Building Excellence

#169: Howard Behar is the former President of Starbucks Coffee Company. During his time at Starbucks he helped the company grow from 28 stores to over 15,000 stores all over the world. Not only does he share some great stories and principles from his time at Starbucks, but also from his early years growing up around the retail business.

Howard currently travels around the world speaking to leaders, corporations, and students. His message is focused on inspiring everyone to be servant leaders and to lead with their values first.
 
For more information on Howard check out his website at howardbehar.com. Also, be sure to check out Howard's books, It's Not About The Coffee: Lessons on Leadership from a Life at Starbucks, and The Magic Cup. 

Enjoy the show!

#168: 7x MLB All-Star & hosts of the Table 40 podcast, Matt & Leslee Holliday share their journey, as well as lessons in faith, marriage, leadership, and being present. 

Matt & Leslee met while Leslee was in college and Matt had just started his professional baseball career. They share their experiences and what it was like to have a great marriage, live out their faith, and still raise great kids, all while living life in professional baseball. 

Today they host the Table 40 podcast, which is a show that shares organic conversations about Jesus and life. Check out the link below to listen and find out more about their show!

Table 40 podcast:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/sports-spectrums-table-forty/id1505637930 

#113: Steve Robinson is the former Executive Vice President & Chief marketing officer of Chick-Fil-A from 1981-2015. He currently serves as a consultant, speaker, and author on organizational culture, brand strategy, marketing and advertising, as well as leadership development.

Steve went to Faulkner State where he played baseball and then finished his college at Auburn University with a bachelor of science in marketing. He then attended Northwestern University where he earned a master’s in advertising from the Medill School of Journalism.

After Northwestern, Steve went to work for Texas Instruments and Six Flags. He quickly rose into leadership positions at a young age and caught the attention of the leadership of Chick-Fil-A. In 1981 Steve was hired to lead Chick-Fil-A’s marketing efforts. Steve was integrally involved in the company’s steady and then explosive growth from 184 stores and $100 million in 1981 to more than 2,100 stores and more than $6.8 billion in annul sales in 2015. He and his team helped establish and create many of the recognizable Chick-Fil-A branding and marketing efforts such as iconic Cow & Eat Mor Chikn campaign to the everyday Chick-Fil-A experience.

On the show he dives into his story, working hard, building culture, mentors, asking questions, loyalty, using metrics and facts to learn and growth, faith, family, and much more.

Be sure to check out his book Covert Cows where all books are sold, as well as his website srobinsonconsulting.com for more information.

Enjoy the show! 

#166: Chad Hennings is a 3 time Super Bowl Champion with the Dallas Cowboys, A10 fighter pilot, real estate businessmen, author, speaker, and ministry founder.

In order to achieve a legacy of excellence, one must live a life of integrity and purpose. Excellence isn’t a destination; it’s an identity. Chad Hennings has lived this message through a nine year NFL career and three Super Bowl Championships with the Dallas Cowboys, forty-five combat missions flying the A10 Warthog with the Air Force, and as a respected businessman in commercial real estate. Chad has taken this message around the world at the invitation of some of the most distinguished audiences ranging from Fortune 500 companies, a host of U.S Government agencies, and respected non-profits. He is also a philanthropic leader in the Dallas/Ft Worth area serving several non profits that work with at risk families and veterans. Chad is the founder of Wingmen Ministries, an organization that encourages discipleship and mentorship of men.

On the show Chad shares his story of growing up on a farm in Iowa, impact of his parents, playing football at the Air Force Academy, becoming a fighter pilot, playing for the Cowboys and winning three super bowls, commitment, character, mindset, identity, leadership, faith, family, and much more.

He is also the author of three books Rules of Engagement, It Takes Commitment, & Forces of Character, which I would highly encourage you to check out.

For more on Chad check out chadhennings.com and more on his ministry check out wingmen.org 

Enjoy the show! 

#165: Horst Schulze is the Co-Founder of the Ritz Carlton & Founder of the Capella Hotel Group. He is also author of the book "Excellence Wins",  a no nonsense guide to becoming the best in a world of compromise. 

He is a legend and leader in the hotel world and his teachings and vision have reshaped the concepts of service and hospitality across industries.

During his tenure at The Ritz Carlton, Mr. Schulze served as President and COO responsible for the $2 billion operations worldwide. It was under his leadership that The Ritz Carlton Hotel Company became the first service-based company to be awarded the prestigious Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award — twice.

Today he actively speaks and consults across all industries. His leadership content can be purchased and viewed at Archandtowerplus.com where the content can be licensed for a larger audience. 

In the show we get to hear his story of growing up in German, getting into the hotel industry, hard work, excellence is a result of high intent, success, purpose, vision, service, marriage, faith, and much more!

Enjoy the show!

Ways to engage with Horst Schulze:
Website: HorstSchulze.com
All social media platforms
Book: Excellence Wins
https://www.amazon.com/Excellence-Wins-No-Nonsense-Becoming-Compromise/dp/0310352096
Leadership content: NeedToLead.com

Jim Harrick is a national championship coach with the UCLA men’s basketball program. In 1995, he led the bruins to the NCAA championship and gained pac-10 and national coach of the year honors.

Coach Harrick grew up in West Virginia and after playing college basketball, he and his wife ventured to California where he became a teacher and coach at morning side high school. While at morning side, he had the number one ranked high school team in the country. Living in the LA area, he began a friendship and was mentored by UCLA coach John wooden. Coach wooden’s influence significantly impacted his life and he talks in depth about that relationship on the show.

Over the course of 23 seasons, coach Harrick won over 470 games at some of the most prominent college basketball programs in the county including Pepperdine, UCLA, the university of Rhode Island, and the university of Georgia. He also had a stint coaching professionally with the Bakersfield jam.

