Podcasts about southern pines

In this episode of Stories from the River, host Charlie Malouf sits down with Jose Blanco, the General Manager of the Glenwood Gladiators, as part of the GM Series. Coming to you from the Charlotte Motor Speedway during a week of special events, the two dive into Jose's extensive 11-year leadership journey at Broad River Retail. Jose shares stories from his beginnings in liquidation furniture sales prior to joining The River and then through his progression through nearly every possible leadership role across many store locations—including Hickory, Arden, Asheville, Matthews, University, Columbia, Northeast Columbia, Fayetteville, Southern Pines, and now at the Raleigh Outlet (a/k/a the "Glenwood Gladiators"). With each move, he highlights his adaptability, focus on sales growth, and a deep commitment to leading by example. Jose credits much of Broad River's evolution to the adoption of consistent processes, like the C4 playbook, and emphasizes how these have shifted the Company from a store-by-store approach to a unified operational culture. Jose opens up about understanding the analytics of the business and those learnings that he gained during the preparation from the Orange Crush tours. Jose opens up about the importance of building trust, showing genuine care for other Memory Makers, and creating a family atmosphere in every store he leads. He discusses the rewarding aspects of being a GM, from celebrating high-performing Home Furnishings Consultants achieving the elite Home Furnishings Expert status, to fostering cultures where everyone feels supported and heard—regardless of age or background. Jose's story also touches on his personal challenges, including being legally blind, and expresses gratitude for the Company's support.     As the General Manager, Jose discusses how he constantly wants to be the lead learner and drops the mic when he says that 'Learning is an everlasting gobstopper.' Throughout the conversation, Charlie highlights Jose's resilience, service-driven leadership, and the perspective on growth at Broad River that is driven by its leaders like Jose: growing as far as their Memory Makers will take them. The episode concludes with advice for top sales professionals who may be contemplating a leap into leadership, underscoring the performance-driven, transparent, and deeply supportive environment that makes Broad River's GM role unique. Watch this episode YouTube:  https://youtu.be/Rg_dzfjKxMQ  Visit https://www.storiesfromtheriver.com for more episodes. Broad River Retail brought this show to you. Visit https://BroadRiverRetail.com                              Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/broad-river-retail  

In this episode of Stories from the River, host Charlie Malouf sits down with Jose Blanco, the General Manager of the Glenwood Gladiators, as part of the GM Series. Coming to you from the Charlotte Motor Speedway during a week of special events, the two dive into Jose's extensive 11-year leadership journey at Broad River Retail. Jose shares stories from his beginnings in liquidation furniture sales prior to joining The River and then through his progression through nearly every possible leadership role across many store locations—including Hickory, Arden, Asheville, Matthews, University, Columbia, Northeast Columbia, Fayetteville, Southern Pines, and now at the Raleigh Outlet (a/k/a the "Glenwood Gladiators"). With each move, he highlights his adaptability, focus on sales growth, and a deep commitment to leading by example. Jose credits much of Broad River's evolution to the adoption of consistent processes, like the C4 playbook, and emphasizes how these have shifted the Company from a store-by-store approach to a unified operational culture. Jose opens up about understanding the analytics of the business and those learnings that he gained during the preparation from the Orange Crush tours. Jose opens up about the importance of building trust, showing genuine care for other Memory Makers, and creating a family atmosphere in every store he leads. He discusses the rewarding aspects of being a GM, from celebrating high-performing Home Furnishings Consultants achieving the elite Home Furnishings Expert status, to fostering cultures where everyone feels supported and heard—regardless of age or background. Jose's story also touches on his personal challenges, including being legally blind, and expresses gratitude for the Company's support.     As the General Manager, Jose discusses how he constantly wants to be the lead learner and drops the mic when he says that 'Learning is an everlasting gobstopper.' Throughout the conversation, Charlie highlights Jose's resilience, service-driven leadership, and the perspective on growth at Broad River that is driven by its leaders like Jose: growing as far as their Memory Makers will take them. The episode concludes with advice for top sales professionals who may be contemplating a leap into leadership, underscoring the performance-driven, transparent, and deeply supportive environment that makes Broad River's GM role unique. Watch this episode YouTube:  https://youtu.be/Rg_dzfjKxMQ  Visit https://www.storiesfromtheriver.com for more episodes. Broad River Retail brought this show to you. Visit https://BroadRiverRetail.com                              Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/broad-river-retail  

Sepp Straka wins his second tournament of the year, The Truist Championship. Kenny is gearing up for a spring golf trip in Southern Pines. The second major championship, the PGA Championship, of the season kicks off at Quail Hollow. Subscribe to our channels and share with your friends! #golf #podcast #pgatour #PGAChampionship Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!): https://uppbeat.io/t/mojo/rumble License code: CGRTBR1VBR65HMHZ

What happens when we challenge young Christians to step boldly into politics instead of stepping away? Joseph Jackson shares his journey from a politics-loving teen to a leader in TeenPact, a Christian government and leadership school for students ages 13-19. He discusses how his Classical Conversations education prepared him for public speaking and debate, the importance of Christians participating in the democratic process, and why today's youth should be held to higher standards. Learn about TeenPact's unique approach to teaching students about government branches, lobbying, and the political process through week-long state classes and national conventions.   Episode Sponsored by: Classical Conversations Foundation https://teenpact.com/   Mark your calendar for the 2025 National Commencement, May 16-17, 2025, in sunny Southern Pines, North Carolina! This is a time for Classical Conversations families from around the nation to celebrate the hard work with fellow families on the homeschooling journey. Register at https://classicalconversationsfoundation.org/

Tim Russell, executive director of Sunrise Theater in Southern Pines, visits the studio to talk about participating in the world premier of Pink Floyd at Pompeii – MCMLXXII, which is April 24 (but the theater will show the film through Sunday), some of the live music happening at the theater this year and his efforts to solidify Moore County as an arts, culture and entertainment destination.

The Pinehurst, Southern Pines, Aberdeen area of North Carolina is a burgeoning music destination. And no one has a better pulse of the local music scene and its potential like Baxter Clement, owner of Casino Guitars in downtown Southern Pines. Clement has spent most of his life in the music industry and has traveled the world to perform.But, Southern Pines and Moore County has always been home for Clement and while his touring days are pretty much over, his guitar empire is known across the globe. In this episode of Paradise in the Pines, Clement talks about his life in music, being married to the Mayor of Southern Pines, our talent-rich music scene and the potential for a major regional music festival for our destination.

Tim Russell is the new executive director of the Sunrise Theater in downtown Southern Pines. His path to the stage at the Sunrise spans the globe from Australia to Hong Kong to Europe as a corporate executive. All along the way, he's always been a huge music fan and part-time musician. He's been a resident of Moore County for about 10 years, and when the chance to manage the Sunrise became available, he jumped at it. Russell brings a ray of sunshine to the Sunrise and in this episode of Paradise in the Pines, he talks about his vision for the venerable venue, his passion for music and how Moore County is becoming a burgeoning music destination. @visitnc  #mooremusic #sandhillsnc #southernpinesnc

This week on Golfers Anonymous, I'm joined by Aaron Schrank from Rustic Golf Provisions. We talked about his roots in Rhode Island golf, how he fell into photography, and the connection between the two. Aaron shared stories from trips to Pinehurst, Southern Pines, Payne's Valley, and Fishers Island, and how he captures those moments with disposable cameras. We also got into his mission to play every public course in Rhode Island, what he's learned along the way about expressing his creativity, and the ways golf brings people together.

