The Wow Factor

Steve White has more than 25 years of experience in the cable industry. He currently serves as the President and Special Counsel for Comcast. He is responsible for leading all operations, including sales, marketing, engineering, and customer service, across 15 states. Steve is also a prominent advocate for diversity and inclusion and has been recognized as one of the most influential Black executives in America.

Steve joins us on The Wow Factor podcast to share his experiences and insights on leadership, diversity, and inclusion and how building a diverse and inclusive workplace contributes to the success of an organization. He discusses the challenges he faced while leading high-performance teams and how he overcame them. Steve also discusses his involvement with ACE Scholarships, an organization providing financial scholarships to low-income families, and why he believes education is critical to social mobility.

"Everyone's watching the leader, and they pick up the habits of the leader." - Steve White

"Everything starts with awareness." - Steve White

"Education is about knowledge and awareness and reflection. It's not about two plus two; it's about why you've been placed on this earth." - Steve White

This Week on The Wow Factor:

• Steve's background and how he got started in the telecommunications industry
• The importance of developing talent and creating a culture of innovation
• How Steve stays motivated and inspires others to achieve their goals
• The importance of setting clear expectations as a leader
• Strategies for building a diverse and inclusive workplace that values and leverages differences
• The role of communication in effective leadership and how to create a culture of trust and transparency
• The challenges of leading during a crisis and how to navigate through uncertainty and change
• The importance of mentorship and sponsorship in developing the next generation of leaders
• Strategies for managing stress and maintaining work-life balance in a fast-paced and demanding environment
• The impact of technology on leadership, and how to leverage it to drive innovation and growth
• Steve's involvement with ACE Scholarships and his thoughts on the importance of education in creating social mobility

Steve White's Word of Wisdom:

The five or six people we spend the majority of our time with are who we will become. So be careful how you select your friends, be careful who you spend your time with, and ensure they're pouring into you in a positive way.

Connect with Steve White:

• Comcast Corporation Website
• Steve White Comcast on LinkedIn

Connect with The WOW Factor:

• The WOW Factor Website
• Connect with Brad Formsma via email
• Brad Formsma on LinkedIn
• Brad Formsma on Instagram
• Brad Formsma on Facebook
• Brad Formsma on Twitter

Our guest on this episode of the Wow Factor podcast is Chris Wright, the CEO and Chairman of the Board of Liberty Energy. Chris has an impressive background in the energy industry, having worked in oil and gas, fusion, solar, and geothermal energy. He founded Pinnacle Technologies at the young age of 27 and has served as Chairman of Stroud Energy, in addition to sitting on the board of several nonprofits. Chris is also an outdoor enthusiast and a devoted family man.

During our conversation, Chris shares his experiences as an entrepreneur, including the moment he realized he wasn't cut out to work for other people. He offers his thoughts on climate change, the importance to society as a whole of oil and gas, and why he made his #ThankYouNorthFace YouTube video. Chris also shares more about his work with ACE Scholarships, which awards financial scholarships to low-income families so promising students can attend the school of their choice.

"Just because people say you can't do it, doesn't mean you can't." - Chris Wright

"Humans are all different. They need to be doing different things; they value different things, they fear different things, they're inspired by different things." - Chris Wright

This Week on The Wow Factor:

● What Chris discovered about his passion for big science in his first semester at MIT

● The moment that Chris realized that he wasn't cut out to work for other people

● Some of the essential lessons that Chris learned in his first job after college

● Why he started Pinnacle Technologies at the young age of 27

● The process of hydraulic fracturing or 'fracking' and why Chris is such a staunch supporter of the practice

● Some of the paradoxes inherent in the discussions around climate change

● Why Chris made a YouTube video calling out North Face's hypocrisy and how it led to the #ThankYouNorthFace campaign to force a discussion of the multiple uses of oil and gas in products

● The bottom line on climate change, according to Chris

● Why the ACE Scholarships program was created

● Why the current policy of trying to restrict the development of oil and gas is raising prices and damaging communities worldwide

