Are you spending quiet time every day in conversation with God?

In this episode, Jeff and Marty discuss:

• Working as a cohesive leadership team.
• Prayer is a secret sauce for success.
• Stewarding what God has entrusted to us.
• Living life to honor your parents and prior generations.

Key Takeaways:

• You cannot have enough communication. Communication is at the heart of everything we do in life, business, and ministry.
• People are ambitious and driven and can handle more responsibility earlier than many think.
• We can make it through more than we think we can.
• We need to be generous because it's the right thing to do, not just because it is right for business or looks good or any other reason. It’s about being a blessing to others.

"It's about helping people whom you know. There's nothing in it for you. It's just a blessing to be generous with people who you will never get anything from. The profound irony there is you actually do get a tremendous amount of blessings, but it's not calculated on a spreadsheet, per se. There's just so much more to the richness of life that comes from it." — Marty Ozinga

Episode References:

• Lead With Prayer: https://www.leadwithprayer.com/
  

About Marty Ozinga: Marty Ozinga IV is the chief executive officer of Ozinga. Founded in 1928, Ozinga is a fifth-generation family enterprise best known for its red and white striped concrete mixer trucks. In 2012, Marty took the reins of running the family business as CEO from his father, Marty Ozinga III. Marty is joined by his five brothers and one cousin in the fourth generation of ownership, all of whom are currently working in the business. There are thirty-two family members in the fifth generation.

Marty earned a BA in economics and business from Westmont College in Santa Barbara, CA, and an MS in communications from Northwestern University. He has served on numerous not-for-profit boards, including chairing the board of Daystar Academy in Chicago. He is currently serving on the board of the Luke Society. Marty and his wife Amy have six children. They reside in the Little Italy neighborhood of Chicago.

Ozinga is a purpose-driven business whose purpose is to have a positive impact on individuals, their families, and the community for generations. This purpose is rooted in the Ozinga family's mission to first and foremost honor and glorify God and to serve the crown of His creation. In 2019, Ozinga received the Dean’s Award from the Illinois Family Business of the Year Awards for excellence in social enterprise, supply chain management, or emerging markets. Ozinga has 2,000+ employees with operations primarily in Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Florida.

Connect with Marty Ozinga:

Website: https://ozinga.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/martyozinga/

Connect with Jeff Thomas:

Website: https://www.arkosglobal.com/

Podcast: https://www.generousbusinessowner.com/

Book: https://www.arkosglobal.com/trading-up

Email: jeff.thomas@arkosglobal.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ArkosGlobalAdv

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/arkosglobal/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/arkosglobaladvisors

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arkosglobaladvisors/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLUYpPwkHH7JrP6PrbHeBxw

Where can you leverage your social capital to serve and grow in a community of God’s love?

In this episode, Jeff, Jeff, and Michele discuss:

• Bringing the mountain top experiences back to your everyday life.
• Finding the moments of connection with all of God’s children.
• Investing wisely and stewarding God’s resources takes time and practice.
• Sharing what you know with others.
• Integrating children in the Lord’s work.

Key Takeaways:

• There is magic in working with people and talking. Social capital has power.
• You don’t have to invest in the way the world invests. There is more to investing than just the stock market.
• Women like to be engaged. Most are not satisfied with just writing a check.
• Be generous with more than money. You can be generous with your resources, time, contacts, knowledge, and more.

"One thing that's been really important for me, and why I continue to go on these trips and also connect in my local community, is just being proximate to people who have different lived experiences than me." — Michele Dudley

Episode References:

• BraveWorks: https://www.braveworks.org/
• Women Doing Well: https://womendoingwell.org/
• Restoration Residences: https://resorationresidences.wordpress.com/
• Praxis Capital Fellowship: https://www.praxis.co/capital-fellowship
• Entrepreneur’s Organization: https://eonetwork.org/

About Michele Dudley: Michele is a serial social entrepreneur passionate about empowering transformation.

She founded BraveWorks (formerly Fashion & Compassion), Restoration Residences and the Ignite Justice Conference, led Seeds of Hope and supported the launch of the Blessing School for the Visually Impaired in Rwanda. Michele served as the interim Chief Advancement Officer at Mesa Global (formerly United World Mission) and has directed her family’s foundation for more than 25 years. Michele began her career as a CPA with KPMG and Bank of America and is a graduate of the University of Southern California. Michele lives in Charlotte, North Carolina, USA with her husband and fellow entrepreneur, Eric. Together they have 4 young adult children.

