Driven By with Sam Coates

In this episode, I sit down with Mark Goodfellow — a man who's lived life at full speed and with no filter. We cover from the trailer park in West Memphis to the car lots and the flash people in the city know him for today. Along the way, he talks about gambling, second chances, hard lessons, and big swings. This isn't a polished story — It's a conversation about the price of ambition, the impact of choices, and the search for meaning after the dust settles.Episode HighlightsEarly Days: Growing up in a trailer, dreaming of a different life, and leaving home at 18.Confidence Since Youth: Calling himself "Mark Rockefeller."The Gamble: A life built on risk — Childhood bets, dog tracks.Starting Small: Launching a car business with four cars, two of which didn't even run.Legacy and Regret: Honoring his mother, wrestling with selfishness, and figuring out what matters now.Memphis Moments: Viral commercials, front-row Grizzlies seats, and more.

In this episode, I sit down with Dana Evans—missionary, adoptive mother, and advocate—to discuss her journey of faith, calling, and resilience. She shares what led her to Russia, the challenges of adoption, and the lessons she's learned about trust, fear, and perseverance.Episode HighlightsWhen a Calling Won't Let Go: From childhood dreams to a leap of faith that changed her life.Life in Russia as a Missionary: Navigating culture shock, language barriers, and church planting. An Adoption That Changed Everything: How caring for two orphans turned into a lifelong commitment.The Challenge of Fear and Isolation: Pushing through exhaustion and finding strength in faith.A New Path for Orphan Care: Helping shift Russia's orphan care from institutions to family placements.Expanding the Mission Abroad: Bringing her work to Turkey, Ghana, and Kenya to help children find families.

In this episode, I sit down with Stephen Shannon—entrepreneur, investor, and family office operator—to discuss his journey across private equity, real estate, and capital management. We explore the principles behind his investment strategy, the challenges of building credibility, and the hard lessons he's learned about leadership, trust, and execution.Episode HighlightsFrom Memphis to Texas: Navigating different markets, building networks, and embracing Texas' economic advantages.A Career in Capital: Starting on Wall Street, managing family office investments, and launching his own company.Principles of Smart Investing: Prioritizing execution, avoiding over-engineered deals, and learning from failures.A Costly Business Lesson: Overcoming a failed business deal early on, a dishonest operator, and what it taught him about due diligence.The Secret to Strong Teams: Hiring based on strengths, trusting your team, and building a business culture from the ground up.How to Find Work-Life Balance: Staying grounded in faith, prioritizing family, and redefining long-term success.

In this episode, I sit down with Jonathan Torres, former CEO of Memphis Athletic Ministries and Frase Protection, and Danny Song, founder of Believe Memphis Academy and CEO of Give Services, to discuss everything nonprofit leadership. With years of experience serving communities in need, they share their journeys, the realities of leading nonprofit organizations, and moving to the for-profit world.Episode HighlightsThe Reality of Nonprofit Leadership: Navigating the demands of fundraising, organizational politics, and daily operations.The Weight of the Work: The personal sacrifices, emotional toll, and pressure to balance mission-driven work with sustainability.Fighting Barriers: How poverty, geography, and access to resources shape opportunities—and the battles nonprofit leaders face.Leaving Nonprofits: Why Torres and Danny transitioned to the business world, the emotions tied to that, and their ongoing journey.Lessons in Leadership: Insights for nonprofit leaders, donors, and advocates on what it takes to drive real, lasting change.

In this episode, I sit down with Daniel Shumate, CEO of Campbell Clinic, to discuss delivering patient-centered care in a country with the most expensive healthcare in the world. We explore the challenges patients face and the bold decisions that need to be made.Episode Highlights:Staying Independent: Maintaining autonomy in a landscape dominated by large hospital systems.Achieving Better Outcomes: Connecting the right specialist with the right patient to improve care and outcomes.Pioneering Treatments: Transforming recovery with outpatient joint replacements and minimally invasive spine procedures.Leading Patient-Centered Care: Balancing values and operational challenges while staying true to the mission.Battling Bureaucracy: Refusing to let profit margins compromise the quality of patient care.Building a Legacy: Fostering a 100+ year reputation and global recognition for advancing orthopaedic care.

Hear my conversation with Elizabeth Rouse, the President and CEO of Arts Memphis, a nonprofit dedicated to promoting the arts in Memphis, Tennessee. With over 60 years of impact, Arts Memphis has played a pivotal role in fostering creativity and connection in the Memphis, TN community.Episode HighlightsHistorical Context: Learn how Arts Memphis evolved from the Memphis Arts Council to a cornerstone for the local arts community.Economic Impact: Discover how over $100 million in grants have fueled growth, created jobs, and boost the economy.Key Programs: Explore how unrestricted funding and pandemic emergency support have empowered arts organizations and artists.Challenges: Arts Memphis balances limited resources while expanding its community impact.Future Vision: Hear about plans to strengthen arts infrastructure, and collaborate with city initiatives to enhance development.

Hear my conversation with Randall Swaney, the entrepreneur behind Marshall Steakhouse, named the #1 Steakhouse in Mississippi by the Food Network. Located in rural Mississippi, Randall turned what was supposed to be a feed store into a bustling restaurant.Episode HighlightsFrom Feed Store to Steakhouse: How Randall's idea turned into a steakhouse serving 4,000 people a week.Against All Odds: Why everyone told him he was crazy, and how Randall proved them wrong.The Power of Location: 50,000 cars pass daily, driving Marshall Steakhouse's success.Expanding the Dream: Randall's wish to open 10 new locations across the Southeast.

Enjoy my conversation with Nancy Knous, Executive Partner at Benchmark Wealth Management. Nancy built her firm from the ground up, tackling the unique challenges of being a woman in a predominantly male industry.Episode HighlightsBuilding from Scratch: How Nancy structured her business for growth and planning for the next generation.Lonely in the Industry: The unique struggles of being a woman in finance and how she navigated them.  Financial Independence: Why women are inheriting more wealth and how financial freedom is key.Persevering Through Challenges: From being broke to surviving the 2008 crisis, Nancy shares her journey every step of the way.

My guest today is David Wedaman.David began his career as an accountant at Arthur Anderson. He then left to go into the transportation industry, and after his first stop, David was a co-founder in Mark VII, which he and his partners grew to $800 million in annual revenue. After this business was taken public and sold in the late 1990's, David founded Retrans, which he and his team built into 32 branches across the United States with sales of more than $500 million a year and sold to global logistics company KUEHNE+NAGEL.Thank you so much for listening. This is a great episode about entrepreneurship, fighting bureaucracy, how times are changing, how to scale, community involvement and how to make an impact in the communities you live in plus much more.Please enjoy this week's episode with entrepreneur David Wedaman.

