Risk & Resolve

In this episode of Risk & Resolve, Ben Conner and Todd Hufford sit down with longtime pastor and mentor Gary Stump. Gary shares the life-changing story of losing his first wife, Donna, in a tragic car accident, the question from God that reshaped his understanding of trust, and how suffering ultimately led him into pastoral ministry. The conversation also explores Gary’s theological perspective on Israel, biblical prophecy, the church, and the importance of passing faith and leadership to the next generation.

Main Talking Points:

• Growing up in Indianapolis and Brown County, Indiana
• Starting his career in the life insurance business alongside his father
• Meeting Pete John and discovering a personal relationship with Jesus
• How studying Scripture began transforming Gary’s marriage and family
• The devastating car accident that took the life of his wife, Donna
• The question that changed his life: “Do you really trust me? Or do you just say you trust me?”
• Wrestling with grief while raising four young children
• Becoming a student of the Book of Job during his darkest season
• The Charles Stanley message that challenged him not to “waste” his suffering
• Moving from asking “Why?” in accusation to seeking purpose through suffering
• How grief ultimately became part of Gary’s call into pastoral ministry
• Meeting Kathy and watching God rebuild his family
• The influence of Pete John and Malcolm Nabel on Gary’s faith and theology
• Gary’s theological perspective on Israel and the Jewish people
• His interpretation of biblical prophecy, the church, the tribulation, and the future of Israel
• Why he believes Christians can support Israel while still disagreeing with actions of its government
• The influence of visiting Israel and studying the Jewish foundations of Christianity
• Preserving Pete John’s Bible and the legacy of the people Pete led to faith
• Leaving his former church in 2011 without knowing what would come next
• Stepping out in faith and eventually founding Onward Church
• Gary’s desire to write books and identify the next-generation leader for his congregation
• The importance of passing faith, leadership, and stewardship to the generation behind you

In this episode of Risk & Resolve, Ben Conner and Todd Hufford sit down with marketing leader, educator, and entrepreneur Leah Richards Hartzell. Leah shares how the legacy of her father, Dr. Mark “Doc” Richards, continues to shape her leadership, parenting, and business philosophy. From launching Bulldog Moving Company to mentoring college students and balancing family with meaningful work, this conversation explores what it means to build a life that leaves a lasting impact.

Main Talking Points:

• The lasting legacy of Dr. Mark “Doc” Richards
• Growing up after losing her father at a young age
• The values of “Glorify God. Work Hard. Have Fun.
• Choosing Indiana Wesleyan and discovering a passion for business
• Transitioning from pre-med to marketing
• Becoming both a marketing professional and educator
• Why mentoring students extends beyond the classroom
• Launching Bulldog Moving Company from the ground up
• Building a customer-first culture through servant leadership
• Lessons learned from entrepreneurship and family business
• Raising children while pursuing meaningful work
• Why leadership begins with investing in people
• Defining success through faith, legacy, and intentional living

In this episode of Risk & Resolve, Ben Conner and Todd Hufford sit down with Darren Thompson, Founder and President of Process Alliance, to explore an incredible journey from a thirty-year engineering career at Eli Lilly to building one of the fastest-growing pharmaceutical consulting firms in the country. Darren shares lessons on entrepreneurship, faithful stewardship, leadership, marriage, generosity, and why success is ultimately measured by the people you invest in—not the businesses you build.

Main Talking Points:

• Growing up in a blue-collar family in Franklin, Indiana
• Lessons learned from thirty years at Eli Lilly
• Taking the leap from corporate security into entrepreneurship
• Building Process Alliance from a handful of retirees into a national engineering firm
• How COVID unexpectedly accelerated the company’s growth
• Why technical excellence alone isn’t enough to build a lasting company
• Developing the next generation of pharmaceutical leaders
• Creating a culture centered on mentorship and “pouring into people”
• Why stewardship—not ownership—is the foundation of leadership
• Launching Ripple Works to create second chances through meaningful employment
• Restoring dignity through work for people overcoming incarceration and poverty
• Working alongside his wife and navigating the beauty—and bumps—of entrepreneurship together
• The importance of pursuing your spouse every day
• Wrestling with generosity, wealth, and leaving a meaningful legacy

In this episode of Risk & Resolve, Ben Conner sits down with legendary Heritage Christian coaches Rick Risinger and Ron Young to reflect on decades of coaching, friendship, and the lasting legacy of Dr. Mark “Doc” Richards. From state championships and unforgettable games to leadership, mentorship, faith, and the relationships that mattered most, this conversation reveals why great coaches build far more than winning teams—they build people. 

