Think Bigger Voices

In this episode of  Think Bigger Voices , host Jennie Treby sits down with  Shirl Penney , founder and CEO of Dynasty Financial Partners . Shirl discusses his remarkable childhood journey from poverty, food insecurity and homelessness in rural Maine to a successful career on Wall Street - to becoming the founder of one of the fastest-growing independent wealth management firms in th...

“I will continue to lead from the center, not the front.” What does it mean to truly rise above adversity and then turn around to help others do the same? In this inspiring episode of  Think Bigger Voices , we sit down with the multitalented Reverend Christian Aaron: pastor, pediatric nurse, author, nonprofit founder and former Horatio Alger Scholar. Christian shares her remarkable journey fr...

In this episode of Think Bigger Voices, host Jennie Treby sits down with Daniel Lind, a compliance safety engineer with the U.S. Department of Transportation and former Horatio Alger National Scholar. Raised in South Florida by his mother and grandmother after his family immigrated from Cuba, Daniel grew up facing financial hardship but was determined to pursue an education. After applying fo...

What happens when education, businesses and community leaders unite under one belief: that every kid deserves the opportunity to Think Bigger? In this special one-year anniversary episode, host Jennie Treby and Think Big for Kids founder Tony DiBenedetto reflect on 24 episodes recorded across Florida, Atlanta and Greater Washington, D.C. This year of conversations revealed a powerful truth: people...

How does one powerful, personal relationship fundamentally change a teacher's calling and redefine success for their students? In this episode of Think Bigger Voices, host Jennie Treby sits down with Morrise "Mr. Q" Quierolo, a civics and AVID teacher at Liberty Middle School in Fairfax County. Guided by the belief that education is a vocation and a mission, Morrise is building his career by shapi...

How do we reach students who are hardest to reach, the ones who feel discouraged, disconnected, or burdened by challenges no one else sees? In this episode of Think Bigger Voices, host Jennie Treby talks with Marc Matthie, a coach, longtime Fairfax County educator, and Think Big for Kids Advisory Board member. For more than 20 years, Marc has mentored students on and off the field, guided by a sim...

How can communities ensure every student has the resources and support they need to succeed in one of America’s largest school districts, where 37% of students live in poverty? On this episode of Think Bigger Voices, Jennie Treby sits down with Dr. Lynette Henry, Executive Director of Educate Fairfax, a non-profit that serves over 183,000 students across 199 schools in the 10th largest district in...

How can economic development organizations strengthen their communities by investing in the next generation of talent? In this episode, host Jennie Treby sits down with Mike Batt, Vice President of Talent for the Fairfax County Economic Development Authority (EDA), to explore how public, private and nonprofit partnerships are shaping the workforce of tomorrow. Mike shares how his 20-year career at...

In this episode of Think Bigger Voices , Jennie Treby sits down with Effie Santos, former banker, author, TEDx speaker and founder of Madi’s Movement. After the devastating loss of her teenage daughter Madi, Effie transformed unimaginable tragedy into a legacy of hope and opportunity for youth aging out of the foster system. Effie shares her journey of resilience, the lessons behind her book The P...

How can safe spaces, digital literacy and community-driven programs reshape the future for young women in Atlanta’s hardest-to-reach communities? In this episode of Think Bigger Voices , host Jennie Treby sits down with Danita Knight and Sooraya Williams of YWCA Greater Atlanta to explore how the organization is breaking down barriers and expanding access to opportunity. Grounded in three core are...

In the fight against pediatric health disparities, are we missing the most powerful tools: connection, education and access? TampaWell, activated by Tampa General Hospital (TGH), is redefining disease prevention and tackling social factors negatively impacting health at the root. In this episode of Think Bigger Voices , host Jennie Treby sits down with Dr. Tanuja Sharma and Rachel Hoyer of TGH to...

What if the key to ending generational poverty wasn’t just access, but advocacy, athletics, and accountability? In this episode of Think Bigger Voices , host Jennie Treby travels to Atlanta to sit down with C.J. and Kelli Stewart, the powerhouse couple behind the L.E.A.D. Center for Youth. L.E.A.D.—short for Launch, Expose, Advise, and Direct—is transforming the lives of Black youth in Atlanta thr...