Memphis, TN is where I call home. A city that has much momentum, but also a city that has significant challenges. This episode is outside my normal focus of business and entrepreneurship, but I wanted to sit down with Mayor Paul Young to discuss his journey and these things head on.Discover his vision for transforming Memphis, a city rich in history and culture but also facing significant issues such as cutting high crime rates, economic issues, minimal population growth, and more.With a city proper population of over 600,000 and a deep History of the blues, Elvis, and sadly Martin Luther King' Jr.'s assassination in 1968, Memphis is known all over the world. This interview covers Mayor Young's own journey, what drives him, his thoughts on these issues, plus his vision for the future plus much more.Episode HighlightsUnderdog's Journey: Finding his purpose as Mayor of Memphis, doing it his way.Hope: Tapping into people's hope to face the tough challengesContinuous Growth: Incremental improvements by building on strengths.A New Legacy: Living his ancestors wildest dreams.Vision for the Future: Balancing a delicate relationship with the District Attorney's office.

Hear my conversation with Rich Johnson and learn how he went from Air Force airman to CEO, building ViaQuest into a leading healthcare provider with 3,500 employees across Indiana, Ohio, and Pennsylvania. Episode HighlightsCare Trends: Evolution of managing disabilities, mental health, and hospice.2008 Banking Crisis: How Rich steered ViaQuest through financial turmoil.Veteran Pride: The impact of veteran leadership in business and as CEO.Healthcare Insights: Navigating staffing challenges, Medicaid, and Covid-19.Vocational Training: The importance of trade education and why college isn't for everyone.

Our guests today are Hal and Julie Lansky.Lansky Bros. opened as an army surplus and uniform store in 1946. It then pivoted when supplies ran out after WW2. Bernard Lanksy hit the jackpot when a young man with no money, Elvis Presley, walked into his store before the one and only Ed Sullivan show.Today, 78 years later, Lansky Bros. is an international brand. Here, I sit down with second-generation Hal Lansky and third-generation Julie Lanksy at the world-famous Peabody Hotel.Thanks for listening and I hope you enjoy today's episode!Link: their website- https://lanskybros.comLA Times: https://www.latimes.com/local/obituaries/la-xpm-2012-nov-16-la-me-bernard-lansky-20121116-story.html

Here is my conversation is with Steve Laffey.Steve is a politician and businessman who ran for Mayor of his hometown of Cranston, Rhode Island and won. Steve is a former executive at Morgan Keegan and Company, author, and filmmaker. After serving as Mayor of Cranston, Rhode Island, Steve ran for the Republican primary for United States Senate and the Republican Primary for the House of Representatives where he was not successful.In 2023, Steve announced he would run for the Republican nomination for the 2024 United States Presidential election and withdrew from the race in 2023.Steve is the author of Primary Mistake Mistake: How the Washington Republican Establishment Lost Everything in 2006 (and Sabotaged My Senatorial Campaign).In 2012, Steve released Fixing America, a documentary film.Steve currently lives in Fort Collins, Colorado.Please enjoy this conversation with Steve Laffey.Links:www.fixingamericamovie.comhttps://www.amazon.com/Books-Steve-Laffey/s?rh=n%3A283155%2Cp_27%3ASteve+Laffeyhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Raymond_James_Morgan_Keegan

Hey everybody, my guest this week is Chris Mercer. Forty-two years ago, Chris Mercer left investment Bank Morgan Keegan and launched Mercer Capital. Mercer Capital provides Business Valuation and Financial Advisory Services to clients worldwide. To date, Chris says they have served over 15,000 companies. Today, Mercer Capital has 57 associates and four offices across the United States.With the documentaries and interviews, my team and I produce, I spend a lot of time with entrepreneurs and companies across the country. Businesses and entrepreneurs fascinate me—the risk, the hardship, the passion, the growth, perfecting one's craft, and so much more.What better person to have a conversation with than someone who has examined the inner workings of thousands of companies over the last four decades? But someone who has done much more than just advising, someone who's an entrepreneur in their own right and founded something that will pass on to the next generation.Please enjoy this episode with Chris Mercer!Links:https://mercercapital.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/zchristophermercer/

This family doesn't care about taking Private Equity money and selling. They are all in on their 75-year history and 3rd generation family business.This family business started with Generation 1. Dr. Lloyd Reed founded this family business right after WW2. 75 Years later, Generation 3 is now running it with Generation 2, and they have no plans on slowing down.Dr. Kevin Reed is 2nd generation of Reed Family Dentistry, which is located about 16 miles from Memphis, TN, with a population of 10,508 people. I used to think that a bigger city meant better care and technology. That's not the case. What stood out to me here was the number of patients they serve annually, their principles on capital investment and technology, and their commitment to their field and what's ahead.Small Businesses are the backbone of America, and this is a great episode about building a multi-generational family business, finding yourself, maintaining a high standard of patient care, plus so much more.Please enjoy this week's episode with Dr. Kevin Reed!Links:https://www.mcguirewoods.com/client-resources/alerts/2023/5/consolidation-dsos-secondary-private-equity-sales/https://reedfamilydentistry.com/https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbesbusinesscouncil/2022/03/25/how-small-businesses-drive-the-american-economy/?sh=6c90aad34169

My guest this week is Bill Courtney. Bill is the CEO and founder of Classic American Hardwoods. An 80 Million a year global lumber company based out of Memphis, TN. Bill started this company out of his living room in 2001.Bill is also the host of the Army of Normal Folks Podcast, a former High School Football Coach, Featured in the Award Winning Documentary Undefeated, plus much more.This interview is unique. Bill goes into his tough upbringing, selling cars, learning from legendary entrepreneurs, risk, his Faith, and everything entrepreneurship plus so much more.Please enjoy this episode with Bill Courtney and go check out his podcast An Army of Normal Folks.Links:https://www.cahmemphis.comhttps://www.coachbillcourtney.comhttps://www.normalfolks.ushttps://www.coachbillcourtney.com/films/https://www.linkedin.com/in/bill-courtney/

My guest this week is Ryan Pryor. Ryan is an educator with Crosstown High School based out of Memphis, Tennessee.The Public School system in the United States is broken. To better understand this why I did  a podcast with an educator that's not scared to do something different.Crosstown High School was started out of the XQ Institute which works directly with the Emerson Collective which has been established by Laurene Powell Jobs.Our education problems are not local, they are national. They affect all of us.This episode covers: The history of education in the U.S.A. and why the model is outdated and broken The heart of an educator and how it's in your blood All the barriers and special interests that block change and what has to happen to do it a better way Plus much more! Please enjoy this episode with Ryan Pryor!Links:Bold crosstown high school- www.crosstownhigh.orgpublic school system in usa is broken- https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2022/01/30/public-education-crisis-enrollment-violence/xq institute- https://xqsuperschool.org/about/Emerson collective- https://www.emersoncollective.com/our-work/philanthropy--

