Spilling The Title Tea

Chad Aldridge is a loan and Business Development Officer at First Southern National Bank in Richmond, Kentucky. He made major life changes all at once and the stress and anxiety had an effect on him. He changed jobs, got married, and became a father in a short period of time. 

He shares how there was no shame in seeking help. He also is grateful for his supportive wife and the people at First Southern National Bank who believed in him and his ability to build relationships and business. This conversation is a first-hand account of triumph over trials and how there is no shame in getting help when needed. 

Episode Highlights: 

[00:50] Chad grew up in Irvine and studied at Eastern Kentucky University. He grew up in a small town where everyone knew everyone else.

[03:35] Chad has been in banking for 12 years.

[05:02] Chad has experienced a lot of changes recently. He started a new job at First Southern National Bank. He became a loan officer. He got married, and he and his wife had a baby.

[06:11] Nobody cares how much you know until they know that you care. 

[07:40] Stress and anxiety began to set in with all the new changes and Chad's life.

[08:58] At first, Chad was prescribed medication, but eventually he was able to cope with things without it.

[10:44] We discuss why sometimes we are harder on ourselves then we should be, and how others often see the potential before we do.

[11:26] Chad's supportive wife pushes him to be better.

[12:28] It's been wonderful building the business relationships that he's built in the past few months.

[13:24] Moving out of your comfort zone and growing and expanding.

[16:33] Chad shares advice about talking to people for help and not worrying about having more than you can handle. Seasons build muscle for the next chapter. It might be a test but you'll make it.

Resources & Links Related to this Episode

• Springdale Title
• Chad Aldridge LinkedIn
• Chad Aldridge First Southern National Bank

Jae Tolliver is a top producing loan officer Union Home Mortgage in Carmel, Indiana. The highs and lows of the market is enough to keep anybody busy, but Jae also recently went through a company merger and then moved on to another company. Jae talks about the effect this has had on his business and personal life. We also learn about Jae’s family life and his two little miracle twin babies. 

They had been trying to start a family since 2009. They went through eight rounds of IVF before they had the babies. In 2014, they ended up with a beautiful boy and beautiful girl. We also learn about their struggles and the joy and challenges of having twins. Jae also shares a health struggle the family has been struggling with that has really put things in perspective. 

Episode Highlights: 

[01:05] The market runs in cycles. The timing of the merger was a blessing, because it was something with a lot of potential to be excited about.

[02:56] There was a landslide of business in 2020. 

[03:33] Jae is married and has twins at home. Becoming a parent was a journey. They went through eight rounds of IVF and almost adopted a child.

[04:14] They now have two little miracles at home. The process made their faith stronger. They had been trying to have babies since 2009.

[06:11] They worked with some talented doctors and everything worked out.

[08:33] In 2019, they discovered that one of the babies was having vision problems. His son, Ren was diagnosed with retinal dystrophy. He was losing his central vision and going blind.

[10:48] After a lot of testing, they discovered that he had a genetic issue called Batten Disease.

[12:01] They are now on a faith Journey. Their son is now completely blind.

[13:55] He can read and write in Braille, and he loves typing in Braille. 

[14:31] It's a growing struggle, because there's also a dementia piece with the disease. 

[17:16] Jae talks about the struggles of finding better caregivers. 

[18:49] The impact of everything is also hard on their daughter, Ruby.

[21:13] Jae shares the myth of work life balance. It's more like work life integration.

Resources & Links Related to this Episode

• Springdale Title
• Jae Tolliver Union Home Mortgage
• Jae Tolliver LinkedIn
• Batten Disease
• Victory for Ren

Michelle Connor is a top-selling real estate agent for Century 21 in Richmond, Kentucky. We dive into why she moved to the area and her love for real estate. I love Michelle's story of perseverance, faith, and a belief that every challenge, every tear, and every moment holds purpose. She is a success in real estate and in her family life. 

We talk about her unwavering work ethic and the respect and appreciation she has for her team. Michelles shares her deeply personal story of infertility and how her miracle, Jesse came into this world. We uncover the sandpaper seasons of Michelle's life, and discover how she emerged smoother and stronger. I hope you’re as inspired by Michelle's journey as I am. 

Episode Highlights: 

[01:06] We dive into how Michelle ended up in Richmond and how she remains one of the top selling agents.

[01:41] Michelle and her husband settled in the Lexington area. They love it here and think the people in Richmond are amazing.

