Talkin' Tennessee with Yvonnca
Talkin' Tennessee with Yvonnca
Leading with Legacy ft Morgan Vance, Executive Director of The Pat Summitt Foundation
This episode is dedicated to Pat Summitt and Joan Cronan.
What does it take to carry forward the legacy of a Tennessee icon? Morgan Vance never played basketball and never met Pat Summit, yet today she stands at the helm of the legendary coach's foundation, expanding its reach far beyond state lines.
Morgan's story defies conventional career narratives. At 33, this mother of five from a blended family has transformed the Pat Summit Foundation from a regional organization into a national force fighting Alzheimer's disease. Through what she calls "only God moments," Morgan's diverse background—spanning wedding planning, pediatric healthcare, and UT athletics—perfectly prepared her for this unexpected role.
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Check us out to hear the latest on life in the volunteer state. Yvonca and her guests discuss everything from life, love and business with a Tennessee flair. It's a Tennessee thing, always relatable, always relevant and always a good time. This is Talkin' Tennessee, and now your host, yvonca.
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Speaker 3:Welcome back to Talking Tennessee with Yvonne. I am your host and I am here with a dear friend, Morgan Vance from the Pat Summit Foundation. Welcome.
Speaker 4:Thank you for having me.
Speaker 3:Most definitely. Well, before we get all into this, I have to tell you who this person is to me. Most definitely, Well, before we get all into this, I have to tell you who this person is to me. She started out to be my classmate and in Leadership Knoxville. We've been in the program for the past 10 months, but from the very first day that I met Morgan, we just clicked. You know, our personalities are a lot alike. We have a lot of life in us and we just like to give back to our community. So I think that's what makes us click, do you think?
Speaker 4:Oh, absolutely.
Speaker 3:And we love our family. So let's talk about who is Morgan Vance.
Speaker 4:So you just touched on it. Morgan Vance is first and foremost a wife and mother.
Speaker 3:Yes.
Speaker 4:I'm a proud mom of five kids, five kids and I'm a proud mom of five kids.
Speaker 3:Five kids.
Speaker 4:And I'm married to my wonderful, wonderful husband, Jason, and so they are. Shout out to Jason yes, he is incredible. So those are priority for me. And then you know, Morgan is also a proud believer and follower of Jesus Christ.
Speaker 3:I'm a daughter of the King.
Speaker 4:And so that is a huge part of who I am, the way that I parent, the way that I build relationships, the way that I live life, and then I am a professional. I love to serve to your point. I think, yes, that is what absolutely bonded us together is the way that we look to make a difference in the community.
Speaker 3:Making a difference is very important and you know it's not always easy. But when you have the passion for your community, I think it all works out.
Speaker 4:It does. It makes it fun to get out of bed in the morning.
Speaker 3:It does.
Speaker 4:I was born and raised in Knoxville and what I always wanted to make sure was that, at the end of the day, did I leave my community, my home, in a better place? Did I, did I do something to make a difference?
Speaker 3:So, viewers, now that you see why I wanted Morgan to come on, because y'all know that I always say my grandfather told me when I was a kid, morgan, what is your legacy going to be when you die? And at the time I was young, I didn't know what he was talking about. I do now and the one thing I tell people, my viewers, I'm like if I, when I die and go to heaven, I want people to remember. I don't want them to say, oh, she was a great realtor or she was great, and now I'm in entertainment, she was great in that. Or entrepreneur. I want them to say she really worked for a community and she loved her family and everybody knew that and she left something for other people to build on. Yeah, that's what I want, and I just sit and watch you and I'm like she is doing so well and she's very young. Okay, do you mind me asking how old you are?
Speaker 4:Yeah, I'm 33.
Speaker 3:33. So when we tell this story story, I want you to think about 33. Okay, morgan, here's your first question okay how did you get five kids?
Speaker 4:there's a lot of them. Um, so we're a big blended family. So my husband and I were each married once before, so I was married, I had two boys, went through a really difficult divorce and then my husband, jason, married, had three kids, one of which is adopted out of foster care. Okay, and then we met and it was just very clear from the beginning of this is something special. It was just very clear from the beginning of this is something special, and so we very intentionally worked towards okay, marriage and just again, being very intentional, and so it was a conscious decision on our part of okay, we're going to do this.
Speaker 4:We're going to have five kids.
Speaker 3:Yes, and I know you probably was thinking okay, well, five kids, I'm dating this guy, he's the guy for me, but this is a lot of responsibility.
Speaker 2:It is.
