Our guest today is Larry Wright Jr., the CEO and President of Wright Investments. His multi-generational family business represents over 200 hotels and 26,000 hotel rooms in 28 states. They specialize in hospitality investments, hospitality management, and hotel and real estate capital projects.

Larry graduated from the University of Tennessee with a degree in Hotel and Restaurant Administration. He then earned his Master's Degree at NYU and graduated from the Harvard Business School OPM program. Larry is a member of the Young Presidents Organization (YPO) and an avid outdoorsman.

I am excited to learn more from Larry about the hospitality industry, the story of how his father got started, what Larry learned leading his company through the COVID shutdowns that radically impacted his business, and how he inspired confidence in his staff during challenging times. I also have questions on how he navigates today's difficult political climate while serving customers, why continued learning is important to him and his career development, and what books have impacted him most. This will be a fascinating discussion, so let’s jump right in.

Our guest today is Christine Assouad, the CEO of Dunkin Donuts Lebanon and Semson Lebanese Cuisine. She has been successfully growing and leading restaurant brands in the Middle East for over 27 years. She is a board member of Food and Beverage companies in the Middle East and provides business workshops at conferences in in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, and Lebanon. Her work also includes business development, franchising, and acquisitions across the MENA markets. Christine is passionate about supporting female entrepreneurship through the “Empowering Tribe” community, where she helps provide online classes, bootcamps, and one-on-one CEO coaching to empower female entrepreneurs to achieve their full potential.

Christine earned her Bachelor of Science in Nutrition and Dietetics from the American University of Beirut. She received a Master of Science in Food Science from McGill University and a Master of Marketing from the ESA Business School. She is also a graduate of the Harvard Business School President’s Program and a member of the Young Presidents Organization, also known as YPO.

I am really excited to learn more from Christine about her journey leading various businesses, overcoming obstacles in her career, reinventing herself at 47, mentoring next-generation leaders, and her passion for spreading a little happiness and joy in all she does. I know you will be motivated and inspired to hear her story, so let's jump in.

Our guest today is Jim Klonairs. Jim and his wife, Lori Klonaris, make up a dynamic team that has changed the face of Knoxville's hospitality and restaurant scene for the past 30 years. Together, they are the co-founders of Spaces in the City, where Lori is the CEO, and Jim is the creative genius behind the iconic Knoxville restaurants and spaces like the Kalamata Kitchen, Cafe4, Kefi, Vida, The Vault, The Press Room, The Square Room, City Catering, and Bella in Maryville. Jim is a serial entrepreneur, having worked in multiple industries, including hospitality, janitorial, consulting, real estate, and commercial development.

Jim earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Architecture, Interior Design, and Graphic Design from the prestigious University of Tennessee. Jim is also active in his local community, supporting the Prison Ministry Men of Valor as an executive board member.

I am excited to learn more from Jim and what he has learned as a serial entrepreneur, the leaps he has made in his journey, how he overcame bankruptcy early in his career, and the importance he places on education and personal growth.

Adam Hancock is a national award-winning State Farm Agent from Montrose, Colorado. He has a wealth of experience as a third-generation state farm agent and is a recipient of their prestigious President’s Club. Adam got his professional start in the United States Navy, owned a landscaping business, and then followed in his family's footsteps into the insurance industry. Adam studied engineering at Colorado Mesa University and has his BA in Business Management from the University of Phoenix.

In this conversation, we'll explore Adam’s journey from the Navy to State Farm and the key questions young people, middle-career professionals, and those nearing retirement should ask about their insurance coverages and needs for their life stage.

I’m interested in unpacking these questions and many more to ensure our listeners have the proper protections for their families and that your long-term objectives are being met so lets jump in!

William Norvell, the co-founder and President of Forte, a company that's revolutionizing the way businesses support their most valuable asset: their people. Under William's leadership, Forte's mission is not just to provide counseling services but to transform the culture of corporate mental health.

William brings a wealth of experience from venture capital, private equity, and investment banking. He has a degree in Finance from the University of Alabama and an MBA from the Stanford Graduate School of Business. He is a principal at Sovereign’s Capital, co-founder, podcast host, and contributor of The Faith Driven Entrepreneur.

