David Cooper I What Every Business Owner Should Know Before Taking the Leap

David Cooper I What Every Business Owner Should Know Before Taking the Leap

David Cooper has been on both sides of business for over four decades, as the owner of seven companies and as the attorney who has since helped hundreds of others build, structure, and sometimes walk away from theirs. In this conversation, he talks about what he watches for when entrepreneurs walk through his door, what business partnerships get wrong before they even start, and the week he made a last-minute call that saved him from losing everything. David shared about: * Operating agreements aren't just legal formalities, they're the plan for when things go wrong. Without one, a corporate divorce can fracture both the business and the family. * The conversations most partners avoid (financial exposure, exit strategy, pledging personal assets) are the exact ones that matter most before anyone signs anything. * Entrepreneurs tend to plan for the upside. David makes them think through the downside, including whether their spouse is genuinely on board with what they're risking. * Using AI or online templates to draft your own business agreements is, in his words, "fraught with peril." The nuance is specific to your situation, and getting it wrong is expensive. * The best business decision David ever made came a week before close: he demanded cash instead of stock on a gut feeling. The company went bankrupt 13 months later. About David Cooper David Cooper is a Louisville-based corporate and business attorney with nearly five decades of experience advising entrepreneurs, business owners, and organizations through formation, growth, transactions, and succession planning. Today, through the Law Office of David H. Cooper, he helps clients navigate business transactions, partnership agreements, acquisitions, contracts, succession planning, and strategic decision-making. Drawing from both legal expertise and real-world business experience, David serves as a trusted advisor to entrepreneurs looking to build strong foundations and create long-term success. About Kristina Lowe Kristina Lowe is the founder and strategic partner of Tripoint Strategic Group, a Louisville-based firm that works with businesses and organizations to clarify direction, align strategy, and drive growth. With over 20 years of experience across marketing, product, and strategic development, Kristina has led growth initiatives for global brands and now partners with small to mid-sized companies and nonprofits to help them move from ideas to execution. She is also the host of Tripoint Conversations, a podcast focused on real stories from leaders, founders, and operators, exploring the decisions, challenges, and moments that shape how people build and lead. To learn more or be a guest, go to: https://www.tripointstrategicgroup.com/podcast [https://www.tripointstrategicgroup.com/podcast]

Shannon Burton | From College Athlete to Mom to Sports Illustrated Swim Search Finalist at 50

Most people see Shannon Burton today and immediately notice the confidence. They see the runway photos, the modeling career, the Sports Illustrated Swim Search finalist title, the TikTok following, and a woman in her 50s fully stepping into new opportunities without apology. But what makes Shannon’s story so compelling is everything that came before that version of her. In this episode of Tripoint Conversations, Shannon shares how being a college athlete shaped her mindset early, why resilience became one of the defining themes of her life, and how motherhood, faith, personal loss, and years of putting others first ultimately led her back to herself. We talked about the pressure women place on themselves, learning to stop caring what other people think, navigating criticism online, building confidence later in life, and why she believes women are capable of far more than they allow themselves to believe. Shannon also shares: * what it was like becoming a Sports Illustrated Swim Search finalist at 50 * how modeling changed her confidence * the realities of social media and public criticism * how her husband and daughters became her biggest support system * why “why not me?” became the mindset that changed everything This conversation is about confidence, growth, resilience, reinvention, and giving yourself permission to pursue the things that still call to you, no matter your age or stage of life. About Shannon Burton Shannon Burton is a former Division I basketball player, model, content creator, and advocate for women stepping confidently into new seasons of life. Shannon earned a basketball scholarship to Duke University before later transferring to Butler University, where she finished her collegiate career. After years focused on motherhood and family, Shannon found herself pursuing modeling in her 30s after being encouraged to audition for the TV reality competition She’s Got the Look. Since then, she has built a modeling career that continues to evolve into her 50s, including becoming a finalist in the 2022 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Swim Search competition and serving as a Victoria’s Secret ambassador. Beyond modeling, Shannon has built a growing social media audience by sharing honest conversations around confidence, aging, wellness, style, motherhood, and resilience. Through her content and public presence, she encourages women to stop placing limits on themselves and to pursue the things that still call to them, regardless of age or stage of life. Today, Shannon continues to model, collaborate with brands, explore entrepreneurship ventures, and inspire women with a simple mindset shift that has shaped her own journey. About Kristina Lowe Kristina Lowe is the founder and strategic partner of Tripoint Strategic Group, a Louisville-based firm that works with businesses and organizations to clarify direction, align strategy, and drive growth. With over 20 years of experience across marketing, product, and strategic development, Kristina has led growth initiatives for global brands and now partners with small to mid-sized companies and nonprofits to help them move from ideas to execution. She is also the host of Tripoint Conversations, a podcast focused on real stories from leaders, founders, and operators, exploring the decisions, challenges, and moments that shape how people build and lead. To learn more or be a guest, go to: https://www.tripointstrategicgroup.com/podcast [https://www.tripointstrategicgroup.com/podcast]