My guest this week is Danny Palo. Danny is the CEO of Vital Records Control. This company started in 1988 at $300,000.00 in annual revenue and today is at $300,000,000.00. Windjammer Capital now owns VRC and is in 80 markets with 2,000 employees.What's even more impressive is that Danny's only job prior was flipping hamburgers. He then started as a delivery driver, dropped out of college, and has run this company for nearly 40 years with a great group of long-time associates, original investors, and owners. They are one of the top leaders in their industry.The document management industry has exploded with the adoption of computers and printing, and now, there is a shift to digital.This is a great episode that covers: Why not having a college degree hasn't held Danny back Operating principles that have driven success for decades and why staying relentlessly focused on the customer drives success The value of doing a deal with the right private equity partner and what makes that work Plus, so much more! Please enjoy this week's episode with VRC Networks CEO Danny Palo!Danny- https://www.linkedin.com/in/danny-palo-46650225/VRC- https://vitalrecordscontrol.com/Windjammer- www.windjammercapital.com

My guest this week is Andy Heck. Andy is the Co-owner and President of Alpin Haus, an outdoor recreation powerhouse out of Amsterdam, New York. Alpin Haus has 300 employees and does 100 Million in revenue It is a third-generation private family business that started like many other great American companies with entrepreneurs and a dream. The outdoor recreation space has exploded, and this family business has endured many ups and downs over the last 59 years. This is a great episode that covers: How Generation 2 took things to a whole new level after building off the foundation their Dad started Why 2008 was a bloodbath and the hard lessons they learned that put them in a strong position when the Covid pandemic first started When the rest of the country is struggling with recruiting, why are they thriving, and how do their small-town values drive connection and engagement The deeper meaning behind what they do- why their RV's, boats, snowmobiles, ski equipment, and more drive experiences and meaning to the families they serve Plus much more Please enjoy this week's episode with Alpin Haus, President Andy Heck! Links:https://www.forbes.com/sites/michellebruton/2023/02/28/outdoor-recreation-industry-sees-significant-growth-with-changes-in-consumer-behavior-sparked-by-covid-19/?sh=53bedfc01c1b--

Hey Everybody, my guest this week is entrepreneur and founder of Alma Del Jaguar McCauley Williams. This episode was a blast. McCauley, a former corporate attorney and C.E.O. of Bluenote Bourbon and he went all in on this new tequila company earlier this year. As McCauley says, we're overloaded with options as consumers, and authenticity and transparency matter more now than ever. McCauley has put everything he has into this company and then raised several million dollars and found one of a kind production partner in Mexico. This is a great episode that covers: A deep dive into the spirits business- the past, present, and future Why some believe tequila will pass vodka as the U.S.'s most popular spirit Building everything from the ground up with extreme detail and why that matters Plus, much more. Please enjoy this week's episode with McCauley Williams! Links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mccauley-williams-6667953a/ https://www.almadeljaguar.com/ https://time.com/6276345/tequila-us-popular-climate-change-impact/

My guest today is Bill Proctor. Bill is the President of Nexair. Nexair has been one of the largest independent packaged gas distributors in the United States and has a rich 73-year history. In early 2023, Nexair was acquired by Linde, the thirty-three billion dollar global multinational chemical company. Bill remains president through this acquisition. Nexair is a great American success story that embodies risk, entrepreneurship, generational ownership, talent development, execution, and much more. Please enjoy this week's episode with Bill Proctor and if you like this episode tell a friend! Links: https://www.nexair.com/ https://www.linde.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/bill-proctor-39825114/

Hey everybody, I hope you're having a great summer. Today's podcast is one I produced for one of the largest privately owned orthopaedic organizations in the United States. Campbell Clinic is based out of Memphis, Tennessee, and has been a leader nationally and internationally in orthopaedics since 1909. And my guest this week is their Chief of Staff, Dr. Frederick Azar. I'm choosing to release this interview on this podcast because Dr. Azar is straight to the point. He speaks to the power of a rich 114-year history, the benefit of staying private and maintaining control of their operation, everything that a physician must do to keep the patient first, and how robotics, ai, and innovation are influencing the field of orthopaedics, plus much more. Dr. Azar attended the University of Notre Dame and received his medical degree from Tulane University School of Medicine. He completed a residency in orthopaedic surgery at the University of Tennessee- Campbell Clinic Department of Orthopaedic Surgery and biomedical engineering and a fellowship in sports medicine at the American Sports Medicine Institute in Birmingham, Alabama. Dr. Azar is the past president of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, a member of the Editorial Board of the American Journal of Sports Medicine, a Member of ALSAC St. Jude Board of Directors and Governors, a team physician the Memphis Grizzlies, the University of Memphis, American Professional Soccer team 901 FC, plus much more. Please enjoy this week's episode with Dr. Frederick Azar! Links: https://www.fiercehealthcare.com/practices/practice-consolidation-private-practice-departures-skyrocketed-during-covid-19 https://www.nba.com/grizzlies https://www.campbellclinic.com/ https://www.campbellclinic.com/about-campbell-clinic/campbells-operative-orthopaedics/ https://www.memphis901fc.com/ https://www.aaos.org/https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-now-and-future-of-orthopaedics/id1689297666

Hey Everybody, I hope you're having a great start to the summer. My guest today is Oscar Subrats; a previous guest suggested Oscar, and the more I looked into him, the more I was interested. Oscar is the President of College Prospects of America, a company that has helped over 35,000 students get an education and play college sports in the United States. Many of these students are international students, and as you'll hear, Oscar grew this company into Mexico and Latin America. According to NCAA, over 20,000 international student-athletes are competing at NCAA schools. Oscar has lived the same experience and opportunity he speaks about in this conversation. He's also an author and recently released a new book called Closing Intelligence. This is a great episode that covers the following: The biggest mistake that American parents/ kids can make when they don't think they need to promote themselves to play college sports Why international students succeed and how their mindset can be more resilient since they have no plan b The power of getting an education in the United States plus much more Please enjoy this week's episode with Oscar Subirats! Links: https://cpoaworld.com/ https://www.amazon.com/CLOSING-INTELLIGENCE-Others-Life-Business/dp/B0BRQCD4JX https://closingintelligence.com/ https://www.ncaa.org/sports/2018/3/21/international-student-athlete-participation.aspx#:~:text=There%20are%20over%2020%2C000%20international,and%20competing%20at%20NCAA%20schools.

