Legends in Leadership

Native Texan Chandler Crouch is the founder and principal broker of Chandler Crouch Realtors. After starting his career as an investor buying and remodeling houses, he transitioned exclusively to helping others buy and sell real estate as a Realtor. With 18 years experience, he now manages an award-winning brokerage with almost two hundred five-star reviews and has been recognized in the Wall Street Journal in their list of “Top 200 Agents in America,” Keller Citizen Newspaper Best of the Best award, and voted top Realtor in Fort Worth.

On this episode, the guys are joined by Taylor Toynes, the co-founder and executive director of For Oak Cliff (which he started with students as a first-year teacher). Discouraged by the disparities and inequities his students experienced, and noting that nothing had changed since his childhood, Taylor was compelled to organize the inaugural FOC Back to School Festival for his students and community. The festival drew attention to the needs of the community and led to collaborations with system leaders such as United Way of Metropolitan Dallas. Taylor is committed to the Oak Cliff community and lives in the neighborhood with his family. For his leadership, Taylor has received awards from the United Nations, the NAACP, and Southern Methodist University (SMU), to name a few. Taylor and the FOC team won Teach For America’s Social Innovation Award and Echoing Green Fellowship. For Oak Cliff has been recognized by national news outlets and gained the trust of their most proximal neighbors in South Oak Cliff. Taylor is the proud father of Wednesday Toynes and husband of Ariel Toynes. Taylor is a graduate of University of North Texas and has a master’s degree from SMU. Taylor also serves as Dallas Park and Rec Board Member.Legends in Leadership is brought to you by:https://www.carringtonfo.comhttp://isfsite.org

Teresa Coleman Wash is a producer, playwright, and founding artistic director for the Bishop Arts Theatre Center whose mission is to cultivate a diverse and vibrant arts community while creating opportunities for local and emerging artists through performance and education. Wash is a National Arts Strategies fellow having studied at Harvard Business School and she holds an MA in Arts Management from Goucher College. She is the 2019 recipient of the Theater Communications Group’s prestigious Peter Zeisler Memorial Award for artistic integrity and ingenuity and in 2018, she received the National Guild for Community Arts Education’s Milestone Award and the Dallas Business Council for the Arts’ Obelisk Award in the category of Visionary Nonprofit Arts Leader. Mrs. Wash also earned several Irma P. Hall Awards including the 2020 Irma P. Hall Theatrical Excellence Medal. In 2017, Teresa was elected to the Dramatists Guild of America Council representing the Southern region where she also served on the steering committee.Legends in Leadership is brought to you by:https://www.carringtonfo.comhttp://isfsite.org

On today's episode of Legends in Leadership, the guys are joined by Gabe Abshire, CEO of Utility Concierge.Gabe Abshire is founder and CEO of Utility Concierge, where his visionary approach fuels industry-leading growth. He is an expert in workplace culture and a member of the Entrepreneurs’ Organization Dallas board of directors.Legends in Leadership is brought to you by:https://www.carringtonfo.comhttp://isfsite.org

On today's episode of Legends in Leadership, the guys are joined by Calvert Collins Bratton.Calvert Collins Bratton serves as Vice President of Strategic Events and Relationships for Methodist Health System Foundation. Prior to joining Methodist in 2015, she spent a decade as a television reporter in Omaha, Las Vegas and here in Dallas with FOX 4.She is a seventh generation Texan, born and raised in Dallas, then attended the University of Missouri (Mizzou). Calvert is very passionate about her community and helping others, so outside of work, she serves as President and District 13’s representative on the City of Dallas Park and Recreation Board. She sits on the boards of Safer Dallas Better Dallas, Christ Family Clinic, SMU Simmons School of Education, and SMU 21st Century Council. She lives in Dallas with her husband and three young daughters.Legends in Leadership is brought to you by:https://www.carringtonfo.comhttp://isfsite.org

Rosaura Cruz currently serves as Junior Players Executive Director, but her engagement with Junior Players is all-encompassing, she is a Junior Players student alumna, was the 2003 Junior Players Texas Commission of the Arts summer intern, a former theater and dance teacher, and Junior Players previous Program Director. Since stepping into her current role in 2015, she has led Junior Players through many new and creative initiatives, including producing and broadening Junior Players artistic production seasons, co-creation of Junior Players Presents: The Transformation Project, arts-centric panel conversations, a myriad of community collaborations, the co-creation of the D-PAC (Dallas ISD Playwriting Arts Collective) collaboration, the conception of the Transformation Project’s Residency program, and the creation of the 2017 Youth in Arts Panel: Create, Transform, Heal. She has a demonstrated history of working in the non-profit management industry and is responsible for the overall direction of the agency and artistic quality of the agency. Additionally, Rosaura is currently represented by The Campbell Agency and served on the 2016/2017 Mayor's Star Council Leadership class as well as serving as the 2018/2019 Mayor's Star Council Development Chair. She also serves as a Board member of The Greater North Texas Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and is a member of Altrusa Dallas on the Service Committee. Most recently, she was a distinguished honoree of the 2020 Dallas Business Journal’s 40 under 40 cohort.Legends in Leadership is brought to you by:https://www.carringtonfo.comhttp://isfsite.org

