Oct 5

Beyond the Founder: Preparing Your Business, Your People, and Your Legacy

On this episode of the Encouragement for Work Podcast, we’re excited to welcome Donald J. Sauder, CPA, CVA, of Sauder & Stoltzfus, LLC. Donald has spent his career helping business owners make wise decisions about their organizations, finances, and futures. Since entering public accounting in 2008, he has worked with more than 1,000 businesses and individuals across a wide range of industries. As both a Certified Public Accountant and Certified Valuation Analyst, Donald brings extensive experience in tax planning, business valuation, ownership transitions, estate planning, and succession planning. Succession is about much more than taxes and transferring ownership. It’s about preparing your business, developing your people, and protecting what you’ve worked so hard to build for the next generation. Beyond the Founder: Preparing Your Business, Your People, and Your Legacy Start Before You’re Ready to Leave — Why succession planning needs to begin years before an ownership or leadership transition. Prepare the Business and the People — Bringing together the tax, financial, ownership, leadership, and HR sides of succession. Build a Legacy That Continues — Developing future leaders and creating a structure that allows the organization to thrive beyond the founder. We hope this conversation encourages you to think differently about succession and to start preparing now. The decisions you make today can strengthen your organization, prepare your people, and help ensure the mission continues well beyond the current generation. Want to go deeper? Learn more about planning for your organizations future in this recent blog post. Succession Planning: Are You Prepared for What’s Next? Concerned about your organization's current HR practices, policies, or employment-related risk? An IHN HR Assessment can help uncover gaps and identify opportunities to strengthen your HR systems before they become larger problems. Contact us today to learn how we can help your organization Align. Strengthen. Advance. Follow Us On Instagram Here

Sep 15

Protecting Your Organization: Employment Practices Liability, HR, and Organizational Risk

Christian led organizations are called to care for people, steward resources wisely, and protect the organizations entrusted to them. Yet many for profit Christian owned companies, churches, ministries, and faith-based organizations may not fully understand one of their most significant areas of organizational risk: employment-related claims. In this episode of the Encouragement for Work Podcast, Mark A. Griffin sits down with Kyle Johnson, Corporate Counsel at Brotherhood Mutual Insurance Company, for an important conversation about Employment Practices Liability (EPL), insurance coverage, and the role strong HR practices play in protecting Christian organizations. Kyle brings a legal and insurance perspective to a subject every leader should understand. Employment decisions, workplace complaints, allegations of discrimination or harassment, termination decisions, and other employee-related matters can create significant financial, legal, and reputational exposure for an organization. The challenge is that many leaders may assume their existing insurance provides protection without fully understanding what is and is not covered. For example, Brotherhood Mutual offers Employment Practices Liability coverage as an endorsement to its standard General Liability policy rather than as a standalone policy. Yet, according to information provided by Brotherhood Mutual's underwriting department, only about 43% of its CMP customers currently have EPL coverage. That raises an important question for Christian leaders: Do you really know how your organization is protected if an employment-related claim occurs? In this episode, you’ll learn: What Employment Practices Liability coverage is and why it matters for churches, ministries, and other Christian organizations. Where organizations can unknowingly have gaps in coverage and why leaders should understand their policies before a workplace issue occurs. Why insurance alone isn't enough. Strong HR policies, effective employee and manager training, clear reporting channels, good documentation, and appropriate responses to workplace concerns can all help reduce organizational risk. How HR practices and insurance protection work together to help safeguard the organization, its employees, its leadership, and the mission it has been called to fulfill. What leaders should be asking their insurance provider now, rather than waiting until an employee complaint, termination, allegation, or lawsuit exposes a potential gap. This episode is for pastors, executive leaders, board members, HR professionals, and anyone responsible for protecting and stewarding a Christian organization. Listen & Learn Protecting your organization isn't simply about purchasing insurance or creating policies. It requires leaders to understand their risks, put sound employment practices in place, train their people, and prepare before a difficult situation occurs. Being proactive can help protect your people, your organization, and ultimately your ability to carry out your mission. Concerned about your organization's current HR practices, policies, or employment-related risk? An IHN HR Assessment can help uncover gaps and identify opportunities to strengthen your HR systems before they become larger problems. Contact us today to learn how we can help your organization Align. Strengthen. Advance. Follow Us On Instagram Here

