Sparking Success with Aaron Opalewski. Aaron brings you conversations that spark innovation, cultivate leadership skills, and pave the way for your business success. In each episode, we delve into the dynamic world of business and leadership, exploring strategies, insights, and success stories that fuel your professional journey.
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Welcome to The Packaging Paradigm Podcast! Your go-to source for crafting careers and redefining packaging. Whether you're an industry veteran or just starting out, join us as we explore the exponential career opportunities, and success stories in the packaging space. In each episode, we'll bring you expert insights, Paradigm shifts, inspiring journeys, and actionable advice from packaging leaders to help you discover, navigate and thrive in your packaging career.
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"Welcome to the Spark Companies Podcast, your go-to resource for all things talent acquisition and career development. I'm thrilled to be your host as we embark on a journey fueled by our core purpose: creating 100,000 opportunities. At Spark Companies, we're not just a talent acquisition agency; we're champions of potential, dedicated to connecting talented individuals with their dream careers and helping businesses thrive through exceptional talent. Join me as we explore the dynamic landsc ...
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Welcome to Multi Multi! A podcast where we talk about the multitude of multisite student ministry. More and more churches are heading to a multi-site format and with that, there are a ton of questions to ask and lessons to learn as we look to make the most of the opportunities God has blessed us with to serve! Join your Joe Crabb, Gina Abbas, Kim Schuler, and EJ Swanson, as they share about their multisite experience and answer the multitude of questions that come with it!
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Ep:28 Timing is Key: When to Join Networking Groups
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In this episode, Aaron and EJ discuss the topic of networking and its impact on businesses and lives. They emphasize the importance of focusing on becoming a high performer before joining networking groups or masterminds. They also discuss the timing of joining such groups and the dangers of getting off track or being steered in the wrong direction…
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The Importance of Continued Education in the Packaging Industry
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Summary Julie Suggs, the Academic Director of the Packaging School, discusses the importance of continued education and lifelong learning in the packaging industry. She shares her own journey from studying chemistry to discovering her passion for packaging, and highlights the benefits of online learning and networking in the industry. Julie emphasi…
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EP:27 From Doer to Leader: The Value of Hands-On Experience
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Stefan Joens, President and CEO of Elnik Systems, shares his experience of moving his company from New Jersey to North Carolina. He discusses the challenges and lessons learned during the transition, including the importance of adaptability and the art of the pivot. Stefan emphasizes the value of being a doer before becoming a leader and the signif…
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The Power of Genuine Connections in Recruiting with Ben Mena
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In this conversation, Benjamin Mena, the founder of Select Source Solutions and host of the Elite Recruiter Podcast, is interviewed by Aaron Opalewski of Sparking Success. They discuss various topics related to government contracting, recruiting, and the impact of AI in the industry. Benjamin shares his journey into the government contracting space…
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The Importance of Networking in the Packaging Industry
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In this episode of the Packaging Paradigm podcast, host Dominic Crosson interviews Taylor Bruff, an account manager at Spark Packaging. They discuss Taylor's career journey, tips for job seekers, and strategies for companies looking to hire. They emphasize the importance of preparation, networking, and clear communication in the hiring process. The…
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EP: 25 Understanding Gross Profit Margins for Recruiting Agencies
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In this episode, Aaron and EJ discuss the importance of recurring business and gross profit margins in growing a recruiting agency. They explain that recurring business provides valuation and stability to the agency, while gross profit margins determine the profitability of each placement. They also touch on different forms of recurring revenue, su…
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In todays episode, Sarah Englade shares her journey in the recruiting industry and the founding of her company, Monarch Talent Solutions. She emphasizes the importance of niching down and focusing on a specific market, in her case, accounting, finance, and human resources in Houston, Texas. Sarah highlights the value of building relationships and p…
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Exploring the Potential of Temporary Staffing
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In the episode, Mike Williams, founder of Carnegie Search, joins the Sparking Success podcast to discuss the challenges of growing a recruiting business. They talk about the importance of setting realistic goals and not sacrificing excellence for rapid growth. Mike shares his strategy of focusing on developing his team and maintaining a high level …
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Learning from Failures: Turning Setbacks into Opportunities The Importance of Thorough Due Diligence in M&A with Jake Raska
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In this weeks episode,Jake Raska from Carrera Capital Advisors discusses the story of starting Carrera and the importance of building strong teams. He emphasizes the value of collaboration, complementary skill sets, and continuous improvement. Jake also highlights the significance of being present for family while managing a busy work schedule and …
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Taking Action and Following Your Heart The Future of the Recruiting Industry
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39:30
