Alma McLemore, Executive Director, African American Heritage Society - Preserving History and Building Community in Franklin, Tennessee

Leigh Mansberg, President & CEO of Junior Achievement of Memphis and the Mid-South - Every Child. World Ready.

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. This episode dives into how her upbringing in an entrepreneurial family in Pine Bluff, Arkansas shaped her understanding of the crucial role of failure and resilience in success.

Key Topics Discussed:

• Leigh’s Educational and Professional Background: From teaching to leading a major educational nonprofit.
• Importance of Entrepreneurship and Business Acumen: How Leigh's strategic career shifts have amplified her impact on education.
• Innovative Programs at Junior Achievement: A look at how these initiatives are preparing students for real-world challenges.
• Community Involvement and Support: Ways the audience can contribute to the success of educational programs.
• Empowerment through Education: Junior Achievement’s mission to prepare kids to be proactive, capable members of society.

About Leigh Mansberg: Leigh Mansberg, with over 25 years in educational leadership, spearheads Junior Achievement of Memphis and the Mid-South. Under her leadership, the organization educates K-12 students across three states in entrepreneurship, work readiness, and financial literacy. Leigh's recognition as a Super Woman in Business underscores her commitment to creating inclusive, equitable, and engaging learning environments.

Junior Achievement of Memphis and the Mid-South: Dedicated to empowering children to be "world ready," Junior Achievement of Memphis and the Mid-South offers hands-on programs that prepare students for economic success. For more details on how to get involved or support, visit www.jamemphis.org or call 901.366.7800.

Memorable Quote: "Seeing promise everywhere and being intentional are the keys to lifelong learning and success." - Leigh Mansberg

The ChangeMakers Podcast is produced by cityCURRENT and powered by Higginbotham Insurance and Financial Services.

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Alma McLemore, Executive Director, African American Heritage Society - Preserving History and Building Community in Franklin, Tennessee

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 conversation, Alma reflects on her upbringing, her extensive career in community service, and her dedication to educational and heritage preservation efforts.

Key Points & Highlights:

Introduction to Alma Lee Alexander McLemore: Discover Alma's roots in Williamson County and her experiences growing up during a pivotal time in its history.

Family and Faith: Alma talks about the strong foundation her parents built, centered on faith and caring for others, shaping her lifelong commitment to community service.

Career and Community Service: Learn about Alma's 38-year tenure at Middle Tennessee Electric Membership Corporation and her seamless transition into various roles within community organizations.

Board Memberships and Leadership: Explore Alma's significant impact through her work with numerous boards, including Habitat for Humanity, Community Housing Partnership, and the African American Heritage Society.

Awards and Recognition: Celebrate Alma's numerous accolades recognizing her leadership, volunteerism, and contributions to the community.

Importance of Family: Alma shares the joy she finds in spending time with her family, including her two sons, five grandchildren, and one great-grandchild.

Mission and Inspiration: Gain insight into Alma's daily mission to be a source of light and her drive to preserve African American history for future generations.

Supporting the African American Heritage Society: Alma concludes with ways the community can get involved in supporting the preservation of African American history and culture.

How to Get Involved: For listeners inspired by Alma's dedication and wishing to support the African American Heritage Society of Williamson County's mission, visit www.aahswc.org to learn more about their programs and how you can contribute to their important work.

Episode Takeaway: Alma Lee Alexander McLemore's story is a powerful testament to the impact of faith, family, and unwavering commitment to community service. Her work not only honors the past but also paves the way for future generations to learn from and be inspired by African American history.

Join us on the ChangeMakers Podcast as we dive into the life and legacy of Alma Lee Alexander McLemore, a true changemaker whose work continues to enlighten, educate, and empower the community of Williamson County and beyond.

The ChangeMakers Podcast is produced by cityCURRENT and powered by Higginbotham Insurance and Financial Services.

