She wanted to work for Merck. They rejected her. Best thing that ever happened—because Theresa Hummel-Krallinger was never meant for a lab.

Theresa Hummel-Krallinger, CEO and Chief People Officer of High Five Performance, spent 18 years at Prudential before launching her consulting firm in 2002. But here's the twist: she's also a stand-up comedian, Emmy Award winner, and founder of Meet the Author—ranked #4 for business networking in Philadelphia. For $89 at community college, she learned comedy to enhance her corporate speaking. Now she gets paid for both. Her Meet the Author program started as a 12-person roundtable and grew to 80-100 attendees with 200+ authors.

Theresa creates workplaces people love through better managers. Using DISC assessments and curriculum covering motivation, delegation, and coaching, she helps organizations build thriving cultures. Her new book, Make Waves: A Career Pathing Guide, curates 20 years of materials to help job seekers, career changers, and retirees figure out what they want to be. Her philosophy? Play to win, not avoid losing. Squeeze the juice out of life at every moment.

Key Takeaways:

• Financial cushion matters: Two years runway builds without desperation
• Play to win: Shift from playing safe to shooting for stars
• Build with intention: Pursue opportunities that complement your mission
• Humor enhances credibility: Comedy makes you a better consultant
• Squeeze the juice: Make every moment count, don't mail it in

About Theresa Hummel-Krallinger:

Theresa Hummel-Krallinger is a powerhouse culture and leadership expert, stand-up comedian, Emmy Award winner, and award-winning community builder. As President of High Five Performance, she helps organizations create workplaces people love, while her "Meet the Author" program (ranked #4 for business networking by Philadelphia Business Journal) connects leaders in meaningful ways. Her upcoming book, "Make Waves: A Career Pathing Guide to Stand Out, Stay Employable, and Sail Ahead," empowers readers to own their careers for lifelong success — all delivered with her signature humor and heart.

Connect:

Website highfiveperformance.com ; theresahkcomedy.com ; meettheauthorpc.com
LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/tkrallinger/
Facebook facebook.com/theresahummel/
X x.com/theresahk
Instagram instagram.com/treesehk/
Youtube youtube.com/@theresahummel-krallinger115

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He went to Penn State to become a doctor. But bartending at his stepmother's Irish pub changed everything—and now he's creating memories for Lady Gaga tours and corporate events alike.

Josh Funk, President and CEO of TFB Hospitality, discovered he was a math nerd who runs restaurants. After hating pre-med despite a 1400 SAT, one hospitality course showed him restaurants are "chaos math"—probabilities with six different bullseyes. After nine years at the National Press Club managing $10M operations, Josh bought Andy Bailey's in Lancaster in 2012. What followed: seven restaurants in six years, catering for 1,400-person conferences, and becoming Live Nation's caterer for Citizens Bank Park, Lincoln Financial Field, and Lady Gaga at Hershey Stadium.

Growth wasn't smooth. Opening two unprofitable lunch counters taught him cash is king. COVID shut him down before a $100K St. Patrick's Day, and a $1.9M grant error stung hard. Yet he scaled from $5.6M in 2022 to over $12M in 2023 by taking himself out of the equation—hiring right people, building systems, and focusing on one powerful vision: create five million memories in 10 years. Currently at one million and counting.

Key Takeaways:

• Vision unites teams: "Five million memories" gives purpose beyond profit
• Cash is king: Growing too fast without capital kills businesses
• Take yourself out: Build systems for the organization, not you
• Hard work matters: Success requires relentless dedication
• People come first: Take care of your team—they create memories

About Josh Funk:

Joshua is a graduate of Pennsylvania State University's Hotel, Restaurant, and Institutional Management program. He brings experience, vision, and cutting-edge strategy to TFB Hospitality's growing portfolio of properties. Previously, he spent nine years at the prestigious National Press Club in Washington, D.C., overseeing operations with total revenues of $10 million in food, beverage, audio/visual, and broadcast, along with a staff of 10 managers and more than 40 full-time and part-time union staff. This experience helped Joshua foster a forward-thinking hospitality company that can thrive across locations and concepts.

Connect:

Website tfbhospitality.com
LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/joshua-funk-321780/
Instagram @tfbhospitality, @conwaysocialclub, @anniebaileys, @perdiemlititz, @docfunk6, @tfbcatering

This episode is brought to you by The Satell Institute; the leading CEO organization dedicated to Corporate Social Responsibility. Go to satellinstitute.org to learn more.

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She was babysitting to pay rent while building a business. But that 27-year-old had something her 44-year-old self admires—fearless grit.

Renee Patrone Rhinehart, founder and CEO of Events by Renee and Party Host Helpers, started event planning in 2007 when the economy crashed. Working part-time jobs for eight years, she went full-time in 2015. When clients kept asking for bartenders and servers, Renee launched Party Host Helpers in 2013, expanding nationwide within two years. Today, 40,000 gig workers power events from birthday parties to PGA tournaments.

COVID hit hard. With zero events, Renee worked at a wine store while pregnant and buying a house. Post-COVID demand skyrocketed her business. Now managing 10 employees nationwide, she builds her brand, streamlines technology, and expands internationally while serving on EO and NAWBO boards. Her secret? Show up, get involved, and ask "what can I do for you?"

Key Takeaways:

• Grit over perfection: Side jobs teach resilience you can't learn elsewhere
• Spot the pattern: Client requests reveal opportunities
• Get involved: Networking and service build business naturally
• Tech aids, doesn't solve: Streamline but expect new challenges
• Vision boards work: Write it down, visualize it, make it happen

About Renee Patrone Rhinehart:

Renee Patrone Rhinehart is the founder and CEO of Party Host Helpers, a nationwide event-staffing company, and Events by Renee, an award-winning wedding and corporate event planning firm. A natural connector and leader, she’s known for making hosts feel like guests at their own parties while empowering her team across the country to deliver exceptional hospitality. Renee frequently appears on TV and speaks at industry events, inspiring others through her passion for people, leadership, and celebration.

Connect:

Website partyhosthelper.com, eventsbyrenee.net
LinkedIn linkedin.com/in/reneepatronerhinehart/
Instagram @partyhosthelpers, @events_byrenee, @reneepatronerhinehart

This episode is brought to you by The Satell Institute; the leading CEO organization dedicated to Corporate Social Responsibility. Go to satellinstitute.org to learn more.

📅 New episodes every Wednesday—hit “Subscribe” now!

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