Golf doesn't just bring people from all over the world to experience our world-class, Top 100 courses— it also attracts a variety of businesses connected to the golf industry.One of those is Dr. Savannah Gardner, a board-certified chiropractic physician and owner of The Movement Foundry in Southern Pines. Originally from Jupiter, FL, Dr. Gardner is also a Titleist Performance Institute Medical Level 3 expert.Gardner's love for golf led her and her family to find their place in the Home of American Golf. In this episode of Paradise in the Pines, hear how she built her brand, what brought her to the Pinehurst area, and—despite being a Floridian—why she's more likely to shout Roll Tide instead of Go Gators!

Hey CX Nation,In this week's episode of The CXChronicles Podcast #256 we were live at Instant Team's Community Builders Week & CX Virtual Summit based in Southern Pines, NC at their company headquarters. Our guest interviews for this IRL (in-real life) episode included Liza Rodewald (Founder & CEO), Erica McMannes (Founder & CXO), Greg Avallone (SVP of Sales & Partnerships), Amy Price, MBA (SVP of CX), Jennifer Martin & Erica North, both military spouses themselves (Strategic Partnerships Managers), & the one, the only Nate Brown (Co-Founder at CX Accelerator & Head of CX Advisory at Metric Sherpa).   Each of the guests in this episode had unique points of view on the state of CX/CS/Customer Support & what the future of Boutique BPO's look like in today's world. And how they are building an all-in-one hiring platform leveraging the near 12 million US military spouses stationed across the globe. Instant Teams is a mission-driven company committed to supporting and employing the “force behind the force” – US military spouses. In this episode, Adrian chats with the Instant Teams crew about how they are making real social impact, finding remarkable talent, providing their customers instant access to new teammates & building flexible solutions along the way.   **Episode #256 Highlight Reel:**1. Unleashing the power of 12M+ Military Spouses2. Building bridges to companies who want access to this group3. Why Military Spouses Make For Incredible CX & Customer Care talent4. Engaging 75K military spouses ready & primed to join our workforce 5. Around the sun locations at US bases provides global support optionClick here to learn about Instant TeamsClick here to learn about Community Builders Week & CX Summit 2025 Huge thanks to everyone for joining us on this week's episode of The CXChronicles Podcast and featuring their work and efforts in pushing the customer & employee (agent) experience & BPO space into the future.If you enjoy The CXChronicles Podcast, stop by your favorite podcast player hit the follow button and leave us a review today.For our Spotify friends, make sure you are following CXC & please leave a 5 star review so we can find new listeners & members of our community.For our Apple friends, same deal -- follow CXCP and leave us a review letting folks know why you love our customer focused content.You know what would be even better?Go tell one of your friends or teammates about CXC's content,  our strategic partners (Hubspot, Intercom, Zendesk, Freshworks, Forethought AI & Ascendr) + they can learn more about our CX/CS/RevOps focused services & please invite them to join the CX Nation!Are you looking to learn more about the world of Customer Sales & Marketing, Customer Experience, Customer Success, Employee Experience & Revenue Operations?Click here to grab a copy of my book "The Four CX Pillars To Grow Your Business Now" available on Amazon or the CXC website.For you non-readers, go check out the CXChronicles Youtube channel to see our customer & employee focused business content. Reach Out To CXC Today!Support the showContact CXChronicles Today Tweet us @cxchronicles Check out our Instagram @cxchronicles Click here to checkout the CXC website Email us at info@cxchronicles.com Remember To Make Happiness A Habit!!

From Fortune 30 IT executive to nonprofit leader - Chris May shares how TeenPact Leadership Schools is transforming youth through hands-on civic engagement and faith-based leadership training at state capitals nationwide. Discover how this unique program is equipping the next generation of leaders through real-world political simulations and discipleship, with opportunities for students to experience government firsthand.   https://teenpact.com/ Mark your calendar for the 2025 National Commencement, May 16-17, 2025, in sunny Southern Pines, North Carolina! This is a time for Classical Conversations families from around the nation to celebrate the hard work with fellow families on the homeschooling journey. Register at https://classicalconversationsfoundation.org/

Looking for insights on emotional intelligence and parenting? Join Delise for a fascinating conversation with Noble Gibbons, the "EQ Gangster"! From West Point graduate to emotional intelligence coach, Noble shares his personal journey from being emotionally unaware to helping others develop emotional literacy. Learn practical tools like the "Gorilla APE" method and discover how to create an emotionally safe environment for your children - all while applying classical education principles to emotional growth.   https://www.eqgangster.com/   Mark your calendar for the 2025 National Commencement, May 16-17, 2025, in sunny Southern Pines, North Carolina! This is a time for Classical Conversations families from around the nation to celebrate the hard work with fellow families on the homeschooling journey. Register at https://classicalconversationsfoundation.org/

North Carolina ranks as the fifth most-visited state in the U.S., welcoming approximately 43 million visitors in 2023. The state's tourism efforts are driven by VisitNC, part of the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina. Scott Peacock, the Director of Marketing for VisitNC, works alongside state tourism director Wit Tuttell and the VisitNC team to implement strategies that attract visitors and boost spending across the state. The Pinehurst, Southern Pines, Aberdeen Area CVB collaborates closely with VisitNC to ensure statewide promotions also highlight the Sandhills region, known as the Home of American Golf. In this episode of Paradise in the Pines, Scott Peacock shares insights into VisitNC's mission, the ongoing effects of Hurricane Helene, and what's ahead for North Carolina tourism in 2025. ‪@visitnc‬ #visitnc

Join Lisa and guest Kelli Wilt for some easy ideas for practicing memory work, whether Memory Master is your family's goal or not.  Find out how much fun preparing as a family can be, and what lasting benefits are realized by students who sharpen their skills of memorization.   Mark your calendar for the 2025 National Commencement, May 16-17, 2025, in sunny Southern Pines, North Carolina! This is a time for Classical Conversations families from around the nation to celebrate the hard work with fellow families on the homeschooling journey. Register at https://classicalconversationsfoundation.org/

Burning questions need answers!  Today on the episode Lisa answers some recent questions posed by listeners, from beginning this awesome/scary/new journey to keeping “finished early” teens plugged in.      Mark your calendar for the 2025 National Commencement, May 16-17, 2025, in sunny Southern Pines, North Carolina! This is a time for Classical Conversations families from around the nation to celebrate the hard work with fellow families on the homeschooling journey. Register at https://classicalconversationsfoundation.org/

Looking for ways to nurture your child's creativity without stifling their natural genius? Join host Delise as she interviews Courtney Sanford, founder of The Delightful Art Co. and author of "Marvelous to Behold." A former graphic designer turned homeschool mom, Courtney shares her journey of integrating art education with classical learning, discusses creative approaches to teaching art to different types of learners, and offers practical advice for parents wanting to cultivate creativity in their children. https://www.delightfulartco.com/ Mark your calendar for the 2025 National Commencement, May 16-17, 2025, in sunny Southern Pines, North Carolina! This is a time for Classical Conversations families from around the nation to celebrate the hard work with fellow families on the homeschooling journey. Register at https://classicalconversationsfoundation.org/

Is our modern view of the family broken? Robert interviews Jeremy Pryor, founder of Family Teams Ministry. Jeremy shares his journey from being uninterested in fatherhood to becoming a passionate advocate for multigenerational family teams after being inspired by Jewish and Arab family cultures during his time in Jerusalem. They discuss how modern Western family structures differ from biblical models, the importance of building family assets and businesses together, and practical ways to cultivate stronger family teams.   https://familyteams.com/ Mark your calendar for the 2025 National Commencement, May 16-17, 2025, in sunny Southern Pines, North Carolina! This is a time for Classical Conversations families from around the nation to celebrate the hard work with fellow families on the homeschooling journey. Register at https://classicalconversationsfoundation.org/

