Ignitecast - Official Podcast of the Ignite Leadership Conference by CDF

Join us for Episode 3 of IgniteCast featuring Jack Reed Jr. of Reed’s Department Store.

In this inspiring conversation, Jack dives into the power of listening first as a leader and how that simple habit can transform teams and communities. He also shares his philosophy on giving back, why employees should be treated as your number one customer, and how to recognize and seize opportunities wherever you go.

Don’t miss this chance to he...

Join us for Episode #2 of IgniteCast featuring Philip Shackelford, Executive Director of the Lee County Library.

In this episode, Philip shares the importance of being actively involved in your community and how leadership at the local level can create lasting impact. A dynamic leader and strategist, Philip is passionate about building strong, supportive teams and driving positive change that helps communities thrive.

Outside of his ...

Meet your hosts, Judd and Taylor!

The Community Development Foundation is excited to relaunch Season 4 of IgniteCast, presented by iHeartMedia. In this season, we’re sparking fresh conversations with dynamic leaders across Tupelo and Lee County—all centered on one big question: How can YOU lead in your community?

🎧 New episodes drop every other Thursday, packed with insight, inspiration, and actionable ideas to help you grow as a le...

Alex Lange is an executive coach and leadership development facilitator living and working in Mumbai, India, where he moved with his family right before the pandemic took off. In this episode we talk about what "coaching skills" are, why he chose to become a certified coach, and how any leader can use coaching skills to improve her leadership, communication, and organizational culture. We also talk about understanding and...

Matt Laubhan is the Emmy award-winning Chief Meteorologist for the WTVA Weather Authority. Thousands of people instinctively look and listen for his guidance when rough weather is on the way--which makes him a leader. Judd and Rory wanted to find out what motivates Matt. Along the way they got to geek out about tornado science, have a candid conversation about global warming, and hear Matt tell a very personal story about a recent ...

The pandemic presented one of the most pressing leadership challenges in recent memory. In this interview, Pastor Jeffrey Daniel reflects on lessons he's learned leading a congregation through an especially challenging season. He gives an inside perspective to how he thinks about empowering others toward greater vision, leading teams of volunteers (where you can't just tell people what to do but must inspire them), and sh...

Lisa Hawkins has worn many hats in her career: nurse, educator, employee, employer, mentor, business owner, and more. Her life is a testament to the power of faith, perseverance, and meaningful relationships. In this episode, Rory and Judd talk with Lisa about her career, what decisions helped her along the way, how she leads her business (Room to Room Furniture), what makes employees want to stay working there, and what has anchor...

State and federal public health officials usually find themselves working in the background. During the Covid-19 pandemic, they've been thrust into the spotlight. It's fair to say that Dr. Thomas Dobbs became a Mississippi household name as he quickly became a leading voice in livestreams and press conferences alongside Governor Tate Reeves.

In this episode, Dr. Dobbs talks about his experiences working through a...

Blue Delta Jeans are some of the most coveted bespoke jeans available anywhere--and the company was founded and thrives In Tupelo, Mississippi. Josh West and Nick Weaver, Blue Delta's co-founders, join Judd and Rory to talk entrepreneurship, growth, pivoting to PPE in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic, why they're happy to do business in Mississippi, and what you need to do to create a thriving culture. This is a long an...

Rory Tyer (executive coach and co-founder of GoInnovation) gets put in the interview hot seat by Judd, and talks about the founding of the business, how he got into leadership development and coaching, and several pieces of advice for leaders on dealing with failure and empowering the people around them.

🎧 New episodes drop every other Thursday, packed with insight, inspiration, and actionable ideas to help you grow as a leader—rig...

Judd Wilson is Vice President of the Chamber of Commerce in the Community Development Foundation. In this episode Rory (his co-host) interviews him about his journey to this role, what he likes most (and what's challenging), and how he maintains healthy work-life harmony in the midst of so many personal and professional commitments. Judd interviews Rory in part 2.

🎧 New episodes drop every other Thursday, packed with insight, ...

Can leadership development change the world? Before founding GoInnovation, CEO Steadman Harrison opened the first Africa-based office of the Center for Creative Leadership in Ethiopia 2009. As part of a movement called Leadership Beyond Boundaries, he and others scaled research-based leadership development to more than 500,000 people in five years. Today he has come full circle and leads GoInnovation's globally dispersed team ...

Barton Ramsey disrupted the gundog training and breeding industry by founding and flourishing Southern Oak Kennels, as well as Cornerstone Gun Dog Academy - the first fully online gun dog training program. In this episode Barton talks about growing up and being perceived as "rebellious" (which later became an entrepreneurial drive to create something new), the values that sustain him during seasons of change (and what can...

Cathy Northington started as a temp, and was eventually asked to be Chief Operating Officer of the Mississippi Economic Council - the first African-American woman to hold a C-suite position in a state chamber of commerce in the United States. In this interview she tells that story and reflects on the influences, core values, and priorities that helped her get where she is today and overcome the idea that she wasn't a leader.

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There are many ways to measure a person's legacy. The Reed family name is well known in northeast Mississippi; Reed's Department Store has been a Tupelo fixture for many years. Jack Reed Sr. was a deeply influential leader, and for this final episode of season 1 we gathered his grandchildren in one room (with two on the phone) to reflect on the many lessons they've learned from him, both before and after his death se...

How do you sustainably and significantly raise the overall quality of life for an entire community? It takes a lot of willing hands and a long-term perspective. 

In this episode, David Rumbarger, President of the Community Development Foundation, talks about the leadership lessons, tough experiences, and demonstrated successes that have helped thousands in northeast Mississippi have access to higher-paying jobs and a great...

Few industries are as challenging right now as health care. Shane Spees leads North Mississippi Health Services, which includes North Mississippi Medical Center - the largest non-metropolitan hospital in the United States. In this episode of Ignitecast, Shane shares his story, and wisdom he's learned navigating the tension between delivering excellent patient care and navigating relationships between medical providers, insuran...

Toyota's name is legendary in the leadership world, in part because of the Japanese concept of "kaizen," which roughly translates to "continuous improvement" and refers to the mindset that all members, from CEO to floor workers, are constantly working together to notice what could be better and make that happen.

Sean Suggs is president of Toyota Motor Manufacturing Mississippi, responsible for a pl...

What's the difference between "building your kingdom" and "being a team player"? Why does it matter that the CEO should be willing to pick up the trash in the parking lot? And how do you lead a massive team through a difficult season of increased regulatory scrutiny and lower consumer confidence?

BancorpSouth CEO Dan Rollins shares stories and leadership principles that have helped him navigate the...