Operating in Your Calling (Interview w/ Mr. Paul Sarvadi, CEO and Chairman of the Board of Insperity)

Welcome back to Victory Groove. This episode features Ms. Shelley Simpson, president of J.B. Hunt.

Simpson has had many professional successes, but she always makes sure that she is building a good life, not just a career.

Shelley Simpson, president of J.B. Hunt Transport Services Inc., one of the largest supply chain solutions providers in North America, first began working at the company for $7.25/hour while she pursued other career opportunities. She ended up staying with the company, and after nearly 29 years of experience she has served 15 years in executive leadership roles, most recently as chief commercial officer and executive vice president of people and human resources, in addition to leading International Services and Corporate Marketing.

Keep up with Shelley by following her on LinkedIn @Shelley Simpson

Dr. Eli Jones is a Professor of Marketing, Lowry and Peggy Mays Eminent Scholar, and the former Dean of Mays Business School at his alma mater, Texas A&M University.  He served as Dean of three flagship business schools for over 13 years. Prior to becoming a dean, he was on the faculty at the University of Houston as an Assistant Professor, Associate Professor with tenure, Full Professor, Associate Dean for Executive Education Programs, Director of the Program for Excellence in Selling, and founding Executive Director of the Sales Excellence Institute at the University of Houston. 

Welcome back to Victory Groove. This episode features Mr. Dennis Maple, Chairman and CEO of Goddard Systems, and a dear friend of nearly 40 years.

Maple’s climb from starting as a sales representative for Quaker Oats to Chief Executive Officer is a testimony that everyone should hear.

Dennis R. Maple, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer at Goddard Systems, LLC, is a transformational leader who excels at driving business growth and leading business turnarounds; attracting, developing and engaging leadership talent; and creating value for internal and external company stakeholders.

In September 2019, Dennis joined Goddard Systems, the franchisor of The Goddard School. Goddard is consistently named one of the top childcare franchises in the United States by Entrepreneur magazine and one of the Top 200 Franchise Systems (in worldwide sales) by Franchise Times. The Goddard School franchise currently licenses more than 500 franchised Schools with more than 65,000 students in 37 states.

Keep up with Dennis by following him on LinkedIn @Dennis R. Maple.

Dr. Eli Jones is a Professor of Marketing, Lowry and Peggy Mays Eminent Scholar, and the former Dean of Mays Business School at his alma mater, Texas A&M University.  He served as Dean of three flagship business schools for over 13 years. Prior to becoming a dean, he was on the faculty at the University of Houston as an Assistant Professor, Associate Professor with tenure, Full Professor, Associate Dean for Executive Education Programs, Director of the Program for Excellence in Selling, and founding Executive Director of the Sales Excellence Institute at the University of Houston. 

Welcome to the second season of Victory Groove!  Dr. Eli Jones welcomes Paul Sarvadi.

Paul joins us today and shares how his faith has affected his life, from being a young spouse to running his successful HR solutions company, Insperity. Paul shares how connecting with God changed his life, and how he applied his Faith into what he did day to day. He discusses the importance of a company’s culture and how taking care of your people strongly affects the efficiency of a workplace. You won’t want to miss how Paul found his calling and how his faith in God brought him to become the strong leader he is today.

Paul Sarvadi, co-founder of the Company and its subsidiaries, has been a director since the Company’s inception in 1986. He has also served as the Chairman of the Board and Chief Executive Officer of the Company since 1989 and as president of the Company from 1989 to August 2003. He attended Rice University and the University of Houston prior to starting and operating several small companies. Mr. Sarvadi has served as president of NAPEO and was a member of its board of directors for five years. In 2001, Mr. Sarvadi was selected as the 2001 National Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year ® for service industries. In 2004, he received the Conn Family Distinguished New Venture Leader Award from Mays Business School at Texas A&M University. In 2007, he was inducted into the Texas Business Hall of Fame.