My guest this week is the CEO of the nation's largest three-service municipal utility service Doug McGowen. Former Top Gun Pilot, Navy Captain, City of Memphis COO, (plus more stops along the way) and now CEO of MLGW. I've heard many times that Doug simply knows how to get stuff done so it was a privilege to record this with him. His reputation did not disappoint. This is a great episode that covers the following: How you bring urgency, transparency, and accountability to transform performance under a government owned system The threat and consequences of an insufficient workforce and what to do about it Why Memphis is one of the greatest cities in America Plus a whole lot more Please enjoy this week's episode with current MLGW CEO Doug McGowen! Links: https://www.axios.com/2023/03/18/technical-worker-shortage-trade-education-construction https://www.mlgw.com/about/execs_presidentceo https://www.linkedin.com/in/doug-mcgowen-09223229/

Who would have thought an English mid-19th-century sport would empower inner-city students to overcome? My guest today is Shane Young. Shane co-founded Memphis Inner City Rugby and is a former Teach for America Educator. After working in the inner city school system and knowing there had to be a new way to additionally transform lives, Shane and his co-founder launched Memphis Inner City Rugby from scratch. As you'll hear in this interview, they've put everything they've had into this work. This work has evolved to way more than just Rugby. Their work provides mentorship, job creation, nutrition, counseling, transportation, and much more. There are 11,000,000 children in poverty in the U.S.A, and this organization knows how to reduce that number. On this episode, you'll hear: Why some non-profits become a shell of what they once were as they scale. How to fight against it Why and how Rugby transforms lives and helps girls and boys overcome the opportunity gap The unrealized opportunity that the U.S.A. Rugby has to accelerate the transformation of lives across the U.S.A. Plus much more Thanks so much for tuning in and as always if you like this episode, please share and tell a friend! Please enjoy this week's episode with Shane Young! Click here to see more about Memphis Inner City Rugby

My guest today is Candace Steele Flippin, DM. Candace is currently the chief communications officer for Acuity Brands- a 4 Billion dollar revenue organization, and previously served as Chief Communications Officer of First Horizon Bank, a 3.49 Billion dollar revenue bank. Acuity has 11,500 employees, and First Horizon has 7,000 plus employees. She also has her Doctor of Management from Case Western Reserve University out of Cleveland, Ohio. Candace is on this podcast because I want to understand what works and what doesn't work when you're communicating with 10k people and do that in a way that's actually effective. This podcast turned out to be so much more. You'll hear everything from: Why her parents never held back the dreams and ambitions of her and her siblings growing up after they were raised in the Jim Crow south How generations change and how this affects work and what people want- what works and what doesn't, bringing people together to make sure people do great work and take care of the customer Helping women grow and get the jobs they need, not staying stuck, and addressing pay parity Please enjoy this week's episode with Candace Steele Flippen! If you like the show, please tell a friend! Click here to see more about Candace and her work. Links:Candace- https://www.linkedin.com/in/candacesteeleflippin/ https://www.acuitybrands.com/ https://www.firsthorizon.com/ https://case.edu/ https://americanexperience.si.edu/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/The-Jim-Crow-South.pdf https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theory_of_generations https://www.adp.com/resources/articles-and-insights/articles/p/pay-equity.aspx https://www.candacesteeleflippin.com/

My guest this week is Memphis Fire, Chief Gina Sweat. Chief Sweat was selected to be the first female director of fire services in Memphis, TN, and there were only a handful of female fire chiefs nationally when she was selected. The world of fire departments is changing. Chief Sweat says in this episode 80% of their calls are medical, so gone are the days when you are only going to fight fires. This is a great episode that covers the following: What it's like living with the responsibility of 1600+ firefighters that put themselves in harm's way every day Getting scrappy and looking for new ways to tackle old problems and getting creative with funding and grants to get your people what they need Remembering the tragedies and those that gave their lives just doing their job What the future of fire departments look like and why they must innovate to add value to the communities they are apart of Plus a lot more Please enjoy this week's episode with Memphis Fire Chief Gina Sweat! https://www.linkedin.com/in/gina-sweat-4625b382/ https://archive.commercialappeal.com/news/government/city/strickland-names-gina-sweat-citys-first-female-fire-director-26dfbef7-76dd-280f-e053-0100007f1d74-361905801.html/ https://apnews.com/article/15e06ad3778f4ee88b67a1bdbbc97c29 https://www.commercialappeal.com/story/news/2022/08/23/funeral-held-memphis-fire-department-driver-killed-crash-david-pleasant/7877457001/

My guest this week is John Carroll. Lately, I've wondered how do you confidently promote a city with significant issues. John is behind the highly successful grassroots nonprofit Choose 901 and City Leadership out of Memphis, TN. What started as a bootstrapped nonprofit over a decade ago has now evolved into one of the top promotional brands in Memphis, TN. National Center on Charitable Statistics, 30% of nonprofits fail to exist after ten years. Given that this nonprofit was bootstrapped and now operates on a 2 million dollar annual budget, this would be a meaningful conversation. This is a great episode that covers the following: The power of social media and attracting talent to a city you love and need to fill jobs in Redefining progress- do we understand the problems clearly, and Are we making progress on those problems? Building a grassroots organization and becoming an expert to others around the United States The fragility of a first-generation college student Plus a lot more Please enjoy this week's episode with John Carroll! Links:John Carroll- https://www.linkedin.com/in/johncarroll77/ The fragility of a first generation college student- https://eab.com/insights/daily-briefing/student-affairs/33-of-first-gen-students-drop-out-within-3-years/ Choose901- https://choose901.com/ City Leadership: https://www.cityleadership.org/ Top promotional brands: https://www.instagram.com/choose901/ According to this source: https://nanoe.org/nonprofits-fail/#:~:text=The%20real%20data%20from%20National,of%20a%20strategic%20plan%2C%20among

My guest today is Will Chase. This is the second time Will is on this podcast. I've heard great feedback about his episode #62, so check it out. This episode will be different and much shorter, and I am looking forward to it. Full disclosure, I was hired to produce work for this venture and this interview. But I was not hired to release it here on my podcast. That was my choice because Will knows a thing or two about entrepreneurship and the changing landscape of banking across the United States of America.  Will is underway raising funds to recapitalize a successful local community bank and take it to new heights. I'm releasing this episode because it speaks to the changing landscape of banking. In 1990, there were just under 14,000 community banks in the USA, and as of June 2020, just over 4,200 This is a great episode that covers the following: Why does the movement of capital change when community banks are gobbled up How do you build a bank of service first while leveraging modern and innovative technology What's the pride as an investor of a community bank when you're connected to that community, and why this matters Plus, much more!   Please enjoy this week's episode with Will Chase!   Links: Will- https://www.linkedin.com/in/william-j-chase-jr-671a318/ Just under 14k- https://www.ft.com/content/4face0c6-c1fb-47af-972b-8749e92b4baf Today- https://www.kansascityfed.org/ten/2021-fall-ten-magazine/in-evolving-landscape-community-banks-remain-vital-to-customers-and-the-economy/