Big changes are coming to Blessings and Motherhood! Join hosts Delise and Jenny as they reminisce about favorite past episodes - from homeschooling wisdom with Jennifer Courtney to navigating family rhythms with Michelle Oliver - and share important updates about the future of the podcast. Mark your calendar for the 2025 National Commencement, May 16-17, 2025, in sunny Southern Pines, North Carolina! This is a time for Classical Conversations families from around the nation to celebrate the hard work with fellow families on the homeschooling journey. Register at https://classicalconversationsfoundation.org/

In this episode of “In Stride,” Sinead is joined by international 4* event rider Kimberly Cecere. Kimberly Cecere is an up-and-coming event rider with two FEI wins, one national win, and three top 20 finishes at the 4*Long level. Kimberly grew up on her parent's farm in Littleton, Massachusetts, where her mom ran a riding school. Kimberly attended the University of Kentucky, where she got an undergraduate degree in equine science and business. After graduating, she got a job as the assistant coach of the hunt seat team at Bridgewater College while getting her MBA at North Central University. Kimberly then started working for Lauren Nicholson, where she stayed for 7 years and started working with Jacqueline Mars' Landmark's Monaco, with whom she competed at the 4* level. Kimberly received the 2020 Wilton Fair Grant, which allowed her to spend 6 months training in England, where she worked with British Olympic Eventing Team coach Chris Bartle and world-ranked eventers Tim and Jonelle Price. Kimberly moved home from England and started building her own training and coaching business in Southern Pines, North Carolina. In this episode, Kimberly discusses topics related to her career as an event rider, including: • Her experience working with event rider Lauren Nicholson and owner Jackie Mars. • How natural horsemanship helped her with starting young horses. • The importance of taking the emotion out of the job and showing up for the horses every day. • The technicalities and philosophies she learned while spending six months training in England. • Working with British Olympic Eventing Team coach Chris Bartle and world-ranked eventers Tim and Jonelle Price. Join Kimberly and Sinead in this exciting conversation about winning with diligence and discipline.

In this special compilation episode, guest host Chris Blackburn presents the top five classical educational conversations from the year. Featured guests include Classical Conversations founder Leigh Bortins discussing the theological significance of mathematics, Douglas Wilson on Christian education as a moral imperative, Kathy Gibbens exploring the importance of formal logic in the AI age, Lynne Taylor offering a controversial perspective on education rights, and Adam Powers sharing his family's RV living and homeschooling journey. Tune in to relive some of our most thought-provoking guests from 2024! Mark your calendar for the 2025 National Commencement, May 16-17, 2025, in sunny Southern Pines, North Carolina! This is a time for Classical Conversations families from around the nation to celebrate the hard work with fellow families on the homeschooling journey. Register at https://classicalconversationsfoundation.org/

In this special replay episode, co-hosts Delise and Ginny discuss different approaches to handling Santa Claus in Christian households. Using classical tools of learning, they explore personal experiences, faith perspectives, and how each family navigates the balance between holiday magic and biblical truth. The hosts share updates on how their approaches have evolved since the original episode aired last Christmas, including handling children's questions and maintaining wonder while staying true to their values.   Mark your calendar for the 2025 National Commencement, May 16-17, 2025, in sunny Southern Pines, North Carolina! This is a time for Classical Conversations families from around the nation to celebrate the hard work with fellow families on the homeschooling journey. Register at https://classicalconversationsfoundation.org/

How can classical education bridge divides and create hope? Dr. Anika Prather—scholar, educator, and founder of the Living Water School—shares her inspiring journey into classical education and her vision for its future. As a lecturer at Howard University and passionate advocate for making classical education accessible to all communities, Dr. Prather offers unique insights into how ancient wisdom can unite rather than divide.     https://drprather.com/   https://x.com/AnikaFreeindeed   Mark your calendar for the 2025 National Commencement, May 16-17, 2025, in sunny Southern Pines, North Carolina! This is a time for Classical Conversations families from around the nation to celebrate the hard work with fellow families on the homeschooling journey. Register at https://classicalconversationsfoundation.org/  

Greg Combs started the Southern Pines chapter of Guitars for Vets. He talks with Frank about the program and their visits to Hatchet Brewing each month.

How do you find gratitude when you're struggling? Ginny and Delise explore finding thankfulness in difficult seasons. Through meaningful Scripture passages from Nahum to James, they share personal experiences about waiting on God's timing, learning to be quick to listen but slow to speak, and the importance of community during challenging times. A perfect listen for anyone needing a reminder that the Lord remains good, even when circumstances feel anything but.     Mark your calendar for the 2025 National Commencement, May 16-17, 2025, in sunny Southern Pines, North Carolina! This is a time for Classical Conversations families from around the nation to celebrate the hard work with fellow families on the homeschooling journey. Register at https://classicalconversationsfoundation.org/

Could the Department of Education be on the chopping block? Robert Bortins explores the seismic shifts that could reshape America's educational landscape. From radical changes in federal employment to surging cryptocurrency markets, Robert breaks down what these transformations could mean for educators, investors, and families.     https://www.redballoon.work/cc   https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b4xuRZYLpgk&t=17s   https://www.forbes.com/sites/maryroeloffs/2024/11/11/will-trump-eliminate-the-department-of-education-what-we-know-as-elon-musk-applauds-good-idea/   https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/elections/2024/11/09/democrats-working-class-exodus-sets-off-reckoning-within-party/76117107007/     Mark your calendar for the 2025 National Commencement, May 16-17, 2025, in sunny Southern Pines, North Carolina! This is a time for Classical Conversations families from around the nation to celebrate the hard work with fellow families on the homeschooling journey. Register at https://classicalconversationsfoundation.org/      

Send us a textThe FTGN Merch Store is Live!! Help Support the site with official FTGN Gear!Joe McCormack returns to the show to discuss his newest book: Quiet Works: Making Silence the Secret Ingredient of the Workday . Together, Joe and Joe explore how quiet time enhances leadership, reduces distractions, and improves communication. They share insights on managing workplace noise, the balance between collaboration and focus, and practical strategies to help leaders and teams achieve clarity and purpose through intentional quiet moments. They also discuss:The curse of the scattered leaderThe problems of Too Much Information (TMI) and Too Much Collaboration (TMC)Why leaders need to take short intentional breaks during the workdayPractical steps leaders can take to reduce noise and improve decision-making, including the importance of quiet reflection.Tools like journaling, scheduling quiet moments, and establishing boundaries to protect time for deep thinking.Whether you're looking to boost productivity or improve decision-making, this conversation offers actionable tools to help you thrive in today's noisy world.Joe McCormack is the founder and president of The BRIEF Lab, and he's passionate about helping professionals gain focus and clarity in a world of too much information, too much collaboration, and too much noise.As an entrepreneur, marketing executive, and author, he is recognized for his work in concise, strategic communication and leadership development.Joe has written three books—a trilogy—that outline and promote the personal and professional benefits of clear thinking and concise communication.His podcast, “Just Saying,” helps professionals become effective and efficient communicators in an age of information overload.Before his entrepreneurial ventures, Joe served as Senior Vice President at Ketchum, a top-five marketing agency in Chicago. He received a BA in English Literature from Loyola University of Chicago where he graduated with honors. He is fluent in Spanish and has broad international experience. Joe and his wife Julie split their time between Southern Pines, North Carolina, and Chicago, Illinois.A special thanks to this week's sponsors!Veteran-founded Adyton. Step into the next generation of equipment management with Log-E by Adyton. Whether you are doing monthly inventories or preparing for deployment, Log-E is your pocket property book, giving real-time visibility into equipment status and mission readiness. Learn more about how Log-E can revolutionize your property tracking process here!Exray a veteran-owned apparel brand elevating the custom gear experience. Exray provides free design services and creates dedicated web stores for unitsMy favorite coffee is veteran-owned Alpha Coffee and I've been drinking it every morning since 2020! They make 100% premium arabica coffee. Alpha has donated over 22k bags of coffee to deployed units and they offer a 10% discount for military veterans, first responders, nurses, and teachers! Try their coffee today. Once you taste the Alpha difference, you won't want to drink anything else!  Learn more here