Will Partin I Faith, Leadership & How Serving Others Changes You

In this episode of Tripoint Conversations, Kristina Lowe sits down with Will Partin, President of GO Ministries, to talk about faith, leadership, family, identity, and what happens when you say yes before you fully understand the cost. Just weeks after getting married, Will and his wife Audrey moved to the Dominican Republic with little more than faith, a love for people, and a willingness to learn. What started as serving alongside local communities through ministry and sports outreach grew into 15 years of building relationships, empowering leaders, planting churches, supporting medical care, and raising a family far from home. Will opens up about adoption, the personal growth that came with leadership, learning how identity can shape the way we lead, and the emotional decision to leave the Dominican Republic and return to Kentucky after 15 years. He also shares how GO Ministries has grown from a small organization into an international ministry serving thousands through sports, healthcare, church planting, and leadership development, including the vision behind The Ridge, a new leadership and healing campus being developed in Kentucky. This episode is full of perspective for anyone navigating leadership, purpose, family, faith, or personal growth. Topics include: • Building GO Ministries in the Dominican Republic • Leadership and personal formation • Adoption and family life overseas • Mission trips and “mutual transformation” • Returning home after 15 years abroad • The future vision for GO Ministries and The Ridge To learn more about GO Ministries, visit www.gomin.org [http://www.gomin.org]. About Will Partin Will Partin is the President of GO Ministries, an international nonprofit organization focused on empowering local leaders through church planting, sports ministry, medical care, and leadership development. Just weeks after marrying his wife Audrey in 2005, Will moved to the Dominican Republic, where the two spent the next 15 years building a life, raising a family, and serving alongside local communities. What began through sports ministry and relationship-building grew into a long-term commitment to developing leaders and creating sustainable impact through local churches, healthcare initiatives, youth programs, and community partnerships. GO Ministries has expanded significantly, now serving thousands through sports academies, medical outreach, leadership development, and church planting efforts across multiple countries. The organization also recently launched The Ridge in Simpsonville, Kentucky, a future leadership and healing campus designed to support ministry leaders, pastors, and missionaries through restoration, equipping, and care. About Kristina Lowe Kristina Lowe is the founder and strategic partner of Tripoint Strategic Group, a Louisville-based firm that works with businesses and organizations to clarify direction, align strategy, and drive growth. With over 20 years of experience across marketing, product, and strategic development, Kristina has led growth initiatives for global brands and now partners with small to mid-sized companies and nonprofits to help them move from ideas to execution. She is also the host of Tripoint Conversations, a podcast focused on real stories from leaders, founders, and operators, exploring the decisions, challenges, and moments that shape how people build and lead. To learn more or be a guest, go to: https://www.tripointstrategicgroup.com/podcast [https://www.tripointstrategicgroup.com/podcast]

Chelsea Ellis-Hogan, CEO | Building Culture and Leading Change at Jim Reynolds Asphalt

