The Corporate Couch: Work Stories I Only Tell My Friends

Mike Allison, The Culture Champion - Having a No Asshole Policy, The Impact of the Pandemic on Corporate Cultures, and Leading with Emotional Intelligence

Please enjoy my conversation with Mike Allison as we discuss how to build a great corporate culture, leading with emotional intelligence, the pandemic's impact on leadership, and his one interview question.
Mike Allison (linkedin.com/in/mike-allison-connect )is the Vice President of Talent and Culture at Spotlight where his focus is on talent acquisition, employee growth/engagement, and leadership development. Spotlight was recently named one of Kansas City’s best places to work for in both Ingram’s magazine and theKansas City Business Journal. Mike is also an Adjunct Professor andBloch Executive Education instructor within the Bloch School at theUniversity of Missouri – Kansas City (UMKC). Prior to his role at Spotlight, Mike enjoyed over 22 years of healthcare IT leadership experience working at Cerner. His final role there involved leading a group of faculty who developed and deliveredadvanced education to cohorts of Veterans Administration (VA)clinicians, informaticists, and analytics professionals. He also workedwith internal and external leaders on change management and otherorganizational development initiatives. Previously, Mike held executiveresponsibilities within Cerner’s client and associate learningorganizations. His award-winning teams, many of which wereinternationally based, provided practical and effective end-to-end learning solutions to Cerner clients and associates around the world. Mike also spent a year as the Vice President of Learning and Development at AMC Theatres where heled a team of learning professionals focused on building, supporting, and retaining talent across multiple guest-facing brands.
Mike regularly carries out public speaking engagements and provides coaching to business leaders across the Kansas City metropolitan area. He presents and instructs on diverse topics such as leading through change, emotional intelligence, holding difficult conversations, building a culture of feedback, advanced presentation techniques, cultivating trust, and executive presence. Prior to working in the private sector, Mike was involved in city management for three years. He worked primarily as a management analyst for the city of Kansas City, Mo. He earned a bachelor’s degree in international relations and a master’s degree in public administration (MPA) from Brigham YoungUniversity.
Mike is married to Amy Allison, a non-profit leader serving as the Executive Director for The Farmer’s House. They have three young adult children (girl, boy, girl). Besides being an avid family man, Mike is passionate about volunteering, seeing the world, hiking, music, disc golf, and all things San Francisco. He was born and raised in the “City by the Bay.”

Joel Goldberg: Living His Childhood Dream - From Sports Broadcasting to Business Success, Culture Building, and Championship Insights

Joel Goldberg (https://joelgoldbergmedia.com/meet-joel/ ) is an Emmy Award Winning Broadcaster. Keynote Speaker. Published Author. Joel began dreaming of a career as a sportscaster at a young age, always wanting to deliver news of the previous night’s game to his grade school teachers. He’s spent over a quarter century on television, relying on relationship-building to tell athletes’ stories. Joel’s unique access enables him to share lessons learned from the baseball field to the board room as a motivational speaker and to homes everywhere through his business podcast.

Haley Prophet, Being a Chief Wellness Officer - Well-Being vs. Wellness, Introducing Meditation to Your Employees, and Having a Human-Centered Approach to the Workplace

With nearly 20 years of experience in corporate well-being, Haley Prophet (linkedin.com/in/haleyprophet ) brings a multi-dimensional approach and authentic presence to her strategies for fostering an atmosphere where individuals, organizations, and community relationships can thrive. She creatively evaluates and implements well-rounded, multi-dimensional whole-person well-being opportunities through intentional planning and alignment with company and program goals and values. Haley emphasizes the notion that energy management has to begin with how individuals care for and prioritize their well-being which leads to happier, healthier, and more productive workplaces and communities. She is also in her college Hall of Fame and has been voted as a 100 Top Wellness Professional in 2014 and 50 Top Wellness Professionals in 2016.
 
Please enjoy my conversation with Haley a true pioneer in corporate well-being!

Doug Morse, The CEO with the Heart of a Teacher - What is the Value of An Employee, Rural Healthcare Zealot, and How 1+1 =3

Doug Morse knows small hospitals and clinics are the healthcare and economic engines driving rural life. 30+ years of leadership as critical access hospital CEO, healthcare system executive, and entrepreneurship instructor. His first CEO position was in a small rural hospital system in Iowa. In his role as an educator teaching budding entrepreneurs, he was named "Teacher of the Year" twice. Doug is an accomplished author, speaker, and consultant who thrives on adding value to everyone he meets. Today he helps rural hospital C-Suites and Boards achieve exceptional scorecards and strong community support.
You will enjoy my conversation with Doug, a true servant leader!
 

Resilience Redefined with Jennifer Rome: Overcoming Crisis, Rebuilding Dreams, and Leaving a Lasting Legacy

Jennifer Rome describes herself as on a mission to make a positive impact on all she crosses paths with.  She serves as a mortgage advisor for Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation and is the co-founder and president of a local non-profit called The Giving Professional KC.  She is a mother to two incredible young men and is proud to be a Kansas City native.  
In 2019 and 2020, her world was turned upside-down and she had to quickly make choices on how she would rebuild.  She was finalizing an extremely tumultuous divorce, when she would encounter a life-threatening health crisis and then lost her job due Covid, just before closing on the purchase of her new home.  Essentially, she and her boys were displaced from everything they knew with limited ability to rebuild.  
But Jennifer is not one to succumb to crisis and knew her mindset and the small choices she made each day would lead her and her boys to a new life. 
And she is not stopping there.  Instead, she is using her experiences to connect with others and to give back to those whose hardships are great.  
Her goal is to be a voice of inspiration for anyone who needs the courage of another to overcome their heartache and their hardship.  
Upcoming projects include a podcast and a book.  Although neither yet has a release date, she is one to watch.  She is particularly interested in human stories and the power that sharing offers us on our journey to live profound lives,  
And in her words, “At the end of my life, I intend to look back and say "Yes, I lived! And, yes, I made a difference for the people in my life! And if I am lucky, I will leave a legacy!".
 
Our conversation will make you laugh and cry but you will leave inspired by hearing Jennifer's story. Please enjoy!

Pamela Norton, Serial Founder/CEO - How She Survived 9/11, Pioneering the Edge Economy, and The 3 Revolutions Happening Right Now

​In this episode, we explore Pamela Norton's journey as an American entrepreneur and visionary who believes in the interdependence of business and social impact. Join us as we delve into her groundbreaking work at Borsetta and TitleChain, where she utilizes blockchain, AI, and micro-electronic chip solutions to revolutionize the digital asset and Intellectual Property landscape. Learn how Pamela's disruptive innovation and cheerful futurism are shaping the economic Web3 growth and increasing liquidity while eliminating manual valuation operations by 90%. Throughout her illustrious career, Pamela has built world-class technology solutions, high-performing product development teams, and fruitful partnerships with clients, resulting in multi-million-dollar bottom-line growth. 
Pamela talks about "failing forward" and how difficult it was for a female CEO during the "Dot.Com" boom to get funding while PE firms were lending money to companies like sockpuppet.com. We talk about how she should have died on 9/11 as she would have been in the World Trade Center that day but she was ousted by the company that had acquired her start-up and the repercussions of that experience took a toll on her physically, mentally, and emotionally.
 
This conversation with Pamela is fascinating on so many levels. Please enjoy!
 
