THIS PROGRAM IS MADE BY MPT TO ENRICH ALL OF OUR DIVERSE COMMUNITIES AND IS MADE POSSIBLE BY THE GENEROUS SUPPORT OF OUR MEMBERS.

THANK YOU.

LIVE FROM MARYLAND PUBLIC TELEVISION, THIS IS "DIRECT CONNECTION" WITH JEFF SALKIN.

♪♪] >> JEFF: GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO YOUR "DIRECT CONNECTION."

COMING UP TONIGHT WE WILL PREVIEW A MAJOR ENGINEERING CONFERENCE IN BALTIMORE.

BUT FIRST TONIGHT, ALL THE WAYS WINTER CAN HARM YOUR HEALTH.

JOINING US WITH SOME EXPERT ADVICE IS Dr.

CHEYENNE FALAT ASSIST TANTSD MEDICAL DIRECTOR AT THE VERSE CITY OF MARYLAND MEDICAL CENTER, THE ADULT EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT AND PROFESSOR OF EMERGENCY MEDICINE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND HOOL OF MEDICINE.

WELCOME BACK.

>> PLEASURE TO BE HERE.

>> Jeff: I SHOVELED SNOW.

I BROKE UP ICE AND I DID NOT WI UP IN YOUR EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT BUT I'M SURE YOU SAW A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO DID THOSE THINGS.

>> IT IS NOT TOO LATE BUT HOPEFULLY WE WILL NOT BE SEEING YOU WITH US.

>> THE FORECAST IS GOOD.

>> HOPEFULLY BY TOMORROW WE'LL SEE THE SNOWMELT.

THE ROADS HAVE BEEN INCONSISTENTLY PLOWED AND CAUSING BACK UPS AND TRAFFIC READY FOR IT DOBB DONE.

>> Jeff: I'M CURIOUS WHAT HAPPENS IN YOUR EMERGENCY DEPARTMENTS WHEN YOU HAVE ON TOP OF FLU AND COVID AND COLD SEASON, YOU HAVE ALL THIS POTENTIAL FOR INJURIES AND IT'S DIFFICULT FOR YOU AND YOUR COLLEAGUES TO GET IN AND OUT.

>> WINTER DOES BRING INJURIES AND ILLNESSES IN THREE MAIN BUCKETS.

ONE IS THE OBVIOUS FROM SLIPS AND FALLS, YOU GET SPRAINS, YOU CAN GET FRACTURES, BROKEN BONES LIKE LINDSEY VON'S FROM ITALY WE CAN SEE THAT INJURY ON OUR STREETS AS WELL.

ORTHOPAEDIC INJURIES ARE A BUCKET.

YOU SEE ONE BUCKET OF INJURIES OF EXASERBATIONS FROM CHRONIC CONDITIONS, PEOPLE ARE SHOVELING THEIR SNOW, EXERTING THEMSELVES MORE A THEY CAN END UP WITH HEART ATTRACTS OR STROKES OR SOMETIMES IT'S HARDER FOR PEOPLE TO GET TO THE PHARMACIES TO GET MEDICATIONS OR MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS SO PEOPLE LET THEIR CONDITIONS GET WORSE BEFORE THEY COME IN AND WE SEE SEVERE ILLNESSES AND THE INJURIES AND I WILL,S FROM THE COLD, HYPOTHERMIA AND FROSTBITE.

>> Jeff: LEGALITY'S REVIEW SOME THINGS.

STARTING WITH THE CLOTHES YOU ARE GOING TO WEAR AND EVERYBODY KNOWS TO DRESS WARMLY.

>> BUT WHAT DOES IT MEAN?

AND THERE IS A SCIENCE BEHIND IT.

THE KEY IS DRESSING IN LAYERS AND NOT FORGETTING EXPOSED PARTS, THE EARS, THE NOSE, FINGERS AND TOES.

THREE MAIN LAYERS BECAUSE IT'S NOT JUST THE COLD WE NEED TO PROTECT AGAINST BUT PRECIPITATION AND THE WIND.

YOU WANT YOUR FIRST LAYER ON YOUR BODY THE INNER MOST LAYER TO BE MOISTURE WICKING IN CASE YOU START TO SWEAT SO IT TAKES THAT SWEAT AWAY FROM YOUR BODY AND NOT COOL YOU OFF.

