Leaders in the Arena

What does it take to build an organization where people thrive, culture matters, and operational excellence follows? Join Leaders in the Arena for a conversation with Joey Ballard , Chief People & Safety Officer at Covenant Logistics, where she leads enterprise-wide initiatives in safety, human resources, recruiting, talent development, and employee retention. With more than 27 years of leader...

How do leaders bridge the gap between organizational objectives and individual values to build teams that truly thrive? Listen to this episode of Leaders in the Arena for a conversation with Hudson Brock, founder of AlloHire. Hudson is a Chattanooga-based strategist and team-building expert who is redefining how modern organizations approach culture, talent acquisition, and leadership development....

How can leaders expand their mission and increase Kingdom impact in ways that are sustainable, relational, and deeply aligned with their calling? Join Leaders in the Arena for a conversation with Ashley and Ben Baldwin of Mission Increase Chattanooga as we explore how nonprofit and ministry leaders can strengthen organizations through intentional stewardship, relational generosity, and mission-cen...

How should Christian leaders faithfully engage emerging technologies in ways that honor God, serve others, and promote human flourishing? Join Leaders in the Arena for a special AI edition featuring Dr. Lance Wescher as guest host. Drawing on his expertise in artificial intelligence, economics, technology, and higher education, Lance will help establish a thoughtful framework for engaging one of t...

What does it mean to lead with humility, integrity, courage, and stewardship in a world that often rewards self-promotion and short-term results? For young leaders, the answer often starts not with a title, but with the mentors who show them the way. In this episode of Leaders in the Arena, hear a conversation with Covenant College graduate Payton Prys and current student Jonathan Marshall. Togeth...

Join Leaders in the Arena for a conversation with Craig Wood, distinguished attorney and longtime Covenant College trustee, as he reflects on servant leadership in the legal profession and institutional life. Drawing from decades of experience, Craig shares how Christian conviction shapes ethical decision-making, steady influence, and leadership marked by integrity under pressure. Leaders in the A...

Join Leaders in the Arena for a conversation with Jedd Medefind , President of the Christian Alliance for Orphans (CAFO), a global movement uniting over 300 organizations, churches, and leaders to care for vulnerable children and families. Drawing on decades of leadership across government, nonprofit, and global networks, Jedd will explore how leaders engage complex challenges—like foster care, ad...

Institutions matter. The way they are built, renewed, and led shapes communities for generations. Join Leaders in the Arena for a conversation with Corey B. Holstege , a transformation leader who has guided major enterprises such as Shaw Industries and The Home Depot through complex operational and digital change. Drawing on his experience leading large-scale transformation initiatives, Corey will...

Values-based leadership begins with integrity and is sustained through faithful stewardship of people, culture, and responsibility. At its best, leadership is not just about results, but about how leaders care for what has been entrusted to them and create environments where others can grow. Join Leaders in the Arena for a conversation with Carter Helm , an experienced leader known for his focus o...

What does it mean to lead with humility and integrity in a world that often rewards self-promotion and short-term results? Join Leaders in the Arena for a conversation with Covenant College student Ian Fanning ’26 as we explore how humility and integrity shape servant leaders who act with character while building trust and stewarding responsibility well. Leaders who embrace humility and integrity...

​​ What does it take to lead with courage and steward responsibility well when the stakes are real? Join Leaders in the Arena for a conversation with Covenant College student Eric Sonnenschein ’27 as we explore how courage and stewardship shape leaders who act with conviction while faithfully caring for what has been entrusted to them. This episode explores key characteristics of servant leadershi...

Leadership is not static—it evolves as responsibility deepens and people depend on you. Listen to this episode of Leaders in the Arena for a thoughtful conversation with John Plating , Director of the Center for Calling & Career at Covenant College and retired U.S. Air Force Colonel. Drawing on decades of leading complex organizations, educating others, and serving in high-stakes environments,...

What does it take to lead not just organizations—but cultures? In this episode of Leaders in the Arena , hear a conversation with Don Sweeney , retired Ernst & Young partner and leader in the firm’s healthcare consulting practice. During a period of rapid growth and disruption, Don helped lead the Quest Leadership Program , an initiative designed to shift EY’s culture from technical expertise...