Reading, ‘Riting, “Rithmetic…we all know we want our kids to know the basics.  But surely that's not all, and certainly those aren't the most important “basics”!  Listen to some thoughts from veteran homeschool moms Brittany Lewis and Kelli Wilt as they talk to Lisa about planting the seeds of some more important fruits of knowledge.    Mark your calendar for the 2025 National Commencement, May 16-17, 2025, in sunny Southern Pines, North Carolina! This is a time for Classical Conversations families from around the nation to celebrate the hard work with fellow families on the homeschooling journey. Register at https://classicalconversationsfoundation.org/    

BroTrips Podcast Episode 5: Pinehurst, Pine Needles, and the Pinecone In Episode 5, we're taking you to the epicenter of American golf: Pinehurst! Get ready to explore some of the most iconic courses in the world, along with a few hidden gems that made our trip unforgettable. In This Episode: Pinehurst Prestige: Discover why Pinehurst remains a legendary destination for golfers. We break down our experience playing some of its most famous courses, including Pinehurst #2, Pinehurst #8, and the fun and fast The Cradle. Plus, we'll talk about the putting challenge at Thistle Du and how it adds a unique twist to the Pinehurst experience. Beyond Pinehurst – The Course Lineup: We venture further afield to tackle the stunning courses of Mid Pines, Pine Needles, and Southern Pines, sharing our thoughts on each course's challenges, charm, and standout moments. The Pinecone Experience and Tobacco Road: From our surprising new favorite, the Pinecone, to the unforgettable and rugged beauty of Tobacco Road, hear about the courses that brought something different to our Pinehurst adventure. Sponsors and Affiliates: Fairway Fuel Jerky: Fuel up with the jerky designed with the golf course in mind! EP Headcovers: Protect your clubs in style. Bad Birdie Golf: Use promo code BROTRIPS15 for 15% off your entire order. Join us as we take you through our Pinehurst adventure, from legendary courses to unexpected discoveries – all in true BroTrips fashion: First Class or No Class!

Hey CX Nation,In this week's episode of The CXChronicles Podcast #242 we welcomed Liza Rodewald, Founder & CEO and Erica McMannes, Founder & Chief People & Community Officer at Instant Teams based in Southern Pines, North Carolina.Instant Teams leads the way as a CX talent marketplace committed to the financial well-being of military families while providing companies instant access to remarkable talent.Liza Rodewald is the Founder and CEO of Instant Teams, a CX marketplace that connects companies with military spouse talent. She is a 4x entrepreneur and software engineer with over 16 years of technical experience. Erica has been a leader in the military community for more than two decades, holding various roles within the Department of Defense and private sector. In 2016, Erica founded Instant Teams with Liza Rodewald. In this episode, Liza, Erica and Adrian chat through the Four CX Pillars: Team, Tools, Process & Feedback. Plus share some of the ideas that their team thinks through on a daily basis to build world class customer & marketing focused experiences.**Episode #242 Highlight Reel:**1. Leveraging the power of USA military spouses living across the globe 2. Building a market place of CX talent & coverage across a variety of industries 3. Integrating with customer tech-stacks & building customized playbooks 4. Providing a whole new approach to BPO offerings  5. Using employee feedback as fuel to drive innovation & customer success Click here to learn more about Liza RodewaldClick here to learn more about Erica McMannesClick here to learn more about Instant TeamsHuge thanks to Liza & Erica for coming on The CXChronicles Podcast and featuring their work and efforts in pushing the marketing, customer experience & customer success space into the future.If you enjoy The CXChronicles Podcast, stop by your favorite podcast player hit the follow button and leave us a review today.For our Spotify friends, click here to make sure you are following CXC & please leave a 5 star review so we can find new listeners & members of our community.For our Apple friends, same deal -- click here to follow CXCP and leave us a review letting folks know why you love our customer focused content.You know what would be even better?Go tell one of your friends or teammates about CXC's content,  strategic partners (Hubspot, Intercom, Zendesk, Freshworks, & Ascendr) + they can learn more about our CX/CS/RevOps focused services & please invite them to join the CX Nation!Click here to grab a copy of my book "The Four CX Pillars To Grow Your Business Now" available on Amazon or the CXC website.For you non-readers, go check out the CXChronicles Youtube channel to see our customer & employee focused business content.Reach Out To CXC Today!Support the Show.Contact CXChronicles Today Tweet us @cxchronicles Check out our Instagram @cxchronicles Click here to checkout the CXC website Email us at info@cxchronicles.com Remember To Make Happiness A Habit!!