WOOL IS A NATURAL MOISTURE WICKING SUBSTANCE BUT THE SPORT OR COLD GEAR, BALTIMORE'S OWN UNDER ARMOR CAN HELP KEEP YOU DRY.

THE MIDDLE LAYER SHOULD BE LAYERS THAT TRAP AIR CLOSE TO YOUR BODY.

THINGS LIKE WOOL AS WELL OR FLEECE OR DOWN.

LIKE A LOT OF JACKETS ARE DOWN JACKETS OR SYNTHETIC ALTERNATIVES TO THIS.

>> AVOID THE COTTON SWEATER?

>> COTTON IS GOOD AT KEEPING TRAPPED ARROGANCE THE BODY.

COTTON, FLEECE, WOOL.

AND THEN YOUR OUTERMOST LAYER YOU WANT TO BE INSULATING AGAINST THE WIND AND THE RAIN.

CLOTHES THAT ADVERTISE WIND PROOF AND WATERPROOF, ARE A GOOD OUTER LAYER.

AS YOUEEP THOSE THREE LAYERS IN MIND THAT SHOULD KEEP YOU WARM AND DRY.

AND OF COURSE NOT FORGETTING THE WATERPROOF SHOES THAT SERVE AS GRIPY SHOES SO YOU ARE NOT SLIPPING.

>> THE NEXT ITEM ON THE LIST MAKES ME THINK OF A FRIEND WHO NEVER WORRY SOCKS.

5° OUT DIDN'T WANT TO WEAR SOCKS.

GLOVES, HATSNESS SOCKS?

>> ABSOLUTELY.

WHEN WE TALK ABOUT THE INJURIES LIKE HYPOTHERMIA AND FROSTBITE EXPOSED PARTS OF OUR BODY THAT DON'T GET AS MUCH BLOOD CIRCULATION, LIKE OUR CHEST AND STUFF LIKE THAT CAN BE MORE SUSCEPTIBLE TO FROSTBITE.

WE CAN'T PROTECT AGAINST OUR NOSE, EXCEPT BY WEARING A MASK, BUT WE CANREVENT HEAT LOSS FROM OUR HEAD BY WEARING HATS.

EARS WEARING SCARVES OR HATS THAT COME DOWN.

OUR FINGERS BY WEARING WARM GLOVES AND YOUR FEET, THICK, WARM SOCKS AND THEN WATERPROOF SHOES.

>> Jeff: GRIPY WATERPROOF SHOES.

>> TO PREVENT AGAINST SLIPPING.

>> Jeff: WE DON'T TAKE THE BOWLING SHOES OUT IN THE NEXT ICE STORM.

>> AND PEOPLE ARE WALKING WITH CROCKS AND THAT MAKES ME NERVOUS.

>> Jeff: GOLF SPIKES OR YOUR SOFTBALL CLEATS.

USE CAUTION WALKING ON ICE AND SNOW.

WE ALL THINK THAT EVERYBODY THINKS THEY ARE ABOVE AVERAGE IN EVERYTHING, BUT I DON'T THINK WHEN I'M ON THE ICY DRIVEWAY THAT I'M GOING TO FALL BUT I MIGHT.

>> AND NOBODY DOES AND THAT IS THE PROBLEM.

WHENEVER PEOPLE FALL IT IS A SURPRISE TO THEM NOBODY PLANS ON WAKING UP IN THE MORNING AND SAYING TODAY AT 9:00 A.M.

I HAVE A FALL SCHEDULED.

KEEPING IN MIND THAT YOU CAN SLIP.

YOU CAN FALL.

SO EVEN KNOWING HOW TO FALL OR HOLDING ON TO OBJECTS WHEN YOU ARE WALKING AND YOU DON'T HAVE THE STEADIEST WALK MAYBE IT'S NOT THE TIME TO LOAD YOUR GROCERIES UP INTO ONE TRIP ESPECIALLY CAUTION FOR PEOPLE WHO WALK WITH A CAPE OR WALKER THAT CAN BE MORE DIFFICULT AS WELL.

>> Jeff: WE THINK ABOUT HYDRATION IN AUGUST.

BUT IT'S IMPORTANT ALL THE TIME.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

SO HYDRATION, AS OUR BODIES GET COLDER WE HAVE A NATURAL RESPONSE TO GET RID OF MORE FLUID OFF OF US.

MAKING SURE WE MATCH THAT WITH INCREASED HYDRATION.

