’Mid the Pines Podcast

What does it take to lead in high-stakes environments—and stay grounded in faith and purpose? In this episode of Mid the Pines, former Undersecretary for Health for the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) Dr. Rich Stone shares lessons from his career in military and national healthcare leadership, along with reflections on raising a Grove City graduate. From leading complex teams to making tough...

In this episode of Mid the Pines, host Zach Jew ’11 sits down with Steve DeCaspers ’97, current Alumni Council President, to explore the lasting impact of alumni engagement at Grove City College. From personal reflections on his student experience to leading the Alumni Council today, Steve shares how graduates can stay meaningfully connected through their time, talent, and resources. Hear stories...

What does it take to align 1,200 people around a single vision? In this episode of Mid the Pines, Zach Jew sits down with Barbara (Bentz '83) Staniscia, President and General Manager of Bechtel Plant Machinery, Inc., to explore how great leaders turn vision into reality. From her Grove City roots to leading mission-critical work supporting the U.S. Navy, Barb shares practical insights on culture,...

In this episode, we sit down with Grove City College alumna Jordyn (Taylor ’03) Kemats, Executive Vice President of S&T Bank, to explore a vocational journey shaped by faith, leadership, and lifelong learning. From her beginnings as a psychology major to leading enterprise transformation in banking, Jordyn reflects on how calling often unfolds one step at a time. Together, we discuss leadershi...

In this special sesquicentennial episode of 'Mid the Pines, our host Zach Jew ’11 sits down with Hilary (Lewis ’09) Walczak to explore the 150-year story of Grove City College. From the College’s founding in 1876 to the traditions that still shape campus life today, Hilary offers a unique perspective from the College Archives — highlighting the people, moments, and convictions that have defined Gr...

A special bonus episode featuring President Brad Lingo’s '00 inauguration address as the 10th president of Grove City College, highlighting the College’s mission and the enduring values that define who we are.

In this episode of Mid the Pines, Grove City College alumnus Nick Matthews ’95—business leader, executive coach, and accomplished endurance athlete—joins host Zach Jew '11 to explore how leaders are shaped over time. From his early days studying Industrial Management to leading teams, learning through failure, and eventually coaching CEOs, Nick shares candid insights on formation, humility, and th...

In this episode of 'Mid the Pines, we sit down with Kyle Sasala, a former Grove City College Baseball Coach who is currently serving as a minor league coach for the Portland Sea Dogs, the Double-A affiliate for the Boston Red Sox. Before stepping into professional baseball, Kyle spent several years on the Varsity Baseball staff at Grove City College, where he poured into student-athletes and helpe...

Our newest 'Mid the Pines episode features Brad Lingo ’00, J.D., the 10th President of Grove City College, for a dynamic conversation about his first semester in office, his transition from Regent University’s Law School, and his vision for the College as it marks its 150th anniversary in 2026. He offers an engaging look at upcoming celebrations and how the broader community can participate. Tune...

In this episode of Mid the Pines, we sit down with Yvonne Lingo, the new First Lady of Grove City College. Yvonne shares her family’s experience of settling into campus life, the joys and surprises of living at the heart of GCC, and the moments that made it feel like home. The conversation highlights her passion for community, hospitality, and discipleship, including her vision for hosting the upc...

On November 6, Grove City College hosted a historic evening: former Vice President Mike Pence and former Speaker Paul Ryan together on stage for the first time in College history. Before 600 guests, they reflected on Ronald Reagan’s vision of America as a “Shining City on a Hill” and the enduring beacons of faith and freedom. Listen in to the recording of the 18th Ronald Reagan Lecture hosted by t...

In this episode of Mid the Pines, host Zach Jew '11 talks with Grove City College alumnus Evan Addams ’10 — founder of The Gather Company, co-founder of Arise Classical Academy, and Alumni Trustee of Grove City College. Evan shares his journey from student to entrepreneur, exploring how faith, creativity, and leadership intersect. Hear insights on innovation, calling, and the courage to build some...

As a pediatric cardiologist and Professor of Pediatrics at the Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine, Dr. Justin Tretter ‘06 discusses his journey from GCC to a leading expert in cardiac imaging and congenital heart care. With over 170 published articles and his role as editor-in-chief for the upcoming 5th edition of Anderson’s Pediatric Cardiology textbook, he shares insights into his impac...

