Episode Summary
In this episode of the Small Stones Podcast, host Andrew Schory sits down with JP Engelbrecht, CEO of South Central Inc., a family office with diverse investments. JP opens up about the power of mentorship, the role of faith and values in his leadership, what it takes to build a nationally recognized board of directors, and how becoming a pilot taught him to lead with calm, clarity, and focus.
A compelling conversation about authentic leadership, human dignity, and staying grounded in what matters most.
Guest Information About JP Engelbrecht
JP Engelbrecht is the CEO of South Central Inc. (SCI), a family office with a 25+ year track record of acquiring, owning, and operating businesses across a wide range of industries. JP's journey started with SCI's legacy assets in radio, television, and audiovisual services — and he never shied away from an adventure along the way, whether that meant climbing 1,000-foot radio towers in the mountains of Tennessee, pulling graveyard shifts as a classic rock DJ, or borrowing $750,000 at age 19 to buy his first business while still a student at Xavier University.
Following graduation, JP was quickly thrust into the leadership of SCI at age 22 due to his father's health issues. With a first-generation mentality and a constant drive for improvement, he has successfully led SCI into a new and diversified era of investments spanning manufacturing, fire protection, healthcare, banking, and real estate. As an executive, JP has experience with all manner of transactions while serving the companies under the SCI umbrella.
He is also credited with building a first-class, independent board of directors that won Small Business Board of the Year from Directors & Boards Magazine. JP has previously served in leadership roles with the Evansville Regional Business Committee, Evansville Airport, Evansville Commerce Bank, Junior Achievement, the National Association of Corporate Directors, and the International Planned Music Association.
JP and his wife, Allison, have four children and live in Evansville, IN, where they are deeply involved in the Catholic Church at Holy Rosary Catholic Parish, Reitz Memorial Catholic High School, and the Evansville Chapter of Legatus. He is a licensed pilot and is reminded of his true priorities every day by his license plate — CHFCP: Catholic, Husband, Father, CEO, Pilot.
Contact
Website: www.southcentralinc.com
Episode Outline 00:00 — Introduction
• Andrew Schory welcomes listeners to the Small Stones Podcast
• Introduction of JP Engelbrecht, CEO of South Central Inc.
• Overview of South Central Inc.'s history in radio, television, and AV services — now a diversified family office
01:07 — JP's Origin Story as a Business Leader
• "Coin operated as a child" — figured out early that work earned money and independence
• Grew up in the family broadcasting business — "It was showbiz, it was magic"
• Took over the business at 22, just two months out of college, when his father faced health issues
• Leaned on senior executives and an existing board of directors during the early years
02:35 — Overcoming the Challenges of Family Business Leadership
• At 16, his father told him to seek mentors outside the family — unusual but formative advice
• How that early counsel gave him permission to look outward for guidance
• At 46, still figuring out his leadership style
• The value of lifelong learning and continuous growth as a leader
04:22 — Early Mentors Who Shaped Him
• Brother John Stout — English teacher at Memorial High School; funny, curious, got JP interested in Chaucer
• Brother Eugene Philip — stoic, disciplined, Germanic; a mirror of JP's own drive
• Mace Brockla — chemistry teacher who spent two weeks teaching art history; broadened JP's worldview
• Craig Jacobus — hired at 23 to run the radio group; became one of JP's most influential mentors despite JP being his boss
• "Leadership and mentorship and kindness can come from any place"
08:14 — Knowing Who NOT to Listen To
• The "fancy finance folks" — those who crush numbers and chase carry; a longtime source of insecurity
• Friend Kyle Fields: "You hire people like me. You're not supposed to be that way."
• The danger of surrounding yourself with the wrong crowd and chasing someone else's identity
• The ongoing work of understanding and owning your authentic self
11:05 — What JP Looks for When Investing or Acquiring a Business
• Current portfolio: Janus Fire Systems, FiberTech Plastics, and Spiral Health
• "Leadership is the sword and the stone" — the single most important factor
• Every gain and every loss traces back to leadership quality
• Must either find great leadership already in place or be able to solve for it — otherwise, walk away
13:08 — Identifying Great Leaders
• Character: doing things for the right reasons
• Clarity: "Clarity is worth a thousand IQ points" — Ram Charan
• Leaders who can see through the mist, set direction, and move the organization forward
• The cost of endless committee meetings and decision paralysis
15:19 — Building a Nationally Recognized Board of Directors
• South Central has had a board since JP's father launched one in the 1970s
• JP's innovation: increasing outside directors, building through personal relationship
• Process: get to know people, ask if they'd explore a board seat — no pressure, just conversation
• Uses a matrix to avoid over-weighting any one expertise (e.g., finance)
• Currently 6 outside directors and JP as the only insider
• Faith foundation is a key screen: stewardship, not ownership; doing this for God's kingdom
• Monthly written reports, quarterly in-person board meetings
18:59 — Catholic Faith as the Foundation of Leadership
• Human dignity is the core principle — all people are made in the image and likeness of God
• References Pope Leo XIV's encyclical on the dignity of human workers in the age of AI
• "GSD" (Get Stuff Done) — work is good, noble, and honorable
• Running a business with love and respect does not mean running a country club
• Called to serve and take care of the people entrusted to him
21:28 — Aviation and the Lessons of the Cockpit
• Learned to fly to be home more for his family while still meeting business travel demands
• "It was never a passion; it was a means to an end" — then discovered he was good at it
• Flying requires complete compartmentalization: sick kid, business crisis — all of it must wait
• The cockpit teaches focused, controlled decision-making — exactly what leadership demands
• "If you're flipping out, everybody else is going to freak out. This is not okay."
24:03 — Family, Work-Life Balance & Priorities
• License plate: C H F C P — Catholic, Husband, Father, CEO, Pilot — in priority order
• Keeps old license plates on the back of his desk — plans to give one to each child as a reminder
• Golf (not on the license plate) as a humorous reminder to keep things in perspective
• Physical reminders help him return to the right order when priorities drift
27:02 — Speed Round
29:19 — JP's Final Thought: The Call to Leadership
• Leadership = Influence (John Maxwell's definition)
• Everyone is capable of leadership — coaching a little league team, leading a work team, shaping a family
• "It is one of the great calls of this life"
• The gentle nudge of influence is available to all of us
Books & Resources Mentioned
• The Go-Giver by Bob Burg — JP's most impactful book (outside the Bible); on generosity and value-creation
• Awaken the Giant Within by Tony Robbins — currently reading; a 35-year-old classic, recently updated
• No Man's Land: Where Growing Companies Fail by Doug Tatum — next on JP's reading list
• Ram Charan — leadership consultant and author; quoted: "Clarity is worth a thousand IQ points"
• John Maxwell — leadership author; quoted: "Leadership is one word: influence"
Host & Show Info Andrew Schory — Host
Andrew Schory is a business coach dedicated to helping entrepreneurs and business leaders build momentum through small, intentional actions that lead to meaningful results, no matter the size of their business. He is a second-generation family business owner who brings personal experience — including the challenges and lessons of family business leadership — to every conversation.
Community
• Visit smallstonespodcast.com to join the mailing list and subscribe to future episodes
• Schedule a custom one-on-one or group coaching session with Andrew Schory at smallstonespodcast.com
• Share this episode with someone who leads — or wants to lead — at any level
Small Stones Podcast Website