Advertise on podcast: Up in Your Business with Kerry McCoy

Every one of the guests in this episode have spent time in the national spotlight due to their accomplishments and accolades: Leslie Singer: Rock star and half of the comedy duo 'The Two Jewish Guys' Mitch Breitweiser: Comic book artist for Marvel and DC P. Allen Smith & Chris Olsen: Local horticultural experts who turned their work into national gardening shows Joey Lauren Adams: Golden Globe-nominated Actress who broke into fame on films such as Mallrats, Chasing Amy, and Big Daddy Susan McDougal: Gained famed during the Clinton Whitewater trials as 'The Woman Who Wouldn't Talk' Arlo Washington: Founder of Washington Barber College and People Trust Federal Credit Union and subject of an Oscar-nominated documentary Joe Kleine: Former NBA player for the Arkansas Razorbacks and basketball Olympian David Miller: Host of a national radio show about Big Band Music

Every one of the guests in this episode have spent time in the national spotlight due to their accomplishments and accolades: Josh Hill: Winner of thousands of dollars and many consecutive games on the hit game show Jeopardy. Kevin Kresse: Chosen as the sculptor for a statue of Johnny Cash for display in Washington D.C. Donnie Ferneau: Local restauranteur featured on national food programs. Hoops Green: The process for becoming a Harlem Globetrotter. Wade Rathke: The director and establishing force behind the ACORN national activist organization. Ray Rodgers: What is it like to be in the corner of a world champion? Will Trice: Our local director for the Rep remembers the actors he's worked with and the Tony Awards he's won. Keith Jackson & Walt Coleman: A Super Bowl champion and the one of the most respected refs in the NFL.

Born in Akron, Ohio, Dr. Quinyatta Mumford has dedicated her life to bettering communities through environmental health research and family-focused educational programs. The women who raised her, in particular her grandmother, instilled in her the values of love and perseverance. With this foundation, Quinyatta earned degrees in biology, psychology, business administration, and public health - the first of her family to attend college. Her Doctorate in Public Health focused on community and addressing health disparity. That research ultimately evolved into Village Public Health, a youth-centered organization that seeks to create space for young people to thrive physically, mentally, and emotionally. As a single mother of three, Dr. Mumford has the drive to create initiatives that approach public health not simply as a matter of personal care, but as a familial and communal responsibility, and her results speak volumes. Her work with the Arkansas Department of Health led to a reduction in cases of lead poisoning in children by prioritizing prevention and accountability. For all that her impressive resume paints the picture of a hyper-focused go-getter, Dr. Quinyatta insists on the importance of slowing down and finding moments to celebrate life. Her hobbies dovetail with her professional values, so Quinyatta spends her free time outdoors with her children or organizing community events around art and storytelling.

Dr. Kris Shewmake was born in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. He earned his bachelor’s degree in biology from Hendrix College in Conway and a master’s degree in natural science from the University of Arkansas at Fayetteville. He received his medical degree from UAMS, where he also completed a residency in general surgery. He was president of his class and elected into the Alpha Omega Alpha Medical Honor Society (top 10% of the class). His eight years of surgical training after medical school included a General Surgery residency at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) Medical Center and a Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery residency in Dallas at the University of Texas-Southwestern Medical Center. Dr. Shewmake then spent an extra year at UCLA working with children and adults affected by facial birth deformities. Upon completion of his fellowship in 1992, Dr. Shewmake returned to his native state of Arkansas as Chief of Plastic Surgery at UAMS and Arkansas Children‘s Hospital. In 1996 he left UAMS and entered private practice. In 1999 and in 2009 he was named best plastic surgeon in Arkansas by his colleagues. In 2017 he rejoined UAMS as the director of the Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and also serves as an associate professor there. He is married with three daughters.

