Meet the Authors Who Trust Ballast Books

Drew Dusebout has always had an entrepreneurial spirit. He ran a paper route as a young boy, started his own business selling cowboy hats as a teenager, was instrumental in building out a new niche in the financial services industry after graduating college, and co-founded a movement to rise up young people to help solve the world’s water crisis as a parent. He has taken his passion to think out of the box and his love of adventure to promote change, serve, and lead in a variety of ways. Drew lives in Santa Barbara, California, with his wife, Vicki. He has three children and two grandchildren.

Gunnery Sergeant Tom Oliva entered the United States Marine Corps in 1986 and retired in 2006. Throughout his twenty-year military career, he worked in aviation life support systems on fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft. Tom participated in three combat tours in the Middle East between 2002 and 2005.  Tom grew up on and now lives on Long Island, New York. He works in the aerospace industry and spends his spare time writing. A Day Like Any Other is his first novel.

Sam Carpenter has owned/operated Cetratel for over four decades. With a background in engineering, construction management, publishing, and journalism, he and his wife, Diana, have recently relocated from Bend, Oregon, to rural Kentucky. Sam’s outside interested include mountaineering, rucking with their hounds, skiing, writing, property development, and travel. Work the System: The Simple Mechanics of Making More and Working Less was first published in 2008. His second book, The Systems Mindset: Managing the Machinery of Your Life was published in 2016 with the second edition to be released in summer of 2025. Sam is the founder and director of the nonprofit Kashmir Family Aid.

Mike S. Adams graduated from Mississippi State University in 1993 with a PhD in criminology and became a professor at the University of North Carolina at Wilmington (UNCW). He also wrote columns for Townhall and The Daily Wire and spoke frequently on First Amendment and pro-life issues. Although Mike twice won the Faculty Member of the Year Award, in 2006, he was denied a promotion to full professor and filed suit in federal court, alleging that UNCW had retaliated against him. The lawsuit set up a legal challenge concerning whether Garcetti v. Ceballos (2006) applied to college professors. In 2014, Mike finally won before a jury in federal court in North Carolina. He passed away in 2020.

Adam DeMarco is a graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point as well as Georgetown University’s Walsh School of Foreign Service and McDonough Business School. He is a field artillery officer with mobilizations and deployments in support of multiple overseas contingency operations. He is also a successful business consultant with experience working across public and private sectors, along with being a nonprofit leader and civic organizer. Adam currently resides in Washington, DC, with his dog, George.

Ashton Pienaar is perhaps best known for his role on Bravo’s hit reality TV show Below Deck. He appeared on season six as a deckhand and was so popular that he was invited back as a bosun on season seven. One of his most notable experiences on the show was when he nearly lost his life after being dragged into the water from his foot being caught in a line. Fortunately, he was saved by a quick-thinking cameraman.

As is the case with all reality TV stars, Ashton was both loved and hated by viewers of Below Deck. This motivated him to wholeheartedly focus on his mindset and personal development after the show. Since his time on Below Deck, Ashton has inspired countless fans by steadfastly improving every area of his life, including achieving sobriety. Today, Ashton is three years sober and eager to help others rise up from rock bottom the way he did.

Although he grew up in Johannesburg, South Africa, Ashton now lives in Raleigh, North Carolina. He is the founder and CEO of AP-Elite, a fitness and health company dedicated to helping others achieve optimal health and fulfillment in their own lives through custom nutrition, training, and mindset coaching.

Dr. Jeffrey Kuhlman is the longest tenured physician assigned to support the White House (1997 to 2013), notably as White House Medical Unit Director for President Bush and Physician to the President for President Obama. He is the only individual to serve as physician to the president, WHMU director, White House physician, Camp David physician, Cabinet physician, flight surgeon aboard Air Force One, and Marine One flight surgeon. He completed medical training at Loma Linda University School of Medicine, Johns Hopkins Hospital, and the Naval Aerospace Medical Institute. Dr. Kuhlman is board certified in aerospace, family, and occupational medicine as well as medical management. He has provided medical care in over ninety countries and maintains board certification, DEA registration, and active medical licensure in several states.

David Runge holds a B.S. in psychology from Ohio State University and earned M.Ed. and Ed.S. degrees from Georgia State University, specializing in counseling and psychological studies. He also completed a theological curriculum and counseling practicum at the Psychological Studies Institute in Atlanta. With a rich background, he has served as a marriage and family counselor, business jet pilot, homeland missionary, and pastor. David has contributed to ministry teams across Belize, Jamaica, Appalachia, Haiti, Mexico, India, and Africa. Now retired, he resides in Columbus, Indiana, where he volunteers with local ministries aiding the incarcerated and addiction recovery communities in addition to serving on the church prayer team. David, along with his wife Kathy, takes pleasure in the company of their mini labradoodle, Buckeye, and enjoys spending time with their adult son, Daniel, and his new family nearby.

