From a U. S. Army Combat Veteran Mindset to Tractor Supply Leadership: Building Teams, Safety, and Continuous Improvement

This week, Marcus and Melanie welcome Rodney Bailey, a devoted husband, father, and decorated U.S. Army combat veteran whose leadership has been shaped by four combat tours and distinguished honors, including the Purple Heart and Meritorious Service Medal.
He now applies that mission-driven discipline at Tractor Supply Company, where he leads operations and continuous improvement initiatives that strengthen safety, streamline performance, and unlock millions in new production capacity.
A Lean Six Sigma Black Belt and Human Performance Advocate, Rodney is committed to developing leaders and building teams who pursue excellence with pride and purpose. A lifelong learner who embraces challenge, he is currently earning his Doctorate in Business with a focus on Strategy and Innovation. Through it all, he remains anchored in faith, family, and service—values that also inspired his children’s book, God Is Bigger Than a Bear.

A National Impact Rooted in Community
Marcus and Melanie also welcome Lindsay Grayson, who serves as the Chief Revenue Officer at K9s For Warriors, overseeing the Development and Marketing teams as she drives brand visibility, deepens donor engagement, and accelerates revenue growth for the nation’s largest provider of trained service dogs for military veterans.
Since joining the organization, Lindsay has reshaped its fundraising trajectory—boosting revenue by 70% in her first year and leading K9s For Warriors to a historic, record-setting year of giving in 2023. Her performance and impact earned her recognition as a Jacksonville Business Journal Women of Influence honoree.
Prior to her nonprofit leadership career, Lindsay worked as a financial advisor with Merrill Lynch, guiding clients through strategic planning and long-term financial goals. A Jacksonville native and proud spouse of an Air Force veteran and First Responder, she finds joy in family time, travel, live music, and cheering on her children, Lucas and Ebby.

In This Episode You Will Hear:
• At redeployment, something happened to me. During Ramadi, they started really looking at traumatic brain injuries. They started putting sensors in the helmets. (30:34)
• If you didn’t lose a liter of blood or you’re not missing a body part, it’s Ibuprofen & water. (30:54)
• When I got back and they hooked up my helmet, and they’re like: “something’s up.” (31:02)
• At 31:10, Rodney tells of one of his traumatic brain injury events as a 50 cal gunner. [He hit the gun at 20mph. It was the only thing that kept him from being thrown from the vehicle.
• I did about 5 months in another deployment and was Medivacked out to Germany with another head injury. (32:29)
• It wasn’t like I had to learn to walk again. I had to learn how to walk straight. (33:35)
• You know that you have to wait for that 30, 45 to 90 second, depending on what kind of round it is. And then you hear the sound – “Here it is.” You gotta run, just hoping that it doesn’t hit you. (36:05)
• There’s beauty in some fights. (38:33)
• Sometimes there’s like a calm and pause in war. (42:35)
• If you’re gonna transition from the military, I think there’s some things that are grounded in you – core beliefs, values, and everything like that. (49:26)
• At Tractor Supply, one of the things that brought me to it is the core missions and values. (49:46)
• 10% of all people who work for Tractor Supply are veterans. (50:46)
• This was the first company that actually told me, “Hey, go home and spend time with your family.” (51:13)
• [Lindsay] Tractor [Supply} has helped put mor leashes in the hands of veterans, and they really believe in our mission. (54:51)
• Lindsay shares how veterans go about applying for a canine from CaninesforWarriors.org. (55:31)
• [Marcus] We’re conditioned to come in – we’re not conditioned to get out. (57:31)
• The only thing that’s gonna stop you, is you. (70:32)
• Sometimes you’re dealt with cards, but you’re writing the book of your life. (72:21)

Support Tractor Supply:
- Tractorsupply.com/hometownheroes

Support K9s For Warriors:
- K9s For Warriors - Service Dogs for Veterans with PTSD

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