magazines 33:08 How to Access Department Services

"Music was our communication. We didn't talk ... we just listened." Kiana Fitzgerald - acclaimed music journalist, author of Ode to Hip-Hop, and mental health advocate - joins host Cedric Fisher on San Antonio's INFLUENCE Magazine Show for an inspiring and deeply personal conversation about hip-hop culture, the power of writing, and living with bipolar disorder type 1. In this episode, Kiana shares her remarkable journey from Seguin, Texas, where family car rides soundtracked by UGK and Geto Boys ignited a lifelong love of hip-hop, to becoming one of the most respected voices in music journalism. Her byline has appeared in Rolling Stone, NPR, Billboard, Complex, The Cut, VIBE, and many more. She currently serves as a feature writer for Consequence and is a recurring contributor to NPR's Pop Culture Happy Hour. Kiana discusses her critically acclaimed debut book, Ode to Hip-Hop: 50 Albums That Define 50 Years of Trailblazing Music (Running Press/Hachette), and exclusively reveals details about her upcoming second book, Queens of R&B, releasing February 24, 2026 in the US via Gemini Books — featuring profiles of iconic artists including Whitney Houston, Mariah Carey, Mary J. Blige, Aaliyah, SZA, and more. The conversation takes a powerful turn as Kiana opens up about her bipolar disorder type 1 diagnosis, her first manic episode in 2016 that left her missing in New York City for 36 hours, and how she transformed that experience into advocacy. She has built a TikTok community of over 20,000 supporters and recently published an open letter to Kanye West in Consequence addressing his bipolar diagnosis and public apology — balancing empathy with accountability. Whether you're passionate about hip-hop history, interested in the intersection of creativity and mental health, or seeking inspiration from a fearless Texas-based writer carving her own path, this episode delivers powerful insights you won't want to miss. 👉 Don't forget to LIKE this video, COMMENT your thoughts below, SUBSCRIBE to the channel, and SHARE this episode with someone who needs to hear Kiana's story! 🔗 CONNECT WITH KIANA: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/kianafitz Substack: https://kianafitz.substack.com Instagram: https://instagram.com/outfoxxed X/Twitter: https://x.com/kianafitz TikTok: https://tiktok.com/@kianafitzgerald Website: https://www.kianafitz.com 📖 ORDER HER BOOKS: 1. Ode to Hip-Hop: Available at Barnes & Noble, Amazon, Target, and wherever books are sold 2. Queens of R&B: US release February 24, 2026 via Gemini Books 🔔 SUBSCRIBE to San Antonio's INFLUENCE Magazine Show for more inspiring interviews with San Antonio's most impactful leaders! Web: https://www.influencesa.com || https://www.cedricdfisher.com || https://www.influencemarketing.agency --- CHAPTER TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 Show Intro 01:03 Cedric Fisher Introduces Kiana Fitzgerald 01:36 Commercial Break - "I Belong Here" by Helen H. Yee (CDFCO Publishers) 03:49 Welcome & Kiana's Background: Journalist, Cultural Critic & Mental Health Advocate 05:33 Foundational Moments: The Blog Rap Era, Drake & J. Cole Concerts 07:39 Early Career Influences & Changing Her Major to Journalism 09:05 How a Seguin High School Teacher Sparked Her Writing Career 10:53 Finding Her Distinct Voice in Cultural Journalism 12:12 Unpacking Ode to Hip-Hop: A Love Letter to the Genre 14:20 Commercial Break - On-Camera Video Marketing Launchpad 15:31 Announcing Queens of R&B: Her Second Book (February 2026) 16:53 Growing Up with Hip-Hop: Family Car Rides in Seguin with UGK & Geto Boys 19:21 Dissecting Music: The Totality of Sound vs. Lyrics 19:37 How DJing Deepens Her Music Journalism 21:28 Mental Health: Living with Bipolar Disorder Type 1 21:49 Her First Manic Episode: Going Missing in NYC for 36 Hours 22:54 Going Public: Writing About Bipolar After Mariah Carey's Revelation 23:41 Building a 20,000+ Mental Health Community on TikTok 24:16 Managing Bipolar: Medication, Therapy & Comprehensive Treatment 25:24 Understanding Mania: Relapses, Addiction & Misconceptions 27:03 Conversations About Mental Health That Need to Happen 27:20 Her Open Letter to Kanye West on Bipolar & Accountability 29:48 Commercial Break - "The Blessings of Forgiveness" by Blaise Labbe (CDFCO Publishers) 31:34 Balancing Online Advocacy & Protecting Her Own Mental Well-Being 34:30 The Secret Reserve: Over Two Dozen Journals & A Future Memoir 36:11 Where to Find Kiana Fitzgerald & Her Books 37:00 Closing

