THRIVES Podcast Show Notes

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Season 1

• Episode 1
• Episode 2
• Episode 3
• Episode 4
• Episode 5
• Episode 6
• Episode 7
• Episode 8
• Episode 9
• Episode 10
• Episode 11
• Episode 12

Season 2

• Episode 1
• Episode 2
• Episode 3
• Episode 4
• Episode 5
• Episode 6

Season 1

Episode 1 - Former Chancellor Steve W. Wrigley - Keep It Simple

Chancellor Steve W. Wrigley shares his insights on the past 36 years of service to the state of Georgia. You will hear his simple yet incredibly impactful approach to leadership. You will also hear the really fun way he is thriving these days!

Episode 2 - Meagan Corcoran - Connecting to Our Why

We have a very special guest on today’s episode. One who will take us back to the why of the work we do. We are talking to a former student in the USG.

Episode 3 - Topical Touch Base - August Fresh Start

Episode 3 is a touch base on the topic of fresh starts. August is often a great time to press the reset button on your goals. Some even refer to August as the “New January.” Join your host Wendi Jenkins as she walks through some practical ways to make the most of this time of year.

Episode 4 - Dr. John Fuchko, III - Setting the Table

In this episode Dr. John Fuchko, III, the Vice Chancellor for Organizational Effectiveness at the USG talks about what it means to swim in lots of lanes (but be you), set the table, break glass balls, and think about your influence as a leader.

Episode 5 - Pat Herndon - Optimizing Options for Everyone

In this episode Pat Herndon, former Assistant State Librarian and Director of Georgia Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled, talks about optimizing options for everyone, putting the right player in the right position, and just doing it!

Episode 6 - Shanice McLeish - Good Change

In this episode of the THRIVES Podcast we talk to Ms. Shanice McLeish, Executive Assistant for Strategy and Fiscal Affairs, about growing as a leader, lifelong learning, good change, and evolving through growth and giving back.

Episode 7 - Susan Norton - Finding Your Own Joy

In this episode of the THRIVES Podcast Wendi is joined by Susan Norton, former CHRO at Augusta University. They chat about supporting the institution’s mission, tending relationships, managing expectations and change, and finding your own joy.

Susan's Bio:

Susan Norton previously served as Vice President of Human Resources at Augusta University and AU Health. In this role, Susan provided advice and counsel to the enterprise leadership on human resource matters; directed the planning, development and implementation of programs to promote a positive, productive, and ethical workforce; provided strong and transparent communications to employees in an environment that fosters openness and trust; facilitated productive relationships with enterprise officials, and community groups in matters related to human resources; and supported enterprise strategies to increase diversity, build consensus and collaborative relationships, and improve morale.

Susan joined Augusta University in April 2002 as the Chief Human Resources Officer and has over 25 years of experience in Human Resources, and over 30 years in higher education including positions at Georgia Southern University in Statesboro, Georgia and Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, Virginia. She started her career in Government Relations with Equifax, Inc. in Atlanta, Georgia.

Ms. Norton is a leader in higher education human resources. She served as the Chair of the College and University Professional Association for Human Resources (CUPA-HR) national Board of Directors during fiscal year 2020-2021 and currently serves as the Past-Chair for 2021-2022. She previously served as Chair of CUPA-HR’s Research Advisory Committee and a member of the Public Policy Committee. She is a past Board Operations Coordinator for the Southern Region CUPA-HR Board, having served on the Board for three years. She is also a member of the Georgia CUPA-HR Chapter. She is a member of the University System of Georgia (USG) OneUSG HCM Steering Committee and the USG Human Resources Advisory Committee. She is a former member of the USG HR Policy Committee, and is a former president, vice president and treasurer of the USG Human Resources Association. She has been presenter at both CUPA-HR and USG HR conferences. She is also a member of the Society for Human Resources Management.

Susan earned her Bachelor’s degree from the University of South Carolina and her Masters from Georgia Southern University. Susan is certified as a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) by the Human Resources Certification Institute.

Susan and her husband, Tom, reside in Evans, Georgia; Susan’s greatest joys are being a wife to Tom and a mom to two sons and a daughter-in-law.

Episode 8: Dr. Georj Lewis - If you can't serve, you can't lead

Wendi is joined in episode 8 with Dr. Georj Lewis, President of Atlanta Metropolitan State College. Dr. Lewis talks about focusing on what's important, being intentional, bringing your brilliance, and how "if you can't serve, you can't lead."

Episode 9: Mike Coverson - Here for you

In episode 9 of the THRIVES podcast Wendi is joined by Assistant Vice Chancellor for Safety and Security & Chief of Police Mike Coverson. They talk about putting out fires, listening to different perspectives, being humble, and nourishing different aspects of your life.

Episode 10: Tricia Chastain - Staying Connected to the Mission

Wendi is joined in Episode 10 of the THRIVES podcast by Tricia Chastain, Vice President of Administration at Kennesaw State University. They discuss setting the path, surrounding yourself with a good team, listening more than you talk, and staying connected to the mission.

Episode 11: Casey Tanner - Values-Based Leadership

In episode 11 of the THRIVES podcast Wendi is joined by Casey Tanner - Assistant Vice Chancellor, External Affairs. They discuss values-based leadership, building and sustaining relationships, incorporating input from others, and School House Rock.

Podcast Recommendations:

• WABE Political Breakfast
• Politically Georgia - AJC
• GPB Lawmakers

Episode 12: December Pause - The Power of Reflection

In the final episode of 2022 Wendi talks about the power of reflection and the impact reflection can have on your life. She describes how to start small, stay open, and get still. Additionally, Wendi shares ten questions to help listeners reflect on the last year.

