Conflict Managed

If You’re Not Making Mistakes, You’re Not Making Decisions

What’s the last mistake you made? What were the consequences and what did you learn?
On this episode of Conflict Managed, we are joined by Ayile’ Arnett, founder and CEO of Communiride. Listen in as Ayile’ offers insights of what to do (and avoid) when starting a business, what it looks like to be mission minded, the power of networking and surrounding yourself with people who are smarter than you to grow professionally, and the important reminder that you don’t know how many people are waiting on you to be great. We are also treated to a beautiful example of compassion in action as Ayile’ recounts a moving story of one of her mentors.
Ayile' is a serial entrepreneur, volunteer, wife, mom of four kids, and a passionate disruptor who believes in optimal outcomes for small businesses seeking quality shipping services. She does it all – from running her last-mile logistics company to supporting community efforts to increase investment in the same neighborhood 81% of her employees live in.
 You can find Ayile’ Arnett on LinkedIn or email her at ayile@communiride.com
Conflict Managed is hosted by Merry Brown and produced by Third Party Workplace Conflict Restoration Services. Contact us at 3PConflictRestoration@gmail.com. Our music is courtesy of Dove Pilot.

Prepared, Available, and Ready for Opportunity

Do you ever feel stuck in your career? Have you prepared yourself to be able to see the opportunities around you?
Today on Conflict Managed we are joined by Judy Long, President and Chief Operating Officer of First Citizens National Bank, representing 25 Tennessee locations and $2.4 billion in assets.  Judy has been a part of the FirstCNB team since 1974, with 48 years of service to her bank, community and industry. Listen as Judy talks about the power of mentors, confidence, and strong support systems. She encourages us to do work that is “beneficial for all concerned,” commit to long-term goals, to consider the difference in attitude between thinking of what you do at work as either a job or a career, and to hold conversations about mistakes and conflicts with (preferably) open minds. Judy ends our conversation discussing the impactful work of the “Smart Women” program and her vision for healthy work environments.  
Judy Long holds a Bachelor of Science from Union University, Jackson, TN with a major in Finance and is a graduate of MidSouth School of Banking, the School for Bank Administration and BAI Graduate School of Bank Operations and Technology.  Judy has served on numerous boards, both locally and nationally.  Her most recent service is American Bankers Association Community Bank Advisory Board representing Tennessee Banks; CEO Strategic Planning Advisory Council for Fidelity National Information Systems, Inc.; Foundation Board of Dyersburg State Community College; COVID-19 Community Advisory Council; Chairperson for Dyersburg State Community College “Legacy for Learning” campaign; and Foundation Board for West Tennessee Healthcare.  She served more than 20 years on the Southern Financial Exchange Regional Payments Board, serving as chairman of the board, among other official offices.  She completed service on the NACHA (National ACH Association) board representing banks in the Southeast Region of the U.S.  Judy is an advocate of Tennessee Bankers Association and has served on many committees.
Long has received numerous honors throughout her career. She has been recognized as Dyersburg Dyer County Distinguished Woman of the Year, Girl Scouts Heart of the South Woman of Distinction, and as one of the Top 20 Women in West Tennessee as a recipient of the Sterling Award. She has been recognized as American Business Women’s Association Woman of the Year and the National Star Award for her service as the National Ways and Means Chairperson. She has been named a Paul Harris Fellow by her Rotary Club and was named “Benefactor” by the Rotary Foundation of Rotary International. Her service to Dyersburg State Community College was acknowledged with the Outstanding Alumni Award.
Long, a strong advocate for financial education for women, spearheaded “Smart Women”, a financial literacy program designed to educate and empower women to feel confident making difficult financial decisions. The program has educated thousands of women across Tennessee through both live and virtual events. Visit www.FirstCNB.com/SmartWomen to learn more about this program.
Judy and her husband Roger reside in Dyer County, Tennessee.  They have been married for 48 years.  Roger is the owner/operator of Long Farms Partners, LLC.
There are many ways to reach out to Judy Long online:
Twitter: @judylong64 and @FirstCNB
Facebook: @judy.long.7315 and @FirstCNB
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/judy-long-1a289913 and @FirstCNB
Instagram: @judylong54 and @FirstCNB         
Conflict Managed is hosted by Merry Brown and produced by Third Party Workplace Conflict Restoration Services. Contact us at 3PConflictRestoration@gmail.com. Our music is courtesy of Dove Pilot.