Jason Van Camp is a decorated Green Beret who attended and played football at West Point before earning his US Army Ranger tab and Special Forces tab. He served as a Detachment Commander with 10th Special Forces Group before deploying to war zones in the Middle East and Africa, receiving three Bronze Stars, one with a “V device” for Valor.

Meet Pete Kusiak, the franchise guru who knows how to bring fun into business. With over twenty years of experience owning businesses, coaching business owners, and training business leaders around the world, he’s a master at turning fun into success. Pete’s innovative strategies have led to incredible growth in sales and employee engagement. By implementing The Fun First Strategy™, Pete motivates teams, improves company culture, and drives sales and operations to new heights. He holds certifications in happiness coaching and human resources consulting. When he’s not working his magic, you can find Pete enjoying quality time with his family in Charlotte, North Carolina, running marathons, and sipping tropical drinks in the Caribbean.

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Master Sergeant (Ret.) Darrell Utt has displayed a commitment to excellence and extraordinary service throughout his decorated military career, consistently exemplifying the qualities of a dedicated and exemplary leader. Raised in Huntington, West Virginia, Utt joined the elite Green Berets and led high-stakes missions in hostile environments worldwide. Known for his tactical acumen and strategic thinking, Utt’s leadership combines humility, discipline, and dedication, inspiring his team and fostering unity. He also mentors aspiring soldiers and Green Berets, sharing his knowledge and instilling values of courage, selfless service, duty, and loyalty. Utt’s awards include five Bronze Star Medals, one with valor for heroism in Baghdad (2006), and the Larry Thorne Award for best operational detachment in the 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne). He also received the Robert T. Frederick Award for military excellence in 2007. Utt retired from the US Army in January 2017 and now resides with his wife in Denton County, Texas.

Lex Van der Ploeg’s religious upbringing led him to search for answers to the meaning of life, which inspired the publication of I Am Machine. Lex is actively involved in writing a series of novels on the philosophy of life from a scientific, physics, and mathematical perspective. Having worked as a tenured faculty member at Columbia University as well as in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industry, Lex’s expertise has included the development of diagnostics and therapeutics for cancer, neurodegenerative disorders, metabolic disorders, and infectious diseases.

To learn more about Lex, please visit https://www.carbopublishers.com/.

David Adams is a retired computer programmer. He enjoys photography and traveling with his wife and is dedicated to keeping Mike’s legacy alive. Mike and David were born in Columbus, Mississippi, and grew up in Houston near NASA, where their parents worked.

“Let’s get our hands dirty and make stuff.”

That’s the family motto of impressionist artist Emily “EMYO” Ozier. A Tennessee girl with Cuban roots, EMYO has lived a life full of art. From paper dolls wearing napkin dresses to a 3D house for a family of painted bumblebees, EMYO spent her childhood creating.

Today, EMYO lives and creates art alongside her husband and six children on a grassy piece of land in Tennessee. Her art is featured in galleries across the country, all the way from Palm Beach to Portland, Maine, and is collected far and wide. Her paintings are layered with inspiration. From her Cuban heritage and her impressionist training to the love, laughter, and gratitude that fills her home.

Dana Green has held the title of the top realtor in Lafayette, California, since 2008 and in the combined Lafayette, Moraga, and Orinda regions (Lamorinda), California, since 2010. Her unwavering passion and innovative approach to the real estate industry have positioned her as a trailblazer in Bay Area residential real estate. Dana was among the pioneers to adopt a “team” concept in the real estate business, creating a model where each team member plays a crucial and expert role in the transaction process. This strategic teamwork consistently yields meaningful real estate results by maintaining a dedicated focus on process, execution, and community engagement.

Boasting an impressive track record with over $2.5 billion in real estate sales and more than 1100 homes sold, Dana Green has established herself as a market influencer, a natural connector, and a true master of her craft. She has received numerous accolades that reflect her exceptional contributions, including being honored as the MVP of Bay Area real estate by LuxeSF and RealTrends in 2019, and earning the title of Business Person of the Year by the Lafayette Chamber of Commerce in 2018. Dana’s commitment to ethical business practices was recognized with the Better Business Bureau’s prestigious Torch Award for Ethics in 2021. Additionally, she has been a recurring presence on the RISMedia Real Estate Newsmaker list and consistently ranks as one of the top mid-size teams on the RealTrends list of the Top 1,000 U.S. Agents. Notably, she has received the Five-Star Customer Service Award for an impressive 11 consecutive years.

