Making a Difference: The Heart and Strategy Behind Broad River’s Lighthouse Fund
Release Date: 08/07/2025
From Comfort Zone to Courage: Bradley Rapier's Engaging Groove Theory @ GLS 25
Stories from the River
It’s the 9th and final episode in the 2025 Global Leadership Summit Recap Series on Stories from the River! This week, Katrina Batchelor, Associate Manager of Retail Operations for the South and West Regions, and Meagan Guzman, Associate Director of People Operations, reflect on Bradley Rapier’s dynamic session at the Summit. Bradley Rapier—renowned choreographer, Emmy winner, and founder of the Groovaloos—brought incredible energy and inspiration through his “Groove Theory” and the concept of stepping into the circle. This powerful metaphor challenges leaders to embrace courage,...
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Fighting Drift and Finding Purpose: Reflections on Christine Caine's Powerful Message at GLS 25
Stories from the River
Welcome to the eighth episode of the 2025 Global Leadership Summit Recap Series on Stories from the River! This week, CEO Charlie Malouf is joined by Carl Hillesland, Director of Retail Performance at Broad River Retail, to reflect on Christine Caine’s powerful session at the Summit. Christine Caine—author, speaker, and founder of the A21 anti-human trafficking campaign—shared her personal journey of discovering her life’s purpose and the critical turning point that led her to confront the realities of human trafficking. In her talk, she warned leaders about the danger of drift—the...
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How to Leave a Legacy that Matters: Reflections from John Maxwell's GLS Talk
Stories from the River
It's the seventh episode of the 2025 Global Leadership Summit Recap Series on Stories from the River, and CEO Charlie Malouf is joined again by Will Luke, Senior Director of Project Management, to dive into John C. Maxwell's session at the Summit. They reflect on Maxwell’s legacy in leadership, his lifelong dedication to developing others, and the personal stories and frameworks that have shaped his teachings. John was presented with the Lifetime Leadership Legacy Award by Craig Groeschel at the Global Leadership Summit, and Craig referred to John Maxwell as the single greatest teacher...
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How Regenerative Performance Can Transform Work: Insights from Dr. James Hewitt’s GLS Talk
Stories from the River
In this sixth episode of the 2025 Global Leadership Summit Recap Series on Stories from the River, CEO Charlie Malouf is joined by Will Luke, Senior Director of Project Management, to recap insights from Dr. James Hewitt's Global Leadership Summit keynote on regenerative performance. Dr. Hewitt, a former world-class cyclist turned human performance scientist, shared his journey from relentless “go, go, go” living to understanding the necessity of pausing and reflecting, especially after surviving cancer. The discussion introduces the concept of “cognitive gears,” a metaphor for...
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Leadership Lessons from Nick Saban: Process, Discipline, and Transformation at the Global Leadership Summit
Stories from the River
The 2025 Global Leadership Summit Recap Series continues today on Stories from the River! CEO Charlie Malouf welcomes back guest Kellie Jones, Senior Manager, Retail Operations. The two deep dive into Nick Saban's interview with Paula Faris at the Global Leadership Summit. The episode kicks off with enthusiastic reflections on Broad River’s recent Experts Soirée at STK Steakhouse and the Grand Reopening of the Columbia store, highlighting the importance of community, transformation, and celebrating success with fellow Memory Makers. They also discuss the recent "Pioneering the Path -...
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Less Really Is More: Takeaways from Juliet Funt’s Tactics to Cut Clutter at GLS25
Stories from the River
Welcome to the fourth episode of the 2025 Global Leadership Summit Recap Series on Stories from the River. Host Carl Hillesland, Director, Retail Performance, and guest Kellie Jones, Senior Manager, Retail Operations, dive into insights from Juliet Funt’s talk on Leadership Precision and against gluttony at the Global Leadership Summit. The discussion centers around the dangers of leaders overloading themselves, likening the approach to a buffet where piling on more projects and initiatives gives the illusion of progress but ultimately spreads everyone too thin. Drawing from Funt’s...
