My Morning Cup

When Tom started his career, he wasn’t sure exactly what he wanted to do, but he tried lots of things along the way. He eventually and unexpectedly found his passion in the hospitality industry. After several moves up in responsibility and moves around the country, he became the GM of the Chattanoogan Hotel.    In this episode, Tom shares why you should take every opportunity to learn something ne...

With a passion for all things outdoors, Scott Martin’s career has taken him from Virginia to Idaho to Kentucky, and now Tennessee. In this episode, Scott shares how changing a flat tire led to a job offer, how the city of Boise had a major effect on his career, and why he believes parks are so important and can differentiate great cities from mediocre cities.   Scott also shares tips on how local...

Jared Stehney has been pulled into the broadcast radio industry time and time again… could it be the result of falling asleep to the radio every night?   In this episode, Jared shares the ups and downs of his career, the surprising skill he learned from sports, and how sometimes to close a deal you have to get on your knees and beg for it (literally).   Jared is a respected leader and veteran of b...

When Brian Elrod graduated from college, he wanted to work in ANY industry except for transportation and logistics, but he didn’t have much of a choice and he “couldn’t afford to be an entrepreneur.” After years of paying his dues, opportunity knocked and he started the Educational Outfitters franchise with his wife, Jamey.    He’s bootstrapped three start-ups in the franchise and tech industries,...

Growing up, Chris Lytle wanted to be one of three things: a politician, a minister, or a lawyer. Instead, he accidentally became a salesman and then went on to write the book on it (literally). For the past 40+ years, he’s been traveling the world teaching others how to sell.   In this episode, we talk about how he got to where he is today. Plus, he drops in a few sales knowledge bites throughout...

Josh Manning has always been intrigued by how and why things work. It led him to pursue many interests including running an eBay store, earning a degree in Mechanical Engineering, and learning how to do CBD extraction. All of those interests, followed by a life-changing accident, led Josh to open Snapdragon Hemp.    His business has grown quickly over the past seven years and in this episode, we d...

Becky Blaesing always knew she wanted to follow in her parents’ footsteps and start her own business, but after college she started a career in sales as a manufacturer’s rep. She thrived in a man’s world until she pivoted and pursued her calling of running group homes for a non-profit. She eventually dove back into the world of sales, but this time - media sales!    We talk about the ups and downs...

This week I talk with a man who has dedicated his life to his country and to serving others, retired Navy Captain, Mickey McCamish. Mickey grew up in East Chattanooga, worked his way through college at the University of Chattanooga, then joined the Navy in the midst of the Vietnam War. He rose through the ranks and retired as a Captain after 27 years.    Since retiring from the Navy, Mickey has le...

Tim Morgan, Chief Sports Officer for Chattanooga Sports, joins the podcast this week to share what he knows about resolving issues with angry people, a hidden (yet lucrative) way to network, and the economic impact of sports tourism. Plus, we find out how the Charlotte Modern Pentathlon convinced him sports tourism was the career for him.   Tim is the Chief Sports Officer for Chattanooga Sports, a...

Have you ever gotten a job because of how tall you are, or rather how short you are? Tom Griscom has, and he joins the podcast this week to tell that story, among others, including the time he stood up against the Secretary of State and wrote the famous “Tear Down This Wall” speech given by President Ronald Reagan.    Tom also shares how he started his career as a sports writer, but was then draft...

Despite growing up in a very “indoors” family, Gail Loveland Barille has found herself outdoors in almost every job she’s held. In this episode, we discuss how her career path led her across the country and how she used sports to build friendships every time she moved. Plus, stepping up as a leader (even if you think you’re not ready), when to invest in yourself with professional development, and...

Sometimes you walk through doors, sometimes you go kicking and screaming through them. For Todd Womack, it was the latter when he unexpectedly entered into a political career alongside Mayor Bob Corker.    In this episode, Todd shares how to build a peer-to-peer relationship with your boss, the time he was almost fired, and what it’s really like traveling to DC each week. He also takes us behind t...

Who knew business and NASCAR had so much in common? Shawn Whitfield joins the podcast this week to tell us about his experience growing up in the oil distribution industry and why being the youngest person in the room can be a good thing (especially in sales). After leaving the oil business, Shawn went on to start a NASCAR-centric radio show and the Chattanooga Fitness Expo, a bodybuilding and fit...

