My Morning Cup

Most people see an airport. April Cameron sees a small city — one she's helped run for 28 years and now leads as its 'Mayor.' In this episode, April shares how a mentor's confidence launched her from accountant to CFO, what finally convinced her to pursue the CEO role, the surprising truth about how airports actually make money, and why every ticket you buy is a vote. April Cameron is the President and CEO of the Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport Authority. You can connect with her on LinkedIn (linkedin.com/in/april-cameron-3a9aa0266).  If you like this episode, we think you’ll also like: Charles Wood’s Morning Cup (E55) Bridgett Massengill’s Morning Cup (E80) Emily Mack’s Morning Cup (E83) My Morning Cup is hosted by Mike Costa of Costa Media Advisors and produced by SpeakEasy Productions.  Subscribe to the weekly newsletter and be the first to know who upcoming guests are: http://eepurl.com/iGJzII

Shawanda Mason’s and Jennifer Holder’s careers have been defined by scrappiness and leaps of faith. In this episode, they share how growing up somewhat isolated in small towns helped spark their creativity, how Jennifer’s early idea for The Chattery grew into a partnership after an elevator meet-cute, and how they have turned burnt lemons into lemonade. Jennifer and Shawanda are the Co-Founders of The Chattery, a Chattanooga-based nonprofit that advocates for lifelong learning. You can learn more about them at https://thechattery.org/about.  If you like this episode, we think you’ll also like: Ella Livingston’s Morning Cup (E11) Gail Loveland Barille’s Morning Cup (E22) Susan Vandergriff’s Morning Cup (E72) My Morning Cup is hosted by Mike Costa of Costa Media Advisors and produced by SpeakEasy Productions.  Subscribe to the weekly newsletter and be the first to know who upcoming guests are: http://eepurl.com/iGJzII

Justin Robertson has built his career by taking on challenges that pushed him to grow and relying on his survival instincts along the way. In this episode, he shares how he navigated the sudden elimination of 43 assistant principal positions early in his career, how persistence and smart networking carried him from teacher to principal to superintendent, and why he’s doubling down on K-2 literacy and expanding Future Ready Centers. Dr. Justin Robertson is the Superintendent of Hamilton County Schools. You can learn more about Dr. Robertson and Hamilton County Schools’ Leadership Team on their website: https://hcde.org/our-leadership/  If you like this episode, we think you’ll also like: Bo Drake’s Morning Cup (E65) Edna Varner’s Morning Cup (E104) Dr. Robert Dooley’s Morning Cup (E127) My Morning Cup is hosted by Mike Costa of Costa Media Advisors and produced by SpeakEasy Productions.  Subscribe to the weekly newsletter and be the first to know who upcoming guests are: http://eepurl.com/iGJzII

Jimmy White has always been able to see the end game. Whether that’s on the golf course or when putting together a complex real estate deal. In this episode, he shares how golf prepared him for the highs and lows of business, why “the third time’s the charm” pushed him to leave golf and dive into real estate, and how he’s built a career on win-win deals that create lasting value for Chattanooga. Jimmy White is the President and Managing Partner of Urban Story Ventures. You can connect with him on LinkedIn (linkedin.com/in/jimmy-white-a2392b5). If you like this episode, we think you’ll also like: Patrick Wells’s Morning Cup (E61) Emily Mack’s Morning Cup (E83) Dave Kinzler’s Morning Cup (E102) My Morning Cup is hosted by Mike Costa of Costa Media Advisors and produced by SpeakEasy Productions.  Subscribe to the weekly newsletter here and be the first to know who upcoming guests are!

Dustin Choate has worn a lot of hats. Social worker, fundraiser, corporate salesman, and even DJ… but he ultimately found his calling behind the bar of a neighborhood tavern. In this episode, Dustin shares why he walked away from pharmaceutical sales to open Tremont Tavern, how he saw the craft beer wave coming and turned it into a community staple, and the hard lessons he learned from opening (and closing) his second restaurant, Market Street Tavern. Dustin Choate is the owner and operator of Tremont Tavern, and co-owner of Feed Table & Tavern, Parkway Pourhouse, and Frazier Five and Dime. If you like this episode, we think you’ll also like: Kenyatta Ashford’s Morning Cup (E05) Bruce Weiss’s Morning Cup (E89) Jason Provonsha’s Morning Cup (E130) My Morning Cup is hosted by Mike Costa of Costa Media Advisors and produced by SpeakEasy Productions.  Subscribe to the weekly newsletter here and be the first to know who upcoming guests are!

