The Growth Adventure: Recent Episodes
Gregory & Appel
Welcome to The Growth Adventure, where we connect with the trailblazing leaders that are shaping our communities and businesses. They'll share what they've learned and where they're going with personal and professional growth. The failures, the successes and everything in between. Whether you want inspiration for your organization or just want to learn how today's best leaders do their thing, this podcast is for you.
Gregory & Appel’s own Amanda Gilbert, Employee Benefits Consultant & Matt Thompson, Account Executive, join TGA to discuss the current pulse of the industry, their very different career paths and their current roles.
Website: gregoryappel.com/careers
Douglas Morris, Program Director, 40 West Digital at the MLK Center Indy, discusses how his own path to community leadership has shaped his passion to help youth grow their talent into entrepreneurship through social enterprise.
Website: mlkcenterindy.org
Perry Griffith III, president of Denison Parking, discusses the challenges of navigating his family’s business through shifting customer needs and advances in technology.
Website: denisonparking.com
Inez Evans, president & CEO of IndyGo, discusses her journey through transit systems across the U.S. She explains how leadership and using her voice to address underserved populations have helped steer her professional growth.
Website: indygo.net
Nick Carter, co-founder & CEO of Market Wagon, discusses how he’s harnessed technology to connect farmers directly with their customers, and why a shorter supply chain may be the answer to rising food costs and frequent recalls.
Website: marketwagon.com
Carol Fabrizio & Jillion Potter, founders of Helm Coffee, discuss how they built their lives (and their coffee roasting business) with a blend of intention, curiosity and playfulness. Websites: helmcoffeeroasters.com
Briana Dunkin, principal designer and founder of Parallel Design Group, discusses how a few odd jobs turned into starting her own firm and how their intentional growth strategy may differ from most small businesses. Websites: https://paralleldg.com/ (paralleldg.com)
Andrea Brummett, CEO of reddeHR and founder & CEO of The Pabulum Group, discusses the recent shift in employment trends and how organizations can remain competitive (and compliant) in today’s hiring market. Websites: https://reddehr.com/ (reddehr.com) & https://pabulumgroup.com/ (pabulumgroup.com)
Katie Dorsey, vice president of strategic planning for Herron Classical Schools, discusses how innovation is shaping the landscape of education and why helping the students (and staff) prepare for their next adventure creates a bigger impact. Website: https://www.herronclassical.org/ (herronclassical.org)
Nick Smarrelli, CEO of GadellNet, discusses his strategy of doing less, but better and how he maintains the company’s rapid growth while also expanding its social and environmental impact. Website: https://gadellnet.com/ (https://gadellnet.com/) https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/zero-excuses/id1494972749 (Nick's Podcast) https://www.bcorporation.net/en-us (B Corps Information)
Jackie Morales, Chief Marketing & Innovation Officer, and Seth Morales, President & CEO of The Morales Group, discuss how they balance their leadership responsibilities and the driving force of their family business – giving back. Website: https://moralesgroup.net/ (https://moralesgroup.net/)
Dr. Victor Puleo, Academic Director of Butler University’s MSRI Program as well as Department and Davey Chair of Risk Management and Insurance, discusses the many career paths in risk management and how he’s trying to improve the industry’s visibility through community outreach and education. Website: www.butler.edu/lsb
Kristen Nunery, Founder & CEO of myCOI, discusses how a personal tragedy inspired her to create a software company dedicated to helping protect people and their assets. Website: www.mycoitracking.com
Sherry Seiwert, President of Downtown Indy, Inc., discusses how the city has adjusted since the pandemic and what she has planned for the future of Mile Square and beyond. Website: www.downtownindy.org
Jennifer Pace Robinson, President & CEO of The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis, discusses the importance of being an active leader while giving others (and yourself) the space to learn and grow. Website: http://childrensmuseum.org (childrensmuseum.org)
Natalie Pipkin, Founder of Black Worldschoolers, discusses how her family’s homeschool journey and a passion for storytelling inspired her to build a mobile bookstore. Website: http://www.blackworldschoolers.com (www.blackworldschoolers.com)
Ron Pelletier, Founder & Chief Customer Officer, and Doug Howard, CEO of Pondurance, discuss cybersecurity and why preparation, empathy and teamwork should be at the core of every response plan.
Amy Brown, CEO of Authenticx, discusses how “unlearning” is crucial to creating any workplace culture and why humans are still the superpower behind interpreting data.
Spouses Kären Haley, Executive Director of the Indianapolis Cultural Trail, and Tim Haley, President and Partner of Latitude Indiana, discuss risk management and the decision-making challenges they both face as leaders of Indy-based organizations. Websites: http://www.latitudelegal.com (www.latitudelegal.com) AND http://indyculturaltrail.org (indyculturaltrail.org)
Kent Kramer, President & CEO of Goodwill of Central & Southern Indiana, and Greg Kramer, Senior Vice President of FCCI Insurance Midwest Region, discuss how a family history of hard work and respect for others helped shape their leadership styles. With respective experience in the nonprofit and profit sectors, Kent and Greg share how they helped grow their organizations by building relationships, having how-can-I-help-you attitudes and a bit of brotherly love.
Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana’s President & CEO John Elliott talks why uncertainty with food access is really a logistics problem and how he’s blending his supply chain leadership experience with sustainable giving and strategic partnerships to fight food insecurity. Website: https://www.gleaners.org/
Paul Babcock, CEO of Health & Hospital Corporation of Marion County discusses where he found his passion for public health and why he sees drones in the future of healthcare. He also shares his take on the CDC’s surprise announcement of new mask guidelines.