On the show, coach harrick talks about his story growing up, moving to LA, getting into coaching, meeting coach wooden and his influence, loyalty, care, leadership, winning a national championship, losing his wife and son, his faith, how there are no coincidences, the power of relationships, and much more.

Coach Harrick is a legend in the basketball community and we are very grateful to have him on the show. His book Embracing the Legend can be found on Amazon and I highly encourage you to check it out. 

Enjoy the show!

Book:
https://www.amazon.com/Embracing-Legend-Harrick-Revives-Mystique/dp/1566250544

Pete Chambers is an entrepreneur and businessman at heart. He has been married to his wife Raney for 30 years, and is the proud father of three daughters. He is a graduate of Texas Christian University, is also proud to have attended the University of Texas MBA program. He began his career with the Chemical Lime Company, now a Lhoist Group Company, in plant operations, sales and business development functions in Europe, California and Texas. In 1997, Pete purchased Diamond H Recognition, an employee recognition company, and transformed the company into an employee engagement software platform serving Fortune 1000 companies worldwide. 

In 2009, the company was branded Inspirus. He served as the CEO and Chairman of Inspirus until it sold to Sodexo in 2016. He is currently Managing Partner at Chambers Interests, a single-family office. Chambers is a past president of the West Texas Chapter of Young Presidents’ Organization and continues to be an active member. He is Chairman of the Board at Rivertree Academy, a private, Christian school serving under-resourced students in the Lake Como community of Fort Worth.

On the show he shares his story of growing up, impact of his parents, curiosity, going to TCU to play golf, getting into business, seeking mentors, asking great questions, and applying advice, buying and selling a business, servant leadership, intentionality, family, and how you can have it all in your faith, family, relationships, health, business, and fun. 

Enjoy the show! 

Jerry Colangelo is the founder and former owner of the Phoenix Suns and Arizona Diamondbacks, as well as Managing Director of USA Basketball.

He is a 4x NBA Executive of the Year, former NBA GM & Head Coach, Chairman of the Basketball Hall of Fame, founder of multiple sports franchises, and also started with Dick Klein to found the Chicago Bulls.

The accolades are endless, but he additionally won a world championship with the Diamondbacks and returned the once-tarnished U.S. Olympic men’s basketball team to glory. As Chairman of USA Basketball, Colangelo created a team that brought home the Gold medal in the 2008 Beijing Olympics, another in the 2012 London Olympics, again in the 2016 Olympic games in Rio, and most recently in 2021 in Tokyo.

Having served as Chairman and CEO, general manager, and head coach of the Phoenix Suns, Colangelo boasts the second longest tenure with one franchise in the NBA.

On the show he shares his story of growing up, starting the Bulls, moving to Phoenix to start the Suns, winning a world series with the Diamondbacks, confidence, the power of relationships, preparation, failure, listening, excellence, his faith, and much more.

Currently, he continues his business in real estate as a principle in JDM Partners, LLC. He is also the special assistant to the president of Grand Canyon University.

For more on Jerry check out www.jcolangelo.com as well as his book How You Play The Game which is one of my favorites all time. 

Enjoy the show! 

#161: Brandon Lohse is the CFO of Arkansas Electric Cooperative Corp.

Prior to joining Arkansas Electric he worked more than 26 years in the energy and financial services sectors. Most recently Brandon served as the Director of Investor Relations at One Gas in Tulsa, OK. 

He earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration with honors from Seattle Pacific University, a Master’s in Business Administration from Washington University’s Olin School of Business and is a Certified Treasury Professional. 

Not only is Brandon’s career path and leadership experience impactful, but also seeing a true miracle take place in his daughters battle with Leukemia. 

On the show he shares his story or growing up, the dream of becoming a CFO, college, getting into business, adversity, his daughters story, restoration, redemption, leadership, and much more. 

A quote I have always liked is from Martin Luther King Jr, “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.” I am thankful to call Brandon a friend and got to see him as he navigated through this really challenging time for him and his family. I couldn’t think of a more faithful person to speak on restoration and redemption, as well as fining purpose in pain. 

Enjoy the show! 

#160: Clint Hurdle is a former Major League Baseball player and manager.

He spent 9 seasons as the Manager for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Over his tenure in Pittsburgh he led the Pirates to multiple playoff appearances. In 2013, only his third season as manager, he led the Pirates to their first winning season and playoff appearance since 1992. He also won the award for National League Manager of the Year.

Prior to his time in Pittsburgh he was also the hitting coach for the Texas Rangers during the 2010 season where he helped all star players like Josh Hamilton and Michael Young, advance to the World Series.

For 8 seasons he was the manager of the Colorado Rockies where he led them to their first ever NL pennant and World Series appearance.

Before he stepped into managing he spent 12 seasons playing professional baseball. In 1975 he was drafted in the first round of the MLB draft, 9th overall, to the Kansas City Royals. In 1978 he was featured on the cover of Sports Illustrated as “This Years Phenom.” He played for the Kansas City Royals, Cincinnati Reds, New York Mets, & the St. Louis Cardinals.

On the show Clint shares his story of grown-up, the influence of his parents, playing major league baseball, stories from his time managing the Rockies and Pirates, adapting, the importance of passion, Mudita, 3 key questions every coach and leader should ask, being a good husband and father, faith, and much more.

For more on Clint, his encouraging daily emails, and his hot stove dinner fundraiser for Prader-Willi syndrome check out clinthurdle.com as well as all social platforms. We will have a link in the show notes, social media posts, and YouTube for links to Clints platforms. 

Enjoy the show!