Chip Webster, Unity in Service, on Rebuilding Trust and Civic Engagement Through Community Service (North Fulton Business Radio, Episode 938)
On this episode of North Fulton Business Radio, host John Ray welcomes Chip Webster, founder of Unity in Service. Chip is a seasoned entrepreneur, business leader, and advocate for civic engagement who spent over 25 years with Vistage Florida mentoring CEOs and currently serves as chairman of the board of Tampa Bay Watch.
Chip discusses the dramatic decline in trust Americans have in institutions. Trust in government has fallen from 77% in 1964 to just 17% in 2025, with similar declines in healthcare and banking. He explains how this erosion of trust stems from political division, media echo chambers, and a lack of human connection. His solution centers on community service and volunteerism as tools to break down barriers between people of different backgrounds and political views.
The conversation delves into how collaborating on community projects fosters a trust that cannot be fostered online or through social media. Chip shares insights from his travels across America in an RV, where he listened to people from all walks of life express their dissatisfaction and disconnection. He challenges listeners to take action by volunteering, engaging with those from different perspectives, and holding elected officials accountable. Chip’s book, Unity in Service: A Pathway to Responsible Citizenship, lays out his vision for restoring unity through service and advocates for a required year of national service for 18-year-olds.
John Ray is the host of North Fulton Business Radio. The show is produced by John Ray and North Fulton Business Radio, LLC, an affiliate of Business RadioX®, and is recorded inside Renasant Bank in Alpharetta.
Key Takeaways from This Episode
- Trust in American institutions has collapsed across the board, with trust in government falling from 77% in 1964 to 17% in 2025, healthcare dropping from 80% to 37%, and banking declining from 60% to 27%
- Community service and volunteerism break down political barriers by creating shared experiences that build trust between people of different backgrounds, something that cannot be achieved through online interaction alone
- Democracy is a “do it to ourselves project” where each citizen bears responsibility for civic engagement, voting, and holding leaders accountable rather than simply complaining about the direction of the country
- Businesses play a critical role in building a culture of trust and teamwork, serving both their markets and their communities while breaking down barriers between people
Topics Discussed in this Episode
00:20 John Ray introduces Chip Webster and Unity in Service
02:00 How Chip’s cross-country RV travels revealed America’s disconnection
03:00 The decline of trust in American institutions since 1964
04:00 How volunteering breaks down political barriers and builds trust
06:00 Trust statistics for healthcare and banking institutions
07:00 The difference between declining institutional trust and human connection
09:00 Politicians and media as “conflict entrepreneurs” who profit from division
22:00 Taking action as the antidote to despair
23:00 Voter engagement and the responsibility to participate
24:00 The role of business in creating cultures of trust and serving communities
25:00 Practical steps for citizens to break down barriers and rebuild trust
26:00 The importance of seeking diverse perspectives and being kind
27:00 How to connect with Unity in Service and order the book
Chip Webster, Founder
Chip Webster is a seasoned leader, entrepreneur, and advocate for civic engagement. With a career spanning corporate leadership, business turnarounds, and mentorship, he has helped countless CEOs and executives navigate growth and transformation. He spent over 25 years with Vistage Florida, the world’s leading CEO peer group organization, where he served as president and played a pivotal role in expanding its influence across the state. His leadership expertise extends to board positions with companies like Discount Auto Parts and Hire Velocity and is the current Chairman of the Board for Tampa Bay Watch, as well as cofounder of Keepers of the Flame for ten-plus-year Vistage peer group leaders.
Beyond the business world, Chip is committed to strengthening communities and fostering civic responsibility. He is the founder of Unity in Service, a nonprofit focused on rebuilding trust among citizens through volunteerism and national service. His latest book, Unity in Service: A Pathway to Responsible Citizenship, explores the growing divide in American society and offers a vision for restoring unity through collective action.
An advocate for responsible citizenship, Chip believes in the power of service to bridge divides and create a culture of respect. He continues to mentor young entrepreneurs, contribute to community initiatives, and champion the idea that democracy thrives when its citizens are actively engaged.
Unity in Service
Unity in Service is a nonprofit organization dedicated to rebuilding trust and respect among American citizens through community service and civic engagement. Founded on the belief that democracy requires active participation from all citizens, the organization works to break down political barriers by encouraging people to work together on community projects with others from diverse backgrounds. Unity in Service advocates for three core objectives: breaking down barriers through community engagement, holding government and media accountable for their words and actions, and establishing a required year of national service for 18-year-olds as part of the passage to adulthood. The organization’s vision is to create a national culture of mutual trust and respect for fellow citizens by getting people out of their echo chambers and into shared experiences that build genuine human connection.
Renasant Bank supports North Fulton Business Radio
Renasant Bank has humble roots, having started in 1904 as a $100,000 bank located in a Lee County, Mississippi, bakery. Since then, Renasant has grown into one of the Southeast’s strongest financial institutions, boasting over $26 billion in assets and more than 280 offices offering banking, lending, wealth management, and financial services throughout the region. All of Renasant’s success stems from the commitment of each banker to invest in the communities they serve, which in turn helps them better understand the people they serve. At Renasant Bank, their banking professionals understand you because they work and live alongside you every day.
Website | LinkedIn | Facebook | Instagram | X (Twitter) | YouTube
Beyond Computer Solutions supports North Fulton Business Radio
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Whether they serve as your complete IT department or simply support your internal team, they are well-versed in HIPAA, secure document access, written security policies, and other essential aspects that ensure your safety and well-being. Best of all, it starts with a complimentary security assessment.
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About North Fulton Business Radio and host John Ray
With over 900 episodes and having featured over 1,400 guests, North Fulton Business Radio is the longest-running podcast in the North Fulton area, covering business in our community like no one else. We are the undisputed “Voice of Business” in North Fulton!
The show invites a diverse range of business, non-profit, and community leaders to share their significant contributions to their respective markets, communities, and professions. There is no discrimination based on company size, and there is never any “pay to play.” North Fulton Business Radio supports and celebrates businesses by sharing positive stories that traditional media ignore. Some media lean left. Some media lean right. We lean business.
John Ray is the host of North Fulton Business Radio. John and the team at North Fulton Business Radio, LLC, an affiliate of Business RadioX®, produce the show, which is recorded inside Renasant Bank in Alpharetta.
The studio is located at 275 South Main Street, Alpharetta, GA 30009.
You can find the entire archive of shows by following this link. The show is accessible on all major podcast apps, such as Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Google, Amazon, iHeart Radio, and many others.
John Ray also operates his own business advisory practice. John’s services include advising solopreneurs and small professional services firms on their value, their positioning and business development, and their pricing. His clients are professionals who are selling their expertise, such as consultants, coaches, attorneys, CPAs, accountants, bookkeepers, marketing professionals, and other professional services practitioners.
John is the author of the five-star-rated book The Generosity Mindset: A Journey to Business Success by Raising Your Confidence, Value, and Prices, praised by readers for its practical insights on raising confidence, value, and prices.
