My Morning Cup

Melissa Blevins learned early on that the best way through a crisis is to just have faith and keep moving forward. In this episode, Melissa shares how growing up with very little taught her resilience and compassion, how a career in manufacturing built the foundation for leading a food bank, and how the Chattanooga Area Food Bank became more than a career… it became home. Melissa Blevins is the Pr...

To celebrate the third anniversary of the podcast, I bring back my good friends Chip Baker and Roy Vaughn to continue the tradition of an annual wrap-up episode.  We look back on the guests and moments that stood out, what made certain conversations resonate, and how the show has evolved over time. Along the way, the conversation touches on community in Chattanooga, personal milestones, and what’s...

Lucy Rymer has always had a "what have I got to lose?" mindset, and it's shown up at some of the most pivotal moments in her career. In this episode, Lucy shares how growing up with stage fright taught her to push through fear anyway, why she ultimately chose a more practical path even when encouraged to pursue theater professionally, and how a career in banking eventually led to a full-circle mom...

Kevin Brooks never planned on becoming the mayor of Cleveland, he just kept saying yes to serving people and following the next open door. In this episode, Kevin shares how he always knew he wanted to be a public servant, why after six terms as Representative of the 24th District he decided to run for Mayor (what some considered to be a “step backwards” politically), and why not running for mayor...

Baron King has built a career stepping into hard situations and helping people find their way forward when they feel out of options. In this episode, Baron shares how a childhood spent moving state-to-state taught him to embrace change, why he left a successful retail career for psychology and prison re-entry work, and what leading the CHATT Foundation has taught him about the realities of homeles...

Robbie Ansary’s story starts as a refugee from Afghanistan when he and his family fled their home as a result of the Soviet invasion in 1980. In this episode, Robbie shares what it was like to leave everything behind and cross the border under life-threatening conditions, how a chance encounter helped his family rebuild their lives in America, and how seeing HVA (a “mini-TVA” built by USAID) at ni...

Troy Kemp planned to teach for only two years, but has dedicated his life to being a “hope dealer” for young boys and their families. In this episode, he shares why he turned down lucrative job offers to “feed his soul,” how leaving the classroom allowed him to multiply his impact, and how every chapter of his life has added a tool to the toolbox he now uses to rebuild trust at Chatt Prep. Troy Ke...

Maury Nicely wasn't planning on becoming a lawyer when he went to law school, but three decades later, he's built a thriving practice and become one of Chattanooga's most passionate historians. In this episode, Maury shares what he learned working both sides of the table as a law firm attorney and in-house counsel, why leaving a stable corporate job to start a law firm with partners during a reces...

A childhood tornado scare could’ve left David Glenn terrified of weather forever. Instead, it set him on a path to become the calm voice Chattanoogans now trust when the sky turns dark. In this episode, David shares how his dad’s mantra of “If you’re scared, just learn” turned him into a self-proclaimed weather nerd, why he was so excited for his dream job that he once went 36 hours without sleep,...

Christie Mahn Faires has never been one to rest on her laurels. Whether campaigning for a traffic light to make her high school safer or championing recovery court to help people break the cycle of addiction, she's always looking for ways to make things better. In this episode, she shares how a passing comment changed her life's trajectory (twice!), why the path from aspiring broadcast journalist...

Mitch Patel’s story is a masterclass in grit, gratitude, and bridge-building. In this episode recorded in front of a live audience at the Rotary Club of Chattanooga, Mitch shares how he built his first hotel at the age of 27 with just $3,000, how Vision Hospitality Group has grown to more than 40 hotels in 8 states, why the Edwin Hotel holds such a special place in his heart, and what it means to...

Most people see an airport. April Cameron sees a small city — one she's helped run for 28 years and now leads as its 'Mayor.' In this episode, April shares how a mentor's confidence launched her from accountant to CFO, what finally convinced her to pursue the CEO role, the surprising truth about how airports actually make money, and why every ticket you buy is a vote. April Cameron is the Presiden...

