From Striving to Abiding: Pastor Abe Pfeifer on Sabbaticals, Loneliness & Leading From Overflow
Abe Pfeifer said no three times before he agreed to even visit Frederick, Maryland. Ten years later, New Life Church has grown 50% year over year for stretches, and Abe has become the rare pastor who is also a strong, wired leader. He spent two years in a C12 forum alongside Christian CEOs and business owners, and that season shaped this conversation: what business leaders bring to the church, what the church has to offer leaders who have drifted away, and why the "Ministry of Availability" beats…
From One Gym to Four: Andrew Simpson on Hearing God's Vision & Handing Off the CEO Baton
Andrew Simpson never planned to own a business. Every other door closed, so he rented a space and opened a gym for young athletes. Twelve years later, Players Fitness & Performance has four locations, a team of coaches kids actually want to be around, and a vision that came to Andrew on a run: "My light and my love will shine through PFPs all over." In this Leaders On Tap Live conversation recorded in front of a live audience, Andrew walks through the decision to triple his footprint in the middle of…
From 180-Year-Old Startup to Surrender: Nancy Newmister on Leading Frederick Mutual with Faith
Nancy Newmister didn't set out to rebuild a 183-year-old insurance company during a pandemic. She started at 19 in the industry, spent 42 years climbing through progressive roles at Harleysville, Liberty Mutual, and Berkeley, and in 2015 said yes to what she calls her dream job: President and CEO of Frederick Mutual Insurance Company. But the dream came with a price. A super commute for five years. A company that needed everything rebuilt. A year in a wheelchair after vacuuming stink bugs off the…
From Microsoft to Ministry: Cliff Peterson on Surrendering Stock Options & Finding His Mission Field
Cliff Peterson didn't set out to build a ministry disguised as an IT company. He started with a criminology degree, a broken wrist that ended his law enforcement dreams, and a punch card computer class in the 70s. He became one of Microsoft's first 1,000 employees, walked away from stock options in 1994 because it was costing him his family, bounced through federal service at NIH, rode the dot-com wave into the ground, and spent 18 months unemployed with six kids at home while his mom paid his mortgage…
From Cancer to Pickleball Empire: Jason Fruling on Building Multiple Businesses & Playing to Win
Jason Fruling didn't set out to build a pickleball empire. He started in law enforcement products, moved through consulting, survived cancer, and found himself on a court in Middle River, Maryland taking a Pickleball 101 class. Today he's scaling multiple companies across the pickleball ecosystem including Hex Pro Performance paddles, Pickle Pickle distribution, the Pickleball House facility, and a stealth AI venture that he believes will change the sporting world. But this conversation isn't really…
From Arborist to Brewery Owner: Chris Miller on Faith, Farming & Building Lone Oak Brewery
Chris Miller didn't set out to build a brewery empire. He started as a trained arborist with a forestry degree from Virginia Tech who loved working outdoors. Today, he's a partner in Lone Oak Farm, a vertically integrated operation in Olney, Maryland featuring a brewery, distillery, speakeasy, and event venue that's hosted 2,600 events over six years. But this conversation isn't really about beer. It's about a man shaped by mentors and family who learned to build businesses that serve community over…
From Soccer Fields to Cinema Screens: Rich Daughtridge on Building Warehouse Cinemas During COVID
Rich Daughtridge didn't set out to build a cinema empire during a pandemic. He started with a rundown 10-screen theater in the middle of a cornfield that no one else wanted. Today, Warehouse Cinemas is one of the top-performing independent cinema circuits in the country, and Rich is helping reshape an entire industry. But this conversation isn't really about movies. It's about a former professional soccer player who learned that practice is harder than the game, a visionary who had to learn to partner…