Since co-founding Thoma with his wife Melissa in 1998, Martin has conceived, developed and implemented communications and marketing programs ranging from new product initiatives for global technology companies to public information and safety campaigns for state agencies. His roots in journalism and writing have equipped him to successfully conceive and lead multiple national award-winning communications for regional and national clients. Martin has represented local, state, regional and national organizations in the tourism, healthcare, energy, financial services, transportation, retail, hospitality, government, insurance and food service industries — including regional, national and international brands such as Entergy Corporation, Entergy Nuclear, MISO: Midwest Independent System Operator, SPP: Southwest Power Pool, MONI Smart Security, Aviagen, PotlatchDeltic, Comcast, Pizza Hut, Clarke-American, Jack Henry and Associates. Martin and his partner Melissa created the proprietary brand development process known as The Brand Navigator™ to help executive teams unleash the power of their brands to attract customers, engage and align employees, and drive revenues. Martin wrote the book, Branding Like the Big Boys: How to Grab Market Share, Improve Margins and Increase Loyalty In Your Small Business, available for purchase on Amazon. He is frequently sought out for comment on brands and branding by publications like Vice Sports, The Boston Globe, Arkansas Business and Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. His ideas and efforts have been showcased in publications as diverse as eHealthcare Strategies & Trends, The Journal of Accountancy and Transportation Industry News. Martin has criss-crossed the country speaking on the power of brand leadership, with appearances from Honolulu to Seattle to San Antonio. Martin is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, with a bachelor’s degree in journalism and English.

Former Razorback David Bazzel may be one of the most recognizable names in Arkansas. He played linebacker for the UofA in 1984 and had a total of 113 tackles. He was sidelined due to shoulder and back injures. “I think all of the football I played taught me a lot of discipline and taught me to grind and work hard,” says Bazzel. He created the Broyles Award, now going on 25 years, and the Touchdown Club, which brings in big names from all over the country. He is also responsible for the “Battle for the Boot,” and the Tusk Fund. For David, it’s all about giving recognition to those who deserve it, while putting Arkansas in the spotlight. In the fall of 1998, Bazzel wrote and starred in a one man play titled Football, Biceps, Biscuits and Gravy: Confessions of a Razorback. Due to lack of ticket sales, the show closed before opening night. “You win some, you lose some,” Bazzel said, adding he has “no problem eating a little humble pie.” You can find Bazzel on TV during Razorback football season as a pre-game host and commentator, as well as doing his full-time job at 103.7 The Buzz.

Joey Lauren Adams was born in North Little Rock, Arkansas, the youngest of three children. Her father was a lumber yard owner. Adams grew up in the Overbrook neighborhood of North Little Rock and graduated from North Little Rock Northeast High School in 1986. She announced her intention to pursue acting after one year as an exchange student in Australia. In 1991, Adams appeared in "Top of the Heap", the 100th episode of Married... with Children, and subsequently starred in its short-lived spinoff. In 1993, Adams landed her first major film role as Simone in Richard Linklater's Dazed and Confused. The same year, she appeared in the Saturday Night Live spinoff film Coneheads as one of Connie Conehead's friends. Two years later, Adams appeared in Mallrats, written and directed by Kevin Smith. The two started dating during the film's post-production, and their relationship provided the inspiration for Smith's next film, Chasing Amy. In 1997's Chasing Amy, Adams played the lead role of Alyssa Jones, a lesbian who falls in love with a man, played by Ben Affleck. In addition to her acting work on the film, Adams wrote and performed the song "Alive" for the film's soundtrack. Adams' performance in Chasing Amy earned her both the 1997 Chicago Film Critics Award and Las Vegas Film Critics Society Award for Most Promising Actress, and a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress-Motion Picture Musical or Comedy. In 1999, Adams appeared in her first big-budget Hollywood release, playing Adam Sandler's love interest in the successful comedy Big Daddy. She then went on to appear in many smaller films, including Beautiful and In the Shadows. In 2006, Adams released her directorial debut film, Come Early Morning, starring Ashley Judd, Jeffrey Donovan, Diane Ladd, Tim Blake Nelson and Laura Prepon. The film, shot on location in Little Rock, Arkansas, was selected for the 2006 Sundance Film Festival. Adams is also known for her distinctive voice which one film critic referred to as that of a "sex-kitten-on-helium". Regarding her voice, Adams commented: "It's not a normal voice. It doesn't fit into people's preconceptions about what a woman's voice should sound like. My mom doesn't think I have an unusual voice, though. I'm sure it's helped me get some roles. But Chasing Amy I almost didn't get. There was concern the voice would grate on some people, which some critics said it did." Another film critic said that whether viewers loved it or hated it, her voice had "the potential to hypnotize.”