My guest today is Bob Fockler, former investment banker turned Community builder and asset allocator. Americans gave away just over 484 billion dollars last year, so I wanted to know what this looks like when it's done right. Bob is currently the President of the Community Foundation of Greater Memphis, which, as he says, is a billion-dollar financial institution. This is a great episode that covers: Running a non-profit like a business and why that matters to steward capital well. Paving your own path and leaving investment banking to take on this city's community foundation and why he never looked back Generational giving- who does well and what happens when it blows up Plus, much more! Please enjoy this week's episode with Bob Fockler, President of the Community Foundation of Greater Memphis! Links: https://www.nptrust.org/philanthropic-resources/charitable-giving-statistics/#:~:text=Americans%20gave%20%24484.85%20billion%20in,a%204%25%20increase%20from%202020.&text=Corporate%20giving%20in%202021%20increased,a%2023.8%25%20increase%20from%202020.&text=Foundation%20giving%20in%202021%20increased,a%203.4%25%20increase%20from%202020. https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-fockler-a5b418a/ https://www.cfgm.org/

My guest, today for the 2nd time, is Youth Villages CEO Pat Lawler. When someone has led an organization from less than 100 kids a year, a handful of staff, and evolved into an impact of more than 32,000 kids a year and over 3,600 staff and counting, they are going to have something to say that's important to listen and learn from. It's energizing how a dream can start small, with focus, resiliency, passion, and leadership, it can evolve to be a national thought leader decades later and just getting started. Children's behavioral health and crime are crucial to our communities and the cities we live. It's a privilege to release this interview on my podcast, where you will learn: What it takes to make a culture permeate all the way down to the front line Why being a front-line leader matters and the value it gives you to your organization How their recent national intercept recognition opens up even more tremendous opportunities across the United States Plus, much more! Please enjoy this week's episode with Pat Lawler! This podcast was recorded for my work for Youth Villages on their own podcast Stronger Than You Think. So please check that out if you like this interview. This episode was such a great interview. I wanted to release it here on my podcast. Links: https://youthvillages.org/ Intercept recognition- https://youthvillages.org/youth-villages-intercept-program-model-receives-well-supported-designation-from-family-first-clearinghouse/

My guest today is Frank Cianciola. I'm fortunate to interview many people across the country for the corporate interviews I produce. If there's one thing I've learned over the last few years, it's that if something works in one market, those principles will work in every market. It's an absolute pleasure to release today's episode with Banking entrepreneur and industry veteran Frank Cianciola. Frank is the Founder of Bank3, headquartered out of Memphis, TN, and this isn't Frank's first rodeo. This is the third bank he has run after two other successful exits. You'll hear on his latest bank how he took a struggling bank with less than 20 million in assets and today is at 425 million and shooting for 1 billion. In this episode, you will hear: Living a life as an underdog and loving the fight Putting it all on the line in your 40s when you're given an opportunity to run your first bank How to pick talent and empower them to provide a level of service that a big bank can't Plus much more! Please enjoy this week's episode with Frank Cianciola! Links: Frank Cianciola- https://www.linkedin.com/in/frank-j-cianciola-04113118/ Bank3- https://www.bank3.com/

My guest today is Duncan Williams. I wanted to have Duncan on this podcast because What started as a small regional municipal bond firm in 1969 grew to be one of the largest female-owned bond broker-dealers in the United States. In addition to this work, this family has a strong presence as a holding company in farmland, apartments, and senior living facilities in the southeastern part of the United States. This is great story that shows what one generation's risk and sacrifice can do for communities, people, and opportunities decades down the line. In this episode, you will hear: Choosing not to sell the family business when unexpected events hit your family Building a holding company- how to pick the right people, give them what they need, and get out of their way How to build a brand- watching some of the best companies in the world and how they build theirs and learning from them along the way A passion for jobs- the new world order, and making sure people get what they need to flourish in the communities you are apart of Plus much more! Please enjoy this week's episode with Duncan Williams! Links: Duncan Williams INC- https://duncanwilliams.com/ Duncan Williams- https://www.linkedin.com/in/duncan-f-williams-33972aa6/ bond broker- https://www.investopedia.com/terms/b/bond-broker.asp new world order- link- https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2017/05/03/the-future-of-jobs-and-jobs-training/

My guest today is Scott Felsenthal. I wanted to have Scott on this podcast because he and his family are obviously doing something right. Only 3% of companies make it to the 4th generation, and their company Whitmor is one of them. Scott is the CEO of Whitmor, and it's a privilege to have him on this podcast. Whitmor started in Brooklyn, New York, in 1946; over 75 years later, it is running strong. This is a great story that goes deep into this family's history of: Evolving from a manufacturer to an importer when Walmart changed the game, they, like many others, had to stay alive. Choosing not to take private equity to preserve their control for future generations of their family Building a company that connects the story of what they do to its own people to navigate the great resignation among the workforce  Strategic acquisitions that continue to position the company in a strong position Plus much more! Please enjoy this episode with Scott Felsenthal!   Scott Felsenthal- https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottfelsenthal/ Make it to 4th generation- https://www.johnson.cornell.edu/smith-family-business-initiative-at-cornell/resources/family-business-facts/#:~:text=About%2040%25%20of%20U.S.%20family%2Downed%20businesses%20turn%20into%20second,Businessweek.com%2C%202010). Whitmor: https://whitmor.com/ Great resignation: https://fortune.com/2022/07/21/great-resignation-40-percent-want-to-quit-where-are-they-going/

My guest today is Eric Barnes. Eric is the CEO of the Daily Memphian, the largest single market digital-only local news site in the United States. Starting his career as a staff reporter and worked his way up as an editorial assistant, editor, publisher, and now CEO, Eric has seen the downward spiral of traditional print firsthand and the digital growth of how news is consumed. What's fascinating about Eric's past is that he started working as managing editor of the internet division in the late 1990s Fast Forward 20 years later, and the Daily Memphian is the largest single market digital-only local news site in the United States. I hope you enjoy this episode with Eric, where you will hear: Why growing up in a blue-collar town never leaves you. How this has shaped his career and his ability to lead as an operator How he saw the shift to desktop in the late 90s and how traditional print has declined from its heyday. What New York Times got right and most everyone else didn't  What can happen when you go for something big with ample capital- how the Daily Memphian was launched and what it did from the start to build traction Why a local newspaper matters and how it's success affects the future of a city Plus much more! Please enjoy this episode with Daily Memphian CEO Eric Barnes! Links: Daily Memphian launched- https://www.memphisdailynews.com/news/2018/jul/16/the-daily-memphian-to-launch-in-fall-as-citys-definitive-news-source/ Traditional print declined- https://www.washingtonpost.com/media/2022/04/12/gannett-newspaper-print-days/

