John Downey has spent over 40 years in the leading Sales organizations. For the past 37 years, I’ve been with Fort Wayne Wire Die, Inc., where I now serve as the Global Sales Manager. It is a privilege to have worked for this long with a company that has a solid reputation in its industry.

John graduated from Ball State University with a business degree focused on sales & marketing. He has been married to his wife for 37 years, and together we’ve raised three great kids and now get to enjoy the fun and joy of six grandchildren.  The same year I was married and started my career at Fort Wayne Wire Die, I also found faith in Jesus Christ. 

When I'm not working, you’ll most likely find me outdoors. I love hiking, golfing, and fishing—pretty much anything that lets me enjoy fresh air and re-wilding in God's creation.

Cheryl Scanlan is the founder of Promised Land Living and has been practicing her passion for coaching for almost 20 years. She is a certified MCC and CMCC coach and is one of only a handful of coaches in the country who possess this combination of coaching designations.

Cheryl has trained over 3,000 coaches with experience that exceeds 15,000 hours of coaching. Her combination of business acumen and passion for coaching has facilitated the development of confident ambassadors for Christ. Promised Land Living is the confluence of those two qualities as the ministry equips people to live abundantly, as God intends.

At Emmaus

At Emmaus Conference: November 8: Raleigh, NC

Today's Guest: Beth Wood

Beth Wood’s career is a story of grit, growth, and a lifelong commitment to striving for a Christ-centered life.

Before becoming a CPA, Beth spent 10 years as a dental hygienist. She then put herself through East Carolina University, where she earned her Bachelor’s degree in Accounting and became a licensed CPA in 1987.

Over the next decade, Beth built her expertise in the corporate world, working with RAYOVAC, McGladrey & Pullen, and Turner Tolson Furniture, before moving to Raleigh in 1993. There, she joined the State Treasurer’s Office and later the State Auditor’s Office, where she started just above entry level and worked her way up to Director.

In 2008, Beth was led to take the significant step of entering politics, running against an incumbent for North Carolina State Auditor. She won, and for the next 15 years served the people of North Carolina, bringing transparency to government spending.

Today, Beth brings that same dedication to her role as Partner at GWI Tax & Accounting, where she oversees the firm’s Governmental Practice and continues her mission of helping organizations steward their resources wisely.

Beth Wood’s career and Christian life have always been about aligning her heart and desires with God.  While we all fall short, Beth brings bold and practical ways to become closer in our spiritual walk.

At Emmaus

At Emmaus Conference: November 8: Raleigh, NC

Today's Guest: Geoff Nocar

Geoff Nocar has built a nearly three-decade career in the pharmaceutical industry, serving in roles across sales, leadership, commercial operations, marketing, and launch strategy. Today, he focuses on technology innovation, with a particular emphasis on AI solutions that transform the way healthcare organizations operate. He began his professional journey in the security and fire alarm industry in California before transitioning to pharma, where he continues to lead with a blend of business expertise and faith-driven perspective. Geoff and his wife, Jennifer, live in North Raleigh, where they enjoy camping at the lake or the beach and spending time with their three daughters.

At Emmaus

At Emmaus Conference: November 8: Raleigh NC

Today's Guest: Stephen O’Quinn

Stephen is the founder and President of Perissos, Inc 

Stephen has a 30 plus year career in the pharmaceutical industry, having spent over 20 years with GlaxoSmithKline in senior leadership roles in both marketing and medical functions - from medicines development through commercial product launch and lifecycle management. 

Since starting Perissos Inc in 2016, he has worked with several small to mid-size pharmaceutical clients, leveraging his experience to help those clients successfully meet their objectives.

Stephen holds a Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.  He also completed additional studies in marketing and executive leadership at The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania

Stephen was also a co-founder of EPIC at Work, which is faith-based business organization with a mission to serve Entrepreneurs and Intrapreneurs.

Stephen is married to Lisa and has two adult children and two grandchildren.

Josh and Jeff kick off the At Emmaus podcast with a powerful conversation on breaking down the barriers to being your authentic self in business and leadership.

Jeffrey D. Baker, RN, MSN, is a seasoned healthcare leader with over 26 years of nursing experience and 25 years dedicated to the field of behavioral health. He has served in a variety of leadership roles throughout his career and currently leads as Chief Executive Officer of a behavioral health hospital, a position he has held for the past four years. Jeff is deeply committed to delivering patient-centered care, fostering collaboration, improving clinical outcomes, and driving operational excellence. His background combines a strong clinical foundation with executive leadership, giving him a unique perspective in advancing both quality and organizational performance.

Outside of his professional life, Jeff finds his greatest joy in his family. He and his wife, Jane, are proud parents to their two children, Philip and Sophie. A devoted follower of Jesus, Jeff strives to lead with integrity and faith in all areas of life. He is also an avid marathon runner, with the Boston Marathon holding a special place as his favorite race. Whether in the hospital or on the marathon course, Jeff strives to live a God honoring life.

Are you a high-performing corporate leader of a mid to large-sized company striving to integrate your faith-based values authentically and seamlessly into your professional life?

Many leaders hold back their true selves at work due to:

• Role ambiguity and misaligned corporate culture, which make Christian values feel out of step.
• Fear of judgment, worrying that speaking openly about your personal Christian values
• will lead to misunderstanding and incorrect perceptions.
• Absence of trust in leadership or peers about personal faith making authenticity feel dangerous.

At Emmaus is a transformational initiative crafted specifically for Christian executives ready to break free from these barriers. Inspired by the disciples’ encounter on the road to Emmaus, this podcast will equip you to lead with uncompromised authenticity—seeing how your faith becomes your competitive advantage. Grounded in personal resilience and corporate leadership, it offers practical tools, spiritual community, and peer coaching to help you walk in conviction at work.