Search Results for: kids care

Intro: [00:00:07] Broadcasting live from the business radio studios in Atlanta. It’s time for Charitable Georgia, brought to you by Bee’s Charitable Pursuits and resources. We put the fun in fundraising. For more information, go to Bee’s charitable pursuits dot com. That’s b e. S charitable pursuits dot com. Now here’s your host, Brian Pruitt.

Brian Pruett: [00:00:45] Good, fabulous Friday morning, everybody. In the listening world, it’s another fabulous Friday. We’ve got three more fabulous folks here with some great stories. Stone welcome back. We missed you the last couple of weeks. I hope you had a great trip and you didn’t get hurt too much by those elk.

Stone Payton: [00:01:00] Thank you, buddy. We had a marvelous time, but I’ve missed being in the studio. I’m so glad we’ve got a studio full this morning.

Brian Pruett: [00:01:06] Yeah, it’s great. So we’re going to start off this morning with a young lady by the name of Khristie Staines, who runs a great ministry called Footprints on the Heart, which I’ll let her explain what that is. But if this doesn’t tug at your hearts and want to get involved with her, then I think you might be a little bit of a robot. But, Christie, first of all, thanks for being here this morning. And I know it’s a little rough. You actually, man, you talk about dedication. Stone This young lady went to Tennessee yesterday to even help with the wedding. Came back late last night. She’s here this morning and has to go back to Dalton to serve a family. So, again, thank you for being here, Khristie.

Khristie Staines: [00:01:48] Thanks so much, Brian, for having me. I really appreciate it.

Brian Pruett: [00:01:51] So tell us a little bit, first of all, about Footprints on the Heart, why you started this ministry and what you do.

Khristie Staines: [00:02:01] So Footprints on the Heart began on the night my granddaughter was delivered stillborn on February the ninth, 2011. And on that night, there wasn’t a lot of resources for families who face the loss of a baby. And so God laid on my heart that night, kind of the the start of footprints on the heart. I talked with my cousin Lori Dowdy, who had suffered a miscarriage and probably about five years prior to that, told her what God was laying on my heart. She wanted to get involved and to help. So there was a quote There is no fit too small that it cannot leave its imprint on this world. And that’s pretty much where our ministry name began and was born from. And so we’ve served families in the beginning. We had a candle lighting, we had a5k and just did some community outreach and events. And then a few years later, we started serving in person at multiple area hospitals from Bartow County up to Whitfield County. And so now last year I think we ended the year serving right around 62 families in person, which may not sound like a lot, but for a really small ministry, that’s a lot. Today we’re on day 13 and we are already serving our fourth family of 2023.

Brian Pruett: [00:03:18] Wow. So that’s got to be rough. First of all, it takes special people to do certain things. And you’re definitely one of those special people. You. You’re also a caregiver. You take care of elderly folks as well, correct?

Khristie Staines: [00:03:32] Yes. I have a sweet little patient right now that’s 87 who has the early dementia. And so I tell people all the time, I just I take care of people and God uses different vessels for that. I used to be an insurance agent. My role with that was taking care of people. I just happened to be an insurance agent, so I just feel like he’s called me to take care of people.

Brian Pruett: [00:03:55] Well, so you mentioned that you guys started off doing like a candle lighting in five K, and I know you continue doing the candle lighting, so share a little bit about what that is and what what’s the purpose for that?

Khristie Staines: [00:04:10] So when we began the candle lighting all those years ago, it was for families to have a place to come and honor their babies for our early loss families, you know, maybe a six week loss or a ten week loss, they may not have a burial location there. Their baby might have been too early to have actually delivered. So they don’t have a place to go to to honor and remember their baby. And that was one of the reasons we started with that candle lighting. In the beginning, we honored, I think, 40 babies, and a lot of those were friends and family and loved ones, babies. And to date, we’ve been introduced to well over a thousand, maybe even 2000 babies by now, just at various community events, peer support, online or different methods.

Brian Pruett: [00:04:58] You. When you say you serve families, can you share a little bit? When you say that, what exactly do you do?

Khristie Staines: [00:05:05] Yes. So when we are notified either by our family or by the hospital that there’s going to be a family that we’re going to be serving, we go in and just help that family navigate that time in that space. So we will help them bathe and dress their baby, take pictures. Do clay and ink imprints. And mainly just help them navigate the fear of the unknown. And to know that it’s okay to hold their baby and to not worry about what the outside world is, I call it thinks is normal. I’m taking pictures with a baby who has died, may not be normal for the world, but when that’s all, you have to last a lifetime of your baby, those photos and memories become everything we help with, trying to help them through that funeral planning. We’re not, you know, funeral directors or anything like that. But we do have some amazing funeral homes that work alongside our ministry to provide their services at no cost for the families that we serve. Just letting families know the resources that are out there helping them write an obituary. Because a lot of times these, especially our young families, may not have even had a loss in their family history, much less having to write an obituary for their baby, because that’s never anything anybody can imagine doing.

Brian Pruett: [00:06:21] Yeah, that’s that’s got to be tough. I know this is when you and I first met Stone when you were gone, I mentioned to Sharon the really cool thing about this show and the stories that you’re getting to hear on the show is one of the power thing. Powerful things of networking. Every person I’ve interviewed in some way or another networking, I’ve gotten to hear their stories. Yeah. So you and I met actually through your cousin Lori. I was with her in an event. She told me about your ministry. At the time I was doing Lake City branding. We were doing some direct mail and we wanted to also we’re doing stories in a magazine that we had on some non-profits. And so she shared with me your ministry and introduced us to and you and I met and met and talked for two or 3 hours, I think. And it’s what you do as is close to my heart. My mom miscarried before I was born. I’ve got several family and friends who have miscarried. So it’s just I don’t know. It just it tugs at your heart. Like I said, if this doesn’t tug at your heart, you got some problems. But I’m going to try to do as much as I can to help you. You know, I do fundraising for a living. So next Wednesday night, the 18th, I’m hosting a trivia show at St Angelo’s, which is at Lake Point Station in Emerson, and we’re raising money for your ministry. So come out, you’ll get for $25, you’ll get a pizza, pasta, wing salad, nonalcoholic drink buffet you’ll get to meet stone. Stone is going to be there.

Stone Payton: [00:07:49] Yeah, that’s going to be a blast. I mean, we’re going to broadcast live, right?

Brian Pruett: [00:07:52] Yeah, exactly. And the cool thing is we actually now have some retired sports celebrities coming. I actually met one last Sunday at Kroger. Believe it or not. I looked at him, knew he had to play ball. We got to talk and told me who he played for inviting him out. He said, I’d love to be there. So we’ve got NFL, NBA retired wrestler, stand up comedian. Those guys will all be there. So it’ll be a fun night. Of course, Stone’s a celebrity in himself, so you get to get to see what he does. And anyway, if you want more information on that, get a hold of me. And you can do that at Brian at BS. That’s B.S. Charitable pursuits dot com come have a good time and help raise money for a great organization If somebody wants to help you in any way, what ways can somebody help you in the ministry other than obviously the donation of money? What other ways can people help you?

Khristie Staines: [00:08:47] One of the biggest things, and I hope people hear it all the time, is just prayer. You know, it takes it takes a lot of strength to go into heartbreaking situations over and over. So we ask for prayers, of course, for our team and for the medical teams. A lot of times people put their focus on the families, and that’s true. But I’ve seen how much loss affects the medical teams that care for these families as well. We have we’re on Amazon. Smile. So if you’re not already supporting a charity of choice when you shop on Amazon, that’s just like free money for nonprofits. So we encourage you to support footprints on the heart with your shop and their, you know, monetary donations. But even just simple things like there’s specific items that we use blankets, Bibles, books, different things, and we have wish that we can share. It’s really the possibilities are endless. We’ve had families do cornhole tournaments and bike rides and sell t shirts and different things. So pretty much lots of options there.

Brian Pruett: [00:09:43] Another thing you told me that you do is you actually help provide and get wedding dresses and you make gowns for the babies for the burial from that. Is that correct?

Khristie Staines: [00:09:54] We do. But right now, because we don’t have very many of. Volunteers with that. We are not accepting any gown donations. We have tons and tons of gowns waiting to be worked up, but unfortunately we do not have a large volunteer base to help disassemble and reassemble those gowns right now.

Brian Pruett: [00:10:12] So if you want to help, there’s another way volunteer to help get those gowns ready for that. So one thing, one last thing are two more things before I let you go, because I know you’ve got to get up to Dalton. But just before Christmas, you guys actually went and take care of the nurses at Cartersville Medical Center. So not as an adult in Dalton. Okay, Sorry about that. But it’s not only just the babies you’re helping and serving, but you’re also taking help. Take care of the nurses who take care of them. So share about that event and what you did for them.

Khristie Staines: [00:10:41] Yes. So because we have had several losses in that NICUs setting and it’s never easy to withdraw care for a baby ever. I saw how it impacted the nurses and not not when I got home. God laid on my heart to make sure the families and the nurses in the neat department for Christmas felt seen and loved. So we did a fundraiser on Facebook. We raised right at $1,000. We provided them on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day with food, snacks, drinks, and we provided each nurse, the nurse practitioner, the neonatologist, and the families and the babies. We provided them all with a gift. And I know it may not have been a lot, but from the nurses, I know it was really special for them to be seen because a lot of times people may think about one department in the hospital or another, but there’s oftentimes those departments that get missed. So we just wanted on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, my husband’s a respiratory therapist. I know what it’s like to be away from family on a holiday. So we just wanted to make sure that they knew how much we appreciated them, too.