THINGS LIKE WARM FLUIDS, TEAS AND SOUPS MAKING SURE WE AVOID TOO MUCH THE DEHYDRATING LIQUIDS LIKE ALCOHOL, COFFEE TEA, AND ALSO STAYING WEL FED.

AS OUR BODIES TRY TO WARM OURSELVES, THEY DO SO BY SHIVERING AND SHIVERING BURNS A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF CALORIES.

IF YOU ARE PLANNING ON BEING OUTSIDE AND THE BODY NEEDS TO SHIVER TO STAY WARM IT NEEDS CALORIES TO SHIVER.

>> Jeff: I HAVE A GOOD VIEWER QUESTION.

LET'S TALK ABOUT THE LAST COUPLE OF POINTS YOUR CARBON MONOXIDE DETECTORS.

>> WINTER IS SUPPOSE ACCEPTABLE TIME TO CARBON DIOXIDE POISONING.

ANYTIME WE BURN FUEL CARBON MONOXIDE IS PRODUCED.

BURNING MORE STOVES, FURNACES, OVENS INSIDE IT PRODUCES CARBON MONOXIDE DURING THE WINTERTIME WITH OUR WINDOWS SEALED UP IT TRAPS GAS IN OUR HOUSES.

AND TO ADD INSULT TO INJURY, IT IS ODORLESS AND COLORLESS YOU DOPTSZ'S KNOW YOU ARE BEING EXPOSED UNLESS YOU KNOW YOUR DETECTOR IS WORKING.

>> Jeff: GETTING VACCINATED BOOST YOUR MOOD.

WHAT DO YOU HAVE IN MIND?

IT'S DARK AND COLD?

>> THE SUN IS SETTING A LITTLE BIT LATER.

>> Jeff: I LOVE THAT.

>> AOT OF PEOPLE GET SAD IN THE WINTER MONTHS.

THEY ARE MORE ISOLATED IT'S DARK OUTSIDE FOR LONGER.

MAKING SURE YOU HAVE A SUPPORT SYSTEM WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS THAT IF YOU CAN'T SEE THEM YOU ARE VIDEO CALLING EACH OTHER.

TRY TO PICK UP HOBBIES THINGS LIKE COOKING, READING THAT STUFF IS FINE AND ALSO TRY TO INCLUDE SOME THAT INCLUDE PHYSICAL ACTIVITY, GOING TO THE GYM AND DOING FITNESS CLASSES.

IF YOU ARE STRUGGLING KNOW THERE ARE MANY COMMUNITY RESOURCES PSYCHIATRISTS AND THERAPISTS READY TO HELP YOU THROUGH SOME OF THE DARKER MONTHS.

>> Jeff: A VIEWER HAS A QUESTION ABOUT AIRBORNE SALT DUST.

YOU ARE DRIVING DOWN THE ROAD AND CLOUDS OF THE STUFF ON OCCASION DEPENDING ON CIRCUMSTANCES ANY EVIDENCE THAT THAT HAS EVER BEEN HARMFUL TO SOMEBODY?

>> THAT IS AN EXCELLENT QUESTION.

I DON'T EXACTLY KNOW ABOUT THE SALT CLOUDS BUT I DO KNOW THAT WEATHER CONDITIONS AND AIR-CONDITIONS ARE TRACKED.

IF THERE ARE WARNINGS ABOUT AIR POLLUTION, THAT ARE RELEASED BY WEATHER SERVICES DEFINITELY HEED THE WARNINGS AND MAYBE IF IT IS A WINDY DAY OUTSIDE MAYBE THAT IS NOT THE TIME TO BE STAKING A STROLL.

>> Jeff: TIME FOR A COUPLE SENTENCES YOU HAVE SPECIALIZED TRAINING IN ENVIRONMENTAL AND WILDERNESS MEDICINE.

HADN'T HEARD OF THAT BEFORE.

TELL ME WHAT IT'S ABOUT.

>> WILDERNESS MEDICINE IS AN ODD NICHE FOR SOMEONE WHO PRACTICES IN BALTIMORE THE SUBSET OF EMERGENCY MEDICINE THAT DEALS WITH ILLNESSES SUSTAINED IN THE WILDERNESS, HYPOTHERMIA AND FROSTBITE AND HEAT STROKE AND DROWNINGS AND BITES AND STINGS AND ALTITUDE ILLNESSES.

A LOT OF THAT COMES FROM OUR CITY JUST KIND OF OUR URBAN WILDERNESS BECAUSE WE SEE A LOT IN THE CITY, TOO.