In this episode of the ‘Mid the Pines podcast, we sat down with Grove City College alumni JD Larsen '96 and Melissa (Trifaro '96) MacLeod. JD, the CFO of 5&2 Studios—responsible for the production of The Chosen TV series on the life and ministry of Jesus—shares his journey from Grove City College to his role in one of the most successful faith-based series today. JD also shares the significanc...

President Paul J. McNulty ’80 served as host of this 'Mid the Pines podcast episode with Dr. Paul Kengor, professor of political science and executive director of the Institute for Faith & Freedom at GCC, and alumnus Andrew Coffin ’98, vice president and director of the Reagan Ranch in Santa Barbara, Ca. The pair unpacked their personal and professional connections and talked about their exper...

In this inspiring episode, Jeff Tedford '00 (Chair; Professor of Music at Grove City College) sits down with Dr. Karin Hendrickson '99, a dynamic alumna whose journey through the worlds of music and sports has significantly shaped her path to success. Join us as we explore Karin's early passions and the pivotal moments that led her to excel both as a musician and an athlete.

Robert J. Lewis '64 is a distinguished alumnus and a 2024 recipient of our Jack Kennedy Memorial Alumni Achievement Award. From his humble beginnings to becoming a renowned figure in the business world, Robert's journey is a testament to resilience and innovation. Listen to this episode to discover how he transformed challenges into opportunities, leading to a successful career and life lived with...

Dr. Kristina Pazehoski '01 is Grove City College’s Chair of the Department of Biology. In this episode, Kristina shares her journey from GCC student to GCC professor, including her humble reaction to being named Omicron Delta Kappa's Professor of the Year in 2018. Kristina reveals how her relationships with students developed a passion for mentorship, bringing full circle her own formative experie...

Richard G. Staley ’62 is a successful entrepreneur and generous benefactor of Grove City College. He earned his bachelor degree in Chemical Engineering from GCC and then spent 15 years working for a company before he discovered his passion for starting his own business.  In 1977 he founded Flavor House Inc., and then years later he started Staley Equipment Corp.  In 2020, Richard gave 4 million do...

Jake Reid '05 is the President and CEO of Sporting Kansas City (Sporting KC) - one of 29 teams in major league soccer (MLS). Jake received his bachelor's degree in marketing management from Grove City College and also played on the varsity basketball team. He launched his career in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as an Accounting Executive and Sales Manager. He then moved to England, wor...

Join Development Officer Zach Jew '11 and Vice President for Advancement Jeff Prokovich '89 as they discuss the exciting Impact 150 Launch Celebration event to be held on November 3, and the innovative work being done by event host, Gecko Robotics. This alumni-owned company is leading the way in high-tech global solutions for industry and infra-structure and have some pretty special ties to the Co...

Michael Lazarus ’77 is a past recipient of the Jack Kennedy Memorial Alumni Achievement Award and holds a bachelor's degree in accounting from Grove City College. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of companies Azul Linhas Aereas Brasileiras and Breeze Airways. The founding Chairman of JetBlue Airways and Co-Chairman of Fender Musical Instruments Corp., he has served on the Board of Dir...

Dan Creston ’81 graduated from Grove City College with a B.A. in Business Administration and started his career working in sales. Later, he landed as Chief Operating Officer at Alpha Packaging Inc. and partnered with the CEO to open 9 plastic packaging plants - selling the company 3 times to private equity firms. Dan is currently the founder and owner of Creston Consulting, a small business mentor...

Joe Dorris ’11 is a missionary living in Guatemala working with The Evangelical Alliance Mission (TEAM).  This episode delves into Joe's passion for videography and how he's seeing God use it in unique ways to spread the gospel.

Rusty Chadwick ’04 literally “takes one for the team” every day! As Director of WinShape Teams, one of five arms of the WinShape Foundation that was established in 1984 by Truett and Jeannette Cathy (also the founders of Chick-fil-A), Rusty makes it his mission help teams of every shape and size to become the very best version of themselves. In our latest ‘Mid the Pines podcast, Rusty shares about...