The Great Retention: With Kamber Parker

Ready or not—here they come! In this episode of The Great Retention, Kamber sits down with Kelly Sanderson, Director at the J. Harley Bonds Career Center, to better understand the next generation of professionals preparing to enter modern workplaces. Kelly shares why Gen Z is increasingly drawn to specialization and skilled trades, and why leaders need to move beyond simply assigning tasks and sta...

What if the goal isn’t to change another generation—but to understand the perspective that shaped them? In this episode of The Great Retention, Kamber sits down with Meghan Grace—author, speaker, consultant, and founder of Strategies with Grace—for a refreshingly different conversation about Gen Z, Millennials, and what generations can learn from one another. Meghan shares some of what has surpris...

Healthcare leaders depend on teams that not only adapt—but actually stay—in one of the most demanding industries in the workforce. So, how do they do it? In this episode of The Great Retention, Kamber talks with Ryan Lee, President of Novant Health Greenville Market, to discuss the future of healthcare and what organizations must do to meet the current moment with intention and honesty. Ryan share...

Building a team is one thing, but building an *engaged* team is another. In this episode of The Great Retention, Kamber sits down with Jessica Dawson, Founder and CEO of J. Dawson Consulting, to talk about the strategies leaders need to better understand their people—and lead with greater intention. Jessica shares why curiosity is one of the most important leadership skills, and why measuring empl...

What does it actually take to build a workplace people want to stay at? In this episode of The Great Retention, Kamber sits down with Moe Rice, Partner and Director of People and Culture at Brains, to explore the systems, standards, and leadership philosophies shaping one of the most intentional workplace cultures around. Moe shares how Brains’s Certified B-Corp status and people-first approach in...

The future of media is taking shape—and business leaders can learn *a lot* from the people shaping it. In this episode of The Great Retention, Kamber is joined by Ryan Heafy, Co-Founder of 6AM City, to talk about the evolution of news, the rise of content creation, and why trust is the foundation of every successful brand. Ryan shares why he believes content creation is the future while traditiona...

How do leaders motivate teams and navigate change when technology is transforming the workplace faster than ever? In this episode of The Great Retention, Kamber sits down with Mike Simonds, President and CEO at TriNet, to talk about hiring, AI, leadership, and the leaders navigating it all. Mike shares why understanding what motivates people, practicing humility, and staying closely connected to y...

What happens when conversations about pay move out of closed doors and into the public square? In this episode of The Great Retention, Kamber sits down with Hannah Williams, co-creator and host of Salary Transparent Street, to talk about the growing movement around pay transparency and why it resonates so strongly with younger generations entering the workforce today. Hannah shares how her platfor...

How do you lead people you don't understand? In this episode of The Great Retention, Kamber sits down with Jeremie Kubicek—Author, Speaker, and Co-Founder of GiANT Worldwide—to explore the leadership principles behind his Five Voices Assessment and why it was designed to help leaders become what he calls “people whisperers.” Jeremie shares how many leaders unknowingly operate from fear and scarcit...

Leadership should feel freeing—not constraining. In this episode of The Great Retention, Kamber talks with Wendy Adams, Owner, Speaker, and Strategic Leadership Coach at Cultivate for Good, about what it means to become a “liberating leader” by freeing your team up to do their best work. Wendy shares the essential qualities of intentional leadership—humility, curiosity, and investing in people—whi...

The future of work isn’t a distant concept—it’s happening right now. In this episode of The Great Retention, Kamber talks with Sophie Wade, Founder of Flexcel Network, about the shifts leaders need to embrace as technology, talent, and culture evolve together. Sophie explains why flexibility is the *true* path forward, whether hybrid, remote, or reimagined altogether. She also challenges leaders t...

How does tourism impact a city's professional talent? In too many ways to count. In this episode of The Great Retention, Kamber sits down with Heath Dillard, President and CEO of VisitGreenvilleSC, to explore how tourism and talent intersect in one of the fastest-growing cities in the Southeast. Heath shares why appealing across generations—from Boomers to Gen Z—requires more than infrastructure;...