You can learn more about Pamela and her company at:
 
http://www.titlechain.world
 
 

Henning ​​Schwinum, Global Sales Executive - Being a Sales ”Matchmaker”, The Biggest Mistake Most Sales Professionals Make, and Why You Should Move On When You Are Not Learning Anymore

Henning ​​Schwinum is a creative and results-driven global founder and executive with extensive domestic and international experience in Sales, Supply Chain, and General Management, both in a corporate and entrepreneurial setting. He​nning launched Vendux in 2019 as the matchmaker, the agency for fractional and interim sales leadership. And almost four years later, Vendux is the only matchmaker focusing on CRO, CSO, or VP of Sales roles, representing North America's largest community of Sales Leaders.​ For more information, you can visit https://www.vendux.org/.
 
Please enjoy my conversation with Henning!

Amy Bradshaw, The Creative CFO - How To Be a Leader That People Want to Work For, Why You Should Be Curious, and Having No Defined Career Path

Amy Bradshaw recently joined Capitol Bridge, LLC, and is the company’s Chief Financial Officer. In her role. Amy is responsible for scaling the organization’s financial and accounting infrastructure to support the growth of the overall company.
Before joining Capitol Bridge, Amy worked with technology and services companies toevolve the accounting and finance functions. She has experience building strong teams and implementing new systems and processes to enable growth. Amy is a strong leader passionate about developing her team members and finding creative solutions to challenging situations.
Amy graduated summa cum laude from Miami University with bachelor's degrees inManufacturing Engineering and Accounting. She also earned a Master of BusinessAdministration from the University of Virginia’s Darden School of Business.Amy is an active member of her community and currently serves on the non-profit boards of Cornerstones of Care, BraCoutureKC, and the Kansas City chapter of Financial Executives International.
 
Please enjoy my great conversation with Amy!

Mark Mears, Purposeful Growth Revolutionary - From the Great Resignation to the Great Re-Purposing, Why Community is More Important Than Culture, and Paying It Backwards

Mark Mears is a #1 Best Selling author, keynote speaker, consultant, and visionary business leader. He has a significant track record of building shareholder value—driving innovation and profitable growth among world-class, high-profile brands such as PepsiCo/Pizza Hut, McDonald’s, Frito-Lay, JCPenney, NBCUniversal, and The Cheesecake Factory.
Today, Mark serves as Chief Growth Officer for LEAF Growth Ventures, LLC—a consulting firm inspiring individuals, teams, and organizations to find purpose in fulfilling their true growth potential while making a positive, lasting difference in the world.
Mark has just released his new book, The Purposeful Growth Revolution: 4 Ways to Grow from Leader to Legacy Builder.
Mark is also a member of the Senior Leader Network within Conscious Capitalism, Inc., a global organization whose mission he shares: Elevating Humanity Through Business. In doing so, his goal is to put the “Human” back in Human Resources.
For more information, please visit https://www.MarkAMears.com or connect with Mark on LinkedIn at Mark's LinkedIn profile
 
It's a great conversation with Mark...Please enjoy!
 

Valerie Jennings, Social Media Pioneer - Being a 24 year old, Female, Tech Company Founder/CEO in 2003, How AI is impacting MarTech/Marketing, and Having a Growth Mindset

​Valerie Jennings is CEO of Jennings​  Social Media & MarTech (JSMM​ - ​https://jsmmtech.com.​), which she founded in 2003 and has grown into a highly competitive ​Martech agency. The agency specializes in paid media, SEO, content strategy, and influencer marketing, working with clients in the automotive industry, transportation, ​logistics, healthcare, beauty, financial services, travel and tourism, technology, ​and ​home services. ​She presented at the 2023 Midwest Digital Marketing Conference in St. Louis and​ ​has earned awards and honors from the Stevie Awards, FOLIO, AMBIT, and others for her entrepreneurship, industry leadership, and excellence. Valerie remains a leader in the industry and is involved in the community, speaking at conferences, moderating and participating in digital panels, and speaking to community groups. ​She advocates for numerous charities, giving back to non-profits, including those focused on animal welfare, children and families, women, ​​and girls. Valerie invests her time mentoring women and entrepreneurs and is highly engaged in the AI community. A cornerstone of her agency continues to be fostering a positive community through education, technology, and career development.
Please enjoy my conversation with Valerie!
 

Lisa Seim, The Wall Street Connector - Being on a Mission to Enlighten the Financial Industry, Understanding Web3, Crypto, and Blockchain, and The Future of Our Financial Markets

​Lisa Seim has traded and sold treasury products for various financial institutions in Austria, Germany, and NYC in the mid-80s and 90s. In July 2011, she realized the markets were lost and stuck between the new regulatory mandates of Dodd-Frank regulatory reform and coming to terms with the fact that legacy technologies had little capacity to handle the new regulatory environment. Transparency and managing risk became at the top of everyone’s list. Lisa decided to establish Strategic Exchanges to help financial firms navigate through this new and very difficult path. She now steers financial institutions towards innovative solutions that will help them adhere to the new regulatory mandates. Lisa Seim presently engages over seventeen different firms that address various issues on the way trades are executed, processed, reported, and settled within the framework of the new regulatory mandates. Her consortium members currently comprise data, research, and analytics companies, aggregation services and applications, trade surveillance systems, clearing house services, legal services around financial technology applications, collateral and liquidity management systems along with lightweight, web-based portfolio management solutions. Through roundtable discussions, Lisa’s consortium members provide the latest tools to address the mandates as they are enacted. Lisa completed the equivalent of a master's degree in International Law & Finance in Vienna, Austria, and continues to stay on top of the global regulatory mandates and their impact on the financial industry.
 
 
Please enjoy my conversation with my junior high and high school friend, Lisa Seim!
 
 

Lori Saitz, Being Zen in a Chaotic World -Why You Should F*** Being Fine, Why High Achievers Meditate, and The #1 Question to Ask at a Networking Event.

Lori Saitz is the founder and CEO of Zen Rabbit ​​and host of the podcast “Fine is a 4-Letter Word.” An award-winning author, speaker, and broadcaster, Lori is on a mission to teach the world to be calm and grounded no matter what’s going on.​ ​High achievers come to her because they have a strong drive to be productive, but at the end of the day never feel accomplished enough. As a nationally recognized gratitude and meditation expert, Lori guides those entrepreneurs and business leaders from stressed and chaotic to peaceful and focused as well as showing them how to live a sabbatical life. Then they start seeing sales increase, relationships strengthen, and overall health improve.​Lori was also founder/CEO of her own bakery company for 11 years which was featured on the Rachel Ray show​In August 2022, Lori took a month-long sabbatical road trip with her 19-year-old cat. Read her account in chapter 8 of Love Warriors. You can often find Lori in her sanctuary, aka the weight room at the gym. She also loves cupcakes, Thai food, and classic rock music.
 
Please enjoy my conversation with Lori!

Megan Galloway, Corporate Learning Innovator - Building Connected Communities, Making the Workplace More Authentic, and Innovating Corporate Leadership Development

​Megan Galloway is on a mission to make our workplace a more authentic and human place for current and future generations to thrive. She works with Campfire (https://www.getcampfire.com/) to help managers be the best versions of themselves through innovative, community-based learning. She's spent over a decade building learning and development programs from the ground up for companies that have never had them before, including one recognized as a top global learning program. She lives in Kansas City with her family, loves Ted Lasso, and aspires to be a Great British Bakeoff baker.
 