[02:18] The key to her success is hard work. She believes you need to get up every day and hit the ground running. Every deal is different and there's constant training.

[02:51] Michelle contributes a lot of her success to the amazing team she's privileged to work with.

[03:32] Michelle always wanted to be a realtor and when she moved to Richmond, she finally took the plunge. She also loves helping people.

[07:41] Michelle shares how she ended up marrying her husband. They started a little later in life and wanted to start a family right away. 

[08:27] She discovered she had endometriosis and would have to do IVF in order to have a child.

[09:47] The hormones and the procedures create an emotional roller coaster. 

[10:54] She found a new fertility doctor. They moved on to donor eggs. The procedure worked, and they named their baby Jesse which means gift from God.

[13:03] Jesse is a miracle, and they share with him about the donor angel.

[14:20] God doesn't waste our tears. 

[15:03]  Advice from Michelle includes that everything happens for a reason. Even if the news isn't the news that we expect, we have to believe that God has our best interest at heart.

[16:12] Sandpaper seasons are rough, but they smooth us out. It's worth the walk.

Resources & Links Related to this Episode

• Springdale Title
• Michelle Conner (859) 544-0770
• [email protected]
• Michelle Conner, CENTURY 21 Real Estate Agent in Richmond, KY
• Michelle Conner (c21.homes)
• Michelle Conner Facebook

Don and Kasie Copeland are a husband and wife team at Thrive Mortgage in Tampa and Pensacola, Florida where Don is the Area Manager. Today, we get a glimpse into what it’s like to be a husband and wife team juggling areas that are 500 miles apart. 

We also learn their journey of a chronic health condition that Don has been suffering with for the past 10 years. We also get the good news that he is about to have surgery that will better both of their lives. This is a true story of love as Kasie shares how much she’s looking forward to having her partner in business and life back. 

Episode Highlights: 

[00:56] Don and Kasie are licensed in multiple areas, but their main area is Tampa and Pensacola, Florida. Don shares how they handle working in a large area that's 500 miles apart.

[02:14] When you love your job and you love your partner, it makes it a lot easier when working together. They get a lot done while driving to the locations.

[04:01]They have ties to both Tampa and Pensacola and call both locations home.

[05:32] Kasie shares Don's health struggles. Don has suffered from chronic migraines for over 10 years. He's having surgery on Monday which will hopefully slow down the constant migraines.

[06:17] They are super excited about this journey and how much better their relationship will be when Don isn't dealing with constant headaches.

[08:25] Don and Kasie are a husband and wife team and business partners. They are traveling to Dallas for the surgery. It's exciting and nerve-wracking. 

[09:25] Kasie says that Don is one of the strongest people that she knows.

[10:28] It's been 10 years since Don has had a life without pain. They are so excited for this new chapter in their lives.

[12:46] This is their second chance to kick butt in both markets that they work in.

[14:43] Kasie shares the importance of communication, understanding each other, and realizing that Don is in pain. 

[17:46] Business can be stressful, but they laugh to get through the day.

[19:24] Kasie shares how Springdale Title has also been a wonderful part of their village.  

Resources & Links Related to this Episode

• Springdale Title
• The Copeland Team
• [email protected]
• (850) 462-4811
• Don Copeland Thrive Mortgage
• Kasie Copeland Thrive Mortgage 
• The Copeland Team on Facebook
• The Copeland Team - Tampa Bay on Facebook

Angie Topp has not only made an impact in the mortgage industry but also in the lives of her loved ones and her community. Angie is a seasoned mortgage professional and the Branch Manager at Thrive Mortgage in Bluffton, Indiana. We learn the story of how her adopted daughter, Mari, helped encourage them to open an ice cream shop that not only helped revitalize downtown, but has provided jobs for local teenagers and special needs youth. 

We learn about the meetings and all of the hard work that went into the process. Angie also shares wisdom about her decision-making process and how it is anchored in prayer for inspiration and guidance. She urges us all to be confident in our choices, putting a stake in the ground, and drawing strength from our core values when faced with challenges.

Episode Highlights: 

[01:10] Angie Topp has been in the mortgage industry for over 30 years. She's a true entrepreneur at heart and opened a second business called Toppings. This was an idea from her second daughter Mari. 

[02:03] Mari decided to take a gap year after graduation from High School. She suggested opening an ice cream shop. 

[03:08] Mari organized a meeting with Bluffton NOW! The location they wanted was going to be available at the end of the year. 