Brian Pruett: [00:11:46] Well, let me just tell you, it doesn’t matter the amount of money to me that you raised, the fact that you noticed them and took note that they’re there means a lot, I’m sure, to them. So again, you just have a special giving heart. And I appreciate what you do. I know that there’s other out there that appreciates you. Do you get a lot of support from the Carnival Business Club? All of those have jump aboard to help you lately. So before I let you run, how can somebody get a hold of you if they want to help you in any way?

Khristie Staines: [00:12:15] So we have a website for print on the heart dot org. We’re mainly the most active with our Facebook page, which is Facebook slash Footprints on the Heart or my cell is 7705474333. People can reach out to us in any of those methods.

Brian Pruett: [00:12:35] Awesome. Well, Khristie, again, I appreciate you being here. And I know it’s tough. Why you why you do or where you have to go right now. But thank you for coming, sharing what you do and be safe. And we wish you the best with the family today.

Khristie Staines: [00:12:49] Thank you so much, Brian. And I can’t wait to listen to the recording after today so I can see what the others have to say.

Brian Pruett: [00:12:56] All right. Well, you’ll be safe and we’ll see you soon. Thank you. All right. Now, you know the thing about exciting about today stone to as well as you we have stories of comfort and care with Khristie. And we have a story right now of hope. I talked about the hearing of stories and networking. I actually just heard this story on Wednesday, a brief part of it. So I immediately thought about wanting her to be here because you were going to hear from Khristie. And and it’s tough when you lose a baby. This story right here gives you hope of somebody who was told. Right, that you weren’t going to be able to have babies. So this is Sierra Kedzierski. Did I say that right, Sierra? Because I’m sorry about that. I knew I was going to mess the name up.

Brian Pruett: [00:13:42] I was close.

Brian Pruett: [00:13:42] Yeah, right. That only counts in hand grenades and horseshoes. So but anyway, she is with the EMP Group, which is based out of Acworth, and she has a passion for helping business to as well with trying to get them and save them some money on credit card processing. So, Cierra, first of all, thank you for being here. Yeah. And and tell us a little bit, first of all, about the IMP group, your role, how you got started, and then we’ll get into the other.

Sierra Kedzierski: [00:14:06] Okay. So IMP Group is a local independently owned company out of Acworth, Georgia. We focus on helping businesses with their merchant services, which is also known as credit card processing. We try to save any person that takes credit card payments for their business money on their transactions to help them save money on the money that they’ve already earned. And the way I got started with them was I was a bartender and I have a little boy who is now four. But when I started, he was about two and a half and I was on my way out the door to go to work one day. And Jackson looked at me and said, Mommy, why are you never home for bedtime? And like in my head, I’m like, Wow, you’re two years old. Why are you asking me that already? I thought I had a couple of years to worry about that. But no, he was wondering why his mommy was never home. And I’m a single mom, so it’s just me and him. So I immediately went in the next day. I actually called out of work that night, went in the next day and went in the next day and put on my two week notice. And then from there I was on a job hunt because I needed a job, obviously. So I was introduced to my boss, Jay Worthy, through a old bar regular of mine, and went in, did a couple of interviews over the phone and person, and they gave me the opportunity to come in and try something I’ve never done before. And so far it has been amazing. I work for an amazing company and I really love what I do. And at first I was it was going to be something temporary. Now I think that this will be something I continue doing for several years.

Brian Pruett: [00:15:45] So awesome when you obviously have a passion for helping people as well. So we write a networking event called Acworth Connections on Wednesday. Bob Rooks, who runs that, always ask a question, kind of a personal question for everybody. And his question this week is what’s your side passion? You shared your side passion was your little boy that you just mentioned and you shared that you were you were told that you weren’t able to have kids and now you’re like you said, he’s four years old, so share as much as you want to. But I would love to share you share the story about that.

Sierra Kedzierski: [00:16:16] Okay. So I was 18 and a lot of people that are listening probably think it’s crazy to want a baby at 18 years old, but I’ve just always wanted to be a mom. I’ve babysat kids since I was 12 years old. I’ve always loved babies and kids, and I’ve just always wanted to be a mom. So 18 years old, I’ve been with somebody for about two years at that point, and we decided we wanted a baby. So we’re trying try and trying to have a baby and nothing was working. So we finally go see a doctor to see, you know, is it me? Is it him? Is there something going on? On why we can’t have a baby? The doctor, they ran a bunch of tests and stuff. I was on a birth control. The depo shot when I was 16. That made me like it gave me a lot of health issues. It really messed me up pretty bad, actually, to where I was bleeding for like nine months straight because of it, and it was just not good. So the doctor told me that because of that, whatever problems that the depo shot caused me, then made it to where it was nearly impossible for me to ever have a baby.

Sierra Kedzierski: [00:17:20] He told me I could never conceive. So I went and seen another doctor because I didn’t like that answer. I was like, There’s got to be a way. I mean, how can I not have a baby? Like, this is insane. So I go see another doctor, and that doctor then tells me the chances of you getting pregnant are one in a million. I’m like, Well, there’s got to be a chance. Like, I didn’t like that answer either. So I go see another doctor. Let’s see. I’ve seen about four doctors. I took medication. I was doing shots, everything, trying to get pregnant. It was nothing with him. It was just me. Well, long story short, that ended up destroying our relationship because we tried to have a baby for over a year. I could not get pregnant. It did not matter what I did, what medicine I took, how many times I went in. It was destroying me because. I wanted a baby so bad and it made me like, hate him and hate our relationship because I could not have the baby. I could not get pregnant. And it just drove me crazy. So I then fell off the deep end.

Sierra Kedzierski: [00:18:13] Things didn’t go great in my life for a long time after that. I got into drugs. I just kind of lost myself completely. So in the mix of all that, I had this one guy that I slept with one time and he was the only person I had slept with since my previous relationship that fell off because I couldn’t get pregnant. And whenever I mean, a few weeks later, about five weeks later, I’m like gaining weight. And I didn’t understand why I was gaining weight because I didn’t eat nothing then. So I’m like, Something’s going on. And I went to my mom’s house and she’s like, she’s like, You’re gaining weight. You look really good. And I’m like, I don’t know why I’m gaining weight, but I just need some food. Can I eat? And I go in the kitchen and I make me some eggs, some scrambled eggs, and I don’t know what was going in my pregnant mind, but I didn’t know I was pregnant yet. I put some sirup and some mustard and I mixed it all together. And I know that’s so disgusting. I would never eat that. I would never eat that.

Brian Pruett: [00:19:09] Now that’s almost like a meal that buddy the. Yeah.

Sierra Kedzierski: [00:19:13] Yeah, It was gross. My mom comes in there and I did that for about three days in a row. My mom comes in there and she’s like, You are pregnant. I said, I’m not pregnant. I can’t even have kids. And it made me so angry that she said that because it like, brought back all the memories of me trying to have a baby that I couldn’t have. And I was like, There’s no way I can’t have kids. Don’t you know that? Like, why would you even bring that up? Because it broke my heart that she brought it up. So I left and went about my business. Well, about two weeks later, I had a friend tell me, Look, you’re going to be on this pregnancy test or you got to get out of my house. And I was like, What? Okay, I’m going to show you, like, I can’t I can’t have kids. So I go in the bathroom, I take the pregnancy test, I come out and I’m like, Hmm, just wait. And I’m like, I’m going to show y’all. And I come back 5 minutes later and it said pregnant. And I was like, And this was like midnight. It was like the middle of the night. And it says, Pregnant. And I’m like, That’s not right.

Sierra Kedzierski: [00:20:09] So I take another one in total. Took like five pregnancy tests. They all said pregnant. So I’m calling my mom at like 1:00 in the morning talking about, Hey, you need to come get me from Cedar Town. I’m in a situation I shouldn’t be in, and I just found out I’m pregnant. Well, my mom starts crying and didn’t know what to do because we all thought I couldn’t have kids. Go see a doctor and. Throughout my pregnancy. I had multiple complications. I had gestational diabetes. I went into labor a few different times. Thankfully, they were able to stop it. I was on bed rest for the last ten weeks of my pregnancy because I just kept the I kept going into labor and they kept having to stop it. So they put me on bed rest, told me I couldn’t work, couldn’t do anything. I’m like, okay, so I’m a single mom and I’m the only one that can provide for this baby. And you’re telling me I can’t work for ten weeks? I’m like, That’s insane. Like, how am I supposed to make a living for this baby if I can’t work and save money to be able to support him? Of course, my parents are very supportive through all of that.

