The Volunteer Roadmap

Is success easier in a county with a population under 30,000? For Livingston, the answer is yes. 
Because a small, tight-knit community can move on an idea before a bigger county has finished scheduling the first meeting.
Zach Stephens is the CEO of the Livingston - Overton County Chamber of Commerce, and while he’s only been in the role for a year and a half, he's already been able to accomplish a lot just from being “impatient.”
In this episode, Zach shares how he's turning a once-distressed county into one that companies and families actually want to be in. You'll hear: 
Why a company won't relocate somewhere its employees have to take a full day off just to see a doctor 
How a vacant nursing-home wing could solve the county's childcare shortage
How having a college, university, *and* a TCAT nearby became a secret weapon for recruiting businesses
Sometimes the advantage isn't size or money. It's being small enough that everyone actually works together. 
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Turtleson makes golf apparel sold by more than a thousand courses and stores across the world. They even make the private-label shirts for St. Andrews, the home of golf, right here in Bristol, Tennessee.
A brand with that kind of reach could set up anywhere, but Turtleson chooses to stay in Bristol, and they've built the company to support the community without depending on it to survive. That balance (global reach with local roots) is the whole reason it works.
In this episode, I'm talking with Greg Oakley, Co-Founder and CEO of Turtleson, about:
Why they’re growing slowly (and profitably), even when the flashier path might be faster 
The pandemic gamble that left them as one of the only brands with product when demand came roaring back
Why everyone should care about their clothes fitting well and looking good (on and off the course)
You don't have to leave home to build something great. Sometimes believing in your community is the whole strategy.
Have a Tennessee story worth mapping out? Reach out at https://bit.ly/ArchAboutTN-ep15 
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How do you know when to focus on one thing vs. diversifying your revenue streams? Especially when the stakes are high and you usually don't see ROI for several years.
To answer that question, we're heading to Sweetwater Valley Farm.
This is NOT your grandpa's dairy farm. They were the first in Tennessee to milk with robots, and they've just started milking on a 60-cow rotary that's the first of its kind in the state.
In this episode, I'm joined by Max Waibel (General Manager) to talk about how a family dairy farm has become one of Tennessee's most recognizable brands. They're deliberate about which ideas they pursue, because most decisions are a five-year commitment. He shares:
How they became the first farm in Tennessee to milk their cows with robots (and why they're actually taking a step back from that)
How diversifying their revenue streams protects the farm instead of distracting from it
What opening the farm to visitors does for a rural community, beyond the ticket sales
Coming up with ideas is the easy part. Success comes from sticking with them long after the excitement wears off.
Have a Tennessee story worth mapping out? Reach out at https://bit.ly/archabouttn-ep14  
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A few years ago I was in the Leadership Tennessee NEXT program, and David Golden said something that changed the course of my life:
"I can tell you've long-range planned for someone else's success, but I don't think you've made a plan for your own life."
That conversation is a big part of why I started Arch About TN and The Volunteer Roadmap. So for this episode, we're going to Johnson City to talk to the man who set this whole thing in motion.
David spent 25 years at Eastman before helping build the ETSU Research Corporation, an economic development engine for the Appalachian Highlands. Between the two, he's spent a career thinking about innovation, talent, and how regions actually build prosperity.
In this episode, David shares:
Why you shouldn't reserve your best strategic thinking for your business
Why "innovate or die" applies to your career and your community, not just companies
How the Research Corporation engineers opportunity instead of waiting for luck
Success on paper and a life well lived aren't the same thing. This episode is about closing the gap between them.
Have a Tennessee story worth mapping out? Reach out at https://bit.ly/archabouttn-ep13 
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When Steam was exploding with growth, they could have set up anywhere. Instead, they took a downtown building that had sat vacant for decades and turned it into a four-story hub, bringing more foot traffic to the local businesses around them. They strengthened the community and tapped into Chattanooga's biggest hidden asset at the same time: its location.
In this episode I'm sitting down with Joe Saggio, COO of Steam Logistics, to talk about how a Chattanooga company became a global player in third-party logistics and why this city's spot on the map is one of Tennessee's most underrated advantages. Joe shares:
Why the Chickamauga Lock, the Tennessee River, and our highway corridors make this a logistics powerhouse
How taking care of your partners and employees gets you through the inevitable 11th-hour emergencies
Why Steam is going all-in on cross-border trade as manufacturing moves back to North America
How a strong culture (and one of the best comp plans around) keeps their people motivated
Logistics isn’t just about efficiently moving freight. It's about economic development, and Chattanooga's location makes Tennessee a better place to live and do business.
Have a Tennessee story worth mapping out? Reach out at https://www.archabouttn.com/contact 
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The greatest predictor of poor health in America isn't genetics or lifestyle… It's poverty.
And what causes poverty? Two things: lack of jobs and lack of education. Which means the conversation we should be having about healthcare in Tennessee isn't just about doctors and hospitals - it's about how we create good jobs, especially in our rural communities.
In this episode I'm sitting down with Dr. Randy Wykoff, Founding Dean of ETSU's College of Public Health, to talk about how economic development and public health are inseparable. After 20 years serving Central Appalachia, Randy has a clear view of what Tennessee gets right, what we're missing, and what it would take to actually move the needle.
In this episode, Dr. Wykoff shares:
Why creating jobs in rural communities would do more for public health than almost anything else
Why investing in public health actually saves taxpayer money
Why public health isn't political (and what we lose when we treat it that way)
Tennessee has both some of the richest and poorest counties in America. We have the resources - we just have to get them to the people who need them.
Have a Tennessee story worth mapping out? Reach out at archabouttn.com

