The Wow Factor

Will Guidara is the founder of Thank You, a hospitality company that helps leaders across industries transform their approach to customer service. He is also the former co-owner of Eleven Madison Park. In his book Unreasonable Hospitality , he shares many of the lessons about service and leadership he learned throughout his career in restaurants and makes the case that any business can choose to b...

Will Guidara is the founder of Thank You, a hospitality company that helps leaders across industries transform their approach to customer service. He is also the former co-owner of Eleven Madison Park. In his book Unreasonable Hospitality , he shares many of the lessons about service and leadership he learned throughout his career in restaurants and makes the case that any business can choose to b...

General Krulak is a former commandant of the U.S. Marines Corps and a deputy director of the White House Military Office, and he has served by presidential appointment as chairman of the U.S. Naval Academy Board of Visitors , overseeing the board responsible for the policies of the U.S. Naval Academy. Following his retirement from military service, General Krulak was made chairman and CEO of MBNA...

Dr. Emerson Eggerichs is an internationally known public speaker on marriage, parenting, and communication. Based on over three decades of counseling and scientific and biblical research, Dr. Eggerichs developed the Love and Respect Marriage Conference , which he presents to live audiences around the country. Emerson has authored several books, including Love and Respect in the Family , Mother & S...

Jonathan T.M. Reckford is CEO of Habitat for Humanity International, a global ecumenical housing organization that has helped more than 59 million people construct, rehabilitate, or preserve their homes. He earned his Master of Business Administration degree from the Stanford University Graduate School of Business before spending the first part of his career in the for-profit sector, including exe...

Dr. Henry Cloud is an acclaimed leadership expert, clinical psychologist, and New York Times bestselling author. His 45 books, including the iconic Boundaries , have sold nearly 20 million copies worldwide. He has an extensive executive coaching background and experience as a leadership consultant, devoting the majority of his time to working with CEOs, leadership teams, and executives to improve...

Dr. Henry Cloud is an acclaimed leadership expert, clinical psychologist, and New York Times bestselling author. His 45 books, including the iconic Boundaries , have sold nearly 20 million copies worldwide. He has an extensive executive coaching background and experience as a leadership consultant, devoting the majority of his time to working with CEOs, leadership teams, and executives to improve...

Bob Woodson is Founder and President of the Woodson Center and 1776 Unites. He is an influential leader on issues of poverty alleviation and empowering disadvantaged communities to become agents of their own uplift. Woodson is a frequent advisor to local, state and federal government officials as well as business and philanthropic organizations. His social activism dates back to the 1960s, when as...

Today we honor the life of Tom Cole and his 37-year career in investment banking.   He ran the leveraged finance business at three different firms – Citibank, HSBC, and Deutsche Bank.   In this role he provided loan and bond financing to large corporations and financed leveraged buyouts for the world's largest private equity firms.   Tom held a leadership role in the Manhattan chapter of New Canaa...

Former CEO of Express Oil Change & Tire Engineers and Executive Chairman of Mavis Tire Express Services, Ricky Brooks assumed the National Christian Foundation/Alabama leadership role on January 1, 2022. NCF Alabama is an affiliate office of the National Christian Foundation, the 6th largest foundation in the US, headquartered in Atlanta. Brooks assume d the role from former NCF Alabama President,...

Colonel Littleton (born December 15, 1943) is an American fashion designer and business proprietor, best known for his Col. Littleton brand of upscale leather goods, apparel, and specialty products − most handmade in his Lynnville, TN workshop by local craftsmen. Col. Littleton, The Great American Leather Company, was established in 1987 by Colonel. Colonel Littleton joins me on the show this week...

In this special episode of the WOW Factor, we're joined by Drew Formsma. Drew is the Creative Director at  I Like Giving . At 14, Drew co-authored "Every Generosity: Becoming a Generous Family in a Selfie World'' with Brad Formsma. Since then, Drew has traveled globally, teaching the 7 Ways of Living Generously, influencing diverse groups to embrace everyday generosity.   As the Creative Director...

After a distinguished career at Food Materials Corporation, Joe Slawek saw an opportunity to develop a new kind of flavor company. He founded FONA International in 1987 on this desire to be both high-tech and high-touch. In 1999, Joe was inducted into the Entrepreneurship Hall of Fame in recognition of his established unique corporate culture and the dramatic year-over-year growth it was driving −...