"I’ve been an ardent fan of the big bands all my life. As a child growing up in New Jersey, I set my radio dial to WNEW, where "Make Believe Ballroom" featured a constant stream of recordings by big bands and their vocalists. Swing music went into hibernation for a while, as vocalists like Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald, Rosemary Clooney, and Perry Como stole the spotlight away. Determined to keep the old sound alive, I accumulated a collection of over 9,000 recordings. With such a rich resource at my fingertips, it was a natural next step to inaugurate a weekly radio program, which went on the air in 1983 and is now carried by over 40 National Public Radio stations."

With forty years of experience as a sports broadcaster, Steve Sullivan is one of the most well-known faces and voices in Arkansas news. Born in Massachusetts as one of six children, Sully moved to Jonesboro, Arkansas for his education and made the state his home. Steve is currently the Sports Director at KATV, where he has covered sports for over two decades. Among his accolades are a distinguished media member award from the Arkansas Activities Association, Arkansas Sportscaster of the year (five times!), and an induction into the Arkansas Sports Hall of Fame. His most famous accomplishment is Friday Night Touchdowns, where Sullivan has delivered highlights from football games nearly every Friday evening since 1999. Despite having such a robust legacy, Sully is as humble as they come. He credits much of his success to luck, and freely insists that he is never the most talented person in the room - an observation which he finds energizing and inspiring.

Born and raised in Pine Bluff, Trey Reid is the Assistant Chief of Communications for the Arkansas Game & Fish Commission. His primary role is executive producer and host of Arkansas Wildlife TV, the AGFC’s weekly television show that documents The Natural State’s many outdoor recreational opportunities and AGFC’s myriad conservation work. Additionally, Trey is editor of Tail Fly Fishing Magazine and Strung Sporting Journal; and host of The Wild Side radio show on 103.7 The Buzz (which airs Tuesdays at 7 p.m.). He makes more than 250 radio and TV appearances per year representing the Commission and educating Arkansans on our natural states outdoor offerings. Prior to joining the AGFC staff in 2007, Trey was field reporter for ESPN2’s BassCenter, traveling the country to report on professional bass fishing, conservation issues and much more. His travels took him everywhere from post-Hurricane Katrina New Orleans to bass fishing adventures in New York City’s Central Park. Trey was outdoor editor of the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for four years. He started in the newspaper business as a sports writer and later as sports editor at his hometown newspaper, the Pine Bluff Commercial. He continues to work as a freelance writer and has had articles appear in local and national magazines and websites including Bassmaster, Greenhead, AY, Fish Arkansas, Arkansas Wild, Arkansas Money & Politics, ESPN.com, and more. Trey graduated from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock with a B.A. in Liberal Arts.

Joe Kleine played basketball at a level very few people will ever play. The 7 foot tall center from Slater Missouri was a winner at every level, from high school, to college, the Olympics, and the NBA. As sportswriter Jon Goode once wrote, Kleine was never a star, but what made Kleine great was that he accepted his role and was ready to play every night. Sometimes a large part of being a legend, is making everyone else around you better. That's exactly what made Joe Kleine the kind of teammate every player wants to have. Kleine's first season at Arkansas, he helped the Razorbacks to a 26-4 record, finish second in the Southwest Conference (SWC), and make the second round the NCAA Tournament. His junior season, Kleine helped Arkansas to a record of 25-7, another second place finish in the SWC, and a first round loss in the NCAA Tournament. The biggest victory of the season came on February 12, 1984 at the Convention Center in Pine Bluff, Arkansas, when Kleine helped the Razorbacks upset the #1 ranked North Carolina Tarheels, led by Michael Jordan, thanks to a basket by teammate Charles Balentine at the end of the game. It is considered one of the greatest victory's in Razorback basketball history. Kleine finished that game with 20 points and 10 rebounds. Kleine was selected by the Sacramento Kings with the sixth pick in the 1985 NBA Draft. Kleine went on to have a fifteen-year NBA career, playing with the Kings as well as the Boston Celtics, Phoenix Suns, Los Angeles Lakers, New Jersey Nets, Chicago Bulls, and Portland Trail Blazers. Kleine played on teams with legendary NBA players Michael Jordan, Charles Barkley, Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, Robert Parish, Scottie Pippen, and Dennis Rodman. He won an NBA championship in 1998, as a center, for a Chicago Bulls team that included Michael Jordan, Scottie Pippen, Dennis Rodman, and Steve Kerr.