Sierra Kedzierski: [00:21:10] Thankfully, very thankful for them for that. And I mean, my son had a heart murmur. They thought they were going to have to do surgery on because it was really big. He’s still, to this day at four years old, has that heart murmur. But it is not it’s not anything they’re worried about at this point because it’s so little. He had something wrong with his testicles where they when he was born, they were huge and they thought they were going to do surgery there, too. But within two weeks, they went right back to normal size. I mean, I don’t know how I got pregnant and I don’t know why I that’s where I lost all faith in God when I couldn’t have a baby. And I have always been a Christian. I’ve always believed in God, but God blessed me with that baby. It was either I have that baby or I wouldn’t be here today. And it changed my life completely. So I’m that’s that’s pretty much it. I mean, I don’t know how, but somehow I have a very healthy four year old boy. And the only thing that’s wrong with him is he has asthma. So I can deal with asthma compared to never having a child.

Brian Pruett: [00:22:12] So. Oh, so there’s your story of hope for the day.

Stone Payton: [00:22:14] Stone Well, yeah, that’s more than hopeful. That’s incredible, man. What you’ve been.

Sierra Kedzierski: [00:22:20] Through. Yeah, that’s my baby right there. That’s my world now.

Brian Pruett: [00:22:24] So obviously, like you said, and I’m a big believer, I think everybody in this room is believer and and there’s no coincidences. And just the way God shows up at different times in different, different ways. I mean, I brought it up last week, but the whole situation with DeMarre Hamilton above from the Buffalo Bills.

Sierra Kedzierski: [00:22:43] Yeah, that’s.

Brian Pruett: [00:22:44] Amazing. God showed up for the world on that. You had people praying on ESPN. That doesn’t happen. Yeah it can you. Say give a little bit. I mean, you shared an inspirational story, but if somebody is going through something that you’re going through or went through, can you just give them some advice of what what to do?

Sierra Kedzierski: [00:23:03] I would say just don’t lose hope in yourself and your life, because I was 18 and I had it all. I lived by myself. I didn’t have roommates. I had a great job. I was doing phenomenal. And I literally let not being able to get pregnant destroyed at all. So I went from having it all to having absolutely nothing, finding out I’m pregnant and having to literally restart. I say don’t lose hope and find somebody that you can talk to that will help you through it, because that was probably my biggest thing, was I had no support system. I didn’t really have anybody that understood me because everybody I talked to about it was like, Well, you’re just 18. Why do you want a baby so bad anyways? Because I want one. I mean, why is that your business? If I want to have a baby, I’m going to support it, not you, Right? I’m the one that’s going to carry it and take care of it and raise it, not you. So why is it your business if I need a baby or not? Stop telling me I don’t need a baby. It’s my life and I want a baby.

Brian Pruett: [00:23:57] And obviously God wanted you to have a baby.

Sierra Kedzierski: [00:23:59] Yeah. Yeah. So I definitely say have supportive people. Don’t ever let anybody else tell you that you know it’s your fault or make you feel bad for wanting something that maybe they don’t want because I mean, that’s I feel like was the big problem. Like everybody I was around was like, I don’t want a baby. Why do you want a baby? You’re only 18. Well, because I want a baby. I don’t know what to tell you. So definitely a support system is the big thing, I think.

Brian Pruett: [00:24:27] Other than the story you just shared of obviously, you do what you do because of that. But tell me another reason why it’s important for you to be involved in the community, because you’re very involved in the community as well. So why is that important?

Sierra Kedzierski: [00:24:38] It’s very important to be involved in the community for me, because I like to build relationships and meet new people and kind of hear their story and what they’ve been through. Surprisingly, through networking, I have met multiple people that have been through and down the same road as me, maybe not as far as the baby situation, but as far as getting, you know, on drugs and just letting their life go and things like that. Like it’s inspiring to see people out here that had nothing at one point and now they’re working to have a life for them and their family. And it is very inspiring. Like you don’t let that define who you are today, because I promise you I would not be who I am today if I didn’t lose everything at one point. It’s definitely made me who I am and being out networking, it’s very inspiring to see people and then to actually get to know them and hear their life story and how they got to where they are today because nobody was just handed what they have on a golden platter. You know, they work for it. And so in order to get anywhere, you have to work for it and you have to be motivated to get there.

Brian Pruett: [00:25:46] You talked about the networking and you guys with the EMP group put on an event. Oh, yeah, that’s coming up. That’s good networking share about that event.

Sierra Kedzierski: [00:25:54] Yeah, we have a STIP event coming up on January 24th from 5 to 8 p.m. at Red Dot Brewhouse in downtown Acworth. We do this event quarterly, so it’s an after hours networking event. You with your ticket, you get a free drink on us. Of course, there’s going to be anywhere from 60 to 120 people there. It’s always a great turnout. The last event I think we had 110 people at. We have ten vendors lined up at this time now as well. So it’s just a great way to meet other business owners and get your face out there more and meet new people because you never know who. It’s not ever really about what you know. It’s usually who you know that will get you somewhere.

Brian Pruett: [00:26:35] So how can people get tickets to come to that event?

Sierra Kedzierski: [00:26:39] If you go on Eventbrite and look up IMP group or if you follow my Facebook page, which is, Oh, I guess I need to spell my name out. Sierra Sierra last name is k e d z i e r k i. It’s posted all over my Facebook page, but you can also go to Eventbrite and look up sip amp group and it should come up. Or if you just come, you can buy your ticket at the door as well.

Brian Pruett: [00:27:07] Sip doesn’t mean drinking, right?

Sierra Kedzierski: [00:27:09] It means strategy, impact and purpose.

Brian Pruett: [00:27:12] There you go. All right. If somebody wanted to get ahold of you about talking about credit card processing, how do they do that?

Sierra Kedzierski: [00:27:19] You can email me at Sierra at Go EMP Group dot com or give me a text or call at 4709992358.

Brian Pruett: [00:27:32] Sarah Thank our Sierra. Sorry, Sarah. Sierra Thank you for coming and sharing your story. Yeah. Again, that’s to me, a story of hope, you know, and you mind sticking around and we talk to this next gentleman?

Sierra Kedzierski: [00:27:44] Yeah, absolutely. Let’s hear what Duck’s got to say.

Brian Pruett: [00:27:47] All right, So we are now going into the story of giving back stone, So. Uh, this gentleman right here. First of all, I don’t know whether I’m supposed to be at a top concert or in Duck Dynasty, so. But he’s just.

Scott DUCK Williams: [00:28:01] Laziness.

Brian Pruett: [00:28:02] Right? Well, no, it’s cool. So I met this gentleman at a golf tournament. The golf tournament that I helped with our Aces Youth, Home and Experiences Foundation. Chad’s a good buddy of mine, and I’ve always heard the name Duck. And then I got to see the legend come to the golf tournament. A legend in his own mind.

Scott DUCK Williams: [00:28:23] Yeah, pretty much.

Brian Pruett: [00:28:25] But he is with Shattenkirk. Chrysler Dodge, Jeep Ram in Canton. Yes, sir. You’ve won their top sales person every year. Every year.

Scott DUCK Williams: [00:28:36] My first year, I was only there for eight months and I blew everybody away the next year, Just just keep blowing people away. I mean, I know it sounds bad. I’m not bragging, not patting myself on the back. I laugh. Yes, I am. But it’s, you know, it’s it’s not about selling cars. I don’t sell cars. I sell myself. You know, that’s what it’s about. So.

Brian Pruett: [00:28:58] Well, you know, the other thing that’s really cool about this guy is he has his own assistant, for one. And he actually has his own mascot. Yes. Right. There’s an actual duck that walks around with him. So I got to ask, where did where did it come from?

Scott DUCK Williams: [00:29:10] So it is actually a nickname from the Army. We were looking for code name nicknames and get to me, they really couldn’t think of anything. So I told them my favorite character is Donald Duck, which it has been. And I taught like Donald Duck in high school, even in class, I was a class clown. Couldn’t believe that. No, I don’t think so.

Khristie Staines: [00:29:27] What? I never guess that.

Scott DUCK Williams: [00:29:28] I know. I know, but. And so they started calling me Duck. And so in the Army I was known as duck. And fast forward, I went to a small college. I was in a fraternity. And of course they said, Hey, you got to have a nickname. What I have one is Duck. And I was older than him because I was going through the Army first and they said, Okay, cool. So it’s been most of my fraternity brothers, their kids know me as duck. They don’t know me a Scot so well.

Brian Pruett: [00:29:53] First of all, thank you for your service. What did you do for the Army?

Scott DUCK Williams: [00:29:57] Really? Nothing. And that’s a lie. It’s going to sound bad. I was stationed in Hawaii. I know. So horrible. Right? Right. They sold me with Hawaii, you know.

Brian Pruett: [00:30:08] Got well. Did you surf with that beard? I want to know now.

Scott DUCK Williams: [00:30:11] They won’t let us have a, you know, a beard army. But I’m originally from Alabama and I never heard of a surfer on tour from Alabama, so I didn’t surf. You know, it makes sense to me. Right? So now they sold me on Hawaii. I was actually a field artillery, which is 13 Bravo. You know, they just when they said Hawaii, I said, I mean, you know, I had, you know, never thought about going to Hawaii until I joined the Army. And I said, let’s go. Me and my best buddy signed up together. So that’s what we did.

Brian Pruett: [00:30:45] Well, so I’m guessing from Alabama. You’re in Alabama. Fan Absolutely. I’m sorry.