Michele actively serves on boards including Mesa Global, Women Doing Well, Thrive Global Project, Be the Bridge, The Gathering, and Deeper Roots Soul Care.

When Michele isn’t with her family or following her passion to empower transformation, she can be found exercising, practicing yoga, or dancing.

Connect with Michele Dudley:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michele-dudley-14997437/

Connect with Jeff Thomas:

Website: https://www.arkosglobal.com/

Podcast: https://www.generousbusinessowner.com/

Book: https://www.arkosglobal.com/trading-up

Email: jeff.thomas@arkosglobal.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ArkosGlobalAdv

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/arkosglobal/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/arkosglobaladvisors

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arkosglobaladvisors/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLUYpPwkHH7JrP6PrbHeBxw

What need is calling to your soul? Where are you hungering to serve in God’s Kingdom?

In this episode, Jeff, Jeff, Pat, and Janel discuss:

• Surrendering to God’s will and releasing our control.
• Keeping your word even when it isn’t easy.
• Serving God and His kingdom no matter what industry you are in.
• Talking with your family about what is important to you in giving.
• The culture differentiator.

Key Takeaways:

• God gives us the desires of our heart, we can listen to them and still be following Him.
• Everything we have belongs to the Lord. As we make choices, we need to honor Him as it all belongs to Him.
• Now more than ever, people are separated from what they eat. If you have questions, ask them.
• Pass along wisdom to your family, not just assets. Build and invest in the next generation.
• Be mindful and present. If you don’t slow down, you won’t be able to hear where He is directing you.

"We're just trying to take that platform that God has given us and provided us, and trying to steward it the best way we know how." — Pat Hord

Episode References:

• Jim Gaffigan - “BACON!” - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RqFi0cZ4p1E
• National Christian Foundation: https://www.ncfgiving.com/

About Pat & Janel Hord: Pat and Janel Hord are the owners of Hord Family Farms in Ohio.

Connect with Pat & Janel Hord:

Website: https://www.hordlivestock.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/hord-livestock-company/

X: http://www.x.com/hordfamilyfarms

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HordFamilyFarms/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hordfamilyfarms

Connect with Jeff Thomas:

Website: https://www.arkosglobal.com/

Podcast: https://www.generousbusinessowner.com/

Book: https://www.arkosglobal.com/trading-up

Email: jeff.thomas@arkosglobal.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ArkosGlobalAdv

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/arkosglobal/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/arkosglobaladvisors

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arkosglobaladvisors/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLUYpPwkHH7JrP6PrbHeBxw

How can you support the kids and families in need around you?

In this episode, Jeff and Phil discuss:

• Building a business with spiritually aligned partners.
• Utilizing a leveraged buyout with your employees so everyone has ownership.
• Being drawn into foster and orphan care with a Godly heart.
• Orphan care domestically and internationally.
• How God blesses a giving spirit.

Key Takeaways:

• Treat your employees generously. Your assets are your people. Treat people generously in a way that they would never want to leave.
• Take your skills and talents and apply them to kingdom work. It may be within business, it may be in advocacy. People have a need for your skills.
• Everybody can do something to help support kids in need.
• Making giving a priority - God keeps His promises and will care for you if you give in faith.

"We've been redeemed. And we're in the business of redemption. Foster care and adoption and caring for the moms and dads and the families is really a deep part of that." — Phil Goad

Episode References:

• Family Life: https://www.familylife.com/
• Every Child Arkansas: https://everychildarkansas.org/
• Restore Hope: https://www.restorehope.io/
• 100 Families Initiative: https://www.restorehope.io/100families