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Live Life Like a Diversified Portfolio & More Insights from Thasunda Brown Duckett @ GLS25
Stories from the River
It's the third episode of the 2025 Gobal Leadership Summit Recap Series on Stories from the River! In today's episode, CEO Charlie Malouf welcomes Meagan Guzman, the newly hired Associate Director of People Operations. Just two months into her journey at Broad River Retail, Meagan reflects on her cross-country move from San Diego, her early experiences at the company, and the energizing environment of the Global Leadership Summit. This conversation highlights the value of attending the Summit with fellow leaders from Broad River and other community members, emphasizing the power of collective...
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Unlocking Potential and Conquering Goals: Takeaways from Jon Acuff's Closing Keynote at the Global Leadership Summit
Stories from the River
In this second episode of the 2025 Global Leadership Summit (GLS) Recap Series on Stories from the River, host Charlie Malouf welcomes Steve Ramjit, the Regional Manager of Broad River Retail’s North Region. Steve, who oversees seven stores and has been with Broad River since October 2024, shares his impressions of attending his first GLS, describing it as an incredible, life-changing experience. The conversation not only highlights Steve’s journey from Florida to the Carolinas and his background with other furniture retailers, but also touches on the significance of August...
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Consistency Over Charisma: Takeaways from Craig Groeschel's Opening Keynote at the 2025 Global Leadership Summit
Stories from the River
Welcome to a brand new series from Stories from the River featuring the 2025 Global Leadership Summit. 19 Memory Makers attended the Global Leadership Summit on August 7th and 8th from the local host site at The Park Expo and Convention Center in Charlotte, North Carolina, where there was a big screen for all of the Memory Makers along with all attendees to virtually watch all of the speakers and videos from GLS 25. This GLS 25 recap series will highlight the experiences and takeaways from one speaker at a time. CEO Charlie Malouf introduces the series and sets the stage by...
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New Store Alert: Announcing Broad River Retail's Expansion into Easley, South Carolina
Stories from the River
Welcome back to Stories from the River! Broad River Retail's CEO and podcast host Charlie Malouf sits down with President and COO Manny Rodrigues to share a mix of personal updates and major company news. They kick off with some lighthearted banter about summer vacations, soccer coaching, and family milestones before diving into the exciting announcement.... of a new Ashley store opening in Easley, South Carolina! The new Easley location will be Broad River's 5th overall store in the Upstate of South Carolina, joining Greenville, Spartanburg, Anderson, and Greenwood. And, the new Easley...
info_outlineIn this episode of Stories from the River, Emelyne Henderson, Senior Manager, Experience & Events; Heather Greenwood, Director, People; and Tim Sayles, Director, Facilities & Construction, dive into the creation and rollout of The Lighthouse Fund at Broad River Retail. The conversation begins with an overview of how the idea for The Lighthouse Fund originated from a leadership challenge a few years back, where the group identified supporting Memory Makers through personal hardships as a core need. They discuss the early brainstorming stages that led to "Project Upstream," reflecting on their shared vision of developing a formal, consistent, and compassionate crisis assistance program for Memory Makers. Both Heather and Tim share the personal motivations behind their investment in the project, emphasizing the authentic heart behind the initiative and how their own experiences shaped its purpose.
The episode also explores the practical steps taken to launch The Lighthouse Fund successfully, from drawing inspiration and advice from other organizations with similar programs to building a brand identity with a thoughtfully designed logo. Emelyne, Heather, and Tim discuss the rollout strategy, including an exciting countdown campaign, secretive launch details to build anticipation, and the importance of making the Fund feel inclusive and welcoming to every Memory Maker. They reflect on the early impact of the Fund, sharing stories of gratitude and hope from Memory Makers who have already benefited from its support. The group wraps up by highlighting the role of leadership, the foundational support from Charlie and Manny, and their hopes for The Lighthouse Fund to become a lasting source of light—multiplying hope, compassion, and good across the entire Broad River community.
Watch the first episode on the Lighthouse Fund - Introducing The Lighthouse Fund, a Crisis Assistance Program for Memory Makers at Broad River Retail - https://youtu.be/4S-XXofao0c
Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/8w8OwG46m2w
Visit https://www.storiesfromtheriver.com for more episodes.
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