Chris Wright's Word of Wisdom:

"There are huge challenges out there. But if you make good decisions, you choose the right partners, and you're a little bit bold, you can do a lot." - Chris Wright

Connect with Chris Wright:

● Liberty Energy Website

● Thank You, North Face on YouTube

● Chris Wright on LinkedIn

● Liberty Energy on Facebook

● Liberty Energy on LinkedIn

● Liberty Energy on Twitter

● Liberty Energy on Instagram

Connect with The WOW Factor:

● The WOW Factor Website

● Connect with Brad Formsma via email

● Brad Formsma on LinkedIn

● Brad Formsma on Instagram

● Brad Formsma on Facebook

● Brad Formsma on Twitter

Lt Col Dan Rooney, an Air Force fighter pilot and a force for good. From humble beginnings above his garage, he founded The Folds of Honor Foundation to provide educational scholarships for the families of fallen military members. In his new book, FLY INTO THE WIND: How to Harness Faith and Fearlessness on Your Ascent to Greatness, Lt Col Rooney demonstrates how we are all connected by God, and the path to fulfillment begins with changing ourselves to better one another.

Lt Col Dan shares his faith in the concept of synchronicity and how chance and purpose allow God to bring people into our lives that shape us. He shares the incident that planted the seed of Folds of Honor in Lt Col Dan's mind and the moment he felt the hand of God on his shoulder calling him to do something more significant with his life. He also explains why he believes that all great leaders need to take that big step and have the courage to take action before they are ready and surrender to a higher force.

"Great leaders have got vision, and they've got humility." - Lt Col Dan Rooney

"Resistance isn't placed in our lives to keep us down. It's actually in our lives to raise us up." - Lt Col Dan Rooney

"You are the sky; everything else is the weather." - Lt Col Dan Rooney

This Week on The Wow Factor:

● Dan's early life and the lessons about hard work that his very first job at the Stillwater Country Club, Oklahoma, taught him

● The chance encounter that made him realize what he wanted to do with his life

● How Lt Col Dan came to be compared to Tiger Woods

● Some of the challenges that Lt Col Dan has encountered in his life, including recognizing that his ego was getting in his way

● Lt Col Dan's code of living based on CABU (Ceiling and Visibility Unlimited) and how he used it to get through some tough times

● Lt Col Dan shares the two most significant barriers to achieving your goals

● The power of forgiveness and how getting rid of that parasitic drag can transform your life

● The importance of having a routine in staying motivated

● Why Lt Col Dan firmly believes that if you write your plans down, they are more likely to happen in your life

● Why Lt Col Dan appealed to Jack Nicklaus to support American Dunes and how it helped them raise $1.1 million for Folds of Honor

Lt Col Dan Rooney's Word of Wisdom:

Go before you're ready. The single strand of DNA that ties every great leader together is the understanding that you'll never have all the answers, but if you have the courage and faith to go before you're ready, people will follow you.

Connect with Lt Col Dan Rooney:

● Folds of Honor Website

● Lt Col. Dan Rooney's Website

● Lt Col Dan Rooney on LinkedIn

● Lt Col Dan Rooney on Instagram

● Lt Col Dan Rooney on Facebook

● Lt Col Dan Rooney on Twitter

● Fly Into the Wind: How to Harness Faith and Fearlessness on your Ascent to Greatness by Lt Col Dan Rooney

Connect with The WOW Factor:

● The WOW Factor Website

● Connect with Brad Formsma via email

● Brad Formsma on LinkedIn

● Brad Formsma on Instagram

● Brad Formsma on Facebook

● Brad Formsma on Twitter

Craig Dance's passion for sports has fueled his desire to make Champion Coach the most respected name for motorcoach ground transportation among professional and collegiate teams. He is fully committed to providing customers with the newest models, cleanest motorcoaches, and the latest technology on the road today. Craig and his wife Hazel married in 1989 and have three adult children working at Champion Coach. They are both devoted Christians seeking to honor the Lord in everything they do, both personally and professionally. Craig currently serves on the Advisory Board at Truist, Capital Campaign Committee at Joni & Friends, and as an elder at his local church, Praise Cathedral. He has also made an appearance as a guest on Dr. James Dobson's Family Talk show.