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Tammy Alvarez from Career Winners Circle - Love every Monday by becoming the CEO of your career

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 transformation and turnaround expert on Wall Street. Her roles included Managing Director at AIG, First Senior Vice President at Bank Leumi USA, Chief Operating Officer at Genesis10, and Senior Vice President at Bank of America. Her "Break All the Rules" approach blends the decades of C-Suite experience with a pragmatic, results-based coaching style that helps business professionals create a big impact and love every Monday again.

Her recent book, "Escaping The Career Trap: Transform Your Apathy into Ambition and Never Hate Mondays Again," is a self-leadership blueprint for high achievers who want to experience career fulfillment.

During the interview, Tammy talks about the importance of not being afraid to fail because failure is part of success, why it is important to slow down before moving faster, especially with larger organizations, and how you can start to take control and become the CEO of your career. She talks about writing her book and lessons from it, lessons from working on Wall Street and how she and her partner Steve have adopted an ex-pat lifestyle, currently residing in Mexico City, and traveling all around the globe to hike and scuba dive.

Learn more about Career Winners Circle by visiting www.careerwinnerscircle.com and learn more about her book by visiting www.escapingthecareertrap.com.

The ChangeMakers Podcast is produced by cityCURRENT and powered by Higginbotham Insurance and Financial Services.

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Zach Montroy – Building Brave Workplace and Healthy Teams

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 scale and grow their companies through healthy teams by building brave workplaces.

Zach looks back on his first management experience in high school at KB Toys and how he then built his career seeking out mentorship and opportunities to lead by building positive cultures and high-functioning teams. He defines and talks about the importance of building brave workplaces and how they dramatically differ from a toxic culture that could be sabotaging strategy. Zach highlights their work at The Intention Collective and also talks about some of the current workplace trends related to leadership, and how those trends can be positive or negative depending on the culture and leadership. Zach also touches on the importance of purpose and how he and his family give back in the community, as well as help entrepreneurs and organizations create social impact. He wraps up with some of the things learned from his wife and three children, and how his family works to find harmony and happiness among busy schedules, then the lightning round.

Visit www.IntentionCollective.co to learn more.

The ChangeMakers Podcast is produced by cityCURRENT and powered by Higginbotham Insurance and Financial Services.

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Mike Berry - President of Hillwood, the developer of AllianceTexas: Transforming Fort Worth, Texas into an Economic Powerhouse

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 the 27,000-acre, master-planned community and global logistics hub, AllianceTexas.

Berry delves into his leadership style, emphasizing his customer-driven, entrepreneurial approach that has transformed AllianceTexas into a vertically-integrated economic powerhouse. Under his guidance, the region has burgeoned into one of the fastest-growing in the country, generating an economic impact of over $111 billion and nurturing a robust local economy and population. Listeners will get an insider's view of Berry's personal life and professional career, his strategic planning, new business development, and his knack for cultivating innovative companies and industries.

His ability to listen to customer needs has not only led to new opportunities but also to the creation of systems that foster mutual growth for both customers and AllianceTexas. The episode also highlights Berry's role in the Mobility Innovation Zone (MIZ), where he leverages the unique ecosystem of AllianceTexas to advance surface and air mobility innovations to commercialization. His work extends to Hillwood Urban, specializing in corporate office and mixed-use development, and his involvement in the development of Frisco Station, a high-density community in Frisco, Texas.

Berry's illustrious career has earned him numerous honors, including induction into the North Texas Commercial Real Estate Hall of Fame and the Fort Worth Business Hall of Fame. His impact extends beyond real estate, as he is actively involved in various professional and non-profit organizations, including board positions at Texas Christian University and other civic groups.

Educationally, Berry is a graduate of Vanderbilt University, Texas Christian University, and has completed an advanced program at Harvard University Graduate School of Design. His personal life, community involvement, and professional achievements paint the picture of a dedicated leader and innovator, deeply committed to the growth and success of North Texas.

Visit www.hillwood.com or www.alliancetexas.com to learn more.