My Morning Cup

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, and why he always puts the communi...

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 to General Sessions Court Judge mad...

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 serve as this year’s Chair of the A...

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 President and CEO of the Chattanooga Metrop...

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 The Chattery, a Chattanooga-based ...

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 and expanding Future Ready Centers.

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.

Jimmy White is the President and Man...

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 (and closing) his second restaurant, M...

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.

Plus, he shares what it was like to l...

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, paired with a frustration with one-si...

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 is the President of HFS Capital Advi...

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 President and CEO of Southern Champion ...

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 website: epb.com/about/leadership

If you...

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 into a full-time position he’s hel...

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… twenty years ago.

Kurt Faires is a...

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 to come back to Chattanooga.

Stephe...

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 his children have since stepped into ...

For nearly 20 years, Tom Satkowiak helped shape the stories coming out of Tennessee Athletics, but behind the press conferences and player profiles was a personal journey most people never saw.

In this episode, Tom shares how he found his calling at a very young age, how a life-threatening liver disease reshaped his faith and career, and why he eventually stepped away from college sports to join TVA and focus on doing “the next rig...

From flying C130s into conflict zones to commanding global military operations, Kevin Hyde’s story might seem more like an action movie than real life.

In this episode, Kevin shares how his time at the Air Force Academy was “sink or swim,” why sometimes the fastest way to get results is by breaking bread, and how he’s now guiding a nonprofit that provides support, stability, and hope to our community.

Kevin Hyde is the CEO of Partn...