A LOT OF THE STUFF WE'RE TALKING ABOUT WE THINK ABOUT IT AS INJURIES FROM THE ENVIRONMENT.

>> Jeff: WE'LL TALK MORE ABOUT THIS SOMETIME WHEN IT MIGHT BE WEATHER FOR A HIKE OR SOMETHING.

Dr.

CHEYENNE FALAT IS ASSISTANT MEDICAL DIRECTOR OF ADULT EMERGENCY CARE AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND MEDICAL CENTER.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

>> MY PLEASURE.

>> Jeff: ON THE BOOK BEAT HERE IS NANCY YAMADA.

>> JOINING ME IS BECCA PEARCE, SHE IS THE AUTHOR OF A NEW BOOK TITLED "YOU DON'T HAVE TO ACHIEVE TO BE LOVED: ESCAPE THE LIES YOU'VE BEEN SOLD TO DESIGN THE LIFE YOU WANT."

BECAUSE THAT IS WHAT SHE DID AFTER A SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS IN HER LIFE REGARDING HER CAREER AND HER HEALTH.

WELCOME BECCA.

BEFORE WE TALK ABOUT THE BOOK, TELL US MORE ABOUT THE TWO PIVOTAL MOMENTS THAT REALLY AND HOW THEY WERE WAKE-UP CALLS.

>> FOR SURE.

THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME IN.

GLAD TO BE HERE.

IN 2011 AND 2013 DURING THAT TIME-FRAME I WAS ON "STATE CIRCLE" REGULARLY.

I WAS DOWN IN ANNAPOLIS.

I WAS HEAD OF THE OBAMACARE FOR THE STATE OF MARYLAND I RAN THE MARYLAND HEALTH BENEFIT EXCHANGE.

IN 2013 THAT DID NOT TURN ON THE WAY IT WAS SUPPOSED TO AND I LOST MY JOB PUBLICLY.

THAT WAS THE FIRST OF THESE THINGS THAT HAPPENED TO ME.

I HAD BEEN ON THIS CAREER PATH MOVING, MOVING AND ALL OF A SUDDEN, BOOM.

NO IDENTITY.

I HAD BEEN SO TIED TO THAT IDENTITY I WASN'T SUREHO I WAS.

FAST FORWARD 14 MONTHS, AND TO MAKE A RIDICULOUSLY LONG STORY SHORT I WENT FOR A HEARING EXAM AND WALKED OUT FINDING OUT I HAD A BRAIN TUMOR THE SIZE OF A PING PONG BALL AND I NEEDED SURGERY.

SO THAT RECOVERY COMING OFF THAT TABLE, MY FACE WAS PARALYZED FOR A YEAR I'M DEAF IN MY LEFT YEAR, BLIND IN MY EYE I HAD TO LEARN TO WALK AGAIN ALL THOSE THINGS WAS A WAKE UP TO SAY WAIT A MINUTE I DO NOT WANT TO BE ON THIS THREAD MILLION I'VE BEEN ON MY ENTIRE CAREER.

ITLLOWED ME TO START TO BEGIN TO CHANGE MY LIFE.

>> IN THE BOOK YOU LAYOUT THE STAGES TO MEANINGFUL CHANGE AND THE FIRST IS YOU HAVE TO HAVE THAT WAKE-UP CALL, AND THEIRST TWO STAGES YOU SAID ARE UNFORTUNATE AWARENESS AND MOURNING THE PAST.

TELL US ABOUT THOSE STAGES.

>> UNFORTUNATE AWARENESS IS INTERESTING BECAUSE YOU WAKE UP ONE DAY AND YOU SAY I'M NOT HAPPY.

EITHER I DON'T WANT TO GO TO WORK OR I DON'T LIKE THE JOB I'M IN.

FOR MANY PEOPLE, THIS ISN'T THE LIFE I WANT TO BE LIVING.

I'VE DONE EVERYTHING I'M SUPPOSED TO DO AND I'M NOT HAPPY.

THAT IS UNFORTUNATE AWARENESS BECAUSE YOU CANNOT UNSEE THE FACT THAT YOU ARE UNHAPPY.

WHAT HAPPENS IN THAT STAGE, PEOPLE GET STUCK BECAUSE THEY DON'T KNOW WHERE THEY ARE GOING TO GO AND WHAT THEY ARE GOING TO DO.