Join Cedric Fisher on San Antonio's INFLUENCE Magazine Show for an inspiring conversation with Judge William "Cruz" Shaw III, the first Black man elected as district court judge in Bexar County. In this powerful interview, Judge Shaw opens up about his remarkable transformation from Houston troublemaker to respected juvenile court judge, sharing insights that every parent, educator, and community leader needs to hear. Judge Shaw discusses his unique approach to juvenile justice, focusing on rehabilitation over punishment while addressing the growing challenges of social media's impact on youth crime. From kids stealing cars for "likes" to the fundamental differences between today's digital natives and previous generations, Shaw provides invaluable perspective on reaching at-risk youth in modern times. Discover how representation matters in the courtroom, as Shaw explains the critical impact of having someone who "looks like them" behind the bench. Learn about his innovative field trip programs that expose youth to different career paths and his philosophy of keeping kids "alive and out of the adult system." This conversation covers Shaw's journey from Texas Southern University baseball player through Navy service, law school, city council, and ultimately to his historic judicial appointment. He shares personal insights about balancing protection and accountability, the importance of individual case assessment, and how his own troubled past becomes an asset when connecting with the youth he serves. Key topics include the evolution of juvenile crime in the social media age, effective intervention strategies, the role of parental influence, and the unexpected paths leadership can take. Shaw's authentic storytelling and practical wisdom make this essential viewing for anyone working with youth or interested in criminal justice reform. Don't miss this inspiring story of redemption, service, and breaking barriers while staying focused on what truly matters - saving lives and building stronger communities. 🔔 SUBSCRIBE to San Antonio's INFLUENCE Magazine Show for more inspiring interviews with San Antonio's most impactful leaders! Web: https://www.influencesa.com || https://www.cedricdfisher.com || https://www.influencemarketing.agency --- CHAPTER TIMESTAMPS: 00:00 Intro: Welcome to Influence Magazine Show 01:40 Commercial Break - The Blessings of Forgiveness by Blaise LaVey 03:13 Meet Judge Cruz Shaw: From Houston to the Navy 04:30 The Origin of the Name "Cruz" 04:55 From "Troublemaker" to Law School: The Transition 07:48 Feature Spotlight: Holly Worden, Bexar County Firearm Examiner 09:40 Moving from City Council to Associate Judge 10:46 Making History: First Black Male District Judge in Bexar County 11:36 The Power of Representation in the Courtroom 12:30 Philosophy: Balancing Protection vs. Punishment 13:35 Demographics of Juvenile Justice in San Antonio 14:21 Commercial Break - Gun Safety Awareness 14:47 Social Media's Role in Modern Youth Crime 17:15 Non-Traditional Rehabilitation: Field Trips & Exposure 18:14 A Day in the Life of a Juvenile Judge 19:05 Judge Shaw's Hidden Talent: Gardening & Mental Health 20:45 Leadership Book Recommendations 21:40 What's Next for Judge Shaw? --- #JudgeCruzShaw #CedricFisher #INFLUENCEMagazine #SanAntoniosInfluence #FirstBlackJudge #BexarCountyJudge #JuvenileJustice #YouthCrime #SocialMediaCrime #CriminalJusticeReform #SanAntonio #Texas #MilitaryVeteran #TroublemakerToJudge #RepresentationMatters #CommunityLeadership #AtRiskYouth #YouthIntervention #Subscribe #SanAntonioLeaders #CommunityImpact #Inspiration