My Morning Cup

E73 - Barry Large's Morning Cup

This special edition of the podcast was recorded with a live audience during Chattanooga Entrepreneur Week - so of course this week’s guest is Barry Large, the quintessential Chattanooga entrepreneur!
 
In this episode, Barry shares how he grew up with a front-row seat to entrepreneurship, seeing his parents own and operate a brick business. This sparked something in him, leading him to pitch a business idea to his best friend - Ted Alling. A year later, their other best friend Allan Davis joined them and the three successfully grew Access America to $500 Million in just ten years. But it didn’t happen without a few bumps and bruises along the way…
 
My Morning Cup is hosted by Mike Costa of Costa Media Advisors and produced by SpeakEasy Productions.
 
Subscribe to our new weekly newsletter here!
 
If you liked this episode, we think you’ll also like:
Brian Elrod’s Morning Cup (E29)
Cam Doody’s Morning Cup (E63)
Ted and Kelly Alling’s Morning Cups (E69)

E72 - Susan Vandergriff's Morning Cup

Susan Vandergriff can give us an inside look into what it’s like to work in each of the corporate, non-profit, and small business worlds thanks to her unique blend of career experiences. But that’s not the only thing with a unique blend… 
 
Her business, The Happy Birdwatcher Co., is the only company in the country that uses data to create a unique blend of seeds to attract birds to your backyard.
 
In this episode, we talk about how her business came to be, the harsh realities of being a business owner (especially as a woman), and what it was like to grow up in an idyllic small town, seeing her family involved in the community and politics.
 
Susan Vandergriff is the Founder and Owner of The Happy Birdwatcher Co., which delivers thoughtfully blended birdseed, tailored to your backyard. You can connect with Susan on Instagram (@happybirdwatcherco) and learn more about her company on the website (happybirdwatcher.com).
 
If you’re interested in the Merlin birding app, you can learn more and download it here: merlin.allaboutbirds.org
 
My Morning Cup is hosted by Mike Costa of Costa Media Advisors and produced by SpeakEasy Productions. Subscribe to our new weekly newsletter here.
 
If you liked this episode, we think you’ll also like:
Gideon Thomas’s Morning Cup (E07)
Gail Loveland Barille’s Morning Cup (E22)
Felicia Jackson’s Morning Cup (E45)

E71 - Sheriff Austin Garrett's Morning Cup

Sheriff Austin Garrett has had a long career in law enforcement, following (somewhat) in the footsteps of his father, Austin “Cowboy” Garrett.
 
In this episode, Sheriff Garrett shares his three reasons for doing the job, why the HCSO uses social media to share the good and the bad, and how he maintains a work/life balance despite having to always be “on.” 
 
Plus, he shares behind-the-scenes information on how the City and County work together, and why he’s been “working short” without a Chief Deputy for almost 2 years.
 
Sheriff Austin Garrett was sworn in as the 60th Sheriff of Hamilton County in 2022. You can learn more about him on the HCSO website here: hcsheriff.gov/gen_info/about_sheriff.php You can also learn more about the Forgotten Child Fund at forgottenchildfund.org
 
My Morning Cup is hosted by Mike Costa of Costa Media Advisors and produced by SpeakEasy Productions. Subscribe to our new weekly newsletter here.
 
If you liked this episode, we think you’ll also like:
Chip Baker’s Morning Cup (E03)
Mayor Weston Wamp’s Morning Cup (E36)
Karen Shostak’s Morning Cup (E44)

E70 - Jacinda Woodward's Morning Cup

Unlike many of My Morning Cup’s guests, Jacinda Woodward has worked at the same organization for her 39-and-a-half-year career. However, like many guests, she’s held several different and diverse roles at TVA.
 
In this episode, we talk about how a co-op opportunity opened the door for her at TVA while she was in college, how she didn’t skip steps as she progressed through the company, and why she feels “galvanized” after three traumatic events.
 
Jacinda Woodward is the Senior Vice President of Power Operations at TVA. You can connect with her on LinkedIn here.
 
My Morning Cup is hosted by Mike Costa of Costa Media Advisors and produced by SpeakEasy Productions. Subscribe to our new weekly newsletter here.
 
If you liked this episode, we think you’ll also like:
Vance Travis’s Morning Cup (E40)
Matt Rasmussen’s Morning Cup (E57)
Marj Flemming’s Morning Cup (E62)

E69 - Ted and Kelly Alling's Morning Cups

Ted and Kelly Alling join the podcast for a double-guest episode to share about the work they’ve been doing at Chattanooga Preparatory School, an all-boys public charter school.
 
In this episode, they reflect on the steps they’ve taken that got them to this point, including how they both grew up abroad, the success and sale of Access America, and a year-long sabbatical in London. We also discuss the importance of being “all in,” caring for your employees, and having fun at work. 
 
You can learn more about Ted, Kelly, and Chattanooga Preparatory here: chattanoogaprep.com/about/who-we-are 
 
My Morning Cup is hosted by Mike Costa of Costa Media Advisors and produced by SpeakEasy Productions. Subscribe to our new weekly newsletter here.
 