Reflection Questions:

• What will you remember most?
• Who were your people?
• What was the best entertainment?
• What were the most important conversations?
• What was the biggest surprise?
• What was the more consequential decision?
• What have you learned?
• What has changed?
• What are you leaving behind and making space for?
• What do you want more of?

Season 2

Episode 1: Chancellor Perdue - Good, Better, Best

The THRIVES Podcast is back for season 2! Wendi is joined in Episode 1 by Chancellor Sonny Perdue. They talk about enabling people to invest in themselves, truth building trust, pushing in the same direction, and going from good, to better, to best.

Episode 2: Alton Standifer - Keep the main thing, the main thing

Wendi is joined in Season 2, Episode 2 of the THRIVES Podcast with Alton Standifer, the Deputy Chief of Staff at the University of Georgia. They discuss keeping the main thing, the main thing, working together, choosing the road less traveled, being a lifelong learner, and staying curious.

Episode 3: Dr. Stuart Rayfield - Leadership Matters

In this episode Wendi is joined by Dr. Stuart Rayfield. Currently, Stuart is the Vice Chancellor for Leadership and Institutional Development for the University System of Georgia and on July 1, 2023 will become the President of Columbus State University. Stuart talks about being a perpetual student, the need for leaders to be intentional, and how leadership and people matter.

Episode 4: Alexis Vallianatos - Communicating Clearly

Wendi is joined in Season 2, Episode 4 with Alexis Vallianatos a graduating senior at Georgia College and State University. They discuss being a student leader, continuously improving, clearly communicating, balancing roles, and listening to understand.

Episode 5: Dr. Scot Lingrell - Developing Others

In Season 2, Episode 5 of the THRIVES Podcast, Wendi chats with Dr. Scot Lingrell - Vice Chancellor of Enrollment Management & Student Affairs for the USG. They discuss being a student of leadership, seeing every problem as a leadership problem, adapting as a leader, and investing in the development of others.

I think people want to be magnificent. It is the job of the leader to bring out that magnificence in people and to create an environment where they feel safe and supported and ready to do the best job possible in accomplishing key goals. This responsibility is a sacred trust that should not be violated. The opportunity to guide others to their fullest potential is an honor and one that should not be taken lightly. As leaders, we hold the lives of others in our hands. These hands need to be gentle and caring and always available for support. - Ken Blanchard

Episode 6: Bárbara Rivera Holmes -

In Season 2, Episode 6 on Wendi is joined by Wendi is joined by the President and CEO of the Albany Area Chamber of Commerce and USG Regent Regent Bárbara Rivera Holmes. They discuss showing up, building community, focusing on growth, enabling the team, the importance of trust, respect, listening, and relationships.

Bio:

Bárbara Rivera Holmes is president and CEO of the Albany Area Chamber of Commerce, a four-star accredited Chamber which for 113 years has made Albany work by investing in programs that build and support a prosperous economy, helping create jobs and developing talent, and connecting businesses to resources and information. Holmes is likewise CEO of the Albany Area Chamber Foundation, the 501© affiliate of the Albany Area Chamber, which focuses on initiatives that provide impact beyond the business community’s normal reach, focusing on talent, innovation and entrepreneurship.

The Albany Area Chamber’s #ImpactABY2023 strategy focuses support the membership, the community and economy, and its DE&I strategy is the region’s first business-led focus on the equality of opportunity, leveraging the region’s diversity as a strength and a business imperative. In 2023, the Albany Area Chamber Foundation released the Albany-Dougherty County Works! Talent Strategy 2.0, a work force road map developed by the private and public sectors.

In 2017, Holmes was appointed by then Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal to a seven-year term on the Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia, which oversees the 26 public colleges and universities that comprise the University System of Georgia and has oversight of the Georgia Archives and the Georgia Public Library Service. In 2020, Holmes was appointed by Georgia Lt. Gov. Geoff Duncan to the Georgia Innovates Task Force to help design the state’s innovation blueprint and position Georgia as the technology capital of the East Coast. Holmes co-chaired the task force’s Rural Initiatives subcommittee. The task force’s work led to the creation of the Partnership for Inclusive Innovation, which guides efforts and pilots programs to help foster access, growth, entrepreneurship and innovation throughout the state, with the ultimate goal of achieving inclusive innovation throughout Georgia.

Holmes’ other recent notable board service includes the Leadership Georgia Board of Trustees, the Albany-based Commodore Conyers College and Career Academy Board of Directors, the Georgia Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives Board of Directors and the Georgia Chamber’s Board of Directors.

Holmes was previously vice president of the Albany-Dougherty Economic Development Commission, where she developed the organization’s business retention and expansion program to facilitate existing industry job creation and capital investment in Albany-Dougherty County, and its marketing programs.

Holmes is a former journalist whose work has earned four awards for excellence in journalism from the Georgia Associated Press. She is a graduate of the 2014 class of Leadership Georgia; the 2009-10 class of Leadership Albany; and the 2008 class of the Georgia Academy for Economic Development. In 2008, she was recognized as one of Southwest Georgia’s “40 Under 40.” Georgia Trend magazine has named Holmes a “Notable Georgian” three years in a row (2020, 2021, 2022, 2023) and one of the Top 500 in the state. In 2022, Georgia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce recognized Holmes as one of the state’s 50 Most Influential Latinos. Holmes is a member of the 2023 class of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation’s Institute for Organization Management, and a 2022 graduate of the U.S. Chamber Foundation’s Business Leads Fellowship Program.

Holmes, who is bilingual, is a native of San Juan, Puerto Rico. She graduated from Florida Southern College in Lakeland, Fla., with degrees in journalism and in Spanish. She continued her studies at Estudio Sampere Internacional in Madrid and Alicante, Spain.