Tripoint Coversations

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-HoganChelsea 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/ About Kristina LoweKristina 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

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 RuppRebecca 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/About Kristina LoweKristina 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

In this episode, I sit down with Summer Dixon, founder of Dixon Strategies and a Vistage Chair, for a conversation that goes beyond titles and into how leaders actually think and make decisions.Summer built her career inside a fast-moving corporate environment where she was constantly stepping into the unknown, launching teams, building programs, and figuring things out before there was a clear path.That’s where she realized something that still defines her work today: She doesn’t wait for clarity. She creates it.Now, she spends her time sitting across from CEOs and business owners, helping them work through the decisions that don’t have easy answers, the ones that carry weight, complexity, and real consequences.We get into:• Why some leaders continue to grow while others stall • What it really means to be open to learning at the highest levels • How the best decisions often come from asking better questions, not having faster answers • And why having the right space to think and talk things through changes everything We also talk about building something outside of the work, and why creating spaces like CollabHERate matters just as much as the work itself.If you’ve ever been in a position where you’re expected to have the answers, but still need a place to think, this conversation will resonate.About Summer DixonSummer Dixon is the founder of Dixon Strategies and a Vistage Chair based in Louisville, Kentucky. She works closely with CEOs and business owners, helping them think through complex decisions, navigate growth, and lead more effectively.Before starting her own business, Summer spent nearly two decades in corporate leadership, where she built and led teams, launched new programs, and operated in fast-moving environments that required constant problem-solving and adaptability.In addition to her client work, she brings leaders together through peer groups and local initiatives like CollabHERate, focused on connection, conversation, and shared growth.Learn More at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/summerldixon/About Kristina LoweKristina 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

For most of her career, Tiffany Calvert helped organizations figure out how people perform, grow, and lead at scale. She spent over two decades inside Brown-Forman building leaders, shaping culture, and developing talent across the business.Now she’s doing that work in a completely different way.In this conversation, we get into what it looks like to step out of a long, successful career and build something of your own, not from scratch, but from everything you already know.Tiffany shares how she’s helping leaders and teams understand where they do their best work, why so many people feel drained even in successful roles, and how tools like Working Genius create clarity around what gives you energy.We also talk about readiness, not just for the next role, but for the next version of your career. What it takes to move forward with confidence, how to stop defaulting to what you “should” do, and how to build momentum in a way that actually fits who you are.This is a conversation about using your experience differently, designing work around your strengths, and moving forward with intention.About Tiffany CalvertTiffany Calvert is the founder of Onward & Upward Consulting, where she works with leaders and organizations to navigate change, strengthen teams, and build momentum with clarity.Through coaching, workshops, and tools like Working Genius, she helps individuals and teams understand how they work best so they can build roles, careers, and organizations that fit.Her work is focused on helping people move forward with more clarity, confidence, and intention.Learn more at: www.onupgrowth.comAbout Kristina LoweKristina Lowe is the founder and strategic partner of Tripoint Strategic Group, where she works with businesses and organizations to align strategy, leadership, and growth. Her background spans building and scaling brands, leading cross-functional teams, and developing go-to-market strategies that drive real results.Through Tripoint Conversations, Kristina sits down with leaders to go beyond titles and talk about what it looks like to build, lead, and grow something that matters.If you’d like to learn more about the podcast or be considered as a guest, visit:www.tripointstrategicgroup.com/podcast