As Director of Board and External Affairs, she is responsible for building and maintaining Texas 2036’s board of directors and ensuring diversity across several demographic measures – ethnicity, geography, industry, age, and gender. Additionally, Enisha is responsible for building and maintaining relationships with community, civic, and business leaders across the entire state of Texas.Enisha joined Texas 2036 after five years at the George W. Bush Institute. She served as Senior Program Manager for Leadership Programs. In this role, Enisha launched and oversaw the day-to-day operations of the Stand-To Veteran Leadership Program that included scholar and speaker logistics, program development, and communication efforts. She also supported the execution of the Presidential Leadership Scholars, Liberty and Leadership, and WE Lead programs.A Dallas native, Enisha is deeply involved in various community organizations that advance outcomes for underserved populations. She is a past president of the Mayor’s Star Council and currently serves on the board of directors. She also serves on the board of the George W. Bush Institute’s 43 Club; ScholarShot, an organization that helps at-risk students complete vocational associate, or undergraduate degrees; and the Community Advisory Board for KERA. Nationally, Enisha was selected to become a member of the American Enterprise Institute’s Leadership Network, a policy education and professional development program. Most recently, Enisha became a Dallas Business Journal's 40 Under 40 Award honoree which celebrates up-and-comers and influencers in the North Texas community.Enisha is a proud graduate of the University of Texas at Austin and serves on the board of the local alumni chapter, Dallas TexasExes.Legends in Leadership is brought to you by:https://www.carringtonfo.comhttp://isfsite.org

Andy Harvey’s leadership experience covers both military and law enforcement professions.Chief Harvey champions community policing having authored a book titled Excellence in Policing which has been presented to and read by police of all ranks around the country. Harvey is a speaker and is frequently interviewed on local and national news programs, and is a host of his podcast that covers topics on excellence and confidence. Harvey just released his new topic, Lion Up-Become the Leader Others Need You to Be.Legends in Leadership is brought to you by:https://www.carringtonfo.comhttp://isfsite.org

Susy Solis is a journalist, entrepreneur, and consultant who now uses her platform to encourage and advise entrepreneurs and empower women and minorities. Solis is a media and communication expert, having spent more than a decade on radio and television and later launching her media consulting firm, Solis Media Strategies.Most recently, Solis came out of radio retirement and is a morning anchor on NewsRadio 1080 KRLD in Dallas, which is the oldest radio newsroom in Texas.

Linda Septien is a music artist development professional with 25+ years of experience, whose success is measured by the number of successful pop icons she has prepared, trained and helped launch into thriving careers. She is the President and CEO of Septien Entertainment Group.Named on the cover of the Dallas Observer as the “Kingpin of Pop Talent, Linda is the forefront authority on all phases of launching a singer’s career including vocal technique, vocal disorders, vocal production, stage presence & vocal branding for all ages of artists. Linda specializes in challenges of singing and speaking in the pop culture of Generations X, Y, & Z.With over 15,000 students to her legacy, including branded icons Demi Lovato, Selena Gomez, Kacey Musgraves, Kidz Bop Kids, Leggo Friends L2M Group, Ryan Cabrera, Ashley Boetcher, Malise Jow, and Jessica Simpson, among many more, Linda prides herself on her ability to recognize talent & create an effective development strategy to launch a branded long term career artist.For more information, visit:https://theseptiengroup.comhttps://www.facebook.com/legendsinleadershippodcastLegends in Leadership is brought to you by:https://www.carringtonfo.comhttp://isfsite.org

