John Oppenheimer - CEO of Columbia Hospitality

Director RJ McHatton with John Oppenheimer

It was a gorgeous, sunny day in Seattle. The waterfront was full of tourists off the Cruise ships. I headed to the World Trade Center to interview John Oppenheimer, CEO of Columbia Hospitality for the Puget Sound Business Journal’s “Best Workplaces” award video. Columbia Hospitality owns or manages 13 premier resort properties including the Salish Lodge & Spa. John was a great interview. He talked about how he started in the hospitality business as a bell hop and now he was the CEO! John talked about how important the team culture was for their success. He said that he really focuses on hiring the right people. He said that all employees go through a rigorous hiring process and that he personally interviews all the concierges of all resorts. He said he believes the first impression and the last impressions are the most important. I really enjoyed meeting John. I could tell that he is a world-class guy with a tremendous focus on the values of customer service and the goal of creating raving fans among his team and clients. John said that he is a big believer in nepotism, that he loves to have lots of family working for his organization.

Brian Paulen - CEO Madrona Solutions Group

Director RJ McHatton with Brian Paulen

It was great meeting Brian Paulen, CEO of Madrona Solutions Group in downtown Seattle. I was there to interview Brian for the Puget Sound Business Journal’s “Best Workplaces” video project. Brian had a great sense of humor and it was exciting to learn about one of the fastest growing companies in the country. Brian proved to me that a positive attitude and a positive team culture has tremendous impact on the team success. He talked about the importance of being a great listener and being flexible to the needs of clients. He talked about the diversity of his team and the importance of having fun at work. I really liked how Brian said his greatest mentor was his father.

Tim Gibbons - CEO of Pharmacy OneSource

Tim Gibbons, CEO of Pharmacy OneSource

I learned a lot in my interview with Tim Gibbons, CEO of Pharmacy OneSource. I interviewed Tim for the Puget Sound Business Journal’s “Best Workplaces” video. Tim talked about the great culture that his company has nurtured over the years. He told me that his greatest pride is seeing his team being happy, successful, and innovative. He said that his secret to success is hiring great people.

Chuck Shelton - Leadership 101 for White Men, Speaker, Author

Author and Speaker Chuck Shelton

I originally thought the title to the book was pretty provocative and not politically correct. ”Leadership 101 for White Men.” But then I looked closer and the tag line is “How to work successfully with Black Colleagues and Customers.” Author Chuck Shelton asked us to shoot some footage and do editing on a video for his new website (www.greatheartleaderlabs.com). I met with Chuck and I learned a lot about his philosophies concerning diversity in the workplace and those old time taboos. We talked about how things have changed so much in our lifetime and for the better. Chuck is a very interesting man with a strong background in management and leadership training for companies like Microsoft, Key Bank, Wal-Mart, and Safeco.

Jeffrey Lyon Interview - GVA Kidder Mathews

Jeffrey Lyon with Director RJ McHatton

I really enjoyed meeting Jeffrey Lyon of GVA Kidder Mathews. I drove down to the GVA Kidder Mathews headquarters to interview Jeffrey for the video we are making for the Puget Sound Business Journal’s annual “Best Workplaces” Award. GVA Kidder Mathews is a very successful commercial real estate firm with 9 offices in Washington, California, and Oregon. They have over 400 employees. I sat down with Jeffrey Lyon to talk about why his company has been successful and why the employees voted them as one of the best workplaces. Jeffrey talked about how proud he was of his team. He talked about the unique culture of his organization, where everyone works hard and together to help clients be successful. He talked about the unique character of his team and how they have pulled together and succeeded even in turbulent times. He said that he is very proud to work for GVA Kidder Mathews and that he was very optimistic about the future. Recently Jeffrey Lyon was recognized by Ernst & Young at the “Entrepreneur of the Year” for 2009 in the Real Estate category. I enjoyed meeting Jeffrey and I learned a lot.

Chuck Riley interview - Lane Powell Attorneys

Chuck Riley with Director RJ McHatton

I went down to the Lane Powell offices in Seattle to interview VP Chusk Riley for the video we are making for the Puget Sound Business Journal’s annual “Best Workplaces” award. Chuck Riley did a super interview. He talked about the incredible culture at Lane Powell and how they really focus on core values with their clients and their employees. Lane Powell is one of the oldest and most successful law firms in the Northwest. It was started over 100 years ago. Today Lane Powell has over 300 staff and over 150 attorneys. Over the years many of the Northwest’s great judges once worked with Lane Powell. Chuck said that one of the secrets to success at Lane Powell is total committment to the local communities. The culture of the company is focused on coming up with new ideas about ways the firm can help people. He talked about how the employees dedicate time and money to helping the food banks and Habitat for Humanity and the United Way. I could tell that Chuck was very dedicated and proud of his team at Lane Powell. He also was very proud that his employees would have voted Lane Powell as one of the “Best Workplaces” in Washington.

