Our cityCURRENT Radio Show airs each Sunday from 7-8 AM across all four Cumulus Media Memphis radio stations, which reach more than 750,000 listeners each week: Kix 106, 98.1 The Max, 98.9 The Bridge, and 103.5 WRBO and also airs across all five Cumulus Media Nashville radio stations each Sunday from 5-6 AM on 104.5 The Zone, 95.5 NASH ICON, SuperTalk 99.7 WTN, NASH FM 103.3, and 4-5 AM on 92Q. The show is focused on positives and features interviews with a mix of business and community leaders who discuss important trends, efforts, lessons learned, and ways to get engaged and make an impact..…
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July 20, 202629 min
Inside 4:13 Strong: Helping Men Build Careers, Confidence & Community
What does it take to truly break the cycle of poverty, crime, and dependency? In this inspiring episode of the cityCURRENT Show, host Andrew Bartolotta sits down with Chris Blaney, Development Director of 4:13 Strong , to explore how this Nashville-based nonprofit is transforming lives through faith, workforce development, mentorship, and life-changing relationships. Built around the mission of creating Stronger Men, Stronger Families, and a Stronger Nashville, 4:13 Strong offers a residential workforce development program that equips men with the skills, discipline, confidence, and support they need to build successful careers and meaningful lives. Whether you're a business leader, nonprofit supporter, mentor, or someone passionate about creating stronger communities, this episode offers an encouraging look at what's possible when people are given the opportunity and the support to rewrite their future. Learn more about 4:13 Strong, volunteer, become a mentor, or support their mission by visiting www.413strong.org .
July 15, 202616 min
Tom Barrett highlights Navigate the Journey part 2
Tom shares his background and path from a corporate career with companies like, Deloitte and E&Y, to transitioning from seminary to ministry to business coaching, explaining how he and his wife Traci, who was a member of the original launch team of HGTV, moved from Chicago to Nashville in 2017. He details their six-system framework called the Scaling Results Operating System , which addresses people, strategy, operations, execution, leadership, and finances, and describes working with clients who are typically founders looking to transition leadership teams and scale their businesses. He describes how the framework helps businesses scale results and impact, particularly addressing challenges like market forces and AI automation that require companies to pivot and update their processes. Tom provides examples of his coaching approach, including a success story about helping a marketing agency refocus on fundraising for nonprofits after struggling during COVID, and discusses his life planning process called Strategic Life Map that helps clients gain clarity through examining past turning points. Tom shares recommendations for driving success, emphasizing the importance of a growth mindset and achieving elite performance through intentional choices and addressing "head trash" that prevents organizations from reaching their full potential. He discusses their "Strategic Life Map" process, which involves analyzing past turning points to plan for the future, and explained their philanthropic work with nonprofits through strategic planning and leadership development. Tom recommends visiting navigatethejourney.com for more information about their services and next steps. Visit https://www.navigatethejourney.com to learn more and connect with Navigate the Journey.
July 15, 202616 min
Tom Barrett highlights Navigate the Journey part 1
He details their six-system framework called the Scaling Results Operating System , which addresses people, strategy, operations, execution, leadership, and finances, and describes working with clients who are typically founders looking to transition leadership teams and scale their businesses. He describes how the framework helps businesses scale results and impact, particularly addressing challenges like market forces and AI automation that require companies to pivot and update their processes. Tom provides examples of his coaching approach, including a success story about helping a marketing agency refocus on fundraising for nonprofits after struggling during COVID, and discusses his life planning process called Strategic Life Map that helps clients gain clarity through examining past turning points. Tom shares recommendations for driving success, emphasizing the importance of a growth mindset and achieving elite performance through intentional choices and addressing "head trash" that prevents organizations from reaching their full potential. He discusses their "Strategic Life Map" process, which involves analyzing past turning points to plan for the future, and explained their philanthropic work with nonprofits through strategic planning and leadership development. Tom recommends visiting navigatethejourney.com for more information about their services and next steps. Visit https://www.navigatethejourney.com to learn more and connect with Navigate the Journey.