Speaker 3:But I've never seen you. It's like y'all are like a machine, because I okay. So, viewers, let me tell you I shared a room when we went to the Capitol a couple months back and if you would have seen Morgan sitting on the bed working out her schedule with her husband, her children, facetiming them. I was so proud of you Because I'm like you know what she's living out her dream. She's got this job a big, like big shoes to fill, but she still makes time. When I heard your you telling your husband okay, this one for this lunch and this one for that, and make sure you have these pads, and I mean I was just like that's what a boss woman is. You know, a person that can literally multitask and do great things. But you wasn't always that way. You talked about having a hard divorce. Did you ever go through times of questioning yourself at a young age?
Speaker 4:Yeah, I think it took a while for me to kind of figure out. You know, who is it that God has called me to be? You know, I got married really young. I had always wanted a family, and it was my parents divorced when I was really young. And so for me and I said this from the very beginning I want one engagement, one marriage. That is it. But the problem was I based what I thought a good marriage was on Nicholas Sparks, not on what the Bible says, and that led a lot of decisions. So there, went.
Speaker 3:this time you wanted to make marriage instead of be in a marriage. Yes, yes.
Speaker 4:And so there went a time. I mean I always wanted four kids, at least four kids.
Speaker 1:Really.
Speaker 4:Yes, oh, I loved it, but there was this time where I was like choose it. This is all I'm going to you know, and there's still moments, you know yes we do have. We're a blended family, we share custody with our ex-spouses, and so we have our kids every other week, okay. And so there are even moments now where I'm like am I the mom? Am I being the mom that? Yes that I was called to be Like? Am I being the person? Am I filling this role? But?
Speaker 3:if you're not questioning that, let me say I'm older than you, and if you're not questioning that, then I would say something's wrong with you, because I think, as a woman, we always want to be the best we can be in all facets. Do you agree? Oh, absolutely. And so I think you know there's times in life that you can be killing it at work, okay, but you're like okay, my house is not. You know, I can feel the pain there. You know, am I getting the laundry done? Am I getting the kids where they need to be? Am I making enough meals for my husband? Am I literally taking out time for me and my husband? And am I taking out time for me? And I think a lot of times women lose sight of that. You've got to have some time for you.
Speaker 3:And I think, going through that divorce, I went through a divorce before David and I was the same way and I wanted to be married. I wanted children. I knew I was not made to be single. I knew that early on, like 16, 17 years old. I knew this, but I wanted to build what I thought marriage was. So, literally, I got married and I should have known when I never looked at future. I only looked at present, what we were like presently.
Speaker 3:You know that type thing, the weddings present, you know everything, engagement, all that kind of I never looked at. You know, what are we gonna to be like when we're 70, sitting on the porch and me and David's go and our thing is called Front Porch Love. We do a seminar that is about front porch love, and the front porch love means is that when we grow old, me and David want to be corny. Let me go on and tell you we want to go buy two rocking chairs from Cracker Barrel and rock on whatever front porch we have and we want to say laugh about the things that we did. That was stupid and the things we learned about, and then just how great God brought us. And I think that I never thought of that with my first marriage, but I do with David. Can you think of things that you can think of Jason and you're like I, could you know when the kids get out and all that kind of stuff where we're going to be.
Speaker 4:Yeah, we have those conversations often.
Speaker 3:Yes.
Speaker 4:Um, I so people who are close to me know that I call my husband budget man.
Speaker 3:Yes.
Speaker 4:Um, so he is our financial planner, he is our future future planner, and so he and I have those conversations of what do we want to do Now? It's really funny because, for me again, the kids are a huge part of that. So we bought our what we hope to be our long-term, you know, 30 year home almost two years ago and we chose a home that in our mind, it was where we, where do we want the grandkids to come home to, and our dining room. We didn't have a dining room now, um, that could specifically seat 12 people.
Speaker 1:So our kids and their partners like this is very much a part of like our what do we want this to be for us.
Speaker 4:Where do we want to go? What do we want to do?
Speaker 3:And I think that's the difference of being married in the world or being married godly, a godly marriage. Because you think about those things you think about when you grow old. What is it going to be like when my grandkids come home? What is it going to be like? Because I know if Adrian has a daughter, that's the day that David will retire. I promise you that she had a boy. He'll rough and tough with the boy, but if she gives a daughter because Jaden is more a mama's boy, adrian's more of a daddy's girl and I can see him reliving that through that granddaughter and just you know, wallowing in it. So I'm like you're gonna retire, then it'll be okay. Yeah, but what's made you decide the career path?
Speaker 4:let's go to career it's just so I I describe a lot of my life as only god moments, and what I mean when I say that is you'll. I could not orchestrate the doors that were open, facilitate the relationships, like I couldn't do it, like that was truly only God.
