Stories from the C|SUITE

What makes Ted a leader?

Technology: Twenty years of professional experience includes positions in general management, sales, marketing, customer service, commissioning, project management, and procurement. A business manager with an excellent track record of solution-based technical selling, managing and developing diverse teams, developing new and existing customer accounts, and consistently exceeding departmental sales targets.

A team player with excellent people skills and international experience.

Business:  Active member of Chamber of Commerce, Leadership Williamson Grad, and other business groups. (including C|SUITE)

Community:  Board Member of Strive Collegiate Academy and founding Board Member of Tennessee Tamil Academy

Join us at C|SUITE 

Meet our guest: Dean Wegner

After earning his undergraduate degree at West Point, Dean served as an officer, helicopter pilot and US Army Ranger. While in the Army, he earned his MBA in finance from California State University and launched his career with former big five firm KPMG Consulting as a project manager.  For more than a decade, Dean was in the consumer packaged goods industry at Procter & Gamble and Mars, Inc. in business development, sales, marketing and strategy. He was also a Division I ice hockey player, which fits his highly competitive nature and winning spirit.  Prior to starting Authentically American®, Dean served for five years as the president and CEO/owner of Omega Apparel, a leading supplier of dress uniforms for the US military.  Under his leadership, Omega expanded into the commercial market and launched a professional services business. He executed a buyout with his former partner in 2017, which enabled him to focus exclusively on launching Authentically American® and building an iconic American brand.  Dean is happily married to his bride Kelly of 23 years and they have four children, their youngest being adopted from Ethiopia in 2012.  He enjoys being an active member of his church and serving as a board member for companies and nonprofit organizations.

https://www.authenticallyamericanbrand.us/

After leaving public company CEO life, I chose to dedicate my time to helping senior leaders get unstuck on tough challenges. I’m so passionate about sharing this process with other leaders because I’ve seen the success it can produce first hand.

When I took over Atlanta-based Assurant Solutions in 2005, it was a $2 billion purely domestic business focused almost entirely on a dying industry: Credit Insurance. It didn’t take long realize I was stuck. For years, we had been on a roll, stacking one success atop the next. Then, we learned some hard lessons about the digital divide that was yawning in front of so many leadership teams.

Thankfully, right as I was facing this dilemma, I was presented with a new learning model that caught my attention - that is learning from others who have gone before you. It may sound simple, but these external experts came alongside our team and quickly transferred their knowledge and experience to help us go faster and execute a digital transformation strategy. Today, Assurant (NYSE: AIZ) is a dynamic, high growth, digitally-astute global provider of protection products and other innovative digitally-focused risk management solutions.

I was so blown away by the results, I decided to join GXG, the firm that shared this model with me. We’re committed to solving traditional consulting’s execution problem by curating intentional, focused conversations with expert operators who share the advantage of their knowledge and experience. These insights empower our clients to activate the best-fit solution and demonstrate measurable success, just like we did at Assurant. This learning model has applications within corporations as well as organizations like nonprofits, universities, and community groups.

To learn more about GXG: www.gxg.co

To learn more about his speaking services and upcoming book publications: www.craiglemasters.com

After leaving public company CEO life, I chose to dedicate my time to helping senior leaders get unstuck on tough challenges. I’m so passionate about sharing this process with other leaders because I’ve seen the success it can produce first hand.

When I took over Atlanta-based Assurant Solutions in 2005, it was a $2 billion purely domestic business focused almost entirely on a dying industry: Credit Insurance. It didn’t take long realize I was stuck. For years, we had been on a roll, stacking one success atop the next. Then, we learned some hard lessons about the digital divide that was yawning in front of so many leadership teams.

Thankfully, right as I was facing this dilemma, I was presented with a new learning model that caught my attention - that is learning from others who have gone before you. It may sound simple, but these external experts came alongside our team and quickly transferred their knowledge and experience to help us go faster and execute a digital transformation strategy. Today, Assurant (NYSE: AIZ) is a dynamic, high growth, digitally-astute global provider of protection products and other innovative digitally-focused risk management solutions.

I was so blown away by the results, I decided to join GXG, the firm that shared this model with me. We’re committed to solving traditional consulting’s execution problem by curating intentional, focused conversations with expert operators who share the advantage of their knowledge and experience. These insights empower our clients to activate the best-fit solution and demonstrate measurable success, just like we did at Assurant. This learning model has applications within corporations as well as organizations like nonprofits, universities, and community groups.

To learn more about GXG: www.gxg.co

To learn more about his speaking services and upcoming book publications: www.craiglemasters.com

Light bulbs are one of Kayla’s favorite things. More specifically, light bulbs coming on in people’s heads. Kayla is a thinker and practitioner in today’s marketplace. She helps organizations drive growth by creating and sustaining their competitive advantage. Through strategies that develop critical talent, skills, and capabilities, employee and customer engagement grow resulting in bottom-line results. Her industry experience spans 20+ years in both the corporate sector and non-profit world where she has worn hats such as Director of Organizational Strategy, Director of Human Resources, and Director of Staff Development.