Tom Caravela, a career services expert and entrepreneur, is the first guest on the Sparking Success podcast. He shares his journey of starting his own executive search firm, The Carolan Group, and the success of his podcast, MSL Talk. Tom's decision to start the podcast was driven by his desire to help job seekers and professionals in the pharmaceu…
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Partnerships in business and life are discussed in this episode. The host shares his experiences and insights on the importance of bringing different skills to a partnership, having clear agreements, and ongoing communication. He emphasizes the value of partnerships in achieving success and fulfillment. The host also acknowledges the significance o…
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The Importance of Training and Development for Career Advancement in the Packaging Industry
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By The Packaging Paradigm Podcast
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The importance of choosing the right career path
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39:13
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In this episode, Aaron Opalewski and E.J. Swanson discuss the importance of choosing the right career path. They highlight three key factors to consider: evaluating the organization or department, evaluating the vehicle or opportunity, and taking action. They emphasize the need for alignment with the company's values and mission, as well as the imp…
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Top 4 Business Lessons from other Entrepreneurs
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37:27
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In this episode, Aaron shares four top lessons he has learned throughout his career that he believes will be helpful for other entrepreneurs and business leaders. The first lesson is to focus on the fundamentals and control the controllable aspects of your work. The second lesson is to collaborate with others in your industry, even if they are cons…
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Crafting Careers in the Packaging Industry
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Summary In this conversation, Dominic interviews Spark Packagings Ian Shiemke , an account manager at Spark Packaging, he shares his journey and insights into the packaging industry. He discusses career advancement, the impact of retail and food service experience, the importance of personal branding, and the opportunities for growth within the ind…
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The Evolving Landscape of the Packaging Industry with Ryan Fox
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39:03
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In this episode, Dominic Crosson interviews Ryan Fox, Ryan shares insights on self-mastery, career advancement, and the impact of data points on decision-making. He discusses the significance of understanding personal strengths and leveraging them to make career choices. Additionally, he delves into the evolving landscape of the packaging industry,…
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Welcome to The Packaging Paradigm Podcast
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In this episode of the Packaging Paradigm podcast, E.J. Swanson interviews Dom Crosson, the president of Spark Packaging, to discuss his journey in the packaging industry and the purpose of the podcast. Dom shares his career transition, the unique niche of Spark Packaging, and the importance of industry expertise. The conversation also highlights t…
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The Strategic Decision to Give Away 960 Pizzas: A Long-Term Business Outlook
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On todays episode Aaron and Ej delve into the strategic decision to give away 960 pizzas and the business implications behind it. It explores the concept of customer lifetime value, community engagement, and the importance of long-term business outlook. The discussion also touches on the significance of financial stability and the impact of generos…
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The Role of EQ in Leadership and Personal Growth
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In this episode, Aaron and EJ discuss the importance of emotional intelligence (EQ) in leadership. Aaron shares his personal journey of developing EQ over the years and how it has impacted his leadership style. They emphasize the need for leaders to evolve and grow in their EQ as their team and responsibilities expand. They also discuss the balance…
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Summary In this episode, Aaron Opalewski and EJ Swanson discuss the art of negotiation in recruitment. They emphasize the importance of understanding the needs and desires of both the client and the candidate in order to make the best match. They highlight the value of thorough communication and preparation in the negotiation process. They also str…
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Being Present and Intentional in Business and Life
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38:22
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In this episode, Aaron Opalewski and EJ Swanson discuss the importance of stepping away from work to avoid burnout and maintain a healthy work-life balance. They share their personal experiences and insights on when and how to take time off, especially for business owners and leaders. They emphasize the need for intentional time management and bein…
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The Role of Faith in Success With Ben Newman
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By Aaron Opalewski
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Sales Mistakes, Respecting the Chain of Command: Treating Everyone with Respect
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36:45
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In this episode, Aaron and E.J. discuss sales mistakes that people make when connecting with customers and clients. They emphasize the importance of understanding the context and situation of each prospect and not blindly going straight to the top decision-maker. They highlight the mistake of not respecting the chain of command and not building rel…
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Setting Vision and Direction: The Key to Organizational Success
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36:43
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In this episode, Aaron Opalewski discusses the importance of setting vision and direction within an organization. He shares his approach to crafting vision and the challenges he has faced in communicating it effectively. Opalewski highlights the significance of off-sites, leadership meetings, company meetings, and daily stand-ups in aligning the te…