Speaker 3:Yes.
Speaker 4:And so my career path is, I mean, honest to goodness just been an only God moment. You look at my background, you look at the different roles that I had and you're like, okay, that's kind of scattered and all over the place. But then you look at where I am now and you see what I picked up, what I learned from each of those roles and how it played into what I'm doing now.
Speaker 3:So tell my viewers a couple of the jobs you did before you did this.
Speaker 4:Yeah, so I started when I first graduated college, again newly married. I had a wedding planning business because I loved events.
Speaker 3:Yes.
Speaker 4:But then that morphed into a role at East Tennessee Children's Hospital. Again giving back to the community, I was working on internal events, so retirement parties and just moments where we would pour into the staff, you know little tea parties, massages on the floor for our night shift. I mean just different things True, concierge. Yes, and so it was just so incredible to give back. And then I moved into more of an event and kind of corporate role with East Tennessee Children's Hospital.
Speaker 3:Okay.
Speaker 4:That led me to Baltimore for a really short period of time with Johns Hopkins Children's Hospital. Okay, that led me to Baltimore for a really short period of time with Johns Hopkins Children's Center.
Speaker 3:Um, and then I told y'all she's done a lot in 33 years. And then I.
Speaker 4:And then I came back to Knoxville, landed in athletics, which huge you know. When I was in pediatrics that was, I was never going to spend another day in anything other than pediatrics. I felt like this is my home, landed in athletics. Totally different world, but got to learn.
Speaker 3:She's talking about UT athletics.
Speaker 4:Yes, the University of Tennessee learned so much in that space. I bet Fast paced, very fast paced, but the relationships that I really got to build on even stronger there and honestly, when I look at where I am now, a lot of it was from building relationships and from my mentors I had the most incredible I mean not just female. I had some bosses and some men that I mean just said to me, morgan, if your kids are at a spelling bee, I better not see you in this office, like but the women that were in my life, that poured into me, that when I said, hey, I better not see you in this office, like that's good.
Speaker 4:But the women that were in my life that poured into me that when I said, hey, I really I want to get to this point one day. How do I get there? They said let's sit down and talk about that. So I just had that's really big because mentors to me.
Speaker 3:I've got a few mentors, and in different areas, and I reached out to two of them last night and I said I just want you to know that I'm so glad you're in my life and I'm so glad that you hold me accountable and they really and truly drive me and they make me focus on bettering myself. And that's the biggest thing with a mentor. If you have a mentor that they're not pushing you and they're not holding you accountable and they're not calling out where you could do better, you need a different mentor because it could really hurt your growth in what you're going to do. Because, just think about, you are at the largest college in Tennessee Okay, In the department that everything happens athletics, you know, and so at a young age you know it could have changed the way you look at things, but what it did is made you go even higher. So what made you want to work for the foundation? How did that work?
Speaker 3:I'm at Pat Head Summit. I am dedicating this episode to the memory of Pat Head Summit. She has been. She was a big influence in my husband's life, she was a big influence in my life and she in so many people's lives, you know. But the biggest thing is you're the director of her foundation and I think if she was living and I'm not saying this because you're my friend I think she would be proud. You are a girly girl, you are about your business, you're about community and you're humble and that was Pat, totally Very humble and would love to help people, that type thing. I think she would be proud that they picked the right person.
Speaker 4:So tell me how that happened. That just gave me a little chills.
Speaker 3:Yeah.
Speaker 4:So my short answer is when Joan Cronin calls you, say yes, ma'am.
Speaker 3:Oh yes, that's the short answer. Y'all done. Heard Joan on here before. When she says something, we say yes, ma'am.
Speaker 4:But the long answer of that is you know, at the time I had just gotten married, I had five kids, we had a new administration in athletics, and so I just I was looking ahead and I knew again, I know what kind of mom I want to be and how present I want to be. And I was saying, you know, we're coming out of COVID, we're going to be right back to where we were before, and I have even more kids now and the demand is greater. I can't be on campus as often as they expect.
Speaker 4:Because, it's really fast paced and it's a lot of hours and there's a lot of. I mean, there's always something, there's always a game or something going on or an event? Yes, and so we had got. I had gotten to the point I was looking for new jobs, but not many people in my office knew that at all. Okay, but I worked with a woman who had been I mean, her career at UT has just been incredible and Joan had actually called her about the role.
Speaker 4:And she had just unbeknownst to all of us, she had just accepted a new role at UT, so staying at UT but leaving athletics, okay.