Kurt Carlson, CEO of Propel Insurance

Director RJ McHatton with Kurt Carlson

I could not stop thinking about my interview with Kurt Carlson of Propel Insurance. He really impressed me with his interview. I had driven down nto Tacoma to meet with Kurt as part of a video we are making for the Puget Sound Business Journal’s annual “Best Workplaces” Award. Kurt’s company Propel Insurance was a finalist this year. Kurt told me how the company started many years ago and how they recently had changed their name. He told me how they nurtured the culture and about the incredible character of his team. Kurt started talking about all the many things that his company has created to help inspire a positive workplace. I was definitely impressed. In addition the normal medical benefits and 401ks, Propel had created several recognition awards and parties to inspire team mates to look for and find heroes among the team. Their goal is to recognize and focus on the positive things that people do everyday to help others. They try to catch people doing things right. I was inspired by the enthusiasm of Kurt Carlson and his huge goals for the future. Kurt talked about how he has learned a lot from his mentors including friends he has made at the YPO, Young Presidents Organization. Propel definitely seems like a great place to work and I can see why they were nominated by their employees for an award.

Matt, Steve, and Ben interview - Turnstyle Design

Matt Diefenbach, Director RJ McHatton, Ben Graham and Steve Watson

I drove over to the Seattle offices of Turnstyle, a fast growing Graphic Design firm. I was there to interview the leadership team of Turnstyle because they were finalists for the annual Puget Sound Business Journal “Best Workplaces in Washington” award. I was immediately impressed with the Turnstyle team. The office had a great receptionist, but as I looked around it seems that I could see almost the entire staff in one big loop of view. The offices had lots of people but they weren’t in cubicles or offices. It was one big room, with the leaders and regular employees all working hard on their computers. There was a very positive buzz in the air. I set up my camera, lights, and sound equipment in a small office of someone who was out that day. I interviewed Matt, Steve, and Ben individually, and then all together. My goal was to find out why they were nominated as one of the Best Workplaces and to find out their secret to success in business. I quickly learned that these leaders were a great team. Each partner had specific skillsets that when put together equalled an unbeatable match. They told me how important their culture and values were to the fundamental success they had achieved. They talked about how every member on the team was like friends, so they valued taking time off together for an event or even just a drink. They thought it was worthwhile shutting down the entire office to go have a fun time together. They talked about how important relationships with clients and the employees meant to them. They told me how they believed in trust and integrity and diversity. Matt, Steve, and Ben were so enthusiastic that I felt enthusiastic and energized, too. These guys were very creative and fun, but I could tell they took their business very seriously and would go the extra mile to find creative solutions to a project.

Bob Berntson interview - Berntson Porter CPA

Director RJ McHatton with Bob Berntson

I first met Bob Berntson a few years ago when I interviewed him and his partner Greg Porter for the Bellevue Chamber of Commerce “Eastside Business Awards.” Today I was interviewing Bob for the video we are making for the Puget Sound Business Journal on the “Best Workplaces in Washington.” Bob is a great person to interview because he has a subtle sense of humor. He reminds me of Harrison Ford because when I interviewed Harrison Ford he always did subtle jokes about himself, and Bob does the same thing. Bob talked about the unique culture they had at Berntson Porter CPA and the many ways they try to nurture that culture. He said that Values are extremely important and that his team had terrific character. He said that they have a “Fireside Chat” several times a year to help keep everyone in the team on the same page about where the firm was going and how they were going to get there. Bob said that he is very lucky because he has some terrific mentors who have helped him over the years. Bob said he loves his company and all the people on his team. Bob said that he felt like a very lucky man. He said that one of the key foundations of their focus is on community involvement and that his team really loves helping others. I really enjoyed my interview with Bob and feel I learned a lot.

Dave Coffman interview - Coffman Engineers

Dave Coffman with Director RJ McHatton

I met Dave Coffman in downtown Seattle at the Coffman Engineers office. Dave Coffman is the CEO of Coffman Engineers. He is a real character. I was interviewing him for the Puget Sound Business Journal video about the “Best Workplaces” finalists. Coffman Engineers has been around for over 30 years now. Dave talked about how he started the company 30 years ago in Bellevue, then expanded to Alaska and now they have coverage all over the Western US and do work all over the world. Coffman Engineers has a great track record, with several large long-term clients including Nordstroms. Dave talked about his focus on integrity, honesty, and dependability. He talked about the culture he has tried to nurture over the years. He said that several of his people have gone off to start their own companies and he is proud that he has been a mentor to so many and that his team voted Coffman as one of the best workplaces in Washington. Dave told me he really cares for his people. He said the secret to their success has been their people and their belief in diversity. I really enjoyed meeting Dave Coffman.