July 15, 202616 min
Mitch Gaylord shares lessons from his Olympic gold medal winning gymnastics career and keynotes
Host Jeremy C. Park interviews Mitch Gaylord , who discusses his Olympic gold medal winning gymnastics career, his transition into acting including roles in movies like Batman Forever, his keynote speaking, and his current work as a producer with Higginbotham Financial . Mitch shares his background, explaining that while he originally dreamed of playing football or baseball, his growth trajectory and the encouragement of his parents led him to discover his natural talent for gymnastics through tumbling and trampoline classes. He describes the feeling of "flying and defying gravity" that initially drew him to the sport. Mitch highlights what it takes to succeed in gymnastics, covering the importance of discipline, core strength, and mental strength beyond just physical talent. He shares a challenging experience at the Junior National Championships in New York, where he felt intimidated by the competition and made mistakes in 50% of his routines, as a result, missing a key opportunity to advance. This experience marked a turning point in his career, prompting him to commit to improving his mindset and confidence moving forward. Mitch talks about his transition from UCLA to becoming a top-ranked athlete, describing how Kurt Thomas' belief in his potential led to a pivotal decision to leave UCLA for a year of intensive training. During that year, Mitch went from being an alternate in 1981 to becoming number two in the country in 1982, and eventually reaching the top ranking in 1983 and 1984. Mitch discusses his decision to return to UCLA for the 1984 season and the team's historic NCAA championship win. He then describes the pressure and expectations during the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, where the U.S. men's gymnastics team, including Mitch Gaylord, Tim Daggett, Peter Vidmar, Bart Conner, Jim Hartung, and Scott Johnson, competed with a home court advantage at UCLA's Pauley Pavilion. Although picked to place third at best, the team ultimately defeated the world champion Chinese team and won the gold medal, marking the first time in history that a U.S. men's team achieved this feat, and Mitch emphasizes the importance of team support and unity in their success. Mitch shares two special moments from his Olympic experience in the 1984. The first was scoring the first ever 10.0 in U.S. men's gymnastics during the compulsories, which created momentum for the team. The second was a personal disappointment when he failed on high bar, but was supported by teammate Peter Vidmar who reminded him of the team's greater mission. Mitch reflects on his Olympic gymnastics career, where he won gold, silver, and bronze medals, and he shares how his experience transitioned into a career in film and stunts, including working on Batman Forever. He talks about being a keynote speaker and explains his two signature keynote speeches: "Raising the Bar" and "Turning Fear into Fuel," which draw from his athletic career to inspire audiences about overcoming challenges and building confidence. He also discusses his current role with Higginbotham Financial, where he works in life insurance, particularly with high net worth clients, and emphasizes the importance of having conversations about life insurance protection for families. Visit https://www.higginbotham.com to learn more about Higginbotham and Higginbotham Financial. Connect with Mitch Gaylord on LinkedIn or email him at MGaylord@higginbotham.net to connect. To learn more about Mitch Gaylord's public speaking and presentations, visit https://www.executivespeakers.com/speaker/mitch-gaylord
July 15, 202616 min
Robyn Householder shares tips to avoid scams, highlights BBB efforts to create marketplace of trust
Host Jeremy C. Park talks with Robyn Householder , CEO of the Better Business Bureau Serving Middle Tennessee and Southern Kentucky , who highlights the organization’s efforts and mission “to create a marketplace grounded in trust, guiding people toward the best experiences while fostering stronger relationships between businesses and consumers.” Robyn provides an overview of the organization's efforts to build trust in the marketplace through pre-purchase education and dispute resolution, processing approximately 3 million information requests and 12,000 disputes annually with a 98% success rate. The organization hosts various community events, with Songwriters Night on October 1st at Marathon Music Works being their largest annual event that raises funds for educational services and small business grants, particularly supporting veteran-owned businesses this year. Robyn highlights the upcoming Nashville event and notes that tickets can be purchased through bbb.org/Nashville under the events section. She describes various educational initiatives including Coffee and Connections events and an upcoming September event in Clarksville with the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta. Robyn emphasizes their mission of helping businesses grow and advised consumers to check with them before doing business with strangers to avoid potential scams. Robyn then starts discussing some of the different scams taking place and shares helpful tips to avoid them. She reports that nearly 5,000 consumers are scammed daily through online purchase scams, highlighting how scammers use technology and AI to target specific shopping behaviors. She provides specific safety tips including avoiding pop-up ads, verifying secure website indicators, checking URL spelling and grammar, and using credit cards instead of debit cards for online purchases. She talks about employment scams, noting that legitimate jobs are not offered to unsolicited applicants and advised checking company websites directly. She also discusses debt collection scams, which use fear tactics to intimidate victims into paying alleged debts, with Robyn sharing a personal example of someone who verified their warrant claim was false. Robyn also talks about government agency imposter scams that target the elderly. She emphasizes the importance of being cautious about sharing personal information on social media and warns about sweepstakes and lottery scams that aim to capture personal information under false pretenses. She highlights the resources available through the Better Business Bureau, including their ability to verify legitimate businesses, provide guidance on licensing requirements, and help connect with government agencies, with Robyn encouraging people to report scams through bbb.org/spamtracker to help track and combat fraud. Visit https://www.bbb.org/ to learn more or for additional questions email info@gobbb.org or call 615-242-4222.