What happens when your population increases by over 30% in 10 years and the median home price is over $900,000?
It sounds like a success story (and it is), but at the same time the teachers, first responders, and entry-level workers who keep this community running can't afford to live where they work.
In this episode I'm discussing the housing challenges that come with being Tennessee's biggest success story with Bo Patten, the CEO of the Williamson County Association of Realtors.
WCAR’s 2,800 members aren't just selling houses - they're on the front lines of a housing market that's growing faster than anyone expected.
In this episode, Bo shares:
How realtors went from selling houses to shaping housing policy in Franklin
Why as many people commute INTO Williamson County as leave it (it's not the bedroom community people think it is)
How Williamson County plans to address a projected shortage of nearly 10,000 housing units by 2030
The communities that thrive long-term aren't the ones that grow the fastest. They're the ones that plan for it.
Have a Tennessee story worth mapping out? Reach out at archabouttn.com 

Most people think Tennessee's entertainment industry is just Nashville honky-tonks and country music. It's actually an $8 billion business keeping your taxes low.
Bob Raines runs the Tennessee Entertainment Commission - the state agency that oversees film, TV, and music. The industry he manages generates $8 billion in economic activity across Tennessee, which brings over $400 million in tax revenue into the state every year. That money helps keep Tennessee a low-tax state. 
Tennessee didn't throw massive incentive programs at entertainment companies. We built something better - a talent ecosystem that keeps growing on its own.
In this episode, we discuss:
Why Bob would rather be a "second tier" market than #1 (and why it’s a smarter play long-term)
How Tennessee attracts more talent than states spending twice as much on incentives
Why an eight-year degree isn't needed to be successful in entertainment
Entertainment in Tennessee isn't just Nashville's country music scene. It's jobs, tax revenue, and reasons for people to stay, all across the state.
Have a Tennessee story worth mapping out? Reach out at archabouttn.com

Ten years ago, Lawrence County was on Tennessee's distressed counties list.
Today, they're one of the most exciting areas in the state. New investment coming in every month, 1,500 jobs added since 2020, and downtown is filled with restaurants, retailers, and Airbnbs.
So… what changed? They started seeing their limitations as opportunities.
Ryan Egly is the President & CEO of the Lawrence County Chamber of Commerce. Growing up he was told if he wanted to be successful, he'd have to leave Lawrenceburg. Instead of following that advice, he found a different solution.
In this episode, we're discussing:
How quantifying work ethic (not just credentials) became their secret weapon for recruiting businesses
Why keeping everything under one roof lets a 50,000-person county compete with 100,000+ markets
How to build education partnerships that actually serve your local workforce needs
You already have what you need. You just have to see it differently.
Have a Tennessee story worth mapping out? Reach out at archabouttn.com

Cleveland is thriving. New restaurants, full parking lots, major development happening everywhere.
But six years ago, the city was operating with 65% variable debt - which meant they couldn't predict their budget, couldn't plan accurately, and couldn't attract the kind of investment they needed.
The first thing Mayor Kevin Brooks did? The unsexy work. He got Cleveland's debt under control (from 65% variable to 97% fixed) and created the foundation for everything else.
Kevin Brooks doesn't call himself a politician. He's a public servant who's been serving Cleveland since he was a college student giving downtown historical tours. In this episode, he shares:
Why getting your financial house in order has to come first
How fixing the debt allowed Cleveland to budget taxpayer money for real infrastructure improvements
How regional collaboration drives growth, even across party lines
When you fix the foundation first, it makes everything else a little bit easier.
Have a Tennessee story worth mapping out? Reach out at archabouttn.com