Openminded Leadership

With so many contentious issues pulling people in different directions, how should organizations respond? What are leaders to do?
Today on Conflict Managed we are joined by Scott Williams, president and CEO of Discovery Park of America in Union City, Tennessee. He talks of his early work experiences where leaders corrected and guided him, thinking of job interviews as an actual dialogue to see if you are a good fit for them and if they are a good fit for you, the wisdom of David Crockett for the workforce today, and the belief that diversity is a strength, even in our tough and divisive political landscape.
Scott Williams has served as president and COO of the Newseum in Washington, D.C. as well as a variety of positions at several advertising agencies and other organizations, including ServiceMaster, Inc., Baptist Memorial Health Care, and Elvis Presley Enterprises, Inc. Williams earned his degree in journalism from the University of Memphis.Scott served on the board of the D.C. chapter of the American Advertising Federation and on the board of the Historical Society of Washington, D.C. He is currently on the Tennessee Tourism Committee of the Department of Tourist Development for the State of Tennessee, the boards of the Obion County Chamber of Commerce and Hospitality Tennessee, the advisory board of the UTM College of Business and Global Affairs and the Northwest Tennessee Arts Center Advisory Board.
Scott is the host of “Reelfoot Forward: A West Tennessee Podcast,” a podcast that celebrates the culture, spirit, accomplishments and history of West Tennessee and the surrounding region. His third book, “The Accidental Fame and Lack of Fortune of West Tennessee’s David Crockett,” was published in 2021. Williams is also the author of “An Odd Book, How the First Modern Pop Culture Reporter Conquered New York" and "The Forgotten Adventures of Richard Halliburton: A High-Flying Life from Tennessee to Timbuktu."
You can find Scott Williams on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/scott-williams-673b6620  and https://discoveryparkofamerica.com/.
Conflict Managed is hosted by Merry Brown and produced by Third Party Workplace Conflict Restoration Services. Contact us at 3PConflictRestoration@gmail.com. Our music is courtesy of Dove Pilot.

First Job

Do you remember your first job? What was it? How did it feel?
 
Today on Conflict Managed, I had the great pleasure of interviewing my son, Leo Brown, on the one-year anniversary of his first job. Listen as Leo recounts his experiences as a fast-food worker. He talks about what he sees as the qualities of a good manager (calm, patient, understanding, caring, and empathetic) and of an ineffectual manager (disorganized and inattentive). Leo talks about what he thought went on behind the scenes in the restaurant business versus what he never considered to be the case: community and the importance of order. Through our conversation Leo reiterates the importance of being opened minded as the key to growing and being happy at work. Our discussion closes with what is important to him when he looks at workplace culture and values.
Leo Brown just graduated in the top 10 of his class at Westview High School. He is going to the University of Memphis in the fall to study economics. Leo plays tennis and disc golf.
You can find Leo Brown on Instagram at  https://www.instagram.com/lepobrown
Conflict Managed is hosted by Merry Brown and produced by Third Party Workplace Conflict Restoration Services. Contact us at 3PConflictRestoration@gmail.com. Our music is courtesy of Dove Pilot.