July 15, 202616 min
Joni Hester highlights the Germantown Education Foundation supporting GMSD teachers and students
Joni explains how the Germantown Education Foundation supports educational enhancements across schools by helping teachers get creative with standard curriculum to make learning more engaging. She describes examples including a middle school math teacher who created a black light math program to keep students interested and elementary schools that collaborated on a squid dissection activity tied to a shared reading book. The discussion focuses on how the foundation supports innovation at the classroom level to help drive student success. Joni explains the foundation's grant process, which includes mini-grants up to $500 per teacher and annual grants over $500 for larger school programs. Last year, they provided nearly 60 mini-grants totaling about $25,000 and multiple annual grants exceeding $75,000, with the foundation distributing over $115,000 back to schools while also adding $50,000 to their community foundation fund. Joni describes the positive impact of teacher grants on both students and educators, explaining how the funding creates excitement and demonstrates community support for teachers who often spend their own money on classroom activities. She emphasizes how the grants help reinforce that "the community has your back" and supports teacher creativity and passion. Joni discusses the growth of the mini grants program over the past couple of years, highlighting that they have increased from giving out $40,000 to $75,000 in annual grants. She explained the city of Germantown's matching program, which will match up to $100,000 raised by the foundation. Joni expresses hope to continue growing the funds and mentioned plans to use community foundation funds for a lasting impact across the entire GMSD school district, potentially benefiting students at the high school level. Jeremy emphasizes the importance of staying current with technology and facilities to provide students with the best opportunities for success. Joni explains the main events supporting the Germantown Education Foundation, including the Color Run, Lemonade Stand Day, and Summer Soiree. She describes how these events engage different community members, from students and families to parents and business leaders, and highlights the growing participation and financial impact. Joni describes the Germantown Education Foundation's annual teacher kickoff event where they award a $2,500 grant to a randomly selected teacher. She shares examples of successful grants, such as a learning garden at Forest Hill Elementary School that students maintain and sell produce from, and a storybook trail around a pond that serves the entire community. Joni provides contact information for the foundation, including their website germantowneducationfoundation.org and email GEF@GMSDK12.org, along with a phone number 901-230-3776 for potential partners and supporters to reach out. Visit https://germantowneducationfoundation... to learn more and connect with the Germantown Education Foundation.
July 15, 202616 min
Mickey Keaton highlights Bluff City Overwatch LLC
Host Jeremy C. Park interviews Mickey Keaton , owner and operator of Bluff City Overwatch LLC , who highlights his drone education and training program and efforts to help equip youth for success in the growing industries and related job opportunities. Mickey explains how his experience with the Shelby County Sheriff's Office drone unit inspired him to launch Bluff City Overwatch to educate people about proper drone operations and FAA regulations, as many recreational drone users were violating safety rules. The program offers Introduction to Drone Operations classes where students can earn their FAA Recreational Pilot Certification and learn basic flight skills for $105 per student with a maximum class size of 12 participants. Mickey discusses the vast career opportunities in drone technology, from delivery services to construction, firefighting, and beyond, emphasizing how the program not only teaches STEM skills but also provides workforce development opportunities. He expresses particular interest in bringing the program to underserved communities like North Haven, where businesses could partner to sponsor classes and provide additional support like meals for students. The interview highlights how Mickey's personal and professional experiences, including his role as a Scoutmaster, have helped transform both his family's understanding of drone technology and the lives of young people in our community. Mickey provides his contact information, including their Bluff City Overwatch page on Facebook and email address mickey@bluffcityoverwatch.com for businesses and individuals interested in getting involved or enrolling in classes. Email Mickey at mickey@bluffcityoverwatch.com to learn more about Bluff City Overwatch LLC.
July 15, 202616 min
Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs) and EFS ESOP Consultants
Host Jeremy C. Park interviews Kelly O. Finnell , Founder and President of EFS ESOP Consultants and author of "The ESOP Coach: Using ESOPs in Ownership Succession Planning," who discusses the importance and power of Employee Stock Ownership Plans (ESOPs). Kelly shares how he accidentally entered the ESOP field in 1979 while working at a law firm in Massachusetts during his first year of law school. After being assigned to research ESOPs for a white paper, he developed a passion for the topic and eventually built his consulting practice around it. Jeremy and Kelly discuss ESOPs, explaining that from a business owner's perspective it serves as an exit and succession strategy alternative to selling to private equity or strategic buyers. Kelly describes how ESOPs function as retirement plans from an employee's perspective, with the company fully funding them and the investment being limited to company stock. Jeremy notes the power of ownership, highlighting how it can transform employee perspectives and create a legacy for business leaders. Kelly discusses the performance benefits of employee-owned companies, citing academic studies and Higginbotham as examples of improved employee performance and business outcomes. Jeremy agrees with these points, sharing his firsthand experience of the positive impact on responsibility and ownership at all levels. Kelly outlines the criteria for determining if a company is a good candidate for an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP), including financial metrics like adjusted EBITDA and employee count, as well as subjective indicators such as emphasis on company culture, legacy, and philanthropy. Jeremy agrees, highlighting how outside ownership often leads to changes in culture and philanthropy, making an ESOP a viable option for preserving a business's legacy and values. Kelly advises business leaders that implementing an ESOP or any exit strategy typically requires a minimum of three years of planning and preparation. He emphasizes the importance of becoming educated about different options, including sales to private equity, and involving trusted advisors like lawyers and CPAs in the process. Kelly discusses the positive outlook for ESOPs, highlighting the bipartisan support from both Democrats and Republicans. He explains that ESOPs function as an effective wealth distribution vehicle, offering tax benefits to companies and providing a way for business owners to sell to employees with government support covering 40% of the cost through tax savings. Kelly shares contact information, including the company website www.execfin.com and LinkedIn page for EFS ESOP Consultants. He discusses his book, which was written specifically for business owners and includes case studies in plain English to explain complex ESOP topics. Visit https://execfin.com/ to learn more and connect with Kelly Finnell and EFS ESOP Consultants.