Dana Green’s impact extends beyond her professional success as she has made significant contributions to the Lafayette community. Her deep-rooted relationships and commitment to creating positive outcomes benefit not only her business but also the wider community. Dana has generously donated over $500,000 to local non-profit organizations, underscoring her strong belief in giving back and maintaining a strong connection to the communities and industry she serves. She is currently serving her second term as a Board Member for Make-A-Wish Greater Bay Area, showcasing her dedication to making dreams come true. As an industry leader, Dana frequently serves as a guest speaker to realtors across the country and takes joy in teaching classes to her industry peers. Dana Green’s educational background includes a Bachelor of Arts in communications with an emphasis in public relations from the University of the Pacific. Her commitment to excellence, ethical standards, and community enrichment continues to shape the real estate landscape in Lafayette and the broader Bay Area.

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Jonathan Lack is a serial entrepreneur and turnaround specialist focused on top-line growth for bottom-line results. Jonathan has over thirty years of experience in management and strategic planning in both consumer and business-to-business markets (e.g., startups, mid-size, and Fortune 500) in over fifteen industries.

Jonathan started consulting in residential real estate in 2018, initially helping the Carey Hagglund Condy team with its strategic planning resulting in the firm becoming the #1 Compass Marin County team in 2022 and currently in 2023. Since July 2021, Jonathan has been the president & COO of the Beverly Hills-based Sally Forster Jones Group, one of the nation’s top luxury residential real estate teams. Jonathan has conducted strategic planning webinars in conjunction with Steve Shull of Performance Coaching. He is currently working on a strategic planning book for real estate rainmakers titled You Can’t Scale Chaos. Jonathan is also the author of Plan to Turn Your Company Around in 90 Days.

Jonathan earned an MBA from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business, an MA in International Relations from Johns Hopkins University’s School for Advanced International Studies (SAIS), and a BA in Middle East Studies from the University of California at Berkeley.

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Rodney Magallan, a respected subject matter expert in protective operations and personal security operations, has vast experience in semi-permissive and non-permissive environments. Over the past thirty-five years, he has served as a Navy SEAL, with the US Marshals Service, with the CIA, and as an executive protection manager in the corporate and private sector.

After completing boot camp and “A” school, he volunteered for Basic Underwater Demolition/SEAL training and graduated with class 143 in July of 1987. His first SEAL command was SEAL Team 4, and he deployed three times before detaching in December 1991. He then attended an Army special forces medical sergeants course and graduated in 1993. CDR Magallan was subsequently selected to serve with SEAL Team 6 with whom he deployed six times. In 1997, he received orders to Special Boat Unit 20 as the senior medical department representative. He was quickly identified to help lead the development and implementation of the maritime craft air delivery system as well as train the sailors who would be operating this new capability. In 2000, he pursued federal law enforcement and affiliated with the naval reserves.

CDR Magallan spent five years in civilian federal service as a deputy US marshal for the Southern District of Texas, a protective agent for the Global Response Staff with the CIA, and the lead instructor responsible for training other protective agents. After, Rodney spent four years as a civilian executive protection specialist. He also gained corporate experience with Walmart and private experience with Watermark.

In 2002, CDR Magallan received his commission as a naval special warfare officer. He was mobilized in 2007 to Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa as the task unit commander. In 2009, he redesignated as a full-time support officer and was assigned to Naval Special Warfare Support Activity Team One. He deployed in 2010 with SEAL Team 3 to Joint Special Operation Task Force – Philippines as a cross-functional team officer in charge. In the subsequent years, CDR Magallan maintained his stellar record of service with SEAL Team 17 and SEAL Team 18 among others, acting as operations officer, commanding officer, or executive officer at different commands. In September of 2021, CDR Magallan retired from US naval service at the rank of commander with the status of honorable service.

CDR Magallan has been awarded the Exceptional Performance Award by the CIA, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal (one gold star), the Joint Service Commendation Medal, the Navy and Marine Corps Commendation Medal (four gold stars), the Joint Service Achievement Medal, the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal (one gold star), the Armed Forces Service Medal, three flag letters of commendation, and various other unit and personal awards.

Rodney Magallan is a level-two instructor certified under CIA University, a Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers firearms instructor (qualified as a weapons expert), and an apprentice instructor in Thai boxing and Kali under Sifu Pat Tray Trident Martial Arts. He resides in Georgetown, Texas, with his loving wife, Veronica; his daughter, Raigan; his son, Evan; and their chihuahua, Jilli Boo.