The McKinney Podcast

Anca Wetegrove & Betty Petkovsek - McKinney Rotary Club

Welcome to The McKinney Podcast, where we celebrate the people and happenings that make our city "Unique By Nature." Our guests for this episode are Anca Wetegrove and Betty Petkovsek of the McKinney Rotary Club. The MCKPOD is presented by RiskWell and FredShots Photography and recorded at the RiskWell studio in McKinney. Your hosts are James Jenkins and Fred Mahusay. Key Topics: * The 27th Annual Parade of Lights as a McKinney holiday tradition * Passport to the Holidays theme and multicultural global representation * In-kind sponsorship opportunities for small and local businesses * Volunteer roles including traffic control, float coordination, and cleanup * Growing up in Romania, living in Germany, and relocating to McKinney * Joining Rotary and stepping up as parade chair after one year * The big wheel auction and new Parade of Lights branded merchandise * McKinney Rotary Club's community grants and all-volunteer structure * Betty Petkovsek's seven years in Rotary and mentorship of new leadership * Anca announced as a future president of the Rotary Club of McKinney Resources Mentioned: * https://www.mckinneyrotary.org [https://www.mckinneyrotary.org]  Visit https://www.mckinneypodcast.com [https://www.mckinneypodcast.com] to subscribe to the email list and never miss an episode. Join the #MCKPOD community at https://www.facebook.com/groups/mckinneypodcast [https://www.facebook.com/groups/mckinneypodcast] and engage with your neighbors and fellow fans of the show. Check out the #MCKPOD YouTube Channel to watch the video versions of our episode and see lots of additional content: https://youtube.com/@mckinneypodcast [https://youtube.com/@mckinneypodcast] James and Fred would love to hear from you with any comments, questions, or ideas! Email the show at mail@mckinneypodcast.com and you may be featured on a future mailbag segment.

Amber Farrell - Far Beyond Marketing

Welcome to The McKinney Podcast, where we celebrate the people and happenings that make our city "Unique By Nature." Our guest for this episode is Amber Farrell, Owner of Far Beyond Marketing. The MCKPOD is presented by RiskWell and FredShots Photography and recorded at the RiskWell studio in McKinney. Your hosts are James Jenkins and Fred Mahusay. Key Topics: * Growing up in a multigenerational McKinney family with deep entrepreneurial roots * Working in the family plumbing business and learning business fundamentals from childhood * Pursuing vocal performance at Baylor and singing opera in Vienna * Returning to Texas and gaining experience across family businesses and corporate roles * Launching her first company in 2013 and selling it to private equity in 2018 * Relaunching in 2021 to bring enterprise-level marketing systems to local businesses * Building Far Beyond Marketing and helping entrepreneurs automate growth with AI * Launching a marketing membership program for McKinney and Collin County businesses * Navigating rapid AI and consumer behavior shifts in the marketing industry * Helping clients rank in AI-generated search results through strategic content positioning Resources Mentioned: * http://www.farbeyondmarketing.com [http://www.farbeyondmarketing.com]  Visit https://www.mckinneypodcast.com [https://www.mckinneypodcast.com] to subscribe to the email list and never miss an episode. Join the #MCKPOD community at https://www.facebook.com/groups/mckinneypodcast [https://www.facebook.com/groups/mckinneypodcast] and engage with your neighbors and fellow fans of the show. Check out the #MCKPOD YouTube Channel to watch the video versions of our episode and see lots of additional content: https://youtube.com/@mckinneypodcast [https://youtube.com/@mckinneypodcast] James and Fred would love to hear from you with any comments, questions, or ideas! Email the show at mail@mckinneypodcast.com and you may be featured on a future mailbag segment.