Craig and I connected on the show over our shared love of giving, and I know you'll love our conversation on why giving to ministries that make a real impact can profoundly affect you as an individual. Craig also tells his stories of starting the business and meeting some of the sporting greats and why that personal touch and family atmosphere is one of the cornerstones of Champion Coach.

"What teams and customers remember is the quick response to a problem." - Craig Dance

"The challenge for all of us in businesses is to stay at our best every day." - Craig Dance

"Giving set me free." - Craig Dance

This Week on The Wow Factor:

● What made Craig decide to leave South Carolina for the University of Georgia

● How Craig came up with the business idea for Champion Coach

● The inner workings of Champion Coach and how they manage the team movement in Major League Baseball and NCAA basketball tournaments, among others

● Some of the big personalities the drivers see up close and personal, including Coach K at Duke

● Their commitment to providing a fantastic experience to their service users

● How Craig grew the business to meet increased demand

● How Champion Coach handled the challenges of the pandemic and what they're doing to recover post-COVID 19

● The importance of being transparent if problems do crop up

● Why the culture at Champion Coach is based on three central pillars, including "Sowing Back into the Kingdom"

● Why Craig loves giving to ministries that are making an impact

● What's next for Craig and Champion Coach

Craig Dance's Word of Wisdom:

Don't sell your life out for the business. Maintain a work/life balance that allows you to spend time with your family. Don't undervalue honesty as a quality, always underpromise and over-deliver, and be transparent with your team and your customers.

Connect with Craig Dance:

● Champion Coach Website

Connect with The WOW Factor:

· The WOW Factor Website

· Connect with Brad Formsma via email

· Brad Formsma on LinkedIn

· Brad Formsma on Instagram

· Brad Formsma on Facebook

· Brad Formsma on Twitter

Joni Rogers-Kante is a successful entrepreneur and the founder and CEO of SeneGence, a billion-dollar network marketing company and global leader in luxury cosmetics. Joni's journey to success started at the age of 16 when she began working for the Sav-On Corporation and eventually became the Assistant Manager of the highest-performing store in the chain. Her passion for entrepreneurship led her to pursue a career in direct sales cosmetics. In 1999, Joni launched SeneGence, which she has built into a successful and thriving company that empowers women to reach their full potential.

I'm delighted to have Joni Rogers-Kante with me on the podcast this week to discuss how her father's strong work ethic led to her interest in becoming an entrepreneur. She shares how she built SeneGence from the ground up while also caring for her young family and what led to her interest in creating cosmetics that were actually good for the skin. Joni also shares what the SeneGence achievement trips are and how they build relationships outside of work and create a beautiful community.

"I always need the interaction, conversation, and the influence of others, even if it's just throwing around ideas that get my creative juices going." - Joni Rogers-Kante

"Follow that gut instinct." - Joni Rogers-Kante

"I saw that a career in direct sales could allow me to work from my home and use my brain to build while taking care of my family." - Joni Rogers-Kante

This Week on The Wow Factor:

● Why Joni decided to leave college and work full-time as a beauty consultant

● Finding the balance between building a business and having a young family

● How Joni found the chemist to help her fulfill her dream of creating anti-aging cosmetics that are good for the skin

● Some of the challenges that Joni has overcome in her journey, including a considerable issue with funding her first venture

● What direct sales involves, and how it empowers female entrepreneurs

● How the financial side of things works for SeneGence employees

● The Make Sense Foundation and how they support women and children in crisis

● Why Joni decided to write her book Million Dollar Lips

● Why SeneGence is seeing such significant business growth in Australia currently

● The extraordinary project that Joni and her husband have taken on in her hometown of Sapulpa, Oklahoma

Joni Rogers-Kante's Word of Wisdom:

Be true to yourself. Don't be afraid to listen to that divine voice that steers you toward the correct decision, regardless of how difficult that decision is.