May 5

Faith Driven Human Resources: A Strategic Approach to Culture Transformation

What does a Faith Driven HR organization truly look like, and how does that connect to culture transformation in today’s workplace? In this recorded session from the Busch School of Business HR Speaker Series, host Tracy Phillips leads a focused and engaging conversation with Mark A. Griffin, Founder and President of IHN HR. Together, they explore how faith informed leadership principles can be applied within modern HR practices to build cultures rooted in trust, accountability, and purpose. This discussion moves beyond theory. Mark shares practical insight drawn from years of experience working with businesses, ministries, and institutions across the country. The conversation centers on how leaders can integrate values driven leadership into their organizations without compromising professionalism, performance, or inclusion. Tracy guides the conversation in a way that brings clarity and real world application, helping listeners connect these principles directly to their own leadership responsibilities. The result is a meaningful and grounded discussion for anyone seeking to strengthen culture and lead people well in a changing environment. Listeners will walk away with a clearer understanding of what it means to lead with intention, how to create alignment within their teams, and why culture transformation begins with leadership. Featuring Mark A. Griffin Human Resources Executive, Speaker, and Founder of IHN HR Hosted By Tracy Phillips Podcast host and leadership communicator known for facilitating thoughtful conversations that connect purpose with practical application. This episode is designed for business owners, executives, HR leaders, and students who are committed to building strong, values aligned organizations. Continue the Conversation with IHN HR If this episode encouraged you, we invite you to take the next step in building a healthier, stronger, faith-aligned workplace. IHN HR helps organizations navigate Human Resources from a Christian perspective — combining sound strategy, compliance, and biblical leadership principles. Faith Driven HR — The Book https://inhisnamehr.com/faith-driven-... https://faithdrivenhr.com/ HR Assessments & Organizational Alignment https://inhisnamehr.com/services/hr-a... HR & Title IX / Workplace Investigations https://inhisnamehr.com/services/hr-t... More Podcast Episodes https://inhisnamehr.com/category/podc... Connect with IHN HR https://inhisnamehr.com/contact/ Stay encouraged. Lead with purpose. Steward people well.

Feb 24

Hiring for Your Why: Staying True to Your Core Values with Vaughn Thurman

In this episode, we’re talking about something every leader wrestles with — how to hire not just for talent, but for fit. Leaders are often tempted to prioritize skills over alignment, yet the long-term health of an organization depends on hiring people who embody its mission, vision, and values. Join us in this episode of Encouragement for Work as Mark is joined by Vaughn Thurman, CEO of HighGear Software, a leader who has built his company around a set of core values that have come to define the organization and everything it does. Vaughn’s journey reminds us that hiring decisions do more than impact the bottom line — they shape culture, influence engagement, and define how work is experienced every day. About Our Guest: Vaughn Thurman Vaughn Thurman is a technology leader and entrepreneur passionate about building organizations where people thrive, and mission drives performance. As CEO of HighGear Software, Vaughn leads a team dedicated to helping organizations simplify complexity and work with greater purpose and clarity. Throughout his career, Vaughn has emphasized values-based leadership, particularly the importance of hiring and developing people who align with an organization’s mission, vision, and values. His experience building and scaling teams and shaping cultures has reinforced a critical truth: mission-aligned hiring is essential to long-term success and healthy workplaces. Vaughn brings practical insight to conversations at the intersection of leadership, culture, and performance, encouraging leaders to remain faithful to their mission while building strong, empowered teams. Vaughn’s leadership journey includes the unique experience of building two radically different companies, teams, and cultures under one roof and of observing and learning from the unexpected operational, financial, and relational impacts of having one team built on principles while the other was built on a top-candidate opportunistic hiring strategy. But most importantly, Vaughn is a follower of Christ and is not ashamed to share the message. Hiring Against Your MVV — Why It Costs You More Than You Think Hiring individuals who do not align with your mission, vision, and values can quietly erode culture, weaken engagement, and undermine long-term performance. Vaughn shares lessons from building HighGear — from early hiring decisions to scaling a values-driven organization — and how staying true to core values shaped the company’s identity and success. You will learn: Hiring for culture and values isn’t a “nice to have” — it’s a strategic and sustainable business decision. Leadership Lessons from a Mission-Driven CEO Vaughn’s path — from the Air Force to serial entrepreneur to CEO — offers valuable insight into leading with integrity and purpose. He discusses how core values such as honesty, discipline, and commitment to service influence decision-making, recruitment, and team development, especially when leaders face pressure to compromise. You will learn: Leading people well requires intentional value alignment, beginning with how and why you hire. Building High-Performing Teams by Empowering People Vaughn’s work with no-code workflow tools reflects a deeper leadership principle: equip people to do meaningful work. He explores how this mindset shapes recruitment, training, and culture-building — moving organizations beyond transactional hiring toward transformational development. You will learn: Work becomes a place of growth when people are seen as contributors to purpose, not cogs in a machine. Concerned about your organization’s as-is HR programs? The benefits of having a trusted partner guide you and your team toward excellence are invaluable. Contact us today. You — and your employees — will be glad you did. Rise with us by implementing high-performance, remote human-resource programs designed to help you find great people. E-mail us here. Mark A. Griffin is President and Founder of IHN HR. Connect with him on LinkedIn and Twitter. Follow Us On Instagram Here

