Culture, Clinics, and Clarity with Kurt Gengenbacher
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What if the key to leading across 850+ locations isn’t control, but clarity? Shawn and AJ sit down with Kurt Gengenbacher of ATI Physical Therapy to unpack how values, leadership, and alignment come to life inside a sprawling, people-first organization. Kurt brings a unique blend of physical therapy roots and leadership development expertise, revealing how ATI empowers local autonomy while staying anchored in consistent values like trust, collaboration, and innovation. From rolling out new values across 900 leaders, to redefining strategic planning through the lens of polarity management,...
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Building Culture Through Connection with Amber Van Allen
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What if the key to a thriving workplace isn’t another perk, but a person who meets you where you are? In this episode, Shawn and Sarah sit down with Amber Van Allen, Wellness Administrator at the City of Green Bay. With nearly two decades in health and wellness, Amber reveals how meaningful relationships, empathy, and a clear sense of purpose can transform employee wellbeing. From Green Bay’s signature Health 1265 program to on-the-ground strategies for connection, resiliency, and burnout prevention, Amber shares how she’s building trust across departments, one conversation at a time....
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Setting the Bar for People-First Leadership with Dan Burnett
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What if your company’s core beliefs weren’t just posters on the wall, but the pulse of every decision, meeting, and leadership moment? Shawn and AJ sit down with Dan Burnett, Director of Talent Development at QPS Employment Group, to explore how beliefs can transform a company from the inside out. From shifting leadership meetings into real-time development labs to building a culture where feedback and celebration are rooted in trust, Dan reveals how QPS “sets the bar” for people-first growth. As an employee-owned company, QPS puts transparency, family spirit, and high-touch...
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Growing Leaders from Within with Kelsey Brenn
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How do you scale culture without losing what makes it special? As Chief People Officer at St. Augustine Preparatory Academy, Kelsey shares how she went from managing spreadsheets to shaping culture across a fast-growing, mission-driven school system. This episode dives into how Aug Prep builds leaders from within, prioritizes people-first strategy, and keeps values like courage and love at the center of everything. From hiring with intention to scaling across campuses, Kelsey offers real-world insight for anyone leading in a high-growth, purpose-filled environment. ❤️ And Aug Prep is...
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Reimagining Senior Living Through People-First Leadership with Kristin Ferge & Gia Mattioli-Tolfa
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What happens when “Enjoy Life” isn’t just a tagline, but the heartbeat of an entire senior living culture? Shawn and Sarah sit down with Kristin Ferge and Gia Mattioli-Tolfa of Capri Communities to explore how compassion, culture, and creativity are transforming the senior living experience. 💡 From empathy-fueled hiring and thoughtful onboarding to surprise moments of gratitude, Kristin and Gia share how Capri puts people first, residents and staff alike. You’ll hear about their “Four for Five” schedule that’s rewriting the rules of retention, how a stack of CARES cards is...
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Don't Stop the Culture: Leading by Example at Mueller Communications with Lori Richards & Cass Bergemann
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In this episode, Shawn and Sarah sit down with the dynamic duo Lori Richards and Cass Bergemann from Mueller Communications, where culture isn’t just talked about, it’s lived every day. If Mueller had a theme song, Queen’s “Don’t Stop Me Now” accurately represents the organization's energy and momentum, and this humanscape conversation delves into how it all comes together. Lori and Cass share how their team brings humanity to the workplace through their Cultural Canvas, values like “clear is kind,” and the powerful demonstration of celebrating parenthood. You'll hear...
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When Unique Unites: Building Inclusive Teams with Peggy Williams-Smith & Christina Cooper
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Shawn and Sarah are talking all things culture, care, and community with Peggy Williams-Smith and Christina Cooper from Visit Milwaukee🧀 From handwritten birthday cards to breaking down silos, they’re leading a workplace where uniqueness isn’t just welcomed—it’s celebrated! Tune in for laughs, heart, and a behind-the-scenes look at how Milwaukee’s people-first pros do it all with purpose ✨ Additional Resources: Learn more about Learn more about Key Takeaways: A welcoming culture begins with intentional leadership and personal connection...
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Serving Culture by the Slice with Wendy Bushell
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Ever wonder how a company makes 3 million pizzas a week and stays a three-time Great Place to Work?🍕 In this episode, Shawn and Sarah chat with Wendy Bushell, Chief People Officer at Palermo’s, about the secret sauce behind their people-first culture. From visual training for a workforce speaking 8 languages to personalized learning paths and daily free pizza, Wendy shares how passion, innovation, and purpose fuel Palermo’s. Get ready for a flavorful convo on leadership, culture, and making work feel like family. 🎧✨ Additional Resources: Learn more about Learn...
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Making Mental Health Everyone’s Business with Julie Preder
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What if we treated mental health like a broken arm—something real, urgent, and worth taking care of? 🧠✨ In this episode, Shawn chats with Julie Preder from Mental Health America Lakeshore about why mental health is health. They dive into why real conversations matter more than surveys, how workplaces can be way better at supporting people (spoiler: it starts with listening👂), and why connection is the real secret sauce for thriving teams. Tune in for a fresh take on culture, compassion, and creating spaces where people feel seen, heard, and valued. Additional Resources: ...
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Building Culture Through Connection with Lynell Meeth
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Tap shoes, chocolate, and servant leadership? Yes, please! 💃🍫 In this episode, Lynell Meeth from Bank Five Nine joins Shawn and AJ for a vibrant convo about how real culture is built—in the little moments, the shared values, and yes, even in joyful things like tap dancing. Lynell shares how her team brings values like passion and humility to life, creates flexible learning paths that actually stick, and keeps connection strong across branches. It’s a refreshingly human take on leadership, learning, and belonging you won’t want to miss 💡💬 For leaders focused on culture and...
info_outlineWhat if the key to leading across 850+ locations isn’t control, but clarity?
Shawn and AJ sit down with Kurt Gengenbacher of ATI Physical Therapy to unpack how values, leadership, and alignment come to life inside a sprawling, people-first organization. Kurt brings a unique blend of physical therapy roots and leadership development expertise, revealing how ATI empowers local autonomy while staying anchored in consistent values like trust, collaboration, and innovation.
From rolling out new values across 900 leaders, to redefining strategic planning through the lens of polarity management, this episode is packed with practical wisdom for anyone looking to scale culture without losing soul. If you're wrestling with how to support leaders, create alignment, and drive development at scale, without burning people out, this conversation is for you.
Additional Resources:
Learn more about ATI Physical Therapy
Connect with Shawn on LinkedIn
Follow PeopleForward Network on LinkedIn
Learn more about PeopleForward Network
Key Takeaways:
- Autonomy thrives when paired with clear expectations
- Values need behavioral definitions to stick
- Polarities require managing, not solving
- Strategic goals must guide daily decisions
- Trust builds through consistent communication