Shawanda Mason’s and Jennifer Holder’s careers have been defined by scrappiness and leaps of faith. In this episode, they share how growing up somewhat isolated in small towns helped spark their creativity, how Jennifer’s early idea for The Chattery grew into a partnership after an elevator meet-cute, and how they have turned burnt lemons into lemonade. Jennifer and Shawanda are the Co-Founders of...

Justin Robertson has built his career by taking on challenges that pushed him to grow and relying on his survival instincts along the way. In this episode, he shares how he navigated the sudden elimination of 43 assistant principal positions early in his career, how persistence and smart networking carried him from teacher to principal to superintendent, and why he’s doubling down on K-2 literacy...

Jimmy White has always been able to see the end game. Whether that’s on the golf course or when putting together a complex real estate deal. In this episode, he shares how golf prepared him for the highs and lows of business, why “the third time’s the charm” pushed him to leave golf and dive into real estate, and how he’s built a career on win-win deals that create lasting value for Chattanooga. J...

Dustin Choate has worn a lot of hats. Social worker, fundraiser, corporate salesman, and even DJ… but he ultimately found his calling behind the bar of a neighborhood tavern. In this episode, Dustin shares why he walked away from pharmaceutical sales to open Tremont Tavern, how he saw the craft beer wave coming and turned it into a community staple, and the hard lessons he learned from opening (an...

For Jim Coleman, running a hospital isn’t all that different from taking apart a stove. You just need to understand how the pieces fit together to make the whole thing work. In this episode, Jim shares what it was like managing 300 employees by the time he was 30, how new roles often found him before he went looking for them, and why a heart attack ended up giving him unexpected mental clarity. Pl...

Darin Wright knows the power of color, and she’s built her work around helping people feel confident in theirs.   In this episode, Darin shares how selling makeup at 14, riding shotgun on her dad’s TastyKake route, and even a short stint as a “terrible waitress” taught her client-first sales and honest communication. She also shares how her winding path through banking, real estate, and retail, pa...

Doug Thompson has a knack for seeing the bigger picture… whether on the soccer field, in business, or in civic life. In this episode, Doug shares why the best players are the ones who make everyone else better, how a detour into screenwriting led him to USC and ultimately into a career in real estate development, and why he had to “fire” himself in order to move his career forward. Doug Thompson i...

Brian Hunt grew up redeeming Coke bottles for a nickel, and now leads a century‑old, family‑founded manufacturer as its first non‑family CEO. In this episode, Brian shares how humble beginnings shaped his work ethic, how “getting cultured” in Boston taught him to be more assertive, and why he left a Fortune 250 track to join a family business built on servant-hearted values. Brian Hunt is the Pres...

David Wade started his career digging holes, and now he’s finishing his career digging out of them. In this episode, he shares how he worked his way up from line helper to CEO of EPB, why he pivoted when he was “right at the finish line” of his apprenticeship, and how The Gig put Chattanooga on the map. David Wade is the President and CEO of EPB. You can learn more about him and EPB on their websi...

Thom Benson has a habit of stepping up before he knows exactly where it’ll lead, and it's served him well throughout his career. In this episode, Thom shares how volunteering at his college radio station set him on the path to journalism, how raising his hand for the weekend meteorologist role changed the course of his TV career, and how volunteer diving at the Tennessee Aquarium eventually turned...

Kurt Faires learned early that average effort = average results... a principle he’s carried through every season of life. In this episode, Kurt shares why he earned a law degree but waited nearly 20 years to practice, how his career in private investing and business turnarounds ultimately brought him to Chattanooga, and how he went from running marathons to being told he had just 4 months to live…...

Stephen Culp is one of Chattanooga’s most prodigious and low-key entrepreneurs.  In this episode, Stephen shares why curiosity is the driving force behind most of his decisions, what it was like being in Europe when the Berlin Wall fell (and participating in it), and how going to Stanford forced him to be entrepreneurial, which ultimately led him to start Smart Furniture and Delegator, as well as...

Zach Wamp didn’t just serve eight terms in Congress, he also helped spark a legacy of leadership in his own family. In this episode, he shares how overcoming addiction in his 20s shaped his faith, leadership style, and belief that people will forgive you if you’re honest. He also reflects on what it meant to represent Tennessee during some of the country’s most defining moments, and how both of hi...