ONCE THEY COME TO THE TERMS OF THE FACT THEY WANT TO MOVE FORWARD YOU KNOW YOU'VE MOVED TO THE NEXT STAGE WHEN YOU THINK TO YOURSELF, WAIT, I LIKED WHO I WAS.

I KIND OF LIKED BEING C.E.O.

OF THE EXCHANGE.

I LIKED THAT PERSON I WAS.

SOMEBODY RECENTLY SAID I DIDN'T LIKE MY HUSBAND BUT I LIKED BEING MARRIED.

THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS THAT YOU ARE MOURNING THROUGH THE PAST AND THOSE ARE THE FIRST TWO STAGES OF THE FOUR-STAGE PROCESS.

AND THERE ARE CERTAIN THINGS YOU NEED TO COME TO TERMS WITH AND THAT IS WHAT WE LAYOUT IN THE BOOK.

THESE CORE IDEAS THAT YOU HAVE ABOUT YOURSELF OR THIS RECOGNITION THAT IT'S OKAY TO WANT SOMETHING NEW AND CHANGE THOSE ARE THE FIRST TWO STAGES YOU NEED TO GO THROUGH.

>> GOING BACK TO THE TITLE A LOT OF US HAVE BEEN CONDITIONED TO BELIEVE THAT MAYBE WE ARE NOT WORTHY OF YOU NAME IT, SUCCESS, LOVE, OR A FAVOR FROM A NEIGHBOR AS YOU WERE SAYING THERE WAS A BIG MEAL TRAIN FOR YOU AFTER YOUR SURGERY, AND AT FIRST IT WAS OVERWHELMING.

YOU KNOW, HOW DO WE GET PAST THAT FEELING?

BECAUSE THAT IS A NATURAL FEELING A LOT OF PEOPLE CARRY?

>> I THINK THAT IS WHAT I FOUND IN MY COACHING OVER THE LAST SEVERAL YEARS IT IS A VERY COMMON AND WHEN I TELL PEOPLE THE TITLE OF THE BOOK, THE ROOM GOES SILENT.

EVERYBODY'S THINKING ABOUT THAT AND EVERYBODY THINKS LIKE I DIDN'T REAL 0IZE I HAVE THAT RE BELIEF.

THAT IS WHERE YOU NEED TO START.

IT IS A CORE BELIEF THAT PEOPLE CARRY.

I MUST BLANK IN ORDER TO BLANK.

SO THE BOOK LAYS OUT A PROCESS FOR YOU TO GO THROUGH TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IS THAT CORE BELIEF THAT I'M CARRYING WITH ME.

MAY NOT BE EXACTLY ACHIEVE TO BE LOVED FOR EVERYBODY BUT THERE'S PROBABLY SOME VERSION OF THAT FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE AND THAT IS THE VERY FIRST THING IT'S COMING TO INTERPRETS WITH WHAT THAT CORE BELIEF IS AND RECOGNIZING THAT IT MAY NOT BE TRUE.

>> AND READING EXCERPTS YOU SAY TO LIVE INTENTIONALLY YOU HAVE TO BE GOOD AT SAYING NO.

WHAT DOES THAT MEAN?

>> EVERY TIME YOU SAY YES TO SOMETHING YOU ARE SAYING NO TO SOMETHING ELSE.

AND SO, I THINK, IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT FOR YOU TO RECOGNIZE WHAT IT IS THAT IS IMPORTANT TO YOU.

I USE THIS AS AN EXAMPLE BUT IT'S TRUE.

I WALK MY DOG FOR AN HOUR EVERYDAY.

IT'S COMPLETELY NONNEGOTIABLE.

I WILL TURN DOWN CLIENT MEETINGS, I WILL TURN DOWN I PROBABLY WOULD HAVE TURNED DOWN THIS INTERVIEW IF I WAS SUPPOSED TO BE WALKING MY DOG BECAUSE INTENTIONAL THAT PIECE OF TIME AND ENERGY FOR ME THAT IS MY REJUVENATION.

YOU NEED TO UNDERSTAND WHERE YOU ARE GETTING YOUR ENERGY FROM SO YOU CAN SAY NO TO THE THINGS THAT DON'T FEED YOU ANYMORE.

>> AND YOU TK ABOUT THE IMPORTANT OF VULNERABILITY.

HOW DO YOU DEFINE IT AND WHY DO YOU SAY UNLESS WE EMPTY BRACE ENVIRONMENT BUILT WE CANNOT -- VULNERABILITY WE CANNOT CHANGE?