 
You will enjoy my conversation with Megan!
 

Dan Hurst (Part I), Award Winning Media Talent​ -​Making Kenny Loggins Cry, Predicting the Demise of Radio, and Struggling with Mental Health

When Dan Hurst (www.DanHurst.com) was born in Texas, his parents moved. To Honduras. They thought he wouldn't find them. He grew up speaking Spanish. Well, “grew up” might be stretching it a bit. When he was 14 years old he got his first job in radio.  The radio station changed its locks on him. His parents sent him to reform school.  He got kicked out. He finally graduated from High School although the principal "forgot" to call his name at graduation. He spent 13 of the best years of his life in college. 4 different ones. And he actually graduated! He got married and had 3 children.  They moved out.  But they keep coming back to eat. He had a dog, but it ran away. He’s been a voice talent for over 25 years. Mostly because he’s not any good at anything else. He spends most of his days in a small, dark voiceover booth talking to himself.
But other than that, it's been a pretty normal life.
Oh, and by the way, he just won the 2022 Golden Trailer Award (the Oscars of voiceovers) for his work for HBO/Max’s TV series – Winning Time: The Rise of the Laker Dynasty (see the trailer here: Winning Time)
 
Please enjoy my conversation with the very funny Dan Hurst!

Dan Hurst (Part II), Award Winning Media Talent​ -​Making Kenny Loggins Cry, Predicting the Demise of Radio, and Struggling with Mental Health

When Dan Hurst (www.DanHurst.com) was born in Texas, his parents moved. To Honduras. They thought he wouldn't find them. He grew up speaking Spanish. Well, “grew up” might be stretching it a bit. When he was 14 years old he got his first job in radio.  The radio station changed its locks on him. His parents sent him to reform school.  He got kicked out. He finally graduated from High School although the principal "forgot" to call his name at graduation. He spent 13 of the best years of his life in college. 4 different ones. And he actually graduated! He got married and had 3 children.  They moved out.  But they keep coming back to eat. He had a dog, but it ran away. He’s been a voice talent for over 25 years. Mostly because he’s not any good at anything else. He spends most of his days in a small, dark voiceover booth talking to himself.
But other than that, it's been a pretty normal life.
Oh, and by the way, he just won the 2022 Golden Trailer Award (the Oscars of voiceovers) for his work for HBO/Max’s TV series – Winning Time: The Rise of the Laker Dynasty (see the trailer here: Winning Time)
 
Please enjoy my conversation with the very funny Dan Hurst!

Cody Isabel, Neuroscientist, and Start-Up Founder - Lessons from Being a CEO at 25, Using AI to Improve Mental Health, and Living Heroically

Cody Isabel is a brain researcher, entrepreneur, and the CEO & Co-Founder of Mind Brain and Body Lab (https://www.mindbrainbodylab.com/) which focuses on bringing successful treatment outcomes to those healing from CPTSD & anxiety caused by traumas like emotional abuse, and burnout, or after a breakup/divorce.
They use AI algorithms to analyze the biometric & behavioral data to aid in the treatments we provide our clients. Their mission is to provide better ways to objectively measure, diagnose, and treat individual mental health conditions.
Please enjoy my conversation with Cody!

Komal Kaur, The 18-year-old Not-for-Profit Founder - ​Her ”Why” on Helping Immigrants, How To Manage Being Involved In Many Things, and Advice for Managers Hiring Recent College Graduates.

Komalpreet “Komal” Kaur is the 18-year-old founder of Eye of An Immigrant (https://www.eyeofanimmigrant.org/ ), a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization committed to sharing the stories of the immigrant journey and to providing resources and funds for immigrants to gain a legal pathway to citizenship.
Komal is a freshman at the University of Kansas majoring in Political Science and Business Administration with a minor in Intelligence and National Security Studies on the pre-law track in the Honors program. At the University of Kansas, she is a Student Senator serving on the Finance Council and a member of the South Asian Student Association Executive Board.
Before starting college, Kaur was deeply involved in youth activism and involvement in local government. She served as the two-time co-chair of the Olathe Teen Council and interned in the City Manager’s Office at the City of Olathe her senior year.
Kaur’s family immigrated from Punjab, India to the United States in the late 1980s. She was born and raised in Queens, New York, and moved to Olathe, Kansas in 2017.
Please enjoy my conversation with Komal!
 
If you are moved by Komal’s inspirational story and helping immigrants you can donate to Eye of An Immigrant here: https://www.eyeofanimmigrant.org/

Michael Smith, Award-Winning CIO - ​Wanting to be on Broadway and the dreams of being an FBI agent, Reinventing IT from being the Division of No, and Why IT is not all about Technology

​Michael Smith is a 25+ year veteran of the IT industry.  Michael has led several complex digital and operational transformations for various companies during his career.  Most recently, he led an end-to-end business and digital transformation for a national healthcare association.  His efforts were recognized as recently as 2020, being named one of the 100 most innovative CIOs globally.  Furthermore, his teams have been identified as some of the most innovative in the industry, including being recognized as one of the 100 best companies to work for in IT in 2021 across the United States.  The team he managed, and the organization he led the technology strategy for was the only company in Kansas City to receive that designation.  During Michael’s career, he has worked for some of the largest Fortune 500 companies in the world, as well as a successful consulting career, affording him the opportunity to work across various industries.  As an experienced, award-winning technology strategist with an extensive executive leadership background, Michael is uniquely positioned to meet organizational strategic objectives while enforcing IT execution to achieve more significant growth and sustained profitability.
Michael is currently the CIO for a startup biotechnology company in the greater Kansas City area focused on revolutionizing and disrupting the sample prep Microbiology industry; through a patented technology process that uniquely positions the company for significant growth and expansion opportunities.
You will enjoy my conversation with Michael!

Frank Bonura, The Ultimate Connector and Executive Recruiter - H​ow Relationship Building, The Deck Repair ”Guy”, and Being a Dishwasher Led to a Phenomenal Career; Helping Those in Career Transition

Frank Bonura started as an information technology recruiter in 1979 with a focus on the contract‐for‐hire methodology. Pursuing his passion for executive recruiting he launched Alternative Search in 1984 focusing on information technology and C-level search engagements.
In 1987, Frank gained a reputation for connecting people regardless of their personal or professional stations in life. By the end of the decade, he came to be known as “The Connector”. Business owners/leaders who recognize that “relationships” are a major contributor to their company’s success hired Frank to introduce them to other like‐minded business owners/leaders (Frank wants people to know that relationship creation and nurturing are not to be confused with networking, which is nothing more than “card swapping”).
In 2008, he founded Franklin Executive Solutions, LLC (https://feskc.com/), and created the Executive Agent (EA) methodology.  Frank used this to manage the careers of executive operators in much the same fashion that professional agents represent the interests of actors and athletes.  With the support of a research team, he did everything from identifying and pursuing EA client opportunities to negotiating the terms and conditions of each engagement.  Also, as an alternative to outplacement services, Frank began providing “unorthodox” career management counseling and transition support services to displaced employees of companies at every professional level.
At the start of 2015, he became acquainted with many military veterans and their unique post-service employment transition.  Through introductions, Frank uncovered an urgent need for a paradigm shift in how veterans and employers viewed each other.  In analyzing this need, he defined a methodology by which veterans can create and secure the opportunities they deserve.
In 2017 Frank's business partner, Elizabeth Allen Founder of Economy of One, and Frank created a ten-module workshop.  The workshop "Creating Opportunities Instead of Chasing Jobs" has been successfully delivered to the private sector, military, colleges, and universities.
As a Kansas City native, his wife Danita and Frank have two daughters and five grandchildren. His interests are my faith, family, golf, and creating measurable value for all he encounters.
 