My guest today is Tim Belk. Tim, his wife Sarah, and his children operate Wild Hope Farm out of Chester, South Carolina. This is a fantastic episode about leveraging your skill sets to make a true family affair. As Tim says, while being CEO of Belk, he and his wife Sarah were like two ships passing in the night. This organic farm allowed them to do something together and leverage her idea of becoming an organic farmer and his experience as a retail operator and CEO.After the Belk Family sold their department store with close to 300 locations and 25,000 employees that had been in their family since 1888, Wild Hope Farm was started.The organic food market is robust, and as you've heard in previous episodes of this podcast, farming isn't easy.This is an excellent episode with Tim where you will hear: ‍ How to assess a market, start a farm like this from scratch- from idea to planning to execution and all the lessons learned along the way The power of community- why the Belk Family has always committed to their community and how they are doing it today with organic farming and healthier lifestyles Building an incubator of farmers- making change by attracting people passionate about the cause and giving them what they need to send them out and succeed on their own Plus much more! Please enjoy this week's episode with Tim Belk! Links: ‍ Wild Hope Farm- https://www.wildhopefarm.com/ ‍CEO of Belk- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belk ‍Organic farming: https://www.sare.org/publications/transitioning-to-organic-production/what-is-organic-farming/

My guest today is Mason George. Mason is an entrepreneur and business executive with IMC Companies. IMC Companies was started by his Father, Mark George, 40 years ago with just one driver. Today, it is one of the top Intermodal Carriers in the United States. At close to a billion dollars in revenue, it's quite the story to take a company from one driver to where it is today. Our supply chain is more critical today than ever before. The United States is the largest importer globally, and it's no secret that there have been many challenges with how goods come to the USA and how they move throughout the rest of our country. This interview is much more than just about this company and what success looks like. I had a great time with Mason, and this is a great interview where you will hear: The skillsets it takes to take a company from one driver to over a billion in revenue. Being all in with your capital and time while inspiring people to build something they are proud of Hard lessons learned and how these painful experiences teach you how to operate better The future in trucking. Are autonomous trucks worth it? How their techniques are being used to accelerate the movement of drayage across the USA Building technology from the bottom up versus others doing it from top-down and why they have an advantage And much more!   Please enjoy this week's episode with Mason George! ‍ Links: https://www.imcc.com/ https://www.ttnews.com/top100/intermodal/2021 https://www.statista.com/statistics/268184/leading-import-countries-worldwide/#:~:text=In%202020%2C%20the%20U.S.%20were,about%202.41%20trillion%20US%20dollars.&text=Import%20and%20export%20are%20generally,a%20country's%20imports%20and%20exports. https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2021-11-27/supply-chain-shortages-are-at-historic-levels-will-they-peak-before-christmas https://www.forbes.com/sites/stevebanker/2021/05/11/the-autonomous-truck-revolution-is-right-around-the-corner/?sh=1f886d1e2c96 https://www.linkedin.com/in/mason-george-61004588/

My guest today is Rick Spell. Rick is the owner of Spell Restaurant group. Before acquiring and operating restaurants around the Southeastern United States, Rick spent decades building a highly successful career as an investment banker for Morgan Keegan (now Raymond James).  Rick employs over 500 people through their ownership group. As you may know, currently, more than 11 million jobs are open, and over 6 million people are unemployed around the United States.  This is an excellent episode with Rick where you will hear: While his career trajectory changed when he went back and graduated after dropping out of college What he learned from Allen Morgan, the CEO of Morgan Keegan- what happens when you determine if someone has talent, put them in a position to use it, and give them a platform. Buying a restaurant chain out of bankruptcy- why corporate spending can tank a restaurant group Developing people and building a bench. How he develops and moves talent across the southeast within his restaurant group And much more! Please enjoy this week's episode with Rick Spell! Links:  unemployed Jobs open spell restaurant group Morgan Keegan

My guest this week has a story that's nuts! So far in my life, I have yet to meet someone who has overcome more obstacles in their life to become an entrepreneur in the United States and benefit from capitalism. My guest this week is Sandra Xing. Sandra's parents were taken away by Mao Zedong's red party when she was 8. She raised her brother and herself. She witnessed her Mother be shamed and punished because her family came from the Black party. Eventually came to the United States when her sister declined the opportunity. Sandra came to Atlanta and worked every job you could imagine from babysitting, to cleaning dishes, to working in a warehouse; she eventually founded her first company and now she owns three companies. This is a tell all episode where you will hear: What Mao Zedong's leadership was like in the People's Republic of China in the 1960's How she went from making 1 dollar a month in China to working in the United States How she started her first business with no credit and only $4,000.00. The difficulty of starting your own and how she got through it Why she's using the money she's earned to give back Plus much more! Please enjoy this week's episode with Sandra Xing! Links: Sandra Xing  Mao Zedong

My guest today is PGA Tour Champions Golfer Doug Barron. Doug turned pro on the PGA Tour in 1992, played for nine years, and then was out of the game professionally for seven years. In 2019, when everyone thought he was crazy, Doug flew to Europe, qualified, and finished 5th at the Senior British Open. Since then, he has won the Dick's Sporting Goods Open in 2019 and The Shaw Charity Classic in 2021, also known as the Champions Tour Workhorse… Whether you're a golfer or not, this is a great episode where you'll hear Doug cover: “They have to beat me too” how Doug thinks about the legends he plays with and how he stays locked in on his game   Raising money from friends and going all-in at 50    Forgiving yourself and playing your game. How hard lessons learned don't have to end that way.   Why he'd give anything to play one more round with his Dad   And much more! Please enjoy this week's episode with Doug Barron! Links: 5th Place Finish at Senior British Open Champions Tour Workhorse Dick's Victory: Shaw Victory Doug Barron

My guest today is Will Chase. Will is the former CEO of Triumph Bank.  Triumph Bank was started right before the Financial crisis of 2008 with just a few million dollars and sold for over 130 million dollars. The number of new banks opening around the United States has drastically changed since the 2008 financial crisis, and I wanted to find out why. This episode will give you much more than that and the future of banking. This is a great episode that also covers: What it actually looks like to quit your job at 50 and go all in a start-up bank even when you don't know if you'll make it How to win in the service industry when big banks keep acquiring market share Being 5 million dollars in the hole and working your way out of it after the 2008 financial crisis Why it makes no sense to start a bank anymore Plus much more! Please enjoy this week's episode with Will Chase! Links: https://money.cnn.com/2015/07/29/investing/dodd-frank-new-banks/#:~:text=Only%20three%20new%20banks%20have,agency%20that%20approves%20new%20banks https://www.investopedia.com/articles/economics/09/financial-crisis-review.asp https://www.americanbanker.com/news/simmons-first-doubles-up-in-tennessee-with-two-bank-acquisitions#:~:text=The%20%2423.3%20billion%2Dasset%20Simmons,%2C%20Tennessee%2C%20for%20%24146.3%20million.