[05:48] They got the lease on the building on December 1st. They were also cleared to sell Chocolate Shoppe ice cream. 

[06:25] They had to redo the entire building and pass inspection. Mari became certified to be a food manager and they opened the door on the day after Easter. 

[07:31] For her daughter, it went from a dream to a job. She manages and hires. They also rotate flavors and sell 24 at a time.

[09:02] It helped bless downtown and the community. 

[10:02] They've also hired kids with special needs.

[11:33] Mari was adopted from Ukraine at 16 months, and she's in a wheelchair. At the time, they had a 5 year old and afterwards adopted a boy from China. 

[13:53] They had to budget to save up enough for the adoption. Whenever there was a need, it was met. 

[15:54] Angie's been really blessed, because every job that she's had has been flexible enough to care for the children.

[16:29] They started Toppings in the middle of the pandemic.

[17:19] Angie shares challenges that her kids have gone through. She hopes that their faith and the love that they have received overpowers all of that.

[19:29] They are thankful for the journey and have great ice cream whenever they want it. 

[21:25] We learn about Angie's decision making process. She always prays for inspiration and guidance. Be confident with your decision, put a stake in the ground, and when things get rough go back to that.  

Resources & Links Related to this Episode

• Springdale Title
• Angie Topp Thrive Mortgage
• Thrive Mortgage - Bluffton Indiana on Facebook
• Toppings Ice Cream Facebook
• Bluffton NOW!
• Chocolate Shoppe Ice Cream

Welcome to part two of an interview with Laura Carpenter, her husband Randy Carpenter, and their friend and loan agent Rose Rex from The Laura Carpenter Group. Rose kicks off this part of the interview with her story and how Laura will always be a part of her life. 

We talk more about the origins of the company, Rose’s story, how it’s really a family business, and the influence and direction of God in their business and life. They love doing the best they can for each client. This is a great story about a family business that is going so well, it doesn’t even feel like work. 

Episode Highlights: 

[00:46] Rose shares her story of opening her own business and consulting for Laura. After COVID, she became full time for Laura. 

[03:37] Rose is super organized and has everything in order. Randy and Rose keep everything cleaned up with standardized work.

[04:51] The three of them are like family.

[05:27] Laura shares the story of their cottage that they call the healing house. 

[08:01] Rose shares her story of leaving her home in Florida. Her step-daughter bought it with a family discount. 

[09:38] They share how God helped them with their lives and direction.

[12:52] We talk about having hope for the future of our children. Things have changed a lot, but kids still need hope. 

[16:12] The best compliment they can get is a referral.  

[19:27] Compliance and being ethical is a top priority.

[21:59] We talk about struggles and big rocks. 

[22:53] Laura shares the roles of each person including Randy being the personal driver.

[23:20] Ashley shares one of her biggest takeaways from today's conversation, and that's the process and how everyone does what they love to the best of their ability.

[24:52] Laura breaks down how the whole family is involved in the business and focuses on their individual strengths. 

Resources & Links Related to this Episode

• Springdale Title
• Laura Carpenter Keller Williams
• The Laura Carpenter Group Facebook
• High on Berea Airbnb
• Lovely Laurel Airbnb
• Drone-A-Home Randy Carpenter Facebook
• [email protected]
• 859-582-0287 Randy Carpenter

This is part one of an interview with Laura Carpenter, her husband Randy Carpenter, and their friend and loan agent Rose Rex. We kick the show off with Laura and Randy talking about their backgrounds. 

We get to learn about their early life and the many jobs and side hustles that they've had. They've always been hard workers and aren’t slowing down. Laura shares how she always had an entrepreneurial spirit and was always interested in real estate. 

Randy talks about how they finally gave up their jobs, took a vacation to Hawaii to celebrate their anniversary, and slowly began building their business. Laura began working in real estate and eventually formed The Laura Carpenter Group. 

The group wasn't complete until Randy joined the team and then Rose came on board. Their business has now doubled and this is a great conversation for anyone who's ever wanted to be an entrepreneur.

Episode Highlights: 

[01:22] Randy and Laura have been married for 36 years. They dated 8 years prior to that. They've been working since they were kids. Laura wanted to get her real estate license. 

[04:00] Randy and Laura share a little bit about their early life from school to work to having a family.

[04:35] In 2017, Laura and Randy started the Laura Carpenter Group. They were scared, but quit their jobs and went to Hawaii for a vacation. They've always worked, so having their own company seemed like a natural transition. 