Please enjoy my conversation with "The Connector", Frank Bonura!

Scott Burditt, ​Strategic Growth Advisor - ​Lessons from His Dad, ​Being Genuinely Curious, and ​Learning By Failing

​Scott ​Burditt (linkedin.com/in/scottburditt) is genuinely interested in learning about others and loves nothing more than listening to customers tell their stories of ​"jobs" they​ are ​trying to get done unsuccessfully. For two decades, ​Scott has used thosemoments of customer frustration to fuel business growth by creating solutions and leading anywhere from 50 to 1,000 associates in delivering these solutions to the market through sales, marketing, and customer experience.
He​ has changed the way investors transact business by leading the creation of the first transactional mutual fund website. ​Scott saved the financial services industry millions by overseeing the development of the industry’s first electronic statement, trade confirmation, and compliance documentation. He identified new uses for an old agricultural commodity by facilitating the collaboration of scientists, government officials, business executives, and international diplomats. ​Scott helped credit unions underwrite jumbo mortgages by partnering with investment banks to create a credit union mortgage-backed security. And, he changed the value proposition of a creative services firm from printed retail signage to digital resulting in a 55 percentgrowth and a 1,000 percent increase in profits.
Scott’s broad industry experience, laser focus on customers, innovative and entrepreneurial spirit, curiosity for discovering the root of any problem, and collaborative approach to aligning people around a common vision enable him to invent, communicate and execute transformative strategies that achievegrowth.
You will enjoy my conversation with Scott!​

Nick Giuliani, KC’s Biggest Advocate - Being a Positive Force in the World, Empathy in Leadership, and Raising Others Up

Nick Giuliani is currently the Director of Sales at Dynamic Logistix. Nick has spent most of his career in the logistics and supply chain industry, with the last eight years focused on software sales and leadership. Before joining the workforce, Nick graduated from Pittsburg State University in 2009 with a degree in Marketing and played on the baseball team.
Since joining his current company Dynamic Logistix in 2018, the company has gone from 28 employees and 23 million in revenue to over 120 people and almost 300 million in revenue. In November 2021, Nick created the KC Shout-Out Series, one of the only LinkedIn series dedicated to highlighting and featuring leaders, nonprofits, and women-owned businesses in the Kansas City area. In early February 2023, Nick created the KC Shout-Out Series blog (kcshoutoutseries.com) to house the 150+ features and have a singular place for people to learn about the fantastic people, nonprofits, andbusinesses in KC.
Nick also sits on the executive board for KC CAN (Kansas City Children’s Assistance Network), was a 2022 Rockstar for Band of Angels, and a 2022 Most Wanted Honoree for Big Brothers Big Sisters Kansas City.
 
Please enjoy my conversation with Nick!

Danny Bader, Inspirational Speaker/Life Coach - Being Dead for 8 Minutes, Turning Tragedy into Purpose, and Harnessing the Power of Vision

​Danny Bader (www.dannybader.com) is a best-selling author and sought-after speaker whose life was transformed after he died when 8,000 volts of electricity ripped through him…then, he came back to life, from a place where he connected with “something bigger than us.” He uses his experience to lead people to create more perspective, joy, and a love that replaces weariness with inspiration, drives vision, and creates momentum for people in all areas of their lives.Danny has been inspiring the people of Fortune 500 companies like Merck, Comcast, The Ritz-Carlton, Marriott, and Lincoln Financial with insight and practical tools that build momentum in the midst of defeating monotony. Often people find themselves stuck in their story of misfortune, lack of purpose, failure, or inadequacy, when in fact a bold vision and the right perspective are what they need to propel them forward with greater resilience, focus, and purpose. Danny’s reputation as an influencer in this arena continues to grow among some of the most well-respected brands and organizations nationwide.
 
Ranked #1 by Amazon and hailed by Success Magazine, Danny’s recent books are compelling stories that allow readers to identify themselves with real-life characters and turn that final page with a renewed awareness of their own purpose and passion for living resilient and fulfilling lives. Back to Life, Danny’s podcast and blog, are inspiring people worldwide with real-life stories, thought-provoking conversations, and practical, proven strategies to create resilient, energized, and fulfilling lives.
​Danny's story is one you will not want to miss so please enjoy!​

Steve McClain (Part ​I), ​ The Servant Leader - How Nice Guys Finish First, Breaking Free from Golden Handcuffs, and Not-for-Profit Leadership

Steve McClain’s career includes more than 30 years of diverse experience in marketingand strategy development for large corporations, as well as entrepreneurial startups.His career has been focused on consumer marketing and business development for topbrands like Sprint, Ford, ADP, and USAA.  Steve joined Unbound (https://www.unbound.org/) an international nonprofit organization, based in the Kansas City area, as the Chief Marketing Officer, where he leads a team of marketers, business development, creative services, and media relations professionals who are focused on creating sustainable growth for Unbound.  
 
Prior to joining Unbound, Steve was the Senior Vice President at AmericanCentury Investments where he was responsible for overseeing the retail division whichserved over 600,000 individual investors and had $36B in assets under management.Steve is a graduate of Rockhurst University and earned an MBA from WebsterUniversity.
He lives in the Kansas City area with his wife, Mary Beth. They have raised five childrentogether and are enjoying a life stage that includes grandchildren.
 
You will enjoy my conversation with Steve!​

Steve McClain (Part ​I​I), ​ The Servant Leader - How Nice Guys Finish First, Breaking Free from Golden Handcuffs, and Not-for-Profit Leadership

Steve McClain’s career includes more than 30 years of diverse experience in marketingand strategy development for large corporations, as well as entrepreneurial startups.His career has been focused on consumer marketing and business development for topbrands like Sprint, Ford, ADP, and USAA.  Steve joined Unbound (https://www.unbound.org/) an international nonprofit organization, based in the Kansas City area, as the Chief Marketing Officer, where he leads a team of marketers, business development, creative services, and media relations professionals who are focused on creating sustainable growth for Unbound.  
 
Prior to joining Unbound, Steve was the Senior Vice President at AmericanCentury Investments where he was responsible for overseeing the retail division whichserved over 600,000 individual investors and had $36B in assets under management.Steve is a graduate of Rockhurst University and earned an MBA from WebsterUniversity.
He lives in the Kansas City area with his wife, Mary Beth. They have raised five childrentogether and are enjoying a life stage that includes grandchildren.
 
You will enjoy my conversation with Steve!​

Brandon Calloway (Part ​I​), ​The Not-for-Profit Entrepreneur - ​Closing the Racial Wealth Gap, Having More Past Jobs than Your Age, ​and The Magic that People Already Have

Brandon Calloway is the CEO and co-founder of Generating Income For Tomorrow (GIFT - https://www.kansascitygift.org/). As someone who grew up in the urban core of Kansas City, he has long been committed to finding ways to create transformative change in the areas of the city that needs it most, for the residents that reside there. Brandon has spent the last 10 years of his career in the business and nonprofit sectors,and he uses the combined experiences of those two worlds to drive the work happening at G.I.F.T. and to have a direct impact on closing Kansas City’s racial wealth gap.
When Brandon is not impacting the KC community as the CEO of GIFT, he is a husband, father, and founder of Darkmoon Comics. Brandon is also the writer and creator of many titles at Darkmoon Comics, Including Black Spartans, Reign of Chaos, Michael, and more.
Please enjoy both parts I and II of my conversation with Brandon!