Feb 17

Finding Purpose & Staying Encouraged: Leadership Lessons for Thriving Through Change

Now more than ever, work can feel heavy for some. Post-COVID transitions, return-to-office tension, cultural division, and a constant stream of polarizing news have created workplaces filled with uncertainty, fatigue, and quiet disconnection. Many leaders are asking the same question: How do we keep people moving forward when everything feels like it’s pulling us apart? The good news? There is a better way and it starts with leading from purpose, encouragement, and faith-rooted clarity. In this episode, we’re joined by Joanna C. Brown, Founder and Lead Consultant of Eden Beacon LLC. Joanna is a trusted advisor, executive coach, and leadership consultant who helps organizations and individuals grow with intention, integrity, and alignment. Through her work in business and human capital consulting, faith-based leadership development, and culture transformation, Joanna equips leaders to navigate change without losing their people or themselves. She is also the author of Don’t Die in the Desert, a devotional guiding individuals through difficult seasons with resilience and hope. Together, we explore how leaders can transform seasons of disruption into moments of renewal. 1. Reconnecting to Purpose When Everything Feels Uncertain Key insight: Change often disconnects people from why they do what they do and purpose is the first thing leaders must help restore. We’ll explore: How leaders can revisit personal and organizational purpose during transition Using purpose as an anchor when roles, goals, and structures shift Practical questions leaders can ask to bring clarity back to their teams Takeaway: When circumstances are unstable, purpose becomes your strongest stabilizer. 2. Leading with Encouragement (Not Just Information) Key insight: In times of change, information alone isn’t enough people need reassurance, hope, and to feel seen. We’ll explore: Why encouragement is a leadership skill anyone can learn Simple, daily practices that rebuild morale and trust How encouragement strengthens engagement, resilience, and retention Takeaway: Encouragement fuels momentum when motivation runs low. 3. Turning Change into a Growth Opportunity (for You and Your Team) Key insight: Every transition carries the potential for transformation if leaders choose to lead with intention instead of fear. We’ll explore: Shifting from fear-based reactions to growth-based responses Helping teams see change as refinement rather than loss Leading with faith, values, and confidence through the unknown Takeaway: When change is led well, it becomes a catalyst for lasting growth. Change is inevitable but discouragement doesn’t have to be. Join us for this timely conversation with Joanna C. Brown and discover practical, faith-rooted leadership tools to help you reconnect to purpose, lead with encouragement, and guide your team through change with confidence and hope. Listen & Learn Discover how HR can be a bridge to healing, connection, and faith-driven support in the workplace. Tune in to gain valuable insights and tools for cultivating a culture of care in your organization. Concerned about your organization’s as-is HR programs? The benefits of having a trusted partner guide you and your team to excellence are invaluable. Contact us today. You and your employees will be glad you did. Rise with us by implementing our high-performance remote human-resource programs to help find great people! E-mail us here. Mark A. Griffin is president and founder of IHN HR. Connect with him on LinkedIn and Twitter. Follow Us On Instagram Here

