Empowering Teams & Furnishing Dreams: General Manager Wisdom Unpacked
Stories from the River
It's the fourth and last episode of the General Manager series on Stories from the River as host Heather Greenwood welcomes Ric Rush and Joshua Stanely, two seasoned General Managers at Broad River Retail. Both Ric, Senior General Manager of Port City, The Mariners, and Joshua, Senior General Manager of Special Forces, Pinehurst Patriots, share insights from their extensive journeys with the company, discussing the unique challenges and rewards of leading multiple store locations. They emphasize the importance of fostering a positive culture, building trust, and creating an environment...
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More Than Managers: General Managers as Builders of Trust and Talent
Stories from the River
We're back with the third episode of the General Manager series on Stories from the River! Heather Greenwood hosts a lively discussion with two dynamic General Managers from Broad River Retail: Troy Walker, who leads the Columbia Bloodline, and Jason Sessoms, General Manager of the Aiken Thoroughbreds. The conversation dives into their journeys with the company, highlighting the evolution of the General Manager role over the years—from a focus solely on selling furniture to embracing standardized processes and fostering a culture of consistency across stores. Both Troy and Jason share how...
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Leading With Heart: General Managers Chris Morrell and Mitch Dixon on People, Passion, and Retail
Stories from the River
Welcome to the second episode of the General Manager series here on Stories from the River! Heather Greenwood sits down with two esteemed General Managers from Broad River Retail: Mitch Dixon of Rock Hill Raiders and Chris Morrell of Team Gold Rush. Both share their journeys within the company, discussing what it means to translate the company’s vision into reality at their stores. Chris emphasizes the importance of having seasoned, passionate Memory Makers on his roster, highlighting how the General Manager role focuses on turning strategy into daily action and nurturing a supportive...
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Behind the Scenes with Broad River Retail’s General Managers: Heart, Hustle, and Culture
Stories from the River
Welcome to the first episode of the General Manager series here on Stories from the River! Heather Greenwood kicks off a special series focusing on the pivotal role of the General Manager at Broad River Retail. Filming from the Ashley store in Pineville, North Carolina, Heather is joined by Dana Mallory, District Manager of the Savage South, and Renee Bradley, Associate Director of Retail Onboarding and Education, two outstanding leaders who have both served as General Managers and now support, teach, and motivate current General Managers throughout the company. The conversation delves into...
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Phishing Scams Are Smarter Than Ever — Here’s How They’re Tricking You
Stories from the River
In this episode of Stories from the River, guest host Tyler Trill, Senior Communications Manager at Broad River Retail, sits down with Broad River Retail’s IT experts Robert Ferguson, Associate Director, IT Infrastructure & User Services, and Tim Sobkowiak, Associate Director, Retail Technology & Project Management, to dive into the world of cybersecurity, with a specific focus on phishing attacks. The discussion breaks down how phishing techniques have evolved from suspicious emails to sophisticated text messages, QR code scams, and AI-powered voice impersonations. Robert and...
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Inside Broad River’s Signature Events: Planning, Collaboration, and Community Connection
Stories from the River
In this episode of Stories from the River, guest host Kim Harkness sits down with Rachel LoPresto, the Corporate Events Manager, to go behind the scenes of Broad River Retail’s signature gatherings, including the annual Sleep Summit at the Charlotte Motor Speedway. Rachel reflects on her first year in the role—highlighting her favorite moments, especially the Experts Soirée, and discussing what goes into crafting memorable and purposeful events for the Memory Makers. Together, they explore how listening to needs, coordinating with premier partners, and creating engaging, themed...
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Confidence, Connection, and Culture: What Sleep Summit Means to Memory Makers
Stories from the River
In the second part of this two-part series on Stories from the River, Heather Greenwood welcomes Memory Makers from the recent Sleep Summit held at the Charlotte Motor Speedway. The conversation brings together insights from various Memory Makers, who share how the summit has influenced their approach on the sales floor, deepened their product knowledge, and enhanced their confidence in connecting guests with the perfect sleep solutions. Memory Makers discuss specific takeaways that challenged or energized them, how sleep training translates into improved guest experiences, and the role...
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Grid, Grit & Guest Experience: A Summit to Remember
Stories from the River
In this special two-part edition of Stories from the River, Heather Greenwood guest hosts to spotlight the highlights of the recent Sleep Summit held at the Charlotte Motor Speedway. The episode features eight Memory Makers from various Broad River Retail locations, sharing their unique experiences, key takeaways, and the powerful "aha" moments that made the event memorable. Hear from: -Cristina Shields, Sales Manager, VIP, The Hype -Isaiah Taylor, Home Furnishing Consultant, Flagship Enterprise -Brett Farmer, Home Furnishing Associate, Rock Hill Raiders -Jaylon Fisher, Sales Manager,...
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Moving Units Amidst a Matrix of Metrics with Bradley Sullivan
Stories from the River
Welcome back to Stories From the River, where Charlie Malouf continues his conversation with Bradley Sullivan, the General Manager of the award-winning Albemarle Aces, for an in-depth discussion on leadership, motivation, and what it takes to build a high-performing retail team at Broad River Retail. Against the energetic backdrop of the Charlotte Motor Speedway, Bradley shares how his obsession with performance metrics, consistency in routines, and a deep investment in the growth of his Memory Makers have been the driving forces behind his team's repeated successes, including multiple top...
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Moving Units and the Rise of the Albemarle Aces with Bradley Sullivan at Broad River
Stories from the River
In this episode of Stories from the River, host Charlie Malouf sits down with Bradley Sullivan at the Charlotte Motor Speedway to dive into Bradley's unique journey as a Memory Maker at Broad River Retail. Bradley, affectionately known as Sully, recounts his path from his early days in the furniture business, his meaningful recruitment experience at the transformative Purpose 8:28 event (Bradley's 'Day Zero' in Fort Mill, South Carolina, on August 28, 2019), and his rise through various leadership roles within the Company—from his start in Cary as an AGM with Michael Childers, to taking on...
info_outlineIn this episode of Stories from the River, host Charlie Malouf takes viewers and listeners on a behind-the-scenes journey through Broad River Retail’s 2nd Quarter Companywide Town Hall that took place on Friday, May 16, 2025. He explains the origins and purpose of the quarterly Town Halls, highlighting how they have become a crucial channel for transparent communication and engagement with Memory Makers across the company. Charlie walks through the meticulous planning and collaborative preparation that goes into these events, emphasizing the blend of important companywide updates, recognition of recent promotions, the celebration of new leaders, and shout-outs for outstanding achievements—like high retention rates and major awards for the Company or specific departments. The Town Hall is packed with insights on organizational performance, business goals, and the values that unite everyone at Broad River, all delivered over 113 slides and an engaging live Zoom chat with hundreds of Memory Makers tuning in.
The episode also captures key business highlights and initiatives, such as progress towards sales goals, store remodels and conversions to the Ashley 7.0 format, and the launch of new product lines like Ashley Luxe. Charlie and other leaders discuss continued innovation, operational efficiency, and the company’s growing community impact, including Founders Scholarship awards and charitable giving milestones. There is a special focus on the Company’s major projects like Project Cascade—Broad River’s expansion into Spokane, Washington—and operational successes like record-low return rates in home delivery. The episode wraps up with encouragement for all Memory Makers leading into the busy Memorial Day retail weekend, a reminder about the meaning behind the holiday, and a look ahead to future episodes and possible summer updates from The River.
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