Connect with Joni Rogers-Kante:

● SeneGence USA Website

● Joni Rogers-Kante on LinkedIn

Connect with The WOW Factor:

● The WOW Factor Website

● Connect with Brad Formsma via email

● Brad Formsma on LinkedIn

● Brad Formsma on Instagram

● Brad Formsma on Facebook

● Brad Formsma on Twitter

Mark Houser is the founder of Symphero Energy Solutions, LLC, an advisory services company in the oil and gas and renewable energy development markets. Before starting Symphero Energy Solutions, Mark served as Chief Executive Officer of University Lands from 2015 to 2021; he also held multiple executive roles for Enervest, Ltd. and Occidental Petroleum & Canadian Occidental Petroleum, Ltd. Mark began his career in 1984 with Kerr-McGee Corporation. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in Petroleum Engineering from Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, and an MBA from Southern Methodist University. Mark currently serves on numerous boards including The Houston Methodist Hospital System and Enerplus Corporation. He and his wife, Lou, have 4 daughters, 9 grandchildren and are active in their church and numerous faith-based organizations in the Houston community.

Mark is on the podcast this week to share how his interest in pursuing a career in the oil and gas industry developed and got him fired up with a vision of what things could look like for him going forward. We dive right into some of the most transformational moments of his career and how they often coincided with transformation in his personal life too. And we dig into the importance of working for a company whose values align with yours and how you share that company culture with the whole team.

"We all need aspirations." - Mark Houser

"The key is to stick to your values and stick to your convictions." - Mark Houser

"For you to deliver on your plans, you have to have your employees all engaged in a common mission." - Mark Houser

This Week on The Wow Factor:

● What Mark learned about customer service and commitment to work from his parents

● Some of the people who influenced Mark in his early life and career, including his uncle

● When he learned firsthand what the oil and gas business was like

● His experience at Texas A&M University and how he continues to live the Aggie Core Values

● Why Mark and his wife both quit their big corporate jobs to move to Dallas, then Canada, with their children in tow

● Why Mark decided to jump ship from a big oil and gas company to a smaller company that aligned better with his values

● The intricacies of raising money in the oil and gas industry and how Mark helped build a committed team

● Moments when Mark developed his leadership skills

● Why a crucial part of leadership is to make sure your story is consistent and Mark's recommendations for how to do that

● What fracking is and how it works

● Why he created Symphero Energy Solutions and what its vision and mission is

Mark Houser's Word of Wisdom:

Be where your feet are — for most people, the opportunities that get presented to them come from folks and opportunities right around where they are. You also must remember to keep your feet moving, so you don't get stuck in the mud. Lastly, keep your eyes out on the Lord and where you're headed.

Connect with Mark Houser:

● Mark Houser on LinkedIn

Connect with The WOW Factor:

● The WOW Factor Website

● Connect with Brad Formsma via email

● Brad Formsma on LinkedIn

● Brad Formsma on Instagram

● Brad Formsma on Facebook

● Brad Formsma on Twitter

Matt Stuller is the Founder and Chairman of Stuller Inc., one of the largest jewelry manufacturing and distributing firms in the United States and an industry leader in the domestic and international wholesale jewelry sector. He is a member of The Jewelers Vigilance Committee and the Board at the Jewelry Information Center. Matt is a winner of the National Entrepreneur Of The Year award.

I'm thrilled to have Matt Stuller with me on the podcast today to discuss how he got his first job in the jewelry sector entirely by accident and how it developed into a lifelong career. We talk about how Stuller Inc. got its most significant break and why Matt's commitment to excellent customer service saw the company expand nationwide. Matt also shares his tips for maintaining a culture of service and generosity at the company and why leading from the front is imperative.