I'm not a financial advisor; Superpowers for Good should not be considered investment advice. Seek counsel before making investment decisions.Watch the show on television by downloading the e360tv channel app to your Roku, AppleTV or AmazonFireTV. You can also see it on YouTube.When you purchase an item, launch a campaign or create an investment account after clicking a link here, we may earn a fee. Engage to support our work.Devin: What is your superpower?Liza: I think that passion of building something that helps people has always been my superpower.In today's episode, I had the pleasure of interviewing Liza Rodewald, the Co-Founder and CEO of Instant Teams, a company making a powerful impact by helping military spouses thrive professionally despite the frequent relocations that come with military life. Liza shared how her own experience as a military spouse drove her to create a solution for others facing the same challenges.Military spouses often find themselves moving every few years, making it difficult to build a traditional career. Liza understood this struggle firsthand and turned it into a business opportunity that connects military spouses with remote jobs in customer experience roles. “If I was climbing a traditional corporate ladder, I would constantly be starting over,” Liza explained. "I have a high skill set... I have a lot that I can give and contribute."Instant Teams allows military spouses to take their jobs with them when they move, offering stability in their careers. Liza's company builds entire customer experience teams for brands, providing a highly skilled workforce to companies while giving military spouses the continuity they need.The venture has grown significantly since its inception in 2016, with over 500 employees and 68,000 military spouses on their platform. Liza's innovative approach has not only solved a major problem for military families but also created a scalable business model.Her advice for entrepreneurs, especially women, is simple yet powerful: “Sizing the market upfront and telling the story along with it... made a huge difference in my personal success and being able to raise money.”Liza's work is an inspiring example of how identifying a problem close to home can lead to a meaningful, impactful business.tl;dr:Guest Introduction: Liza Rodewald, founder of Instant Teams, was featured. The company connects military spouses with customer experience jobs, helping them maintain their careers despite frequent relocations due to military life.Challenges and Achievements: Liza discussed the challenge of raising venture capital as a woman, noting that less than 2% goes to women-led companies. Despite this, she successfully raised funds and grew her company while being a military spouse.Instant Teams' Mission: Instant Teams is dedicated to building remote customer experience teams for companies, using the skills of military spouses who can work remotely and maintain continuity despite relocations.Business Model: Instant Teams works with middle-market and enterprise companies like Aflac and Expensify, offering both a marketplace and fully outsourced services. They have grown to over 500 employees and serve 68,000 military spouses.Superpower and Advice: Liza emphasized her superpower of solving problems by seeing the bigger picture. She advises women entrepreneurs to focus on building relationships, providing transparency to investors, and leveraging networks for long-term success.How to Develop Problem-Solving with Passion As a SuperpowerLiza Rodewald's superpower is her ability to step back, see the big picture, and solve complex problems. With a background in engineering, she approaches challenges by analyzing issues and finding solutions that not only address the immediate need but create lasting impact. Her deep passion for helping others fuels her drive to solve meaningful problems, particularly those affecting the military spouse community.Liza shared a moving example of how her superpower played out in real life. She opened a co-working space in Southern Pines, designed to connect military spouses with job opportunities. One day, a military spouse came in, overwhelmed and struggling with a rigid job that wasn't compatible with her lifestyle. Liza and her team were able to match her with a more flexible position that aligned with her needs. The connection transformed the woman's life, providing a sense of balance and fulfillment. This personal interaction exemplified Liza's ability to identify problems and create meaningful, life-changing solutions.Tips for Developing This Superpower:* Step Back for Perspective: Take a moment to step back from challenges and view the bigger picture. Analyze how different elements connect and where opportunities for problem-solving lie.* Lead with Passion: Fuel your efforts with genuine passion for helping others. When you care deeply about the outcome, you'll find creative and effective ways to overcome obstacles.* Build Networks: Establish and nurture relationships with people who can help you solve problems. Keep these connections warm, as they may provide unexpected opportunities for collaboration or support.* Stay Realistic: While passion drives your efforts, temper it with practicality. Make tough decisions when necessary to maintain a sustainable business model while keeping your mission intact.By following Liza Rodewald's example and advice, you can make problem-solving with passion a skill. With practice and effort, you could make it a superpower that enables you to do more good in the world.Remember, however, that research into success suggests that building on your own superpowers is more important than creating new ones or overcoming weaknesses. You do you!Guest ProfileLiza Rodewald (she/her):Co-Founder/CEO, Instant TeamsAbout Instant Teams: Instant Teams leads the way as a CX talent marketplace committed to the financial well-being of military families while providing companies instant access to remarkable talent.Website: instantteams.comX/Twitter Handle: @Instant_TeamsCompany Facebook Page: fb.com/instantteamsBiographical Information: Liza is a 4x entrepreneur and software engineer. She is currently the CEO and Founder of Instant Teams and Twelve Million Plus. She has scaled the company to over 500 employees, raised more than $16M in venture capital and landed at #13 on the Inc. 5000 list for Human Resources across the nation.She is in the top 3% of graduates from the Founder Institute, alumni of the Blue Startups Accelerator named one of the Top 25 SheEO, and a published Forbes author. She is also a member of YPO and NationSwell and serves as a mentor for female founders.Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/lizarodewaldInstagram Handle: @ceo_lizaMax-Impact MembersThe following Max-Impact Members provide valuable financial support to keep us operating:Carol Fineagan, Nicholas and Company | Lory Moore, Lory Moore Law | Marcia Brinton, High Desert Gear | Ralf Mandt, Next Pitch | Sheryle Gilihan, CauseLabs | Add Your Name HereUpcoming SuperCrowd Event CalendarIf a location is not noted, the events below are virtual.* Impact Cherub Club Meeting hosted by The Super Crowd, Inc., a public benefit corporation, on September 17, 2024, at 1:00 PM Eastern. Each month, the Club meets to review new offerings for investment consideration and to conduct due diligence on previously screened deals. To join the Impact Cherub Club, become an Impact Member of the SuperCrowd.* SuperCrowdHour, September 18, 2024, at 1:00 PM Eastern. Each month, we host a value-laden webinar for aspiring impact investors or social entrepreneurs. At September's webinar, Devin Thorpe will provide an in-depth answer to the question, “Can I Beat the Stock Market with Impact Crowdfund Investments?” Free to attend.* Superpowers for Good Live Pitch, September 25, 2024. The application window is open now. Apply today! The Live Pitch will stream simultaneously to the e360tv network, Facebook, Linkedin, YouTube and Superpowers for Good. We hope for an audience of thousands! Don't miss this opportunity to pitch your regulated investment crowdfunding campaign to the SuperCrowd!* Recently, we created an AI GPT to help you learn more about The Super Crowd, Inc., a public benefit corporation, and our upcoming events. Click here to try it.Community Event Calendar* Successful Funding with Karl Dakin, Tuesdays at 10:00 AM ET - Click on Events* Main Street Skowhegan and NC3 Entrepreneur Finance Workshop Series, September 17 - November 19, 2023.* Crowdfunding Professional Association, Summit in DC, October 22-23* Asheville Neighborhood Economics, November 12-13.If you would like to submit an event for us to share with the 8,000+ members of the SuperCrowd, click here.We use AI to help us write compelling recaps of each episode. Get full access to Superpowers for Good at www.superpowers4good.com/subscribe

Sweetens Cove Roadshow Recap Pinehurst, Tobacco Road, Southern Pines FedEx Cup Playoffs Fantasy National Apparel for the show provided by turtleson. Be sure to check them out online for the new season lineup at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://turtleson.com⁠⁠⁠⁠/⁠⁠⁠⁠ Thanks to Fantasy National Golf Club for providing the stat engine for the show. They can be found at ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠https://www.fantasynational.com⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ The Neat Glass. Be sure to check out The Neat Glass online at ⁠⁠⁠⁠theneatglass.com⁠⁠⁠⁠ or on Instagram @theneatglass for an improved experience and use discount code: bb10 to receive your Birdies & Bourbon discount. Thank you for taking the time listen to the Birdies & Bourbon Show for all things PGA Tour, golf, gear, bourbon and mixology. Dan & Cal aim to bring you entertaining and informative episodes weekly. Please help spread the word on the podcast and tell a friend about the show. You can also help by leaving an 5-Star iTunes review. We love to hear the feedback and support! Cheers. Follow on Twitter & Instagram (@birdies_bourbon) --- Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/birdies-bourbon/support

Live music in Southern Pines, Pinehurst, Aberdeen and Moore brought to you by SoPines Scene. Hear the live music happening in Moore County for August 02-03.

Zach Person joins Mary and Frank in studio ahead of his Aug 2 First Friday show at the Sunrise Theater. He talks about his early days learning guitar in Southern Pines, what it was like touring in Europe and plays a song off his new album.

Live music in Southern Pines, Pinehurst, Aberdeen and Moore brought to you by SoPines Scene. Hear the live music happening in Moore County for July 26-27.

Live music in Southern Pines, Pinehurst, Aberdeen and Moore brought to you by SoPines Scene. Hear the live music happening in Moore County for July 19-20.

Live music in Southern Pines, Pinehurst, Aberdeen and Moore brought to you by SoPines Scene. Hear the live music happening in Moore County for July 12-13.

From her beginnings as a distinguished DEA agent to her pivotal role in leading a corporate security firm acquired by a Fortune 500 giant, Ann Hayes' career trajectory is nothing short of extraordinary. Today, as the founder of Investigative Management Group (IMG), she continues to redefine excellence in the high-end investigative market, providing top-tier corporate security and intelligence services and crisis management for a Major League Baseball Team. Ann is also cultivating a vibrant floral community in Bucks County. As one of the eight visionary women behind the Bucks County Flower Collective Bucks County Flower Collective, she nurtures Southern Pines farm into a haven for creativity and growth, where workshops flourish and weekly flower pickups bloom. Her Story is hosted by Kathy Romano and airs Sunday mornings at 7am on 93.3 WMMR-FM. Follow Her Story on Instagram for a first look at this week's guests. 

