Disrupting the Charitable Giving Space
In this episode of the Mission Matters Podcast, Paul Feith interviews Chase Harmer, the Founder of Wishes Inc, about his mission to reinvent charitable giving. Chase describes the Wishes Inc platform, its revenue model, and his inspiration to build it.
Reinventing a Nonprofit Organization
In this episode of the Mission Matters Podcast, Paul Feith sits down with the Executive Director of the Catalyst for Educational Change, Shelley Taylor, to discuss how she rebuilt a nonprofit organization. Shelley describes the CEC’s mission, her educational journey inside and out of the nonprofit space, and the organizations she trusts.
Dorri McWhorter – Social Enterprise With the YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago
In this episode of the Mission Matters podcast, Paul Feith hosts Dorri McWhorter, the President and CEO of the YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago, to talk about social enterprise with the Chicago YMCA. Dorri discusses what a social venture entails, the different services offered by the YMCA, and how the YMCA is embracing the digital landscape.
Living With Purpose
In this episode of the Mission Matters Podcast, Paul Feith welcomes Clara Lucia Jaramillo-Carrier, a renowned speaker and Brand Strategist at Paul Gregory Media, for a conversation about embracing purposeful living and leadership. Clara shares insights on overcoming fear, understanding personal yearnings, and making intentional choices aligned with one’s deepest desires. Her leadership style emphasizes humility, continual learning, and personal development as keys to influence.
Good Shepherd Church – A New Leader
In this episode of the Mission Matters Podcast with Paul Feith, he hosts Tara Beth Leach, Senior Pastor at Good Shepherd Church, for a candid discussion about women in ministry. Tara reflects on her calling to serve as a pastor, how she pursued her passion without a roadmap, her multifaceted roles in ministry, and her background in writing.
Educare West DuPage: Early Learning Matters With Marcela Sweeney
In this episode of the Mission Matters Podcast, Paul Feith engages in an enlightening conversation with Marcela Sweeney, the Executive Director of Educare West DuPage, exploring the significance of early learning. Marcela shares her journey in education, discussing her motivations and the allure of Educare compared to traditional daycare centers. Through her perspective, listeners gain valuable insights into the distinctive features and benefits of Educare’s approach to early childhood education.
Megan Pennington of CASA of River Valley
In this episode of the Mission Matters Podcast with Paul Feith, Megan Pennington, Advocate Supervisor at CASA of River Valley, shares the role of a CASA advocate. Megan explains CASA’s mission in supporting foster children, explores the reasons behind children entering foster care, and provides insights on how listeners can become CASA volunteers.
Amy Van Polen of Bridge Communities
In this recent episode of the Mission Matters Podcast, host Paul Feith sits down with Amy Van Polen, CEO of Bridge Communities. Amy delves into the organization’s mission to end homelessness, highlighting Bridge Communities’ programs and efforts to empower families facing homelessness. Additionally, Amy shares her insights on effective leadership strategies and techniques for successful fund development.
Nancy Wiersum of Loaves & Fishes Community Services
In this episode of the Mission Matters Podcast, Paul Feith hosts Nancy Wiersum, Executive Vice President of Advancement for Loaves & Fishes Community Services, to explore the profound impact of food pantries on communities. Nancy delves into the mission of Loaves & Fishes, highlighting its services and CARES programs. She also shares valuable insights gained from navigating the challenges posed by the pandemic, highlighting the organization’s resilience and adaptability.
Mike Briggs of Little Friends
In this episode of the Mission Matters Podcast, Paul Feith sits down with Mike Briggs, President and CEO of Little Friends, delving into the organization’s profound impact on individuals with intellectual disabilities. Mike navigates through his career trajectory and transition into the nonprofit sector, shedding light on Little Friends’ mission, its extensive range of services, and the pivotal role of the family care team and additional support groups.
Jung Family Painting: A Community Partner
On today’s episode of the Mission Matters Podcast, Paul Feith engages in a dynamic conversation with Bob and Judy Jung, the Founders and Co-owners of Jung Family Painting. Beyond the strokes of paint, the Jungs unravel the art of community engagement, discussing their philanthropic endeavors, leadership triumphs, and the transformative role of a business coach in the entrepreneurial journey.
Ride Assist Naperville
In this episode of the Mission Matters Podcast, Paul Feith welcomes Ashley Abraham, the Executive Director of Ride Assist Naperville, to delve into the program’s mission, services, target audience, and future goals.
NAMI DuPage – A Leader in Mental Health Support
In this episode of the Mission Matters Podcast, Paul Feith welcomes Geri Kerger, Executive Director of NAMI DuPage, for an in-depth conversation about the organization. Geri provides valuable insights into the diverse range of programs NAMI offers and sheds light on DuPage County’s impactful role as an advocate and support system for mental health initiatives.
The DuPage Foundation: DuPage County’s Philanthropic Leader
In this episode of the Mission Matters Podcast, Paul Feith welcomes Michael Sitrick, President and CEO of the DuPage Foundation, for an in-depth conversation about the foundation. In addition to sharing the foundation’s mission and its growth over the years, Michael expounds on the DuPage Community Transformation Project and the challenges of implementing year-end giving initiatives.
Serenity House Programs and Leadership
On today’s episode of the Mission Matters Podcast, Paul Feith converses with Mark Buschbacher, the President and CEO of Serenity House Counseling Services. Mark delves into Serenity’s dedication to aiding long-term substance abusers to achieve and maintain sobriety through a holistic approach. He also shares what attracted him to joining Serenity House’s team, the facility’s services and programs, and how they differentiate themselves from other recovery programs.
