My Morning Cup E135 - Kurt Faires’s Morning Cup
Aug 11, 2025
Kurt Faires, a Corporate Attorney at Chambliss, Bahner & Stophel, P.C., shares his extraordinary journey from private investing to practicing law after two decades. He reflects on the life lessons learned through his marathon training and a challenging cancer diagnosis. Kurt dives into the importance of civic engagement, honesty, and gratitude, emphasizing how these values enhance community life in Chattanooga. He also discusses the complex landscape of education reform and the evolving political dynamics in Tennessee, highlighting the need for bipartisanship.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Athens Of The Prairie Upbringing
- Kurt grew up in Columbus, Indiana, where J. Irwin Miller funded world-class architecture for public buildings.
- That small-town influence and Cummins recruitment shaped a culturally rich childhood and sense of community.
Country-Lake Childhood
- Kurt describes an outdoorsy childhood with lake life, bikes, and freedom to roam until dark.
- Those unstructured experiences shaped his comfort with risk, independence, and teamwork.
Summer Jobs Built Work Ethic
- Kurt recounts early summer jobs: mowing lawns, carrying shingles, and becoming a country-club pool manager.
- Those jobs taught responsibility, hard work, and early leadership through practical tasks.