My Morning Cup

How does a person with a philosophy and religion degree become the Dean of the College of Business? No straight path, that’s for sure.  In this episode, Dr. Robert Dooley shares how he crossed the divide from business to academia… and how he’s now bridging that divide for students. Plus, the evolving role of higher education in Chattanooga, and what he’s learned from serving as Interim Chancellor of UTC. Dr. Robert Dooley is the Dean of the Gary W. Rollins College of Business, as well as the Interim Chancellor, at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga.  If you like this episode, we think you’ll also like: Jay Dale’s Morning Cup (E42) Dr. Claudia Kramer’s Morning Cup (E115) 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!

In many ways, Bert Robinson is still doing what he did as a kid: building relationships and connecting with his community. Except now, his path stretches beyond Athens across all of East Tennessee (and he’s no longer on a bike). In this episode, Bert shares how his curiosity and outgoing nature as an 8-year-old unknowingly laid the groundwork for his career, how doors open when you’re willing to ask, and why unexpected turns can lead to something even better. Bert Robinson is the Regional Executive for TVA’s East Region. You can connect with him on LinkedIn (linkedin.com/in/bert-robinson-b0a5ab53). If you like this episode, we think you’ll also like: Matt Rasmussen’s Morning Cup (E57) Allen Clare’s Morning Cup (E97) Carol Eimers’s Morning Cup (E109) 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!

Tom Glenn is a second generation business owner who has grown the family business from a small local operation to one with a multi-state presence. Through it all, Tom has never lost sight of his father’s mission of serving people well and leading with integrity. In this episode, recorded in front of a live audience at Chattanooga Entrepreneur Week, Tom shares lessons for entrepreneurs who want to grow without losing what makes their business special. We also discuss how he didn’t originally plan to join the family business, why he changed his mind and pushed for expansion, and why leadership means owning the outcome… especially when things go wrong. Tom Glenn is the President of Elder’s Ace Hardware, which has grown to 37 stores with more than 1,000 employees. You can learn more about him on the Elder’s website: eldershardware.com/our-team If you like this episode, we think you’ll also like: Craig Fuller’s Morning Cup (E58) Barry Large’s Morning Cup (E73) Bill Crawford’s Morning Cup (E99) 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!

Andy Wood has always had a knack for understanding and translating how things work. It’s a skill that’s helped him stand out in every job he’s had, from restaurants in college to his ad agency days, and now as the fifth-ever CEO of the Tennessee Aquarium. In this episode, Andy shares how a family legacy in marketing sparked his love for storytelling, what ultimately pulled him toward purpose-driven leadership in the nonprofit world, and the big vision he’s bringing to one of Chattanooga’s most beloved institutions. Andy Wood is the President and CEO of the Tennessee Aquarium. You can connect with him on LinkedIn (linkedin.com/in/andrewwood). If you like this episode, we think you’ll also like: Tim Morgan’s Morning Cup (E24) Keith Sanford’s Morning Cup (E86) Dr. Anna George’s Morning Cup (E112) 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 as long as he can remember, John Wilson wanted to be a reporter. He witnessed journalism's evolution firsthand, beginning his career when manual typewriters ruled newsrooms. In this episode, John shares how his journey began in childhood with hand-writing the Maple Brook Gazette in 5th grade (a newspaper he created for his neighborhood), why he believes in "local" thanks to his mentor, and how he navigated the decline of print media by taking a chance on himself. John Wilson is the owner of Chattanoogan.com, one of the first full service Internet only newspapers in the country. You can learn more at chattanoogan.com If you like this episode, we think you’ll also like: Vance Travis’s Morning Cup (E40) Linda Moss Mines’s Morning Cup (E88) David Carroll’s Morning Cup (E111) 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!

Ken Jones has always lived in Chattanooga, but he grew up “military style” - moving three times and attending eight different schools, which is likely how he’s earned the nickname of Mr. Chattanooga. In this episode, we learn about the time he used a major setback as fuel for growth, how he switched from a “survive” mentality to a “thrive” mentality, and how his willingness to say yes to new challenges, coupled with his technical skills and people-first mentality, has propelled his career to where it is today. Ken Jones is the Senior Director of Procurement, Vendor Relations and Minority & Women-Owned Business at EPB. You can connect with him on LinkedIn (linkedin.com/in/joneske). If you like this episode, we think you’ll also like: Valoria Armstrong’s Morning Cup (E60) Bo Drake’s Morning Cup (E65) Allen Clare’s Morning Cup (E97) 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!

After spending his childhood in Tanzania and then moving to London, Alnoor Dhanani expected small-town Chattanooga would be a two-year stopover. Yet, forty-five years later, he's still proud to call it home.   In this episode, Alnoor shares how growing up across different continents shaped his unique perspectives on life, a behind-the-scenes look at doing business internationally, and how Double Cola got its name.   Alnoor Dhanani is the CEO of Double Cola, a 103-year-old beverage company headquartered in Chattanooga. You can connect with Alnoor on LinkedIn (linkedin.com/in/aldhanani) and you can learn more about Double Cola on their website: doublecolacompany.com If you like this episode, we think you’ll also like: Christian Höferle’s Morning Cup (E76) Peppo Biscarini’s Morning Cup (E81) Angela and Michael Ballard’s Morning Cups (E96) 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!

Scott Chase has always loved music. Especially classic rock, before it was “classic.” In this episode, he shares how a college speech class was the turning point, why you should never burn a bridge, and how being told to get a “real job” helped him realize what’s truly important in life. Scott Chase is the afternoon voice of KZ106. You can learn more about him on WSKZ’s website (wskz.com/shows/afternoons). If you like this episode, we think you’ll also like: Tim Dooner’s Morning Cup (E105) David Carroll’s Morning Cup (E111) Jim Reynolds’s Morning Cup (E114) 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!

Kim White spent the first half of her career traveling & in sales. When she came back to Chattanooga, she decided to plant roots and got hyper-involved. In this episode, Kim shares how she’s always had a knack for knowing when it’s time to leave a job, how she was able to build her network from zero in a new city, and why she always takes the tough assignments. Kim White is the Vice Chancellor of Development and Alumni Affairs at UTC, as well as the Executive Director of the UC Foundation. You can connect with her on LinkedIn (linkedin.com/in/kimhwhite). If you like this episode, we think you’ll also like: Bob Corker’s Morning Cup (E52) 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 here and be the first to know who upcoming guests are!

If you own a business, or have considered starting one, you’re likely familiar with this week’s guest: Lynn Chesnutt, AKA the entrepreneur’s best friend. In this episode, Lynn shares a few of the important life lessons his hero taught him, how he survived cancer not once… not twice… but FIVE times, and why he spends every day being an unbiased voice of reason for startups and established businesses. Lynn Chesnutt is the Executive Director of the Tennessee Small Business Development Center in Chattanooga. You can connect with him on LinkedIn (linkedin.com/in/lynn-chesnutt-41660233).  If you like this episode, we think you’ll also like: Jay Dale’s Morning Cup (E42) Bo Drake’s Morning Cup (E65) George Bryant’s Morning Cup (E98) 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!