Chelsea Ellis-Hogan didn’t set out to work in construction. But growing up around entrepreneurs, she saw what it looked like to build something, solve problems, and still be present for the moments that mattered. Now, as CEO and majority owner of Jim Reynolds Asphalt, she’s not just continuing a 40+ year business, she’s reshaping how it operates. In this conversation, we talk about what it’s like to step into a family business, earn trust in an industry that’s traditionally male-dominated, and introduce new ways of thinking without losing what made the company successful in the first place. From leadership retreats and team development to bringing things like yoga and mental health into a construction crew, Chelsea shares how she’s building a culture that people want to be a part of. We also get into succession planning, developing leaders from within, and what it takes to grow a business that’s meant to last beyond the next generation. About Chelsea Ellis-Hogan Chelsea Ellis-Hogan is the CEO and majority owner of Jim Reynolds Asphalt Contractor, a family-owned business that has been serving the Louisville community for more than 40 years. Growing up around entrepreneurs, Chelsea developed an early interest in business, but didn’t originally see herself in the construction industry. Over time, she found her place by focusing on systems, leadership, and building strong relationships, bringing a fresh perspective into a legacy business. Today, she leads across multiple areas of the company, from commercial sales and marketing to operations and team development. Her approach blends practical experience with a focus on culture, investing in her team through leadership training, retreats, and new ways of thinking about growth. Chelsea is also passionate about mentorship, continuous learning, and helping others find their path, whether in business ownership or the trades. Learn more at: https://jimreynoldsasphalt.com/ [https://jimreynoldsasphalt.com/] About Kristina Lowe Kristina Lowe is the founder and strategic partner of Tripoint Strategic Group, a Louisville-based firm that works with businesses and organizations to clarify direction, align strategy, and drive growth. With over 20 years of experience across marketing, product, and strategic development, Kristina has led growth initiatives for global brands and now partners with small to mid-sized companies and nonprofits to help them move from ideas to execution. She is also the host of Tripoint Conversations, a podcast focused on real stories from leaders, founders, and operators, exploring the decisions, challenges, and moments that shape how people build and lead. To learn more or be a guest, go to: https://www.tripointstrategicgroup.com/podcast [https://www.tripointstrategicgroup.com/podcast]

Rebecca Rupp I The Story Behind Derby Pie and the Next Generation Carrying It

Derby week in Kentucky comes with a lot of traditions. For Rebecca Rupp and her family, one of those isn’t just something she celebrates, it’s something her family built. Her great grandparents created Derby Pie in 1954. Her dad spent decades growing it into what it is today. And in 2024, after his passing, Rebecca and her siblings were faced with a decision they never expected to make. Step in…or let it go. In this conversation, Rebecca shares what it looked like to walk into a business she didn’t plan to run, in the middle of grief, without a roadmap. We talk about the weight of legacy, learning a business from the inside out, and figuring out how to lead in your own way while still protecting what came before you. This isn’t really about pie. It’s about family, identity, and what happens when something that’s always been part of your life suddenly becomes your responsibility. About Rebecca Rupp Rebecca Rupp is co-owner of Kern’s Kitchen, the family business behind the original Derby Pie. After growing up around the business, she stepped into ownership in 2025 alongside her brother following the unexpected passing of their father, who had led the company for decades. Today, Rebecca focuses on relationships, brand presence, and continuing the legacy of a product that’s become a Kentucky tradition, while finding her own way to lead it forward. Learn more at: https://derbypie.com/ [https://derbypie.com/] About Kristina Lowe Kristina Lowe is the founder and strategic partner of Tripoint Strategic Group, a Louisville-based firm that works with businesses and organizations to clarify direction, align strategy, and drive growth. With over 20 years of experience across marketing, product, and strategic development, Kristina has led growth initiatives for global brands and now partners with small to mid-sized companies and nonprofits to help them move from ideas to execution. She is also the host of Tripoint Conversations, a podcast focused on real stories from leaders, founders, and operators, exploring the decisions, challenges, and moments that shape how people build and lead. To learn more or be a guest, go to: https://www.tripointstrategicgroup.com/podcast [https://www.tripointstrategicgroup.com/podcast]