Close Up Radio

Foley, AL – Michael Donohoe is the president of Preparedness Plus. Founded in 2024, it serves as the culmination of his decades-long experience in the U.S. Coast Guard, and as a civilian, handling, preventing, and mitigating the effects of oil and hazardous material spills. ?I travel around the world visiting bulk storage facilities, helping them assess, and hopefully improve their overall prevention, preparedness, and response programs for oil receipt, storage and distribution,? summarizes Michael. ?One of the big concerns is when you have large quantities of fuel stored, you have the potential for small and large oil spills,? explains Michael. ?After the Exxon-Valdez Oil Spill, there was a new piece of legislation known as the Oil Pollution Act of 1990. It really stepped up the game in terms of expectations – especially crafting preparedness plans to respond to oil spills.? ?Unfortunately, a lot of people get a plan written, but they don't necessarily develop the details on HOW they are going to execute the plan,? Michael believes. ?As for the future regarding Preparedness Plus, I am primarily available to help organizations examine their thoughts on preparedness, and what we can do so that they understand their preparedness process,? explains Michael/ ?When you have a task, don't just think about completing the task,? encourages Michael. ?Think about the value that you achieve, when the task that you complete, delivers a quality OUTCOME for you, your organization and the environment.? For more information, please visit https://www.preparedness-plus.com/

Winchester, OH - Dr. James Obney has spent his life preparing to run a medical system. As a practicing Cardiothoracic surgeon skilled in robotic surgery, he holds a Master of Jurisprudence in health care law, policy, and management from Texas A&M University School of Law, and served 17-years in the military. ?I am passionate about learning, and am always learning something new,? shares Dr. Obney. Dr. Obney loves learning and operating so much, he is also trained as a robotic lung surgeon. ?Operating robotically is a completely different technique, much less invasive than traditional surgery. With robotic surgery, the surgeon controls up to four different instruments while sitting at a computer console—you're not even standing next to the patient.,? explains Dr. Obney. Dr. Obney pursued a Master of Jurisprudence degree. ?I see a lot that can be improved and it's a challenge. Health insurance companies currently play a big role running the show. They determine what kind of fees will reimburse for what services. Physicians see allowed fees as independent of the amount of work required. When we seek medical help, we are definitely not going into our doctors who help us and we pay them. That system is gone, and what's happening, in my mind, is just out of control. So, this is an area that can be debated and addressed through administration. America, by far, offers the very best healthcare in the world in terms of the delivery. I'm still not sure I know how the system got this way, but I hope to help open the debate.? For more information about Dr. James Obney, please email seamusmd@aol.com

Annapolis, MD – Tony Spencer is an artist that paints and sings. ?Those are the two things that I did in high school, and they always stayed with me,? summarizes Tony. He draws much of his inspiration from his experiences growing up, his accomplishments throughout his life, and most notably, his ancestor – his great-great-grandfather James Spencer. The type of painting that Tony does is acrylic on canvas in an abstract style. Much of his art is African inspired. Tony also performs both as a solo music artist (Person to Person, 2006) and as part of the Sunset Band. The genres of music that he performs are old school R&B and jazz. ?I was the first in my family to obtain an undergrad degree, as well as a master's degree,? notes Tony. ?I am most proud of the fact that in 1996, I was chosen to run the Olympic Torch in Annapolis and light the cauldron,? explains Tony. Most notable of Tony's influences was his great-great-grandfather, James Spencer. James Spencer was born in Maryland as a free Black man – NOT as a slave. Most notable about James was his founding of a community called Freetown, a neighborhood in Glen Burnie, Maryland, which comprised of Free Black citizens. Tony is in the process of writing an autobiography titled New Eyes, New Vision. For more information, please visit https://tjspencerarts.com/ You may also visit his pages on Facebook and LinkedIn