Speaker 4:And so she told Joan, you know, no, I'm, I'm not your girl. And she said but have you talked to Morgan? Because Morgan is coming from a healthcare background. That's, that's what her experience was in, that's what she likes, she's very philanthropically minded. And so, at the same time those conversations were happening, I found out that the Pat Simic Foundation was hiring, and a friend of mine, who I've known him for the better part of a decade- Okay.
Speaker 4:He was one of the original founders of the foundation. So I heard PSF is hiring and I called him and I said so tell me about this Do you feel like it'd be a role that I'd be a good fit for? And six weeks later I about this Like do you feel like it'd be a role?
Speaker 3:that I'd be a good fit for, and six weeks later, you know I was there, oh wow.
Speaker 3:Let's go back on one thing. Yeah, another woman didn't accept that position. She didn't just stay closed mouth. She basically said I'm not your girl because I'm going to stay wherever I'm at, but I'm going to help this person. And the reason why I'm coming back on that? Because that's one thing that Pat always believed in helping the next woman to help. She helped everybody, but she was very passionate. Joan Cronin is very passionate about helping people. Women succeed, no matter what the world says. And so to hear you tell me that somebody basically said oh, have you talked to Morgan? You know her background, is this? That's amazing. That should speak volume of what you've shown her.
Speaker 3:Yeah, and that person who did that for me was a student manager for Pat, so you know, she was in the Pat family Really Okay good, because that's one thing, and she knew what that foundation and what that legacy needed.
Speaker 4:Yes, and so let me say that is. I think, when I look at my job, I am humbled. I mean each and every day, because I didn't play basketball, I didn't play for Pat, I didn't know Pat personally.
Speaker 3:The people.
Speaker 4:you know my board, a lot of the members of my advisory board, a lot of the people that I work with on a daily basis had those personal relationships with her. So for them to look at me and say we trust you to uphold these values to further the mission that Pat set out the mission that Pat set out.
Speaker 3:She's answering my next question already, because that's what I was going to ask.
Speaker 2:You is not knowing or meeting Pat Hitsum.
Speaker 3:I know you had to do a lot of research, read a lot about her. I mean, you probably knew a lot about her, but you really educated yourself to do the job you're doing.
Speaker 4:Talk about the pressure. Yeah, there's a lot of it. I have gotten to know Pat and who Pat is and who she was, through her players and those that she worked with her former coaches I mean, Joan is a big part of that. So I really feel like I have gotten to know her through those relationships and those interactions. It is a lot of pressure.
Speaker 2:A lot.
Speaker 4:You know I have a quote on my board and it actually was something that Tamika Catchings said in a speech. I think I was on the job maybe a month when I had gone to campus. Tamika was speaking at something, so it was my first chance getting to meet her and um, she said, um, pat, and she was talking about her players. She said Pat didn't expect us to be mediocre, pat expected us to be great.
Speaker 3:Yes.
Speaker 4:And I remember sitting there and that's when that hit me of. I mean, it really just hit me of. If that's what she expected of her players who wore the Lady Vol brand, how much more does she expect that for me and the foundation, the nonprofit that bears her name?
Speaker 3:Okay, I promise you that Morgan did not know. You got confirmation that okay, god put me here, and this is where I'm supposed to be. You know, I am going to represent a woman that I never have met nor had a conversation with, but this board believes in me that I can represent her in the best light. What was that? Your moment?
Speaker 4:So that was a different one. I've had a lot of them as we have, as we have grown, as we have expanded and done new things. Um, you know, when I was first brought on, I was I started in a development role, but there were two of us, so my job was was really to to start raising more funds so we could really further our mission. Um, and the first time that I thought, wow, this, for really this group really trusts me is we had started laying the groundwork of. You know, in the advancement world, I acquainted to sales.
Speaker 4:You know what are you selling? It's not necessarily a product, but but our job is to really connect people with a program or a mission or a service area. And so we were laying the groundwork of, okay, what are some of our, what are our initiatives, what are things that we're really wanting to break into and do more so I can have these conversations with our donors. And out of that came this idea for a caregiver training program. There's tons of great resources out there, but we were seeing the impact on caregivers their mental health, their physical health, emotional health and there weren't a lot of resources that were, I mean, just truly only focused on the caregivers, and so this idea came about, and so we started going, we started putting the plan together, and it's a $1.35 million investment from the Pat Sennett Foundation.
Speaker 4:So we get the price tag and we're like okay. And that was the first big time where I was like this board really trusts me and the vision that I have, because they said, if you yeah, let's do it, let's do it. We put this in front of them.
Speaker 3:Were you in shock A little bit? Did you go home and go?
Speaker 4:did they really say yes, yeah, there have been a little bit, because, again, it was something new for us, it was different, but it was one of those they trust me and have. They believe that if we're going to do this, we're going to do it right, right, and that they're all in and they're behind me. Okay, so that was the first like big.
