’Mid the Pines Podcast

Robert J. Lewis '64 is a distinguished alumnus and a 2024 recipient of our Jack Kennedy Memorial Alumni Achievement Award. From his humble beginnings to becoming a renowned figure in the business world, Robert's journey is a testament to resilience and innovation. Listen to this episode to discover how he transformed challenges into opportunities, leading to a successful career and life lived with philanthropy. We'll explore his insights on leadership, the importance of giving back, and how his time at GCC shaped his path.

Dr. Kristina Pazehoski '01 is Grove City College’s Chair of the Department of Biology. In this episode, Kristina shares her journey from GCC student to GCC professor, including her humble reaction to being named Omicron Delta Kappa's Professor of the Year in 2018. Kristina reveals how her relationships with students developed a passion for mentorship, bringing full circle her own formative experiences with GCC professors who mentored her in years past. Listen to this episode to learn more about the "science" of mentoring students, from spiritual ministry to her current research with students studying the gut microbiome.

Richard G. Staley ’62 is a successful entrepreneur and generous benefactor of Grove City College. He earned his bachelor degree in Chemical Engineering from GCC and then spent 15 years working for a company before he discovered his passion for starting his own business.  In 1977 he founded Flavor House Inc., and then years later he started Staley Equipment Corp.  In 2020, Richard gave 4 million dollars towards Grove City College, and in recognition of his generous gift, the Board approved renaming our primary academic building in his honor - Staley Hall of Arts and Letters. Join us in getting to know Richard through this podcast conversation, as we discuss his career journey and his passion for impacting the next generation!

Jake Reid '05 is the President and CEO of Sporting Kansas City (Sporting KC) - one of 29 teams in major league soccer (MLS). Jake received his bachelor's degree in marketing management from Grove City College and also played on the varsity basketball team. He launched his career in the National Basketball Association (NBA) as an Accounting Executive and Sales Manager. He then moved to England, working as a Ticket Sales Manager for the Derby County Football Club.  Jake has been with Sporting KC since 2010 in various roles, serving as President and CEO since the age of 33.  Join us to learn more about what Jake does in his current role and how he has achieved success as a young professional.

Join Development Officer Zach Jew '11 and Vice President for Advancement Jeff Prokovich '89 as they discuss the exciting Impact 150 Launch Celebration event to be held on November 3, and the innovative work being done by event host, Gecko Robotics. This alumni-owned company is leading the way in high-tech global solutions for industry and infra-structure and have some pretty special ties to the College. Don't miss this special video edition and get registered now for an evening you won't want to miss on November 3rd!     

Michael Lazarus ’77 is a past recipient of the Jack Kennedy Memorial Alumni Achievement Award and holds a bachelor's degree in accounting from Grove City College. He currently serves on the Board of Directors of companies Azul Linhas Aereas Brasileiras and Breeze Airways. The founding Chairman of JetBlue Airways and Co-Chairman of Fender Musical Instruments Corp., he has served on the Board of Directors for Jimmy John’s Gourmet Sandwiches, Restoration Hardware, Morris Air/Southwest Airlines, Guitar Centers, Inc., Integro, Inc., Apple American Group (Applebee’s), and many other privately-held growth companies. With this much business expertise, Michael had a lot of wisdom to share - tune in to learn about his story of perseverance to improve and advance in all he does.

Dan Creston ’81 graduated from Grove City College with a B.A. in Business Administration and started his career working in sales. Later, he landed as Chief Operating Officer at Alpha Packaging Inc. and partnered with the CEO to open 9 plastic packaging plants - selling the company 3 times to private equity firms. Dan is currently the founder and owner of Creston Consulting, a small business mentoring and Angel investing firm.  Dan shares his story of how he has invested in start-up, empowered new ideas, and continues to engage with current students looking for new business ventures.

Joe Dorris ’11 is a missionary living in Guatemala working with The Evangelical Alliance Mission (TEAM).  This episode delves into Joe's passion for videography and how he's seeing God use it in unique ways to spread the gospel.

Rusty Chadwick ’04 literally “takes one for the team” every day! As Director of WinShape Teams, one of five arms of the WinShape Foundation that was established in 1984 by Truett and Jeannette Cathy (also the founders of Chick-fil-A), Rusty makes it his mission help teams of every shape and size to become the very best version of themselves. In our latest ‘Mid the Pines podcast, Rusty shares about his unique career experiences, including his latest project, a documentary series called Teams Made Well. Learn how a guy from West Virginia found himself driving cattle in Colorado and later drove a camper van across the mountains of New Zealand – all part of the unexpected but divinely orchestrated path that led him to discover his true calling.  

 

Learn more about the Teams Made Well documentary series and check out Rusty’s book, Team Work: 13 Timeless Principles for Creating Success and Fulfillment as a Team Member.

Join us for an inspiring chat with Lissa (Swanson '10) Yanak about her journey from Grove City College to a career as a Licensed Professional Counselor, and her recent shift into Life Coaching.  Lissa is passionate about empowering others and explores how our mindset, attitude, and habits transform adversity into opportunity – something she's learned from her own journey as a two-time Cancer "Thriver."