My Morning Cup

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...

Jason Provonsha has never been a fan of “winging it.” Maybe it’s because he spent part of his childhood keeping his dad’s FBI job a secret, or because of the critical lessons a mentor taught him…

In this episode, Jason shares his journey from healthcare marketing to logistics, why he once thought he’d have to leave Chattanooga to grow his career, and what it’s taken to scale Steam without losing focus on what matters most.

Jason Pr...

George Mullinax was raised to take risks and trust that he could rise to the challenge. That mindset carried him through the highs and lows of corporate life, and eventually led him to leave it behind entirely to start something of his own.

In this episode, George reflects on the unexpected turns that shaped his path, from family business losses and early morning side jobs to years of night classes while working full time. He also ...

Sheila and Dane Boyington have chemistry, literally and figuratively. They met in a college chemistry class, and decades later they’re still building things together as spouses and business partners.

In this episode, Sheila and Dane reflect on their journey from Gainesville to Berkeley to Chattanooga, how they grew a national multi-million dollar business without losing sight of what mattered most, and the lessons learned through t...

How does a person with a philosophy and religion degree become the Dean of the College of Business? No straight path, that’s for sure. 

In this episode, Dr. Robert Dooley shares how he crossed the divide from business to academia… and how he’s now bridging that divide for students. Plus, the evolving role of higher education in Chattanooga, and what he’s learned from serving as Interim Chancellor of UTC.

Dr. Robert Dooley is the De...

In many ways, Bert Robinson is still doing what he did as a kid: building relationships and connecting with his community. Except now, his path stretches beyond Athens across all of East Tennessee (and he’s no longer on a bike).

In this episode, Bert shares how his curiosity and outgoing nature as an 8-year-old unknowingly laid the groundwork for his career, how doors open when you’re willing to ask, and why unexpected turns can le...

Tom Glenn is a second generation business owner who has grown the family business from a small local operation to one with a multi-state presence. Through it all, Tom has never lost sight of his father’s mission of serving people well and leading with integrity.

In this episode, recorded in front of a live audience at Chattanooga Entrepreneur Week, Tom shares lessons for entrepreneurs who want to grow without losing what makes thei...

Andy Wood has always had a knack for understanding and translating how things work. It’s a skill that’s helped him stand out in every job he’s had, from restaurants in college to his ad agency days, and now as the fifth-ever CEO of the Tennessee Aquarium.

In this episode, Andy shares how a family legacy in marketing sparked his love for storytelling, what ultimately pulled him toward purpose-driven leadership in the nonprofit world...