Live music in Southern Pines, Pinehurst, Aberdeen and Moore brought to you by SoPines Scene. Hear the live music happening in Moore County for June 28-29.

Former sports broadcasting colleagues Austin Lyon and Adam Shadoff join me to discuss our recent golf trip to the Pinehurst area where we actually didn't play any of Pinehurst's 18-hole courses. The U.S. Open was going to make it difficult to get onto #2, #4 and #10, so we pivoted and it turned out to be one of the best golf trips our group has experienced. Our itinerary: Fly-In Day - 9 holes at Raleigh Golf Association Day 1: 36 at CCNC - Dogwood and Cardinal Day 2: Mid-South and Pine Needles Day 3: Tobacco Road and Cradle Day 4: Southern Pines and Mid-Pines Fly-Out Day - Tot Hill Farm

Join three out of the four guys this week for Trudge Report. Bill is at a two-day concert and not in attendance but he may or may not be calling in. Corey, Greg, and Shawn do a quick around the horn of how their week has been and happy to be back at the regularly scheduled time and day for recording. Corey tells us all why he is in the state of Minnesota for the next few weeks with a good friend of his and of our program. Shawn gives a quick recap of his golf trip at Pinehurst, NC and Southern Pines, NC, and Santee, SC over the past week.Greg kicks it off with a classic diatribe about homeowners associations. He tells some funny stories he found on the internet of HOA escapades. But to be fair he talks about how they can also be a good thing, not just the negative. Corey gives us his perspective as he was professionally involved with HOAs for many years as he did the bookkeeping for different neighborhoods and associations at a previous job.We finish the episode with “what sobriety means to us." We go around and share some of our personal experiences on physical sobriety and how we were taught by our mentors and old timers when we entered recovery. We possibly piss some listeners off, and that is okay. We are speaking our minds and from our hearts on things we truly believe in to our core. We possibly debunk some recovery myths and shoot our listeners straight when it comes to complete sobriety, physically, mentally, and spiritually.Contact the Guys:Instagram: @trudgereportpodFacebook: Trudge ReportTikTok: trudgereportpodYouTube: @trudgereportpod

In this episode of the MamasteFit Podcast, hosts Gina and Roxanne welcome Dr. Lejla Streets, a general dentist from Smiles in the Pines, of Southern Pines, NC, to discuss the critical topic of prenatal oral health. The conversation delves into the importance of dental care during pregnancy, explaining why pregnant women need more frequent dental visits, the reasons behind bleeding gums, and the impact of insufficient calcium intake. Dr. Streets also shares valuable advice on managing acid reflux, handling dental treatments during pregnancy, and the potentially serious risks of poor oral hygiene on pregnancy outcomes. This insightful discussion is essential for expecting mothers who want to ensure both their oral health and overall well-being during this important time. 00:00 Introduction to the MamasteFit Podcast 00:01 Meet Dr. Lejla Streets: Expert in Prenatal Oral Health 01:35 Importance of Oral Health During Pregnancy 02:23 Common Oral Health Issues in Pregnancy 04:03 Managing Oral Health Challenges 08:07 Impact of Oral Bacteria on Pregnancy 15:59 Oral Health Treatments During Pregnancy 30:18 Postpartum Oral Health Considerations 31:15 Sleep Apnea and Pregnancy 38:19 Conclusion and Final Thoughts 40:58 MamasteFit Childbirth Education Course 42:12 MamasteFit Online Programs and Offerings Find Dr. Leila Streets here: Website: https://www.ncairway.dentist/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drstreetsdmd/ ----- Pre-Order Training for Two on Amazon: https://amzn.to/3VOTdwH —— This podcast is sponsored by Needed, a nutrition company focused on optimal nourishment for your perinatal journey. ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠Use code MAMASTEPOD for 20% off your first order or three months of subscription.⁠ ⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠  ****Freebies***** Early postpartum recovery course:  https://mamastefit.com/freebies/early-postpartum-recovery-guide/  Pp sample  https://mamastefit.com/freebies/postpartum-fitness-guide/ Prenatal Sample:  https://mamastefit.com/freebies/prenatal-fitness-program-guide/ Pelvic Floor  https://mamastefit.com/freebies/prepare-your-pelvic-floor-for-labor/ Birth Prep for Labor Guide  https://mamastefit.com/freebies/prepare-for-labor-guide/ Birth Partner Guide  https://mamastefit.com/freebies/birth-partner-guide/ Birth Plan  https://mamastefit.com/freebies/birth-plan-guide/