If Knoxville only had football, they'd have 7 weekends of revenue per year.
Instead, Visit Knoxville generated $2 billion in economic impact by building the infrastructure, bringing in events like the Bassmaster Classic and concerts at Neyland Stadium, and promoting the city's restaurants, arts scene, and outdoor spaces.
In this episode, Kim Bumpas (President of Visit Knoxville) shares:
Why being a standalone organization is key to staying nimble
The infrastructure investments that turned Knoxville into a year-round destination
What keeps tourists (and customers) coming back after their first visit
Your main attraction might get people in the door, but what you build around it can keep them coming back.
Have a Tennessee story worth mapping out? Reach out at archabouttn.com
00:00 - Why we're headed to Knoxville
02:33 - How Knoxville transformed from "college town" to premier destination
04:48 - The Sunsphere takeover: turning a 40-year-old icon into a revenue driver
06:43 - Creating the Visit Knoxville Film Office (and why focused ownership matters)
10:48 - Why being a standalone organization keeps you nimble
13:55 - The Bassmaster Classic: $35M in economic impact over 4 days
17:30 - How tourism creates infrastructure that serves locals year-round
22:41 - When Visit Knoxville and UT are partners
27:11 - Building community buy-in for events that cause inconvenience
29:36 - What's next: future plans and events coming to Knoxville
39:57 - Studio debrief

You don’t get better at sports by playing people you can already beat, and you don’t grow as a leader by staying in rooms where you’re always comfortable.
Some of the most important turning points in my life came from being challenged by people who were smarter than me, realizing I still had blind spots, and hearing perspectives I didn’t expect.
In fact, I spent most of my career telling people who worked for me that they didn’t need a college degree as long as they could sell. But my opinion changed once I went through Leadership Tennessee, and I ended up going back to college.
In this episode, Dr. Alfred Degrafinreid of Leadership Tennessee and I explore:
How the whole state improves when leaders stop trying to be the smartest person in the room
Why Leadership Tennessee doesn’t actually teach leadership (because everyone who gets in already is one)
How traveling across the state exposes blind spots that don’t show up in boardrooms
What happens when growth gets concentrated in one place instead of spread across the state
Have a Tennessee story worth mapping out? Reach out at archabouttn.com

When Tennessee started winning at football, hotels in Knoxville went from $150/night to $800/night on game weekends. The university got 800 new student applications after they beat Alabama. Downtown restaurants set sales records. 
The Volunteer Club (Tennessee's NIL collective) was created when college athletes started getting paid - a change some people loved and others hated. But Hunter Baddour saw an opportunity to partner with the university in a way that helped everyone succeed.
In this episode, Hunter Baddour of The Volunteer Club joins me to share how they built a product so good they barely had to sell it. Now, 3,000 people show up to their tailgates, members renew without being asked, VFLs get involved without prompting. Plus:
Why they diversified their customer base instead of chasing big donors
How they evolved their offerings based on member feedback
Why business is transactional (yes, relationships open doors, but execution keeps them from closing)
You might not have an SEC school in your backyard, but every community has something they can win at.
Have a Tennessee story worth mapping out? Reach out at archabouttn.com

New bars and restaurants might be sexy, but what's really sexy are the businesses that hold history within their walls.
Gary Meadows is the 4th owner of Wally's, which opened in 1937 and is now the oldest restaurant in Chattanooga. It's a meat-and-three where people from all walks of life come together, business deals happen over cobbler, and they know you by your face even if they don't know your name.
It just so happens to be my favorite restaurant, but that's not why we're visiting it today. Wally's has a story to tell - something that others can learn from.
In this episode, I head to Wally's to find out:
What it takes to survive 89 years in the restaurant business
How it's possible to pride yourself on affordability, even when costs keep rising
Why closing one location actually strengthened the other
With places like Nikki's, Town & Country, and Zarzours closing, it's more important than ever to support local institutions like Wally's.
And just to be clear: Gary has no plans of closing Wally's any time soon. It's survived two fires, multiple transitions, and the great lemon debacle, so it'll take a lot more than that to shut it down.
Have a Tennessee story worth mapping out? Reach out at archabouttn.com
 
