From There to Here

Entrepreneurs Austin Smith and Byron Abrigg sit down with Host Jason Shupp to discuss their academic journey together and emerging partnerships in co-founding a business. They talk about the opportunities to learn, empathy as partners and having a vision.Austin Smith is the co-founder of Mission Control, a community platform for recreational esports. As CEO, Austin primarily leads strategy and product. Prior to founding Mission Control, Austin gained exposure to gaming and startups as a venture associate at Stadia Ventures, an early-stage sports and esports venture capital firm. Austin is a graduate of Saint Louis University with degrees in economics and entrepreneurship and is deeply passionate about his hometown of St. Louis, urban policy, and community development. Austin also serves as an Adjunct Professor at Saint Louis University.Byron Abrigg is the co-founder, CCO and COO of Mission Control, a community platform for recreational esports. Byron started his career in venture capital and accelerators, serving as the Accelerator Coordinator at Stadia Ventures, an early-stage sports tech and esports VC and accelerator program in St. Louis, MO. In addition to his current work at Mission Control, Byron is also an Adjunct Professor at Saint Louis University, where he graduated in 2017.For more information about Mission Control, visit:https://www.missioncontrol.gg/To learn more, visit:linkedin.com/in/jason-Shupp-18b4619bListen to more episodes on Mission Matters:https://missionmatters.com/author/Jason-Shupp/

Entrepreneur Megan Greathouse talks with host Jason Shupp about how her military background shaped her professional pathway. She shares about being comfortable with change, coping with high stress, and having a bias for action.Megan Greathouse is a real estate investor and President & co-owner of Horizon Sign Company, a commercial sign and graphics company she and her husband founded in 2020. She grew up as a "military brat" before joining the Marine Corps herself as a Public Affairs Officer right out of college. After four years on active duty, she used her GI Bill to get an MBA and transitioned to a marketing and brand management position with Purina Petcare Company. However, she knew pretty quickly that she wanted to strike out on her own and decided that real estate and business owners would be her path forward.Megan is obsessed with her two young children and loves to spend time with the family - including their dog, cat, and backyard chickens! She's a travel addict and lover of the outdoors, who enjoys running, hiking, and horseback riding.website: https://horizonsignco.com/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mkgreathouse/Instagram: @parttimeempireTo learn more, visit:linkedin.com/in/jason-Shupp-18b4619bListen to more episodes on Mission Matters:https://missionmatters.com/author/Jason-Shupp/

Mind/Body optimizer Courtney Green defies all norms. She talks with Host Jason Shupp about self-empowerment, the downside of expected outcomes, and the importance of knowing what is right for yourself. Courtney breaks down the Flow state and the opportunities it allows for.A pioneer in optimizing higher intelligence, Courtney Green, CEO, Owner of Spark Consulting, guides leaders who uplift people and the planet. Her career started as an environmental grant manager. Then 911 inspired her to serve on active duty in the Army and the Air Force Reserves in mental health before moving on as an attorney to mediate conflict in the workplace.  Mediation led her to work at an energy company focused on renewables, where she excelled at guiding leaders in elevating their team's communication, motivation, and performance. Driven by the desire to globally change how we do business, Courtney works with leaders who care about people and the planet and are changing the way they operate themselves and their organizations. She is best known for inspiring business leaders to get into a flow state to optimize their leadership and life.  You will frequently find Courtney adventuring in the mountains, either climbing, biking, paddling, or practicing yoga. In addition to outdoor play with her pup Kalei, she is researching flow state and conducting experiments earning her Ph.D. in Applied Psychophysiology.To learn more, visit:linkedin.com/in/jason-Shupp-18b4619bListen to more episodes on Mission Matters:https://missionmatters.com/author/Jason-Shupp/