"We get to use those precious materials to be able to create beautiful things that celebrate very special events in life." - Matt Stuller

"I wanted to be able to have a lot of customers who owed me a little rather than a handful of customers that ruled me." - Matt Stuller

"This has been a mission for me." - Matt Stuller

This Week on The Wow Factor:

• How Matt ended up working in a jewelry store
• The practical problems of setting up a jewelry business and some of the challenges Matt faced when looking for his initial funding
• How he built his reputation in the jewelry industry
• The magic of designing something beautiful that somebody wants to buy and keep as a legacy
• How FedEx opened up the doors of opportunity by allowing them to offer next-day delivery
• Matt's perspective on God and faith in business
• How to maintain a strong culture of service as a company grows
• Some of the causes that Stuller Inc. supports financially and why they are so close the Matt's heart

Matt Stuller's Word of Wisdom:

To be successful takes a lot of hard work. As a leader, you have to set an example; you have to set the pace.

Connect with Matt Stuller:

• Stuller, Inc. Website
• Stuller, Inc. on LinkedIn

Connect with The WOW Factor:

• The WOW Factor Website
• Connect with Brad Formsma via email
• Brad Formsma on LinkedIn
• Brad Formsma on Instagram
• Brad Formsma on Facebook
• Brad Formsma on Twitter

Betsy is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Pendleton Square Trust Company and serves as a Director of Pendleton Square Holdings, LLC. Pendleton Square is focused on building multi-generational family relationships, executing family legacy plans, and partnering with family advisors for investment management. Before Pendleton Square, Betsy worked at Cumberland Trust and JPMorgan Private Bank, serving families throughout the Southeast. She was also a Director with SunTrust Robinson Humphrey's Corporate & Investment Banking group for over a decade.

I'm joined on the podcast this week by Betsy, who shares her vision for the Pendleton Square Trust Company and why she is passionate about building a company that has heart and soul and puts relationships first. Betsy also describes how her faith connects with the work she does and outlines some of her spiritual gifts, including the gift of administration, organization, building relationships, and helping families navigate significant life events.

"Always show up with a positive attitude and a grateful heart." - Betsy Brown

"We wanted to put relationships first and understand family legacy ." - Betsy Brown

"Our mission is to guide generations forward to sustain and protect family legacies." - Betsy Brown

This Week on The Wow Factor:

• Betsy's experience of growing up with an entrepreneurial mother and the lessons she learned about creating community in a business
• The four tenants that aligned perfectly for Betsy to create the Pendleton Square Trust Company
• The advantages of having the business in the state of Tennessee
• How Betsy helps her clients preserve the long-term family relationships they already have
• Why Betsy is so committed to building relationships
• How Betsy came up with the right name for her business
• What Betsy envisions for the mid-term future of the Pendleton Square Trust Company
• The typical profile of Betsy's clients and why she loves that her company grows with families
• How to create a digital checklist of information for families
• Betsy's passion for The Jump Fund, an angel investment fund focused on investing in female entrepreneurs with high growth, scalable companies in the southeast

Betsy Brown's Word of Wisdom:

Stay positive, even through tough challenges. I always go back to my father's great advice because he taught me early on to always show up with a positive attitude and a grateful heart.

Connect with Betsy Brown:

• Pendleton Square Trust
• Betsy Blunt Brown on LinkedIn
• The Jump Fund

Connect with The WOW Factor:

• The WOW Factor Website
• Connect with Brad Formsma via email
• Brad Formsma on LinkedIn
• Brad Formsma on Instagram
• Brad Formsma on Facebook
• Brad Formsma on Twitter

Melissa and Doug Bernstein are co-founders of the wildly successful toy company Melissa & Doug. They have spent the last 30 years helping children discover themselves, their passions, and their purpose through open-ended play, designed over 5,000 innovative products for children of all ages, and sold billions of dollars of toys worldwide.

Melissa and Doug are with me on the podcast this week to share why coming from families of educators was the impetus for their mission-based toy business. They discuss the great combination of teamwork that has made their partnership successful and how their skills complement each other in their company. Melissa also shares her personal journey to becoming a better, more authentic leader and how she has brought that self-discovery into the company so others can also learn to bring their whole selves to work.