The military holds an important role in Chanda Chambers’s life. In this episode, we learn how she went from the Army to Human Resources to owning a Welding and Fabrication business. We also explore the hardest parts of running a business as a woman, what her superpowers are, and how a stranger at Ruby Tuesday changed her career path.   Chanda is the Owner of Chambers Welding and Fabrication, Metal...

This week we board the rocketship that is Callie Starnes’ broadcasting career! She shares how 9/11 piqued her interest in journalism and how she earned promotion after promotion (and you can too)! Plus, a few topics that are often overlooked in the media industry: staying safe in the field as a young female reporter and work/life balance.   Callie Starnes is the President and General Manager of Lo...

Ron Harr joins the podcast this week to explain his pinball-esque career and how he “fell” into many of the jobs he held. He shares how he became known as the $2 Million Man, and why you should always eat at the company potluck (or at least pretend to).   Before retiring and becoming a boat Captain, Ron held executive-level positions at AT&T, BCBST, and the Chattanooga Area Chamber of Commerce. Yo...

Dr. Rebecca Ashford joins the podcast this week to talk about her journey from student to President of a community college. Plus, the superstitions that brought her to Tennessee, and why discipline, focus, and empathy are the key ingredients to success.   Dr. Ashford is the President of Chattanooga State Community College. You can connect with her here. My Morning Cup is hosted by Mike Costa of Co...

Jay Kennamer has a knack for doing what others won’t and he makes major life decisions with a coin toss. In this episode, he shares stories from the courtroom and how he cleans up Chattanooga (literally and figuratively).   Jay is a partner and attorney at the McMahon Law Firm, Chattanooga’s most prolific and largest personal injury law firm. You can learn more about Jay here .   My Morning Cup is...

Sports, Homeland Security, and health insurance all have two things in common - communications and Dalya Qualls White. In this episode, Dalya shares how her career took her all over the East Coast, why she believes in being a mentor to others, and how to leverage LinkedIn to get recruited.   Dalya is the SVP and Chief Communications Officer at BCBST. You can connect with Dalya here . My Morning Cu...

In this episode, we talk about the ups and downs of Mayor Tim Kelly’s career - starting with his first job as a dishwasher at the Vine Street Market. We also discuss the influence his parents had on his career (in their own very different ways), his most successful startup, and why drummers don’t name bands.   Mayor Tim Kelly is the mayor of the city of Chattanooga and a successful business owner....

My guest this week is Rich Mozingo, President of the Chattanooga Lookouts. We discuss the career moves that brought him to Chattanooga (twice) and how the minor league is more so about selling than it is about baseball. Plus the history and future of the Lookouts, including the new stadium and most importantly where Rich stands on the DH and Pete Rose in the Hall of Fame.   Rich is the President o...

Ella Livingston was born in Ghana into a family of educators, health practitioners, engineers, and cocoa farmers. In this episode, we explore Ella’s experience at Spelman College (a women-only HBCU), how her time spent studying abroad in Japan led her to start a chocolate business while teaching math full-time, and the challenges she faced when starting her business.   Ella is the founder of Cocoa...

Brent Burks joins the podcast this week to share the story of cutting his teeth in the courtroom, how family dynamics can shape a person’s career, and learning to adapt and hustle when your plans change beyond your control.   Brent is a partner and attorney at the McMahan Law Firm, Chattanooga’s most prolific and largest personal injury law firm. You can learn more about Brent here . My Morning Cu...

This week on the podcast, Wade Hinton shares what made him move away from (and come back to) Chattanooga, why he feels so strongly about community engagement, and how international travel has affected his business decisions. Plus, how his interest in music led him to become an attorney, which in turn led to him becoming a DEI consultant.   Wade Hinton is the founder of Hinton & Company, a Diversit...

Roy Vaughn joins the podcast this week to share about his diet coke obsession, the time his mentor set him up to stand on his own, why he left his role as Founding Partner at an agency to work for BCBST, and how a communications professional can excel in human resources.    Roy Vaughn is the Senior Vice President & Chief Human Resources Officer at BCBST. You can connect with him here .  My Morning...