Melanie Dressel interview - Columbia Banking System

RJ with Melanie Dressel of Columbia Banking System

I drove down to Tacoma to meet the CEO of Columbia Banking Systems, Melanie Dressel, for a video we were making for the Puget Sound Business Journal. Columbia Banking was a finalist for the “Best Workplace” award. Melanie did a great interview. She talked about the reasons her company has been successful in such a challenging business climate. She said that the culture of the organization and the focus on the values of customer service and treating people right were paying off. She said that her philosophy is to hire good people and you will succeed. She said that every employee goes through a boot camp to make sure everyone understands the culture and values. Melanie proved to be a very strong leader and I learned a lot from our interview. Thanks, Melanie!

Marty Schillaci interview - The Resource Group

Marty Schillaci and The Resource Group with Director RJ McHatton

I drove over to Renton to interview Marty Schillaci for the Puget Sound Business Journal’s video for the “Best Workplaces” Award. Marty is the CEO of The Resource Group (TRG). As we entered their office we were greeted by a team of very enthusiastic people with giant smiles on their faces. We met Marty and he led us to a really nice conference room with a very unusual conference table. It was like a real tree laying sideways. Actually was part of a tree and it was quite impressive. We talked about the table for a while and then I set up my camera and lights and sound equipment for the interview. Marty Schillaci is a great leader. He talked about how he started the company over twenty years ago by helping companies understand and use their database softwares. Over the years TRG has become one of the most successful and enduring partners with Microsoft. Marty talked about the unique culture that his team has created. He talked about the very important core values that have always worked for him. He talked about the character of his team in good times and bad times. He talked about the importance of taking care of your employees and your clients. Years ago Marty worked for Boeing and he talked about how proud he is of the TRG success story. He started the company in his living room and now he has a lot of employees. Marty expressed the importance of education and learning. He said you always have to be learning to keep up with the fast pace of today’s life. I really enjoyed my interview with Marty and I learned a lot!

Warren Christopher - Secretary of State, Friend to John Myers

Warren Christopher with Director RJ McHatton

It was a sunny day in Century City. I was there at the headquarters of the famous law firm O’Melveny & Myers to interview Warren Christopher for my documentary “Flying Man: Life and Times of Johnny Myers.” Warren Christopher is the former Secretary of State under President Bill Clinton, and a man who has dedicated his life to service. Warren Christopher knew Johnny Myers for many years. They both were members of the Sunset Club and both had worked for O’Melveny & Myers. Warren told me some great stories about Johnny Myers. Warren felt that Johnny Myers represented the Walter Mitty in every attorney because he lived such an adventurous life, even though he started as an attorney. Warren told me the history of the O’Melveny and Myers law firm. He told me about how Johnny Myers’ father was Supreme Court Justice in California who went partners with O’Melveny to create one of the nation’s most successful and prestigious law firms. Warren Christopher told me the story about how John Myers became the nation’s first entertainment attorney, representing many famous Hollywood actors including George Murphy and Bing Crosby. He talked about how Johnny’s passion for flying led him to become the Chief Test Pilot for Lockheed, then going over to Northrop for the P-61 and the Flying Wing. Johnny Myers was one of the only test pilots who worked for both Lockheed and Northrop at the same time. Warren talked about how he and Johnny Myers enjoyed great friendship and experiences as members of the Sunset Club. He talked about how Johnny Myers had such a contagious laugh. In the later years, Johnny Myers would still come by the office sometimes. One time John Myers did a slideshow of his flying exploits for the O’Melveny & Myers team. Warren talked about how even today new hire attorneys are told about the history of the firm, about the two founders and their values and integrity, and also about the fun and exciting adventures of Johnny Myers. Warren talked about the courage and character of his friend John Myers. Warren talked about how John Myers was a man with strong values, like his father. Warren talked about the sense of humor or John Myers. He told the story about John Myers was flying once with this very heavy set lawyer and they were flying from the East Coast to the West Coast. Evidently the plane was having trouble making it over the Rocky Mountains with such a heavy load, so John Myers dropped off the lawyer and had him take a train or bus to the other side of the Rockies where he picked him up and on they went on their journey. I really enjoyed meeting Warren Christopher and appreciate him taking the time to talk about John Myers.