Aaron Reddin is the product of Booger Holler hillbillies coming down to the Arkansas River Valley and colliding with the Ouachita hillbillies at the foot of Danville Mountain. In his own words, Aaron "made some bad decisions" and wound up living out of his car and addicted to amphetamines at age 20. Seeking stability and discipline, he enlisted with the marines. Reddin was later discharged due to a bad knee, but he was sober and eager to help others. Aaron eventually landed in Central Arkansas, where he worked at various shelters and rehabilitation programs. Seeing people without coats and empty beds when the country is experiencing a housing crisis made Reddin realize that he could do a lot of good bringing help to people where they're at. He loaded up a vehicle with donated goods, and The Van was born. Founded in 2010, The Van is a mobile outreach program that seeks to meet the needs of unsheltered homeless in Central Arkansas. Its operations are supported by Back 5 Fields, a 10-acre farm in North Little Rock. These nonprofits are bundled under The One, Inc., which has launched further nonprofits across the state, including The Russ Bus in Russelville and Mission Machine in Searcy. Aaron lives in Little Rock with his wife and 3 old hound dogs. He battles Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS) in all 4 limbs and hopes to find a way to advocate for Arkansans who struggle to find or obtain treatment. He enjoys growing tomatoes and taking candid photos of his donkeys.

Born in 1952, Walter C. Coleman III was the 5th generation to run Coleman Dairy, in Little Rock, Arkansas. In 2001 his family business was listed in Family Business Magazine as the United States 75th oldest family-run business, having been founded in 1862. In 2007, Coleman Dairy became a division of Hiland Dairy. Though he inherited a dairy juggernaut, Walt's greatest legacy is in the world of sports. In his 20's, Walt began a long career as a football referee. At the time of his retirement in 2018, he was the longest-running NFL referee in history. This is big money, on a big stage, with big egos, and your word, as the referee, is the final word…like it or lump it. The next day, everybody is talking about it, and everybody must live with it. And living with it is what our guest did for 30 years… the guts, the glory, and the criticism.

Chelsea Wakefield, Ph.D., LCSW is a Jungian-oriented psychotherapist, couples therapist, dream worker, and workshop/retreat leader who works with individuals, couples and groups. For over twenty years, she has helped people move beyond the wounds of the past, access their archetypal potential, and live more vibrant and meaningful lives. Chelsea draws from a depth of training in clinical and transpersonal methods, helping people to integrate the insights of inner work into daily living. She has a passion for supporting women in developing their luminous potential.

Will Trice is the Executive Director of the Arkansas Repertory Theatre and has been since 2019. He has served as a producer for nearly 30 productions on Broadway, the West End, and National Tours. Trice is a three-time Tony Award winner for All The Way, Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?, and Porgy & Bess, though he gives away any credit to the fabulous actors, writers, and production crew. He is a five-time Tony nominee for Fiddler on the Roof, The Royal Shakespeare Company’s Wolf Hall, You Can’t Take It With You, The Glass Menagerie, and The Best Man. Other credits include: American Son, starring Kerry Washington; The Lifespan of A Fact, starring Daniel Radcliffe; American Buffalo; American Psycho; Lady Day At Emerson’s Bar & Grill, starring Audra McDonald (Broadway & West End); The Realistic Joneses, starring Toni Collette, Michael C. Hall, & Marisa Tomei; Blithe Spirit, starring Angela Lansbury (West End & National Tour); The Bridges of Madison County; and Glengarry Glen Ross, starring Al Pacino. Prior to his career in producing, Trice served as a Business Analyst with management consulting firm McKinsey & Company, an Artistic Administration Associate with The Metropolitan Opera, and a Strategic Growth Associate with alternative asset managers D.E. Shaw & Company. He holds degrees from Southern Methodist and Northwestern Universities.