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Understanding the Importance of EBITDA in Business
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21:37
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Summary In this episode, Aaron Opalewski and E.J. discuss the importance of EBITDA (Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization) in evaluating the profitability and value of a business. They explain how EBITDA is a key number that indicates how much money a business makes and how it can be used to assess the growth and potential…
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Growing a recruitment business to 7 or 8-figure portfolio companies
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Join Aaron as he share with Mark Whitby from the The Resilient Recruiter Podcast Growing a recruitment business to 7 or 8-figure portfolio companies might be much simpler than you think. Few firm owners achieve this, but Aaron Opalewski stands as an example of this entrepreneurial success. He co-founded his first staffing company at just 24 and has…
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In this episode , Aaron Opalewski shares his expertise on talent acquisition strategies. He discusses the importance of having a talent acquisition funnel to consistently generate potential candidates. He also emphasizes the significance of personal and company branding in attracting talent. Aaron highlights the need for an effective interview proc…
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Summary In this episode, Aaron Opalewski and EJ Swanson discuss the importance of performance management in organizations. They outline a three-step process for addressing performance issues: friendly conversation, serious discussion, and opportunity plan. They emphasize the need for empathy and clear communication throughout the process. They also…
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Igniting Success: The Spark Companies' Mission | Deep Dives into the Spark Companies' Portfolio
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Summary In this episode, EJ Swanson and Aaron Opalewski provide an overview of the companies under the Spark Companies umbrella. They discuss the different sectors and service offerings of each company, including Spark Talent, Spark Packaging, John Joseph Partners, Ignite Search, Bolt, and Flex. They also talk about the vision behind Bolt Creative …
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The Value of Loyalty and Commitment in the Recruiting Industry
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Summary In this episode of the Spark Companies podcast, Aaron Opalewski and Fletcher Kundtz discuss the key characteristics that make someone successful in the recruiting and staffing industry. They highlight three major characteristics: character, self-sacrifice, and accountability. They emphasize the importance of integrity in recruiting and how …
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The different types of recruiting services
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30:45
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Summary In this episode, E.J. Swanson and Aaron Opalewski discuss the different types of recruiting at Spark Companies. They cover contract to direct hiring, direct hire, recruitment partner services, and engaged searches. They explain the differences between these types and the benefits they offer to both clients and candidates. They also discuss …
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The importance of retention awareness in talent acquisition and career development.
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32:24
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Summary In this episode of the Spark Companies podcast, the hosts discuss the importance of retention awareness in talent acquisition and career development. They emphasize the role of pay, variable compensation, and training in retaining employees. They also highlight the significance of career paths and career maps in providing a clear trajectory…
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Internal recruiting strategies and the importance of career growth
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32:45
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Summary In this episode of the Spark Companies podcast, EJ Swanson and Aaron Opalewski discuss internal recruiting strategies and the importance of career growth. They explore the different needs and priorities of individuals in their career paths and how organizations can create opportunities to meet those needs. They also delve into the differenc…
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Lessons Learned: Challenges and Growth in the Early Years
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Summary In this episode, Aaron Opalewski, the CEO and Managing Partner of Spark Companies and Spark Talent, shares the journey of Spark Companies and its growth over the years. He discusses the early years of Spark, the challenges faced in the second year, and the lessons learned. He also talks about the transition and growth of the company in the …
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In this episode, Aaron discusses the importance of knowing your numbers in business and how to develop a gross profit strategy. He emphasizes the need to understand financial statements, such as income statements and balance sheets, and the difference between sales revenue and gross profit. Aaron explains that knowing your numbers allows for data-d…
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In this episode, Aaron discusses the concept of vertical integrations and their role in driving efficiencies, lowering costs, and creating leverage within a business. He emphasizes the importance of timing and focusing on core competencies when considering a vertical integration. Aaron shares examples of successful vertical integrations within Spar…
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The journey of growing a business at different levels of gross profit
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In this episode, Aaron discusses the journey of growing a business at different levels of gross profit. He emphasizes the importance of focusing on gross profit rather than just sales revenue. Aaron shares insights and challenges encountered when crossing the $1 million, $3 million, and $10 million marks. He highlights the need for the leader to be…
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The importance of anchoring achievements to key objectives.
