Brian Gongol

contact information is available at www.gongol.com/contact

Education

University of Northern Iowa - B.A. Economics (General Economics): Cedar Falls, Iowa • graduated May 2001; College of Business Administration • major G.P.A. 3.54, overall G.P.A. 3.88 (Summa Cum Laude)
University of Northern Iowa - B.A. Communications (Electronic Media) with minor in Business Administration: Cedar Falls, Iowa • graduated May 2001; College of Humanities and Fine Arts • major G.P.A. 3.93, minor G.P.A. 4.00, overall G.P.A. 3.88 (Summa Cum Laude); Purple and Old Gold Award
Valley High School: West Des Moines, Iowa • graduated May 1997 with honors

Employment

Outside Sales Engineer and Vice President - D.J. Gongol & Associates, Inc.: April 2002 to present
Owner - The Northern Republic Co.: December 2005 to present; Design and maintenance of websites and Internet services
Talk-Show Host - WHO-AM: September 2003 to present; Host, "Brian Gongol Show" - September 2003 to present; Co-host, "WHO Radio Wise Guys" - October 2004 to present; Substitute host, "Deace in the Afternoon" - July 2006 to present; Named Des Moines' "Best Radio Personality" by readers of Cityview - February 2007
Marketing Consultant - Clear Channel Communications, KKDM-FM, Iowa Radio Network: May 2001 to March 2002; Negotiates contracts for radio and outdoor advertising; Maintains business-to-business relationships; Creates and implements marketing plans for consumer products and services
Communications Operations Intern, Business Development Assistant - Cedar Falls Utilities: February 2000 to May 2001; Conducts financial analyses of ventures by municipally-owned broadband telecommunications utility; Performs feasibility research and prepares reports for Board of Trustees and FCC; Assisted manager in composition of business and marketing plans
Speaker of the Senate - Northern Iowa Student Government: May 1998 to April 2001; Acts as public representative of the Senate and maintains NISG website; Prepares agenda and conducts weekly meetings of the Senate; Interviews and appoints Senators to fill vacancies; Hires and supervises Recording Secretary
News Anchor, General-Assignment Reporter, and Technical Director - WHO-AM, Iowa Radio Network: June 1997 to May 2001; Contributed to ABC Radio News and UPI; Assistant Webmaster, www.whoradio.com

Publications

"Ten Big Answers You Won't Get from a Politician": Paperback (103 pages) • published December 2005
"Ten Big Answers for Iowa's Future": Paperback • publication forthcoming
www.gongol.com: Various essays and articles

Skills and Certifications

CPR (American Heart Association): Heartsaver AED • last renewed August 2008
American Sign Language: ASL Level 1 • December 2008; ASL Level 2 • December 2009; ASL Level 3 • May 2010

Presentations Given and Short Courses Taught

"Lagoon Liners and Baffles": Nebraska Wastewater Operators Division Snowball Conference • Kearney, Nebraska • January 2008
"Lagoons and Small Treatment Plants": Spring Short Course • West Des Moines, Iowa • April 2004
"Maintenance Best Practices for Utilities": Nebraska Section American Water Works Association Annual Convention • Kearney, Nebraska • November 2009
"Media Relations for the Water Industry": Nebraska Section American Water Works Association Annual Convention • Kearney, Nebraska • November 2008; Nebraska Wastewater Operators Division Snowball Conference • Kearney, Nebraska • January 2009; League of Nebraska Municipalities Utilities Section Conference • Lincoln, Nebraska • January 2010
"The 100-Year Business Plan": Noon Des Moines Estate and Financial Planners Group • Des Moines, Iowa • February 2009
"Practical Tips for Effective Communications": League of Nebraska Municipalities Utilities Section Conference • Lincoln, Nebraska • January 2010
"Preserving Institutional Memory": Nebraska Section American Water Works Association Annual Convention • Kearney, Nebraska • November 2009
"Self-Priming Pumps": Iowa Rural Water Association Pump Workshop • Johnston, Iowa • November 2008; Iowa Rural Water Association Pump Workshop • North Liberty, Iowa • November 2008
"Ten Big Answers for Iowa's Future": VSR Financial Services Regional Meeting • West Des Moines, Iowa • December 2006; Des Moines Host Lions Club • Des Moines, Iowa • February 2007

Academic Awards

U.S. Presidential Scholar: 1997; U.S. Department of Education and White House Commission on Presidential Scholars
Presidential Scholarship: 1997; University of Northern Iowa; Full undergraduate tuition, room, and board
Advanced Placement Scholar with Distinction: 1997
National Merit Finalist: 1997
Purple and Old Gold Award: 2001; University of Northern Iowa

Civic and Industry Awards

Eagle Scout Award: 1994
Student Excellence: 1998; Iowa Associated Press Association
General Reporting (2nd Place): 1999; Iowa Associated Press Association

Other Activities, Clubs, and Memberships

Beta Gamma Sigma: Inducted April 1999 (lifetime member); Business honorary
Omicron Delta Kappa: Inducted April 1999 (lifetime member); Leadership honorary; UNI President • April 2000 to April 2001
UNI Tae Kwon-Do Club: September 2000 to present; 1st Dan (black belt) earned June 8, 2002; 2nd Dan (black belt) earned December 4, 2004
Bull Moose Club: Member • April 2005 to present; Secretary • January 2010 to present
St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Parish: Parish pastoral council member • December 2004 to January 2010
American Water Works Association: November 2006 to present; Public Information Committee • December 2007 to present
Iowa Newspaper Association: Associate member • October 2007 to present
Golden Key National Honor Society: April 1999 to May 2001; Service and leadership honorary
UNI Economics Club: September 1999 to May 2001
Phi Beta Lambda: September 2000 to May 2001; Business leadership organization

Media and Educational Citations

"Blogometrics", by Franklin G. Mixon, Jr., and Kamal P. Upadhyaya: Eastern Economic Journal, 2010
"Bailout Nation: How greed and easy money corrupted Wall Street and shook the world economy", by Barry Ritholtz: Wiley, 2009
"Global Edge: Using the opacity index to manage the risks of cross-border business", by Joel Kurtzman and Glenn Yago: Harvard Business School Press, 2007
"Big Business in Blogging Economists", Los Angeles Times, November 2006: Also carried in Canton (OH) Repository, December 7, 2006; Also carried in Austin American-Statesman, December 10, 2006