"There's nothing as powerful as authentic leadership." - Melissa Bernstein

"Melissa and I, from our very first date, were talking about things that we wanted to do for the world, make it a better place." - Doug Bernstein

"I believe that the cry of our soul to be seen authentically grows so loud that we cannot deny it any further." - Melissa Bernstein

This Week on The Wow Factor:

• How Melissa and Doug met through their families
• When they founded their business and why they made the leap into making incredible products for children
• Why they take such pride in continuing to innovate, and how they leverage their curiosity
• Why the first product they manufactured was dubbed number 30
• The moment they uncovered a serious deception and how it turned out to be one of the most extraordinary things that could have happened
• How they have built such incredible relationships and loyalty among their retail base
• The way they work with their distributors and why it was such a steep learning curve in the beginning
• Melissa's personal journey of self-discovery and acceptance and how she is helping adults strengthen their resilience, spark joy and unlock their full potential through her new venture, Lifelines
• How they communicate their culture of authenticity and vulnerability in the company
• The benefits they have seen from inviting investors into the group

Melissa and Doug's Word of Wisdom:

Many leaders lead out of how they think they should be, and they look from the outside in as to who they should emulate. But the truth is, there's nothing as powerful as authentic leadership, which means just having the courage to discover who you are and your unique style, and then having the fortitude to communicate that.

Connect with Melissa and Doug:

• Melissa and Doug's Website
• Melissa and Doug on LinkedIn

Connect with The WOW Factor:

• The WOW Factor Website
• Connect with Brad Formsma via email
• Brad Formsma on LinkedIn
• Brad Formsma on Instagram
• Brad Formsma on Facebook
• Brad Formsma on Twitter

Davy Liu's passion for his work was instilled in him from the very beginning. Davy's family immigrated to the United States from Taiwan when he was thirteen, and he sought refuge in his natural talent – art – as he struggled to adapt to the new culture and language. After graduating from Ringling School of Arts and Design in Florida, Davy became a Disney animator and worked on films including Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, Mulan, and The Lion King. Davy founded Kendu Films in 2004 and is working on a series of animation and picture books called the "Invisible Tails" series, retelling historical stories from a brand new perspective.

I'm excited to have Davy on the show to share with us how he found his passion for art when he moved with his family from Taiwan to the USA and ended up pursuing a career as an animator. Davy explains why, although he loved his job as a Disney Animator, he felt he had to move on and what God called him to do with his talents. Davy and I also discuss why it's essential to take risks, have faith, and commit wholeheartedly to those projects that you know will be transformative.

"Think about what God can do if you just take that little risk." - Davy Liu

"The power of the art of animation can transform children, families, and big children." - Davy Liu

"The only wealth that I had was this vision that someday, the Bible can become a beautiful animated film that can reach the unchurched." - Davy Liu

This Week on The Wow Factor:

• What Davy learned about the power of storytelling from working at Disney
• The positive experience of working with a team of creatives
• The story behind Davy's iconic cowboy hat
• Why Davy moved on from Disney's Lion King to work for the King of Kings
• The humble beginning of Kendu Films and how Davy developed his vision
• How Davy developed the concept of the "Invisible Tails" series, retelling Biblical stories from the perspective of animals
• The process of translating Davy's creative vision onto the screen
• Film projects that Davy has in the pipeline, including The Giant Leaf, which involves working with some of the Disney greats
• How funding is raised for animated films and why people are motivated to invest

Davy Liu's Word of Wisdom:

Be a cowboy. We all have talent, so have Faith, don't follow the world, be a pioneer and take some risks. "You Kendu it!"

Connect with Davy Liu:

• Davy Liu's Website
• Kendu Kids Ministry Website
• Kendu Films Website

Connect with The WOW Factor:

• The WOW Factor Website
• Connect with Brad Formsma via email
• Brad Formsma on LinkedIn
• Brad Formsma on Instagram
• Brad Formsma on Facebook
• Brad Formsma on Twitter