What does it take to lead in a moment of massive change for communities and businesses alike? Chambers of commerce sit at that intersection. In this episode of The Great Retention, Kamber is joined by Sheree Anne Kelly, President and CEO of the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives, to talk about how today’s leaders can navigate the challenges reshaping local economies. Sheree Anne highlig...

What if we told you that there's a workforce issue with a $600 billion—with a B—impact on our economy? Spoiler alert: there is. In this episode of The Great Retention, Kamber talks with Jesse Matton, Director of Corporate Social Impact Policies at the National Partnership for Women & Families, about why the care economy may be the most important workplace issue leaders can’t afford to ignore. Jess...

This week’s episode flips the script—our own team is in the hot seat. In this special Q&A edition of The Great Retention, Kamber is joined by GPS’s own Director of Operations, Jade Fountain, to answer the real questions we’ve received from business leaders and team members in 2025. Together, they tackle why hybrid work remains the top choice across generations and why return-to-office mandates are...

Want to build inclusion in your organization that truly lasts? In this episode of The Great Retention, Kamber is joined by Ken Peterson, Vice President of People Development and Inclusion at ScanSource, to talk about what drives belonging at work. Ken explains why policies, engagement, and even the right content creation are essential for creating inclusive environments. He shares how HR leaders c...

Higher education is evolving—and the next generation is driving the change. In this episode of The Great Retention, Kamber sits down with Dr. Larry Miller, President of Greenville Technical College, to unpack how Gen Z is reshaping both the classroom and the workplace. Dr. Miller highlights the strengths younger generations bring to the table, from social media fluency to a mission-focused, values...

The work we do today has the power to shape the world around us—and Greg Hart believes that matters more than ever. In this episode of The Great Retention, Kamber talks with Greg, President at PSMJ Resources, about the urgent challenges and opportunities facing AEC organizations right now. Greg shares why hiring aggressively at the entry level and investing in apprenticeships is critical for build...

Banking is changing fast—and generational dynamics are at the heart of that shift. In this episode of The Great Retention, Kamber sits down with Stacy Brandon, President, Bank of America Upstate South Carolina, to explore how customer expectations and leadership styles are evolving across generations. Stacy discusses balancing the in-person service that Boomers prefer with the digital-first experi...

What do today’s professionals *really* want from work? In this episode of The Great Retention, Kamber sits down with Kyle Hagge and Kaila Lopez, co-hosts of Morning Brew’s Per My Last Email, to explore how loyalty, communication, and culture are shifting in real time. They share why younger workers are still committed, but no longer blindly loyal, and why leaders shouldn’t overcomplicate generatio...

This week on The Great Retention, Kamber sits down with Marcus Hamaker, CEO of [bu:st], to uncover the keys to building an empowered team in today’s multigenerational workforce. Marcus shares how shifting from merely leading a team to deeply *knowing* your team can transform the way your business thrives. We discuss practical strategies for creating a foundational system that drives talent retenti...

In this episode of The Great Retention, Kamber sits down with Traci Newkirk, President + CEO at Intellectual Capitol and Human Potential Advisors, to dive into how emotional intelligence and self-awareness are reshaping the workforce. As young professionals emerge fully into the workplace, they bring a unique understanding of their strengths and the tools to assess them, thanks to resources like G...

Ready to transform your team culture and set the stage for future success? In this episode of The Great Retention, we chat with Ray Cox, Senior Vice President of Marketing at HIighfill Infrastructure Engineering, who reveals the secrets to building teams where authenticity and well-being are at the forefront. Ray shares strategies that will challenge you to rethink how to communicate growth paths...

How can workplaces become spaces of true belonging? In this episode of The Great Retention, we talk with Dr. Jessica Sharp, Founder of Sharp Brain Consulting, to uncover how neurobiology can guide leaders in building inclusive, equitable cultures where everyone feels seen, heard, and valued. Dr. Sharp shares why belonging isn’t just a benefit—it’s essential for a resilient, high-performing team. W...

In the latest episode of The Great Retention, we dive into the world of the Savannah Bananas with Emily Cole, Director of Fun and co-owner of the "greatest show in sports!" Emily shares how their fan-first philosophy has created a passionate fan base while transforming how they recruit, lead, and cultivate an upbeat, creative internal culture. From the field to the C-suite, discover the bold strat...