Scott DUCK Williams: [00:30:50] Born and bred. Dad had dad. My my father. We had to decide at the age of zero if we’re going to be an Alabama fan or the other fan. I was. One of the stories I tell all the time is my dad was such a big Alabama fan. I was trying to get out of school one day, as you know, permission. I had a permission slip and everything. I covered the whole thing up with my hands. Hey, dad, sign here. And he moved my hand out of the way. Read it. Well, it was Engineering Day down at Auburn, and he read it. He crumbled it up. He says you would never go to that school. So. And I said, Dad, I’m just going to go check out college girls. He goes, No. So didn’t get to go to that. You know, that’s how big of a fan he was.

Brian Pruett: [00:31:34] Well, and again, I don’t think you do this to brag, but every time I see a picture, you’ve always handing a check over to some nonprofit. I’ve seen you again with Aces Youth Home Experiences Foundation has always told me about things you’re doing for them. Yes. So the giving back to you is very important.

Scott DUCK Williams: [00:31:52] Yes, it’s very important. Before the car business. I haven’t been in the car business very long and it’s only been seven years before that. I was a Wendy’s restaurant manager for 17 years. So I’ve always would day Thomas Foundation with adoption. It was a great organization to be with. But me personally and I say, Mama Duck, which is my wife, we call her Mama Duck. I wasn’t able to give personally myself, you know, I would give time, I would give Salem, you know, different things that are Star Wars, stuff like that. But when I got in this business, I’ve been blessed. I mean, I have been blessed with people coming to see me just because the way I treat them. And we’ve always wanted to help in some kind of way, you know? And I’ve always asked her what would her dream job be? And she would say to help with an organization to a nonprofit to give back to the kids, to give, you know, just help people. And so that was been part of me. I’ve always I love kids. Kids. To me are like peas in a pod.

Brian Pruett: [00:32:53] Or you’re a big kid.

Scott DUCK Williams: [00:32:54] I’m a big kid. Anyway. Yes. So. And basically how that started, me and my assistant. She would have to sit there and we would come up with an organization. She does all the homework. She gets on the computer. She’s basically we switch roles. I’m the I’m the car buyer and she’s the seller. So we switch roles and she has to sell me on this organization. I don’t want to associate myself with a big, bad organization. They have to be doing something good in the community and you know, they don’t have to buy a car for me because it’s not what it’s about. It’s about helping people. So she sells me on the community that the organization that we’re actually helping. We were doing one every different one every month. But I really enjoy Aces homes. I really enjoy experience Foundation and Children’s Haven great organization. So we we stuck with them last year a lot and we still like being with them. So that’s what we’re doing this year too.

Brian Pruett: [00:33:48] If you find an organization that you like, they don’t have to be in Cherokee County, right?

Scott DUCK Williams: [00:33:52] No, sir.

Brian Pruett: [00:33:53] Well, maybe we get you Come play some trivia and see some of those, because there’s a lot of trivia. That’s why you put a team together. So who knows? Maybe we’ll just put your celebrities duck. I mean, Duck’s a celebrity when you say stone.

Stone Payton: [00:34:03] Oh, absolutely. You tell about just the way he walks, right?

Scott DUCK Williams: [00:34:08] It’s, you know, like. So this is me. Yes. I was a class clown in high school, but for me, I didn’t want people to notice me. I wasn’t loud. If I went to a party, I went to an outing or anything like that, I didn’t want to be noticed. This duck stuff is brought a lot out of me, you know, which is I think is cool because it’s actual me. I’ve always wanted to do stuff like this, but never have.

Brian Pruett: [00:34:30] So you came and played golf in September. Do you do you play golf normally?

Scott DUCK Williams: [00:34:35] I lose golf balls.

Brian Pruett: [00:34:36] You live okay. There you go.

Scott DUCK Williams: [00:34:37] I enjoy the game because, you know, growing up, I played a lot of sports. And as you get older, it hurts too much. So golf does not hurt as bad unless you pull something wrong, you know?

Brian Pruett: [00:34:48] Well, I just know from talking to the people that the hole that you guys were sponsored and the duck was out there, that was their favorite hole because the duck was on the hole the entire time. So I mean, the full golf course, he was out there, I mean, the full time.

Scott DUCK Williams: [00:35:01] So it was a buddy of mine. He was out there dancing. I had my assistant out there. She was like hit a home run. And I was like, Huh, girl, this is golf. But, you know, she’s she’s a unique person, unlike myself, right?

Brian Pruett: [00:35:13] So do you sell new and used cars?

Scott DUCK Williams: [00:35:17] I sell new and used cars mostly. The new size is Chrysler, Dodge, Ram. We have all kind of used on our lot. And if there’s other we have seven in Georgia, some in Texas, some in California, too. Anything used that I could bring to my store, I could sell.

Brian Pruett: [00:35:33] Well, I know a young lady is looking for a car that’s sitting right next to you, so maybe you can help her. I know a guy. Yeah, right. Somebody.

Scott DUCK Williams: [00:35:39] Absolutely. Absolutely.

Brian Pruett: [00:35:41] Do you have a particular. I don’t know. This may be a you say there’s never dumb questions or stupid questions, but do you have a particular car that you like the best that sells the best?

Scott DUCK Williams: [00:35:52] I like the jeeps. They sell the best. But, you know, it’s not about selling cars. I’m here to help people in their situations, whatever they need. Family growing, you know, job change. They need a downsize a car truck, upsize, you know, upgrade a car truck for maybe something bigger and better, whatever. It’s not about selling cars. I’m not selling cars. I sell Scott Williams 24 seven. You know, if I go out in public, there’s a duck shirt or duck cat or something. Duck out there like my jeep is even black and yellow. So.

Brian Pruett: [00:36:24] Well, speaking of hat stone, you collect hats, so he needs a duck hat. I’ll get.

Stone Payton: [00:36:27] Absolutely. Man. You bring me one. I’ll wear around town. You bring me two, I’ll hang one in the studio.

Scott DUCK Williams: [00:36:32] Done. Dud.

Brian Pruett: [00:36:35] Can you give somebody an advice? I know because a lot of people are scared when they go, especially to dealerships. Can you give somebody advice on buying a car?

Scott DUCK Williams: [00:36:41] Absolutely. And this is like a little story about why I started the duck stuff. We had our general manager. Now he’s been there six years now and I’ve been there a total of seven. He he came in, he brought a trainer in. And this trainer, I still follow him today. I’m with his group actually, I’m part of the group. Part part of the founding members is the called Pinnacle Society. It’s the top salesman in the United States. I’m in Canada. Well, he came in, says, Make yourself different. I’m like, yes, finally, out of 46 years, somebody tell me to be different. Can you believe that? Because, you know, I had an older sister. She’s like, why can’t you be like her? She’s a perfect child. I wasn’t. Why can’t you be like the other students? They pay attention. I wasn’t, you know, So, you know, I use that Not when people usually come in dealership. They’re all tense. They all got their preconception of what’s going to happen. Well, when you come to my office, it’s like ducks everywhere I’m talking about the whole thing is full of ducks. So I kind of try to break the ice with that. Don’t you introduce my name? If they don’t know me already, just then they look around. What’s this duck stuff about? Oh, let me tell you about it. So that’s one of the reasons why the biggest thing to do is to have your ducks in a row, pun intended. You know, like, I mean, it always helps to have money down. Okay. Do you have to have money down? I like to keep my money in my pocket or in the bank account or making things grow for me. If you don’t have to have money down, don’t put money down. But sometimes it helps the situation with that. With the banks and the banks. The more you invest into the car, the know they’re going to you’re going to pay for it and stuff like that. And the best advice for somebody looking for a car call. Scott Williams.

Brian Pruett: [00:38:28] All right. Obviously, what about if somebody wants to trade in a car? Is there any secrets to that?

Scott DUCK Williams: [00:38:33] Yep. Can you share it? Bring it. I mean, it’s better it’s better to have it at the dealership because the managers get to drive it. They get to smell it. They get to, you know, make sure they’re good bones about it. It doesn’t have to be like immaculate clean. It just has to make sure they could drive it, make sure they can get the most money for it, because.

Brian Pruett: [00:38:51] We’re not.

Scott DUCK Williams: [00:38:51] Here to steal no money and we’re here to help you in the situation, to get a new car upgrade, degrade whatever it needs to be, you know?

Brian Pruett: [00:38:59] Well, obviously you share it and that you like kids and you love getting back to them. But again, I’m going to ask the same question I did. Sierra, why is it important for you to be a part of the community?

Scott DUCK Williams: [00:39:08] Well, for me, I sell a lot in Cherokee County or even I live in LJ. We’re even actually looking to move down closer to this area because I sell so much in Cherokee County. If you take and take and take from Cherokee County, you’re just doing yourself a favor. But if you give and give and give, that helps out people more than anything. You know, I mean, almost made me cry. I mean, it’s frickin phenomenal that I’m able to give I’m able to help people. I’m able to find her organization to help. I’m glad I’m here to hear her story. I thought I was going to come in and be a big goofball. But these two women right here are dang, they’re making me cry. And I’m not a crier. But, you know, it’s is I feel good when I do it, when I’m having a like one time I was like, I’m not going to do any more organizations, you know, I don’t see any benefit in that. I lied to myself. I don’t care if I ever sell a car to this organization. I don’t I don’t care if I ever somebody in this organization never buys a car from me. But it makes me feel good. So that’s why I like doing it.