>> I WOULD DRIVE TO WORK I WOULD CRY ALL THE WAY AND REPUT MY MAKEUP ON.

BUT IT MAKES YOU INHUMAN, VERY DIFFICULT FOR PEOPLE TO CONNECT TO.

WHEN I CAME OUT OF SURGERY I WAS FORCED INTO VULNERABILITY.

MY DAUGHTER HAD TO WALK ME TO THE BATHROOM AT SEVEN YEARS OLD.

TALK ABOUT VULNERABILITY.

IT IS THIS UNLESS YOU BEGIN TO LET GO AND LET PEOPLE SEE YOU AND PEOPLE RECOGNIZE WHO YOU ARE AND WHAT YOU WANT, YOU CAN'T ACTUALLY GO THROUGH THE CHANGE THAT YOU WANT TO GO THROUGH.

>> AS HARD, I IMAGINE, AS HARD AS THOSE EVENTS WERE THAT YOU HAD TO LIVE THROUGH, YOUR HEALTH, AND THE LOSS OF YOUR CAREER, ARE YOU IN A BETTER PLACE NOW?

>> I AM.

I WILL NEVER, EVER, SAY THAT I'M HAPPY THAT I HAD A BRAIN TUMOR.

AT THE SAME TIME, I'M A TOTALLY DIFFERENT PERSON I'M HAPPIER, I'M HEALTHIER, I HAVE A BETTER HOME LIFE I AM A BETTER WIFE, MOTHER, DAUGHTER, ALL THOSE THINGS PUT TOGETHER BECAUSE I'M NOT SOLELY FOCUSED ON ACHIEVING AND FOCUSED ON MY CAREER.

>> I LOVE THAT.

BECCA PEARCE THANK YOU.

THE BOOK IS CALLED "YOU DON'T HAVE TO ACHIEVE TO BE LOVED: ESCAPE THE LIES YOU'VE BEEN SOLD TO DESIGN THE LIFE YOU WANT.".

YOU CAN FIND IT ON AMAZON IT IS A GREAT TOPIC TO EXPLORE AS WE MAP OUT OUR GOALS FOR THE NEW YEAR.

THANKS SO MUCH.

>> THANK YOU.

>> Jeff: NOW THE BEYA CONFERENCE KNOWN AS THE BLACK ENGINEER OF THE AWARDS KICKS OFF IN BALTIMORE WE ARE JOINED BY TYRONE TABORN THE FOUNDER OF THE EVENT.

SIR, THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

AND CONGRATULATIONS ON 40 YEARS.

>> THANK YOU FOR THIS INTERVIEW.

AND WE'RE SO EXCITED ABOUT THE YA CONFERENCE.

AND HOW WE REALLY FRAME THIS COMMUNITY.

BECOMING EVERYTHING YOU ARE.

BEYA TAKES OUR YOUNG PEOPLE FROM PREKINDERGARTEN, HIGH SCHOOL, ENTRY LEVEL GOING INTO THE WORKFORCE AND PROFESSIONALS.

ALL OF THIS BLENDED COMMUNITY THAT THEY HAPPEN TO COME TO BALTIMORE, FOR THIS ONE CELEBRATION BUT THROUGHOUT THE YEAR THEY ARE COMPLETELY FOCUSED ON A COMMUNITY THAT IS BUILDING WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT.

LOOKING AT HOW DO WE PREPARE OUR WORKFORCE TO ENTER INTO A NEW WORLD WHERE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, QUANTUM COMPUTING, CYBERSECURITY ARE DRIVING EVERY SEGMENT OF THE WORKFORCE.

AND THAT'S WHAT THIS YEAR'S BEYA IS REALLY FOCUSED ON.

HOW DO WE UPSCALE OUR EXISTING WORKFORCE?

HOW DO WE INTRODUCE YOUNG PEOPLE ENTERING INTO A NEW ECONOMY THAT THEY HAVE NEVER SEEN BEFORE AND THAT WE HELP THEM PREPARE FOR THESE NEW EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES.

>> Jeff: WELL, I'M CURIOUS ABOUT THAT FOR THE PEOPLE THAT YOU TALK TO YOU INTERACT WITH IN THE ENGINE ABOUTERRING WORLD, THE VETERANS, THE C 1W50E9 PEOPLE, THE STUDENTS, ARE THEY FROM YOUR PERSPECTIVE FEELING THREATENED BY A.I., EMPOWERED BY IT?