My guest today is Steve Glenn. Steve is an entrepreneur and CEO of Plant Prefab. After closing its series B round at $30 Million, Plant Prefab is locked in on changing the game of how homes are built...   Plant Prefab is backed by high-profile investors, including Amazon, Asahi Kasei, Gerdau Paris Ventures, and Obvious Ventures. They recognize the massive market opportunity that Plant Prefab is capitalizing on.   We all know the pain points. There's an undersupply of homes, rising material costs, increasing construction timelines, lack of subcontractors, harmful environmental impact, I could go on.   This interview is a great episode where you will hear:   The challenge of wedding profit and purpose when what you need to do is scale   The good, the bad, and the ugly of an achievement personality. How this has shaped who he is today and Steve's own entrepreneurial journey   A deep dive into why their solution solves critical issues and the impact for the future   Who is James Rouse? His influence, his story, and how his impact even lives on today   Plus much more!   Please enjoy this week's episode with Steve Glenn!   Links: https://www.linkedin.com/in/steveglenn/ https://www.plantprefab.com/ https://www.plantprefab.com/press-center/Plant-Prefab-Announces-$30-Million-Series-B-and-the-Opening-of-a-Second-Factory   https://obvious.com/ https://www.aboutamazon.com/ https://www.asahi-kasei.com/ https://www2.gerdau.com.br/paris-ventures   Short homes: https://www.cnbc.com/2021/09/14/america-is-short-more-than-5-million-homes-study-says.html   James Rouse: https://www.smithsonianmag.com/history/james-w-rouses-legacy-better-living-through-design-180951187/   Market and opportunity- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1877705817317344   The future: https://www.forbes.com/sites/theyec/2021/02/08/the-future-of-real-estate-is-modular/?sh=67c2f19873ec  

Who says crowdfunding has to be sketchy? There's a new way to access investment opportunities since the jobs act of 2012, and this real estate family is bringing direct access to the marketplace. My guest today is Adam Kaughman. Adam is the co-founder of ArborCrowd. Based out of New York City, ArborCrowd is the only commercial real estate crowdfunding platform backed by a publicly-traded mortgage REIT. Arbor Realty Trust. This is a great conversation with Adam where you will hear: What's the history of crowdfunding? Did you know that the Statue Of Liberty was the first crowdfunding project on record? Why things have changed and where it is headed, how they are giving people a chance to have equity where previously only institutional capital could access The lessons learned in the 2008 financial crisis and why their experience and hard lessons learned set them apart Building a platform from scratch And more! Please enjoy this week's episode with Adam Kaufman! Links: Crowdfunding https://www.investopedia.com/terms/c/crowdfunding.asp Jobs act 2012: https://www.sec.gov/spotlight/jobs-act.shtml Linked in: https://www.linkedin.com/in/adamkaufman1205/ https://www.arborcrowd.com/ https://arbor.com/ Hudson- statue of liberty  https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-21932675

I couldn't think of a better way to kick off 2022 than with an interview like this! My guest today is Mason George. Mason is an entrepreneur and business executive with IMC Companies. IMC Companies was started by his Father, Mark George, 40 years ago with just one driver. Today, it is one of the top Intermodal Carriers in the United States. At close to a billion dollars in revenue, it's quite the story to take a company from one driver to where it is today. Our supply chain is more critical today than ever before. The United States is the largest importer globally, and it's no secret that there have been many challenges with how goods come to the USA and how they move throughout the rest of our country. This interview is much more than just about this company and what success looks like.  I had a great time with Mason, and this is a great interview where you will hear: The skillsets it takes to take a company from one driver to over a billion in revenue. Being all in with your capital and time while inspiring people to build something they are proud of Hard lessons learned and how these painful experiences teach you how to operate better The future in trucking. Are autonomous trucks worth it? How their techniques are being used to accelerate the movement of drayage across the USA Building technology from the bottom up versus others doing it from top-down and why they have an advantage And much more!   Please enjoy this week's episode with Mason George! Links: https://www.imcc.com/ https://www.ttnews.com/top100/intermodal/2021 https://www.statista.com/statistics/268184/leading-import-countries-worldwide/#:~:text=In%202020%2C%20the%20U.S.%20were,about%202.41%20trillion%20US%20dollars.&text=Import%20and%20export%20are%20generally,a%20country's%20imports%20and%20exports. https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2021-11-27/supply-chain-shortages-are-at-historic-levels-will-they-peak-before-christmas https://www.forbes.com/sites/stevebanker/2021/05/11/the-autonomous-truck-revolution-is-right-around-the-corner/?sh=1f886d1e2c96 https://www.linkedin.com/in/mason-george-61004588/

My Guest today is Garrott McClintock. Garrott is the COO of AcreTrader. AcreTrader is a hot new start-up out of Fayetteville, Arkansas, that recently finished a series its 12 Million Dollar funding round. AcreTrader matches investors with farmland while giving Farmers the land they need to grow their operation.    Did you know that In 1935, there were 7 million farms, and now there are only 2 million in operation?    What's changed? Why is farming so hard? What is often hard for farmers to grow their operations? What's the fulfillment a farmer feels by growing the crops that drive our world today?    I had a great time talking with my long-time friend Garrott McClintock. Garrott is a 5th generation farmer, and I wanted to have him on this show where you'll hear the following:    What's in the DNA of a Farmer? The fulfillment they feel with the work they do  The non-linear path his own career has taken The barriers he and his team break down  The future of farming- growing demand, decrease acreage, and lower number of farmers And More!      Please enjoy this week's conversation with Garrott McClintock!     Links: AcreTrader.com

My Guest today is Gary Wunderlich. Gary is an entrepreneur and investor. At the age of 26, Gary founded Wunderlich Securities and he and his team turned Wunderlich into a national full service and investment banking firm. 400+ employees and two decades later, Wunderlich Securities sold to B. Riley for 67 Million Dollars.  In 2020, Gary Co-Founded Live Oak Merchant Partners. Since the founding Live Oak has launched four SPACS (also known as blank check companies) where they are investing in biotechnology, innovative semiconductors, mobility and motion technology, and environmental sustainability. Just wait, as you listen to this interview you'll hear how Gary plans to roll out 1 to 1 and a half SPACS a year moving forward. I had a great time with Gary where you'll hear: The impact of having strong advisors when you're 26 and naïve Managing through chaos and why he's more comfortable that way Investing in the future- his process, deal flow, and the value of each of his investments and what they have to get right to succeed The joy of pouring into other entrepreneurs when you know what they've been through And much more! Please enjoy this week's episode with Gary Wunderlich!   Links: https://www.liveoakacq.com/ https://navitassemi.com/ https://danimerscientific.com/

