Entrepreneurial Insights

Entrepreneurial Insights

By Jay Healy and Pearson CrutcherBusinessEntrepreneurshipCareers
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Entrepreneurial Insights episodes

  • David Andrews (S2EP11)

    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 forwarding company. City Enterprises, LLC managed companies employ more than 850 people. Andrews says his employees are like family and believes in rewarding employees who work hard. He points out that they take care of customers, just like they take care of their employees, and if they are doing their job right, customers should feel like buying a car is fun.

    Links to items mentioned in the interview:

    City Enterprises/City Auto

    Society of Entrepreneurs Profile

    City Auto Finance

    Dealers Auto Auction Group

    Pace Financial

    Greater Memphis Chamber

    ALS Foundation

    Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation

    United Way

    43 min
  • Ellen Rolfes (S2EP10)

    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 non-profits as a philanthropy strategist.

    Links to items mentioned in the interview:

    Ellen Rolfes & Associates

    Society of Entrepreneurs Profile

    Ole Miss Women's Council for Philanthropy

    Women's Foundation for a Greater Memphis

    ACE Awareness Foundation

    Junior League of Memphis

    Leadership Memphis

    New Memphis

    Memphis Symphony Orchestra Circle of Friends

    38 min
  • Jack Soden (S2EP09)

    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 company also controls The Guest House at Graceland, a 4-star, 450-room resort hotel. Links to items mentioned in the interview: Graceland Society of Entrepreneurs Profile The Guest House at Graceland Greater Memphis Chamber St Jude Children's Research Hospital The University of Memphis National Civil Rights Museum

    53 min
  • Don Hutson (S2EP08)
    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 is the author or co-author of 14 books, including Selling Value and his two Wall Street Journal and New York Times International #1 best sellers, The One Minute Entrepreneur and The One Minute Negotiator. Links to items mentioned in the interview: U.S. Learning Society of Entrepreneurs Profile Books National Speakers Association NSA Foundation Society of International Business Fellows Speakers Roundtable
    43 min
  • Hilliard Crews (S2EP07)
    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 California. Hilliard and his wife Harriett were instrumental in the founding of the Crews Center for Entrepreneurship at the University of Memphis in 2012. Hilliard serves on the Board of Teach for America-Memphis, is a Charter member of the University of Memphis Tiger's Ambassador Club and still serves on various University of Memphis boards. In 2018, Hilliard and Harriett received the Crystal Award for Outstanding Philanthropy. They remain active in supporting many charities through the Crews Family Foundation. Links to items mentioned in the interview: Crews Center for Entrepreneurship Society of Entrepreneurs Profile MCR Safety Teach for America The University of Memphis Crews Family Foundation
    46 min
  • Susan Stephenson (S2EP06)
    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 to launching I-Bank, Susan was the Chairman, President and CEO of Boatmen's Bank of Tennessee. When named to the position in 1995, Susan was the first female Chairman and CEO of a Tennessee bank. Links to items mentioned in the interview: Independent Bank Society of Entrepreneurs Profile New Memphis Women's Foundation for a Greater Memphis Elmwood Cemetery Baptist Memorial Hospital for Women Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis
    51 min
  • Harold Crye (S2EP05)
    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 spirit, Crye-Leike has also expanded to become a full-service real-estate firm, offering everything from mortgage banking facilities to a home improvement division. Today, Harold Crye dedicates his time to numerous civic interests. Links to items mentioned in the interview: Crye-Leike REALTORS Society of Entrepreneurs Profile Boy Scouts of America Arkansas State University Youth Villages The Realty Alliance
    51 min
  • Pat Lawler (S2EP04)
    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 families each year. Links to items mentioned in the interview: Youth Villages Society of Entrepreneurs Profile Results for America Leap of Reason Shelby County Juvenile Court Harvard Business School
    40 min
  • Edith Kelly-Green (S2EP03)
    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 community, as an active and founding member of many local organizations. A breast cancer survivor, she believes that to whom much is given, much is expected. Links to items mentioned in the interview: KGR Group Society of Entrepreneurs Profile Lennys Grill & Subs Methodist Le Bonheur Healthcare Hattiloo Theatre Memphis Symphony Orchestra Women's Foundation for a Greater Memphis Philanthropic Black Women of Memphis Ole Miss Women's Council for Philanthropy
    53 min
  • Craig Brewer (S2EP02)
    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&H Café. With a small skeleton crew mixed with free rein leadership, Craig and his team made magic. Local musicians provided the soundtrack, and much of the cast and crew were volunteers. He has gone on to write, direct and produce numerous feature films, documentaries and acclaimed television series. He may work behind the scenes, but he is always promoting Memphis. If you missed our live discussion with Craig and the Society of Entrepreneurs Roundtable, click here. Links to items mentioned in the interview: IMDb Society of Entrepreneurs Profile Indie Memphis Coming 2 America
    51 min

About Entrepreneurial Insights

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There are so many great entrepreneurs in Memphis, and their stories need to be told. Entrepreneurial Insights is a bi-weekly podcast sponsored by Century Wealth Management and the Society of…