In this conversation, we'll explore William's journey from a keen investor to a compassionate entrepreneur, the challenges and triumphs of building a startup to tackle workplace stress, and his vision for a world where mental health is prioritized as physical health in our work environments.

Join us as we unpack the story behind Forte and learn from William's incredible insights on mental health, entrepreneurship, and creating change within the corporate landscape.

To learn more about Forte visit their website: https://www.getforte.com/

To listen to The Faith Driven Entrepreneur visit their website: https://www.faithdrivenentrepreneur.org/podcast

Todd Wilcox has a fascinating career journey, truly living the American rags-to-riches story. Born in a low-income neighborhood in South Tampa with a single mother Todd grew up helping raise his siblings when a mentor changed his life. Convinced that education was his path out he earned an Army ROTC scholarship to the University of Tampa. Upon graduating, he went on to serve as a rifle platoon leader with the 101st Airborne Division during Operation Desert Storm. Upon promotion to Captain, Todd volunteered to transfer to the US Army Special Forces branch, and after earning his Green Beret, he commanded a Special Forces A-team in counter-terrorism in East Asia. After 8 years of military service, he resigned to accept a position with the CIA to join the global war on terrorism.

Todd left the CIA in 2006 to create Patriot Defense Group (PDG), a defense contracting company dedicated to serving those who defend America. Since then, Todd has started multiple other related businesses and has been recognized by the Wall Street Journal and through awards such as the Orlando Business Journal “Veterans of Influence” and the Ernst and Young "Entrepreneur of the Year." Todd serves on the board of the National Defense University Foundation, the Rand Corporation Center for Middle East Public Policy and the Orlando Economic Partnership. He has a degree in Finance from the University of Tampa and is a graduate of the Harvard Business School Presidents Program. Todd is also an active member of the Young Presidents Organization (YPO).

Show Notes:

3:00 – Todd shares how to prepare as an entrepreneur for future threats and the importance of instilling resilience in yourself.

5:00 – Todd gives insight into the events that are happening in the Middle East and Ukraine.

9:00 – Bob asks Todd to share what he has learned throughout his career as he has accomplished a myriad of different disciplines. Todd shares his upbringing, beginning in Tampa. He opens up about the key learnings that he believes contributed to his future success.

15:00 – Todd touches on the culture shock that came with joining the army. He then talks about the biggest inflection point that he noticed moving from a young army officer to special forces and the challenges that accompanied these transitions.

23:00 – Hollywood vs. Reality– Todd touches on the differences he sees in his career in the agency as opposed to the way it is depicted in media that we consume.

“It would be a really boring show if they showed you everything that actually went on.”

28:00—Todd discusses how much of Patriot Defense is working with the US government versus commercial services. Todd defines “open source intelligence” and “big data analytics.”

“The amount of data that is publicly available is kind of scary.”

35:00 – Todd gives his advice as an intelligence officer to traveling business executives and young people looking to limit digital exhaust, those wanting to be more mindful of their data.

41:00 – The popular topic of TikTok is brought up as Todd discusses his thoughts on whether or not the app is tracking and collecting your data as you use the app. He shares that he doesn’t know what the firewall is and doesn’t trust it.

48:00 – Bob asks Todd to delve into his unique experiences. He shares how he took the leap to pursue hybrid training with multiple organizations.

53:00 – Entrepreneurship is growing rapidly. Todd shares his advice on where he believes young people who are wanting to pursure entrepreneurship should focus their time and energy on this journey. He believes that you should pursue a business in what you know best and are passionate about.

“Do what you know best. Build your business around what you know.”

58:00 – Todd talks about what originally motivated him to pursue making a difference in politics in Washington DC.

1:03:00 – From his pursuit in politics, Todd shares the skills and insights he adopted from his experiences. He learned his limits and how to manage his time, energy, and focus.

1:07:00 – Bob asks Todd what words of encouragement or advice that he would give if he were in the position to give a State of the Union Address.