[07:10] Randy loves music, being a DJ, and is even interested in podcasting. 

[08:09] After Hawaii, Laura started working in real estate. 

[10:24] Rose Rex was working on home loans, and she and Laura began making deals. 

[12:34] Building a business is hard when you first start out. 

[13:29] Laura and Rose went to lunch and talked about doing business together. 

[15:37] Rose's husband unexpectedly passed away in December of 2018. 

[17:20] Randy came on board as a transaction coordinator, and then Rose came on board, and The Laura Carpenter Group was off and running.

[18:08] Randy learned about standardized work at Toyota. Kaizen is one of the core principles of The Toyota Production System, and it means continual improvement. 

[19:52] Faith has always been important to Laura and Rose. 

[21:10] Randy has always loved learning, and he didn't know anything about real estate but he dove in and their business doubled.

[21:36] Laura is always about relationships, and their motto is once a client, always a friend.

[23:02] Rose wasn't prepared to grieve after losing her husband. Laura was important to her, so she wanted to hook her up with a new lender before she retired.

[24:14] Laura and Randy are like family to her, because of the day they spent at the hospital with her when her husband was in the ER.

[24:55] Laura invited Rose to work with them part-time. 

Resources & Links Related to this Episode

• Springdale Title
• Laura Carpenter Keller Williams
• The Laura Carpenter Group Facebook
• High on Berea Airbnb
• Lovely Laurel Airbnb
• Drone-A-Home Randy Carpenter Facebook
• [email protected]
• 859-582-0287 Randy Carpenter

Ashley interviews Richard Tate the owner of Hampton Hall Movers in Richmond, Kentucky. The mortgage and real estate industry are full of professionals outside of loan officers and realtors. Having a trusted mover is important for clients moving in and out of their homes.  

Hampton Hall Movers can help with more than just moving in or out of your home. They can move furniture for you when remodeling is happening, rearrange heavy items in your home, bring items to and from storage, move items for businesses, and more. 

We talk about how rare it is to see honest, trustworthy service that goes above and beyond these days. We also talk about Richard being a solo parent for his four kids after his wife passed away five years ago. Richard’s strength, wisdom, faith, and love in this episode are inspiring. 

Episode Highlights: 

[01:09] Richard retired from the Richmond Fire Department about a year ago. He wasn't planning on starting a moving company, but after helping a friend, Hampton Hall Movers was born.

[01:45] Their goal is to be a high quality company that offers high quality service. It's their goal to do a really good job and to build trust with their customers.

[02:23] Clear communication, showing up on time, and doing what you said you were going to do isn't always the norm in some industries. Richard is changing that for his industry.

[03:22] They're high quality business model is working, because the company is growing very quickly.

[04:16] God opens opportunities and things fall into place.

[05:06] Richard enjoys helping people with their moves. Having the right people, tools, and attitude makes it easier.

[05:37] Richard has four kids at home. Their mother passed away five years ago. 

[05:51] His oldest will be 15, and he was 10 when his mother passed. 

[06:15] Richard has seen a lot of strength in his kids as they've grown stronger. 

[07:42] His wife battled cancer for two and a half years.

[10:16] Grace and mercy should be freely given. 

[11:45] Richard shares the importance of paying his tithes. 

[12:33] Richard's parents and step parents have helped a lot. The kids get ready for school and know their routine. Everything always works out. There's no point in stressing. 

[15:00] We talk about the key to navigating change. Don't stress about what you can't control and do the best that you can. 

Resources & Links Related to this Episode

• Springdale Title
• Hampton Hall Movers 859-200-5065
• Hampton Hall Movers LLC | Richmond KY | Facebook

Lisa O'Guin is a top producing loan officer and branch manager with Thrive Mortgage in Lebanon, Tennessee. I totally adore Lisa, and I'm excited to have her on the show. I’m also excited to hear about her unique work situation.

Her work family is also her real family. Lisa’s son is part of the business. Prior to becoming a pastor her son-in-law was part of the business. She also got her husband to join the office after he retired from the postal service. 

Lisa shares some of the highlights of working and mixing family and business in their two offices. Lisa shares her time between the two offices where her son and husband work. We explore her work situation and the confidence that comes from knowing people she trusts are taking care of the clients. 

Episode Highlights: 

[01:13] Lisa's work family is also her real family. She gets to work with her son. Prior to that, her son-in-law was also part of the business. Her husband is a retired postal worker, and he works in the office also.