Patrick Tessier interview - Northwest Laboratories

Director RJ McHatton with Patrick Tessier

Patrick Tessier is an interesting man.  I drove over to Bellevue to interview Patrick Tessier, CEO of Northwest Laboratories, for the Puget Sound Business Journal video about the “Best Workplaces” in Washington.  Patrick told me how he was educated in engineering and had worked in the paper box industry for almost twenty years.  Then when his 40th birthday was approaching, he decided to completely change his life and find a new business, a new industry, to focus his next chapter of life on.  He chose the Dental reconstruction business.  Today his company Northwest Laboratories is one of the fastest growing companies in America.  We talked about his secret to success and he said it was his team.  He talked about the many things they do to keep the positive culture alive and he said his secret weapon was putting in a kitchen and having real home cooked lunches everyday.  He said that one of his team members is a world class cook and that nothing keeps the culture alive like a great lunch.  Patrick Tessier has an awesome attitude.  I talked with several members of his team and they were so enthusiastic!  I think Patrick Tessier is a great leader.  We talked about the core values and character of his organization.  His eyes teared up with pride.

Howard Chermak interview- Chermak Construction

Howard Chermak with Director RJ McHatton

 Howard Chermak is a nice guy.  Howard is the founder and CEO of Chermak Construction.  They specialize in remodeling.  I was there to interview Howard for the Puget Sound Business Journal video we are making about the “Best Workplaces” in Washington award.  I was very impressed with Howard and his philosophies of running a successful business.  Howard is always thinking about the future.  Many years ago he started a Vision Team to help plan the future of the company.  He anticipated the slow times of the recession so he worked closely with his team to not have to lay people off.  Howard talked about how he started the company with just one employee, himself, and how its grown over the years.  He talked about the core values and the importance of working closely with the community.  He talked about being a member of the Chamber and the Rotary and other service groups.  Howard is a nice man and he has built a nice company with a fine reputation.

Patrick Yalung interview - Wells Fargo Bank

Director RJ McHatton with Patrick Yalung

 I had a great interview with Patrick Yalung of Wells Fargo.  I was there to interview Patrick for the Puget Sound Business Journal’s video about the “Best Workplaces” in Washington.  Patrick did a super interview.  He talked about how Wells Fargo really works hard to build a culture that is supportive of all the employees.  He talked about the organization’s complete focus on the customer experience.  He also talked about the importance of diversity in the team.  We talked about core values, character, and the return to family values in the workplace.  I learned a lot in this interview with Patrick.  He is a nice guy.

Casey Sheldon interview - Weber Shandwick

Casey Sheldon with Director RJ McHatton

 I drove down to the Union Station area of downtown Seattle to the offices of Weber Shandwick.  I was there to interview President-NW Casey Sheldon for the video we are creating for the Puget Sound Business Journal about the “Best Workplaces in Washington” award.   It only took five seconds to realize why Casey Sheldon is so successful.  She is energetic, enthusiastic, charming, and extremely confident.  Casey is so passionate about her team and her love for her work.  Casey loved to talk about her great team and how her goal is to do whatever she can to help them succeed.  She talked about the tremendous pressure of her industry and how her team has risen to the occasion.   We discussed the core values and the culture and the character of her team.  Casey talked about the first time she ever managed other people.  It was back in Ohio when she was young and leading a team of auto workers.  She talked about how her team had worked together to overcome adversity.  Casey Sheldon is a remarkable leader and a tremendous positive force.  I spoke to some members of her team and they were very proud to be a finalist for the Best Workplace Award.  They said that they love the flexibility that Casey and the leadership allow for the team members.  I am very lucky to be able to interview these Best Workplaces companies and their leaders.  You learn so much from each interview.  Its rewarding to hear that so many leaders like Casey still have focus on values and integrity and character.  Everyone is going back to basics of the way they treat each other.

Cam Green & John Rubino interview - Green/Rubino PR

Cameron Green, Director RJ McHatton, and John Rubino

 I really enjoyed my interview with Cameron Green and John Rubino of the PR firm Green/Rubino.  I was interviewing them for the Puget Sound Business Journal video about their nomination as one of the “Best Workplaces” in the State of Washington.  John and Cameron are a great team.  One is a numbers guy (John) and the other is a writer-creative guy  (Cam).  They seem to have a winning combination.  One of the great moments during our interview was when Cameron talked about the importance of writing skills.  He said that his advice for a future CEO is to make sure to focus on writing skills.   I could tell that John and Cam are great leaders because they kept talking about values and character and integrity.