For Jim Coleman, running a hospital isn’t all that different from taking apart a stove. You just need to understand how the pieces fit together to make the whole thing work. In this episode, Jim shares what it was like managing 300 employees by the time he was 30, how new roles often found him before he went looking for them, and why a heart attack ended up giving him unexpected mental clarity. Plus, he shares what it was like to lead Erlanger through its shift to a private, for-profit hospital system. Jim Coleman is the President & CEO of Erlanger. You can connect with him on LinkedIn (linkedin.com/in/jim-coleman-9045282). If you like this episode, we think you’ll also like: John Germ’s Morning Cup (E35) Chris Hopkins’s Morning Cup (E84) Lynn Chesnutt’s Morning Cup (E118) My Morning Cup is hosted by Mike Costa of Costa Media Advisors and produced by SpeakEasy Productions.  Subscribe to the weekly newsletter and be the first to know who upcoming guests are: http://eepurl.com/iGJzII 

Darin Wright, the owner of Elea Blake Cosmetics, empowers clients through personalized color analysis. She shares her early sales experiences, from selling makeup at 14 to learning the importance of honesty in communication. Darin’s transition from waitressing to the beauty industry shows her journey of self-discovery. With anecdotes from her career in real estate and the challenges of a male-dominated field, she emphasizes passion over profit and the joy of creating makeup that truly fits every individual.

Doug Thompson has a knack for seeing the bigger picture… whether on the soccer field, in business, or in civic life. In this episode, Doug shares why the best players are the ones who make everyone else better, how a detour into screenwriting led him to USC and ultimately into a career in real estate development, and why he had to “fire” himself in order to move his career forward. Doug Thompson is the President of HFS Capital Advisors. You can connect with him on LinkedIn (linkedin.com/in/doug-thompson-28218613). If you like this episode, we think you’ll also like: Roy Vaughn’s Morning Cup (E08) Edna Varner’s Morning Cup (E104) Kim White’s Morning Cup (E119) My Morning Cup is hosted by Mike Costa of Costa Media Advisors and produced by SpeakEasy Productions.  Subscribe to the weekly newsletter here and be the first to know who upcoming guests are!

Brian Hunt grew up redeeming Coke bottles for a nickel, and now leads a century‑old, family‑founded manufacturer as its first non‑family CEO. In this episode, Brian shares how humble beginnings shaped his work ethic, how “getting cultured” in Boston taught him to be more assertive, and why he left a Fortune 250 track to join a family business built on servant-hearted values. Brian Hunt is the President and CEO of Southern Champion Tray. You can connect with him on LinkedIn (linkedin.com/in/brian-hunt-44ab7813).  This episode was recorded with a live audience at the Global Leadership Summit. If you like this episode, we think you’ll also like: Jay Dale’s Morning Cup (E42) Tom Glenn’s Morning Cup (E125) Jason Provonsha’s Morning Cup (E130) My Morning Cup is hosted by Mike Costa of Costa Media Advisors and produced by SpeakEasy Productions.  Subscribe to the weekly newsletter here and be the first to know who upcoming guests are!

David Wade started his career digging holes, and now he’s finishing his career digging out of them. In this episode, he shares how he worked his way up from line helper to CEO of EPB, why he pivoted when he was “right at the finish line” of his apprenticeship, and how The Gig put Chattanooga on the map. David Wade is the President and CEO of EPB. You can learn more about him and EPB on their website: epb.com/about/leadership If you like this episode, we think you’ll also like: Matt Rasmussen’s Morning Cup (E57) Bill Crawford’s Morning Cup (E99) Ken Jones’s Morning Cup (E122) My Morning Cup is hosted by Mike Costa of Costa Media Advisors and produced by SpeakEasy Productions.  Subscribe to the weekly newsletter here and be the first to know who upcoming guests are!