Speaker 3:Do you think that your mentors, what they have taught you over the years, talk about that? Did the things that you have learned from your mentors? Did that influence you in your position and prepare you for this position?
Speaker 4:Yes, okay. So you know my mentors. A lot of the conversations that I'd had with you know the mentor that I had at East Tennessee Children's Hospital. Her name was Carlton Long. She and I would have conversations about like this is what I'm wanting to do, what are the steps? Yes, and being able to say, okay, how do you get the experience? What are I mean? Just making a plan and then you've got to follow through on that plan? Yes, and you've got to be accountable.
Speaker 3:And I think a lot of people don't realize that we all want to be successful. Okay, but you really have to stop and lay down a plan. Okay, I want to be here and I want these different opportunities to come to me. And so, if these opportunities, if I want them, what do I have to have and how does everything have to look and sound to make it all come together for my good? Yeah, because if it comes together for your good, you're going to go out in your community and you're going to make it good for your community. And so that's why I was asking about your mentors what they taught you early on. Was there any certain trait that you say it came from my mentors? Yeah, I mean, I think it was traits that they helped.
Speaker 4:It came from my mentors, yeah, I mean, I think it was traits that they helped me like just really fine tune. So again, it was. I was I've always been a planner and an organizer and this type a but being able to say, okay, well, here's, here's end goal, how are we going to get there?
Speaker 3:Yes, what, what are? And you have to be a planner and you have to be consistent and you have to, you've got to show up and you've got to take responsibility.
Speaker 4:And I will say I also had a great group that I worked with in Baltimore and I remember from them they taught me that it's okay, we're going to try something, and if it doesn't work, that is okay. It is Admit that. Say, hey, y'all, this didn't work. Here's where we fell short, here's the plan, here's where I think we go from there.
Speaker 3:I told Adrienne the other day about that. I said, you know people sit and say well, you don't give everything you touch turns to go. I'm like, no, it doesn't. I'm like I don't feel it's some stuff, trust me, I said, but the difference is I didn't stay there, I dusted myself off. Yeah, I was like okay, this is not for me, dust myself off. I didn't let it get all into my heart like, well, you know, am I good enough? All that? I didn't. I didn't allow it to lay dormant in me. Those moments don't define it, doesn't it't it just, really, honestly, it bursts of strength and that strongness about okay, well, the next thing I do, I got to make sure it's the right choice, the right thing and I think, going in this position as the first executive director, that's amazing.
Speaker 3:Thank you. So tell me what does it look like? What is your daily roles as being the director of the Pat Summit Foundation?
Speaker 4:Yeah, so in nonprofits we like to joke that you wear about 15 different hats yes, when you work for a nonprofit. So at the Pat Summit Foundation we wear about 67 different hats, because we are a very small staff, so hopefully we will begin to grow.
Speaker 3:You will, I have no doubt, with you being on top.
Speaker 4:Well, thank you. So we're really looking at how do we move the needle forward. And this is one of those things where my board and my advisory board have just I'm so thankful for the trust that they have placed in me and I mean, and they have my back. But when I first came on board, some members would say, well, we want to be the Alzheimer's charity of choice in Tennessee. And I sat with that for a little bit and was like, okay, you know, just it's good to hear what everyone's goals are, okay. But then I started looking at our donor base and I started looking at our support and I started seeing where do we have these pockets? Where are people reaching out from? Where are we seeing these things? And the Pat Summit name is not just limited to Tennessee. Alzheimer's disease is not just a Tennessee disease.
Speaker 4:Right, correct Our donors, our work, our ability to reach those and have an impact is nationwide, and so then I really started kind of challenging of why are we going to limit ourselves to Tennessee?
Speaker 3:Right.
Speaker 4:I want us to be one of the top philanthropic choices in this space in the country. That's amazing, and so that is what fuels us and drives us every day. And what's been amazing is hearing the same people who said that and again, that was that was their goal and that and it was a good goal but you wanted to go farther. It's been so neat to hear them now talk to people and they'll go.
Speaker 3:we're we're working to be the top in the country and I'm like and you're like that's it, because you have to have a team and a board that knows the mission.
Speaker 4:Yeah, understands the mission. Our goal every day is how are we moving our mission forward?
Speaker 3:I know it, pat had. Years ago, when everything happened and it was announced that she was ill, I saw my husband just truly, I mean I don't know if I ever told you David was on Pat's team, mel's team, practice team, and so he got to, you know, interact with her daily, you know. And then my father-in-law was on staff for 30 years at UT. So David, he really, it really hit him like a ton of bricks. I'll never forget the day where we were at everything when that was announced. Nothing was worse. But one other day, the day she passed, the day she passed away, my husband wrote on his Facebook what she meant to him. It makes me emotional.