Brad Jackson, CEO of Two Degrees

Brad Jackson with Director RJ McHatton

I drove downtown Seattle to interview Brad Jackson of Two Degrees for the Puget Sound Business Journal video about the “Best Workplaces in Washington.”  Two Degrees was a finalist for the award this year.  Two Degrees is located in the Exchange Building where once there was the Pacific Northwest Stock Exchange.  The Exchange Building is a 22 story concrete building in an Art Deco style.  According to Wikipedia it was once the second tallest concrete building in the United States.  It reminds me of the tall buildings they used in the old Dragnet series or black and white Noir films showing the Courthouses of LA.  I went up the elevator to the Two Degrees offices and was immediately surprised by the hustle and bustle.  I met with Brad Jackson.  He is someone you will never forget.  He and I sat down in a small office and I started recording the interview.  We talked about his background and the history of the company.  Brad once worked with Price Waterhouse and has a strong background in accounting.  He said that he found that his strengths pulled him more into relationships and consulting.  Brad talked about the special culture they have at Two Degrees.  He said everything was about the Culture and nurturing the culture.  He said that everyone is focused on the clients and how they can help their clients get better.  Brad is almost hypnotic in his focused passion and pride about his team.  He impressed me as someone who looks at life and situations from 30,000 feet, looking down and trying to figure out ways to make everything better.  Brad talked about how his company had become one of the fastest growing companies in America.  He talked about how he set incredible personal and team goals and how they achieved them every time.  Brad talked at length about how important his team and the positive creative workplace environment was to the success of the organization.  Brad talked about the Core Values of his team.  He talked about their vision for the future.  He talked about some of the unique and creative ways they have nurtured their culture.  He told about lavish annual company retreats and a special inhouse film festival where employees went out and made their own films for their internal film festival, all in the name of creative team building.  I feel very lucky to have been exposed to Brad and his team.  They have sparked many new ideas and inspiration on how I can be a better leader for my team.  Thanks Brad.

Joan Cole Duffell Interview -- Committee for Children

Joan Cole Duffell with Director RJ McHatton

 It was a very warm day.   I was visiting the Committee for Children headquarters in downtown Seattle to interview their CEO, Joan Cole Duffell, for the Puget Sound Business Journal video.  Committee for Children was a finalist for the annual “Best Workplaces of Washington” award in the Non-Profit Category.  I was immediately impressed with Joan.  She was so passionate about the mission and the core values of their organization.  Committee for Children has some incredible numbers.  They have been around since the 1970s.  There are over 25,000 schools in over 25 countries that are using their curriculum.  They create curriculum that helps kids deal with issues like sexual abuse, poverty, learning disabilities, and bullying.  Joan talked about how her team works hard to be nice to each other.  She said that they use the techniques in their curriculum as a baseline example to help nurture a positive best workplace.  That day they were having a pot luck lunch where each person was to bring a meal indicative of their heritage.  Italians brought Italian food, French people brought French food, Hispanics, Asians, and Irish brought food from their culture, too.   I was moved by my interview with Joan.  I think I am very lucky to be introduced to such great organizations like the Committee for Children.  I think everyone should learn more about their vision and mission.  To learn more go to www.cfchildren.org 

Charlie Liekweg interview AAA Washington

Charlie Liekweg with Director RJ McHatton

 I knew I would like Charlie Liekweg immediately when I saw the giant photos of Abraham Lincoln, Robert E. Lee, and Ulysses S. Grant on the wall of his office.  I had recently returned from a trip to Gettysburg so the Civil War stories were still fresh in my memory.  We were there to interview Charlie Liekweg for the Puget Sound Business Journal “Best Workplaces” Award.  His company, AAA of Washington had reached the finalist stage.  Several of the AAA employees came up to me to tell me how much they loved working at AAA.  They were amazing.  I met Charlie in his office at the Bellevue headquarters.  Charlie told me that he really doesn’t use his office that much because he is usually out in the field visiting all of his offices.  We sat down and talked about his philosophy of management, the company culture, the core values of his team, and the specific things his organization does to get such a happy workplace recognition.  I was very impressed with Charlie and his understanding of his employees.  He talked a lot about the character and integrity of his team.  He talked about they proved themselves so many times, like during the heavy snows last Christmas and during the heatwave this summer.  He said his team always surprises him with positive surprises.  Charlie talked about how his team started a competition to be more healthy and how proud he was that they have accomplished so much in a short time.  He said that his company has actually earned reduction in health costs because the team became more healthy.  I was deeply moved by meeting Charlie Liekweg.   He is a great leader and the AAA Washington team is definitely one of the most positive, enthusiastic, sincere teams I have ever seen.