About Phil Goad: Dr. Goad and his wife, Starla, have three children and 10 grandchildren. Phil is a Court Appointed Special Advocate in the foster care program in Pulaski and Perry Counties, Arkansas. Dr. Goad also serves as Chair of the Every Child Arkansas (ECA) Executive Leadership Council. ECA is a state-wide network of advocates, agencies and other organizations working together in trust-building collaboration to fill the biggest gaps in foster care and adoption in Arkansas. Phil and Starla serve with organizations involved in care of orphans and vulnerable children in the US and around the world. They are actively involved in their church and love to teach and mentor others who share a desire to follow in the steps of Jesus Christ. They have a passion for marriage ministry and are long-time supporters of FamilyLife, previously headquartered in Little Rock, Arkansas. In 2021, Dr. Goad retired from CTEH, LLC, an environmental and public health consulting firm, where he served as Co-Founder, CEO and Principal Toxicologist. CTEH is a national leader in helping governments, businesses and communities prepare for, respond to, and recover from natural and man-made disasters. He received a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from Harding College in Searcy, Arkansas (1977) and a Ph.D. degree in Interdisciplinary Toxicology from the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (1982). Starla received a bachelor’s degree in Home Economics from Harding College (1976).

Connect with Jeff Thomas:

Website: https://www.arkosglobal.com/

Podcast: https://www.generousbusinessowner.com/

Book: https://www.arkosglobal.com/trading-up

Email: jeff.thomas@arkosglobal.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ArkosGlobalAdv

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/arkosglobal/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/arkosglobaladvisors

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arkosglobaladvisors/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLUYpPwkHH7JrP6PrbHeBxw

How do I give my kids a leg up, but not two legs up on the couch?

In this episode, Jeff and Kate discuss:

• Being all-in for the Kingdom, even when in secular spaces.
• Creating positive investing and generosity experiences from a young age.
• Avoiding Sudden Wealth Syndrome.
• Believing in your children and giving them agency.
• Fostering healthy money communication.

Key Takeaways:

• God can work in all places - not just holy places.
• Our brains are literally not built to take in large amounts of money at one time or handle the overwhelm of options that comes along with it.
• You need to understand that God owns it all. Your investments are a work that you do to steward the Lord’s resources.
• There is blessing and struggle in empowerment. Deliver that to your children.
• Healthy family stewardship is built out of healthy communication.

"I really encourage families to think about giving their kids sums of money and not just controlled, restricted family foundation board seats or trust payments every year. For me, I've wrestled with it; I've been through hard things with it, but I have grown so much in having the stewardship agency that I do." — Kate Gardner

Episode References:

• UTMA & UGMA Accounts - https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/investing/utma-ugma
• The Gathering: https://www.thegathering.com/
• Gospel Patrons: https://www.gospelpatrons.org/

About Kate Gardner: Kate Gardner is next-generation philanthropist with a passion for holistic stewardship and community-building. Coming from a family business legacy, she focuses on ministry, investing, and helping other Next-Gens through a faith-based community called Magnify and running a podcast called Ascendants (with a book now as well!). She seeks to encourage other inheritors and business families to seek relational health, creativity, and purpose in the way they both wrestle with and embrace stewarding resources and "living a legacy.”

Connect with Kate Gardner:

Website: https://www.magnifygeneration.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gratefullykate/

Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/ascendants/id1600096737

Book: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0DHC9ZDVY

Connect with Jeff Thomas:

Website: https://www.arkosglobal.com/

Podcast: https://www.generousbusinessowner.com/

Book: https://www.arkosglobal.com/trading-up

Email: jeff.thomas@arkosglobal.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ArkosGlobalAdv

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/arkosglobal/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/arkosglobaladvisors

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arkosglobaladvisors/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLUYpPwkHH7JrP6PrbHeBxw

How can you start being a better listener within your home and family?

In this episode, Jeff, Jeff, and Bill discuss:

• Finding independence at the age of 12.
• Careful listening - the key to success.
• Attention and listening as a form of generosity.
• Seek first the Kingdom.

Key Takeaways:

• True listening is not waiting for your turn to speak. It is trying to see the world through their eyes.
• The only way you can understand another person’s reality is to really, truly listen.
• The greatest gift you can give anyone is your time. The only way they know you’re giving your time is by listening and paying attention.
• See people as an individual who needs help, not as a dollar sign.

"Being listened to is so much like being loved that I can’t tell the difference." — Dr. Bill Hall

Episode References:

• The Power of a Positive No by William Ury: https://www.amazon.com/Power-Positive-No-Relationship-Still/dp/0553384260

About Dr. Bill Hall: My Priority One objective is to help clients accomplish their key financial goals. Priority Two is to ensure the client has a will, trust, term insurance (if needed), and plans for passing wealth to spouse and children. Priority Three is to develop a custom investment plan.