Brandon Calloway (Part ​I​I), ​The Not-for-Profit Entrepreneur - ​Closing the Racial Wealth Gap, Having More Past Jobs than Your Age, ​and The Magic that People Already Have

Brandon Calloway is the CEO and co-founder of Generating Income For Tomorrow (GIFT - https://www.kansascitygift.org/). As someone who grew up in the urban core of Kansas City, he has long been committed to finding ways to create transformative change in the areas of the city that needs it most, for the residents that reside there. Brandon has spent the last 10 years of his career in the business and nonprofit sectors,and he uses the combined experiences of those two worlds to drive the work happening at G.I.F.T. and to have a direct impact on closing Kansas City’s racial wealth gap.
When Brandon is not impacting the KC community as the CEO of GIFT, he is a husband, father, and founder of Darkmoon Comics. Brandon is also the writer and creator of many titles at Darkmoon Comics, Including Black Spartans, Reign of Chaos, Michael, and more.
Please enjoy both parts I and II of my conversation with Brandon!

Teresa Carey (Part I), The Consummate Professional - Liberating Greatness, Coaching Executives, and Why Words Matter ​​

eresa Carey has more than 25 years of experience as a professional leadership coach and facilitator. Before launching PerformancePointe, Inc (www.performancepointe.com/), she held positions for the world’s second-largest document technology company in sales, professional development, and sales leadership. She was also instrumental in helping take two other companies from start-ups to rapid growth before exiting. As a coach and strategist, Teresa has led individual and organizational change in diverse sectors including healthcare, manufacturing and distribution, financial, legal, and technology. Throughout her career, Teresa has assisted over 50,000 professionals in improved performance.
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Teresa is active in the community as a volunteer including being a mentor in the KC Fellows Program and a member of the Stateline Service League. Teresa is a mom, wife, triathlete, and author of the book, The Attractive Trap™. She enjoys adventure, travel, and cooking.
 
Please enjoy both parts I & II of my conversation with Teresa!
 

Teresa Carey (Part II), The Consummate Professional - Liberating Greatness, Coaching Executives, and Why Words Matter

Teresa Carey has more than 25 years of experience as a professional leadership coach and facilitator. Before launching PerformancePointe, Inc (www.performancepointe.com/), she held positions for the world’s second-largest document technology company in sales, professional development, and sales leadership. She was also instrumental in helping take two other companies from start-ups to rapid growth before exiting. As a coach and strategist, Teresa has led individual and organizational change in diverse sectors including healthcare, manufacturing and distribution, financial, legal, and technology. Throughout her career, Teresa has assisted over 50,000 professionals in improved performance.
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Teresa is active in the community as a volunteer including being a mentor in the KC Fellows Program and a member of the Stateline Service League. Teresa is a mom, wife, triathlete, and author of the book, The Attractive Trap™. She enjoys adventure, travel, and cooking.
 
Please enjoy both parts I & II of my conversation with Teresa!
 

Terri Foudray (Part I), Award Winning Tech Pioneer - The Unglamorous Life of An Entrepreneur, Bad Bosses, and Using Data to Drive Business Performance

Terri Foudray’s career spans 25 years, demonstrating an affinity for leadership, achievement, curiosity, and versatility. She is currently the trusted Strategic Advisor to C-suite executives seeking growth through better human capital alignment. Think Moneyball for business. Ms. Foudray previously was the CEO of a software technology company focused on manufacturing performance improvement through real-time performance insights. Prior to that, Ms. Foudray’s experience has included executive positions at two technology companies and at a nationwide hospitality company, P&L responsibility at a Fortune 500 company, and leadership roles in media relations, product development, sales and marketing, and brand management. She also started and sold her first business venture. Ms. Foudray was a member of CompTIA’s worldwide IoT Advisory Council from 2018 to 2020. In 2020, Ms. Foudray was honored by the Women Tech Founders organization as the award winner in Women-in-Tech Intelligence and Automation.  She holds a Bachelor of Journalism-Advertising from the University of Missouri – Columbia. She was awarded a scholarship and completed the WBENC Energy Executive Program with the University of Texas at Austin in 2019.  
 
Please enjoy both my conversations with Terri!

Terri Foudray (Part II), Award Winning Tech Pioneer - The Unglamorous Life of An Entrepreneur, Bad Bosses, and Using Data to Drive Business Performance

Terri Foudray’s career spans 25 years, demonstrating an affinity for leadership, achievement, curiosity, and versatility. She is currently the trusted Strategic Advisor to C-suite executives seeking growth through better human capital alignment. Think Moneyball for business. Ms. Foudray previously was the CEO of a software technology company focused on manufacturing performance improvement through real-time performance insights. Prior to that, Ms. Foudray’s experience has included executive positions at two technology companies and at a nationwide hospitality company, P&L responsibility at a Fortune 500 company, and leadership roles in media relations, product development, sales and marketing, and brand management. She also started and sold her first business venture. Ms. Foudray was a member of CompTIA’s worldwide IoT Advisory Council from 2018 to 2020. In 2020, Ms. Foudray was honored by the Women Tech Founders organization as the award winner in Women-in-Tech Intelligence and Automation.  She holds a Bachelor of Journalism-Advertising from the University of Missouri – Columbia. She was awarded a scholarship and completed the WBENC Energy Executive Program with the University of Texas at Austin in 2019.  
 
Please enjoy both my conversations with Terri!

Isaac Wambua (Part II), Transformational Motivator - Having No Shoes, The Importance of Having a Dream, and Quitting a Job with No Plan

Isaac Wambua is the CEO of Dynamo Methods, a leadership coaching and management training business. He is a professional speaker, trainer, and author of a newly-published bestseller called: Now that I’m a Manager, WHAT DO I DO NEXT?
Isaac works with leaders at every level to improve organizational efficiency,  communication, and employee engagement. After working as an engineer for eight years, he decided to venture into business coaching, speaking, and training to inspire leaders and professionals to conquer their fears and step into greatness.
For his speaking and training, he focuses on:● Inspiration and Motivation● Diversity and Inclusion● Employee engagement● Leadership and communication skills
Here are a few key and general signature topics Isaac focuses on:
● The Dynamo Success Path: How to Create and Live a Life of Significance● The Legacy Within: How to Build a Culture of Accountability and Performance● Escape The Rat Race: Transform Yourself into A Highly Successful Professional.● Pushing Through the Tough Times: How to Keep Yourself Motivated
Please enjoy the conversation with Isaac (our first internationally-born guest)!

Isaac Wambua (Part I) , Transformational Motivator - Having No Shoes, The Importance of Having a Dream, and Quitting a Job with No Plan

Isaac Wambua is the CEO of Dynamo Methods, a leadership coaching and management training business. He is a professional speaker, trainer, and author of a newly-published bestseller called: Now that I’m a Manager, WHAT DO I DO NEXT?
Isaac works with leaders at every level to improve organizational efficiency,  communication, and employee engagement. After working as an engineer for eight years, he decided to venture into business coaching, speaking, and training to inspire leaders and professionals to conquer their fears and step into greatness.
For his speaking and training, he focuses on:● Inspiration and Motivation● Diversity and Inclusion● Employee engagement● Leadership and communication skills
Here are a few key and general signature topics Isaac focuses on:
● The Dynamo Success Path: How to Create and Live a Life of Significance● The Legacy Within: How to Build a Culture of Accountability and Performance● Escape The Rat Race: Transform Yourself into A Highly Successful Professional.● Pushing Through the Tough Times: How to Keep Yourself Motivated
Please enjoy the conversation with Isaac (our first internationally-born guest)!