Mr. Sarvadi brings substantial business and operational experience to the Board, including an extensive knowledge of sales, customer relationships, and issues affecting small to medium-sized businesses. Mr. Sarvadi’s role as a co-founder of the Company and lengthy service as chief executive officer of the Company provide to the Board extensive knowledge and insight of our operations and issues affecting the Company as well as the broader PEO industry. Mr. Sarvadi’s previous experience starting and operating several small businesses, as well as his frequent interaction with the Company’s clients, provide valuable insight to the challenges facing small to medium-sized businesses, which is a principal focus of the Company.

Contact:
Paul Sarvadi
https://paulsarvadi.com/
https://www.insperity.com/about-us/

Dr. Eli Jones is a Professor of Marketing, Lowry and Peggy Mays Eminent Scholar, and the former Dean of Mays Business School at his alma mater, Texas A&M University.  He served as Dean of three flagship business schools for over 13 years. Prior to becoming a dean, he was on the faculty at the University of Houston as an Assistant Professor, Associate Professor with tenure, Full Professor, Associate Dean for Executive Education Programs, Director of the Program for Excellence in Selling, and founding Executive Director of the Sales Excellence Institute at the University of Houston. 

He has published sales and sales management research in top academic journals and is a co-author of two professional books, Selling ASAP, and Strategic Sales Leadership: Breakthrough Thinking for Breakthrough Results. He just finished writing his new book, Run Toward Your Goliaths, a book about his and his wife’s faith journey. He is a Lifetime Achievement Award recipient by the American Marketing Association’s Sales Special Interest Group and a Ph.D. Project Hall of Fame recipient in 2016. 

Fighting with Faith to overcome adversity.  Running Toward Your Goliaths.
www.elijones.com

You can find your copy of Run Toward Your Goliaths here: https://www.amazon.com/Run-Toward-Your-Goliaths-Professional-ebook/dp/B09K4SMZW2

Welcome to the second season of Victory Groove!  Dr. Eli Jones welcomes his first guest for season two, Terrence Murphy. Terrence previously played receiver for Texas A&M before being drafted into the Green Bay Packers. Listen as he discusses how God helped him find his calling in real estate and building Murphy Signature Homes in the Brazos Valley. You won’t want to miss how Terrence found his rhythm and how his faith in God brought him to become the strong leader he is today. 

Terrence Murphy was a 2nd Round NFL Draft Pick by the Green Bay Packers after graduating from Texas A&M University as a 3X Academic All-Big 12 Student-Athlete. Terrence began working in the home building industry in 2005 and has never looked back.

In 2014, Terrence decided to follow his passion and vision for construction and design by starting Murphy Signature Homes. Similar to his real estate organization, The TM5 Team, Terrence wanted this company to be cutting edge and bring a different value proposition to the market. These spec and custom homes feature clean lines, hill country modern materials, a mixture of textures and a broad range in size. Murphy Signature Homes builds luxury homes with unique architecture, contemporary design and a modern flare in the Bryan/College Station area.

https://murphysignaturehomes.com/

Dr. Eli Jones is a Professor of Marketing, Lowry and Peggy Mays Eminent Scholar, and the former Dean of Mays Business School at his alma mater, Texas A&M University.  He served as Dean of three flagship business schools for over 13 years. Prior to becoming a dean, he was on the faculty at the University of Houston as an Assistant Professor, Associate Professor with tenure, Full Professor, Associate Dean for Executive Education Programs, Director of the Program for Excellence in Selling, and founding Executive Director of the Sales Excellence Institute at the University of Houston.  

He has published sales and sales management research in top academic journals and is a co-author of two professional books, Selling ASAP, and Strategic Sales Leadership: Breakthrough Thinking for Breakthrough Results. He just finished writing his new book, Run Toward Your Goliaths, a book about his and his wife’s faith journey. He is a Lifetime Achievement Award recipient by the American Marketing Association’s Sales Special Interest Group and a Ph.D. Project Hall of Fame recipient in 2016.  

Fighting with Faith to overcome adversity.  Running Toward Your Goliaths. 
www.elijones.com 

You can find your copy of Run Toward Your Goliaths here: https://www.amazon.com/Run-Toward-Your-Goliaths-Professional-ebook/dp/B09K4SMZW2

Today we are wrapping up and reflecting on the wonderful testimonies we have heard on the first season of Victory Groove.