Speaker 3:And to hear a man speak in that way about a woman and just honor her, morgan, when I say to you, you should really understand that they're trusting you with a big, big shoes, big shoes, and I think that they see that you can do it. And I think it's because you, your heart, is in it for the right reason. You've worked out in the community and you have tried your best to keep the mission on pat and not allow it to be on you or someone else. It's more of how can we keep this legacy going. So what is your job on the daily basis of? Okay, the legacy.
Speaker 4:Yeah, so we, you know we have a great fundraiser now on staff so we brought him on board to help kind of relieve some of those duties. So I do a lot in the estate planning world, planning um, people who you know, they it's so special to sit down and work with someone and they say we want our legacy to be tied in with Pat, so we're going to leave a gift in our estate, like those are those are some of the sweetest moments and the just the greatest things that I get to be a part of.
Speaker 4:But we I do a lot in our partnerships. So what are we doing? Who are we tying our brand to and those sorts of things? Oh, yeah, a lot in our grant making space. So, every day, truly, when I say every single day is different, every single day is different.
Speaker 3:oh, I believe that not in itself is is hectic and big, and I've never done non-profit and because but I do a lot with non-profits and I see a lot and I'm like, oh, wow, it's a lot of detail, yes, especially like with the grants and all it's a lot.
Speaker 1:Grants, IRS and the stress of it.
Speaker 2:Yes, it's, a lot.
Speaker 3:And let's go back.
Speaker 1:Joan Cronin.
Speaker 3:Joan Cronin was on my podcast last year interview that Pat was the one that when she had went off to uh, she traveled uh with her husband in his job in the Carolinas and when she got the call about the AD position, it was Pat that called her and said you need to take this position.
Speaker 3:So as another again another woman saying, hey, I've got the woman for you. This is who needs to be in this position and what Joan Cronin is getting to see her legacy. Because let me just say this about Ms Joan I don't know how she does as much as she does.
Speaker 4:I tell her weekly. I feel like if I can do half of what you are doing at your age, I am going to feel like I have accomplished a lot. I mean truly. Right now I was leaving to come here and my team was leaving to go pick her up because they had an appointment somewhere and they were going to do something to drop her off, and then she's had speaking engagement. I mean she is all over the place, All over and never complains.
Speaker 1:I've never, heard that woman complain.
Speaker 3:She does, and people will walk up to her and hear me when I tell you this person will speak to anybody. She will hold a conversation, she will hear them out, speak to anybody she will hold a conversation.
Speaker 4:She will hear them out. Joan Cronin is like the goat she is, and that's where I mean. You talk about incredible people to work with and work for.
Speaker 3:Yeah, joan, you can't get any better.
Speaker 4:Did my first interview and really, yes, and let me tell you that was a. I was like Whoa, okay, that was an experience.
Speaker 4:Her very first question that she asked was are you ready to lead? And I was like, yes, ma'am, okay, yes, it was. I mean we just jumped right in Um, but I get to work with and for women like that. And so my board chair was a director of ops for Pat, for she was a graduate student manager. Then the director of ops for for Pat for seven years went on to start the Atlanta dream. Um was a the women's commissioner for the um ACC. I mean, she's just her career. That's my board chair. Also, a single working mom, yeah, and so that's I.
Speaker 4:You know, you asked earlier what's something that my mentors have really instilled that have helped make me successful, and it's that they have shown me what it means to be a working mother. Right, and Shonda Rimes I don't know if you've ever seen this clip. I love Shonda well, she did this a commencement address once and she said when I am, you know, just excelling at one, I am almost always failing in another area. It is hard to balance work and family, but that is where I have just truly felt so fortunate to work for these incredible and with these incredible women who show me what it's like to have boundaries and to be able to say, hey, I've got us. We have a hard stop at this meeting because I've got to get the kids picked up for X. Hey, I am around, but here. Here's where my boundaries are.
Speaker 4:Hey, to balance that and then respect it and I will never forget the day Joan told me that she was going to make sure that she did everything in her power. When I took the job, she said we'll do everything in our power to make sure that you still are the successful, the mom that you want to be, and I'll never forget. We were sitting in an advisory board meeting and I had previously told her and we knew it was going to be a long meeting we try to keep them at an hour but we knew it was going to go over and I had told her well, listen, I have a hard. I personally have a hard stop because it's my son's final spring program at his preschool and you didn't want to miss it. I can't miss that and I will she. So we're starting to go over and she sees me looking down at my clock and she said how?