Andre Davis (Part II), The Ultimate Relationship Builder - Your True Worth, Giving More Value Than You Receive, and Being Impactful

André Davis is the Corporate and Community Engagement Executive for Built Interior Construction, a prefabricated interior construction company that builds commercial environments.
André is an accomplished thought leader, influencer, social activist, mentor/coach, speaker, and philanthropist and has been a guest on numerous podcasts & webinars to discuss various topics.  Andre has over 20+ years of experience working with CEOs, Executives, and Entrepreneurs while continuing to give back to the community. 
André's community and civic engagement work are below:
*Board Member for PrepKC which creates and implements strategies to improve college and career preparation for Kansas City's urban High School Students. 
*Ambassador Board Member for Big Brothers Big Sisters - Kansas City, where he and other members personally fund and award scholarships to local kids in the BBBS program.
* Board Member/Board President for the Civic Council of Greater Kansas City - Kansas City Tomorrow Alumni Association (KCTAA) which serves to support Members who are interested in enhancing their non-profit and civic leadership skills & talents.
* Formerly, a Board Member for UMKC - Marketing Advisory Council (MAC )where he helps to prepare Undergraduates that are entering the field of Marketing.
* Founding Board Member for The Beacon which is a newly launched Non-Profit online news media outlet, focused on public interest journalism.  * Board Member for C3KC Conference (Corporate, Civic, Community), the Junior League's annual collaborative conference which serves to spark change for a better Kansas City.                        
*Formerly Chair of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Board for Big Brothers Big Sisters – Kansas City which was created to identify diverse Mentors of Color.
* Awarded the Jane Bryan Distinguished Alumni Award by the Grandview Education Foundation. This award honors Individuals whose deeds and character exemplify outstanding achievement in their life's work and/or service to their communities.  The Honoree's spirit and leadership are worthy of recognition and have inspired praise and gratitude amongst his/her peers.
* Recently awarded Ingram's Magazine 2022 Local Heroes Award which recognizes extraordinary philanthropic work in our region and was featured in their 26th annual Philanthropy Special Edition.
*Chosen for the Civic Council of Greater Kansas City, Kansas City Tomorrow leadership program which serves to develop leaders for civic, community, and non-profit engagement
*An alumnus of The Independent Magazine, Rising Star Award which highlights up-and-coming Leaders. 
*Co-Founded and personally funds The NexTus scholarship at his Alma Mater College geared towards African-American students.
Additional information:
André's roots started on the East Coast but He was raised in Kansas City.  André is married to an Entrepreneur and they live in Johnson County with their two kids. 
You can connect with André on the following social platforms:LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/andreldavis/Twitter:  @AndreLDavis
Please enjoy the conversation with Andre!

Andre Davis (Part I), The Ultimate Relationship Builder - Your True Worth, Giving More Value Than You Receive, and Being Impactful

André Davis is the Corporate and Community Engagement Executive for Built Interior Construction, a prefabricated interior construction company that builds commercial environments.
André is an accomplished thought leader, influencer, social activist, mentor/coach, speaker, and philanthropist and has been a guest on numerous podcasts & webinars to discuss various topics.  Andre has over 20+ years of experience working with CEOs, Executives, and Entrepreneurs while continuing to give back to the community. 
André's community and civic engagement work are below:
*Board Member for PrepKC which creates and implements strategies to improve college and career preparation for Kansas City's urban High School Students. 
*Ambassador Board Member for Big Brothers Big Sisters - Kansas City, where he and other members personally fund and award scholarships to local kids in the BBBS program.
* Board Member/Board President for the Civic Council of Greater Kansas City - Kansas City Tomorrow Alumni Association (KCTAA) which serves to support Members who are interested in enhancing their non-profit and civic leadership skills & talents.
* Formerly, a Board Member for UMKC - Marketing Advisory Council (MAC )where he helps to prepare Undergraduates that are entering the field of Marketing.
* Founding Board Member for The Beacon which is a newly launched Non-Profit online news media outlet, focused on public interest journalism.  * Board Member for C3KC Conference (Corporate, Civic, Community), the Junior League's annual collaborative conference which serves to spark change for a better Kansas City.                        
*Formerly Chair of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Board for Big Brothers Big Sisters – Kansas City which was created to identify diverse Mentors of Color.
* Awarded the Jane Bryan Distinguished Alumni Award by the Grandview Education Foundation. This award honors Individuals whose deeds and character exemplify outstanding achievement in their life's work and/or service to their communities.  The Honoree's spirit and leadership are worthy of recognition and have inspired praise and gratitude amongst his/her peers.
* Recently awarded Ingram's Magazine 2022 Local Heroes Award which recognizes extraordinary philanthropic work in our region and was featured in their 26th annual Philanthropy Special Edition.
*Chosen for the Civic Council of Greater Kansas City, Kansas City Tomorrow leadership program which serves to develop leaders for civic, community, and non-profit engagement
*An alumnus of The Independent Magazine, Rising Star Award which serves to highlight up and coming Leaders. 
*Co-Founded and personally funds The NexTus scholarship at his Alma Mater College geared towards African-American students.
Additional information:
André's roots started on the East Coast but He was raised in Kansas City.  André is married to an Entrepreneur and they live in Johnson County with their two kids. 
You can connect with André on the following social platforms:LinkedIn:  https://www.linkedin.com/in/andreldavis/Twitter:  @AndreLDavis
Please enjoy the conversation with Andre!

Alana Muller (Part II), Entrepreneurial Connector - Writing the Book on Networking, Crazy & Stupid Decisions, and Inspiring Community