WHAT DO YOU SEE HAPPENING?

>> THERE IS A COMBINATION OF ALL.

I THINK MOST PEOPLE WHO ARE FOCUSING IN ON IT, THEY ARE UNDERSTANDING THE POWER OF THESE THREE AREAS.

AGAIN, ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE, QUANTUM COMPUTING AND CYBERSECURITY TO INCREASE PRODUCTIVITY.

AND HOW CAN YOU DO THINGS SMARTER?

HOW ARE WE ABLE TO USE OUR CREATIVITY A LOT MORE RATHER THAN HAVING TO WRITE THE CODE.

YOU KNOW, JEFF, IN THE OLD DAYS YOU WOULD SPEND 70% OF YOUR TIME TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THE TOOLS.

30% OF YOUR TIME ACTUALLY USING THE TOOLS.

NOW, WITH THE NEW TOOLS YOU ARE SPENDING MAYBE 30% OF YOUR TIME LEARNING HOW TO USE THE TOOLS AND 70% OF THE TIME.

SO EVEN IN YOUR FIELD, YOU CAN NOW USE A LOT OF PILOTS AND AGENTS TO INCREASE THE AMOUNT OF CREATIVITY YOU ARE ABLE TO PUT OUT.

BUT THIS IS WHAT I WILL SAY.

THAT THOSE PEOPLE WHO ARE ABLE TO UNDERSTAND A.I., IMPLEMENT A.I., THEY WILL BE AROUND.

A.I.

IS NOT GOING TO REPLACE YOU AS MUCH AS YOUR TEAMMATE WHO UNDERSTANDS HOW TO USE THESE TOOLS.

THAT IS THE PERSON WHO WILL REPLACE YOU.

>> Jeff: IN PRODUCING THE CONFERENCE THIS YEAR, HOW MUCH TIME DO -- HOW MANY EVENTS DO YOU DEDICATE TO A.I.?

>> WE HAVE OVER 50 SEMINARS.

THE BEYA CONFERENCE WHICH IS WHY THE TAGLINE IS BECOMING EVERYTHING YOU ARE, THE BEYA CONFERENCE IS ALWAYS BEEN ONE OF THE NATION'S LARGEST WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE.

WE HAVE ALWAYS CONCENTRATED ON TRAINING.

THE THOUSANDS OF HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS WHO ATTEND, THEY ARE RECEIVING AND THEY HAVE RECEIVED OVER 40 YEARS HOURS OF INFORMATIONAL TECH SEMINARS, ANYTHING FROM HOW TO CODE TO GETTING A SOCIAL SECRET SERVICE CLEARANCE.

HOW TO USE THE WEBSITE SO YOU DON'T GET IN TROUBLE LATER.

THESE ARE THE SKILLS WE HAVE BEEN TRAINING.

WHAT WE'RE DOING AT BEYA, IS WHAT WE'RE NOW CALLING STACKABLE CERTIFICATIONS.

LET ME EXPLAIN WHAT THAT MEANS.

MORE AND MORE COMPANIES UNDERSTANDING THAT FOUR YEARS IS WAY TOO LATE TO TRAIN A RKFORCE, MORE AND MORE INDIVIDUALS ARE DOING CERTIFICATES.

THERE ARE 10 BNG ON-LINE INSTITUTIONS LIKE THE UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND GLOBAL CAMPUS.

THEY ARE ATTENDING ANNE ARUNDEL COMMUNITY COLLEGE WHERE I GAVE THE KEYNOTE OF THE GRADUATION ADDRESS SOME YEARS AGO.

WONDERFUL PROGRAM CERTIFICATIONS THAT THEY DO THERE.

EMPLOYERS ARE FINDING THAT SHORT-TERM CERTIFICATION WITH ALL OF THIS CHANGING TECHNOLOGY IS A BETTER INDICATOR OF THE SUCCESS THAT THEY ARE GOING TO GET OUT OF THEIR WORKFORCE.

A BEYA CONFERENCE FROM THURSDAY UNTIL SATURDAY OFFERING 50 CLASSES AND CERTIFICATION FROM MORGAN STATE UNIVERSITY, IT ALLOWS AN EMPLOYER TO SEND THEIR EMPLOYEE THERE AND ACTUALLY GET SOMEONE BETTER WITH BETTER SKILL SETS THAN THEY HAD BEFORE.