Speaker 4:many more minutes do you have, and I was like I mean just like five. I mean we're sitting there sidebar and she's like, okay, and we're in the middle discussing something and she goes gang, we need to pause here. Morgan has somewhere that she needs to be for her family, and so I'm gonna wrap this up. Morgan, go on see that right there.
Speaker 3:Pat would do that. Yeah, joan did that, and I think that's what we need to have more of of women coming together and understanding you know what. Like Morgan said, this is a hard stop right now, but hey, I'll be back out and I've got the resources for you. We can. I can answer whatever, but I have to take care of my family and success. Yes, you're always busy, you're always going to be doing, but you have to have a balance on it and you have to realize what you're representing has to be in line with your family. Yes, and I think your job is in line it is.
Speaker 4:I mean, I grew up here in Knoxville and Tyler and I were the same age, so like I grew up with the getting to see Pat at her son's basketball games. You know, I got to see that side of her and so, truthfully, having that support has meant that, like I'm able to, I don't. I feel like I can balance it better and I feel like I'm more successful and I also feel like it's just helped me say, okay, I've got these people that believe in me. They trust me, I'm giving them all I've got.
Speaker 3:She's having given all that I've got and they've got to deal with that. They have to understand that that's where I'm at, meeting people where they're at. So what's next for the Pat's Summit Foundation?
Speaker 4:Oh, goodness, um, but I'm even, I'm trying to think of what day it is and what week, and we have, I mean, there's just been a lot of big things happening for us, and so a lot of things that will, you'll, roll out.
Speaker 4:Yeah, yeah, so our our caregiver training program that we have online at launch nationwide last year. We're continuing to expand that. Okay, um, we've got. How can people get involved? Yeah, please tell the viewers. Yes, so for that they can go to patsgameplanorg. Visit the site. There's so many great just resources. You know where we were, where we sat, we knew we had connections and had all these great resources.
Speaker 3:Yes.
Speaker 4:Someone in rural Tennessee or in Oklahoma might not have access to those same resources, and so it was really important for us to how do we connect them, how do we make sure that they feel supported in this journey? So patsgameplanorg.
Speaker 3:Patsgameplanorg. And how do people get involved If they just want to be a volunteer or if they say you know what? I want to donate towards this, because I want people to understand that sometimes people don't get. Volunteering is wonderful, but you have to have funds as well to make sure that the events that you're putting on for the community it does cost. I mean, how do people get to donate? Yeah, patsummitorg.
Speaker 4:All of yeah, patsummitorg.
Speaker 2:All of it's on patsummitorg.
Speaker 4:They can go and they can click there and donate. Our contact information is there. So if they want to talk about bigger gifts, if they want to talk about leaving a legacy, then they can get in touch with us. For us, a big part of what's next that I'm really excited about is a little bit more in the research space, so we're looking at some different things there, but also we're we're looking at doing more in the education space and youth engagement, and so you know we're growing up, we have a whole generation of young people that don't understand and know who pat is.
Speaker 4:That's true, what she did, how she opens the doors opened the doors for them to walk through, and so we're starting to look at doing even more there.
Speaker 3:Look at ladies basketball. How much has changed Can you imagine? I think she'd be so proud.
Speaker 4:I think she would too. I think she'd have some things to say about some different things that are going on right now I agree.
Speaker 3:Oh, I can see one of them. Good old screaming matches on oh yeah, yes, yes.
Speaker 4:But I think she would be so proud of the attention that is on women's basketball right now and that you know, I'm so glad that Ms Joan gets to see it.
Speaker 3:Yes, if Pat couldn't see it, I'm so glad that Ms Joan, because she paved the way for so many people.
Speaker 4:Joan just received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the Final Four and see this is when was that Two weeks ago and that was voted on by her peers. And see, that's a huge honor, Well-deserved. I'm just so thankful that she is getting the recognition. I mean Joan was a trailblazer.
Speaker 3:I want you to know that we are going to dedicate this to Pet Summit and Joan Cronin, because those two women me and Morgan wouldn't be sitting here without them. So what's next on the Morgan side of family? Oh goodness.
Speaker 4:Last night, you know, my husband and I did the fun business meeting I I'll call it for. Okay, what are summer camps? Who's going where, who has to get who to what thing? And they're all excited right now. They're in teacups right now.
Speaker 3:Okay.
Speaker 4:End of year testing and my goodness, that's just a difficult Teacup yes, so they have Friday off of school and so they have all asked for all the friends to come over. And I don't know if you ever felt like this, like we just live. It's organized chaos. We have four boys and one girl, so the house is always loud. There's always, I mean, there's always something. So we have just gotten to the point. If one asks for a friend to come, over.