Show Notes: COVID-19 Vaccine Info Website: http://www.ourshot.in.gov (www.ourshot.in.gov) Phone: 211
Ben Evans discusses why he took an entrepreneurial route to create a modern healthcare experience. He shares lessons learned from co-founding a healthcare startup and growing it into Marathon Health.
How do you shift a successful sports career into a thriving business enterprise? Tamika Catchings reveals how she uses the same leadership principles from the basketball court to lead in her business and community work. She discusses her view on local community conversations, the inequity in women’s sports and why she’ll never stop learning in her growth adventure. References: https://www.teasmeindy.com/ (https://www.teasmeindy.com/) https://www.tamikacatchings.com/ (https://www.tamikacatchings.com/) http://catchthestars.org (catchthestars.org) Twitter:https://twitter.com/Catchin24 (https://twitter.com/Catchin24) IG:https://www.instagram.com/catchin24/ (https://www.instagram.com/catchin24/) FB:https://www.facebook.com/tamika.catchings.24 (https://www.facebook.com/tamika.catchings.24)
Indy Habitat for Humanity’s CEO Jim Morris discusses the organization’s impact on our community. Learn why he leads with fervor to connect individuals and families with sustainable homeownership opportunity. Notes: Website: indyhabitat.org Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/IndyHabitat/?ref=hl Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/indyhabitat/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/habitat-for-humanity-of-greater-indianapolis/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/indyhabitat YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCwvrKdvRvWGLVb7a0UdAQA Flickr: https://www.flickr.com/photos/indyhabitat/
What if an obstacle could be the catalyst for something great? Susan Appel shares how tackling dyslexia uncovered a passion to provide access to high-quality literacy to all students in our community. Hear how she’s challenging the status quo and championing young learners in their growth adventure.
Website: https://www.theindylearningteam.org/ (https://www.theindylearningteam.org/) FB: https://www.facebook.com/TheIndyLearningTeam/ (https://www.facebook.com/TheIndyLearningTeam/) IG: https://www.instagram.com/theindylearningteam/ (https://www.instagram.com/theindylearningteam/)
What happens when you break the mold of a career in finance & accounting? You pave a path for the next generation. Chris Ortega shares why he’ll never shy away from walking in his truth and being himself as a finance executive. Hear where he’s headed and why he’s driven to help the next generation of leaders on their growth adventures. Episode Show Notes Book: 48 Laws of Power by Robert Greene FB: https://www.facebook.com/ceofuture1 (https://www.facebook.com/ceofuture1) Twitter: @CEO_Future1 https://twitter.com/ceo_future1 (https://twitter.com/ceo_future1) IG: @CEO_future1 https://www.instagram.com/ceo_future1/ (https://www.instagram.com/ceo_future1/) Dog’s IG: @ernie.thechiweenie https://www.instagram.com/ernie.thechiweenie/ (https://www.instagram.com/ernie.thechiweenie/) LI: https://www.linkedin.com/in/chriseortega/ (https://www.linkedin.com/in/chriseortega/)
How do you know if leaving a career to join your family business is the right move? Meredith Reinker shares why she’s never looked back after joining Robert’s Camera as the 3rd generation of family leadership. Hear where she’s heading in her growth adventure. Website: https://robertscamera.com/ (https://robertscamera.com/)ANDhttps://usedphotopro.com/ (https://usedphotopro.com/) Social Media: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/RobertsImaging (https://www.youtube.com/user/RobertsImaging)ANDhttps://www.youtube.com/channel/UCefSp-hQGv2K3n4rCa6ItsQ (https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCefSp-hQGv2K3n4rCa6ItsQ) FB:https://www.facebook.com/RobertsCamera/ (https://www.facebook.com/RobertsCamera/)ANDhttps://www.facebook.com/UsedPhotoPro/ (https://www.facebook.com/UsedPhotoPro/) IG:https://www.instagram.com/robertscamera/ (https://www.instagram.com/robertscamera/ )ANDhttps://www.instagram.com/usedphotopro/ (https://www.instagram.com/usedphotopro/) Twitter:https://twitter.com/robertscamera (https://twitter.com/robertscamera)ANDhttps://twitter.com/usedphotopro (https://twitter.com/usedphotopro)
What does it take to go from a corporate design job to becoming a successful entrepreneur and artist? Sylvia “ess” McKee shares her perspective on making this happen in her own growth adventure. Website: https://www.iamessmckee.com/ (https://www.iamessmckee.com/) Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/essmckeeart (https://www.facebook.com/essmckeeart) IG: @essmckee / https://www.instagram.com/essmckee/ (https://www.instagram.com/essmckee/) Twitter: @EssMcKee / https://twitter.com/essmckee (https://twitter.com/essmckee) Recommended places to check out: 10 East Arts: https://www.10eastarts.org/ (https://www.10eastarts.org) Hoy Polloy: https://www.facebook.com/hoypolloyart/ (https://www.facebook.com/hoypolloyart/) John Boner Neighborhood Centers: https://jhbcc.org/ (https://jhbcc.org/) Cat Head Press: https://www.catheadpress.com/ (https://www.catheadpress.com/)
Welcome to The Growth Adventure, where we connect with the trailblazing leaders that are shaping our communities and businesses.