Dr. Bill Hall has been active as a Certified Financial Planner since 1985 and with Securities America, Inc. since 1991. He is now with OSAIC Wealth Inc., which acquired SAI in 2023. He manages money primarily for senior executives and their families.

Bill’s academic credentials include a Doctor of Business Administration from the University of Southern California as a Ford Foundation Fellow, an MBA from San Diego State University, and a Degree in Mechanical Engineering from Georgia Tech.

Bill co-founded The Executive Committee, TEC (now Vistage), on the West Coast in 1969. Vistage is now a worldwide CEO organization with over 46,000 members.

He has held positions as Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer with Vedax Corporation, the former parent of Vistage.

Bill was a Registered Professional Engineer who worked offshore for Shell Oil and in marketing operations with Mobil Oil. He served as a first lieutenant in the Seventh Army in Germany and was a Professor at California State University, Fullerton, and Pepperdine University.

Bill’s past activities with nonprofit organizations include serving as Chairman and Vice Chairman of two Foundations and Chairman of the Board of a University. He frequently advises nonprofit organization CEOs and has served on several Advisory Boards for California Companies.

He serves on the Mission Hospital Foundation Board Finance Committee and the Haggai International Board.

His company manages $158,000,000 for 94 families.

Connect with Dr. Bill Hall:

Website: https://osaicwealth.com/

Connect with Jeff Thomas:

Website: https://www.arkosglobal.com/

Podcast: https://www.generousbusinessowner.com/

Book: https://www.arkosglobal.com/trading-up

Email: jeff.thomas@arkosglobal.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ArkosGlobalAdv

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/arkosglobal/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/arkosglobaladvisors

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arkosglobaladvisors/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLUYpPwkHH7JrP6PrbHeBxw

How are you taking care of your people at all levels?

In this episode, Jeff and Dan discuss:

• No act of generosity is too small.
• Taking care of your people, no matter what their job is.
• Ensuring a people-first culture.
• The 7 Cs of good culture.

Key Takeaways:

• Enjoy your job, enjoy the product, but most importantly, enjoy the people.
• In your organization, you’re all on the same team and working towards the same win. No matter the role, every person is important and good in their role.
• It takes a commitment and everybody bought in to perpetuate and thrive with a great culture.
• More than anything, people want to feel needed, wanted, and appreciated.

"My philosophy is that people matter so much that you have to care about each and every one and the job that they do. And as you do that, you’ll get some great success across the organization." — Dan Fachner

About Dan Fachner: Dan Fachner is the Chairman, President and CEO of J&J Snack Foods Corp., a leading snack food company providing innovative branded snack foods and beverages to food service and retail channels. Dan started his career at the ICEE company, rose rapidly through the ranks and led the company as President and CEO for 25 years during which he took ICEE from a regional business to a nationally known brand, distributed broadly across a wide-ranging customer base and loved by devoted brand fans across the U.S.

As the parent company of the ICEE brand, J&J Snack Foods appointed Dan President of the company in 2020 and then subsequently, CEO and Chairman of the Board. In this role, Dan has taken his broad command of strategic selling, operations, finance, and marketing and applied it to J&J’s larger platform of brands including SUPERPRETZEL, ICEE, LUIGI’S, and the recently acquired Dippin’ Dots brand. As he leads the organization into its next era of growth, he and his executive leadership team are driving strong and visible progress in J&J culture, operational capability and efficiency, brand development, and profitable growth.

Dan resides in Franklin, TN with his wife, two married daughters and nine grandchildren. He was named to the Best of the Best Top Entrepreneur List by Spirit of the Entrepreneur in 2018 and was the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society of Nashville’s Man of the Year in 2022. He has served on various collegiate and nonprofit boards and is currently the Chairman of the Board for J & J Snack Foods. Board member of Consumer Brands Association, Azusa Pacific University and” In His Grip.”

Connect with Dan Fachner:

Website: https://www.jjsnack.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dan-fachner-5671146b

Connect with Jeff Thomas:

Website: https://www.arkosglobal.com/

Podcast: https://www.generousbusinessowner.com/

Book: https://www.arkosglobal.com/trading-up

Email: jeff.thomas@arkosglobal.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ArkosGlobalAdv

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/arkosglobal/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/arkosglobaladvisors

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arkosglobaladvisors/

YouTube:

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLUYpPwkHH7JrP6PrbHeBxw