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In this episode, Aaron discusses the importance of anchoring achievements to key objectives. He emphasizes the difference between goals and objectives, highlighting the significance of objectives in driving growth and contributing to a larger mission. Aaron also shares personal stories of how he attaches meaning to his objectives, such as impacting…
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In this episode, Aaron Opalewski and EJ Swanson discuss the importance of feedback loops and how they can lead to success in various areas of business. They explore feedback loops in projects, the development of new service lines, and the positive outcomes that can result from analyzing failures. They emphasize the need for quick adjustments and th…
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In this episode, Aaron Opalewski introduces the Sparking Success podcast and shares his personal journey from his upbringing to his current role as the CEO of Spark Companies. He discusses the importance of faith and how it has guided his path. Aaron also talks about his experiences in school, sports, and personal training, highlighting the lessons…
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Join Joe as he provides an update on the show :)By Multi Multi Podcast
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Join Gina Abbas as she talks with Chelsea Van Noord (Harbor Churches), Shanna Craig (Woodside), and Mary Reed (Woodside) about being a woman in multisite ministry. You will be encouraged by their insight and wisdom!By Multi Multi Podcast
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Join us for an incredible and encouraging conversation with Allison from Feed Youth Ministry Resources!Feed constructs FREE resources centered on core biblical convictions that the majority of evangelical protestants from different denominational backgrounds would agree with. They aim to help young people think about how they are supposed to live i…
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Summer is here and it is shaping up to (yet again) be a summer like never before. Join Gina and Joe as they talk about camps, mission trips, getting rest, and stacking hands as a multisite team to leverage and build momentum this summer!By Multi Multi Podcast
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Gina is joined by a special guest host, Joe Graham, to discuss all things hiring and interviews. Tune in as they give practical tips, principles, and insight on best processes when it comes to either being interviewed of hiring on new staff within your multisite organization!By Multi Multi Podcast
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Episode 71 - Lessons Learned with Gina Abbas
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23:48
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Joe interviews Gina to hear about all of the leadership lessons she has learned along the way as she's led in multisite ministry for over a decade. From staff culture to valuing volunteers to leading yourself well in difficult times, we hope you're encouraged by this conversation!By Multi Multi Podcast
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Episode 70 - Meetings, Meetings, and More Meetings!
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Meetings, meetings, and more meetings! Join Gina and Joe as they talk all about how to make meetings great, different meeting rhythms, and the one thing you should never do in a meeting!By Multi Multi Podcast
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Episode 69 - Lessons Learned with Joe Crabb
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Gina interviews Joe to hear about all of the leadership lessons he has learned along the way as he's led in multisite ministry for over a decade. From staff culture to valuing volunteers to leading yourself well in difficult times, we hope you're encouraged by this conversation!By Multi Multi Podcast
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A conversation with Gina and Joe on different approaches when it comes to implementing a teaching strategy across the campuses. Whether it be using an already created curriculum, writing from scratch, video teaching, live communicators…there is much to consider and care for when it comes to teaching.…
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Episode 67 - A Conversation with Kent Bjurstrom
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35:47
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Gina and Joe have a conversation with Kent Bjurstrom, the pastor of student ministries at Northview Church, a non-denominational church with 13 campuses throughout central Indiana, on equipping, empowering, and encouraging multisite staff, students, and family amid a COVID world. Kent shares the shifting staff dynamics and ministry models that have…
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