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Being a boss and a leader are very different. A boss tells you what to do and a leader partners with you in the process. Our hosts, Brian Prairie and Dr. Jeff Williamson, explore leadership from different ends of the spectrum. Jeff has been exploring leadership and guiding leaders for 30 years. Brian, new to leadership, keeps asking himself what makes a good leader, as his role continually evolves at the marketing firm, Pathfinder. He and Jeff talk to leaders about their guiding principles and inspirations in a quest to look at leadership in all its forms.
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Today we are excited to reconnect with Caleb Benoit, the founder and owner of Connect Roasters, based in Bourbonnais, Illinois. In this episode, Caleb shares the journey of transforming his business from a one-man operation into a thriving enterprise with a cafe and a dedicated team. He opens up about the challenges and rewards of leadership, especially the importance of communication as his team grew. "You become focused more outward. Everything cannot live inside of my head," Caleb reflects...
Welcome back to another engaging episode of Leadership Level Up. I'm your host, Jeff Williamson, and today, I've got the pleasure of welcoming back Jakob Knox, CEO of the Manteno Chamber of Commerce, for another insightful discussion on leadership and community building! In this episode, Jakob shares his journey from high school kid working for the park district to his current role as CEO. We discuss the importance of connectedness and the power of collaboration in leadership. Jakob ref...
Welcome back to another thought-provoking episode! I'm your host, Jeff Williamson, and today I am thrilled to be joined by the dynamic Ty Lewis, a transformative leader dedicated to empowering future-focused communities. In this episode, Ty shares his inspiring journey from humble beginnings in the Quad Cities to becoming a prominent consultant and speaker through his engagement in leadership, real estate, and mentoring. We delve into the pivotal moments that shaped Ty's path, such as the pro...
Welcome back, Converge listeners, to another engaging episode. I'm your host, Jeff Williamson, and today, we have the pleasure of speaking with Jakob Knox, CEO of the Manteno Chamber of Commerce and Marketing Director for the Village of Manteno. In this episode, Jakob takes us through his journey from a high school job in the Bourbonnais Township Park District to leading significant community initiatives. We delve into the essence of community leadership and the importance of collaborative ef...
Your host, Jeff Williamson, is joined by Demetri Morris, and today's conversation takes us deep into the world of leadership and entrepreneurship. In this episode, Demetri shares his impressive journey from being an 18-year-old creative director at his church to founding and running a successful company, MORR®, based in Nashville, Tennessee. We discuss the early projects that shaped his path, such as the viral success of the song "Make Room" and his first video production client. Demetri emph...
In this episode, we delve into Caleb's journey of building Connect Roasters from a one-man operation to a thriving local business with a new brick-and-mortar location. Caleb reflects on his motivation to start and grow his business in his hometown of Bourbonnais, IL, emphasizing the importance of giving back to the community that shaped him. ---- Caleb will make an appearance at the upcoming Converge Conference on October 11th. He will join Jeff and fellow entrepreneurs on our Renewal Panel. ...
Welcome back to another episode of impactful conversations. I'm your host, Dr. Jeff Williamson, and today, we have the pleasure of speaking with Dr. Melvina Calvin Edwards, Kankakee police officer and coordinator for the Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice program at Kankakee Community College. In this episode, Melvina shares her journey from an inspired high school student to a dedicated police officer and educator, revealing the intertwined roles of community service and law enforcement. ...
Joining us today is the esteemed Dr. Michael Boyd, president of Kankakee Community College. In this episode, Michael Boyd explores the transformative power of community leadership. We discuss his journey from vice president to president of KCC and how high-energy, strengths-based leadership has shaped the college’s mission. Michael shares his approach to addressing the unique needs of students, emphasizing timely interventions and mental health support, stating, "We have to meet those studen...
Welcome back, Converge listeners, to another enlightening episode. I’m your host, Jeff Williamson, joined by my co-host Brian Prairie, and today we are thrilled to share our conversation with Dr. Glenn Bryan, an accomplished entrepreneur and professor at Ohio Wesleyan University. In this session, Glenn explores the nuances of leadership and character development, sharing his rich experiences from both the academic and business worlds. We delve into his dual role in education and entrepreneur...
Welcome back to the Leadership Level Up podcast, where we shine a spotlight on outstanding leaders and their journeys. I'm your host, Jeff Williamson, and today we're excited to bring you part two of our conversation with the inspiring Dan Chapman, a leading voice for natural remedies and a dedicated servant leader in his community. Listen to Dan's first episode In this episode, Dan delves into the remarkable legacy of his family's businesses, Sunrise Health Foods and Redd Remedies, and the...