Main Talking Points

• Rick Risinger’s journey from Indiana All-Star to Purdue basketball
• Ron Young’s path through basketball, tennis, and coaching
• Meeting Dr. Mark “Doc” Richards and forming lifelong friendships
• How Doc’s leadership shaped Heritage Christian basketball
• Lessons learned from competition, discipline, and preparation
• The philosophy behind building championship teams
• Why great players make the team bigger than themselves
• The heartbreaking loss of Doc Richards and carrying his vision forward
• Winning seven state championships while keeping people first
• The importance of preparation, scouting, and attention to detail
• Coaching beyond basketball—building character, discipline, and faith
• The role parents, teammates, and assistant coaches play in lasting success
• Why humility matters more than trophies
• Reflections on friendship, legacy, and investing in future generations

In this episode of Risk & Resolve with Adam Weber to explore what it truly means to lead with purpose. Drawing from his experience as a startup founder, executive coach, and leadership expert, Adam shares practical strategies for avoiding burnout, maintaining perspective, and building sustainable leadership. From the “tyranny of the now” to creating healthy boundaries, this conversation offers actionable insights for leaders who want lasting success without sacrificing their lives outside of work.

Main Talking Points:

• Adam’s most embarrassing leadership moment—and what it taught him
• The “Tyranny of the Now” and why leaders lose perspective
• Why business is simply a series of solving problems
• Building centeredness through intentional daily practices
• Leading with calm, predictable presence instead of emotional reactions
• Creating a meaningful life outside of work
• The power of writing a personal life vision
• Why hobbies make better leaders
• Prioritizing physical health to improve decision-making
• Using gratitude as a leadership advantage
• Simple gratitude practices that transform team culture
• Walking, meditation, and creating mental space for better thinking
• Reading timeless wisdom instead of reacting to constant noise
• Leading from the “top of the mountain” with long-term perspective

In this episode of Risk & Resolve, Ben Conner and Todd Hufford sit down with Kristopher Loving, Big Ten football official, Fellowship of Christian Athletes leader, teacher, chaplain, and minister. Kris shares his journey from growing up in Chicago to officiating college football at the highest levels while discovering that ministry isn’t confined to a church building. This conversation explores faith, leadership, sports, purpose, and the courage to say yes when God calls.

Main Talking Points

• Growing up as an only child on Chicago’s west side
• The church influence that shaped Kris’s leadership and faith
• The moment he fully surrendered his life to Christ in 2011
• Learning leadership through church ministry and public speaking
• Moving from Illinois to Minnesota and entering a new season of life
• How a simple conversation led him into sports officiating
• Receiving a vision of ministry through officiating sports
• The unlikely path from first-year official to Division I football
• Working Big Ten football and the UFL
• The hidden preparation, study, and discipline required of elite officials
• Building relationships and ministry opportunities within officiating circles
• How sports became a platform for serving people outside church walls
• Workforce chaplaincy and meeting people where they are
• Creating a legacy of faith, stewardship, and service for future generations

In this episode of Risk & Resolve, Ben Conner and Todd Hufford sit down with Erik Braden, Managing Partner of Braden Business Systems, to discuss family business, technology, growth, and leadership. Erik shares his journey from cold-calling his way onto Wall Street to returning home to help grow his family business through acquisitions, innovation, and a people-first culture. From managed print and IT to AI consulting and automation, this conversation explores what it takes to stay ahead of change while building a business that serves clients, employees, and family well.

Main Talking Points

• Erik’s Indiana roots and early ambition to work on Wall Street
• Cold-calling his way into an internship at Bear Stearns
• Lessons from JP Morgan, private equity, M&A, and board-level leadership
• Why he returned to Indiana and joined the family business
• Braden Business Systems’ evolution from fax machines and copiers to full technology solutions
• Using acquisitions to grow and diversify the business
• Building in downtown Fishers and betting on the city’s future
• Working alongside his father and honoring the family business legacy
• How the pandemic reshaped demand for IT, cloud, and remote-work support
• Why Braden is leaning into AI consulting and implementation
• The importance of helping companies adopt AI—not just turn tools on
• How automation, workflows, and agentic AI will reshape office work
• Erik’s people-first leadership philosophy and “never miss your kid’s game” standard
• Building a culture of energy, optimism, service, and long-term resilience

In this episode of Risk & Resolve, a healthcare leader from the Employers’ Forum of Indiana (EFI) breaks down why employers—not the system—must drive healthcare reform. Drawing from decades in HR and benefits at Ford, this conversation dives into rising healthcare costs, hospital price transparency, and the policy changes reshaping Indiana’s healthcare landscape. From RAND pricing studies to fiduciary responsibility laws, this episode reveals how employers can move from awareness to action—and finally take control of healthcare spending.