Brian Pruett: [00:40:16] I hope people listen to that because, you know, even in networking, you have people that just take, take and take. Right. You know, and not the givers. And I’m one of those people that I love connecting. I mean, you know. Stone I love connecting people with others. And even if I just get a thank you, I don’t care if somebody does a business with me or not or like, just be grateful. And so if somebody wants to other than coming to the dealership and they want to check things out, there are ways people can get ahold of you.

Scott DUCK Williams: [00:40:45] Absolutely. There’s like several ways, of course, Facebook, it’s under Scott D Williams. They won’t let me put duck in there too close to some things, you know so so Scott D Williams but in parentheses outside is duck you got to always call me my number is 7704023482. Or you can hashtag doing a little hashtag deal with duck. Just look that up. You’ll see pictures, you’ll see things I’ve done. You’ll find my phone number everywhere. Even start doing some Tik Tok videos. They’re stupid, but they get the laughs.

Brian Pruett: [00:41:16] That’s what TikTok is anyway.

Scott DUCK Williams: [00:41:18] I mean, you know, I could put a car on there and put X amount of dollars for sale. No interaction. I do something stupid like the duck, like the alter ego. Scott Tina, if you haven’t met Scott. Tina, It’s pretty funny.

Brian Pruett: [00:41:31] You want to share her while you’re here?

Scott DUCK Williams: [00:41:33] Yes. So I love doing goofy things. It takes me a moment to do goofy things. I mean, I’m a natural, nervous person. If I get up on stage, I start sweating and do something like that. It takes me about 30 minutes to an hour to get ready. We got a blond wig and we do like little skits, like there was one we did How to change a tire, you know, We did. I did. This last one I did was Scott Tina was Toys for Tots shopping at Wal Mart. And Scott.

Brian Pruett: [00:42:03] Tina.

Scott DUCK Williams: [00:42:04] Nice. You should have seen the looks I got. Whoa.

Brian Pruett: [00:42:07] You were at Wal Mart. Was it midnight? I mean, no, it was the.

Scott DUCK Williams: [00:42:10] Middle of a day, you know, during Christmas time. And these people are like, Oh, what is this dude doing? I was like, I just went there and just got a big old buggy, filled it full of toys. And my assistant is like, You know how much it’s going to be? I said, Oh, it’s going to be about $100. I don’t shop. It wasn’t. And then I was like, okay, cool. I don’t care. You know, it’s just for fun, Just for for Toys for Tots. Why not? You know, So, I mean, I have fun doing stuff like that. You know.

Khristie Staines: [00:42:36] I would have love to see that I need a sick dog.

Scott DUCK Williams: [00:42:39] Facebook. It’s on Facebook. Just look up my videos.

Khristie Staines: [00:42:42] I sent you a friend request this morning, so.

Scott DUCK Williams: [00:42:45] I got it. And you know, to me, if even selling cars is having fun, you know, selling myself is having golf tournaments. I didn’t win, of course, but just having fun meeting people, like you said, network. And that’s pretty much what we’re doing there and helping support great organizations, too.

Brian Pruett: [00:43:02] So that’s what it’s about, just helping others. I don’t care if it’s just like we said earlier, the simple thing is opening a door for somebody. Absolutely. Just just doing something like that. We’re in the second year of 2010 or second year. We’re in the second week. I can’t if there’s if there’s two years of 20, 23, we’re all in trouble. Yes.

Khristie Staines: [00:43:20] No, that’s right.

Brian Pruett: [00:43:21] We’re in the second week of 2023. Last week, I had the folks share some a little bit of a wisdom of what folks can do for the new year. So I’d like for you guys to do the same thing. Sierra, can you give somebody what can somebody do for the New Year?

Khristie Staines: [00:43:37] Let’s see. Well, my company has a word that they pick for the new year each year. This year the word is accountability. So hold yourself accountable because you are the only person that’s going to get yourself anywhere. And you’re also the only person that you can blame when you fail. So hold yourself accountable and do what you have to do to get where you want to be. I guess that’s that’s going to be my word of wisdom.

Brian Pruett: [00:44:08] All right, duck.

Scott DUCK Williams: [00:44:09] Well, words of wisdom told me so now my words of wisdom is probably just smile at people. I mean, that goes a long way. I mean, anybody in your five foot area, what we call is closeness, you know, bubble. Say hello. It’s been a rough two years. It’s been a stupid two years, hasn’t I? Yeah, I ain’t stupid. Yeah. I mean, we seen cars, we seen houses going crazy. But just smile and say, Hello, How are you? I mean, if you ever see me in Walmart, definitely say hello.

Brian Pruett: [00:44:42] Especially if you’re wearing a dress. I’m coming to say hello.

Scott DUCK Williams: [00:44:44] Well, no, it’s not.

Brian Pruett: [00:44:45] It’s not a dress.

Scott DUCK Williams: [00:44:46] It’s just a hair. It’s just a wig. Okay.

Brian Pruett: [00:44:48] You can’t do that.

Khristie Staines: [00:44:49] Oh, I bet you’d get so many views if you wore a dress. No.

Scott DUCK Williams: [00:44:55] I hope my assistant’s not listening.

Brian Pruett: [00:44:57] Just gave her an idea.

Scott DUCK Williams: [00:44:58] Yeah, you know.

Khristie Staines: [00:44:59] I hope she.

Scott DUCK Williams: [00:44:59] Is. I’m not wearing a dress now. Does me wear a wig? There might be. So, Scott, Tina has told me that she has a sister, so she might be introduced sometime, too.

Brian Pruett: [00:45:10] Now, I would like to see them together.

Scott DUCK Williams: [00:45:13] I don’t know how that’s going to happen, but we’ll. We’ll figure.

Khristie Staines: [00:45:15] I’ll figure it out.

Scott DUCK Williams: [00:45:16] Absolutely. That’s above me on the on the smashing videos together. And I don’t know how to do all that. Right. But, you know, words of wisdom, just smile, be happy, be nice to people. You know, somebody wants to get over in traffic, let them over.

Khristie Staines: [00:45:31] Yeah.

Scott DUCK Williams: [00:45:31] You know, open the door. Like you said, Close the door for somebody. You know, Just say thank you and frickin thank you.

Brian Pruett: [00:45:37] Right.

Scott DUCK Williams: [00:45:38] It’s been rough, right?

Khristie Staines: [00:45:39] Yeah, Definitely be nice to people. You never know what somebody’s going through. So. Absolutely. Just just don’t let your day or what you have going on affect anybody else’s day because they may have it way worse than you and they still have a smile on their face.

Brian Pruett: [00:45:53] So true. And there’s not there’s not many people out there that I don’t think are going through something. Everybody’s going through.

Khristie Staines: [00:45:59] Something. Everybody’s going through something. That’s how you let it affect you.

Brian Pruett: [00:46:02] Yeah, right. Hey, Stone, give us some words of wisdom for the new Year.

Stone Payton: [00:46:06] I’m going to kind of come behind Sierra here and I would say serve, serve first, serve early, serve often. There’s it always seems to come back tenfold anyway from a business standpoint or a personal relationship standpoint. But I find that you also just get immediate reward. I don’t know if it’s dopamine or whatever it is, but just serve man. It always comes back to you, makes you feel.

Brian Pruett: [00:46:29] Wonderful and gives you a natural high. Let me just tell you, doing that, it gives you a natural high. Yeah, well, Sierra Duke, again, I appreciate you guys being here, sharing your stories. I mean, it takes a lot for people to be vulnerable, but I enjoy him and thank people for being that vulnerable and sharing because somebody out there is going through something like you guys did and they needed to hear that. So everybody out there who’s listening make it a fabulous Friday. Be positive and be charitable.

Intro: [00:00:07] Broadcasting live from the Business RadioX studios in Atlanta. It’s time for Charitable Georgia. Brought to you by Bee’s Charitable Pursuits and Resources. We put the fun in fundraising. For more information, go to Bee’s charitable pursuits dot com that’s bee’s charitable pursuits dot com. Now here’s your host, Brian Pruett.

Brian Pruett: [00:00:45] Good, fabulous Friday morning. Everybody out there listening to us. We’ve got another great show with three fabulous folks today sharing. You know, what’s really cool about the show, obviously, is all the positive stories. But we talk about networking a lot. We all do networking. And everybody that I’ve had on my show so far, I’ve met somewhere or another in the networking and I’ve heard their stories by doing one to ones relationships or knowing some folks. And it’s really cool to hear all these stories, and that’s another reason why we’re doing this show. So we’re going to start this morning with Lauren Ham, who’s the therapeutic recreation coordinator for the city of Acworth. So, Lauren, thanks for being here this morning.

Lauren Ham: [00:01:19] Thank you for having us.

Brian Pruett: [00:01:20] First question I have for you, I know you’re originally from Wisconsin, So did you order the the weather for Christmas?

Lauren Ham: [00:01:25] I did not. No, that was miserable. I moved away from the cold weather and it followed me.

Brian Pruett: [00:01:32] Well, I also just kind of noticed that you’re carrying a Houston Astros bag. How does a Wisconsin girl become an Astros fan?

