The Mark White Show

On this Make A Difference Minute, I have Dr. Tommy Davis, Executive Director of the North Alabama Homebuilding Academy, sharing why their mission goes far beyond preparing people for careers in the skilled trades.

While the academy was created to help address workforce needs, Dr. Davis quickly realized something even more important was happening. Lives were being changed. He shares the story of a man who entered the program while experiencing homelessness and living in a tent. Through training, determination, and opportunity, that individual found employment, gained stability, and eventually moved into a home of his own.

Dr. Davis also talks about the confidence that comes from learning practical skills, working with your hands, and discovering what you're capable of accomplishing. For many students, the academy becomes more than a place to learn a trade. It becomes a place to rebuild belief in themselves and create a new path forward.

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Tonight, I’m joined by Dr. Tommy Davis of the North Alabama Homebuilding Academy and Marley Phillips as we highlight a partnership focused on creating opportunities and building futures for young people in our community.

Dr. Davis will share how the North Alabama Homebuilding Academy is helping prepare the next generation workforce through hands-on skilled trades training, while Marley Phillips will talk about Girls Inc./Girls Incorporated of Huntsville & the Eureka Program and how their partnership with NAHA is helping open doors for young women to explore career paths they may have never considered before.

This is a conversation about mentorship, opportunity, confidence, workforce development, & helping students discover purpose and direction for their future.

Real stories.

Real people.

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On this Make A Difference Minute, I have Keri Morrison, Executive Director of Live Like Jake, sharing why swim lessons and water competency can save lives. Through Live Like Jake, thousands of swim lesson scholarships have been provided to families across the country, helping children gain critical self-rescue swimming skills. Keri also shares a heartbreaking reality many families may not realize: drowning remains the leading cause of death for children ages 1 to 4. As summer approaches and families spend more time around pools, lakes, and beaches, this conversation serves as an important reminder that water safety is not seasonal. Awareness, supervision, and swim lessons matter year-round.

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On this edition of TMWS, I’m joined by Keri Morrison, Executive Director of Live Like Jake, for a conversation every parent, grandparent, caregiver, teacher, and community member needs to hear.

After the heartbreaking loss of her son Jake, Keri turned unimaginable grief into a mission focused on childhood drowning prevention, water safety awareness, and helping families protect their children through education and swim lesson scholarships.

This is a conversation that could help save lives.

Tune in for an important and heartfelt discussion with Keri Morrison of Live Like Jake. Please share.

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On this Make A Difference Minute, I have Yash Patel with Joe’s Pharmacy in East Limestone sharing what keeps him motivated as a business owner in healthcare. In a world where many people feel rushed or treated like a number, Yash believes helping people still matters. Sometimes, it’s saving someone money on prescriptions, seeing relief on a customer’s face, or simply caring enough to listen. Inspired by his father, also a pharmacist, Yash carries with him a lesson that continues guiding his work today: if you’re in healthcare, you’re there to help people. It’s a reminder that some businesses offer more than products or services. They offer care, compassion, and community.

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At Joe’s Pharmacy, healthcare is about more than prescriptions. It’s about relationships, trust, and making sure people feel cared for. Tonight, I’m joined by Yash Patel, along with Betheny Turner and Liz Drake, as we talk about personalized patient care, supporting families and seniors, the challenges independent pharmacies face, and why local businesses still play such an important role in strengthening communities.

From helping people navigate healthcare decisions to creating an environment where patients feel like family instead of a number, Joe’s Pharmacy is working to make a difference one person at a time.

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On this Make A Difference Minute, I have Ronald Piester, Vice President of Membership and Personnel Certification with the International Code Council, sharing a perspective many people may never think about. Behind every safe home, school, business, and public building are professionals dedicated to protecting lives and strengthening communities. Ronald shares how a family background in architecture and construction eventually led him into the world of code enforcement and public service. What started unexpectedly became a passion centered on helping communities create safe places where people can live, work, learn, & grow. Building safety isn’t just about structures. It’s about creating a foundation for stronger communities and future opportunities.

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On tonight’s show, I’m continuing the conversation surrounding Building Safety Month with a group of guests helping shape the future of building safety, workforce development, and community growth across North Alabama and beyond.

Joining me are Ronald Piester, Vice President of Membership & Personnel Certification for the International Code Council, Steve Woodard, Director of Inspections for Madison County, Alabama-Government, Jeff Kennedy with Lintel Lift & Trust Kennedy, Michael Valenzuela, Chief Plans Examiner for Madison County, and Tommy Davis, Executive Director of the North Alabama Homebuilding Academy.

We’ll discuss the importance of building safety, preparing the next generation of skilled workers, and the partnerships helping create stronger and safer communities.

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On this Make A Difference Minute, I’m honored to share a special recording from my friend, the late Sgt. George Mills, a World War II veteran, former prisoner of war, and a man who dedicated his life to serving others. Captured during the Battle of the Bulge and later liberated in 1945, Sgt. Mills understood sacrifice in ways few ever will.

For years, he shared something he called “Toast to the Flag.” More than a presentation, it was a heartfelt reflection on the meaning behind the red, white, and blue and the freedoms represented by the American flag.

When Sgt. George Mills spoke about patriotism, sacrifice, and this country, he spoke from experience. His words carried the weight of someone who lived through war, endured hardship, and never stopped believing in service to others.

I’m thankful to call Sgt. Mills my friend and honored to share his legacy with you on this Memorial Day.

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On this Make A Difference Minute, I’m sharing a reflection about something many of us eventually come face to face with. For a lot of years, we can carry an unspoken belief that difficult things happen to other people. Then life has a way of getting our attention through loss, health struggles, unexpected news, or simply realizing time seems to move faster than it once did. This conversation is not about fear. It’s about perspective. It’s about recognizing that maybe we’re not meant to live as though we have unlimited tomorrows, but instead to value the people, moments, and opportunities right in front of us.

This MADM is brought to you by Bankston Motor Homes, proudly supporting stories and the people who make our communities strong.

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