Host Travis Justice interviews Division I veteran official and Pacific Northwest consortium supervisor Mark Cook about the path to advancing one's basketball officiating career. Cook discusses the qualities he seeks in officials, emphasizing fitness, putting in the work on the floor, and being trustworthy. He stresses that officials must treat every assignment—regardless of level—like the highest game they'll ever work, noting that you never know who's watching. Cook highlights the continuing importance of attending focused training camps for long-time veterans as a key component of continual education and for making connections with influential people. He argues that the difference between a good Division II and Division I official is often small, and that sometimes the lower-level games, like JUCO, are harder to referee due to challenging game management and player temperament. Above all, Cook's advice for officials looking to move up is to master dealing with coaches under pressure and maintain persistence, patience, and a professional approach.