This report contains an analysis of the latest financial reporting from BJ's Wholesale Club - BJ. The earnings report is for the first quarter of 2024, and the report was shared on an earnings call on May 23, 2024.Company Report & OutlookComp Sales Reporting in Q1 2024 Earnings CallDuring BJ's Wholesale Club's Q1 2024 earnings call, the company reported the following regarding comparable (comp) sales:Comp Sales Growth:* Comparable club sales, excluding gas sales, grew by 0.6% in the first quarter. This performance was noted as particularly significant given the tough comparison to last year's high inflation dynamics.Traffic Contribution:* Strong traffic was a major driver, contributing 3 percentage points to the comp sales in the quarter, maintaining a trend similar to the fourth quarter of the previous year.Inflation and Unit Volume:* Inflation was about flat during the quarter.* There was growth in unit volumes, especially in the perishables, grocery, and sundries divisions.Performance in Perishables, Grocery, and Sundries:* The perishables, grocery, and sundries division experienced comp growth of over 1%.* The strongest growth within this division was in perishables, particularly in unit volumes, led by categories such as fresh produce and dairy.General Merchandise:* The general merchandise segment delivered a slightly negative comp in Q1.* Weather-sensitive categories had a significant impact, with about a 10-point variance in performance across markets with different weather conditions.* Despite these challenges, specific categories like consumer electronics, apparel, and home textiles showed positive comp growth. Home categories, including home textiles, experienced nearly 7% comp growth, turning positive for the first time in a while.Overall, BJ's Wholesale Club highlighted continued momentum and strong comp sales growth, supported by robust traffic, unit growth, and strategic initiatives despite a challenging retail environment.AnalysisCurrent State of BJ's Wholesale ClubMembership and Market Share Growth:* Membership Fees: The company saw robust growth in membership fees by 8.6% year-over-year.* Market Share: Continued growth in market share, particularly in perishables, grocery, and sundries.* Renewal Rate: Exceptionally strong at 90%.* New Memberships: Growth was driven significantly by digital platforms.Sales and Traffic:* Comp Sales: Comparable club sales excluding gas grew by 0.6% in Q1 despite difficult comparisons due to last year's inflation.* Traffic and Unit Growth: Strong traffic trends contributed positively to sales, with a noted increase in unit growth particularly in perishables like fresh produce and dairy.* General Merchandise: Faced challenges due to weather-sensitive categories but reported positive comps in consumer electronics and apparel, with a notable 7% growth in home categories.Digital Engagement:* Digitally Enabled Sales: Continued double-digit growth in digital sales, with a 21% year-over-year increase in digitally enabled comp sales.* Convenience Initiatives: Enhanced digital capabilities like buy online, curbside pickup, and inventory management improvements to further assist shopping convenience.Gasoline Business:* Traffic Driver: Gas promotions and value offerings drove traffic, leading to a 6% growth in comp gallons sold, outpacing the down-trending broader U.S. market.* Profit Margins: Faced margin headwinds in Q1 due to rising costs, but expected to recover in Q2.Financial Performance:* Gross Margins and SG&A: Merchandise gross margin rate slightly decreased. SG&A increased year-over-year due to new openings and strategic investments.* Overall Financial Health: Ended the first quarter with strong inventory management, balancing new unit growth and strategic investments.Future OutlookStrategic Priorities:* Member Loyalty: Focus on increasing the quality and quantity of memberships, with an emphasis on high-spending, high-loyalty segments.* Shopping Experience: Continuous improvement through initiatives like Fresh 2.0 to enhance the quality and selection of fresh produce.* Digital and Convenience: Further development of digital tools to streamline shopping and increase member satisfaction.* Footprint Growth: Aggressive expansion with 11 new clubs expected in H2 of fiscal 2024 in both new and existing markets.Growth Projections:* Comp Sales Guidance: Expect comp sales growth to range between 1%-2% for fiscal 2024 with improved performance in the back half of the year.* Gross Margin Expansion: Anticipates a 20 basis point improvement in merchandise gross margin rate for the year driven by cost management and own-brand growth.* Membership Fee Income: Although Q1 showed high growth, the company expects a moderate but steady increase throughout the year.Industry and Economic Context:* Consumer Sentiment: Acknowledgement of consumer discretion in spending and a focus on high value and essential items.* Competitive Landscape: Awareness of competitive pricing actions but confidence in BJ's intrinsic value proposition and strategic promotional efforts.GuidanceThe leadership team at BJ's Wholesale Club provided the following specific guidance for investors regarding their business:* Comparable Sales: They expect fiscal 2024 comparable sales, excluding gas, to range from 1% to 2%. They anticipate an improving performance as the year progresses, with a particularly strong performance expected in the back half of the year.* Inflation: They are assuming a slightly inflationary year, with a robust consumable business led by traffic, units, and market share.* Membership Fee Income: The company noted that the year-over-year membership fee income increase of 8.6% in the first quarter will probably be the highest growth rate for the year. However, they anticipate it will continue to grow but at a more moderate rate.* Merchandise Gross Margin: They forecast an improvement in the merchandise gross margin rate by approximately 20 basis points for fiscal 2024, driven by strong cost management and continued growth in their own brands.* SG&A: Continued SG&A deleverage is expected as they invest in growth initiatives, particularly in unit growth as new club sales ramp up over a multi-year period. They are also lapping variable compensation tailwinds from fiscal 2023.* Tax Rate: They are planning for an effective tax rate of approximately 28% for the remaining three quarters of the fiscal year.* EPS Guidance: The company continues to expect to deliver adjusted earnings per share (EPS) in the range of $3.75 to $4.00.* Expansion: BJ's plans to open 11 more clubs in the back half of the fiscal year 2024 in both new markets like Louisville, Knoxville, Southern Pines, and Myrtle Beach, as well as existing markets like New York metro and Florida. They also mentioned ongoing investments into their existing footprint with upgrades and remodels.* Gasoline Business: While the first quarter faced margin headwinds due to rising costs, they expect the gasoline business to recover somewhat in the second quarter. They remain confident in the overall profitability and growth potential of this segment on an annual basis.This guidance provided the investors with a clear outlook on how BJ's Wholesale Club expects to perform financially in the coming months and outlined the strategic initiatives they are pursuing to ensure continued growth and return on investment.Change Since Last QuarterComparative Analysis of BJ's Wholesale Club Earnings ReportsThe recent earnings report shows continued growth in membership, digital sales, and market share, with a particular emphasis on digital engagement and convenience improvements. Challenges in general merchandise and gasoline margins were noted, but the outlook remains positive with strategic expansions and new club openings. The previous report emphasized membership growth and long-term value, with concerns about disinflation affecting perishables. Both reports highlight investments in digital capabilities and a steady focus on member loyalty and expanding the company's footprint.Analyst ResponseAnalysisKey Topics from Analysts' Questions* Membership Fee Income (MFI) Growth:* Analyst: Peter Benedict (Baird)* Topic: Why MFI growth is expected to step down after Q1 and whether BJ's leadership is considering increasing membership fees given the strong performance.* Inventory and Merchandising Margins:* Analyst: Peter Benedict (Baird)* Topic: Efforts in getting inventory in line, its progress, and expectations for merchandising margins through the year.* Promotional Environment and Pricing Actions:* Analyst: Kate McShane (Goldman Sachs)* Topic: Current promotional environment and how BJ's is addressing competitive pricing actions to maintain their competitive price gap.* Discrepancy between MFI Growth and Club Growth:* Analyst: Simeon Gutman (Morgan Stanley)* Topic: Drivers behind the high MFI growth and its sustainability, especially with new club openings throughout the year.* New vs. Existing Member Spending:* Analyst: Simeon Gutman (Morgan Stanley)* Topic: Comparison of spending habits across different product categories between new and existing members.* New Market Clubs Performance:* Analyst: Robby Ohmes (Bank of America)* Topic: Performance of new market clubs versus expectations and reasons behind any observed differences.* Fresh 2.0 and Coolers Initiative:* Analyst: Robby Ohmes (Bank of America)* Topic: Details about the Fresh 2.0 initiative and the impact of placing coolers at the front of clubs.* General Merchandise and Seasonal Categories:* Analyst: Chuck Grom (Gordon Haskett)* Topic: Dynamics within the general merchandise segment and the impact of seasonal categories, including services and ancillary products.* Gross Margin Expansion Drivers:* Analyst: Chuck Grom (Gordon Haskett)* Topic: Future drivers of gross margin expansion including inventory management, SKU rationalization, and own brand efforts.* Gasoline Segment Profits:* Analyst: Greg Melich (Evercore ISI)* Topic: Decline in gas profit margins and expectations for improvement.* Impact of Credit Card Transition:* Analyst: Greg Melich (Evercore ISI)* Topic: Effects of last year's credit card transition on current margins, overall sales, and SG&A.* Monthly Sales Trends:* Analyst: Michael Baker (D.A. Davidson)* Topic: Monthly sales trends within the quarter and their relationship to comp expectations throughout the year.* Income Cohort Performance:* Analyst: Edward Kelly (Wells Fargo)* Topic: Performance of different income cohorts, especially the improvement in spending among lower-income members.* Unit Improvement and Own Brands:* Analyst: Chuck Cerankosky (Northcoast Research)* Topic: Unit sales improvement indicating overall club performance and impact of own brand sales on comps and margins.Key ThemesHere are the key terms and phrases used by the BJ's Wholesale Club executives in the earnings call:* Membership fee income (MFI) - This refers to the revenue BJ's earns from membership fees, which is a key driver of their business.* Comparable club sales/comps - This measures the sales growth at stores open for at least 13 months, excluding the impact of gas sales.* Perishables, grocery and sundries - This is a key division of BJ's business focused on food and everyday household items.* General merchandise - This refers to the non-grocery/household items like electronics, apparel, home goods etc.* Fresh 2.0 initiative - This is a program to improve the quality, selection and presentation of BJ's produce offerings.* Own brands (Wellsley Farms, Berkley Jensen) - BJ's private label brands which they are focused on growing as they offer higher margins.* Digitally-enabled sales - Sales driven through online/app ordering and services like curbside pickup.* Merchandise gross margin - The profitability on the merchandise BJ's sells, excluding the gas business.* Strategic priorities - The four key focus areas for BJ's: member loyalty, unbeatable shopping experience, value convenience, and footprint growth.The executives highlighted the company's strong membership growth, gains in market share, improvements in merchandising, and continued investment in digital capabilities as key drivers of their business performance.Financial Reporting Summary* Net Sales: Approximately $4.8 billion, growing 4% over the prior year.* Comparable Club Sales: Up 1.6% year-over-year, led by gallons sold.* Merchandise Comp Sales (excluding gas sales): Increased by 0.6% year-over-year and by 6.3% on a two-year stack.* Digital Sales: Digitally enabled comp sales for the first quarter grew 21% year-over-year and 40% on a two-year stack.* Membership Fee Income (MFI): Grew 8.6% to approximately $111.4 million.* Gross Margins:* Merchandise gross margin rate (excluding gasoline) decreased by approximately 50 basis points year-over-year.* Expected merchandise gross margin rate improvement of approximately 20 basis points for fiscal 2024.* SG&A Expenses: Approximately $721.8 million, with a year-over-year increase attributed to new unit growth and other investments.* Adjusted EBITDA: $236.4 million for the first quarter.* Effective Tax Rate: 24.4% for the quarter.* Adjusted Earnings Per Share (EPS): $0.85, flat year-over-year.* Inventory: Ended the first quarter with inventory about flat year-over-year.* Net Leverage: Ended the first quarter with 0.6 turns of net leverage.* Share Repurchases: 405,000 shares for $30.2 million, with $159 million remaining under the current authorization.* Guidance for Fiscal Year 2024:* Comp sales, excluding gas, expected to range from 1% to 2%.* Merchandise gross margin rate expected to improve by approximately 20 basis points.* Effective tax rate of approximately 28% for the remaining three quarters of the fiscal year.* Adjusted EPS expected in the $3.75 to $4 range. This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit theearningscall.substack.com