Before we get started, I want to share a few things about the value with this week's episode. Over the last 20+ months, the world has been in a unique place. There's been a record number of people quitting their jobs, and our country's supply chain has been challenged in extreme ways. Even with these challenges, there are men and women across the United States committed to buckling down and producing the things we utilize daily. Even with all of these obstacles, there has been tremendous demand and increased opportunity. My guest today is Andrew Green. Andrew Green is CEO of Parkway Products. Parkway is a national injection molding company across the United States and Mexico. After spending the first 16 years of his career with the multi-billion dollar publicly listed company Sonoco Andrew decided to take a different path where he wanted to take some risks and become a CEO one day. This is a jam-packed high-value episode where you'll learn: What it's like having a significant life experience and re-evaluating is this the path you want to be on the rest of your life.   What about the people that have a passion for manufacturing. Without us, the service economy wouldn't exist.   There's a benefit of being backed by private equity. When the model works, you can't grow fast enough.   Adapting to change. Why robotics and automation creates more opportunity for those willing to learn and evolve   And much more! Please enjoy this week's episode with Andrew Green! Links: https://www.parkwayproducts.com/ https://www.sonoco.com/ quitting their jobs: https://www.forbes.com/sites/jackkelly/2021/11/15/weve-become-a-nation-of-quitters-44-million-americans-left-their-jobs-in-september/?sh=55ab01b6893e supply chain issues: https://www.businessinsider.com/supply-chain-crisis-when-it-will-be-over-end-2021-11 injection molding: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Injection_moulding

My guest today is Sam Sawyer. Not many would leave their career at the top of their field to launch a startup disrupting the space they once built their career in. After leaving Dallas, Texas, and working for Silicon Valley Based ZeroDown Sam launched Archetape, where he is Founder and CEO. After an early-stage investment round by Mucker Capital, Sam is building out Archetape and growing it throughout the Southeast U.S.A. Sam believes the future of residential real estate will continue to change dramatically and disrupt the old way agencies do business. I had a great time with Sam where you'll learn: Contrary to standard behavior- why you're better positioned to take risks and build companies in your 30's and 40's versus playing it safe   What makes a great early-stage investment relationship. Why Mucker Capital is a great partner and what they do to invest in and deliver value to their founders   Why raising too much funding can crush you.   The impact of Zillow and how this transformed the industry   First Principles thinking and why this drives how they build this company   And much more!   Please enjoy this week's episode with Sam Sawyer! Links: https://www.archetape.com/ https://zerodown.com/ https://www.mucker.com/ https://www.zillow.com/ https://www.ycombinator.com/ First principles- https://medium.com/the-mission/elon-musks-3-step-first-principles-thinking-how-to-think-and-solve-difficult-problems-like-a-ba1e73a9f6c0 Sam twitter- @samHsawyer

My guests today are Patrice and Jerry Thompson. Patrice and her family own and operate the legendary Four Way Restaurant out of Memphis, TN. The Four Way attracts visitors from all over the world. In addition to being known for its famous soul food, the Four Way is also a place with rich history and significance. In this interview, you'll hear how Martin Luther King spent a lot of time at the Four Way during the civil rights movement. Additionally, this restaurant has seen guests such as Elvis Presley, Aretha Franklin, Ike and Tina Turner, The Reverend Jesse Jackson, and many more.    This interview is a great episode where you'll learn:   The Four Way is much more than only a restaurant. 75 years later, you can see the pride, the vision, and the sacrifice generations prior have made to get the Four Way to where it is today. Why the Four Way was a place of love and community during segregation and how it remains that way today The challenges of running a restaurant during a labor shortage and the Covid-19 pandemic. How they've learned to pivot and adapt to make it through Their vision for the future and how they want to see their once-booming area return to what it once was And much more!   Please enjoy this week's episode with Patrice and Jerry Thompson! Links: https://thefourway901.com/ https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/peace/1964/king/biographical/ https://www.graceland.com/about-elvis https://www.arethafranklin.net/ https://www.rockhall.com/inductees/ike-and-tina-turner https://www.britannica.com/biography/Jesse-Jackson

My Guest today is Harry Smith. Harry is an author, former public accountant, entrepreneur, investor, and philanthropist. Can you imagine moving to a new city at the age of 37 and taking over one of the largest private companies in that city while it's facing chapter 7 bankruptcy? After growing up in Florence, Alabama, Harry was recruited to Memphis, TN, to take over Schilling enterprises. As of 1980, Schilling Enterprises ( real estate, HVAC, trucking, automobile sales, and the auto parts industry) had over 100 Million Dollars in revenue with over 1,000 employees. After large contracts with Ford Motor company created significant consequences for Schilling Enterprises, Harry led the turnaround effort, saved Schilling Enterprises, and turned it into a successful ownership group that acquired and sold automobile dealerships. In Addition to his work with Schilling enterprises, Harry also owned Schilling Farms (448 acres outside of Memphis, TN and partnered with and later sold to Boyle Investment Company), was a partner in Circle Y Saddles (the largest saddle manufacturer in the U.S.A.) and much more! This is a fantastic episode where you'll learn: Why growing up with a single mother taught him entrepreneurship and work ethic at a young age   What he did to survive when taking over a company in dire straits.    How to buy it right. How he analyzed and acquired underperforming businesses and turned them into valuable assets   Why his success boiled down to the importance of him finding the right partner   Why He's grateful for second chances   And much more!   Please enjoy this week's episode with Harry Smith! Links: https://www.amazon.com/Driven-Deliver-Harry-L-Smith/dp/1936670399 https://circley.com/ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Motor_Company https://www.visitflorenceal.com/ https://boyle.com/ https://boyle.com/communities/schilling-farms-community/

My guest today is Andy Cates. Andy is an entrepreneur, investor, and community activist. Here's a little about Andy... - Founder and CEO of RVC Outdoor Destinations - Managing Member of the Value Acquisition Fund - Founding Chairman and President of the Memphis Fourth Estate (Daily Memphian) - Founding Chairman of the Soulsville Revitalization Project (one of the largest inner-city revitalization projects in the United States) With several others responsible for bringing the Vancouver Grizzlies Franchise to Memphis, TN And more! I had a great time with Andy where you'll learn: What it's like living with the fear of failure, but why even the best hitters are still able to have a few losses   How he assesses opportunity early and his process in picking talent and building things from scratch   What he's learned about crossing racial lines and building trust and getting stuff done   Where he's failed by not growing opportunities fast enough   And more! Please enjoy this week's episode with Andy Cates! Links: https://rvcoutdoors.com/ https://www.valfund.com/ https://memphisfourthestate.org/ https://soulsvillefoundation.org/ https://therookiewire.usatoday.com/2020/07/03/history-on-this-day-nba-approves-the-move-of-the-grizzlies-to-memphis/