Most leaders aren’t stuck because they don’t know what to do.They’re stuck because they’re not acting on what they already know. In this episode of Tripoint Conversations, I sit down with Lawrence Smith, a former CFO, CEO, and COO who has led companies through growth, turnarounds, and high-stakes decisions, and now works as an executive coach helping leaders navigate complexity.But this isn’t a conversation about theory. It’s about what actually happens inside organizations:Why companies grow faster than their people, and what that breaksThe real reason leaders lose confidence in their teamsWhy replacing people is often the wrong moveAnd how one simple question led to a $10M shift in a business almost overnight Lawrence shares what he learned sitting in the seat, and what he sees now working alongside CEOs who are trying to figure out their next move. One of the most powerful moments in this conversation comes down to something his mentor told him after he talked for 25 minutes straight: You already know what you’re going to do. The challenge isn’t finding the answer.It’s having the clarity and discipline to follow through. If you’re leading a team, growing a business, or sitting in a role where you feel the weight of decisions, this one will hit. About Lawrence SmithLawrence Smith is a business and executive coach who works with CEOs and leadership teams to navigate growth, change, and decision-making. Before coaching, he served as a CFO, CEO, and COO, leading companies through turnarounds and high-growth phases after starting his career at Exxon. He now helps leaders move from knowing what to do, to actually doing it. Learn more at: https://lawrencesmith.focalpointcoaching.com/ About Kristina LoweKristina Lowe is the founder and strategic partner of Tripoint Strategic Group, where she works with businesses and organizations to align strategy, leadership, and growth. Her background spans building and scaling brands, leading cross-functional teams, and developing go-to-market strategies that drive real results. Through Tripoint Conversations, Kristina sits down with leaders to go beyond titles and talk about what it actually looks like to build, lead, and grow something that matters. If you’d like to learn more about the podcast or be considered as a guest, visit:https://tripointstrategicgroup.com/podcast

Annette Manias didn’t just build a business. She built the people who would eventually take it over. After more than 30 years leading her company, she made a decision most owners struggle with. She didn’t sell to private equity. She didn’t hand it off to a competitor. She sold it to three employees she had developed along the way. In this episode of Tripoint Conversations, we get into how that actually happens. This is a conversation about emotional intelligence, but not in the way most people talk about it. We’re talking about hiring the wrong people and realizing too late it’s a culture issue. About leaders who can’t get to the next level and don’t know why. About teams that look fine on paper but aren’t working in reality. Annette shares what emotional intelligence really looks like inside a business. Where it shows up. How it breaks down. And how it can either accelerate a leader or quietly hold them back. We also get into real moments from her career. Hard leadership decisions. Missteps. And the shift from building a company to building leaders inside it. If you lead people, or you’re trying to figure out why something isn’t clicking in your team, this one will hit. About Annette Manias Annette is the founder of EQ Training and Development and a leadership advisor who helps companies strengthen how their people actually work together. Before that, she spent more than 30 years building and leading her own technology company, growing it from the ground up and eventually selling it to three employees she had developed into leaders. Today, she works with business owners, CEOs, and leadership teams to build emotional intelligence in a way that shows up in hiring, communication, and culture, not just theory. Click here to learn more:https://eqnavigator.com/ About Kristina LoweKristina Lowe is the founder and strategic partner of Tripoint Strategic Group, where she works with businesses and organizations to align strategy, leadership, and growth. Her background spans building and scaling brands, leading cross-functional teams, and developing go-to-market strategies that drive real results. Through Tripoint Conversations, Kristina sits down with leaders to go beyond titles and talk about what it actually looks like to build, lead, and grow something that matters. Click here to learn more about the podcast or be a guest, visit:https://tripointstrategicgroup.com/podcast

I sat down with Ann Brown, founder of Development Edge, for a conversation that goes far beyond HR and leadership theory.Ann has spent more than 30 years working across corporate, nonprofit, and consulting environments, helping organizations build stronger teams, develop better leaders, and create workplaces where people actually want to stay.But what makes this conversation different is how she thinks about people.We talked about why leadership is a “contact sport,” and what that really looks like in practice. Not from a place of authority, but from showing up, understanding people, and creating a path for them to succeed.Ann also shares:What most companies get wrong about onboarding and developing employeesWhy leaders struggle when they make everything about “I” instead of the teamThe importance of doing the “lonely work” when building a businessHow mentorship shaped her career, including lessons that still guide her todayAnd how faith has played a role in the impact she continues to makeThis is a conversation about leadership, but more importantly, it’s about people.If you’re leading a team, building a business, or trying to grow into a better leader yourself, there’s something in this episode for you.About Ann BrownAnn Brown is the founder of Development Edge, a consulting firm focused on HR strategy, leadership development, coaching, and workplace culture. With over 30 years of experience, she partners with organizations to build inclusive, high-performing teams and stronger leaders.Learn more: https://www.thedevelopmentedge.com/About Tripoint ConversationsTripoint Conversations is hosted by Kristina Lowe, founder of Tripoint Strategic Group. The podcast goes beyond titles and resumes to explore the real stories behind leadership. Through conversations with founders, executives, and community leaders in Louisville and beyond, the show explores what drives them, what they have learned along the way, and how they are building businesses, organizations, and communities that create lasting impact. For more information or to be a guest, visit:www.tripointstrategicgroup.com/podcast

