In this special episode of Believe. Behave. Become. Pennant CEO Brent Guerisoli joins hosts Rich Lewis and Elliot McMillan to unpack what it really means to be a Level Five Leader. From his early days as a CEO-in-Training to leading a high-growth, locally-led organization, Brent reflects on humility, ownership, the power of building up others, and even shares his thoughts on competitive eating and cinematic leadership icons. Expect insight, humor, and some unexpected food analogies as Brent reve...
Aug 05, 2025•1 hr 3 min•Season 1Ep. 20
In this candid and thought-provoking episode of Believe, Behave, Become , Elliot and Rich sit down with John Gochnour, Chief Operating Officer of The Pennant Group, for a leadership conversation that hits close to home—both literally and figuratively. From rafting mishaps on the rivers of Idaho to helping build a nationwide service model from scratch, John reflects on more than a decade of leadership lessons. What began as a drive to be the go-to problem solver gradually evolved into a deeper tr...
Jun 30, 2025•1 hr 7 min•Season 1Ep. 19
In this episode of Believe, Behave, Become , hosts Rich Lewis and Elliot McMillan sit down with Kris Maples , Marisa Crecelius , and Nicole Yantes —three Life-Changing Service Award winners. They explore what it means to lead from the service center, build authentic partnerships with field leaders, and why Pennant is truly a leadership company. For more leadership insights, follow Pennant on LinkedIn...
Apr 24, 2025•1 hr 9 min•Season 1Ep. 18
In this episode of Believe, Behave, Become , Elliot McMillan sits down with Kahla McCurdy , Director of HR for Pinnacle Senior Living, and Autumn Hornsby , Director of HR for Cornerstone, to discuss the evolving role of HR in leadership development. Kahla and Autumn share their unique career paths, the pivotal moments that shaped them, and how they transitioned into HR leadership. They discuss the importance of building strong teams, fostering a leadership-driven culture, and balancing the human...
Feb 24, 2025•49 min•Season 1Ep. 17
In Episode 16, Intelligent Risk + Successful Hiring, hosts Rich and Elliot welcome special guests Kirk Cheney and Scott Myers to explore the powerful connection between smart decision-making and successful talent acquisition. Together, they share insights from years of leadership experience, discussing how calculated risks can pave the way for exceptional results—particularly in hiring and building high-performing teams.
Jan 22, 2025•1 hr 8 min•Ep. 16
In this episode, we dive deep with Justin Stenquist, Executive Director of Bluebird Home Health and Hospice, to uncover his journey from caregiving as a teen to leading a transformative healthcare company. Justin shares powerful personal stories, the inspiration behind Bluebird's innovative transitional care model, and how they’re breaking down barriers in patient care. With humor and heart, this conversation explores what it means to build a brand that’s more than a business—it's a movement....
Oct 10, 2024•57 min
This episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in leadership, business development, and creating a positive workplace culture. Rich Firth’s blend of humor, personal stories, and professional insights makes for an engaging and educational experience. Listen and learn how to balance business goals with a human-centric approach and get inspired by Rich’s journey and leadership philosophy!
Sep 18, 2024•1 hr 20 min
In "The Drive to Increase" we discuss why it is easier to achieve BHAG than it is to achieve Commitment. Justin Hofer and Clint Nielsen bring their 2024 Annual Meeting presentation to the digital airwaves and review the BHAG behaviors of Innovative Thinking, Exceeding Expectations, Proactive Learning, and Strategic Risk Taking. Guest: Justin Hofer, CMO Zion's Way Home Health and Hospice, Clint Nielsen, Viva Portfolio President. Hosts: Rich Lewis, Leadership Development Resource and Elliot McMill...
Jul 12, 2024•1 hr 3 min•Season 1Ep. 13
Learn from the path of discipline and willing sacrifice that Jordan Baker traveled as he led the emergence of Sequoia Home Health and Hospice in Milpitas, CA. The history of Sequoia HHH is one that helped transform culture and best practices of Pennant affiliates. From date of acquisition, Sequoia leadership struggled to build a thriving healthcare agency against the competition in the Bay area. After Jordan became the Executive Director of Sequoia, results improved immediately and have continua...
Jun 04, 2024•1 hr 9 min•Season 1Ep. 12
In this week's episode, join Rich and Andy as they delve into a compelling dialogue on the critical role of transparency and trust in fostering operational excellence and building a successful team Host: Rich Lewis , Executive Leadership Development Resource Guest: Andy Rider, President - Pinnacle Senior Living Connect with Pennant: Website LinkedIn Facebook...