Join Leaders in the Arena for a conversation with Patrick Miles , Senior Project Lead on Chick-fil-A’s Innovation Services team. Drawing from his experience equipping innovation within a high-performing enterprise, Patrick will explore how leaders cultivate thoughtful experimentation, ask better questions, and ensure innovation strengthens rather than distracts from institutional purpose. This ses...

Join Leaders in the Arena for a conversation with Scott Quatro , leadership scholar, educator, and consultant, as he explores what servant leadership looks like in today’s complex organizational environments. Drawing on his work with executives and his research on leadership and management, Scott offers practical insight into how leaders can lead with humility, purpose, and a genuine commitment to...

Join Leaders in the Arena for a special conversation with Brad Voyles , President of Covenant College , as he shares the vision shaping Covenant’s next chapter. At the heart of Covenant’s strategy is a bold commitment to send out builders—graduates formed in faith, courage, and calling, prepared to serve the church and the world as participants in Christ’s work of making all things new. Under Pres...

Join Leaders in the Arena for a conversation with Brent Beshore , Founder and CEO of Permanent Equity , joined by David Caines, Chief Operating Officer of Kenco Group , as they explore a distinct approach to investment and leadership built on long-term commitment, cultural alignment, and stewardship. Unlike traditional private equity models focused on short-term exits, Permanent Equity partners wi...

Leadership in times of disruption requires more than adopting new tools—it requires courage, discernment, and a commitment to people. Listen in to Leaders in the Arena for a conversation with Greg Bagby , an experienced educational leader and advocate for thoughtful AI integration. Drawing on decades of work in education and instructional technology, Greg explores how leaders can navigate uncertai...

In this episode of Leaders in the Arena, hosted by Jenny Whitener, listen to a conversation with the co-founder of The 10 Project and leader with The Brock Center, Rodger Piersant, as he shares insights on leadership as service and civic stewardship. We will explore how leaders can lead with others-first principles, character, and long-term purpose in business and community life. Leaders in the Ar...

What does it mean to faithfully lead at the intersection of faith and work? In this episode of Leaders in the Arena, host Jenny Whitener sits down with Jonathan Ingraham, Executive Director of Faith Co-op, to discuss leadership, stewardship, and how Christian faith shapes our daily work—not as something separate, but as central to our calling. Whether you’re a student, professional, or organizatio...

In this episode of Leaders in the Arena, we sat down with Pat Rayner to explore leadership through a distinctly Christian lens—one rooted not in status or authority, but in calling, character, and responsibility. Pat shares his personal leadership journey, reflecting on the moments and mentors that shaped his approach to leading with humility and conviction. Together, we'll unpack the turning...

A special pre-Brock forum episode with Newt Crenshaw, president of Young Life. In this episode, Newt Crenshaw draws on decades of leadership experience across both corporate and ministry contexts, to examine the challenges and responsibilities of leading with integrity, humility, and courage in a rapidly changing world. He shares practical insights on authentic Christian leadership in practice, re...

At the heart of innovation and community growth lies a mindset: “Yes, And.” Rather than seeing constraints as limitations, “Yes, And” invites possibility, collaboration, and co-creation across sectors and perspectives. Under Bridgett Massengill’s direction, Thrive’s recent Tri-State Summit adopted “Yes, And” as its theme to unite business, civic, and community leaders toward shared progress. Thriv...

Healthcare marketing is undergoing a seismic shift, powered by AI and emerging digital technologies. From real-time personalization to predictive patient engagement, these tools are reshaping how providers connect with communities and build trust. In this episode of ⁠⁠Leaders in the Arena⁠⁠, hear from Danny Fell, Health Systems Practice Lead at Unlock Health, for a conversation on the practical wa...

In a world where design increasingly underpins competitive differentiation, innovation, and market relevance, how can leaders embed inclusive design in ventures so that business value, culture, and community impact move forward together? In this episode of ⁠⁠Leaders in the Arena⁠⁠, hear a compelling conversation with Dr. Tiffany Bussey, a visionary in advancing minority entrepreneurship and inclus...