Welcome back! I'm your host, Jeff Williamson and today we are thrilled to continue our conversation with the insightful Dan Hofmeister, equity partner at Reed Smith LLP. Listen to Part 1 In part two of this session, Dan takes us through the evolving landscape of the legal profession, focusing on the impact of technology and the recent shift to remote work driven by Covid-19. He shares how the transition from traditional legal libraries to digital resources has reshaped the profession and di...
Welcome back to another insightful episode. I'm your host, Jeff Williamson, and today we’re delighted to bring you part two of our engaging conversation with Doctor Scott Goselin, Superintendent of Bradley School District 61. Listen to Scott's first podcast episode. In this session, Scott shares enriching stories from his nearly three-decade-long journey in education, focusing on the enormous shifts and challenges he has navigated. From tackling remote learning during the COVID-19 pandemic ...
Today we are thrilled to bring you part two of our conversation with Dr. Santor Nishizaki, a distinguished author and CEO of Mulholland Consulting Group. In this episode, Dr. Santor delves into the intricate dynamics of working with Gen Z and how the pandemic has reshaped their workplace expectations. He shares findings from his comprehensive research, shedding light on Gen Z's preference for hybrid workplaces, the critical importance of mental wellness, and the demand for leaders to act as ...
Today we're excited to share our reflections on a recent successful event within our community and our ongoing journey with the Leadership Level Up podcast. We reflect on the genesis of the Leadership Level Up podcast, which began from humble coffee conversations and has evolved into a platform for interviewing and learning from various leaders. We share some of our favorite interviews, the leadership insights we've gained, and our desire to engage more with our audience on under-discussed l...
Welcome back to another powerful episode! Today we bring you part two of our enlightening conversation with the esteemed Dr. Michael Johnson, a distinguished leader in higher education. In this episode, Dr. Johnson delves into the essence of leadership, drawing on his experiences and the impactful figures who have shaped his journey. From his family's influential leadership roles to his interactions with mentors like Mary Meredith and Rev. Dr. Charles Johnson, we explore the profound impact ...
Welcome back, Converge listeners, for another compelling episode. I'm your host, Jeff Williamson, joined by my co-host Brian Prairie, and today we're thrilled to bring you part two of our enriching dialogue with Jeff Christian, CEO and founder of C4 Leaders! In this episode, Jeff shares the journey and evolution of his initiative, Pizza with Purpose, which began during the uncertain times of 2020. The discussion delves into how this project uses the simple, communal act of sharing pizza to c...
Welcome back, Converge listeners! I'm your host, Jeff Williamson, alongside my co-host Brian Prairie. Today, we have the pleasure of featuring Donnie Bedney, the insightful owner of PSP Metrics, on our podcast. In this episode, Donnie delves into the intricate world of talent selection and development within industries ripe with exacting demands, such as energy, utilities, and hospitality. With his profound expertise, he discusses the pivotal role of system operators in maintaining the robus...
Welcome back to Leadership LevelUp, where the dialogue on leadership and innovation continues to evolve. I'm your host, Brian Prairie, joined by my fellow host Jeff Williamson. In today's episode, we have the pleasure of reconnecting with the insightful and dynamic Rachel Druckenmiller, a beacon of authenticity and a voice for wellbeing. Today, Rachel takes us on a journey of self-discovery and genuine expression as she prepares for her TEDx Rockville talk, where she'll distill her life's wo...
Welcome back to another enlightening episode of Leadership LevelUp. Today we're thrilled to be joined by the esteemed Dan Hofmeister, an equity partner at the international law firm of Reed Smith LLP. In this compelling session, Dan shares profound insights from his 30-year legal career, reflecting on the pivotal moments that shaped his journey as a leader in the legal profession. He delves into the origins of his passion for law, harking back to a pivotal moment in 6th grade that ignited hi...
Welcome back to another compelling episode. This week, Jeff and Brian are thrilled to bring you the second part of our conversation with the extraordinary Michael Maloney, CEO and executive director of Garden of Prayer Youth Center. In this session, Michael delves into the various programs and services provided by Garden of Prayer, shedding light on the organization's commitment to serving the community. From early childhood education and summer day camps to specialized foster care and emerge...
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