Jan 10, 2024•1 hr
This week, join Rich, Elliot, and Marisa as they engage in an enjoyable discussion on leadership through the unique perspective of legal professionals. Plus, stay tuned for an entertaining game that adds an extra layer of fun to the episode. Host: Rich Lewis , Executive Leadership Development Resource Guests: Elliot McMillan , Associate General Counsel, Marisa Crecelius , Associate General Counsel Connect with Pennant: Website LinkedIn Facebook...
Dec 14, 2023•50 min
This week, Rich and Devin engage in a thoughtful conversation about the importance of driving performance through utilizing effective systems and the crucial role discipline plays in consistent execution. Host: Rich Lewis , Executive Leadership Development Resource Guest: Devin Christensen , Director of Leadership Development Connect with Pennant: Website LinkedIn Facebook...
Dec 08, 2023•53 min
In this episode, we have the privilege of sitting down with Brent Guerisoli, the CEO of Pennant. Join us as we delve into the principles that have been foundational to Brent's leadership journey. Although this conversation was captured immediately following Pennant's 2023 Annual Leadership Meeting, you will find that the insights and wisdom shared remain as relevant as ever. Tune in to gain valuable leadership perspectives from a seasoned industry leader. Host: Rich Lewis, Leadership Development...
Nov 03, 2023•1 hr 22 min
On this week's episode, we dive into the topic of having Crucial Conversations and how to communicate team members directly and confidently. When communicating using principles taught in the book "Crucial Conversations" by Joseph Grenny and Kerry Patterson, leaders reduce the risk of diminished culture and lost productivity, and build bridges that strengthen trust and accelerate results. Guest information: Our guests on this episode are the dynamic duo of Stephanie Rodriguez, Director of HR, and...
Jul 25, 2023•51 min•Ep. 7
On this episode we borrow from Jim Collins' book, "Good to Great" and discuss the Flywheel. The iterative and organic process of leading a company from from "Buildup", or accumulation of small wins and positive results, to "Breakthrough," when that company harnesses core strengths and is disciplined to level up performance and continually improve results. The expert guest on this episode is Brian Wayment, Portfolio President at Cornerstone Healthcare, a Pennant Group affiliate. Click here to lea...
Jun 26, 2023•29 min•Season 1Ep. 6
Soon after the Researcher and Author, Brene Brown, took the world by storm, Tina Ricketts became a powerful proponent for teaching principles found in Brown's best-selling, Dare To Lead. Overlaying the Pennant Group network of operations, Tina shares her thoughts on why we need to "Rumble" more, what inhibits "Daring Leadership," and how vulnerability is integral to the Pennant Group's thriving. Click here to learn about The Pennant Group CEO-in-Training program Guest information: Tina Ric...
May 10, 2023•52 min
Using the framework of concepts found in Liz Wiseman's, Multipliers , Pennant Group CEO, Brent Guerisoli shares his experiences helping build the leadership framework that now supports the Pennant Group across multiple service lines and affiliate operations. Brent was at the forefront of significant growth and expansion of the Pennant Group portfolio; from a few affiliated agencies in a few states to over 120 senior living, home health, hospice, and homecare affiliate operations across 16 states...
May 10, 2023•47 min•Season 1Ep. 4
The 20 Mile March is a concept brought to life by Jim Collins in the book, "Great by Choice". Within the Pennant Group, the story of the 20 Mile March and its application to effective leadership is a frequent topic of conversation. Embracing the 20 Mile March has been a proven behavior towards becoming a CEO within the Pennant Group. Click here to learn about The Pennant Group CEO-in-Training program Guest information: Robert Weger , (Cornerstone Portfolio President) Maria Hart , (Director o...
May 10, 2023•40 min•Season 1Ep. 3
This episode focuses on the unique partnership and the magic that can be created, between the Pennant Group Service Center Resources and the leaders of Pennant-affiliated operations. Discussed are principles of shared ownership, leveraging trust, and what partnership looks like in the Pennant group model. Click here to learn about The Pennant Group CEO-in-Training program Guest information: John Gochnour , Chief Operating Officer at The Pennant Group Host Information: Richard Lewis , ...
May 10, 2023•58 min•Season 1Ep. 2
In this episode, we discuss building trust with employees that leads to high engagement and results. Using the "Green and Clean" concepts taught by Stephen A. Covey as a framework for empowering employees to act as owners, we discuss how to apply them within the Pennant Group framework. Click here to learn about The Pennant Group CEO-in-Training program Guest information: Brian Wayment , Cornerstone Portfolio President Clint Nielson , Pinnacle Senior Living Market Leader Host Information: Richar...
May 04, 2023•40 min•Season 1Ep. 1