We also discuss a quick overview of the next season. We appreciate your support this season, and we hope to see you in the next one. Please take a moment to like, comment, and subscribe! 

You can find your copy of “Run Toward Your Goliaths” here: https://www.amazon.com/Run-Toward-Your-Goliaths-Professional-ebook/dp/B09K4SMZW2

On this episode of Victory Groove, we are joined by R.C Slocum, beloved A&M Football Coach. Today, he takes us through his professional and personal Goliaths, as well as his experiences coming into college as a first-generation student.

We appreciate you joining us on another episode of Victory Groove. Please take a moment to like, comment, subscribe, and look out for new episodes coming soon! 

Lessons explored in this episode/or what the listener can take away:  

• Leadership, Servant Leadership, and Take the High Road 
• Knowing God is involved smooths our life's journey.  
• Roots and rocks will always appear in our daily walk. 
• Our faith, trust in His benevolence, and love help us move confidently forward in life.

Coach R. C. Slocum is a former American football player and coach. He served as the interim athletic director at Texas A&M University from January through June 2019, and previously served as the head football coach there from 1989 to 2002. He has won more games as coach (123) than anyone else in Texas A&M Aggies football history. Slocum was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame as a coach in 2012.[Control]Raised in Orange, Texas, Slocum graduated from Stark High School in Orange in 1963 and attended McNeese State University in Lake Charles, Louisiana. Slocum earned a B.S. in physical education in 1967 and M.S. in educational administration in 1968, both from McNeese State.[2]  

Slocum began his career as a football coach at Lake Charles High School in 1968. Two years later, in 1970, Slocum became a graduate assistant at Kansas State University under head coach Vince Gibson, also coaching the offensive linemen on the freshman team. In 1971, he was named head freshman coach. 

 Dr. Eli Jones is a Professor of Marketing, Lowry and Peggy Mays Eminent Scholar, and the former Dean of Mays Business School at his alma mater, Texas A&M University.  He served as Dean of three flagship business schools for over 13 years. Prior to becoming a dean, he was on the faculty at the University of Houston as an Assistant Professor, Associate Professor with tenure, Full Professor, Associate Dean for Executive Education Programs, Director of the Program for Excellence in Selling, and founding Executive Director of the Sales Excellence Institute at the University of Houston.  

He has published sales and sales management research in top academic journals and is a co-author of two professional books, Selling ASAP, and Strategic Sales Leadership: Breakthrough Thinking for Breakthrough Results. He just finished writing his new book, Run Toward Your Goliaths, a book about his and his wife’s faith journey. He is a Lifetime Achievement Award recipient by the American Marketing Association’s Sales Special Interest Group and a Ph.D. Project Hall of Fame recipient in 2016.  

On this episode of Victory Groove, we are joined by David Dearie, creator of the Lead On Podcast and President of the Enlisted Leadership Foundation. David speaks on leveraging faith in traumatic experiences, modeling leadership after Christ, and much more!

We appreciate you joining us on another episode of Victory Groove. Please take a moment to like, comment, and subscribe, and look out for new episodes coming soon! 

Lessons explored in this episode/or what the listener can take away:  

• Leadership, Servant Leadership, and Relational Leadership. 
• Knowing God is involved smooths our life's journey.  
• Roots and rocks will always appear in our daily walk. 
• Our faith, trust in His benevolence, and love help us move confidently forward in life.  

David Dearie, (Command Master Chief, U.S. Navy, retired), is a prominent civilian leader with a broad background on leadership, military family, and nonprofit relationships. His thirst for leadership education and networking has positively impacted the military community and led to the creation of the Enlisted Leadership Foundation, a San Diego based nonprofit whose vision is to develop future military, community, and national leaders.

A native of Carlsbad, CA., Dearie retired from the Navy in 2015 after more than 30 years of service. Through the years he was promoted from Radioman Seaman to the rank and position of Region Command Master Chief. In his career, he served on nine ships, five shore commands, and overseas in Japan and Hawaii. At the time of his transition, he was noted as one of the Navy’s experts on military and family programs and leadership education.

