Eleanor Cooper was a driving force for Chattanooga Venture and Vision 2000, laying the groundwork for our city’s renaissance.

In this episode, Eleanor shares why her search for "what's worth learning" led her to Japan, how a B.B. King concert showed her that Chattanooga was ready to change, and what it looked like from the inside as the city reinvented itself.

Eleanor Cooper is an educator. You can learn more about her on her website, https://eleanormccalliecooper.com/about-eleanor/

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My Morning Cup is hosted by Mike Costa of Costa Media Advisors and produced by SpeakEasy Productions. 

Adam Kinsey has always had a knack for seeing what a place could become (often long before anyone else does).

In this episode, Adam shares how driving past construction sites as a kid shaped the way he sees a city, how Track 29 helped put Chattanooga on the map for touring musicians who used to skip right past us, and what it takes to breathe new life into a property as storied as the Chattanooga Choo Choo.

Adam Kinsey is the President of The Kinsey Company and Partner of Kinsey Probasco Hays. You can connect with him on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/adam-kinsey-4741a967/).

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My Morning Cup is hosted by Mike Costa of Costa Media Advisors and produced by SpeakEasy Productions.

Shannon Burger has been a K9 handler, a CPA, a firefighter, an entrepreneur, and now: CEO of one of Chattanooga’s fastest growing healthcare organizations.

In this episode, Shannon shares how bracelets and bubblegum were the first signs of an entrepreneurial mind, what working nights as a firefighter taught her about public service and teamwork, and how Cempa has evolved over the past decade to meet the changing needs of our community.

Shannon Burger is the CEO of Cempa Community Care. You can connect with her on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannon-burger-dsc-mba-cpa-55b8391a/).

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My Morning Cup is hosted by Mike Costa of Costa Media Advisors and produced by SpeakEasy Productions.

Chip Baker is back for round two of My Morning Cup as he begins his third term as County Commissioner for District 2.

In this episode, Chip shares why he gave up a fast-rising hospital career to stay in Chattanooga for good, how a knock on the door pulled him onto the school board and into a lifetime of public service, and why he refuses to accept that local politics has to be a slugfest.

If you like this episode, we think you’ll also like his episode #4, his first appearance on the podcast!

Chip Baker is the County Commissioner of District 2, and President of Baker Associates, an authorized licensee of Crestcom International. You can connect with him on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/chip-baker-3768518/). 

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My Morning Cup is hosted by Mike Costa of Costa Media Advisors and produced by SpeakEasy Productions.

When people have told Bernie Miller something can’t be done, his answer has always been the same: "I think it can."

In this episode, Bernie shares how an early lesson in humility stuck with him for the rest of his life, how co-writing the soul classic "I Can't Stand the Rain" opened doors to working with artists like Michael Jackson, and how a radio job he didn't necessarily want led him to Chattanooga (and eventually the pulpit).

Reverend Bernie Miller is the founder and Pastor of New Covenant Fellowship Church. You can connect with him on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/bernie-miller-dmin-711616143/). 

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My Morning Cup is hosted by Mike Costa of Costa Media Advisors and produced by SpeakEasy Productions.

David Martin is committed to building a stronger, more connected Chattanooga.

In this episode, David shares how his father's advice to find his own way sent him down a winding career path, how a master's in history unexpectedly launched a career in PR, and how Heed PR became a three-month "overnight" success story.

David Martin is the Co-Founder and Partner of Heed Public Relations and Feed the Narrative. You can connect with him on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/david-martin-29256210/). 

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My Morning Cup is hosted by Mike Costa of Costa Media Advisors and produced by SpeakEasy Productions.

Matt Patterson has spent his career proving that the biggest risk is often the safest bet you can make.

In this episode, Matt shares why he refused to stay in any job for more than a year, how moving to a city where he knew no one helped him and his partners build Bellhops from the ground up, and why Brickyard gives other founders that same all-in experience.

Matt Patterson is Co-Founder and General Partner of Brickyard. You can connect with him on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/matt-patterson-23032356/). 

If you like this episode, we think you’ll also like:

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My Morning Cup is hosted by Mike Costa of Costa Media Advisors and produced by SpeakEasy Productions.

Cindy Lee has built her career on a simple belief: “I can do this.”

In this episode, Cindy shares what a decade in the corporate world taught her about how NOT to run a business, how she unexpectedly fell in love with the world of trucking, and why she built Lync Logistics around the idea that people always come before transactions.

Cindy Lee is the CEO of Lync Logistics. You can connect with her on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/cindy-lee-966b7912/). 

If you like this episode, we think you’ll also like:

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My Morning Cup is hosted by Mike Costa of Costa Media Advisors and produced by SpeakEasy Productions.

Darde Long always knew she wanted to work with animals, it just didn't end up the way she originally imagined.

In this episode, Darde shares how a childhood pony sparked a lifelong career caring for animals, why a trusted mentor pushed her to take a job she almost turned down, and how the Chattanooga Zoo has evolved from just 2 employees and 25 animals in 1985 to 80+ employees and 100+ species today.

Darde Long is the President and CEO of the Chattanooga Zoo. You can connect with her on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/darde-long-177a1b4/). 

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My Morning Cup is hosted by Mike Costa of Costa Media Advisors and produced by SpeakEasy Productions.

Dr. Dan Challener has spent his career supporting the people he calls the linchpin in every child's life: teachers.

In this episode, Dan shares how a summer camp job changed the course of his life, why one person believing in a child can change everything, and how a friend's nudge to check out a job led him to Chattanooga for what he thought would be five years (spoiler: it's been 27).

Plus, a candid conversation about the current state of public education in Tennessee.

Dr. Dan Challener is the President of Public Education Forward (formerly known as Public Education Foundation). You can connect with him on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/danchallener4424/).

If you like this episode, we think you’ll also like:

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My Morning Cup is hosted by Mike Costa of Costa Media Advisors and produced by SpeakEasy Productions.