Lauren Ham: [00:01:39] Honestly, we went to the what was it I, World Series? World Series. Thank you, Bob. It was a blank. So we went to the World Series and they did an advertisement for our coach of the Year and our Horizon athletes. So we were able to experience that firsthand. So that was one of the swag that Chevy provided for us.

Brian Pruett: [00:02:02] Well, it’s free, so that’s why you keep it. It’s free. It is free is good.

Lauren Ham: [00:02:05] And it’s durable.

Brian Pruett: [00:02:06] That’s right. So tell me what the therapeutic recreation coordinator does.

Lauren Ham: [00:02:12] Basically, I program everything for anybody with physical, cognitive, social or emotional disabilities. I try to modify programs so they can participate in baseball, adaptive lacrosse, even something as simple as bingo. We modify it so they’re part of the community and they can participate just like you and I can.

Brian Pruett: [00:02:35] Awesome. And how long have you been doing this.

Lauren Ham: [00:02:38] With the Horizon League? I’ve been here for 14 years, but I started originally in Wisconsin over 20 years ago.

Brian Pruett: [00:02:46] Doing the same.

Lauren Ham: [00:02:47] Thing. Yep, yep, doing the same thing.

Brian Pruett: [00:02:49] So this is your your background. You’re you’re actually, I guess, your passion then?

Lauren Ham: [00:02:52] It is. Yes.

Brian Pruett: [00:02:54] Why? Tell me why this is your passion.

Lauren Ham: [00:02:56] Honestly, I started volunteering in high school with the VA, so I worked with the veterans and I saw the benefit of those just who couldn’t do a normal program. So the benefit of them getting out in the community, modifying their lifestyle so they can do recreation. And I saw the vets, you know, enjoy it. So then I kind of worked with children and really found my niche.

Brian Pruett: [00:03:19] So when you came to the growth area, are you the one that kind of got it started for the city of Acworth?

Lauren Ham: [00:03:24] Honestly, I wasn’t. There already was a nonprofit established, but I was the first coordinator that they hired on, so I was the first paid employee and since then we’ve just grown. I’m still a staff of one, but with these fabulous volunteers that we have, we can do so much more.

Brian Pruett: [00:03:44] Awesome. So for those who don’t know what the Horizon League, can you share a little bit about that and a little bit of the story you’ve just shared, but more of what it is and and what you do and how people can get involved?

Lauren Ham: [00:03:55] Sure. So we offer therapeutic programs. We offer, like I mentioned before, anybody ages five and older who have a social, cognitive, physical disability, they can participate in our programs. We have three different leagues where we go from a 5 to 12 year old youth league, 13 to 21 and 22 and up adult league. So our biggest program coming up right now is spring baseball. And we have over 18 teams and 200 athletes that come out on Saturdays and Thursday nights and participate. We rely very heavily on volunteers. We do the buddy system where buddies come from the community and they work one on one with the athlete on the field, in the dugout, and just kind of helping them have the experience and allowing those parents to have 50 minutes to sit back and enjoy and watch their child and know that they’re in a safe environment. So so the best way to get involved is probably to contact the Horizon website. So it’s at special needs dot com or Acworth Parks and Recreation, and I can get in touch with them and if they’re interested, we’re always looking for volunteers and even though we have 18 teams, we don’t require volunteers to stay all day. They can just come for that 50 minute game once a week or if they want to stay longer and come and help out and allow that child to feel like his peers.

Brian Pruett: [00:05:29] Yeah, Do the the the participants, the athletes, do they have to be an act with resident?

Lauren Ham: [00:05:33] They actually do not. Now, we don’t have any we ask them to pay a minimum donation of $15 just to cover a little bit of cost. So we don’t have any. On resident fees and we accept athletes from all over. We had one child come from Dyersville the other year, and Fulton County has a couple athletes that come down and participate.

Brian Pruett: [00:05:58] Awesome. Same thing for volunteers. You don’t have to be from Acworth, right?

Lauren Ham: [00:06:01] Right. Yeah. Just. Yeah. Come and we’ll get you scheduled.

Brian Pruett: [00:06:04] All shows up.

Lauren Ham: [00:06:05] Yeah.

Brian Pruett: [00:06:06] Awesome.

Lauren Ham: [00:06:06] Well, put you to work.

Brian Pruett: [00:06:07] There you go. What I think is really cool is share a little bit how the field. Because the field is a special field, right?

Lauren Ham: [00:06:13] Yes, it is Mondo turf. So it’s the cushion rubberized surface. So, you know, it’s easy for the anybody who utilizes a walker or a wheelchair, any kind of device. You know, we have the larger dugouts that you can get through. You don’t have to kind of kind of maneuver around. It’s easy to get in and get out the flat surface barrier free. We do have rain outs because we have our bases are painted on. So we do have that. But honestly, it’s a nice enclosed surface that is a safe environment for everybody.

Brian Pruett: [00:06:51] That’s awesome. So I know you guys do a big gala every year. Is that the only fundraiser? That’s really kind of what you do for the for the horizon we do.

Lauren Ham: [00:07:01] That is our number. That is our only fundraiser. And that helps us provide all our operating budget for the year. So that fundraiser, we rely heavily on silent auction donations and live auction donation. And it’s a chance for us not even just to raise funds for our operating budget, but just to celebrate our athletes. I mean, we’ve been doing this. We were incorporated in 2006 and the field was finally completed in 2009. So we’ve like I said, we have 18 teams and we like to celebrate them. And this is a chance to do that at the gala with the community and with the Horizon families.

Brian Pruett: [00:07:40] When is the.

Lauren Ham: [00:07:40] Gala? It is Friday, March 3rd coming up.

Brian Pruett: [00:07:44] Awesome. If somebody wants to get involved with that, be a part of that. And if somebody wants to be involved with the Horizon League itself, you already shared the website, but how can they get ahold of you if they have the questions or anything like that?

Lauren Ham: [00:07:54] The easiest way is. Elam Like the food jam at Acworth dot org or just giving me a phone call at the Acworth Parks and Recreation Department. I can get you involved in any aspect volunteering if you’re interested in attending the silent or attending the gala or donating the silent auction, any help is greatly appreciated.

Brian Pruett: [00:08:16] We’ll talk about this in a little bit, but Bob and I are going to kind of help you with that. We’re doing something into this month that’s going to help you guys as well. So we’ll talk about that in a little bit. But I wanted to ask you one more question. You shared a little bit why this is your passion, but why is it important for you to give back?

Lauren Ham: [00:08:31] Wow. Honestly, I am so fortunate. And can I tell you a story?

Brian Pruett: [00:08:39] Sure.

Lauren Ham: [00:08:40] I actually was a very, very bad driver. I don’t know if I’m any better, but I was actually ran over by a semi truck and put in an induced coma. And this was my final year in college. And I got out and just really reevaluated my life and I was given a second chance. And I think that really puts things in perspective. So that’s why I want to give back and provide things just to help everybody.

Brian Pruett: [00:09:17] Well, for those of you who don’t believe, but I’m a believer and so God has a purpose for you and I think you’re doing it. So that’s that’s awesome. I appreciate you being here. You mind sticking around a few minutes while we talk to these other two gentlemen?

Lauren Ham: [00:09:27] Sure.

Brian Pruett: [00:09:27] Thank you. All right. We’re going to move now over to Casey Weatherford. Casey, you are a volunteer coach for the Horizon League and but you also are a cancer survivor. And you’ve been around Acworth for a while. You’ve also owned a couple of businesses you do mentoring. So give us your story.

Casey Weatherford: [00:09:47] So my main story, you know, everybody thinks that they’re invincible, right? When they’re young, we all think that nothing can touch us. That was me. I was. I was that guy. I. I felt like nothing could touch me. I felt like I was on my path, and. And I was made to do that path at a very young age. You know, I was diagnosed with cancer, multiple myeloma. And I was I was a successful business guy that I loved what I did, you know, And and I was on that path. But cancer came in and and kind of smacked me in the face, brought me back to reality a little bit, and that I didn’t know where to turn. I honestly didn’t know where to turn. I felt like I was invincible insurance. I didn’t need you know, that was that was my main thing was, you know, I didn’t put things in place because I wasn’t thinking ahead, you know, And it was I think it was God’s way of telling me to slow things down and and look at what I had. So that was my big thing with life, you know, That was that was my big break. And then at 26, I kind of started over. I reset, you know, and I met a guy that was in the same hospital, Kingston Hospital, and he was in the room with me. He he heard them tell me the news that I was going to die in two weeks.

Casey Weatherford: [00:11:09] They they told me to go home, get comfortable. So we we put on that path that I was going to go home and get comfortable. My wife called around, found a doctor that did he specialized in in bone repair, and I had a tumor in the bone. That’s what multiple myeloma kind of does. It’s a blood cancer. So it it attacks bones, eventually turns in. Eric can turn into leukemia later on down the road. But I had that in my femur and no insurance. So I was kind of lost. He heard my story and says, you know, how can you take it so well? And I said, Well, what am I going to do? Is crying, going to help? Crying won’t help me, you know. So, you know, I just that was my thing. I was going to go home, get comfortable, you know, and that was going to be the end of my life. And, you know, he came out after my wife had found a specialist. He came out, he bought all my hospital stuff and everything. And and to this date, I don’t know if it was him or not, but my hospital bills were paid and I was two and a half million dollars in debt through Emory. So that was I don’t know who paid that, but I got paid forward and I begged, I begged for life.

