In this episode of What It Takes, host Jamie Seeker sits down with Jeff Wenninger, a retired LAPD lieutenant with over 33 years of experience. Jeff shares his journey from overcoming dyslexia and a speech impediment to becoming a leader in one of the most demanding police forces in the country.

Jeff’s path to law enforcement was unexpected—after a negative encounter with police as a college student, he shifted his focus to criminal justice, aiming to create change from within. Over the years, he worked in elite LAPD units, including Metropolitan Division, where he handled dignitary protection for U.S. presidents and celebrities. Later, as a gang enforcement leader, he transformed the way officers were selected and measured, prioritizing integrity, accountability, and real impact over just making arrests.

Now, as the Founder & CEO of Law Enforcement Consultants, Jeff helps police departments nationwide improve training, reduce liability, and rebuild public trust. His forthcoming book, On Thin Ice, presents actionable solutions for reimagining policing in the 21st century.

• "It was an obstacle, but not a barrier." – Jeff on overcoming dyslexia and his speech impediment.
• "I never intended on doing 33 years in law enforcement. I was going to do five years, get my PhD, and be a professor of criminal justice." – Jeff on his unexpected career path.
• "Would you want a surgeon who just barely passed? Then why would you want a police officer with the same mindset?" – Jeff on why excellence matters in law enforcement training.
• "36% of officer-involved shootings involve individuals suffering from a mental health crisis. Yet, only 15-18% of departments provide training for it." – Jeff on the need for better police training.
• "More officers die by suicide every year than are killed in the line of duty. We need to take better care of them." – Jeff on officer well-being.
• "Reform implies something is broken. I don’t like that word. It’s about reimagining policing—how can we do it better?" – Jeff on shifting the conversation around law enforcement changes.
• "80% of people will never have a personal interaction with law enforcement. They form their opinions based on what they see in the news. Police need to control that narrative." – Jeff on the importance of public perception.
• "You have to have the courage to be passionate and strive to achieve. Life is bigger than just you." – Jeff’s answer to What It Takes' signature question on success.

📖 Jeff’s Book: On Thin Ice – Pre-order at jeffwenninger.com

🔗 Law Enforcement Consultants: lawenforcementconsultants.com

🔗 Jeff’s LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/jeff-wenninger-4247a854

In this episode, Jamie Seeker sits down with Paul Ladensack, a seasoned architect with over 30 years of experience designing spaces that go beyond function—they tell stories, honor history, and serve communities. As a principal at CCBG Architects, Paul has led a variety of award-winning projects, including cultural, religious, commercial, and residential buildings.

Paul shares insights on balancing creativity with functionality, how every building has a DNA, and the importance of listening to clients. He also talks about adaptive reuse—revitalizing historic spaces rather than demolishing them—and the impact that design has on people’s daily lives.

The conversation wraps up with his dream project, a Presidential Library, and his advice for business owners: surround yourself with colleagues of shared direction and maintain balance in life.

1. Paul’s Journey into Architecture

• Grew up in a creative, artistic family with many influences.
• Initially thought architecture was only about designing exteriors—later learned the importance of interiors and community impact.
• Credits his professors for shaping his understanding of design.

2. CCBG’s Approach to Architecture

• Listening to clients is at the heart of their process.
• Every project blends history, community identity, and modern functionality.
• Paul believes architects are storytellers, not just designers.

3. Notable Project – Gethsemane Lutheran Church

• Paul was brought in after two previous architects failed to align with the community’s vision.
• The original plan was to tear down the existing church, but Paul realized its deep meaning to the congregation.
• Instead, he preserved and repurposed the church, turning it into a lobby while building a new worship space.
• This project reinforced his belief that architecture should honor history and people’s emotional connection to spaces.

4. The Power of Adaptive Reuse

• "Every building has a DNA." Understanding it makes the project successful.
• In Phoenix’s Warehouse District, CCBG has repurposed historic buildings multiple times for different clients.
• The key is working with the structure instead of against it to maintain its integrity and functionality.

5. Awards & Peer Recognition

• Paul values feedback and criticism from industry peers.
• Awards are not about personal recognition, but rather a testament to strong client relationships and good design.
• Younger architects at CCBG enjoy competing and learning from critiques.

6. Mentorship & Advice for Aspiring Architects

• Travel as much as possible to experience different forms of architecture.
• Listen to professors and mentors—their lessons can shape an entire career.
• Embrace criticism as a tool for growth, both from professors and colleagues.

7. Career Challenges That Shaped Him

• Early in his career, he worked on a high-stakes project for the Missouri Botanical Garden.
• The project started small but quickly became a major focus for conservationists.
• The experience taught him how to handle pressure and...

In this episode of What It Takes, host Jamie Seeker interviews award-winning architect Tessa Bradley about her journey in sustainable architecture, Passive House design, and the challenges of being a female business owner in the industry. Tessa shares her philosophy on solving complex problems with simple, efficient design, why Passive House is the future of sustainable living, and how she built her firm in a traditionally male-dominated field. She also dives into the realities of business ownership, leadership, and the importance of thinking like an owner before you become one.

• Tessa emphasizes an integrated design approach—thinking about sustainability, efficiency, and aesthetics from the start rather than applying them later.
• She believes the best designs solve multiple problems at once in an elegant way.
• Memorable Quote:
• “It’s hard to make something simple that solves everything, but I like to win.”

• Traditional buildings focus on components, while Passive House considers the building as a whole system.
• The idea is to "put a big woolly sweater around your house" to minimize energy loss instead of relying on excessive heating and cooling.
• The biggest barrier to widespread adoption? The construction industry’s slow pace of change due to the complexity of building projects.
• Memorable Quote:
• “Building things is really hard. You take an imperfect idea, designed by an imperfect architect, built with imperfect materials, by an imperfect builder… and you hope it works.”

• Tessa grew up watching her father draft building plans, which sparked her interest in architecture.
• Women remain underrepresented—less than 25% of licensed architects in the U.S. and less than 1% of firm owners are women.
• Representation matters—Tessa never met a female licensed architect until she was nearly one herself.
• Memorable Quote:
• “I didn’t see any women on the path to firm ownership. It was typically white male-owned firms promoting people who looked like them.”

• Most architecture firms pass down experience through generations, making it hard for outsiders to break in.
• As a 100% women-owned firm, Artisans Group had to fight harder to win major projects.
• Success required standing out, proving excellence, and finding the right clients.
• Memorable Quote:
• “We had to claw and fight a little harder to win work because we didn’t inherit the benefit of our forefathers’ portfolios.”

• Business owners must balance long-term vision with daily execution.
• Leadership can be isolating—mentorship and partnerships are essential.
• Power shouldn’t be about dominance; it should be about compromise, strategy, and resilience.
• Memorable Quotes:“Those who crave power probably shouldn’t have it. And those who do, carry more responsibility than is maybe fun.”
• “Romanticizing leadership is easy. Living it is different.”