Take Action

We’ve all encountered less than optimal circumstances at work. When this happens, what do you do? What have you done in the past?
Today on Conflict Managed we talk with Mikki McLeary, a Human Resources professional. She talks to us about experiences with difficult bosses and ideas as to how to prevent the mistreatment of employees going unnoticed in companies through transparency and communication. Listen as Mikki describes two initiatives she is working on to increase employee retention and workplace belonging and wellbeing. She describes what HR can be (should be!), as a place to solve human problems through listening, feedback, and action.
Mikki is a Human Resources Generalist with extensive recruiting experience. She has worked in recruiting since 2013. Mikki resides in South Fulton, TN, is an avid golfer, and enjoy watching sporting events.
You can find Mikki on Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/mikki.mcleary/ and LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikki-mcleary-mba-hrm-8b897b56/
Conflict Managed is hosted by Merry Brown and produced by Third Party Workplace Conflict Restoration Services. Contact us at 3PConflictRestoration@gmail.com. Our music is courtesy of Dove Pilot.

Coaching Through Mistakes

Have you ever made a mistake at work? Yes, me too. All of us make mistakes. How have your mistakes been handled? How should mistakes be addressed in a healthy and flourishing work environment?
Today on Conflict Managed we talk with Gary Carter about the role of managers when things go wrong, the importance of respecting employee privacy and avoiding public shaming when mistakes are made. Gary also reminds us of the wisdom of listening to those you manage, taking their insights and suggestions seriously, the value of showing up to work in a coachable frame of mind, and the power of genuine enthusiasm.
Gary Carter is a Certified Financial Planner with Northwestern Mutual. The people Gary finds he is most impactful with in his business are those who own a business up to 50 employees, and those who have recently experienced job transitions. He has been married to Ashley for 5 years, and they have 2 sons, Noah and Andrew.  They also have a dog who is occasionally refer to as their “actual firstborn” named Samson.
 You can find Gary on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/gary-carter-cfp%C2%AE-6a63b1a6/ and https://www.northwesternmutual.com/financial/advisor/gary-carter/
Conflict Managed is hosted by Merry Brown and produced by Third Party Workplace Conflict Restoration Services. Contact us at 3PConflictRestoration@gmail.com. Our music is courtesy of Dove Pilot.

A Good Manager Wants You To Grow

Do you want to professionally succeed? Invest in the people around you. Today on Conflict Managed, Kameron Echols discusses the impact of being mentored, the myriad of benefits for young professionals who participate in quality internships, and the importance of looking for ‘culture add’ not just ‘culture fit.’
Kameron Echols is the Assistant Director at the University of Tennessee at Martin's Office of Career Planning & Development.  Kameron is a 2017 graduate of UT Martin where he received his bachelor's degree in Criminal Justice with a minor in child and family studies. He recently obtained his master's in Higher Education Leadership from UT Martin. During his time at the university, he has served as an admissions counselor and student success counselor before assuming his current role in Career Planning and Development. 
Kameron’s hobbies include bowling, photography, and grilling. He resides in Martin with his wife Courtney and two children, Jaylen and Allie. Kameron loves being involved in the Martin community and always lends a helping hand where he can. He is currently on the board for Carl Perkins and the Weakley County Chamber of Commerce. Kameron is also involved in the Weakley County Prevention Coalition and the Martin Housing Authority Daddy Dance planning committee.
 You can find Kameron online at www.linkedin.com/in/kameronechols
Conflict Managed is hosted by Merry Brown and produced by Third Party Workplace Conflict Restoration Services. Contact us at 3PConflictRestoration@gmail.com. Our music is courtesy of Dove Pilot.