While in the Navy Dearie’s efforts led to successful western pacific deployments touching over 15 countries. Provided insight and program growth across a region with ten active-duty installations. Ensured program sustainability during a financially challenging time of sequestration and continuing resolution. Partnered with local community leaders on transition program development. Introduced military members and families to dozens of military-focused nonprofit resources.

Dr. Eli Jones is a Professor of Marketing, Lowry and Peggy Mays Eminent Scholar, and former Dean of Mays Business School at his alma mater, Texas A&M University. Barely out of their teenage years, he and his wife, Fern, married and overcame what seemed to be insurmountable challenges as they rose from poverty to positions of influence. Jones, a first-generation college graduate, went from being a radio DJ to a corporate executive to dean of three flagship business schools. 

In this episode, we sit down with Chuck Konderla as he shares his testimonies with us.

Chuck walks through the stories that made him continue to trust in God’s will, and how he has managed to find peace through tribulations.

supportchistjoseph.org

We appreciate you joining us on another episode of Victory Groove! Please take a moment to like, comment, and subscribe, and look out for new episodes coming soon!  

Dr. Eli Jones is a Professor of Marketing, Lowry and Peggy Mays Eminent Scholar, and the former Dean of Mays Business School at his alma mater, Texas A&M University.  He served as the Dean of three flagship business schools for over 13 years.  Prior to becoming a dean, he was on the faculty at the University of Houston as an Assistant Professor, Associate Professor with tenure, Full Professor, Associate Dean for Executive Education Programs, Director of the Program for Excellence in Selling, and founding Executive Director of the Sales Excellence Institute at the University of Houston in the Bauer College of Business.  

He has published sales and sales management research in top academic journals and is a co-author of two professional books, Selling ASAP, and Strategic Sales Leadership: Breakthrough Thinking for Breakthrough Results. He recently released his new book, Run Toward Your Goliaths, a book about his and his wife’s faith journey. He is the recipient of Excellence in Teaching awards on the university, national, and international levels having taught strategic selling, advanced professional selling, key accounts selling, sales leadership, and marketing strategy at the undergraduate, MBA levels and in executive education programs. Before becoming a professor, Jones worked in sales and sales management for three Fortune 500 global companies. 

In today’s episode, Eli is joined by Victoria Walker to discuss her experiences with depression and how she turned that energy into helping others understand the importance of their thoughts.

Listen to an exhilarating discussion about mental health, how turning to God may be a solution, and learn about the many things she’s doing from her published book, digital course, and podcast! We appreciate you joining us on another episode of Victory Groove! Please take a moment to like, comment, and subscribe! Look out for new episodes coming soon!  

Connect with Victoria Walker at Choose2Think.co, check out her podcast “Choose 2 Think”, and her book! https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09MX7BMSF/

Lessons explored in this episode/or what the listener can take away:  

• Choose God’s thoughts over your own 
• Knowing God is involved smooths our life's journey.   
• Roots and rocks will always appear in our daily walk. 
• Our faith, trust in His benevolence, and love helps us move confidently forward in life.

Dr. Eli Jones is a Professor of Marketing, Lowry and Peggy Mays Eminent Scholar, and the former Dean of Mays Business School at his alma mater, Texas A&M University.  He served as the Dean of three flagship business schools for over 13 years.  Prior to becoming a dean, he was on the faculty at the University of Houston as an Assistant Professor, Associate Professor with tenure, Full Professor, Associate Dean for Executive Education Programs, Director of the Program for Excellence in Selling, and founding Executive Director of the Sales Excellence Institute at the University of Houston in the Bauer College of Business.  

He has published sales and sales management research in top academic journals and is a co-author of two professional books, Selling ASAP, and Strategic Sales Leadership: Breakthrough Thinking for Breakthrough Results. He recently released his new book, Run Toward Your Goliaths, a book about his and his wife’s faith journey. He is the recipient of Excellence in Teaching awards on the university, national, and international levels having taught strategic selling, advanced professional selling, key accounts selling, sales leadership, and marketing strategy at the undergraduate, MBA levels and in executive education programs. Before becoming a professor, Jones worked in sales and sales management for three Fortune 500 global companies. 

