David Andrews is the Principal and Chief Executive Officer of City Enterprises, LLC. City Enterprises is the managing company of several businesses, many auto-related, including City Auto Sales, Chief Automotive Group, Pace Financial, City Auto Finance, and Dealers Auto Auction Group. Andrews launched City Auto Sales more than 35 years ago. Since then, he has grown the business to seven auction sites, multiple franchise and used car showrooms, eight City Auto Finance branches, and a nationwide f...
Jun 02, 2021•42 min•Season 2Ep. 11
Throughout an entrepreneurial career that has spanned trade publishing, lecturing, cause-related marketing, implementing fundraising programs and seminar training, Ellen Rolfes has helped organizations of all sizes and different purposes advance financially in order to foster societal change. She often begins by finding an obscure institutional story. It becomes their guiding story that evokes a new vision to create a sustainable model for the future. Now in semi-retirement, Ellen consults with ...
May 19, 2021•37 min•Season 2Ep. 10
While working as Executive Director of a money management firm, Jack Soden met a client, Priscilla Presley. Upon her request, he came to Memphis and helped develop a business plan for opening Graceland. Today, Jack is the CEO of Elvis Presley Enterprises, Inc., which now has more than four hundred employees. Graceland has become one of the nation's premier tourist attractions with annual visitors in excess of 600,000, bringing an estimated $200 million per year to the Memphis economy. The compan...
May 04, 2021•53 min•Season 2Ep. 9
A founding member of the Society of Entrepreneurs, Don Hutson has made a name for himself in the speaking, management and sales arenas. Chairman and CEO of U.S. Learning in Memphis, Don has enjoyed many honors stemming from his ability to motivate others and to teach the secrets of success. U.S. Learning is a firm that specializes in providing innovative, high-impact sales, leadership and strategic solutions to business clients. His client list includes over one-half of the Fortune 500, and he i...
Apr 21, 2021•42 min•Season 2Ep. 8
Hilliard Crews founded Memphis Glove Company in 1974 as an importer of industrial gloves. After several years of success, he co-founded with his brothers Crews Safety Glasses and River City Rainwear. In 1984, he formed Shelby Specialty Gloves for the fire-fighting industry. Presently, all four companies – leaders in PPE, operate under the holding company Shelby Group Intl. Inc., which now operates factories in Arkansas, Mexico and China and has distribution centers in Piperton, Tennessee and Cal...
Apr 07, 2021•46 min•Season 2Ep. 7
Susan Stephenson is Co-Founder and Co-Chairman of Independent Bank in Memphis, Tennessee. Established in 1998, Independent Bank now has over $800 million in total assets and over $100 million in capital. It is the second largest bank headquartered in Shelby County with 10 branches and 180 employees. Alongside her Co-Founder and Co-Chairman Chip Dudley, Susan designed and executed the unusual denovo strategy to build and position I-Bank as the next great Memphis based banking organization. Prior ...
Mar 24, 2021•51 min•Season 2Ep. 6
In 1977, Harold Crye and Dick Leike founded a company that they promised would make a difference – results-oriented, professional and dedicated to providing the utmost in service to the people it helped. Beginning from the ground up, the two men have built an entity that was once a small shop and is today one of the top 10 real estate companies in the nation, with more than 3,500 sales associates and 600 employees in 100 branch offices across the Southeast. In keeping with the entrepreneurial sp...
Mar 10, 2021•50 min•Season 2Ep. 5
Pat Lawler is chief executive officer of Youth Villages, one of the largest private providers of services to troubled children and their families in the country. Under his leadership, Youth Villages has established an array of specialized treatment programs operated by a team of more than 3,000 employees operating in 21 states and the District of Columbia. Youth Villages’ mission is to help children and families live successfully, serving and offering hope to more than 30,000 children and famili...
Feb 24, 2021•39 min•Season 2Ep. 4
Prior to founding the KGR Group in 2005, Edith Kelly-Green worked for nearly 30 years at FedEx Express, a subsidiary of FedEx Corporation, where she served in many roles including Vice President and Chief Sourcing Officer. She also served as Vice President-Internal Audit of FedEx Corporation and reported directly to the Chairman and Founder, Frederick W. Smith. She was the first black woman to receive officer status at the company. Edith devotes much of her time to Memphis's business and civic c...
Feb 10, 2021•53 min•Season 2Ep. 3
Craig Brewer is a multi-disciplinary artist with a knack for storytelling. His passion for filmmaking stems from his ability to captivate his audience and connect culturally relevant plots on screen. Even at a young age, Memphis, Tennessee, served as his cinematic muse. His guerrilla style approach and relentless work ethic led to his first feature film, "The Poor and Hungry." At the time, Craig was the manager of Barnes & Noble and began writing the screenplay for the film at the local P&am...
Jan 27, 2021•51 min•Season 2Ep. 2
In 1974, Richard Gadomski bid for and was awarded his first contract – a $50 million corn processing plant for Cargill – before his company was even founded. After successfully building his company around that first job, he proceeded to buy out his original backers so that he could continue to build the company as he saw fit. PSI, an engineering and construction contracting firm, built international recognition in processing food, chemicals and package handling. In 1998, Gadomski sold PSI to the...
Jan 13, 2021•43 min•Season 2Ep. 1
Joining Entrepreneurial Insights hosts Jay Healy and Pearson Crutcher for a bonus episode to discuss how they have navigated their business through the coronavirus pandemic are Carolyn Hardy, president of Chism Hardy Investments; Dr. Scott Morris, founder and chief executive officer of Church Health; and Jeff Webb, founder of Varsity Brands. 2020 has forced us all to deal with unprecedented challenges, and we're honored to have these established leaders with us to share how they have pivoted and...