In this episode of Tripoint Conversations, Kristina Lowe sits down with Jessica Wuchterl, owner and Chief Visionary Officer, and Lisa Stephens, CEO of Xtreme Coating Solutions, a Kentucky-based company specializing in epoxy flooring, concrete coatings, concrete repair and resurfacing, flooring restoration, and commercial surface protection.But this conversation is not really about flooring. It is about what happens when a growing family business reaches a breaking point and leadership has to decide whether to keep operating the same way or rethink how the company runs. Jessica shares the moment she realized that even though the company looked successful from the outside, she was burned out and questioning whether the business was worth it. That realization led to years of reflection, working with coaches, and eventually making one of the most difficult decisions a founder can make: bringing in outside leadership. That decision led to hiring Lisa Stephens as CEO. When Lisa stepped into the role, the company was dealing with internal conflict, teams blaming each other, and a culture where people were afraid to make mistakes. Instead of focusing only on operations or sales, they started by rebuilding trust. Together, Jessica and Lisa reshaped the organization by focusing on transparency, leadership accountability, and putting people in roles where they could succeed. In this conversation, they talk about:Why many business owners struggle to let go of controlWhat changes when a company commits to improving its cultureHow transparency and profit sharing motivate employeesWhy allowing people to make mistakes creates stronger teamsWhat it takes for a founder to admit they may not be the right person to lead day to day Within a year, the results were dramatic. The culture shifted, employee engagement improved, and the business began growing in new ways. If you are a business owner, CEO, or leader trying to improve company culture, grow a team, or navigate leadership change, this conversation offers a real look at what that transformation takes. About Xtreme Coating SolutionsXtreme Coating Solutions is a Kentucky-based company specializing in epoxy flooring, concrete coatings, concrete repair and resurfacing, and flooring restoration for both commercial and residential spaces. From warehouses and industrial facilities to garages and retail environments, the company helps clients protect and restore surfaces with durable coating systems designed to extend the life of concrete and improve functionality and appearance. Learn more:https://xtreme-coat.com/ About Tripoint ConversationsTripoint Conversations is hosted by Kristina Lowe, founder of Tripoint Strategic Group. The podcast goes beyond titles and resumes to explore the real stories behind leadership. Through conversations with founders, executives, and community leaders in Louisville and beyond, the show explores what drives them, what they have learned along the way, and how they are building businesses, organizations, and communities that create lasting impact. For more information or to be a guest, visit:www.tripointstrategicgroup.com/podcast

What happens when a leader spends nearly two decades building a company… and then steps away to help others do it better? In this episode of Tripoint Conversations, Kristina Lowe sits down with Linda Ruffenach, founder of Execuity. Linda spent 19 years helping grow a company from startup to more than 3,000 employees across four countries, serving in roles across operations, finance, and eventually CEO. Along the way she experienced something many leaders quietly face: the isolation and weight of leadership. Today through Execuity, Linda works alongside business owners to bring financial clarity, strategic discipline, and long-term thinking to the way companies grow and transition.But this conversation goes deeper than spreadsheets and strategy. We talk about the emotional weight of leading thousands of employees, why chasing revenue alone can actually hurt a business, the mistakes founders make when they don’t understand their financials, and what it really means to build a company that has lasting value beyond the owner. We also explore Linda’s passion for mentorship, the unexpected lessons she learned building the Whiskey Chicks community, and why confidence, in business and in life, often comes from experience. In this episode we discuss:• The loneliness that often comes with leadership• Why many business owners misunderstand their financials• The difference between revenue growth and real business value• Lessons learned scaling a company to thousands of employees• Helping founders think like investors, not just operators• The role of mentorship and paying knowledge forward• Why leaders need purpose beyond their business About Linda RuffenachLinda Ruffenach is the founder of Execuity, a consulting firm that helps business owners accelerate value, improve financial discipline, and prepare their companies for long-term growth or transition. Before launching Execuity, Linda spent nearly two decades helping build a global customer engagement company that grew to more than 3,000 employees across multiple countries. She later served as CEO before transitioning into advisory work helping other leaders navigate the challenges of growth, strategy, and succession.She is also the founder of Whisky Chicks, a community that began as a way to connect women through bourbon education and has grown into a network of hundreds of members. Learn more at:https://execuity.comhttps://whiskychicks.com/  About Tripoint Conversations Tripoint Conversations is hosted by Kristina Lowe, founder of Tripoint Strategic Group.This podcast goes beyond titles and resumes to explore the real stories behind leadership: the pivots, doubts, discipline, and decisions that shape a life and a business. Through conversations with leaders in Louisville and beyond, we explore what drives them, what they’ve learned the hard way, and how they’re building meaningful impact in their communities. Because the most meaningful growth rarely happens on the surface. Listen to more episodes at:www.tripointstrategicgroup.com/podcast 