Alana Muller (Coffee Lunch Coffee) is an entrepreneurial executive leader whose primary focus is to connect, inspire and empower community.  She is the former President of Kauffman FastTrac (a division of the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation), a global provider of training to aspiring and established entrepreneurs, providing them the tools, resources and networks to start and grow successful businesses. Additionally, Alana spent a number of years as an executive with Sprint Corporation serving in a variety of general management roles, including marketing, talent management, corporate strategy and wireless data product marketing.  
Today, Alana is founder and CEO of Coffee Lunch Coffee where she is a networking speaker, strategist, workshop facilitator, coach and an internationally bestselling author of Coffee Lunch Coffee: A Practical Field Guide for Master Networking, the anthology Growth – Deconstructing GRIT Collection, and a blog, CoffeeLunchCoffee.com. Her accessible, relevant, immediately actionable approach to professional networking for those interested in connecting with others, getting involved in their communities, seeking to advance their careers or looking to build social relationships, has helped thousands of people formulate a strategic mindset around Networking.  Coffee Lunch Coffee is a WBENC-Certified WBE.  
Alana is also Community Director for American Public Square at Jewell, an organization that brings together non-like-minded people to engage in civil conversation about controversial topics, for which she launched KC Common Good, now a standalone 501(c)3, designed to give all members of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area access to hope and opportunity while reducing violence.  
Alana enjoys connecting with people around the world and sharing stories on topics such as Networking, Executive Presence, and Discovering Purpose.  She is the host of Enterprise.ing podcast, a columnist for American City Business Journals’ BizWomen.com and other publications, has been a contributor to Forbes.com, The Huffington Post and CNBC, and, twice, was a featured speaker at TEDxOverlandPark.
Alana has a master’s degree in business administration with concentrations in General Management and Strategy from the University of Chicago, where she was the recipient of the Mike and Karen Herman Fellowship for Women in Entrepreneurship, and an undergraduate degree in mathematics from Smith College. She is actively engaged in the community and serves on a number of corporate and volunteer boards including Oppenstein Brothers Foundation, Enterprise Bank (NASDAQ: EFSC), ISCTE International Business School (Lisbon, Portugal), Morningstar Communications, Swartz + Associates, SevenDays, Jewish Community Foundation, and Jewish Community Relations Bureau|American Jewish Committee. Alana is the immediate past president of the Kansas Chapter of International Women’s Forum.  She is an alumna of Coro Kansas City and the Civic Council’s Kansas City Tomorrow program.  She was recognized as the 2019 JCRB|AJC Emerging Leader, the 2017 Instructor of the Year by the Turner Construction Management Program, a 2013 NextGen Leader by the Kansas City Business Journal and a 2012 Influential Woman by KC Business magazine.  Alana is a Strengthscope-certified coach.
 
Enjoy part II of my conversation with Alana!

Alana Muller (Part I), Entrepreneurial Connector - Writing the Book on Networking, Crazy & Stupid Decisions, and Inspiring Community

Alana Muller (Coffee Lunch Coffee) is an entrepreneurial executive leader whose primary focus is to connect, inspire and empower community.  She is the former President of Kauffman FastTrac (a division of the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation), a global provider of training to aspiring and established entrepreneurs, providing them with the tools, resources, and networks to start and grow successful businesses. Additionally, Alana spent a number of years as an executive with Sprint Corporation serving in a variety of general management roles, including marketing, talent management, corporate strategy and wireless data product marketing.  
Today, Alana is founder and CEO of Coffee Lunch Coffee where she is a networking speaker, strategist, workshop facilitator, coach and an internationally bestselling author of Coffee Lunch Coffee: A Practical Field Guide for Master Networking, the anthology Growth – Deconstructing GRIT Collection, and a blog, CoffeeLunchCoffee.com. Her accessible, relevant, immediately actionable approach to professional networking for those interested in connecting with others, getting involved in their communities, seeking to advance their careers or looking to build social relationships, has helped thousands of people formulate a strategic mindset around Networking.  Coffee Lunch Coffee is a WBENC-Certified WBE.  
Alana is also Community Director for American Public Square at Jewell, an organization that brings together non-like-minded people to engage in civil conversation about controversial topics, for which she launched KC Common Good, now a standalone 501(c)3, designed to give all members of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area access to hope and opportunity while reducing violence.  
Alana enjoys connecting with people around the world and sharing stories on topics such as Networking, Executive Presence, and Discovering Purpose.  She is the host of Enterprise.ing podcast, a columnist for American City Business Journals’ BizWomen.com and other publications, has been a contributor to Forbes.com, The Huffington Post and CNBC, and, twice, was a featured speaker at TEDxOverlandPark.
Alana has a master’s degree in business administration with concentrations in General Management and Strategy from the University of Chicago, where she was the recipient of the Mike and Karen Herman Fellowship for Women in Entrepreneurship, and an undergraduate degree in mathematics from Smith College. She is actively engaged in the community and serves on a number of corporate and volunteer boards including Oppenstein Brothers Foundation, Enterprise Bank (NASDAQ: EFSC), ISCTE International Business School (Lisbon, Portugal), Morningstar Communications, Swartz + Associates, SevenDays, Jewish Community Foundation, and Jewish Community Relations Bureau|American Jewish Committee. Alana is the immediate past president of the Kansas Chapter of International Women’s Forum.  She is an alumna of Coro Kansas City and the Civic Council’s Kansas City Tomorrow program.  She was recognized as the 2019 JCRB|AJC Emerging Leader, the 2017 Instructor of the Year by the Turner Construction Management Program, a 2013 NextGen Leader by the Kansas City Business Journal and a 2012 Influential Woman by KC Business magazine.  Alana is a Strengthscope-certified coach.
 
Please enjoy the conversation with Alana!

Dr. Michelle Robin, Visionary Community Healer - Listening to Your Heart, Struggling Every Day, and Evangelizing the Quadrants of Well-Being

Dr. Michelle Robin is the founder of Small Changes Big Shifts®, Big Shifts Foundation®, and the Kansas City Wellness Consortium®, but more importantly, she is a visionary for the well-being of many generations. After opening her chiropractic practice in Kansas City over 30 years ago, she’s become a national influence and memorable leader in the wellness industry. Her simple framework – called the Quadrants of Well-Being – is the key to what many people have been looking for when it comes to discovering their best life. She has spent the majority of her career helping people make small changes that ultimately create the biggest shifts in their well-being. As a chiropractor, author, teacher, holistic healer, podcast host, unshakable optimist, international speaker, and passionate advocate for generational change, Michelle has left an impression on thousands of lives by helping them find their unique path to wellness and enriching their purpose in life.
To find out more about Dr. Michelle Robin, please visit:
https://smallchangesbigshifts.com/
 
Enjoy the episode!

Eastman McGovern, Tech Sales Pioneer - Why Caddies and Athletes make Great Sales Reps, The Importance of Having a ”Rabbi”, Jobs vs. a Career

Eastman enjoyed a 35-year career in IT sales and sales management. Managing district, regional, as well as worldwide sales teams on both a domestic and international scope. His experiences include selling and managing for Fortune 500 companies as well as experience with start-up organizations.
In his career, Eastman estimates that he hired over 400 sales team members and interviewed in excess of 2000 candidates. His background includes direct sales as well as channel and distribution sales models. He was a part of 3 mergers where he integrated sales teams on a global basis as well as being part of senior management for a company that successfully completed its IPO. During his career, Eastman had P&L responsibility for North American divisions and managed sales goals in excess of $800 million in sales revenue.
He also had a great jump shot back in the day :-) Go Jaspers!
 
Please enjoy the episode!

Dave Patrick, Master Strategist - Super Bowl Commercials, Lessons from Being a Professional Golfer, and Adding Value to Every Conversation

Dave Patrick has over 30 years of marketing and sales experience including leadership positions at Procter & Gamble, Leo Burnett, Interpublic, and J Walter Thompson leading high-performance brand teams. He has created and led high-performance growth teams in the roles of CEO, President, COO, CMO, Chief Strategy Officer, Chief Sales Officer, and Group Account Director in intensely competitive categories including restaurant, hardware, electronics, professional services, telecommunications, analytics, automotive, beverage, toys, fashion, jewelry, golf, CPG, grocery, QSR, apparel, higher education, software, e-commerce, B2B, pet, tech, retail, real estate, and sports.
Leadership brands he helped impact include McDonald's, Procter & Gamble, Leo Burnett, Kraft, General Motors, Miller Lite, JWT, Sprint, Kellogg, Kroger, LG Electronics, Citgo, ToysRUs, Applebee's, Payless, Burger King, Interpublic, KFC, Ace Hardware, and Bridgestone-Firestone.As an entrepreneur, Dave’s built five successful companies including his most recent: High-Performance Marketing Boot Camps. Dave is currently a Partner at WizeWebz, a marketing +technology consulting firm.  Dave also teaches entrepreneurship, marketing, and advanced brand strategies in the MBA programs at the University of Missouri - Kansas City and the University of Kansas. 
 