June Hunt, M.A., is an author, singer, speaker, and founder of Hope for the Heart, a worldwide biblical counseling ministry. Her life work has yielded landmark contributions in the field of Christian counseling.   Hope for the Heart, which she founded in 1986, offers biblical hope and practical help – through biblical counsel, coaching, and context for contemporary concerns. Her 100 Keys for Livin...

Clare Degraaf is an author and a Christian speaker. He wrote the book "The 10 Second Rule: Following Jesus Made Simple," which focuses on Christian teachings and encourages readers to make quick, faith-based decisions in their daily lives. Clare is also involved in Christian ministry and speaking engagements. His talks and writings emphasize practical Christianity and living out one's faith in eve...

John was the Founder and Chairman of the Board of SureTec, a top 20 surety company in the United States. He sold the company to Markel, but remained as CEO until the summer of 2020. John was on the board of the Surety & Fidelity Association of America (SFAA) and is the Past Chairman of the National Association of Independent Sureties (NAIS). After 40 years in the surety industry, John founded Adop...

Laura Gardner serves as President and Chief Operating Officer for Joni and Friends, an international Christian nonprofit that serves those living with disabilities. She is responsible for the organization's strategy and execution of its Mission, Vision, and Goals. Prior to joining Joni and Friends in 2011, she was CEO and Founder of The Protocol Institute. After studying at The American School of...

John Stonestreet serves as president of the Colson Center for Christian Worldview. He's a sought-after author and speaker in areas of faith and culture, theology, worldview, education, and apologetics. John is the daily voice of Breakpoint , the nationally syndicated commentary on the culture, founded by the late Chuck Colson. He is also the voice of The Point , a daily one-minute feature on world...

Lynn Friess is the wife of the late Foster Friess, a prominent American businessman and philanthropist. Together, the couple were instrumental in supporting numerous charitable initiatives, dedicating their resources and efforts to causes that resonate with their values. Lynn's commitment to philanthropy and her unwavering support for her husband's ventures have made her a respected figure in the...

In 1987, John O'Leary was a curious nine-year-old boy. Playing with fire and gasoline, John created a massive explosion in his home and was burned on 100% of his body. He was given a 1% chance to live. This epic story of survival was first showcased in his parents' book, Overwhelming Odds , in 2006. It was this book that first invited John to embrace his miraculous recovery and share it with the w...

Bob Jordan serves as President and Chief Executive Officer at Southwest Airlines. Bob is a 35-year Southwest veteran and began his career as a programmer in Information Technology. During his more than three decades at Southwest, the airline grew from a regional presence with around 7,000 people and 90 airplanes to a beloved national brand with more than 71,000 people and 126 million customers car...

Tim Patton is the CEO of Patton Holdings, a prominent company based in Ann Arbor. Recognizing the inefficiencies of the commercial airline sector, Tim, with his three-decade-long experience in commercial flight travel, founded Flagship Private Air, a subsidiary of Patton Holdings. This private airline, operating from the Ann Arbor Municipal Airport, is a testament to Patton Holdings' innovative ap...

Garreth Wood is a Scottish philanthropist and advocate. He and his wife Nicola founded Kids Operating Room with the vision of 'A world where every child has equal access to safe surgery.' He believes that generosity requires tenacity; the ability to hang on when letting go appears most attractive. He is inspired by the tenacity of the surgical teams KidsOR supports worldwide. The grit, perseveranc...

Marty Ozinga IV is the CEO of Ozinga, a fifth-generation family enterprise that provides concrete and related services. Ozinga was founded in 1928 in Evergreen Park, Illinois as a coal delivery business by Marty's great-grandfather Martin Ozinga, Sr. He is joined by his five brothers and one cousin in the fourth-generation of ownership. Marty earned a BA in economics and business from Westmont Col...

In this episode we're joined by Mike Zafirovski, a man whose journey is as diverse as it is inspiring. Born in North Macedonia (in former Yugoslavia) and raised in a communist environment, Mike moved to the United States with his family, not knowing a word of English. From humble beginnings as factory workers, he climbed the corporate ladder to become a CEO of five General Electric businesses, whe...