My Morning Cup

Christie Mahn Faires has never been one to rest on her laurels. Whether campaigning for a traffic light to make her high school safer or championing recovery court to help people break the cycle of addiction, she's always looking for ways to make things better.

In this episode, she shares how a passing comment changed her life's trajectory (twice!), why the path from aspiring broadcast journalist to General Sessions Court Judge made more sense than she ever imagined, and what no one tells you about running for an elected position.

Christie Mahn Faires is a Judge for the Hamilton County General Sessions Court. You can connect with her on LinkedIn (linkedin.com/in/christie-sell-646b7814).

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

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

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Mitch Patel’s story is a masterclass in grit, gratitude, and bridge-building.

In this episode recorded in front of a live audience at the Rotary Club of Chattanooga, Mitch shares how he built his first hotel at the age of 27 with just $3,000, how Vision Hospitality Group has grown to more than 40 hotels in 8 states, why the Edwin Hotel holds such a special place in his heart, and what it means to serve as this year’s Chair of the American Hotel & Lodging Association.

Mitch Patel is the Founder & CEO of Vision Hospitality Group. You can connect with him on LinkedIn (linkedin.com/in/mitch-i-patel-a8aa1213).

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

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

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Most people see an airport. April Cameron sees a small city — one she's helped run for 28 years and now leads as its 'Mayor.'

In this episode, April shares how a mentor's confidence launched her from accountant to CFO, what finally convinced her to pursue the CEO role, the surprising truth about how airports actually make money, and why every ticket you buy is a vote.

April Cameron is the President and CEO of the Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport Authority. You can connect with her on LinkedIn (linkedin.com/in/april-cameron-3a9aa0266). 

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

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

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Shawanda Mason’s and Jennifer Holder’s careers have been defined by scrappiness and leaps of faith.

In this episode, they share how growing up somewhat isolated in small towns helped spark their creativity, how Jennifer’s early idea for The Chattery grew into a partnership after an elevator meet-cute, and how they have turned burnt lemons into lemonade.

Jennifer and Shawanda are the Co-Founders of The Chattery, a Chattanooga-based nonprofit that advocates for lifelong learning. You can learn more about them at https://thechattery.org/about. 

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

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

Subscribe to the weekly newsletter and be the first to know who upcoming guests are: http://eepurl.com/iGJzII

Justin Robertson has built his career by taking on challenges that pushed him to grow and relying on his survival instincts along the way.

In this episode, he shares how he navigated the sudden elimination of 43 assistant principal positions early in his career, how persistence and smart networking carried him from teacher to principal to superintendent, and why he’s doubling down on K-2 literacy and expanding Future Ready Centers.

Dr. Justin Robertson is the Superintendent of Hamilton County Schools. You can learn more about Dr. Robertson and Hamilton County Schools’ Leadership Team on their website: https://hcde.org/our-leadership/ 

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

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

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Jimmy White has always been able to see the end game. Whether that’s on the golf course or when putting together a complex real estate deal.

In this episode, he shares how golf prepared him for the highs and lows of business, why “the third time’s the charm” pushed him to leave golf and dive into real estate, and how he’s built a career on win-win deals that create lasting value for Chattanooga.

Jimmy White is the President and Managing Partner of Urban Story Ventures. You can connect with him on LinkedIn (linkedin.com/in/jimmy-white-a2392b5).

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

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

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Dustin Choate has worn a lot of hats. Social worker, fundraiser, corporate salesman, and even DJ… but he ultimately found his calling behind the bar of a neighborhood tavern.

In this episode, Dustin shares why he walked away from pharmaceutical sales to open Tremont Tavern, how he saw the craft beer wave coming and turned it into a community staple, and the hard lessons he learned from opening (and closing) his second restaurant, Market Street Tavern.

Dustin Choate is the owner and operator of Tremont Tavern, and co-owner of Feed Table & Tavern, Parkway Pourhouse, and Frazier Five and Dime.

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

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

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For Jim Coleman, running a hospital isn’t all that different from taking apart a stove. You just need to understand how the pieces fit together to make the whole thing work.

In this episode, Jim shares what it was like managing 300 employees by the time he was 30, how new roles often found him before he went looking for them, and why a heart attack ended up giving him unexpected mental clarity.

Plus, he shares what it was like to lead Erlanger through its shift to a private, for-profit hospital system.

Jim Coleman is the President & CEO of Erlanger. You can connect with him on LinkedIn (linkedin.com/in/jim-coleman-9045282).

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

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

Subscribe to the weekly newsletter and be the first to know who upcoming guests are: http://eepurl.com/iGJzII 

Darin Wright knows the power of color, and she’s built her work around helping people feel confident in theirs.

In this episode, Darin shares how selling makeup at 14, riding shotgun on her dad’s TastyKake route, and even a short stint as a “terrible waitress” taught her client-first sales and honest communication. She also shares how her winding path through banking, real estate, and retail, paired with a frustration with one-size-fits-all makeup, inspired her to start Elea Blake Cosmetics and create the EB Hues color system.

Darin Wright is the owner of Elea Blake Cosmetics. You can learn more on their website (eleablake.com) and connect with Darin on LinkedIn (linkedin.com/in/darin-wright-25276511).

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

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

Subscribe to the weekly newsletter and be the first to know who upcoming guests are: http://eepurl.com/iGJzII

Doug Thompson has a knack for seeing the bigger picture… whether on the soccer field, in business, or in civic life.

In this episode, Doug shares why the best players are the ones who make everyone else better, how a detour into screenwriting led him to USC and ultimately into a career in real estate development, and why he had to “fire” himself in order to move his career forward.

Doug Thompson is the President of HFS Capital Advisors. You can connect with him on LinkedIn (linkedin.com/in/doug-thompson-28218613).

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

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

Subscribe to the weekly newsletter here and be the first to know who upcoming guests are!