Alicia Bush - Treasured Vessels Foundation

Welcome to The McKinney Podcast, where we celebrate the people and happenings that make our city "Unique By Nature." Our guest for this episode is Alicia Bush, Founder of Treasured Vessels Foundation. The MCKPOD is presented by RiskWell and FredShots Photography and recorded at the RiskWell studio in McKinney. Your hosts are James Jenkins and Fred Mahusay. Key Topics: * Growing up in Redwater, East Texas with small-town roots and a family grocery business * Studying psychology and biology at UNT with aspirations toward medical school * Fourteen years in medical device sales working across operating rooms and specialties * Leaving her career at its peak after a faith-driven calling to serve trafficking survivors * Founding Treasured Vessels Foundation and learning the nonprofit landscape from scratch * Opening the Collin County safe house in January 2020 and navigating early COVID challenges * How trafficking happens through force, fraud, coercion, and the role of childhood trauma * The resilience and transformation seen in survivors through the healing program * Parental guidance on internet safety, device monitoring, and open communication with kids * The Christ-centered mission of Treasured Vessels Foundation and ways to get involved Resources Mentioned: * http://www.treasuredvesselsfoundation.org [http://www.treasuredvesselsfoundation.org]  Visit https://www.mckinneypodcast.com [https://www.mckinneypodcast.com] to subscribe to the email list and never miss an episode. Join the #MCKPOD community at https://www.facebook.com/groups/mckinneypodcast [https://www.facebook.com/groups/mckinneypodcast] and engage with your neighbors and fellow fans of the show. Check out the #MCKPOD YouTube Channel to watch the video versions of our episode and see lots of additional content: https://youtube.com/@mckinneypodcast [https://youtube.com/@mckinneypodcast] James and Fred would love to hear from you with any comments, questions, or ideas! Email the show at mail@mckinneypodcast.com and you may be featured on a future mailbag segment.

Heath Nivens - McKinney Christian Academy

Welcome to The McKinney Podcast, where we celebrate the people and happenings that make our city "Unique By Nature." Our guest for this episode is Heath Nivens, Head of School at McKinney Christian Academy. The MCKPOD is presented by RiskWell and FredShots Photography and recorded at the RiskWell studio in McKinney. Your hosts are James Jenkins and Fred Mahusay. Key Topics: * Growing up in South Carolina and competing as a college athlete * Coaching college football and earning a master's in education administration * Transitioning from athletics into Christian K-12 education * Relocating to McKinney and joining MCA as head of school * What drew Heath to MCA and the McKinney community * Leading MCA's capital campaign for a STEM and classroom facility * MCA's approach to academics, spiritual formation, and college readiness * Navigating AI in the classroom through digital citizenship and tiered AI use * Launching a new entrepreneurial program to build student grit and problem-solving * The importance of parent-school partnership in student development Resources Mentioned: * https://www.mckinneychristian.org [https://www.mckinneychristian.org]  Visit https://www.mckinneypodcast.com [https://www.mckinneypodcast.com] to subscribe to the email list and never miss an episode. Join the #MCKPOD community at https://www.facebook.com/groups/mckinneypodcast [https://www.facebook.com/groups/mckinneypodcast] and engage with your neighbors and fellow fans of the show. Check out the #MCKPOD YouTube Channel to watch the video versions of our episode and see lots of additional content: https://youtube.com/@mckinneypodcast [https://youtube.com/@mckinneypodcast] James and Fred would love to hear from you with any comments, questions, or ideas! Email the show at mail@mckinneypodcast.com and you may be featured on a future mailbag segment.

Ron and Verandah McKinney - BAK'D by McKinney Makes

Welcome to The McKinney Podcast, where we celebrate the people and happenings that make our city "Unique By Nature." Our guests for this episode are Ron and Verandah McKinney, owners of BAK'D by McKinney Makes. The MCKPOD is presented by RiskWell and FredShots Photography and recorded at the RiskWell studio in McKinney. Your hosts are James Jenkins and Fred Mahusay. Key Topics: * Ron's military upbringing and life of constant relocation * Verandah growing up in Brooklyn as the oldest of four * Ron's journey from culinary school to the Air Force to computer science * Verandah's teaching career and move from Brooklyn to Texas * Teaching kindergartners through COVID and the toll on young learners * Moving to McKinney in 2023 and sharing the city's name * Founding BAK'D by McKinney Makes after betting against herself * Faith, communication, and servant leadership in marriage and business * BAK'D's mission as a cookie philanthropy brand serving communities in need Resources Mentioned: * https://www.mckinneymakes.com [https://www.mckinneymakes.com]  Visit https://www.mckinneypodcast.com [https://www.mckinneypodcast.com] to subscribe to the email list and never miss an episode. Join the #MCKPOD community at https://www.facebook.com/groups/mckinneypodcast [https://www.facebook.com/groups/mckinneypodcast] and engage with your neighbors and fellow fans of the show. Check out the #MCKPOD YouTube Channel to watch the video versions of our episode and see lots of additional content: https://youtube.com/@mckinneypodcast [https://youtube.com/@mckinneypodcast] James and Fred would love to hear from you with any comments, questions, or ideas! Email the show at mail@mckinneypodcast.com and you may be featured on a future mailbag segment.