Edgar Martinez & Brian Haner interview Branded Solutions

Director RJ McHatton with Brian Haner & Edgar Martinez

I drove over to Kirkland to interview the famous baseball player Edgar Martinez and his business partner Brian Haner.  I was interviewing them for the Puget Sound Business Journal because Edgar and Brian’s businesses were recognized for the annual “Best Workplace in Washington” award.  They don’t give out Academy Awards to business owners, but the “Best Workplace” award is about as great an honor that any business leader could strive for.   We met with Brian and Edgar in their new office.  They are such winners.  Edgar Martinez had proven himself with his incredible Major League Baseball career that earned him a place in the Seattle Mariners Hall of Fame and a reputation as a kind humanitarian.  Brian Haner was immediately evident to be one of the most positive and inspiring leaders I have ever met.  During our interview Edgar and Brian talked about their belief in Values, Character, and living these concepts every day.  They actually take their core values very seriously.  Branded Solutions and Image Source are one large team dedicated to helping others.  Brian and Edgar and their team have taken a lot of time and effort to analyze and defining the Culture they want in their business.  Edgar Martinez has built a reputation of caring about people and always taking the time to talk and listen with people one on one. Brian has built a reputation as a great leader and a big, positive thinker.  Brian and Edgar make a great team because they are totally focused on those Core Values and keeping their Corporate Culture alive everyday.  Thanks Brian and Edgar for the interview.  I learned a lot.

John Gavin - Actor ("Psycho"), Ambassador to Mexico, Friend of Johnny Myers

Director RJ McHatton with John Gavin

I drove up the windy road up to the top of the hill looking over Beverly Hills and to all of LA, to the home of John Gavin. I was there to interview John Gavin for my documentary “Flying Man: Life and Times of Johnny Myers.” John Gavin was a successful actor in Hollywood during the 50s and 60s, in movies like “Psycho” for Alfred Hitchcock. He also was a successful businessman and then became the Ambassador to Mexico under Ronald Reagan. John was also a good friend of Johnny Myers for over 25 years. John likes to be called “Jack” Gavin. We sat together as I recorded on video his memories of his friendship with Johnny Myers. I could tell that Jack Gavin stilled misses Johnny Myers. Jack talked about how he met John Myers at the Sunset Club. Jack talked about the good times he had with Johnny Myers. He talked about their times at the Los Angeles Country Club and at the Bohemian Grove outings. Jack Gavin talked about John Myers the man. He told me that Johnny Myers was a wise man, a humble man, a man whom he admired very much. Jack talked about flying with Johnny Myers. He told a story about how Johnny Myers could do rolls with the aircraft without anyone ever spilling their drinks. He talked about the character of John Myers. Jack talked about Lucia Myers and how she was the first woman on the Bank of America Board of Directors. Jack talked about Johnny Myers’ sense of humor and how he used to call himself “skinhead” because of his balding hairline. Jack Gavin said it must have been contagious, pointing to his own hairline with a smile. Jack was very nice in our interview and he did a great job in describing many excellent stories about John Myers. He talked about the great aviation stories that Johnny Myers would tell, only if asked. He said that Myers wasn’t the type of person who talked about the past unless you dragged it out of him. Jack Gavin talked about how kind Johnny Myers was to everyone and how he had great courage. Not the kind of courage one brags about. The humble kind of courage. I could tell that Jack Gavin had many fond memories of his experiences with John Myers. Thanks, Jack Gavin, for taking the time to talk about your friend, Johnny Myers.

