1on1 with Jon Evans

Judy Girard has a Lifetime Achievement Emmy Award recognizing her impact on television programming. Starting in local television, she was one of the first women to work her way up the corporate ladder. As president of "The Food Network", Judy launched the careers of Rachel Ray, Ina Garten and Paula Deen. She ran "HGTV", which is a now a staple in the top-ten. After her retirement, Judy helped begin the first all-girls charter school in the state helping at-risk girls. Judy tells stories of success, of falling short, and reaching heights only few have accomplished.    

Connor Barth went from kicking footballs on the high school field in Wilmington, to the college spotlight in Chapel Hill, into the world of professional sports. Football then became his job. Connor proved himself, landed a big contract, then suffered a severe injury playing in a charity basketball game. He worked his way back into the starting lineup, only to experience the cold, hard realities of the business. The now 31-year-old shares his stories of good and bad times along the way, as he enters his tenth year of making a living with his right leg. (**NOTE - I misspoke during the podcast. The Barth Brothers Kicking Camp will take place at 5:30pm on Thursday, July 13, not Sunday. My apologies!)

Mike Ashcraft went to college to become an architect. A self-described “completely average” teenager growing up, Ashcraft says he was 5’3” and weighed less than 100 pounds when he got his driver’s license at the age of 16. Now, 30 years later, Mike Ashcraft has become a heavyweight. Not in a physical way, but in a spiritual one. He co-founded Port City Community Church in 1999, which has grown to have more than 5,000 members in 2017. These are the stories of how Mike's dream became reality, with some struggles and chuckles along the way.

Sydney Penny began doing commercials when she was just three years old. Those opportunities grew into higher-profile roles that included the ABC mini-series "The Thorn Birds", and "Pale Rider" with Clint Eastwood. Sydney was nominated for Emmy Awards for playing BJ Walker on "Santa Barbara", and as Julia Santos on "All My Children", where she became best known in the mid-90s. Sydney came to Wilmington as Azalea Festival Queen in 1999, and a few years later she and her husband Rob moved to the Port City. Now as a mom, wife, and business owner, Sydney Penny is a member of the community, and sharing stories with Jon about the people she's worked with and places she's been in her career.

Howie Franklin has spent more than 40 years working around airplanes. Howie is currently the Director of the Cape Fear Regional Jetport, a position he took in 1994. Before arriving in Brunswick County, he worked on board the most famous airplane in the world, Air Force One. Howie made history as the first Air Force flight steward to serve under five consecutive Presidents of the United States when President Bill Clinton took office in 1993. In this episode of "1on1 with Jon Evans", Howie Franklin talks about each one of those five presidents, his favorite trips on board the famous airplane, and what it took for him to keep the job for nearly two decades.

Kim Munley nearly died while helping to stop the gunman responsible for the deadly attack at Fort Hood in 2009. After recovering from her injuries, she went to battle again, to help the survivors of that attack receive the benefits they deserved and desperately needed. Kim has now taken on a new role, as president of "Step Up For Soldiers", a group that helps disabled veterans get back on their feet. Kim Munley continues to serve those who serve, all while keeping her family and faith first. 

David Rouzer had his sights set on a career in agriculture. After working on his grandfather's farm as a child, and taking college courses to prepare for a future in the agriculture industry, Rouzer took part in an international program while studying at North Carolina State University. Rouzer's roommate during that summer seminar changed this Johnston County native's outlook on politics. Rouzer went to work on Capitol Hill, he became a North Carolina state Senator, and he is now a member of the United States Congress. 

Lenny Simpson's tennis game earned him positions in several Halls of Fame. Mentored by greats such as Althea Gibson and Arthur Ashe, Simpson went from a court in Wilmington, North Carolina to courts in Forest Hills and Wimbledon. Along the way he experienced the discrimination against African-American players, and he worked to break down those barriers and put all players on the same courts around the world. Lenny Simpson is back in his hometown with "One Love Tennis", teaching tennis and life lessons to the next generation.

Actors want to see Tony Rivenbark perform. That's how well-respected he is in Wilmington's theater community. Tony has performed, directed or produced more than 200 productions, often on the main stage in Wilmington's Thalian Hall. Many know the story about Tony's first trip to Thalian, and that he went on to become Executive Director of the Thalian Hall Center for the Performing Arts. But we found out Tony was entertaining audiences years earlier, on a much smaller stage. 

Anthony "A.J." Tata spent nearly three decades serving his country in the United States Army, rising to the rank of Brigadier General before he retired. Education and government followed, but Tata always had a penchant for writing, even using a pseudonym to write during his time in the service. Now it is his full-time job, taking Jake Mahegan to new levels of adventure. Jon learns how Tata's life stories helped shape him into the successful novelist he is today.