Season 4, Episode 13 of The Front Porch Podcast features Cachelle and Puc Westrupp, the owners and operators of FC Cardinals Soccer Club in Melissa.

What started with a single team of 4-year-olds has grown into a program serving more than 200 kids across 14 teams, all built around one mission: putting kids first.

In this episode, Cachelle and Puc share why they saw opportunity in Melissa long before the growth arrived, how they’ve worked to make competitive soccer affordable for families through sponsorships and scholarships, and why creating quality young adults matters just as much as developing athletes.

From partnering with Melissa ISD and supporting Special Olympics to helping young players dream of one day competing in Melissa’s world-class high school stadium, FC Cardinals is focused on more than soccer.

They’re building community, friendships, and opportunities for local families. Listen as they talk about growth, family, affordability, and their ultimate goal of supporting Melissa students both on and off the field.

Links:

FC Cardinals: Website

FC Cardinals: Facebook

City of Melissa: Website

Music: https://www.purple-planet.com

Season 4, Episode 12: Faith led Jamie and Seth Tilley to Melissa, Texas. They were traveling three days a week from their home in Richardson to attend First Melissa and spend time with Seth's dad. During those frequent visits, they started to fall in love with community, specifically the people. Then ... a seed was planted by one of Seth's friends that changed everything. That seed was watered by Jamie and Seth's entrepreneurial spirit and Cardinal Carriers Express was born, filling a huge void in the community. On this episode of The Front Porch, Jamie and Seth share their story, which is highlighted by their devout faith. #frontporch

Links:

Cardinal Carriers Express: Website 

City of Melissa: Website

Music: https://www.purple-planet.com

Season 4, Episode 11: Zach Stinton and Bruce Tyner love the game of football. They also love kiddos and Melissa, Texas. What do you do with all that love? You create Cardinal Nation Sports. On this episode of The Front Porch, these two passionate fathers talk about how and why they created this community's premier sports league. Cardinal Nation gives every kid in Melissa, Texas, the opportunity to play football or run track. That's all Zach and Bruce wanted to do - that has been their driving force since Day 1. But they also have a lofty shadow mission: Help Melissa High School win state championships for years to come. #frontporch

Links:

Cardinal Nation Sports: Website 

City of Melissa: Website

Music: https://www.purple-planet.com

Season 4, Episode 10: Phil Lytle – a.k.a. Santa Phil – has a heart for giving back in this community. That is kind of ironic to say, because his actual heart was the culprit behind this life-changing transformation. It was a health scare and a brush with death that inspired Santa Phil to start spreading joy across Melissa, Texas. Whether that's greeting customers at Ace Hardware, putting out flags for the Rotary Club or participating in one of the city's citizen's academies ... he's determined to be a light in this community. We even asked him if he thought he was a blessing to Melissa, Texas. Listen to this episode of The Front Porch to hear his drop-the-mic response. #frontporch

Links:

Ace Hardware Melissa: Website

Melissa Rotary: Website

City of Melissa: Website

Music: https://www.purple-planet.com

Season 4, Episode 9: Ashlee Palma had a tough decision to make when she was opening her own salon. She was living in Melissa, Texas, but starting her business down the road in McKinney was the safer bet. Ashlee decided to take a chance and get ahead of the wave in her new hometown. She opted to open The Society Salon and Boutique in Gateway Village last November, and she's starting to hit her stride. The community has embraced her business model, which revolves around creating community within community. This is a empowering conversation with a small business owner, wife, mom ... and soccer coach, who loves how this community shows up.  #frontporch

Links:


The Society Salon & Boutique: Website

Gateway Podcast – Ash & Sage Sauna Spa: Listen Now

Gateway Podcast – Deric Salser (developer): Listen Now

Gateway Podcast – Hope Coffee: Listen Now

Gateway Podcast – Pro Black Belt Academy: Listen Now

City of Melissa: Website

Music: https://www.purple-planet.com

Season 4, Episode 8: Tarnesha Nickens is a firecracker! That is said probably ten times on this episode of The Front Porch. After hearing her story and all the ways she is giving back in Melissa, Texas, you understand how fitting that title truly is. She gets stuff done, and her driving force revolves around legacy. During our conversation, she said: "Sometimes your legacy is not always with the next generation - with your children - it's what your handprint has left in the community that you're in." That one was one of many "drop the mic" moments on this episode. #frontporch

Links:

City of Melissa: Website

Music: https://www.purple-planet.com

Season 4, Episode 7: Father Fred Caldwell is spreading the love of God across Melissa, Texas. And he's doing it in a very unique way. If you visit Kroger ... or WalMart ... or HEB in this community, there is a great chance you'll run into this 91-year-old Catholic priest. He'll be wearing one of his unique spiritual t-shirts, and he'll simply be visiting with people. He has no agenda, but when they find out he's a priest, the conversation usually turns spiritual. But this is only part of Father Fred's ministry. He has also launched a podcast and a video series, which teaches people how to read the Bible.  #frontporch

Links:

Soul Survivors Podcast: Listen Now 

Father Fred's Video Series: YouTube

City of Melissa: Website

Music: https://www.purple-planet.com

Season 4, Episode 6: Brittany and Brian Shull are extra - in the most wonderfully great way. Everything they do is done full throttle, and the ripple effects they're creating across Melissa, Texas, are profound. On this episode of The Front Porch, Brittany and Brian discuss all the different ways they're giving back and supporting this community – whether that's through the youth football league or turning their front yard into a winter wonderland at Christmas. Spoiler Alert: There are countless number of "drop the mic moments" on this episode, because the Shulls are passionate about anything and everything Melissa, Texas.  #frontporch

Links:
Applied Torque Solutions: Website 

Cardinal Nation Sports: Website

City of Melissa: Website

Music: https://www.purple-planet.com

Season 4, Episode 5: Ericca Boone has only lived in Melissa, Texas, for six months, but she already has a heart for this community. On this episode of The Front Porch, we get amazing perspective from someone who discovered exactly where she "should be," after spending a majority of her adult life in the Greater DFW area. Do you know what surprised her the most about Melissa, Texas? Listen and find out!  #frontporch

Links:


Hope Coffee Podcast: Listen Now

City of Melissa: Website

Music: https://www.purple-planet.com

Season 4, Episode 4: Sgt. Bryan Kile has worked for the Melissa Police Department for 16 years, and his love for his department and this community runs deep. Throughout this episode of The Front Porch, Sgt. Kile references the strong culture across the city. It's evident how proud he is to work for the Melissa Police Department.

Reminder: Our shadow mission when visiting with city staff is to humanize them. They are real people serving this community. Sgt. Kile shares a couple things he loves to do when he's not wearing the badge. One of those pastimes involves "herding cats." #frontporch

Links:

Melissa Police Department: Website

City of Melissa: Website

Music: https://www.purple-planet.com