Former professional MLB pitcher Jacob Turner talks with host Jason Shupp about the rigors of pursuing a childhood dream of becoming an elite athlete. He shares what made him successful as an athlete and a teammate and how re-framing his identity helped him transition to life after baseball.Jacob is a founding partner at JL Strategic Wealth. Jacob’s experience as a former Major League Baseball player provides him with a unique understanding of the challenges individuals and families face in creating and sustaining wealth. With first-person knowledge on how to build out sustainable lifestyles that offer long-term security, Jacob leverages the insights he has gained as an elite athlete to better counsel his clients on their unique life cycles.Before co-founding JL Strategic Wealth, Jacob was a top 10 MLB draft pick. He played 11 years professionally, both at the MLB level as well as internationally in the KBO. Upon retiring, Jacob worked as a wealth advisor at a billion-dollar RIA, heading up their work with athletes.Jacob resides in St. Louis, MO, with his wife Kristin and their four children. Outside of the office, Jacob is passionate about golf, cycling, and the outdoors.Follow Jacob on Twitter @TheSuddenWealthTo learn more, visit:linkedin.com/in/jason-shupp-18b4619bListen to more episodes on Mission Matters:https://missionmatters.com/author/Jason-Shupp/

SEO expert and Web3 thought leader Brian Piper talks with Host Jason Shupp about his pursuit of constant learning, teaching under pressure, and creating opportunities. He walks us through the journey that put him at the forefront of content optimization and now at the forefront of Web 3.0.Brian Piper is an author, speaker, and consultant. Brian has been doing SEO and web content optimization since 1996. He has created online training programs for hundreds of companies, including Xerox, L3Harris, IBM, and Volvo. He has spent the last 7 years focusing on data analytics, digital marketing, and content strategy. In the last year, he has been diving into Web3, community building, NFTs, and social tokens and is the founder of the $PIPER coin. He recently co-authored the second edition of Epic Content Marketing which comes out in February 2023.When he's not creating data visualizations, he teaches wingsuit skydiving and spends time with his wife and six children.Brian has presented at NFTNYC, Content Marketing World, ContentTECH, PRSA Icon, HighEdWeb, eduWeb, MeasureSummit, and Collaborate Summit, is a volunteer and Board member for HighEdWeb and a mentor for the Content Marketing Institute.As noted in the show, here are links to Brian doing a deep dive into Web 3.0, crypto, NFT's and Blockchain :A beginners' guide to Web 3 marketing, NFT's and blockchain (in 11 Q&A):https://youtu.be/CQygeDOR6SQWhat creators need to know about Web3, NFTs, and the Metaverse:https://youtu.be/WYFvHi7T654To learn more, visit:linkedin.com/in/jason-shupp-18b4619bListen to more episodes on Mission Matters:https://missionmatters.com/author/Jason-Shupp/

In this episode, Host Jason Shupp talks with Aaron Spencer. Aaron discusses why it was OK to take his time in finding a career. He shares the value of learning to work hard, as well as when to pause for more important priorities.Aaron Spencer is a commercial airline pilot, First Officer for Alaskan Airlines. In the airline industry, he has also performed as Captain on commercial flights, served as a flight instructor and a traffic pilot. Before being a pilot, Aaron dabbled in various industries finding his path. He also played professional rugby internationally. Most notably, Aaron is a husband to Terri and a father to his two daughters.To learn more, visit:linkedin.com/in/jason-shupp-18b4619bListen to more episodes on Mission Matters:https://missionmatters.com/author/Jason-Shupp/