Casey Weatherford: [00:12:22] I begged for a second chance at life. And I made a promise to God. I said, you know, I’m going to help everybody I can along my path that, you know, as long as you give me that second chance, I can do it, you know? So I begged for that. And and, you know, you don’t hear an answer right away. It wasn’t an answer right away. I didn’t even know if my prayers were going to get answered. It’s the first time I’ve ever turned to God for anything, you know? So you know that I didn’t know if I was going to get granted that, you know, it was and it was a shock. Everything happens, I guess, for a reason. And and so that was my purpose, you know, I was like, all right, now I got to start helping people, you know, I got to get back on my feet. And one thing was I was kind of feeling sorry for myself. I had to learn how to walk again and all that stuff. And one of my buddies had came to me and told me, you know, we coached together at a at a baseball field in Kennesaw. And he told me about a program. He’s like, Man, you should get involved in this program. It’s a Horizon League. And I said, Man, you know, I know I can go over there and buddy.

Casey Weatherford: [00:13:24] And so I went over there just a buddy. And when I went over there to Buddy, I fell in love with it. It was like I was meant to do that. It was like, that’s what that was my plan. So I went to Lauren Hamm. I asked her, I was like, What do I have? Do to coach. Like, what do I have to do to get involved in this? And. And she was like, Oh, we’ll sign you up. You know, you do the background check and we’ll get you out here and we’ll get you coaching. So I started doing that and it was a passion. It was love at first sight, man. I was I was hooked, you know, And and it’s amazing. It’s like I don’t ever pay attention to anything that happens off the field. So it’s it’s kind of like my space. So when I’m out there, I’m on I’m on the Oprah cloud, man, just looking down, you know, it’s awesome. And I was I was kind of put to him as angels because I think that they’re they’re angels. You know, they’re sitting here to teach us lessons. And I’m thankful for for giving that blessing. You know, that it was a it was an eye opener for me that this is where I belong. So I. Really love it. It’s an awesome program.

Brian Pruett: [00:14:28] Well, I don’t know about you guys, but that’s. That’s awesome. So you shared before we went on the air that you also help local business owners with their businesses and and give back that way. Share how you do that.

Casey Weatherford: [00:14:42] So you know different businesses there through even COVID. You know, it is hard for businesses to be involved in making money because we had dining rooms that were closed and some businesses, you know, that was their first thing was like, you know, we have to get on GrubHub and all this stuff, you know, just to to get food out. And so I tried to help out as many people as I can. Of course, that’s that’s my goal. That was what I was answered for. So I started helping out local businesses along the way. And and, you know, just to just to name a few. There’s generations Pizza, Bernie’s and all them, all these local businesses, they needed help. You know, they needed that. And, you know, running to businesses and stuff. That was kind of my thing, you know, like I was I had to to get in there to help them and kind of show them the way. And all these businesses, they you know, they appreciate it, you know, but it was it was a work in progress. So. But anything in the community, these businesses support our community. You know, that’s that’s who gives back to our community. So we have to look out for everybody that’s in in the same aspect that we are. You know, they deal with it just like we deal with it at home.

Brian Pruett: [00:15:55] Are you still currently helping businesses now?

Casey Weatherford: [00:15:58] Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Anybody that. Yeah, I’m currently doing big house I’m doing their marketing and and director over there for, for all their events but you know this is just like I said they give back to our community. They they are the ones who donate to our baseball teams and donate to our community and put that money back into the community. And that’s what that’s why we do that. You know, it’s a complete turnaround, you know, So that’s kind of you build a platform for it. You know, you always want people to give and and you have to give to get, you know, so.

Brian Pruett: [00:16:33] If there are businesses out there that need the help and wanting to reach out to you, first of all, can they do that second? Well, how can they do that?

Casey Weatherford: [00:16:42] Yeah, so you can you can definitely do that. I would love to hear all businesses. And we do you know, one of my buddies, Bob, he he’s great at what he does. He does a networking. I tried to get businesses to go to that because that’s what that’s kind of what builds a relationship with everybody is that networking. People don’t realize how powerful networking is. Yes, it is. You know, you take those names, you take those businesses, you put them in your arsenal and and they come up, you know, somebody comes up to you, hey, you know, do you know anybody that does this? Well, yeah, You know that I met this guy. He goes to a meeting that we do and and that helps it out. So that’s that’s networking I feel like is a very important part of the role. You know.

Brian Pruett: [00:17:28] There are other ways that. Can anybody contact you for help?

Casey Weatherford: [00:17:30] Yes, you can get a hold of me. So I still have I still hang on to my old business, to the tire shop, but tire underscore, sole outlet at yahoo.com. Casey Jo W at gmail you send me an email and I’ll gladly answer it. You know, I love I love sitting down and I pay for conversations with with people. So I’ll have a lunch with you and and gladly pay for it because I want to hear everybody’s story and and how they have changed their world. I love those stories.

Brian Pruett: [00:18:01] Well, I don’t know. Many people turn down free lunches, so if you want some help and want a free lunch, reach out to Casey. That’s right. Casey, I appreciate you being here this morning and sharing your story. You mind sticking around for for this gentleman here?

Casey Weatherford: [00:18:11] Yes, sir.

Brian Pruett: [00:18:12] All right, Bob, I don’t know. How are you going to follow these two stories?

Bob Brooks: [00:18:15] I got nothing, Brian.

Brian Pruett: [00:18:18] Bob Brooks, American Eagle Mortgage, powered by Cross Country Mortgage. It’s a mouthful. Yeah, but, uh, you’ve had a pretty interesting background as well. You spent 25 years as an electrical engineer, correct?

Bob Brooks: [00:18:28] Yeah.

Brian Pruett: [00:18:29] Also a worship leader. And now you’re in mortgages and you help coach the youth. So give us a little bit of your story.

Bob Brooks: [00:18:35] Like I said, I have nothing compared to what’s going on. No. Well, I actually got involved. You know, like you were saying, networking. He was talking about networking. It kind of made goes hand in hand with whatever you do. And with Freedom Church, I was the worship leader over there and volunteered with the youth and everything else. And and what my co coaches, Christina, actually said, Hey, can you get some of the youth to come be a special buddy over here at Horizon Field? I went with it. We we had a great time. They still volunteer every now and then a lot for the dodgeball, right? Not dodgeball kickball. Sorry. That would be awful, I think dodgeball class. But anyway, now I got I went the first time with them and was being a special buddy and I looked at Lauren said, Can I come back next week? Nobody came with me. It’s just me. And like Casey said, you get into it one time and it’s it’s an endorphin that you don’t really think you’re going to get. And it’s amazing. And those kids became my kids. And I think this is my fifth year, eight, fifth year with it.

Bob Brooks: [00:19:40] And it’s been amazing. These kids I’ve watched these kids go from wheelchairs to walkers to braces on their legs to now running through the field by themselves. And it’s absolutely amazing. And I have a special heart for it. One of my neighbors whose son just turned five and she was so excited about getting involved. There’s two there’s four kids in the state of Georgia who have this syndrome. It’s called I’m going to say it wrong Pallister Kilian Syndrome or. Don’t ask me what it is, just look it up. But it’s the poor thing is is wheelchair bound for the rest of his life. But it he finally got to play baseball this year and to see all of our friends come out for that game, they were all crying because the mom looked at me and said, I never thought I would get to see my son play baseball, which was the coolest thing I’ve had the whole time on one of my teams, and I had two of the kids of the four playing on my team this year and they were really cool, really cool.

Brian Pruett: [00:20:41] We’re going to circle back around to the Horizon League and while you’re doing this and all that stuff, But tell me how you went from being an electrical engineer into mortgages and can you give any tips? Right now, people listen to you. I like to help people while they’re listening and give tips for that.

Bob Brooks: [00:20:58] Yeah, going from so electrical engineering, the last thing I built was a I was an engineering. I don’t know how to say it, really, but I built the machines a lot, and the last thing I built was a laser machine that put holes in suture needles. I didn’t realize how many suture needles they go through, but they do three a second. And there was something wrong with the machine. I got underneath the machine. I got up and there was needles all in my back. And I went, It’s not fun anymore. And plus, I was getting old. I couldn’t. I couldn’t get under the machine much, much anymore and saved my life. However, I got out of that business and jumped into mortgage reverse mortgages years ago and then said, I don’t like sitting at a desk because I get in trouble for talking too much to people in my office.

Brian Pruett: [00:21:50] Which not.

Bob Brooks: [00:21:51] You, not me know. I tell everybody I can talk to a brick wall as long as it squeaks back every now and then. However. So mortgages became a hard I started helping seniors with reverse mortgages. Learned that I don’t like it cramming it down people’s throats. I still sell reverse mortgage. However, I’m having a ball here in Acworth. I wasn’t really doing anything in the community that I grew up in, and part of helping with the horizon became my passion because I was helping people get new houses for the first time, you know, newlywed couples just to see their sheer joy who thought they could never own a house buying a house. And then I was like, Ooh, I like that endorphin. So now I started networking and growing in the community. I wasn’t doing anything in Acworth. And I said, I got to get back involved in Acworth. I mean, I’ve been there since 1972, so.