You will enjoy the episode!

Brad Douglas, Go-Giver/Master Networker - Quitting Something You are Passionate About, Meeting the POTUS

Brad Douglas is a partner in PLX Corp, a consulting firm that works with boards, CEOs, and executive teams of both for-profit and non-profit organizations to help them solve problems and achieve their goals. He is a former CEO and a licensed attorney with a unique blend of both non-profit and corporate executive leadership experience. Areas of expertise include public affairs, government relations, business development, community relations, and communications.
He is a proven leader and is energized by helping people, leading teams, growing organizations, developing leaders, and building relationships. Following law school, Brad began his career in Washington, D.C., where he held roles as a lobbyist withdeep expertise in federal appropriations, a U.S. Senate staffer on Capitol Hill, and as the Director of the State of Missouri Office for the Governor of Missouri. He also worked for the White House at the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) as Deputy Administrator of Congressional and Legislative Affairs, eventually overseeing two-thirds of the agency’s operations. Brad came back to his home in Kansas City as the Midwest Regional Administrator for the White House Office of Small Business Advocacy and was then asked to also oversee the SBA’s regional offices in four states. He went on to lead Public Affairs in the corporate sector at Cerner Corporation in Kansas City before later moving to the non-profit sector as the head of Business Development for the Greater Kansas City Community Foundation. He headed up sales for more than 10 years for two different businesses before being selected as the President and CEO of the trade association that supported over 180 credit unions across Kansas and Missouri, serving in that role for more than six years.
Brad has served and Chaired numerous boards, including his role as Director and Chairman of Community/America Credit Union in Kansas City and Chairman of ArtsKC, Kansas City’s Regional Arts Council.
 
Enjoy the episode!

Scott Havens, A Story of Grit and How Failure Can Be Fun - Having 1000 Mentors and Multiple Systems, Fear of Being a Loser, and Wearing Out Left Shoes

Scott Havens is a vice president at Hub International. After eight years in the insurance industry, he became a partner at Truss, one of Kansas City’s largest privately held insurance brokerages. In August of 2019, Truss sold to HUB International making Scott one of the youngest shareholders in North America for the largest privately held insurance brokerages in the world. The Kansas City Business Journal wrote an article in 2020 calling Scott the top connector in the city & a recipient of the 2020 NEXT GEN Business Leaders award. Ingram’s Magazine recognized Scott as 20 in their Twenties & 40 under 40. He runs 9 peer groups consisting of over 200+ C-Level executives. Scott sits on 5 not-for-profit boards along with running 2 popular Kansas City podcasts. He is an owner & partner in 4 private Speakeasies in the Kansas City Metro. 
Please enjoy!

Tabitha Scott, Evel Knievel to CEO - Facing Burnout, Eliminating ”The Shoulds”, Finding Clarity in a Remote Jungle, Using human dynamics to boost employee engagement

Tabitha Scott (https://speakerhub.com/speaker/tabitha-scott) is an award-winning author and speaker who helps inspire action, ignite change, and provide connection, direction, and power. With over 20 years of experience leading corporate innovation and sustainability, she was named by Industry Era as one of the Top 10 Most Inspiring Women Leaders of 2022, is a thought leader on the 2023 Forbes Business Council, and her work was honored at the White House as part of its Energy Data Initiative.
Tabitha’s talks focus on the transformational power of human dynamics to create sustainable business growth and success. Also a bestselling author, she currently serves as Partner at Epic Pivot, advising on engagement, innovation, and cutting-edge leadership practices for large organizations. Tabitha recently led IT Strategy for a Fortune 400 Company during its record growth period. Formerly CEO of Cole Scott Group and Military Assistance Company, and SVP of Innovation & Sustainability at global companies Balfour Beatty Investments and Lend Lease Americas, she has deep experience leading purposeful business transformations. 
Tabitha is known for her groundbreaking expertise in leveraging the principles of modern and ancient energy bioscience to accelerate innovation, productivity, and success for organizations. She led efforts to create the world’s largest solar-powered community and initiated three “net zero” communities. Tabitha has published dozens of original works in leading industry publications, like Forbes, Success Magazine, the Journal of Applied Corporate Finance, the Encyclopedia of Energy Engineering and Technology, and CEO Magazine on energy, human dynamics, behavior change, and avoiding burnout.
You can find Tabitha's book "Trust Your Animal Instincts: Recharge Your Life & Ignite Your Power" on Amazon (https://a.co/d/5r0sD9c).
Enjoy!

Caroline Markel Hammond, Intentionally Fearless - An unbelievable story of domestic violence, resilience, and making a difference as the CEO of two organizations

Caroline Markel Hammond (www.carolinemarkelhammond.com) is the CEO and Founder of Safe In Harm’s Way, a Kansas City-based nonprofit and an online secure resource for people navigating the sadness, worries, lies, screaming, fear, and pain of domestic violence. Premiering last summer in Times Square, and spreading across the country, Caroline and her team launched two unique campaigns for diversified communities related to domestic violence, achieving one billion impressions and opportunities for immediate and actionable help. As CEO and Founder of Epizon Strategy Solutions, Caroline and her team create tailor-made solutions for employers within diversity, equity, and inclusion criteria related to profit, safety, retention, reward, and recruitment.  
As a survivor of domestic violence, plus revival from a death experience, Caroline uses storytelling to evoke change and has been featured on Oprah, Forbes, PBS, NPR, Ms. Magazine, M+M Magazine, national and regional television, and podcasts as an initiator to disrupt complacency within the domestic violence arena and overcoming adversity. 

Leslie Anderson, From helping crying customers at Hermes to Executive Leadership Coach - Learning that the Universe Conspires In Your Favor, Leading with intent and wisdom.

Leslie Anderson's (www.lesliebanderson.com) purpose is to develop legendary executives who demonstrate and inspire others toward exceptional leadership. During nearly 20 years in retail leadership roles for Hallmark Cards, Talbots, Burberry, and Hermes, she took great pride in her executive performance producing tangible, dramatic earnings.  By asking really good questions and listening with authentic curiosity to find what is going on behind others’ words and actions, she helps high-performance executives develop self-awareness that makes them better leaders - and better in all of life’s relationships. 
 

Harry Campbell, East Asian History Major to Fortune 500 President - Being an Authentic Leader, Not Having a Career Plan, Your 7 Words, and Treating Everyone with Respect

Harry Campbell (www.harryscampbell.com) has been a President for two Fortune 500 companies, co-owner of an award-winning small business, CEO of an Internet start-up, and founding member of the industry-changing Wal-Mart/P&G team. He has driven exceptional people and business results in organizations of 5 to 3,500 employees in a broad range of industries from consumer-packaged goods to telecom to sportsmarketing to digital media to healthcare. Harry is known as an identifier, developer, and motivator of exceptional talent at all levels of the organization.
He has a passion for speaking on leadership to companies and organizations. His books, Get-Real Leadership, Get-Real Culture, and Get-Real Mindset, are available on Amazon. Harry donates 100% of his speaking fees and book royalties to brain cancer research in honor of his wife, Kris.
Please enjoy!