Jamy Bechler

Providing Insights on Leadership and Success. Coach Bechler is a John Maxwell Leadership Team Member.

Episode 087: World Champion Gamer Stephanie Harvey

Stephanie Harvey, known as “Miss Harvey”, is one of the pioneers in the gaming industry. She is a 5-time eSports world champion. She is probably best known for playing Counter-Strike and Counter-Strike: Global Offensive (GS:GO). She currently plays for the Counter Logic Gaming Red team. Stephanie has worked with Ubisoft Montreal since 2009. She worked on Prince of Persia: The Forgotten Sands (XBOX 360, PS3, PC) and James Noir’s Hollywood Crimes (3DS). In December 2016, she won the 3rd season of the popular TV show “Canada’s Smartest Person”. The French-Canadian was recently-signed by Hewlett-Packard Canada to be its face in the gaming world. 

 

In today’s episode, we discuss:

  • Teamwork needed on eSports teams
  • What video games she played while growing up
  • Dealing with trash talk or criticism, especially as a female
  • Her passion for NHL hockey

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5 Things I Wish I Knew As A Young Coach

As a college basketball coach for nearly 20 years, I had many experiences that I was proud of. But, I also made my share of mistakes, especially early in my career. Now that I have left coaching to work with teams as a leadership trainer and consultant, I look back on my career and offer up five things that I wish I knew when I first started out in coaching.

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Episode 086: Bernard Robichaud from Trailer Park Boys

Boston-born, Canadian-based, actor, writer and comic, Bernard Robichaud, known to fans worldwide as Cyrus, the gun toting, drug dealing nemesis from the hit television series Trailer Park Boys, started his life in the spotlight as a sought after model. That is, until the day he crossed paths with a Toronto talent agent, who insisted he missed his calling and should try his hand at acting. With that advice in mind, Bernard enrolled in the Theatre Arts program at Dalhousie University and later honed his skills under the private tutelage of esteemed vocal coach Dorothy Ward, and later under the wings of award winning director Tom Kerr at the prestigious Neptune Theatre.

Believe it or not, this athletic man who grew up playing hockey and basketball and today is an avid golfer was hired to voice the characters of both Robert and Becky in the CBC radio drama In Becky’s Name. Governor General Award winning playwright and author, Kent Stetson, took the liberty of contacting ACTRA on Bernard’s behalf, stating that anyone who could play a man and women on radio in their first performance deserved to be given their professional status…and he was, and he hasn’t looked back.

His uncanny talent of being able to transform himself into a rough and tumble lowlife to a ruggedly handsome good guy has garnered Bernard a variety of most interesting roles over his career including performing alongside such Hollywood icons as James Caan and Kathy Bates. Most recently he was seen in Sea Change on Lifetime movies, based on New York Times best selling author Aimee Friedman, which everyone hopes will go to camera in the near future as a series. He also starred in Blue Seduction co-starring Billy Zane and Estella Warren, and American Sunset, co-staring with his friend, the late Corey Haim. Bernard also had a recurring role as Kirk in the hit Showcase TV series, Haven.

Bernard was very unexpectedly diagnosed on Oct 6, 2017 with Prostate Cancer after a routine visit to the doctor. He is now cancer-free and is an advocate for the fight against cancer. 

In today’s episode, we discuss:

  • Growing up playing hockey and basketball
  • Why he doesn’t watch any of his movies or TV shows
  • Battling prostrate cancer and what advice he has for others
  • His acting career

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Episode 085: Drew Dinkmeyer, “Welly-Maker” Charity Water Organizer

Drew Dinkmeyer is one of the most respected experts in the fantasy sports industry. Along with Mike Leone, they co-founded DailyRoto, which is one of the most accurate and comprehensive research sites for fantasy sports. In 2013, at the age of 31, Dinkmeyer left his job as a financial investment analyst behind to become one of just a handful of fantasy sports professionals. In December of 2014, he won a million dollars in a football contest on Draftkings. 

In 2017, Drew was named the “Humanitarian of the Year” by the Fantasy Sports Trade Association (FSTA) for his work as the organizer of the Welly-Maker.  The Welly-Maker ultimately raised over $40,000 and provided clean water solutions for more than 1,300 people. In 2018, Drew launched Welly-Maker 2.0 and pledged to match up to $40,000.

“Dinkpiece”, as he is known in the fantasy world, earned an Ivy league degree in Psychological and Brain Studies (which means he is really smart) from Dartmouth University. Drew also played Division I Tennis – where he is 2nd all-time in wins. He worked for Morgan Stanley as a an investment analyst. He has been featured in both Maxim and the Wall Street Journal, as well as being interviewed by NPR. 

In today’s episode, we discuss:

  • His passion for sports
  • Advice for starting to play fantasy sports
  • The need for clean water in third-world countries
  • Why he started the “Welly-Maker”

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Speak like a Champ

“There are two types of speakers: Those who get nervous and those who are liars.” (Mark Twain)

My 6th grade year was coming to a close. It had been a good year.

I had won my fair share of kickball games at recess.  My “Killer B’s” tag team won homemade wrestling belts at our improvised events during lunch.  And maybe most memorably, I received my first kiss from a girl not named “Mom”.

But there was one thing left to do…

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