Brian Pruett: [00:22:42] And somebody in Acworth is related to you?

Bob Brooks: [00:22:43] Somebody in Acworth is related to me. You’re right. I actually sat next to a guy at a restaurant last night who said a guy’s name. I said, Well, that’s my cousin. And he went, What? He was blown away. But it was pretty neat seeing that. However, given back. And once I got back with Horizon, I started coaching and been there ever since.

Brian Pruett: [00:23:05] So you mentioned that you like giving back and helping businesses as well. So you started a group called the Acworth Connections.

Bob Brooks: [00:23:11] Five years ago.

Brian Pruett: [00:23:12] Actually share a little bit about that and how people can get involved with that.

Bob Brooks: [00:23:14] Yeah, Aqua Connections on Facebook, you can look this up at Acworth, connections on Facebook. There’s not really a dot com or anything like that. However you can contact me at Bob Brooks loans dot com and I’ll tell you all about it because like I said I don’t shut up Acworth connections. We started at Justin’s in Acworth five years ago. After the pandemic we moved it to Center Street and right now we’re having a really large surge. So I’m hoping we don’t have to switch, but we may have to switch soon. We we have anybody from other mortgage people like myself, real estate agents, builders. Got a comedian in there, which I think you had Rich on your show last week. And it just helps so many people. It’s collaboration over competition. We don’t I don’t fight with other mortgage people because I always say, why can’t we all get a loan? So it’s one of those things where I want people to come and be knowledgeable of what what happens with mortgages and houses and building. And because I’m not a builder and there’s a tree guy in there, I’m not cutting down another tree because one almost fell in my leg one time. And he always says, You know, I’d rather you call me and said a911, which is great. So accurate Connections is great. Accurate business association is great. A lot of good community stuff comes out of that with the years.

Brian Pruett: [00:24:32] So I really think it’s cool that you do the collaboration over competition and you and you really do preach that. I do. You know, not only is there a lot of enough business for everybody, but there are things there may be other mortgage people in the building that you can do something that you can’t do and vice versa, correct?

Bob Brooks: [00:24:48] Correct. Yeah. I mean, there’s 50,000 people in the city of Acworth alone. I can’t do 50. I’d like to do 50,000 loans. However, I can’t. So I would rather see my friends what I call my family, get a loan as well. So that’s why I say, why can’t we all get a loan?

Brian Pruett: [00:25:04] And you’re the you’re also there is a loan, Dad.

Bob Brooks: [00:25:06] Loan, Dad, Not your loan, daddy, right? Yeah, right.

Brian Pruett: [00:25:09] Well, okay, so you’ve already shared a little bit, but why is it important for you to give back?

Bob Brooks: [00:25:14] So this community basically raised me. I mean, you hear the stories about when you’re growing up. Usually if I get in trouble in Acworth, I had passed my grandparents house. I was getting a whoopin there, and then I got a whipping when I got home because my grandmother, I called my mom or my dad, either one. So this is a community for me that I’m passionate about. My dad was a local teacher, my mom was local banker, my grandfather was local mechanic, my grandmother was a local bus driver. My all my aunts worked at the post office, so his basically raised me. So I need I wanted to conserve, you know, I wanted to give back to Acworth in some way. But, you know, Horizon, like I said, is a special heart of mine, man. I just I just love them. I’ve seen what good they can do. I mean, one of the parents actually told me one time said, Man, I wish I could be in his brain or be like him. And I was like. He’s your child. And he was like, Yeah, but he has no cares in the world. He doesn’t know anger. He doesn’t really I mean, he’s he gets angry if he gets, you know, he’s hungry. He’s got to, you know, go to the bathroom, whatever. However, they don’t know, hate, they don’t know, you know, there’s wars going on. They don’t know anything like that. They don’t know real sadness like we’ve all encouraged. And, you know, I mean, with with Casey and Lauren here, you know, they’ve experienced tragedy like that. Thank God I’ve not you know, but it’s amazing to hear stories like theirs and make people happy again, you know?

Brian Pruett: [00:26:44] Well, speaking of making people happy, I know one thing that you do that you also have a passion about. I don’t know that you’re currently doing it, but you’ve had a band. People know you as Beeb’s, right?

Bob Brooks: [00:26:52] Beeb’s Yeah.

Brian Pruett: [00:26:53] So do you still are you still playing?

Bob Brooks: [00:26:56] Not right now. You know, getting older. I got a back problem, so I got to heal that first. And then coming back this year though, I’ll be back this year.

Brian Pruett: [00:27:03] Where can people see you when you do come back?

Bob Brooks: [00:27:07] Bars around here, restaurants around here. We got a I got my second band ever. We’re going to do like a reunion show here soon called The Mother Truckers. It’s we’re not going to be moving and jumping around on stage like we used to 20 years ago, but it should be funny and just look for the name Beeb’s, you know?

Brian Pruett: [00:27:27] Well, I’m excited. You and I met last year when I had another business doing direct mail and and promotional items, and you were one of my biggest clients. So first of all, thank you for that. But you are you and I are partnering and doing a business expo slash job fair on the 26th of this month where a portion of the proceeds are going to help the Horizon League. Talk about that. How can people get involved and when is it?

Bob Brooks: [00:27:51] Yeah, so that’s part of the networking stuff. It’s January 26, it’s from 2 to 5 at the Aqua Community Center located downtown Acworth. We’re pre-selling booths still. It’s $150 per table and we’ll supply the tables and two chairs. You just got to bring your your swag and your tablecloth and make it look nice. It’s the networking exploded, I guess I want to call it, because, number one, I get to help give back to the horizon as well, because there are things coming up March 3rd on a Friday night, like Lauren said. So we want to be able to help kick start that off, in other words, but also given back to the community to back forth again. I mean, there’s a lot of people that you wouldn’t see on a normal basis, like they don’t have a storefront, they don’t have a they’re not a Kroger or Wal Mart kind of thing, but they want to get their information out there or there’s jobs hurting out there, restaurants and all kinds of. I just saw the sheriff’s office is hiring at Parks and Rec is hiring. There’s a lot of people hiring right now. So we’re just asking for for those type of guys. We’re just asking for the donation of 100, $250 from them. And and they can set up a table and start hiring away. So we’re going to try to drive as much traffic as we can in there and really try to focus on the community again, getting kick starting off the horizon and getting people a job or getting people seen.

Brian Pruett: [00:29:21] Another advantage if you come to this is there is a good possibility at some point in time during the expo you might get on the air because Stone is coming and setting up and going to have a show live. Be very gracious. Yeah, very. So we appreciate Stone and Business RadioX doing that if one more time, if people want to get ahold of you for mortgages or act with connections or the Expo, how can they do that?

Bob Brooks: [00:29:41] Yeah. Aqua connections on Facebook and w w w w w dot dot brooks loans dot com are your loan dad dot com.

Brian Pruett: [00:29:51] Awesome. So I have one more question for the three of you. So we just started a new year 2023 by the way. Happy New Year to everybody. Lauren, I would like for you to start with this. Can you give one thing for everybody listening to maybe start off the new year or whether it’s I mean, your story is inspiration in itself, but something advice or your quote or word for the year or just something that just can be a good start for the year.

Lauren Ham: [00:30:15] I think quote or advice maybe, I guess be present, you know, make your life count and be present and intentional, you know, going forward and, you know, throughout the year. I think that would be my advice, right?

Casey Weatherford: [00:30:33] Kc So my thing would be, I mean, you heard you heard everybody here today use that one word that that I think is valuable to us as community. You know, get involved in your community. I was always taught when I was a kid, you give 100%, you get 100%. And so I really think that my biggest thing would be get involved in the community. You know, that’s that’s the thing that takes care of us.

Bob Brooks: [00:30:59] So big time. Yeah, mine is. You know, they always say success and failing is the same thing, however. If you you don’t fail until you quit. So that’s a big thing for me this year.

Brian Pruett: [00:31:14] Sharon, I want you to give us one.

Lauren Ham: [00:31:16] Oh, goodness.

Intro: [00:31:17] Um, I would say I like.

Lauren Ham: [00:31:19] The notion of mindfulness, of being really present in what you’re doing, because if your intention is is kind of an alignment with who you really are, then.

Intro: [00:31:27] The result is for the greater good.

Lauren Ham: [00:31:30] Think generally speaking, That’s awesome. Awesome about you. What is yours?

Brian Pruett: [00:31:34] Well, it’s the same thing I end with every year. Every every show. So I’ll do that in just a second. But it’s just it’s I’m having a blast with the show. I hope people listening are getting something out of the the four shows that we’ve done, including today. I don’t know how you can’t go out and be inspired by listening to everybody’s stories and everybody’s got a different story, you know, and we’re all called for a different purpose. I also think about the young man that was with the Buffalo Bills this past Monday night, and had that happened on the football field, which is just crazy in itself. But right now it looks like he’s on the right path to recovery. And that’s another way of God showing his his power. And again, let’s let’s think about the positive. There’s too much negative out there in the mainstream media. And let’s put the positive back out there, sir, by listening. Let’s be positive and be charitable.