In this episode of “In Stride,” Sinead is joined by international 5* event rider Sydney Elliott. Sydney Elliott made her debut at the CCI5*-L level in 2016 when she completed the Rolex Kentucky Three-Day Event with Cisko A. The pair went on to represent the U.S. on the Nations Cup Team at Great Meadow International in 2018 and had top-ten finishes in multiple CCI4*'s in the US that same year. With QC Diamantaire, Sydney represented the U.S. Eventing Team at two FEI Nations Cups, the CCIO4*-S at CHIO Aachen in 2022 and the CCIO4*-L at Boekelo in 2021, where they finished fifth individually and led the U.S. team to a silver medal. Sydney and QC Diamantaire also had multiple top-10 finishes at CCI4*'s in 2019, 2020, and 2021 and competed in the 2021 Land Rover Kentucky Three-Day Event CCI5*-L. Sydney is currently based in Southern Pines, NC, where she is focused on training world-class eventing horses. In this episode, Sydney discusses topics related to the journey of her career, including: • How her business has shifted over the years and what prompted the move to Southern Pines. • Her process for buying horses in Europe and how she is involved in choosing them. • Handling pressure in team situations and the value of team support. • What she thinks will create success for Team USA in the coming years. • Taking time away from the horses so that she can be present and show up with a positive attitude. Join Sydney and Sinead in this exciting conversation about enjoying every moment with the horses.

Guess what?  Scribblers At Home won the Illuminations Gold Award!  Maybe you haven't heard much about Scribblers, or maybe you thought it wasn't really for your family.  Listen in as Amy Jones helps us see that Scribblers isn't just an “on ramp” for young homeschoolers, it's an “ongoing ramp” for all of us!  You'll be interested to hear how families of all ages are using this resource, and how your family might find it's just what you're looking for also. You're invited to our 2024 National Events Weekend in sunny Southern Pines, North Carolina! Register at https://classicalconversationsfoundation.org/.  

Over the past few years, brownspot needle blight and an assemblage of other problematic pathogenic species have garnered increasing concern in pine systems across the South. Join us as we discuss these along with current research efforts centered on this problem with Dr. John Riggins, Mississippi State University. For questions or comments, email us at timberuniversity@gmail.com Subscribe directly to Timber University and follow NRU on Instagram, YouTube, Twitter, and Facebook.

Discover how Stoa empowers students through classical education principles, fostering confidence and resilience. Join Robert Bortins in this episode of “Refining Rhetoric” as he explores the world of speech and debate with guests Angela Childress and Beth Nieva from Stoa and the National Christian Homeschool Speech and Debate League. Learn about starting a club, participating in tournaments, and integrating speech and debate with classical education.   https://stoausa.org/   You're invited to our 2024 National Events Weekend in sunny Southern Pines, North Carolina! Register at https://classicalconversationsfoundation.org/.

Why go to Practicum?  Will you really learn anything “practical”?  Listen as Lisa and Jill Philbrick answer this question and give you some enticing reasons to register for the 2024 Practicum.  You'll be encouraged by Jill's testimony and intrigued by our 2024 topic as well!   You're invited to our 2024 National Events Weekend in sunny Southern Pines, North Carolina! Register at https://classicalconversationsfoundation.org/.    

We are joined by a newly minted contestant on Top Chef from Durham, NC Savannah Miller. Max & Matt delve into Savannah's culinary journey, from her beginnings in Southern Pines and education at the New England Culinary Institute to her roles in various restaurants, including her current role at M Tempura. The conversation highlights her early interest in pastry, her move toward a broader culinary role, and her experiences with Top Chef — including the audition process, working under the scrutiny of cameras and judges, and the challenges and opportunities that come with being on the show. Additionally, the hosts discuss their upcoming event, Bubbles and Brisket, and extend an invitation to Savannah to participate. The episode also touches on potential career paths post-Top Chef, and Savannah shares her dreams of owning a business that encompasses a restaurant, events, and a commissary kitchen on a farm. 03:06 Savannah's Journey: From Southern Pines to Top Chef 15:09 A Deep Dive into Top Chef and Savannah's Journey on the Show 25:27 The Unique Experience of Filming Top Chef in Wisconsin 29:06 The Intense World of Cooking Competitions 30:10 The Evolution of Chef Caliber on Cooking Shows 37:17 The Impact of Reality TV on Personal and Professional Life 39:21 Dreams and Aspirations Post-Top Chef 51:13 Reflecting on the Top Chef Experience and Future Opportunities  Be sure to follow us on Instagram at NCFBPOD and though this week is audio only, follow us on youtube at youtube.com/@ncfbpodcast Get your tix to Bubbles & Bagels here On the mic this week: @trujillo.media @weisswine Join our Facebook family: @NCFandBPod Follow us on Instagram: @ncfbpod Support our Sponsors: Welcome SYSCO as our Title Sponsor!! Drink better coffee - get Carrboro Coffee Roasters Here

Is the American college education system failing? In this episode of “Refining Rhetoric,” CEO Robert explores the pitfalls of government involvement in education funding, focusing on the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Highlighting bureaucratic inefficiency and overreach, the discussion emphasizes the need for self-reliance, community building, and adherence to ethical principles rooted in faith.   CNBC Article   You're invited to our 2024 National Events Weekend in sunny Southern Pines, North Carolina! Register at https://classicalconversationsfoundation.org/.

If you follow Melanie on social media then you might have witnessed her reviews on over 50 beers from beer boxes curated from the local growler store, Southern Pines Growler Company. This week she asked the owners, Gerry, Brandi and of course Izzy (their 8 year old Weimaraner) to come in and chat about the start of their growler store and the art of craft beer. Follow along on instagram @southernpinesgrowler or head over to spgrowler.com