ChangeMakers

Host Jeremy C. Park talks with Shelby Mounts, who reflects on his 25 years of service with the US Navy and highlights the leadership lessons learned and his journey to becoming Executive Director of NextOp Veterans, a nonprofit organization focused on connecting veterans and military members to career opportunities. NextOp recruits, develops, and places military members and veterans into industry careers. The organization works one...

Host Jeremy C. Park talks with Mike Pohlman, who has been a driving force at Pickering Firm, Inc. for more than 45 years, shaping the company's growth, culture and leadership. After graduating from Christian Brothers College (now Christian Brothers University) in 1979 with a degree in Mechanical Engineering, he joined Pickering and quickly established himself as a leader. From his early days as an energy engineer to his transition ...

This episode of the ChangeMakers podcast, produced by CityCURRENT and powered by Higginbotham Insurance and Financial Services, features an insightful conversation with Kathy Mull, the Executive Director of The Cocoon, a comprehensive domestic and sexual violence agency located in Wood County, Ohio. Hosted by Jeremy C. Park, the episode delves into the critical issues of domestic and intimate partner relationship violence, highligh...

During the interview, Monnie talks about how growing up in Dayton, Ohio, and spending summers working on a family farm in Kentucky, picking tobacco and baling hay, helped form a work ethic that continues to drive success today. He talks about father's service and his family's legacy of service and how that led him to serve in the US Marine Corps, then seek to serve locally as a police officer. After a distinguished 15-year career i...

In this episode of the ChangeMakers Podcast, host Andrew Bartolotta sits down with Dr. Stewart Burgess, CEO of the Children's Museum of Memphis (CMOM). With over 25 years dedicated to childhood development, Dr. Burgess shares his fascinating journey—from early inspirations in childhood to groundbreaking research in emotional and cognitive processes—and how it all culminates in his leadership at CMOM.

Dr. Burgess discusses the import...

In this heartfelt and inspiring episode of the ChangeMakers Podcast, host Jeremy C. Park sits down with Taylor and Carter English, co-founders of The Rise School of San Antonio, to explore the transformative power of faith, family, and purpose-driven action. Their journey begins with personal challenges—the birth of their daughter Isabelle, who was diagnosed with Down syndrome—and evolves into a mission to redefine inclusion and ea...

This 100th ChangeMakers Podcast episode honors the legacy, career, and calling of Dr. Kenneth S. Robinson, who has been intertwining medicine and ministry for decades to transform lives and communities. Join host Jeremy C. Park as he talks with Rev. Kenneth S. Robinson, M.D., who announced his retirement in June 2024, after serving as President and CEO of United Way of the Mid-South for more than nine years. Dr. Robinson became Pre...

Host Jeremy C. Park talks with ChangeMaker, Gabrielle Thompson, President and CEO of IDEAS (International Development and Educational Associates), who shares her personal and professional journey, highlighting how stepping into hard moments and saying "yes" can transform the world.

During the interview, Gabrielle talks about growing up in a family of creatives and how lessons learned from her parents carry through today, noting that...

Host Jeremy C. Park talks with Chris Powers, Founder and Executive Chairman of Fort Capital and host of The Fort Podcast, who shares his personal and professional journey and highlights the intersection of mentorship and business growth. 

During the interview, Chris talks about growing up in El Paso and Lubbock, Texas, and how he started getting into real estate after seeking mentorship from another young entrepreneur who inspired h...

On this episode, we have the pleasure of diving into the world of community transformation with Dr. Chris Lambert, a visionary who's redefining nonprofit success and neighborhood revitalization.

Dr. Chris Lambert is the founder and CEO of Life Remodeled, an award-winning author of "Next Level Nonprofit," and founder of the Next Level Nonprofit organizational operating system. His journey began far from the nonprofit sphere, with as...

Welcome to this inspiring episode of the ChangeMakers Podcast, where we dive into the importance and power of community colleges, civic engagement, and mentorship with one of host Jeremy C. Park's closest friends from grade school in Weatherford, Texas, Dr. Molly M. Harris, Vice President of Community Engagement at Grayson College.

Dr. Harris has been a beacon in higher education for over 21 years, deeply committed to enriching live...

During the interview, Jerry talks about growing up in Northern California and going through traumatic experiences with his family. He shares how he was able to move forward in college and work with a friend to launch a durable medical equipment business, and how his frustration of working with attorneys caused him to go to law school to help his company. Jerry's pursuit of learning and practical application for the law led him in a...

Host: Jeremy C. Park
Guest: Leigh Mansberg, President and CEO of Junior Achievement of Memphis and the Mid-South

Episode Overview:
In this enlightening conversation, host Jeremy C. Park sits down with Leigh Mansberg, a notable leader in nonprofit education. As the helm of Junior Achievement of Memphis and the Mid-South, Leigh shares her inspiring journey from a classroom teacher to a leading advocate for educational transformation. Th...

Episode Summary: In this inspiring episode of the ChangeMakers Podcast, host Jeremy C. Park sits down with Alma Lee Alexander McLemore, Executive Director of the African American Heritage Society of Williamson County. A native of Franklin, Tennessee, Alma shares her journey from growing up in a community at the cusp of integration to becoming a cornerstone in preserving African American history in Williamson County. Throughout the ...

ChangeMakers podcast host Jeremy C. Park talks with Tammy Alvarez, CEO and founder of Career Winners Circle, professional keynote speaker, and author of "Escaping the Career Trap: Transform Your Apathy into Ambition and Never Hate Mondays Again," who shares some of her personal story and how she formed her spirited "Break All the Rules" approach. 

During her twenty-year corporate career, Tammy became renowned as a business transform...

During this episode of our ChangeMakers Podcast, host Jeremy C. Park talks with Zach Montroy, who is a People, Team, and Organizational Strategist and the Founder and CEO of The Intention Collective, which is based in the Nashville, Tennessee area. During the interview, Zach shares some of his personal story and why, after more than 20 years of experience in executive roles, he started focusing his efforts on helping entrepreneurs ...

In this episode of the ChangeMakers Podcast, hosted by Jeremy C. Park and powered by Higginbotham Insurance and Financial Services, the spotlight is on Mike Berry, President of Hillwood, the developer of AllianceTexas. With over four decades of experience, Berry discusses his passion for Fort Worth, Texas, how he got his start in the industry, and the journey from the groundbreaking of Alliance Airport in 1988 to the creation of th...

In a reversal of roles, normal ChangeMakers podcast host and producer, Jeremy C. Park, is the guest on this special episode, which is hosted by Dr. Sarah Petschonek, Founder and CEO of Volunteer Odyssey. 

Jeremy C. Park is the CEO of cityCURRENT, a shareholder in Higginbotham, author of two books, contributor to Forbes and The Business Journals, producer and host of television and radio shows and the ChangeMakers podcast, and a soug...

Host Jeremy C. Park catches up with Dr. Sarah Petschonek, Founder and CEO of Volunteer Odyssey, who was one of the original ChangeMakers podcast interviews (episode 5) back in 2016. 

During the interview, Sarah shares how Volunteer Odyssey has grown over the last seven years to work with more than 28,000 volunteers who have given over 460,000 hours of service just to the Memphis community. Volunteer Odyssey is a nonprofit organizati...