Jul 17, 2020•1 hr•Season 1Ep. 13
Billy Orgel is CEO of Tower Ventures, a full-service telecommunications provider offering quality tower and rooftop sites, build-to-suit services, and third-party marketing and management throughout the U.S. Tower Ventures has also established Tower Ventures REIT to purchase easements and land underneath existing tower sites across the country. Over the years, Billy became interested in preserving historic buildings in Downtown Memphis, and has completed such projects as the Tennessee Brewery an...
Jul 03, 2020•30 min•Season 1Ep. 12
As Chairman of Kemmons Wilson Companies, Spence Wilson knows entrepreneurship quite well, having spent a lifetime with one of the city’s most well-known – his father, Kemmons Wilson the founder of Holiday Inn. Spence understands and embodies the importance of blending creative energy and vision, initiative and innovation, and has worked to develop Kemmons Wilson Companies into a leading investment, hospitality development and management company. Links to items mentioned in the interview : Kemmon...
Jun 17, 2020•45 min•Season 1Ep. 11
Jeff Webb knows something of the entrepreneurial “spirit” – he’s made a career of it. In the mid 70s, the former University of Oklahoma yell leader founded a company to conduct training camps for high school and college cheerleaders. Varsity Spirit, a division of Varsity Brands, has grown through the years to become the world’s largest operator of specialty camps, competitions and uniforms. Links to items mentioned in the interview : Varsity Brands Society of Entrepreneurs Profile The New Americ...
Jun 03, 2020•34 min•Season 1Ep. 10
A phrase that’s often heard these days, is “Downtown Memphis sure has come a long way.” It’s one for which, in large part, Memphis can thank the vision of Jack Belz. Mr. Belz and his family purchased The Peabody Hotel in 1975 rescuing it from dilapidation. He re-opened it in 1981, at the same time revealing his dream for revitalizing downtown Memphis. Links to items mentioned in the interview : Belz Enterprises Society of Entrepreneurs Profile The Peabody Memphis Belz Museum of Asian and Judaic ...
May 20, 2020•35 min•Season 1Ep. 9
In today’s world, we need more aspiring young people to pursue their dream of owning their own businesses.” That’s exactly what Charles Ewing said and did. He started Ewing Moving Service Inc. with one truck and one employee in 1980. Today, Charles is president and CEO of this international, commercial and residential relocation company that has 47 employees and a fleet of trucks. Links to items mentioned in the interview : Ewing Moving Service Inc. Society of Entrepreneurs Profile Memphis Grizz...
May 06, 2020•30 min•Season 1Ep. 8
Dr. Mary McDonald has received national acclaim as an innovative educator, author, and public speaker. She has been a professional educator for 36 years as a teacher, principal and most recently, as Superintendent of Catholic Schools for the Diocese of Memphis. Today, Mary is CEO of MCD Partners, a national consulting company that provides a broad range of services for educational consulting and models for success. Links to items mentioned in the interview : MCD Partners Society of Entrepreneurs...
Apr 22, 2020•41 min•Season 1Ep. 7
The latest episode of Entrepreneurial Insights features Walker Uhlhorn. Entrepreneurship is what it’s all about for Walker, as he is the visionary behind the Society of Entrepreneurs. His definition for an entrepreneur is someone who is not easily deterred and is creative enough to turn problems into opportunities. Walker has been successful in creating a unique group of individuals who all have one thing in common: they were born with the gift of creativity and inner drive, and they all knew wh...
Apr 08, 2020•27 min•Season 1Ep. 6
Dr. Scott Morris is an example that the entrepreneurial spirit is not limited solely to capitalistic ventures. Scott is the Founder and Executive Director of Church Health, which opened in 1987 to provide primary health care to low-income, uninsured working people of Memphis. The organization is supported by faith and medical communities and averages more 50,000 patient visits a year. Links to items mentioned in the interview: Church Health Society of Entrepreneurs Profile The Memphis Medical So...
Mar 25, 2020•36 min•Season 1Ep. 5
Episode 4 of Entrepreneurial Insights features Mike Bruns, who retired in 2010 as founder and president of Comtrak Logistics, a national transportation and logistics company headquartered in Memphis. Mike’s business savvy has made him successful, and he generously shares his success with worthy causes in the community. Links to items mentioned in the interview: Comtrak Logistics Society of Entrepreneurs Profile The University of Memphis Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare The Assisi Foundation of Me...
Mar 11, 2020•31 min•Season 1Ep. 4
Our third episode features Carolyn Hardy, President of Chism Hardy Investments. Listen as she discusses her path to entrepreneurship in Memphis, as well as the many businesses and organizations she has created and overseen. SOE profile: https://soememphis.com/members/carolyn-chism/ http://womenofachievement.org/determination/carolyn-chism-hardy/ https://www.amazon.com/Look-Up-Principles-Intentional-Leadership/dp/1543949207...
Feb 26, 2020•42 min•Season 1Ep. 3
Bill Courtney is famous for many things. You may have seen him in Oscar-winning movie –Undefeated, a 2011 documentary about his time as a volunteer coach for Manassas High School football team here in Memphis. You may have read his book –Against the Grain –in which he shares the principles that helped him be a successful coach, entrepreneur, and father, and what it takes to maintain that success for the rest of our lives.You may have seen him give a motivational speech or except a leadership awa...
Feb 12, 2020•25 min•Season 1Ep. 2
Duncan serves as the board chair of the Society of Entrepreneurs and is the President of Duncan-Williams Inc, a firm founded by his father 50 years ago a municipal bond broker, which has since grown into a nationally recognized, financial services provider serving clients across the country. Duncan will tell the story of how the firm got started, how his mother took ownership after his father passed away, and how he stepped into the leadership role in 2000 with an emphasis on maintaining a “fami...
Jan 27, 2020•25 min•Season 1Ep. 1