On this episode, Host Jason Shupp dives deep with Jeremy Nulik. Through Jeremy's origin story, he shares his passion for meaning and the impact of our imagination, especially when applied to business strategy. Listen until the end as Jeremy takes the abstract of futurism and breaks it down into actionable practices.Jeremy Nulik remains inspired in his lifelong pursuit of resilient visions, ones that sustain us beyond present-day circumstances. An accomplished journalist and futurist, he fuses his cultivated talents for listening and storytelling with his passion for enabling organizations to perceive and affect change.In his role as Vice President of Strategic Foresight at Bigwidesky, Jeremy emboldens imaginative organizational capabilities and demystifies the creation of business strategies in uncertain times.Jeremy has a Professional Certificate in Foresight from the University of Houston, one of only a handful of accredited programs in the world. He has deployed the tools of foresight to branding, organizational development, and communications strategies for companies and associations such as Marcone, Monsanto (now Bayer), Tecsys, UNCOMN, United Soybean Board, Security Advisors Alliance, Forward through Ferguson and Genuine McCarthy Enterprises. Additionally, he has penned tales of the bravery and defeat of remarkable innovators on the pages of American City Business Journals, Alive Magazine, Feast Magazine, Entrepreneur's Quarterly, and Small Business Monthly.To learn more, visit:linkedin.com/in/jason-shupp-18b4619bListen to more episodes on Mission Matters:https://missionmatters.com/author/Jason-Shupp/

On this episode, Host Jason Shupp talks with former news anchor John Knicely. They discuss the driving forces that lead John into broadcasting and what makes for a successful anchor. He shares his entrepreneurial transition and the power of stories. And yes, funny broadcasting stories are shared.John Knicely is husband to Melanie and father to Maverick. He's an Emmy Award and Murrow Award-winning journalist who uses authentic stories to drive culture and generate business for organizations. His company, VITA LUX Agency, gives life and light to authentic stories that are used strategically to achieve your goals. The words "life and light" are a reference to John's deep relationship with Jesus Christ, and he focuses on building relationships based on authenticity and vulnerability. John enjoyed a successful 17 years as a news anchor/reporter in major markets, including St. Louis (KMOV News 4), Dallas-Fort Worth, Seattle, and Charlotte. John always maintained a strong interest in the business. And he's found the perfect combination in storytelling for businesses where he can use his journalism skills to help find and clearly communicate impactful stories.To learn more, visit:linkedin.com/in/jason-shupp-18b4619bListen to more episodes on Mission Matters:https://missionmatters.com/author/Jason-Shupp/

On this episode, Host Jason Shupp sits down with Suzanne Woodard to discuss her origin story. They discuss her journey of accomplishing her professional goals of being a capable litigator to shifting passions and opening her own retail business. She shares how her legal career prepared her for entrepreneurship.Suzanne Woodard is the owner/partner of The Refind Room, The Refind Annex and Refined Design.  The Refind Room is a furniture store selling a curated selection of designer pre-owned and new furniture, decor and art. Presently, Suzanne is launching an interior design business with a mission to make interior design accessible, affordable and easy for everyone. Prior to starting The Refind Room, Suzanne was Vice President/Assistant General Counsel for Macy's, Inc. and in-house counsel with The May Department Stores Company.  She graduated law school from the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.To learn more, visit: linkedin.com/in/jason-shupp-18b4619bListen to more episodes on Mission Matters:https://missionmatters.com/author/Jason-Shupp/

On this episode of From There to Here, Host Jason Shupp sits down with entrepreneur and trailblazer Khalia Collier.  They discuss her origin story that led her to build a professional sports team and collaborate with business owners and professionals at the highest level.  Her insights on purpose, teamwork, community and well being are powerful messages.Khalia Collier is the owner of the St. Louis Surge, and commissioner of its league - the Global Women's Basketball Association (GWBA). Collier formerly served as the Associate Director at the Saint Louis University Chaifetz School of Business. She is now the Vice President of Community Relations for the Saint Louis Soccer Club.Khalia attended Columbia College and Missouri Baptist University and holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Communications.  Collier has received numerous honors for her professional and community accomplishments.  She has served on several boards and is frequently invited to deliver keynote addresses.To learn more, visit: linkedin.com/in/jason-shupp-18b4619bListen to more episodes on Mission Matters:https://missionmatters.com/author/Jason-Shupp/