Victoria D. Walker - As a devotional writer for Guideposts Strength & Grace magazine, certified Christian life coach, host of the Choose 2 Think podcast, director & educator at Choose 2 Think Academy, Christian speaker, as well as a university Spanish instructor for nearly 30 years, Victoria inspires others to find happiness through her signature and transformative method for mind renewal: The 7 R’s for Living Your Best Thought Life. 

Victoria has written Bible studies, taught Sunday School, led and spoken at small women's groups, authored books, and blogged for years. Her writing has also been featured in Just Between Us, a world-renowned Christian magazine. She’s the proud mother to four children and three grandchildren and makes her home in idyllic Midway, Kentucky, with Rico the MorKY (her 5-pound Maltese Yorkie mix and blog mascot and frequent podcast guest) at her side. 

CONNECT with Victoria at https://www.choose2think.co/ 

Often, what we think about ourselves may be completely out of sync with what God thinks about us. Join us for an enlightening conversation with Victoria D. Walker, Choose2Think, who shares how she overcame anxiety and depression by taking control of her thoughts and believing what God says about her. 

www.elijones.com 

Often, we feel God’s call to do something big for His glory.  At times, that calling may feel overwhelming to us.  We want to do His Will, but we may not know how and when. In this episode of Victory Groove, hear how Chris Field, a U.S. citizen, had the boldness, faith, and confidence to fight child trafficking in Ghana, Africa after reading about the horrendous problem there.  The Mercy Project was born out of a need to take action to address this critical human condition. 

Lessons explored in this episode:  

• Knowing God is involved smooths our life's journey.   
• Roots and rocks will always appear in our daily walk. 
• Our faith, trust in His benevolence, and love helps us move confidently forward in life.  

Chris Field has been challenging complacency and disrupting the status quo most of his life. His most important disruption is Mercy Project, the non-profit he started to rescue children from human trafficking in Ghana, Africa. Its innovative approach has drawn international attention and earned the prestigious Norman Borlaug Humanitarian Award. To date, Mercy Project has rescued more than 150 children, returned them to their families, and provided them with an education that will transform their future for generations to come. Field lives in College Station, Texas with his wife Stacey and their four young children. Connect with Chris on LinkedIn @christophercfield and check out his book “Disrupting for Good” here! https://www.amazon.com/Disrupting-Good-Passion-Persistence-Lasting/dp/1684260019

Dr. Eli Jones is a Professor of Marketing, Lowry and Peggy Mays Eminent Scholar, and the former Dean of Mays Business School at his alma mater, Texas A&M University.  He served as Dean of three flagship business schools over 13 years. Dean of Mays Business School (2015-2021), Dean of the Sam M. Walton College of Business and holder of the Sam M. Walton Leadership Chair at University of Arkansas (2012-2015), and as Dean of the E. J. Ourso College of Business and the E. J. Ourso Distinguished Professor of Business at Louisiana State University (2008-2012). Prior to becoming a dean, he was on the faculty at the University of Houston as an Assistant Professor, Associate Professor with tenure, Full Professor, Associate Dean for Executive Education Programs, Director of the Program for Excellence in Selling, and founding Executive Director of the Sales Excellence Institute at the University of Houston.  

He has published sales and sales management research in top academic journals and is a co-author of two professional books, Selling ASAP, and Strategic Sales Leadership: Breakthrough Thinking for Breakthrough Results. He just finished writing his new book, Run Toward Your Goliaths, a book about his and his wife’s faith journey. He is a Lifetime Achievement Award recipient by the American Marketing Association’s Sales Special Interest Group and a PhD Project Hall of Fame recipient in 2016.  Also, he is the recipient of Excellence in Teaching awards on the university, national, and international levels having taught strategic selling, advanced professional selling, key accounts selling, sales leadership, and marketing strategy at the undergraduate, MBA levels and in executive programs. Before becoming a professor, Jones worked in sales and sales management for Quaker Oats, Nabisco, and Frito Lay. He is on the boards of Invesco Funds, Insperity, and on the regional board of First Financial Bank.