(Meal provided by Lola's)

Entrepreneurship, Two Perspectives with Bob Westbrook and Brian Brandt

Bob Westbrook

Westbrook resides in Tyler with his wife of 43 years, Cindy. He has two children and six grandchildren. He was a successful, nineteen-year veteran CiCi’s Pizza franchisee. He owned and operated three CiCi’s Pizza restaurants, two in Tyler and one in Longview. He credits his success to hard work, strong faith and family, and being active in the communities he served through the Chamber of Commerce.

Bob is a past Chairman of the Tyler Area Chamber of Commerce. In addition, he has severed one term as Area Development Council Chairman and two terms as Government Affairs Committee Chairman for the Tyler Chamber. He currently serves on the Innovation Pipeline strategic planning committee and is part of the Mayor’s Mentorship Assistance Program (MAP), guiding high school seniors through the college application process. He also sits on the City of Tyler’s Industry Growth Initiative (IGI) strategic planning executive committee.

Westbrook is also a Rotarian. He is a “Paul Harris Fellow” and past President of the Tyler Sunrise Rotary Club. He currently is a member of the South Tyler Rotary Club. His “service above self” ideology drives his community service.

Some of his past committee seats include Chairman of the East Texas Food Bank, Chairman of the Northeast Texas Public Health District, Chairman of the Texas Restaurant Association Education Foundation and President of the Texas Restaurant Association.

He remains a staunch advocate for small business, education and the restaurant industry.

Brian Brandt

Brian Brandt is a communications and leadership expert that weekly provides training and strategic guidance for businesses, non-profits, municipalities, agencies and individuals.  He has devoted his life to developing stronger leaders and organizations.  Drawing from three decades of leadership experience, he provides tangible tips, practical principles and challenging activities that are immediately applicable.

Brian has led training programs that have prepared clients for countless high-profile speeches, as well as interviews with Face the Nation, 60 Minutes and more.  As well as leading training programs, he has delivered hundreds of keynotes and presentations around the country and regularly been interviewed by a myriad of local and national print, radio and television media. 

His previous roles include C.E.O., public relations director, national sales director, executive pastor and college tennis coach. Brian holds a master’s degree in Global Leadership as well as a bachelor’s degree in Accounting. He lives in Tyler, TX with his wife and children.

Core insights offers employee and leadership training, strategic planning, executive coaching, a speakers’ bureau, as well as Dale Carnegie training programs. Brian has coauthored Blind Spots – What You Don’t Know CAN Hurt You that will be available in June of 2019.

He can be reached at Brian@CoreInsightsLeadership.com or by cell at 903-316-2540.