What happens when the “safe plan” falls apart?In this episode of Tripoint Conversations, Kristina Lowe sits down with Anora Morton, founder of The Nori Project, to talk about setbacks, identity, entrepreneurship, and what it actually takes to build something from nothing. Anora’s path started with a full ride to college and a 20-year plan to become a lawyer. It led her through law school, two failed bar exams, public defense work, corporate burnout, and eventually into entrepreneurship. What began as an idea to modernize food access through smart vending infrastructure became Nori, a company that challenged outdated distribution models and pushed Kentucky’s vending and agriculture industries into new conversations. This episode covers:• Failing the bar exam after doing everything “right”• The pressure of public expectations• Walking away from a traditional career path• Starting a hardware based startup from scratch• Raising capital and navigating accelerators• Pivoting when the market pushes back• And why every company has a season Since this conversation was recorded, Nori has officially ceased operations after accomplishing what it set out to do. As Anora recently shared, it closed not with apology, but with impact. This is not a story about vending machines. It’s about resilience. It’s about risk. It’s about learning you are not defined by a test, a title, or a single chapter. If you are in a pivot, questioning the path you chose years ago, recovering from something that did not go as planned, or building something that feels bigger than you, then this episode is for you. About Anora MortonAnora Morton is the founder of The Nori Project, a category creating company that reimagined food access through tech enabled vending infrastructure. Through grants, accelerator programs, and early adoption partnerships, Nori introduced new models for distributing healthy food in underserved communities and influenced regional food systems conversations. You can review Nori’s archived impact at:https://thenoriproject.comFollow Anora’s next chapter at:https://anoraplease.com Tripoint Conversations is hosted by Kristina Lowe, founder of Tripoint Strategic Group. This podcast explores the real stories behind leadership, pivots, discipline, and the decisions that shape a life and a business. Learn more at:www.tripointstrategicgroup.com/podcast

What happens when the vision comes before the confidence?In this episode of Tripoint Conversations, Kristina Lowe sits down with Cathi Bingaman, founder of InSync with You, a Louisville-based personal concierge and home management company serving busy professionals, physicians, executives, and families.For over a decade, Cathi has built a trusted, word-of-mouth business designed to help high-capacity women reclaim time, reduce decision fatigue, and create more peace inside their homes and careers.But this conversation goes deeper than errands or organization.We talk about:The moment she realized people were already coming to her for “her thing”Why nothing about building a business is linearThe gap between vision and confidenceDecision fatigue and the mental load many women carryWhy asking for help is not weakness, it’s leadershipSurrounding yourself with people who inspire youAnd why life is too short to ignore what keeps tugging at youCathi shares the real behind-the-scenes of entrepreneurship, the doubts, the near quitting moments, the business coach investment, and the discipline it takes to stay the course.If you're:Thinking about starting a businessBuilding something slowly on the sideFeeling stretched thin in your home or careerOr wondering if your idea is already showing up in your lifeThis episode is for you.About Cathi BingamanCathi Bingaman is the founder of InSync With You, a personal concierge and lifestyle management company based in Louisville, Kentucky.Her team provides high-level, white glove support including home management, organization, move coordination, vendor management, event planning, and ongoing household reset services through programs like “Lighten the Load.”She is also a board member of NAWBO Kentucky (National Association of Women Business Owners) and a nominee for Today’s Woman Most Admired Woman.Learn more at: https://insyncwithyou.com/About Tripoint ConversationsTripoint Conversations is hosted by Kristina Lowe, founder of Tripoint Strategic Group. This podcast goes beyond titles and resumes to explore the real stories behind leadership, the pivots, the doubts, the discipline, and the decisions that shape a life and a business.Through conversations with leaders in Louisville and beyond, we examine what drives them, what they’ve learned the hard way, and how they’re building impact in their communities, their companies, and their families.Because the most meaningful growth rarely happens on the surface.Learn more at:www.tripointstrategicgroup.com/podcast