David Price - CEO American Airports, Aviator, Friend to Johnny Myers

David Price with Director RJ McHatton

It was a beautiful day in Santa Monica. I was there to interview David Price for my documentary “Flying Man: Life and Times of Johnny Myers.” David Price is a very nice guy. I could tell that immediately. He came from very humble beginnings to become a very successful businessman, aviator, and spiritual inspiration to many people. David Price is the CEO of American Airports, the largest developer and operator of airports in the country. He was the founder of American Golf Corp which managed over 300 golf courses. He also is the founder of a Christian school and the Museum of Flying in Santa Monica. During our interview, David was awesome. He showed me some airplane models all over his office. These were models of all the different planes he has flown. David’s eyes lit up when talking about each plane. As we toured his office, David showed me his diploma certificate when he graduated from UCLA law school, pictures of his time as an attorney for O’Melveny & Myers, and he was very proud of a bell from the USS Arizona from Pearl Harbor. As we sat down for the interview David reminisced about his friend John Myers. I couldn’t get the camera started fast enough. David was moved by him memories. We talked a bit about his own life. David really is a self-made man. He came from humble beginnings. He is the son of Welsh immigrants but did go to college studying economics at USC and then went to law school at UCLA. He was a US Navy pilot during the early 1950s. He missed the Korean War, but clocked in lots of flying time as flight instructor. He talked about his childhood in the Santa Monica area where Lockheed was building airplanes for the war. He remembered seeing all the pilots in their flight suits. This was where he probably got the bug for aviation. He remembered all the cool interesting airplanes he saw in his youth. David talked about his first solo flight in an airplane. That is a moment that most pilots will never forget. David talked about his love for airplanes, especially those planes from WWII. He owns a few now and tries to fly as much as possible. He talked about his flying in the Reno Air Races and about the tremendous friends he has met through aviation, including his friend General Bill Anders. I asked David to talk about those days at O’Melveny & Myers, his first law firm experience. He talked about the incredible fundamental values he learned from those days. He said they were very professional, efficient, and extremely dedicated to honest day work ethic. Over the years David enjoyed working with many of the Hollywood celebrities who were clients of O’Melveny & Meyers. He told stories about working with movie stars like Marlon Brando and Bing Crosby. He talked about working with actor William Holden and negotiating the pay for his role in “Bridge Over the River Kwai.” David told about his blessings to have met and learned from some wonderful mentors over the years. He talked about a turning point in his life when he met Joseph Drown, a local businessman and real estate investor. He quit the law firm and went to work with Drown, which led him to leadership positions in several businesses like Getty Financial Corp, Beachcomber restaurants and the Bel Air Hotel. Then David went into the Golf business and the rest is history. During our interview, it was very interesting to me how David Price could recite Shakespeare and quotes from the Bible. We talked about John Myers and his being such a great friend to so many. We talked about how John Myers had so many friends that did not know each other. I mentioned this might be the best legacy a man could have, to have touched so many in so many different ways. David told me how he got to know John initially through John’s wife Lucia. Lucia was a remarkable woman in her own right. She was on the Board of Directors of Bank America for a long time. David talked about times with John Myers at the Sunset Club and at Bohemian Grove and at the LA Country Club. He talked about flying with John in his helicopter in Merced and about thier common love for aviation. I was very touched by my interview with David Price. He is a nice guy. He is a true lover of aviation. David Price a self-made man who reads the Bible, can recite Shakespeare, and loves to race WWII airplanes for fun.

Peter Mullin - CEO MullinTBG, Car Collector, Philanthropist, Friend to Johnny Myers

Director RJ McHatton with Peter Mullin

It was a warm day in Brentwood. I was driving to meet Peter Mullin, CEO of MullinTBG, to interview him for my documentary “Flying Man: Life and Times of Johnny Myers.” Peter is a great guy. He is a car lover. My dad was a car lover and I think I am a car lover, too. I saw a show on the SPEED channel last year that showed Peter Mullin and his car collection. Peter has one of the world’s greatest collections of French classic automobiles. From Bugatis to Delahayes, Peter has one. He is also a great race driver himself. Trophies and ribbons and placques are everywhere. Peter is a successful businessman, but I could tell the race car trophies mean a lot. Peter did an excellent job in the interview. We discussed his friendship with Johnny Myers. Peter talked about John’s integrity and his love for automobiles. He said that John used to come over and look under the hood of these incredible cars. Peter talked about the incredible character in the man John Myers. He said that he was a rare man indeed. I really enjoyed my time with Peter Mullin. He seemed like a good man. It is interesting to me how so many of the successful business people I am meeting all have a similar focus on the importance of values and character and integrity. I told Peter about how much my Dad loved Model A Fords and had restored many. Peter said, “they were a great car.” As I looked around at the incredible high end French classic cars, I thought how Model As would compete against such beauty and grace. Peter talked about how the French auto makers used aviation design to enhance the aerodynamics of these French automobiles so many years ago. As you look at the smooth lines of these cars you can see a lot of aviation in those cars. Maybe John Myers could see that too.

You can see a nice inteview with Peter from the SPEED channel by clicking here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_m8kdJVQsms