[03:10] Having her son and husband become part of the business has turned out to be a great fit.

[04:49] A great way to have more time together with your family when you work long hours is to have them join in the work.

[05:18] The brainstorming and parties are working out great too. It's also easier for the team and the family to give back to the community.

[06:35] They work long hours. It's hard to turn work off when at home. Now that it's a family affair, everyone understands when work issues come up.

[08:10] The clients also become family with the high level of service that they receive. 

[09:03] Lisa also shares how she established work boundaries and professionalism. 

[10:05] She is confident about when it's time to pass the torch to her son.

[12:27] To be in the mortgage industry, you either have to be crazy or love it. It takes a lot of energy, and you have to love helping people.

[13:22] They're slogan is, "we finance the dreams without the nightmares."

[14:48] You need to be real with your family and treat them like anyone else who you would hire. Be forthcoming and set realistic expectations.

[17:21] Find strong points and put them in a position that they truly enjoy.

[18:52] Opportunity, trust, and respect are the key to success in building relationships.

Resources & Links Related to this Episode

• Springdale Title
• Lisa O’Guin
• Lisa O’Guin Facebook
• [email protected]

If you remember back to our beginning episodes, Lisa Foster and Linda Blackburn were here to talk about the founding of Redeeming Hope, a 501(c)(3) organization, with a goal of providing housing, counseling, and more for 14 to 18 year old victims of human trafficking and sexual exploitation. Lisa also shares her very personal reason for being so passionate about this cause. If you haven't listened to that episode, you might want to go back and listen. 

Good news, Lisa is back along with Vickie Primrose to give us an update and share all of the progress they've so far made. The house plans are finalized. They’ve received numerous generous donations from 5 acres, to concrete, to a survey. The Attorney General is also helping to raise awareness with two public Human Traffic Awareness 101 classes. Everyone is invited to help raise awareness or support through donations. 

Episode Highlights: 

[01:08] The house plans are finalized. It's going to be beautiful in a farm setting. It's going to be 6000 ft for 10 to 12 girls. They've also received a lot of donations and are going to start building soon.

[01:46] 5 acres of land and a survey were even donated. People have been very generous and have even donated concrete and all types of building materials.

[02:14] They want the community to know why there is such a need for helping girls from 14 to 18 who have been victims of human  trafficking and sexual exploitation.

[03:17] The Attorney General is also creating two awareness classes for the residents of Madison County. The classes will be called Human Traffic Awareness 101. Everybody is welcome!

[04:48] Awareness will help the community recognize when a child needs protection. 

[05:19] The Blue Heart Festival is on June 24th at Church On The Rock. There will be games, giveaways, and a lot of fun! Volunteers are welcome! 

[09:11] MMA Fighter Harry “The Hurricane” Hunsucker is also a sponsor. 

[10:20] Groundbreaking will commence once they have a few more donations. The fundraisers should help. They are hoping for a groundbreaking next month. 

Resources & Links Related to this Episode

• Springdale Title
• Springdale Title Richmond, Ky
• Lisa Foster - Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Foster, Realtors
• Lisa Foster LinkedIn
• Redeeming Hope: Providing a Home for Human Trafficking Victims With Lisa Foster and Linda Blackburn
• Redeeming Hope Instagram
• Redeeming Hope Facebook
• Human Traffic Awareness 101: June 8th 6:00 to 7:30 - Church On The Rock Fellowship Hall - 1049 Richmond Rd N, Berea, KY 40403
• Human Traffic Awareness 101: June 22nd 6:00 to 7:30 - Madison County Public Library - 507 W Main St, Richmond, KY 40475
• Blue Heart Festival: June 24th - Church On The Rock - 1049 Richmond Rd N, Berea, KY 40403
• Harry “The Hurricane” Hunsucker

If you would like more information or would like to donate/sponsor, please contact Redeeming Hope:

• Call/Text/Email Lisa Foster: 859-582-1010 
• [email protected] or [email protected] 
• Facebook: RedeemingHope@RedeemingHope 
• Venmo: https://venmo.com/u/Redeeming-Hope 
• Cash App: https://cash.app/$RedeemingHope

Checks payable to: 

• Redeeming Hope
• P.O. Box 2102 
• Richmond, KY 40476

Look for our logo with a blue background with a white tree.

IF YOU SEE THE SIGNS OF HUMAN TRAFFICKING/ SEXUAL EXPLOITATION MAKE THE CALL:

• Immediate help 911 
• Hotline 1-888-373-7888