Main Talking Points

• Speaker’s background: 25+ years in HR and benefits at Ford, managing large-scale healthcare systems
• The reality: healthcare costs have exploded—from $7K per employee to $27K annually
• Where healthcare dollars actually go: hospitals (45%), physicians (32%), drugs (23%)
• Why employers historically failed to control healthcare costs—and the consequence
• The RAND Hospital Price Transparency Studies and what they revealed
• Shocking insight: Indiana employers pay ~300% of Medicare rates for hospital services
• The imbalance: hospitals overpaid, physicians underpaid
• How price transparency exposed systemic inefficiencies and sparked reform
• Creation of tools like Sage Transparency to help employers compare cost and quality
• Real-world case studies: Employers removing high-cost hospitals and saving millions, Direct contracting strategies driving better outcomes
• Indiana’s rise as a national leader in healthcare policy reform
• Key policy wins: Fiduciary responsibility for TPAs and PBMs, Anti-competitive contract bans, Claims data access and audit rights, Hospital price caps and transparency requirements
• The critical gap: policy exists—but employers must actually use it
• EFI’s role in translating complex policy into actionable employer strategies
• The challenge: benefits teams are overwhelmed and under-resourced
• Why employers must become active purchasers, not passive participants
• Top strategies for employers: Invest in advanced primary care (DPC, onsite, near-site), Steer employees to high-value providers, Optimize contracts and eliminate misaligned incentives, Direct contract with hospitals, Audit claims aggressively, Strengthen benefits teams
• The future: 2027 legislative focus on healthcare—and employers must be ready
• Core message: awareness isn’t enough—execution is everything

In this episode of Risk & Resolve, Ben Conner and Todd Hufford sit down with Don Palmer and Greg Enas, co-founders of Citizen 7, to discuss male friendship, leadership, generosity, mentorship, and building movements instead of organizations. From entrepreneurship and business leadership to faith, community, and legacy, this conversation explores what it means to build men who build others.

Main Talking Points

• How Don Palmer and Greg Enas first met and built a decades-long friendship
• The origins of Citizen Seven and the vision behind it
• Why male loneliness and isolation are growing problems
• The difference between building an organization versus building a movement
• How authentic male friendships are formed shoulder-to-shoulder on mission
• The role of vulnerability, confidentiality, and accountability in friendships
• Why businessmen often struggle to cultivate deep relationships
• The power of “throwing the party” instead of waiting for an invitation
• Building intergenerational friendships and mentorship
• Why curiosity and asking good questions matter in relationships
• Creating opportunities for younger men to lead and carry the baton
• Faith, entrepreneurship, generosity, and civic engagement intersecting together
• How Citizen Seven encourages men to say yes to meaningful action
• The importance of play, fun, and shared experiences in building brotherhood
• Legacy, family, and finishing life well

In this episode of Risk & Resolve, Thompson, founder of Nice Healthcare, shares a powerful story of tackling one of the hardest problems in modern society: healthcare. From his background in statistics to building a care model that delivers healthcare directly into patients’ homes, Thompson breaks down why the system is broken—and how simplicity, access, and aligned incentives can fix it. This episode explores innovation, entrepreneurship, and the role of desire in solving massive, systemic challenges.

Main Talking Points

• Thompson’s background in statistics—and solving complex problems like authorship of ancient texts
• Why healthcare is one of the hardest problems—and why most fail to even define it correctly
• The core insight: outcomes are obvious (cost, access, poor health)—but the root problem is unclear
• The role of desire as the missing ingredient in solving large systemic challenges
• Personal catalyst: navigating a broken healthcare experience as a new parent
• The frustration of fragmented care, repeat visits, and lack of accountability
• The realization: healthcare is overbuilt, inefficient, and disconnected from patient needs
• Founding Nice Healthcare to simplify access, reduce friction, and improve experience
• The model: no clinics—care delivered via in-home + virtual visits (DoorDash-style healthcare)
• Eliminating common patient pain points: travel, cost confusion, insurance complexity
•  Why most people don’t need traditional healthcare infrastructure for everyday care
• Focus on the “many who fund the system”, not just the high-cost fe
• The importance of making healthcare easy, accessible, and perceived as a positive change
• Employer strategy: saving time + money while improving employee health
• Data-driven validation: measurable ROI and reduced total cost of care
• Entrepreneurial journey: risk, near failure, and the moment everything almost collapsed
• The emotional reality of building a company while risking personal financial stability
• Why small, simple changes can drive massive system-wide impact
• The future of healthcare: decentralized, accessible, patient-centered, and efficient