Who knew that a job delivering papers as a young boy would lead to an entrepreneurial career in the world of sales, revenue, and hospitality?

Today's podcast guest is Jeff Michael, the Chief Revenue Officer of Quorum Hotels and Resorts.

The discussion traces Jeff's career journey, starting from his fascination with hotels as a child to his impressive rise in the hospitality industry.

Jeff shares stories of his early experiences in planning family trips and delivering newspapers, which instilled a strong work ethic and an early interest in business. He highlights the importance of being authentic, building relationships, and embracing challenges.

He also discusses the significance of mentors, being humble in leadership, and leveraging AI to create efficiencies. Now, as a key leader at Quorum Hotels, Jeff continues to apply these principles to drive success and growth.

Key takeaways include the value of authenticity, the role of mentorship, and the power of being proactive and tenacious. Connect with Jeff Michael here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffmichaelcha/

More about Quorum Hospitality here:

https://www.quorumhospitality.com/

Visit our sponsor here:

https://merchmadnessgroup.espwebsite.com/

More about "Most People Don't" here:

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Friends for over 20 years. Business partners for almost as long. Using music, performance, and the expressive arts to heal not only themselves but over 450 families per week.

Kim Tapper and Tom Sweitzer have created a non-profit https://aplacetobeva.org based in Northern, VA "where everyone is accepted for their humanity, not defined solely by their challenges. "

My son and I attended their holiday show last month. Imagine seeing a young client, using her feet to strum a guitar to contribute to a song, while many of her other limbs wouldn't function as well. Imagine the pride of parents and locals, seeing a child "twirl" on stage to receive loads of applause. Not necessarily about the skill, but rather from the effort.

This is what I learned from them, from their heartfelt efforts, and from their contributions to helping others

FIND AWE:

1. Power of Empathy in Arts: Both Kim and Tom emphasized the transformative power of the arts, used empathetically. They highlighted how artistic expression can provide therapeutic benefits, not just entertainment, stressing the importance of humanity and compassion in creative fields.

2. Collaborative Impact: Their story of meeting and forming a powerful professional partnership due to shared life philosophies and empathetic approaches is a testament to the impact of collaboration. This underscores the value of finding like-minded individuals who share your vision and values to create meaningful projects.

3. Resilience and Personal Challenges: Both speakers shared deeply personal stories of overcoming adversity and using their experiences to fuel their work. This teaches the value of resilience and using one’s personal journey as a catalyst for helping others, highlighting that personal struggles can lead to profound professional and philanthropic contributions.

4. Community and Inclusion: The work at A Place to Be is a strong example of building community and fostering inclusion through the arts. They create a space where everyone, regardless of ability, can contribute and feel valued. This can inspire listeners to seek or create similar inclusive environments in their own communities.

5. Therapeutic Power of Self-Expression: The episode illustrates the healing power of self-expression through music, dance, and performance, encouraging listeners to explore these avenues for personal growth and healing. Whether it's through professional therapy or personal exploration, engaging in expressive arts can be a powerful tool for emotional well-being.

This episode is being sponsored by:

https://merchmadnessgroup.com

For corporate gifting ideas, please visit their website and support their efforts to create memorable moments through appreciation of thoughtful gifts.

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https://bartaberkey.com/podcast

To kick off 2025, our first podcast guest of the year is Hugh Roth. He is a fellow Pittsburgher and Penn Stater, who has accomplished so much in his personal and professional life.

He is currently, Senior Vice President at PepsiCo.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/hugh-roth-5037538/

We discuss his upbringing in Pittsburgh, his career trajectory through major companies like American Express and Coca-Cola, and his philosophy on leadership and kindness in the workplace.

Roth emphasizes the value of authenticity, team cohesion, and the importance of going the extra mile in both personal and professional contexts. He also reflects on the impact of family and mentors on his career.

Thank you to this episodes sponsor:

Merch Madness Group

They are a small business based in Southern California dedicated to providing CORPORATE GIFTING NEEDS with exceptional products, curated merch, and fulfillment services.

For those interesting in helping us to continue to provide zero cost content for you, sponsorship inquires can be submitted here: https://www.bartaberkey.com/sponsorship

Major learnings from today's podcast that you can apply: 1. The Importance of Grit and Resilience

Hugh shared his upbringing in a hardworking environment, his father's entrepreneurial spirit, and the impact of experiencing both wealth and bankruptcy. These experiences taught him the value of grit, agility, and learning from mistakes, shaping his approach to leadership and life.

2. Team-Oriented Leadership and Empathy

Hugh emphasized the significance of teamwork and helping people reach their potential. He highlighted the importance of understanding individuals’ goals and aspirations—both personally and professionally—to foster a culture of empathy and collaboration.

3. Adaptability in Career Choices

Hugh discussed his decision to transition from hospitality operations to supplier roles to prioritize work-life balance and family. This pivot demonstrates the need for adaptability and aligning career paths with personal values and priorities.

4. The Power of Going the Extra Mile

Hugh stressed that successful people and leaders consistently "go the extra mile," whether through making an additional sales call, writing a handwritten note, or showing unexpected kindness. This principle applies both personally and professionally.

5. Authenticity and Kindness in Leadership

Hugh believes in the value of being genuine and caring. He underscored the importance of authentic leadership that focuses on connecting with others, listening to their needs, and making decisions that positively impact them. He linked this approach to the evolving expectations in hospitality and sales, advocating for “real people serving real people.”