Speaker 3:We're like sure, and who do you want and who do you want? And I mean, just go ahead and have them all over. So Adrian was the kid that my house stayed packed. Yeah, okay, jaden's not like Jaden. Like certain times he wants it that way. Yeah, but like birthday he's, jaden is more, not he. I don't want that many people. So you're a house that it's a whole bunch of kids, no matter five or 10, you could be there any any other week I've had someone.
Speaker 4:We've had several kids spend the night before and the mom will come and they're like oh my gosh, how did you? You know cooking breakfast? I'm like this is our normal amount of breakfast, like I'm always feeding an army anyway.
Speaker 3:Yes.
Speaker 4:Like just bring them.
Speaker 3:And we're going to feed them and we're going to make sure they have a great time and we just our feed them and we're going to make sure they have a great time.
Speaker 4:And we, we just our our hope, and Jason and I talk about this often is we want to be a home. That I mean our kids know where we stand and they know where I mean the Bible is where we get our truth our values.
Speaker 1:And we want.
Speaker 4:We want them to bring their friends and to know that they are welcome, that they will, they will be loved. We want them to know that. I mean just.
Speaker 3:I think having a godly home, um, it's different. You know what I'm saying? Uh, in every facet of your life, and I think that you're doing it well, thank you Well and it's so funny.
Speaker 4:It's a godly home is different and we discipline, but like it's even those conversations are just fun with our kids, because our kids know like, do you remember growing up, your parents would like correct you on something and you would be like did they just pull that out of it?
Speaker 3:They just don't want to do that.
Speaker 1:Yes, yes.
Speaker 4:Our kids know that, like listen, we know that we are called to discipline biblically, like I mean, there are lots of scriptures on correcting and just really disciplining. God sets that example and putting those guardrails up and our job is we are called to discipline but we don't just pull things out. It's just amazing the conversations that we have with our kids.
Speaker 3:I think the biggest thing that parents need to realize is you can discipline your kids at the same time. Let them have an opinion, yes, let them be able to speak, yeah, and you know, and y'all come together. You know, yes, you know how far they can go, and they should know how, how far that they can go. But I think, giving them a voice and letting them have an opinion, in the long run they turn out. They turn out great, exactly how God is, and that's what I it's like for Jason.
Speaker 4:Our kids know that, like where we get the parameters for decision making and what guides us and what's our light like. It's what biblically based, yes, but then to be able to have these different conversations with our kids and have them ask questions, I mean like my 12 year old was asking Jason about, like compound interest one day. I still don't even think I can explain that to you.
Speaker 3:Like, but they just Morgan's like what it's this but Jane will ask questions Me and Adrian was talking about it the other day. Our educations are different because each kid, every generation, gets a better education, I think Because I know that Adrian got a better education than I got in high school and back. You know that type of thing Because there's new things that come out and all that. But, like, jane will bring up something more and I'm like, how does he know that?
Speaker 4:Yes, well, and the question to our daughter is like so philosophical and her favorite time is bedtime and she'll pull out these questions and I'm like that's what you have been thinking about. Wow, yes, I don't think I knew to ask that until I was 16, 17 years old.
Speaker 3:Me and Adrienne talk about it all the time. With Jane, it's such a fun.
Speaker 4:It is age and the fact that our kids know that we're not, that it's not unpredictable. They know where we stand, they know where our truth is, we have. We are trying to instill that in them, but it has given this sense of just, security and joy and a godly home, and that's what I think a godly home is it?
Speaker 3:just you have your and you know your principles. If you don't know, if you don't know how to handle something you know, go to the good book and your kids. I think teaching kids how to pray, teaching kids how to seek God on their own and with you, I think it's key. So, morgan, we love it.
Speaker 3:I want you to know I am so proud of you and I am so glad you're in my life. I truly I love you and the door is always open. If there's ever a time that you want to get something out to the community and you need a mic to do it, I'm telling you Talking Tennessee is your place because the door is always open to you. Most definitely Tune in Friday to Talking Tennessee with Yvonca, and I will have Morgan Vance from Pat's Summit Foundation talking to you. Bye, guys.
Speaker 1:Thanks for listening to Talking Tennessee with Yvonca. Watch out for our weekly episodes from the First Family of Real Estate and check us out on the web wwwyvoncasalesrealestatecom. See our videos on Yvonca's YouTube channel or find us on Facebook under Yvonca Landis and Twitter at Yvonca Landis, and don't forget to tell a friend about us. Until next time. Yvonca signing off.