00:00 - Why We’re Heading to Wally’s
01:10 - The History of Wally’s
11:30 - How They Maintain Affordability Despite Rising Costs
21:35 - Passing It Down: Training the Next Generation
25:00 - When Gary's Brother Closed the East Ridge Location
35:34 - The 1998 Fire: When the Community Rallied for the Staff
41:23 - Tony's Advice & The Lemon Debacle
48:36 - The Staff Who Show Up at 2:45 AM ("We Got You, Boss")
54:25 - Locally Owned AND Operated vs. Corporate Chains
1:01:35 - Studio Debrief: Takeaways

Rural counties across Tennessee look at the big cities and ask: "Why can't we have that?"
Alex Green from Rhea County Economic Development used to ask the same thing. 
He was jealous of West Tennessee's Blue Oval plant, but then he realized he was chasing the wrong opportunity.
Rural counties can't win by copying urban playbooks. They can't compete on scale. But Rhea County has something other places don't: 
Established businesses that are invested in expanding locally 
A tourism economy that brings 40,000 visitors in one week to a county of 35,000
Residents so passionate about education they voted to raise their own taxes
In this episode, I visit Dayton to see what happens when a county stops trying to be something it's not and starts leveraging what it actually is. Then I break down the framework so you can apply it to your county or business.
 
00:00 - Why Rural Counties Are Beating Urban Cities
01:30 - Meet Alex Green: Executive Director of Rhea County ECD
05:40 - Living Between Two Nuclear Plants (And Why That's Good)
11:31 - Why Dayton is Called Monkey Town: The Real Story
15:48 - The Bootstrap Mentality & Looking Ahead
17:13 - Manufacturing’s Misconception
18:58 - Why are young men not working?
24:52 - NIMBYism is Costing You Growth
32:40 - Chasing Every Deal Is Killing Your Town
39:36 - Tourism & The Infrastructure Investment That Paid Off
42:50 - Stackable Credentials: The Future of Workforce Development
48:15 - What La-Z-Boy's Expansion Really Means
56:36 - The Studio Debrief: Is Your Town Competing With the Wrong Places?
 
Have a Tennessee story worth mapping out? Reach out at archabouttn.com

The downtown square is packed on First Friday. The annual festival brought in a record number of tourists. New businesses keep opening. 
By every metric, downtown is thriving. But somehow... half of the businesses close within 18 months?
Most small Tennessee towns are focused on getting people downtown, but Fayetteville Main Street stopped asking "How do we get more people downtown?" and started asking "How do we help the businesses that are here actually survive?"
The answer wasn't more festivals. It was controversial sidewalks, AI-powered foot traffic data, and creating a physical space for businesses to get the support they need.
In this episode, I visit Fayetteville to see what they're doing differently, then break down the framework so you can apply it to your town or business.
 
(00:00) - Why We're Heading to Fayetteville First
(02:33) - Meet Aimee Byrd - the Executive Director of Fayetteville Main Street
(05:25) - The Tourism Tax Strategy Nobody Talks About
(06:58) - Anyone Can Open a Business. That's Actually the Problem.
(08:23) - From 650 Square Feet to a Small Business Farm System
(11:47) - The Data That Changed Everything
(16:33) - "We're Not Going After Chain Restaurants Anymore"
(22:47) - Why Local Dollars Keep Your Property Taxes Down
(29:40) - The Sidewalk Fight That Proved 46% Growth
(33:00) - The Four Pillars Every Downtown Needs
(40:48) - $330 Million Leaving Lincoln County Every Year
(43:12) - The Real Reason Your Taxes Keep Going Up
(47:18) - Where Tennessee's Next 20 Years of Growth Is Coming From
(52:30) - What Actually Replaced the Anchor Store Everyone Misses
(54:55) - Building a Town Your Kids Come Back To
(57:33) - The Studio Debrief: What Makes Fayetteville's Approach Different
 
Have a Tennessee story worth mapping out? Reach out at archabouttn.com

Most business advice assumes you're operating in a market of millions. But when your entire customer base is 15,000 people, that advice falls flat.
What works in Nashville won't work in Elizabethton. What works in Memphis won't work in Cookeville.
So where do you find strategies that actually work for your Tennessee community? From the leaders who've already cracked the code.
In each episode, I visit one Tennessee town and talk to the business owner or community leader who's figured it out. Then I break down the real pattern behind their success, so you can see what's holding YOU back.
New episodes every other Monday. Subscribe now and let's hit the road.