>> Jeff: INTERESTING WORLD WHERE THE ADVANCED DEGREE IN ENGINEERING THAT YOU EARNED A COUPLE DECADES AGO IS LESS IMPORTANT THAN HAVING THAT A.I.

CERTIFICATE ON YOUR RESUME?

>> THEY ARE BOTH IMPORTANT AND I WOULD NEVER WANT TO DISSUADE ANYONE FROM CONTINUING THAT.

BUT I THINK WE'RE LEARNING BEING LIFELO.

THAT A NUMBER EVEN WITH A PH.D.

AND A NUMBER OF MY GOOD FRIENDS AND ENGINEERING WITH PLD'S ADVANCED ENGINEERING, THEY ARE TAKING CERTIFICATION PROGRAMS.

THEY ARE REALIZING THAT WITH ALL OF THAT KNOWLEDGE, IT MAY ONLY BE A FOUNDATION, BUT WHAT THEY ARE LOOKING AT NOW IS NEW.

YOU KNOW, WE ARE IN AN ENVIRONMENT THAT I'M NOT SURE MOST OF OUR CITIZENS UNDERSTAND.

THIS IS NOT SIMPLY A CONTINUING GROWTH IN TECHNOLOGY.

BUT THIS IS A MAJOR TRANSFORMATION IN TECHNOLOGY.

IT'S UNLIKE ANYTHING WE'VE EVER SEEN AND IT'S SWEEPING THE WORLD.

AT A PACE THAT WE'VE NEVER SEEN BEFORE.

SO THE GOOD THING IS THIS... YOU DON'T HAVE TO SPEND EIGHT YEARS, 12 YEARS TRYING TO CATCH UP.

YOU CAN GET INTO THIS FIELD RIGHT AWAY.

THAT IS VERY, VERY POSITIVE.

IT'S WHAT WE CALL SKILL BASED TECHNOLOGY.

APPRENTICESHIP IS JUST AS IMPORTANT, I BELIEVE, AS A FOUR-YEAR DEGREE.

>> Jeff: FOR ANYBODY WATCHING WHO WANTS TO GET INTOHIS EXCITING FIELD, BEST PLACE TO GO IS -- BY THE WAY A WELL ENGINEERED WEBSITE AT BEYA STEM MDTX.COM.

>> YES.

AND THE DTX STANDS FOR DIGITAL TWIN.

THERE'S TWO WAYS OF APPROACHING THIS.

BEYA IS COMPLETELY FREE.

AND I ENCOURAGE ANYONE WITHIN EARSHOT ATTEND A CAREER FAIR.

IT STARTS FRIDAY AND SATURDAY.

WHERE YOU WILL SEE GREAT EMPLOYERS SUCH AS THE UNITED STATES NAVY, YOU WILL SEE LOCKHEED MARTIN, GENERAL DYNAMICSBOEING CORPORATION, BG AND E THOSE COMPANIES WHO ARE ABSOLUTELY COMMITTED TO FINDING THE BEST TALENT POSSIBLE.

YOU WILL SEE SOME OF TH TOP UNIVERSITIES, UMBC, THAT SENDS MORE STUDENTS THAN ANYONE ELSE.

MORGAN STATE UNIVERSITY, WEAR BEYA ACTUALLY STARTED 40 YEARS AGO.

BUT IF YOU CAN'T MAKE IT, YOU CAN ALSO PARTICIPATE ON-LINE ATTEND THE VIRTUAL JOB FAIR AND SEE A LOT OF THESE GREAT EMPLOYERS AT THE SAME TIME.

>> Jeff: TYRONE TABORN APECIATE YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU, SIR.

>> I APPRECIATE YOU AND THANK YOU.

>> Jeff: AND THAT IS "DIRECT CONNECTION" FOR THIS WEEK WE'RE BACK FRIDAY WITH "STATE CIRCLE" JOIN US FRIDAY EVENING AT 7:00 P.M.

REMEMBER JOIN US WEDNESDAY FOR THE GOVERNOR'S STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS.

MPT WILL CARRY THE SPEECH LIVE AT NOON WITH A REPLAY AT 7:00 P.M.

WE WILL ALSO HAVE A REPUBLICAN VIEW OF THE STATE OF OUR STATE.

NOW, FOR ALL OF US AT MPT THANK YOU FOR WATCHING AND HAVE A GOOD NIGHT.

[♪♪]