July 15, 202616 min
Element 47, importance of simplicity in branding, tips for leveraging AI
cityCURRENT Nashville partner, Eric Jackson , Founder and CEO of Element 47 , who highlights the branding, marketing, and advertising agency that focuses on strategy and helping businesses grow through clear brand positioning. Eric defines brand as the gut feeling people have about a company, which cannot be fully controlled but can be influenced through identity elements like logo and colors, along with culture and user/customer experience. Eric emphasizes the importance of simplicity and culture in branding, explaining that businesses must clearly articulate what makes them unique and special in their market to be remembered. He talks about three questions every owner should answer fast: Who are you? What do you do? Why does it matter? Eric discusses how to create effective "wow statements" for businesses to clearly communicate their value and differentiation. He uses Skillway Founder and CEO Dew Tinnin's "We help you crush your sales goals and love what you do" as an example of a clear, impactful wow statement. Eric advises using simple language without industry jargon, focusing on outcomes rather than processes, and making the statement everywhere from physical spaces to social media. He emphasizes that people buy outcomes rather than processes, and the key is to create curiosity by highlighting what the business delivers, not how they deliver it. Eric discusses Element 47's strategic approach to using AI, particularly with Claude, where Eric treats it as a sparring partner rather than a copy-paste tool. Eric explains how he uses AI to conduct advanced research and generate referral lists through LinkedIn Sales Navigator, creating targeted referral lists for introductions from fellow cityCURRENT partners. The conversation concludes with Eric sharing contact information for Element 47, including their website element47.co, where interested parties can learn more about their services and connect with the team. Visit https://element47.co to learn more and connect with Element 47.
July 15, 202616 min
Betsy Wright and Brandon Holley highlight IT Solutions, one of the fastest growing IT firms
Host Jeremy C. Park talks with Betsy Wright , Partner, and Brandon Holley , Regional Vice President of Sales with IT Solutions , who both highlight how the company has become one of the fastest-growing IT firms with 14 locations across the country and Canada, specializing in small to medium-sized businesses with 50-300 employees. The company focuses on managed IT services, cloud solutions, and strategic technology guidance, particularly in areas like AI, LLMs, and cybersecurity. Their key verticals include legal, healthcare, manufacturing, and financial sectors, with special expertise in compliance areas like HIPAA, CMMC, and governmental contracts. During the interview, Betsy discusses her transition from running a small IT company in Nashville, Tennessee, to merging and joining IT Solutions, which has more than 500 employees compared to her previous 25-person team. She highlights the company's culture of clear objectives, metrics, and accountability, noting how she has learned from her sales leader Brandon. Betsy emphasizes the benefits of having specialized experts across different areas like cybersecurity and AI implementation, which was a key reason for selling her company to provide enhanced client services that would have been impossible to achieve otherwise. Brandon emphasizes the importance of understanding client needs before implementing AI solutions, highlighting the need for secure and effective AI implementation while addressing data protection concerns. He identifies key trends including cloud adoption, cybersecurity, and maximizing ROI, while Betsy notes that new regulations like HIPAA changes and CMMC are driving compliance-related conversations with clients. The discussion focuses on the challenges of helping clients navigate these complex technological and regulatory landscapes effectively. Betsy and Brandon discuss the unique culture and support system at IT Solutions, emphasizing how the diverse team, spanning different experiences and locations, collaborates effectively to solve challenges and drive growth. They highlight the remote work capabilities and the team's ability to support each other and clients alike, particularly in the growing Middle Tennessee market. To learn more and connect with IT Solutions, start by exploring their website at www.itsolutions-inc.com or engaging on LinkedIn. Visit https://www.itsolutions-inc.com or www.PickITS.com to learn more and connect with IT Solutions.
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