The American Hearing Research Foundation
Join Paul Feith on today’s episode of the Mission Matters Podcast, where Joan Wincentsen, Executive Director of the American Hearing Research Foundation, joins the show. Joan shares her inspiration for joining AHRF, the organization’s mission, and why research and funding are imperative to curing and treating hearing loss.
Thinking Like a 21st-Century Non-Profit Leader
In this episode of the Mission Matters Podcast, Paul Feith once again welcomes Rick Lochner, President and Head Coach at RPC Leadership Associates, to discuss the five pillars of thinking like a 21st-century non-profit leader. Rick explains the difference between thinking versus doing, the social enterprise model, and why storytelling is essential to a nonprofit’s mission.
Healthy Aging and Ageism
In this episode of the Mission Matters Podcast, Paul Feith welcomes Suzanne Kinsey, Executive Director of Fox Valley Community Services, to talk about ageism and how it affects individuals’ abilities to age healthily. Suzanne shares what leadership represents, contributing factors to aging positively and negatively, and the resources Fox Valley Community Services provides.
Leadership in Rotary
In this episode of the Mission Matters Podcast, Paul Feith welcomes Rich Tatara, President of the Rotary Club of Naperville, to discuss the organization and its mission. Rich also shares the Rotary Club’s contributions to society, the challenges of leading Rotary, and how people can benefit as members of the organization.
Processes in Leadership
In this episode of the Mission Matters Podcast, Paul Feith welcomes Adam Russo, Founder of Reliable Coaching and Strategy, to discuss a purposeful people-process strategy. Adam shares his career trajectory and what inspired him to start his coaching consultancy. He also talks about work ethic, employee motivation, and compensation in the wake of inflation, and how workplace culture and operations impact business growth.
Thinking Differently About Non-Profit Leadership
In this episode of the Mission Matters Podcast with Paul Feith, Rick Lochner, President and Head Coach at RPC Leadership Associates, discusses alternative methods to lead nonprofit organizations. Rick shares his leadership background and how he became involved in nonprofits, the differences between social enterprises and traditional charities, and why nonprofits should operate like conventional businesses.
Pillar-Based Marketing
In this episode of the Mission Matters Podcast, Chad Franzen of Rise25 once again flips the script to interview host Paul Feith about pillar-based marketing. Paul discusses the costs of using pillar-based marketing, how AI enhances marketing research, and how companies can benefit from pillar-based marketing.
The Three Challenges Leaders Face Today
In this episode of the Mission Matters Podcast with Paul Feith, Sarah Grycko-Oprzedek, President and CEO of United Way of Will County, discusses the challenges leaders face every day. Sarah talks about clawback donations, employment challenges within the nonprofit sector, and the complexities of achieving a work-life balance.
Digital Sustainability: Crafting a Digital Climate Plan
In this episode of the Mission Matters Podcast with Paul Feith, Tim Frick, Founder and President of Mightybytes, discusses digital sustainability — the process of incorporating environmental, economic, and social stewardship practices into digital products and services. Tim explains how digital waste impacts the environment, how the internet can be more sustainable, and provides nonprofits with ideas on supporting digital sustainability.
The Top Five Frequently Asked Questions About Hiring an Agency
On today’s Mission Matters Podcast, Paul Feith sits with Paul Gregory Media’s Marketing Director, Marissa Schmidt, to ponder potential clients’ common questions. Together, they address effective methods to promote brand awareness, leading donation platforms, the costs of building a website, and how marketing agencies charge for their services.
Programmatic Advertising: A New Frontier Into AI
In this episode of the Mission Matters Podcast, Paul Feith interviews Ashley Kratschmer, Digital Marketing Coordinator at Paul Gregory Media (PGM), about programmatic advertising. Ashley explains when and how to use programmatic ads, the difference between geofencing and retargeting, and when to optimize campaigns.
Lessons From a Leader
In this episode of the Mission Matters Podcast, Paul Feith interviews Shefali Trivedi, Founder, President, and CEO of A Better We, about the lessons she’s learned as a servant leader and the importance of having trust in your business model. Shefali shares her career trajectory, the challenges she overcame in her previous roles, and A Better We’s mission.
Insights From a Social Media Expert
In this episode of the Mission Matters Podcast, Paul Feith interviews Katrina Syrris, Social Media Manager at Paul Gregory Media (PGM), about how businesses can benefit from social media. Katrina shares strategies for successful campaigns, preferred management tools, and discusses the differences between using social media as a marketing tool and as a sales tool.
Paul Gregory Media and Social Media
In this episode of the Mission Matters Podcast, host Paul Feith welcomes Chad Franzen of Rise25. Chad flips the script and interviews Paul about the power of social media in digital marketing. Paul discusses Paul Gregory Media’s origin, PGM’s competitive edge, the agency’s preference to work with mission-based organizations, and what inspired him to start a podcast.
Upcoming Guests:
Nicki Anderson
A Brand New Venture
Andrea Ingram
DuPage Children’s Museum
Joel Friend
Paramount Group
Dylan Ladd
Illinois Conservatory of the Arts (ICA)
Janell Robinson
Hope’s Front Door
Nina Menis
KidsMatter
Bob Kopach
Boko Ideas
Jennifer Brasfield
Riverwalk Adult Day Center
Kara Murphy
DuPage Health Coalition
Teri Wood
The GardenWorks Project