In this episode of Tripoint Conversations, I sit down with Vic Roos, founder of VPR International and a leadership advisor with more than 30 years of corporate experience.Vic spent decades inside organizations like GE Appliances before realizing something was missing. In the middle of COVID, while leading global procurement teams, he had a simple but radical insight: organizations don’t just need performance, they need kindness.That insight led him to bring the Working Genius framework into GE Appliances, shift into internal consulting, and eventually step away from corporate life entirely. The tipping point came on a park bench in Seneca Park, when the same encouragement he once gave his wife was returned to him.Now, through VPR International, Vic works with leaders and teams to build clarity, trust, and compassion inside organizations, helping them replace politics with vulnerability and ego with humility.We talk about:• Why organizational health outlasts short-term metrics• How Working Genius changes team dynamics• The courage it takes for leaders to say “I don’t know”• And why love might be the most underestimated leadership principleLearn more about Vic at: www.vprinternational.com —Tripoint Conversations is hosted by Kristina Lowe, founder of Tripoint Strategic Group in Louisville, Kentucky.Listen to more episodes at: www.tripointstrategicgroup.com/podcast To receive updates or recommend a guest, visit the podcast page and join the email list.

In this episode of Tripoint Conversations, I sit down with Alison Moulder, founder of Simplicity and Style, a Louisville-based organizing, styling, and relocation company.Alison didn’t start with a five-year plan. She started with three young kids, a season of wanting more, and an encouraging friend who told her to stop overthinking and hit “publish” on a website.What began as a few organizing projects has grown into a boutique business built intentionally, one that allows women to work around school bus schedules, lead with compassion, and create spaces that bring real peace into people’s lives.We talk about building slowly instead of scaling fast, protecting culture as your team grows, pricing your work with confidence, and why organizing a storage room can sometimes mean giving someone room to breathe again.This conversation is about meaningful work, and creating something that fits your life while inviting other women into it along the way.Learn more at: www.simplicityandstyle.com —Tripoint Conversations is hosted by Kristina Lowe, founder of Tripoint Strategic Group in Louisville, Kentucky.Learn more at: www.tripointstrategicgroup.com/podcast To receive updates or recommend a future guest, visit the website and join the email list.

Welcome to Tripoint Conversations.In this first episode, I’m sharing the story behind why I launched this podcast, the career pivots, the unexpected turning points, and the moment I realized it was time to stop waiting for perfect and just begin.After years working in strategy, marketing, and leadership across industries, I found myself at a crossroads. Instead of going back to what was familiar, I decided to build something new, a space for real conversations with the leaders shaping Louisville and beyond.Tripoint Conversations is about the moments in between success headlines, the pivots, the risks, the uncertainty, and the resilience it takes to build something meaningful.If you’re navigating your own next chapter, this podcast is for you.Subscribe so you don’t miss upcoming conversations with local founders, nonprofit leaders, authors, and community builders.Learn more at: www.tripointstrategicgroup.com/podcast If you’d like to receive updates or recommend a guest, head to the website and join the email list.I’m glad you’re here. Let’s get started.Tripoint Conversations is hosted by Kristina Lowe, founder of Tripoint Strategic Group in Louisville, Kentucky, offering fractional strategy, marketing, and development support for growing organizations.