Workplace Bullying

Have you been bullied at work? According to a 2021 survey from WBI, 30% of the American workforce report being bullied at work. Workplace bullying can rob people of their job satisfaction and effectiveness, leading some to suffer great and sustained physical and/or mental harm.
Today on Conflict Managed, we speak with Nicki Eyre, an expert in workplace bullying. Having experienced bullying in a previous organization, Nicki knows first-hand the impact of a toxic relationship. Since that time, she has dedicated her career to raising awareness of the impact of bullying as well as offering practical and pragmatic solutions to organizations who want to improve the way that they handle bullying and toxic behavior. She recognizes the scale of the problem at both an organizational and individual level and is able to bring her wealth of experience to her role as a consultant, coach, trainer, and speaker.
Conduct Change was established in 2019 by Nicki Eyre and offers business consultancy, training and coaching about workplace bullying and the need for behavioral change in the workplace. Nicki is an advocate of building a workplace which is psychologically safe, with a particular interest in tackling workplace bullying as part of an overall approach to improving workplace culture and wellbeing.
She’s also the Chief Campaigning Officer for the Stop Hurt at Work campaign which is currently focusing on raising awareness and seeking formal recognition of workplace bullying as a problem that injures individuals and damages organizations. The law does not provide sufficient protection or redress for people whose employers let bullying go unchecked, making the process of seeking legal remedy in these cases unduly complex and arduous. Stop Hurt at Work is working with lawyers and legislators to identify and close the gaps in legislation.
You can find Nicki Eyre on social media:
www.conductchange.co.uk  
https://www.linkedin.com/in/nickieyre/
https://www.linkedin.com/company/conductchange
https://www.linkedin.com/company/stophurtatwork
Twitter @Conduct_Change
Conflict Managed is hosted by Merry Brown and produced by Third Party Workplace Conflict Restoration Services. Contact us at 3PConflictRestoration@gmail.com. Our music is courtesy of Dove Pilot.

Seek Constructive Criticism to Grow

Interested in being better than you currently are? What are your blind spots and how can you find them? This week on Conflict Managed, Teena Lairy-Jarmon reminds us of the value of being open to constructive criticism along with the benefits of having a good mentor (or two). We talk about the pressure many women feel to be perceived as “nice,” why to avoid pre-judging those around us, and encouraging managers to get to know their employee’s strengths and weaknesses in order for individuals and organizations to thrive.
Teena Lairy-Jarmon is the administrator for The Promethean Foundation in Union City, TN.  The foundation provides scholarships for at risk children of Obion County to attend day care.  Teena has experience as a childcare teacher, preschool director, and business administrator.  She received her B.S. and M.S. from UTM.  In addition to her work at Promethean Foundation, she also teaches Early Childhood Classes for Dyersburg State Community College. 
Teena is the proud mother of Nadia Treadwell, a senior at Middle TN State University majoring in marketing.  She is a wife and a proud lover of Bella, her beloved dog.
You can find Teena online at teenalairy@outlook.com,  www.4prokids.org, and https://www.instagram.com/teenalairy
Conflict Managed is hosted by Merry Brown and produced by Third Party Workplace Conflict Restoration Services. Contact us at 3PConflictRestoration@gmail.com. Our music is courtesy of Dove Pilot.

When You Don’t Know What To Do, Do No Harm Until You Know What To Do

Work can be uncertain. What should you do when the next steps are unclear? Our guest today on Conflict Managed, Dr. Keith Carver, advises when you don’t know what to do, do no harm until you know what to do.
Keith Carver became the 11th chancellor of the University of Tennessee at Martin in 2017. Prior to his position with the UT System, Keith held various positions on the UT campuses in Knoxville, Martin, and Memphis, including serving as interim vice chancellor for development and alumni affairs at the UT Health Science Center in Memphis and as assistant vice chancellor for development at UT Martin. He holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology from the University of Memphis, and a master’s degree in college student personnel and educational leadership as well as a doctoral degree from UT Knoxville.
Listen in on my conversation with Dr. Carver as he talks about the anatomy of an excellent team, the benefits of listening to those around you, the value of having a mentor and being a good mentee, how to address mistakes and crises at work, and the importance of addressing workplace mental health and wellbeing.
You can find Dr. Carver online:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kcarver1970
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kcarver1970
Email: chancellor@utm.edu
Conflict Managed is hosted by Merry Brown and produced by Third Party Workplace Conflict Restoration Services. Contact us at 3PConflictRestoration@gmail.com. Our music is courtesy of Dove Pilot.