What if first-generation college students had a support system that started in kindergarten and stayed with them through graduation and beyond? In this episode of Think Bigger Voices , host Jennie Treby sits down with Dr. Deonte Brown, Director of the CARE Program at Florida State University (Center for Academic Retention and Enhancement), to explore how one of the country’s most comprehensive sup...

What if a high school education could include AP classes, extracurricular activities, and corporate work experience, starting at age 14?   In this episode of Think Bigger Voices , host Jennie Treby sits down with Dr. Patrick Liang, President and CEO of Cristo Rey Tampa Salesian High School, an educational model transforming the future for low-income students by blending rigorous academics and...

What if the key to student success wasn’t just academics—but believing you belong? Attending a large state university can be overwhelming for many students but imagine the extra challenges and pressures of being the first person in your family to attend college. Host Jennie Treby sits down with Michael Hartline, Dean of the Florida State University College of Business, to explore how FSU is transf...

When talent is everywhere but opportunity isn't, Year Up United becomes the bridge young professionals need. Join host Jennie Treby as she sits down with Gary Flowers, CIO, Transformation and Technology Services at Year Up United, to explore an innovative approach to workforce development that's transforming young lives. Discover how this national workforce development organization ending the Oppo...

For two decades, a tiny 6-by-9-foot closet in a high school has become a lifeline of dignity, transforming thousands of students' lives.   In this episode, Jennie Treby sits down with Tracey Keim, an educator at St. Petersburg High School and the Founder of The Green Devil’s Pantry & Closet. With her unwavering belief in human dignity, Tracey is changing lives—one backpack, one essential...

Music, education and community—Dr. Alex Harris has spent his career at the intersection of all three. As a renowned singer-songwriter, producer and philanthropist, he’s performed alongside legends like John Legend and Alicia Keys. But his biggest passion? Empowering the next generation through the Arts Conservatory for Teens (ACT).   In this episode of Think Bigger Voices, host Jennie Treby s...

For economically disadvantaged and first-generation students, financial aid can be the key to unlocking higher education—but navigating the system is often overwhelming. How can we, as advocates and changemakers, help ensure these students get the support they need?   In this episode, Nadine Bailey, VP of Regulatory Affairs at Ultimate Medical Academy, joins host Jennie Treby to explore the r...

What if your bank could make a real difference in your community?   With 40% of American families and young people struggling to make ends meet, Thomas Feindt, CEO of Grow Financial Federal Credit Union, shares how the not-for-profit banking model is focused on breaking cycles of poverty and creating lasting change. Drawing on 25 years of experience in the credit union industry, he explains h...

What if solving childhood hunger is about more than just food? Thomas Mantz, President and CEO of Feeding Tampa Bay, joins host Jennie Treby to explore the deeper challenges of food insecurity and how it impacts our communities, especially children. In this episode, they discuss: The staggering reality of food insecurity in the U.S. Why prevention is key to breaking the cycle of hunger and transfo...

All of us know families who are considered ALICE (asset-limited, income-constrained, employed). But we don’t always know how to support them. In United Way Suncoast’s 5-county area, 2 in 5 residents are considered ALICE – and today, host Jennie Treby interviews CEO Jessica Muroff about solutions they’ve seen break the cycle. Listen in as they discuss:  3 strategic areas of focus (early learni...

Growing up, Freddy Williams was told his mouth was either going to get him in big trouble or do some good in the world. The Boys & Girls Club alumnus-turned-CEO joins host Jennie Treby to do some good in this podcast episode, discussing:  How the iconic organization saved his life What strategic shifts are changing the approach they’ve taken for the last 20 years How prevention programs b...

Join us for the debut of Think Bigger Voices, hosted by Jennie Treby. Our inaugural guest is Tony DiBenedetto, founder and chair of Think Big for Kids and co-producer of Think Bigger Voices. Tony is a technology executive, entrepreneur and philanthropist with more than 35 years of experience in business innovation, high-impact growth and people leadership.   This episode kickstarts a cru...