If you liked this episode, we think you’ll also like:
Kris and Mandy Simmons’ Morning Cups (E41)
Cam Doody’s Morning Cup (E63)
Dr. Elaine Swafford’s Morning Cup (E64)

E68 - Matt Hullander's Morning Cup (Part 2)

This week I welcome back our first repeat guest, Matt Hullander, who shares everything he’s been doing since he was last on the podcast in episode 3. 
 
Matt shares how a health scare in 2018 made him realize he wasn’t living his life “on purpose” and motivated him to write his book: The Daily Climb. He also shares advice for business owners, such as what makes a business sellable, why you need to find your “one thing,” and how to stop worrying so much.
 
Matt Hullander grew Hullco to become one of the largest exterior remodeling companies in the country before selling the business in 2021. Now, he’s a partner and investor in several real estate development, private equity, and e-commerce businesses. 
 
You can learn more about Matt Hullander on his website here, purchase The Daily Climb here, and connect with him on LinkedIn here. 
 
My Morning Cup is hosted by Mike Costa of Costa Media Advisors and produced by SpeakEasy Productions. Subscribe to our new weekly newsletter here.
 
If you liked this episode, we think you’ll also like:
Chip Baker’s Morning Cup (E04)
Matt Hullander’s Morning Cup (E03)
Patrick Wells’s Morning Cup (E61)

E67 - Brenda Bridges's Morning Cup

No one thinks their marriage will end in divorce, and certainly no one thinks they will turn it into a career - but Brenda Bridges is a successful divorce coach, mediator, and financial advisor.
 
In this episode, Brenda shares how sometimes you just need to get your foot in the door in order to prove yourself, how her definition of success has changed throughout her career, and how she’s turned a terrible event into a way to help other people.
 
Brenda Bridges is the Founder and Owner of Bridging Wealth Solutions, where she helps couples through the emotional and financial aspects of divorce. You can connect with her on LinkedIn here, and you can find her book “Oh $h*t! I’m Getting Divorced” on Amazon here.
 
My Morning Cup is hosted by Mike Costa of Costa Media Advisors and produced by SpeakEasy Productions. Subscribe to our new weekly newsletter here.
 
If you liked this episode, we think you’ll also like:
Gideon Thomas’s Morning Cup (E07)
Stephanie Stuckey’s Morning Cup (E33)
Felicia Jackson’s Morning Cup (E45)

E66 - Jed Mescon's Morning Cup

Long-time Chattanoogans will know Jed Mescon from his 28 years anchoring the morning news on WRCB-TV. After a brief 7-year break from media, Jed is back on-air… but this time, on the radio (Talk 102.3).
 
In this episode, Jed shares how he became “King of the Passover Candy Sale” while in school, how he started his broadcasting career at the age of 16 by hosting a children’s game show, and fun anecdotes about his time at WRCB - like the time he had to visit a nudist colony, and how he proposed to his wife on live TV.
 
Jed Mescon is Program Director and On-Air Talent at Cumulus Media. You can listen to him Monday-Friday from 6AM-10AM on WGOW Talk Radio 102.3. You can also connect with him on LinkedIn here.
 
My Morning Cup is hosted by Mike Costa of Costa Media Advisors and produced by SpeakEasy Productions. Subscribe to our new weekly newsletter here.
 
If you liked this episode, we think you’ll also like:
Callie Starnes’s Morning Cup (E18)
Chris Lytle’s Morning Cup (E28)
Jared Stehney’s Morning Cup (E30)

E65 - Bo Drake's Morning Cup

Bo Drake is drawn to creating opportunities for others, which is what led him to pursue a career in higher education.
 
In this episode, Bo shares how his first career in insurance started by working in the family business (with a warning), how he used LinkedIn to get a foot in the door for higher education, and why it’s important to align your paycheck with your passion.
 
Bo Drake is the Vice President of Economic & Workforce Development and the Tennessee College of Applied Technologies at Chattanooga State. You can connect with him on LinkedIn here.
 
My Morning Cup is hosted by Mike Costa of Costa Media Advisors and produced by SpeakEasy Productions. Subscribe to our new weekly newsletter here.
 
If you liked this episode, we think you’ll also like:
Dr. Rebecca Ashford’s Morning Cup (E16)
Craig Fuller’s Morning Cup (E58)
Dr. Elaine Swafford’s Morning Cup (E64)

E64 - Dr. Elaine Swafford's Morning Cup

Dr. Elaine Swafford blooms where she’s planted. Throughout her life and career, opportunities have been presented and she seized them each time.
 
In this episode, Elaine shares with us her path from Teacher at Soddy Daisy High School to CEO of CGLA and every stop in between. She also tells us the story of her “Michael Jordan” moment, how 4-H speeches trained her to be an extrovert, and how she turned CGLA around within 9 months after it received an ultimatum.
 
Dr. Elaine Swafford is the CEO of Chattanooga Girls Leadership Academy (CGLA), the first all-girls public charter STEM school in Tennessee. You can connect with her on LinkedIn here. You can also watch her OATS series on YouTube here.
 
My Morning Cup is hosted by Mike Costa of Costa Media Advisors and produced by SpeakEasy Productions. Subscribe to our new weekly newsletter here.
 
If you liked this episode, we think you’ll also like:
Ella Livingston’s Morning Cup (E11)
Dr. Rebecca Ashford’s Morning Cup (E16)
Dr. Ternae Jordan’s Morning Cup (E56)