Today's guest is Mike Schugt, currently the President of Teneo Hospitality Group, who shares his career journey in the hospitality industry. Soon he will putting forth all of his efforts and energy toward his new venture, "Inn-Clusivity".

Their mission is to empower special needs adults and their families by opening doors to transformative opportunities and meaningful employment in the hotel industry. It is a brilliant idea to help others find purpose and passion within new opportunities.

Imagine empowering special needs adults to become UNSTOPPABLE! He is "seeing" the need to help so many that may be UNSEEN for job opportunities.

We learn very quickly of so many commonalities between the both of us; Pittsburghers and Penn Staters.

Mike discusses his early aspiration to be a hockey player, his shift to hospitality spurred by an affinity for the dynamic nature of the industry, and his ascent to leadership roles including his current presidency at Teneo.

We discuss:

-the importance of self-leadership, authenticity, competitiveness, relationship-building in sales and leadership, and the value of serving others.

-Mike's initiative, 'Inclusivity,' which aims to provide employment opportunities for special needs adults.

-Lessons from Mike's story emphasize resilience, hard work, self-care, and the transformative impact of kindness and inclusivity in both personal growth and business success. More about https://innclusivity.org/

Connect with Mike on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-schugt/

More about: https://teneohg.com/

It's not easy to ASK TOUGH QUESTIONS. It's even harder sometimes to HEAR THE ROUGH ANSWERS. This is what today's guest does so well. She gets to the essence of the problem for her clients and then delivers solutions in a way that is direct, yet empathetic, so they embrace the change.

We welcome Elizabeth Engel from Spark Consulting, highlighting her impressive background in association management, marketing, and communication.

Elizabeth shares her journey from studying political science and considering a legal career to becoming a prominent consultant for associations.

Our discussion delves into the challenges and strategies within the association industry, including membership management, revenue generation, and non-traditional fundraising methods. Elizabeth emphasizes the importance of practical solutions, critical thinking, and asking tough questions to drive meaningful change.

We conclude the conversation with a focus on the essential role of associations and the continuous need to adapt and innovate in response to evolving environments. Lessons we all can apply, regardless of our industry.

A very powerful conversation.

More about Elizabeth and her company here:

https://www.getmespark.com/

More about "Most People Don't" and other episodes here:

https://www.bartaberkey.com/

Today's podcast guest is Timm Chiusano. A person I've been following, liking, and sharing on social media with almost every single one of his posts. Wise beyond his years yet humble beyond his skill, he vulnerably speaks on how to navigate careers and life.

Timm quit a job he loved to fully embark on a mission to help anyone do their best work by being the best version of themselves.

By pulling from over 20 years experience in Corporate America that includes 11 in an executive capacity at a Fortune 100, and a creative mind that makes him your favorite TikToker's favorite TikToker, Timm is changing how mentorship can be shared.

His wisdom is vast and his ability to express himself is visionary.

Follow him and learn:

LinkedIN:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/complexbusinessproblemsolver/

TikTok:

https://www.tiktok.com/@timmchiusano

More about us:

https://mostpeopledont.com

@bartberkey

Today's live podcast guest is Giovanna Ventola. She is the founder of Rhize, a free online community that provides comprehensive career support to job seekers.

After being laid off three times in three years, she realized that being out of a job, doesn't mean that you need to give up. A few posts on TikTok, sharing her struggles and frustrations, quickly gained a following thus leading to the creation of Rhize with thousands of members.

"Out of a Job, doesn't mean Out of Help or Out of Hope"

During the pandemic, I shared an online presentation called "You Can Do Anything For a Year". The response was overwhelming as it offered HOPE for those that were losing their jobs.

The importance of having resources and a community is massive. Thank goodness for people like Giovanna and her creation of Rhize to help those that are seeking new opportunities.

Through curated resources, shared experiences, and consistent community engagement, Rhize guides individuals through the ever-evolving job landscape.

Giovanna has a wealth of knowledge and unique insights on topics such as unemployment, career, and the crazy job market. Rhize with all of it's resources is FREE.

https://rhizetogether.com

https://www.tiktok.com/@giovanna.ventola

https://mostpeopledont.com

I just happened to be presenting on KINDNESS in Memphis when I hear that Celia Imrie was in the same location on her book tour of "Meet Me at Rainbow Corner". She graciously accepted my offer for a quick interview and was simply delightful.

Although she politely disputed the name of my company by sensing that "Many People DO!", we had a lovely discussion about KINDNESS, ambition, and "doing". Her best-selling books seem to have a theme of empathy and being nice, which she attributes to her personal philosophy.

Celia is best known for her film roles, including the Bridget Jones film series, Nanny McPhee, The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, and the Netflix series The Diplomat.

This interview was live from the Peabody Memphis hotel as we discuss her journey as an Olivier Award winner, a celebrated actress, and an author known for her themes of kindness and empathy.

Celia highlights the importance of continuous effort and optimism, sharing her experiences of receiving warmth and hospitality while traveling across America. The conversation also touches on the significance of kindness, how it influences her writing, and the impact of wartime struggles on human relationships.

More information on her books here:

http://bit.ly/410fB8N

More information on IMDB:

https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0408309/

To listen to additional podcasts on people that "do":

https://bartaberkey.com/podcast