H. Russell Smith - Businessman, Philanthropist, Friend to Johnny Myers

H. Russell Smith with Director RJ McHatton

It was a little bit smokey over in Pasadena this afternoon. There was a 120,000 acre fire up in the foothills. But it was pretty nice down in Pasadena. I was there to interview H. Russell Smith, former CEO of Avery Dennison and good friend of Johnny Myers for over 75 years. Russ had agreed to be interviewed for my new documentary “Flying Man: Life and Times of Johnny Myers.” Russ was originally from Ohio and his family settled into the Whittier area in the 1920s. Russ had some great stories about his youth and his family history. His family were Quaker farmers who raised Russ with tremendous values and integrity. Russ went to high school with Richard Nixon. Russ always had interest in economics and political science so he won a scholarship to Pomona College where he was the captain of the track team. After college Russ went to work for Kidder Peabody investment banking in New York City. This was in the middle of the Great Depression. He spent a year working in Switzerland during the late 1930s. Upon returning to the US, he worked for a year with Blue Diamond until the war started. He served in the US Navy during WWII. After the war he took a leadership role in Avery Adhesives (later Avery Dennison) where he rose to CEO. He first met John Myers through John’s lovely wife Lucia. Over the years John Myers and Russ Smith became close friends. They were in a lot of clubs together including the California Club and the very exclusive Sunset Club. Russ told me some great stories about his friendship with John Myers, including some of his fun flying adventures together. Russ talked about Lucia Myers and her terrific personality and wisdom. Russ did a fantastic interview and I really appreciate having the opportunity to meet him. Russ talked about how John Myers was a handshake type of man. I could see that Russ Smith was that type of man, too. Russ and I talked about family history and biography. He showed me two books he had written, one about his life and one about the letters he wrote to his mother throughout his life. Russ signed his autobiography book and gave it to me. I am grateful for his generosity. As I started reading his book I learned how many charities and important causes that Russ has helped over the years and the list is long. Pomona College. Childrens Hospital. Philharmonic. Psoriasis Research. The list goes on. Russ is an inspiring man in many ways.

Interview with Roy Wolford – worked for Northrop for 61 years

Roy Wolford with Director RJ McHatton

It was a warm day in Southern California. The news had headlines about the terrible fires all across the hilltops of the Ranchos Palos Verdes area where I was headed and I didn’t know what to expect. Luckily the fires had been mostly put out and the actual fires were about two miles over the hill from where I was going. I was there to interview Roy Wolford, the official photographer for Northrop during those incredible test pilot years when Johnny Myers was risking his life on first flights. Roy had worked over 60 years for Northrop. Hard to believe these days that anyone could work one place for so long. Over the years Roy had worn many hats in many departments. He was the first photographer for Jack Northrop when he was pioneering the Black Widow and Flying Wing technologies. Eventually Roy led a whole department of photographers with high tech still and motion picture cameras. We talked for a long time about the different kinds of cameras and equipment he used to capture the test flights. Then we talked about John Myers. Roy was a good friend with John Myers since Myers first day with Northrop. Roy talked about the character, will, and integrity of John Myers. He talked about the leadership skills John had when he eventually became the VP of Northrop. Then we talked about the crash. Roy was there that day that John Myers had a terrible crash that nearly killed him. Roy told me about how he ran up to the wreckage and he screamed to John several times, only to see Myers totally quiet. Roy feared the worst but he kept screaming to John and finally he saw John’s eye twitch some movement and Roy realized John was alive. This was a very emotional moment of the interview. Roy is a great guy. He talked about how he first learned to fly and how much he loved aviation. Roy showed me several books on Northrop history and a lot of the photos from the test pilot days. In one book he showed me tons of photos of John Myers and the test pilots. All the photos had a credit to Roy Wolford. In one photo it showed several of the pilots all together with Roy in his flight suit. Roy flew in the planes being tested and outside the planes and in front of the planes and behind the planes. Roy’s photos were a tremendous help to the engineers working to test these aircraft. In the early days, the test pilots would have a small notebooks taped to their legs so they could make notes during a flight. Roy had the idea that photos would really help the engineers learn what really was happening during those flights. He was right. Thanks to Roy we have lots of photos of those early test flights and early planes. Roy has donated all of his photos and materials to several museums in the area. I am hoping to get access to them there and also through Northrop, who has kindly donated access to their archives for this project. Roy and I hit it off. I enjoyed talking to Roy very much. He lived during some of the most fantastic times in Aviation history and he was right there. He talked about flying with John Myers in the P61 and about his meeting Howard Hughes. Roy’s wife of over 59 years died a few years ago and now Roy lives in a nice assisted living place. But I don’t think he’s ready for much assistance yet. We went out to lunch and Roy showed me where the Western Aviation Museum is located at Torrance. Roy talked about how at the age of 94 he still feels strong and wants to keep active. At his apartment he showed me boxes where he has over 30,000 slides. Through his work at Northrop he was able to travel all around the world, including time during the Vietnam War in Southeast Asia. All the time, in every continent of the world, Roy Wolford took photos. I kept asking him how he could hand hold a camera and get perfect focus on those test flights. He said he had a steady hand and good eyes. As a lover of photography myself, I was in awe of the incredible skills of Roy Wolford. Meeting him was a true joy.