Kayla’s experience allows her to walk alongside your team to identify your people development needs then helps you discover a hands-on approach that advances your organization’s vision and profitability. She is president of Organization Impact, LLC, and a member of the Society of Human Resources Management, Association of Talent Development, Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society, Donelson/Hermitage Chamber of Commerce, L'Evate - a leadership community, and the Workforce Magazine Business Intelligence Board. Kayla holds a BS and MS in Organizational Communication from Murray State University. She is a DiSC Trainer, a certified StrengthsGenius facilitator, Registered Corporate CoachTM, and a certified John Maxwell Trainer and Coach.

She is the author of three books: “Leadership Shorts: Practical Tips When You Are at Wit’s End”; and the #1 Amazon bestsellers “The Complete Experience: Unlocking the secrets of online reviews that drive customer loyalty”; and “Unstuck: 10 Proven Strategies for Breaking Through the Barriers to Small Business Growth.” Organization Impact is a member of the Better Business Bureau.

Specialties: Education and professional development related to:
Business Continuity and Workforce Planning
Employee Engagement and Retention
Leadership and Personal Development

Kayla Barrett Curry

www.csuitebiz.com

Todd Sullivan has a passion for making people and organizations better.

He is an experienced executive leader with extensive experience in Leadership/Organizational Development, Human Resources, Performance Improvement, Team Building, Change Management, and Public Speaking. a proven leader and manager; successfully lead people, manage resources, and got the job done.

"Our success comes from building and maintaining quality relationships. People want to work with, and do business with people they like and trust. I believe everyone is a person first and a business partner or employee somewhere down the line – if we treat people like people, we can more easily come to good agreements.

I have my best days helping others have their best day." Todd Sullivan

Connect with Todd here

Connect with Thom here

Our guest this week my friend Cain Myers. He is a graduate of Mississippi State University with a bachelor's degree in Business Administration and a double major in Marketing and Human Resource Management. Since 2009, Cain has been building a financial services business in which he strives to help his clients better manage all that they have been given.

Cain currently resides in Franklin, TN with his wife, sons, cats, and chickens. He is an active member of the Franklin community, especially within his Church, Grace Community Church. He also serves on the Partnership Council of The Refuge Center for Counseling and is involved with Music City Tres Dias. Connect with him on LinkedIn. 

Connect with us here!

Our guest this week is Evan Carmichael. Evan #Believes in entrepreneurs. At 19, he built then sold a biotech software company. At 22, he was a venture capitalist raising $500k to $15M. He now runs a YouTube channel for entrepreneurs with over 2 million subscribers, wrote 4 books, and speaks globally. He wants to solve the world's biggest problem. He's set 2 world records, uses a trampoline & stand-up desk, owns Canada's largest salsa dance studio and has a giant Doritos bag in front of him all day long to remind him that he's stronger than the Doritos. Toronto is his home. He's a husband, father, TSM Fan and Teemo main.

Visit us at csuitebiz.com

Our guest this week is Evan Carmichael. Evan #Believes in entrepreneurs. At 19, he built then sold a biotech software company. At 22, he was a venture capitalist raising $500k to $15M. He now runs a YouTube channel for entrepreneurs with over 2 million subscribers, wrote 4 books, and speaks globally. He wants to solve the world's biggest problem. He's set 2 world records, uses a trampoline & stand-up desk, owns Canada's largest salsa dance studio and has a giant Doritos bag in front of him all day long to remind him that he's stronger than the Doritos. Toronto is his home. He's a husband, father, TSM Fan and Teemo main.

Visit us at csuitebiz.com

Jeff Koch is President and CEO of the United Methodist Insurance Company. He also maintains a limited role as a business and insurance consultant in Brentwood, Tennessee. Mr. Koch’s areas of expertise include insurance; captive insurance and alternative risk management programs; business planning; business development; and affinity member benefit programs. Mr. Koch has worked with national associations, affinity groups, and companies consulting on captives and insurance, member benefit programs, and pricing and feasibility studies for enterprise risk captive insurance companies. Mr. Koch has a degree in Industrial Engineering from the University of Pittsburgh and a Masters Degree in Business Administration from Vanderbilt University’s Owen Graduate School of Management. Previously Mr. Koch was Vice President of Member Benefits for the National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB). He established and managed the operation of NFIB’s in-house life and health and property and casualty insurance agencies and its property and casualty managing general agency. He was responsible for the operation of five programs sponsored by NFIB written through state workers compensation funds (Arizona, Maryland, Montana, Ohio, and Texas) and one group self-insurance program (Alabama). The total premium in the programs exceeded $150 million. He also managed NFIB’s relationships with FedEx, Dell, Bank of America, Solveras Payment Solutions, Payce Payroll Services, and a number of other business partners. Prior to joining NFIB, he worked for two international insurance brokerage firms for eleven years developing and operating affinity group programs including risk purchasing groups, captives, and self-insured groups. He managed a group captive insurance company for seven years. His clients included non-profit clinics, hazardous material carriers, chemical manufacturers, equipment dealers, and NFIB. He developed loss probability studies and loss projections, and evaluated and reviewed security requirements for the captive insurance companies he managed. Mr. Koch worked as an Industrial Engineer for seven years focusing on operations analysis, systems analysis and design, and reducing the cost and frequency of workplace injuries. He was employed by United States Steel and Ingram Barge Company. Contact us here