Melanie Shaffer is an expert in diagnosing talent related pain points that keep organizations from achieving their highest potential and designing solutions to impact results. She marries data with proven methodologies to provide leaders clarity on how to attract and hire the best talent as well as how to develop their current talent to be the most productive. Melanie has served hundreds of clients over the span of her career in talent management, business ownership and executive recruiting. She consistently ranked in the top 5% of recruiters in a $1 billion, publicly held recruiting firm before moving to a Managing Partner role in the CFO Suite where she was a two-time winner for the SMU Cox Dallas 100 fastest growing companies award. In 2018, she founded Talent Suite, LLC, with a mission to build stronger, more productive workplaces and people by teaching companies how to align their people strategy with their business strategy.For more information, visit:https://talentsuitellc.comhttps://www.facebook.com/legendsinleadershippodcastLegends in Leadership is brought to you by:https://www.carringtonfo.comhttp://isfsite.org

Cory Procter is a former NFL football offensive lineman that played with the Dallas Cowboys, Detroit Lions, and Miami Dolphins from 2005 to 2010. After football, Cory opened his investment firm for players and speaks on a national stage. It is now his mission, to spread his story, his strength, and his experience to groups that desire growth both personally and spiritually. He has a gift that helps inspire others to become empowered through his strength and convictions. Cory has been married to Megan Procter since 2011. Together they have a daughter, Grace, born in 2015.For more information, visit:www.coryprocter.comhttps://www.facebook.com/legendsinleadershippodcastLegends in Leadership is brought to you by:https://www.carringtonfo.comhttp://isfsite.org

Jill Young, a certified EOS® implementer, speaker, and author, specializes in guiding business owners to create vision, experience traction, and form unified teams. She has a BS in Psychology and an MBA and has held leadership positions in a variety of fields. Before becoming a full-time EOS implementer in 2014, Jill was the president of a forward-thinking CPA firm, where she advised and guided clients using the EOS tools. Jill now implements EOS with over 80 companies and coaches entrepreneurs who are on a journey to become their best. She has written two successful books: “Earn It!” and “In Courage.”For more information, visit:https://www.tractionfirst.comhttps://www.facebook.com/legendsinleadershippodcastLegends in Leadership is brought to you by:https://www.carringtonfo.comhttp://isfsite.org

Christine Hoover is a pastor's wife, a mom, an author, a podcaster, and a Bible teacher who loves encouraging women with gospel truths. Her most recent book is "With all your heart" and can be found on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Christian Book, and Books a Million. "By Faith with Christine Hoover" is her podcast. In "By Faith," author and blogger Christine Hoover asks this big picture question by getting into the details and daily lives of her guests: men and women who are walking forward by faith.Legends in Leadership is brought to you by:https://www.carringtonfo.comhttp://isfsite.org

The guys of Legends in Leadership have returned from quarantine in a virtual round table of discussion that recaps what has been going on in each of their lives over the past few months during the COVID-19 pandemic. They also talk about the financial impacts on businesses and the options available for assistance.Legends in Leadership is brought to you by:https://www.carringtonfo.comhttp://isfsite.org

Froswa Booker-Drew joined the State Fair of Texas in 2016 as director of community affairs and strategic alliances. Prior to joining the State Fair of Texas, she was the national community engagement director for World Vision – US Programs, responsible for a team across the US including staff in North Texas. Froswa’ is responsible for the development and implementation of the State Fair’s philanthropy as well as the department’s community and educational programming. Froswa’ is the recipient of the 2019 Dallas Business Journal’s Women in Business Award as well as 2020 TEDx SMU speaker. Visit https://www.facebook.com/legendsinleadershippodcast

Tom Bronson is the founder and President of Mastery Partners, a company that helps business owners maximize business value, design exit strategy and transition their business on their terms. Mastery utilizes proven techniques and strategies that dramatically improve business value that has been developed during Tom’s career 100 business transactions as either a business buyer or seller. As a business owner himself, he has been in your situation a hundred times, and he knows what it takes to craft the right strategy. Bronson is passionate about helping business owners and has the experience to do it.https://www.facebook.com/legendsinleadershippodcast

Ginger Curtis is the owner and founder of Urbanology Designs, the award-winning design firm in Dallas-Fort Worth. When she started her design firm it was with a very clear purpose and vision. To bring simple creativity and beauty into once ordinary spaces. Breaking far away from the mundane and ordinary and ushering in a look that as unique and unexpected, with an uncompromising spirit of excellence but never pretentious.

Tim "TK" Klund is a U.S. Air Force Veteran and is regarded as one of the top industry leaders as a "Relationship Specialist" in the world of Corporate and Sports Marketing. He is a leading authority when working with professional athletes and celebrities on their personal name branding campaigns and potential endorsement campaigns. "TK" is currently the CEO and Founder of Verve Systems, LLC which is focused on products that enhance performance, protection and recovery for our bodies.

We're discussing mentoring and growing leaders. What it takes and how someone can improve their leadership skills.