Feb 9

Rethinking Employee Benefits: ICHRA, Choice, and the Future of Healthcare

As organizations grow, their benefits strategy must grow with them. But many leaders are still navigating rising costs, confusing options, and outdated healthcare models that no longer serve their teams well. Join us as we sit down with Julie Garrett, Vice President of Employee Benefits at HUB International. Julie is a senior employee benefits consultant with extensive experience partnering with Finance and HR leaders to design and implement strategic, cost-effective benefits programs. She has spent her career helping organizations improve plan performance, manage healthcare costs, and strengthen total rewards strategies that support employee well-being and business goals. Julie is known for her collaborative approach and her ability to translate complex benefits data into actionable solutions for employers and their teams. In this episode, you’ll learn: What an ICHRA is and how it works, including who it’s best for and when it makes sense to use it instead of traditional health plans. How to offer more choice without losing control of costs, giving individuals flexibility while protecting the organization’s budget. How to build a benefits strategy that scales, from small teams to large, complex organizations, without adding unnecessary complexity or risk. This episode is for leaders and HR decision-makers who want practical, clear guidance on building benefits that support both people and purpose. Listen & Learn Discover how HR can be a bridge to healing, connection, and faith-driven support in the workplace. Tune in to gain valuable insights and tools for cultivating a culture of care in your organization. Concerned about your organization’s as-is HR programs? The benefits of having a trusted partner guide you and your team to excellence are invaluable. Contact us today. You and your employees will be glad you did. Rise with us by implementing our high-performance remote human-resource programs to help find great people! E-mail us here. Mark A. Griffin is president and founder of IHN HR. Connect with him on LinkedIn and Twitter. Follow Us On Instagram Here

Jan 6

How HR Can Support Employees Facing Relational Poverty

Understanding Relational Poverty in the Workplace In today’s fast-paced, digital-first world, employees are more connected than ever—yet many still feel deeply isolated. This phenomenon, known as relational poverty, occurs when individuals lack meaningful, supportive relationships in both their personal and professional lives. As organizational leaders, we have a responsibility to recognize and address this silent struggle. Meet Our Guest: Patricia M. Wright, LCSW In this episode, we welcome Patricia M. Wright, LCSW, Executive Director of Upward Call. Patricia holds a B.A. in Biblical and Theological Studies and a B.A. in Psychology from Regent University. She earned her Master’s in Social Work from Millersville University and is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker. She is also completing her Doctor of Social Work (ABD) and pursuing a Doctor of Ministry in Leadership at Lancaster Bible College. Key Discussion Points Join Patricia and Mark as they navigate the complexities of relational poverty in today’s workplace. This episode covers: What relational poverty is and its impact on employee well-being and performance HR’s role in fostering a workplace culture that promotes connection and emotional support Practical strategies for integrating counseling services, mentorship programs, and faith-based support to help employees build meaningful relationships Listen & Learn Discover how HR can be a bridge to healing, connection, and faith-driven support in the workplace. Tune in to gain valuable insights and tools for cultivating a culture of care in your organization. Concerned about your organization’s as-is HR programs? The benefits of having a trusted partner guide you and your team to excellence are invaluable. Contact us today. You and your employees will be glad you did. Rise with us by implementing our high-performance remote human-resource programs to help find great people! E-mail us here. Mark A. Griffin is president and founder of IHN HR. Connect with him on LinkedIn and Twitter.

12/02/2025

Avoiding Mission Drift - An Imperative for Christian Leaders, Interview with Becca Spradlin

Special Guest: Becca Spradlin | Author, Speaker, Mission Drift & Strategy Consultant | Kingdom Culture Builder Hosted by Mark A. Griffin. “Where there is no vision, the people perish.” — Proverbs 29:18 Episode Overview: Mission statements are more than just words on a wall—they’re the heartbeat of your organization. But are they being lived out in daily operations? Are your hiring practices, reviews, and leadership conversations aligned with your stated mission and values? In this inspiring episode of Encouragement for Work, host Mark Griffin is joined by author and mission drift expert Becca Spradlin. Together, they unpack what it means to manage mission from the inside out—making it not just a message, but a measurable part of workplace culture in order to avoid drift. What You'll Learn: Why addressing mission drift is not optional for Christian employers—it’s an organizational imperative, especially for HR. The critical role that leaders and HR professionals play in building organizations that cultivate and perpetuate a higher purpose. How to integrate mission into hiring, onboarding, and performance evaluations What it looks like to recognize and reward missional behaviors Practical ways to reignite your team’s connection to your mission About Our Guest: Becca Spradlin With nearly 20 years of global organizational development experience, Becca Spradlin is passionate about building cultures where people thrive and Christ is honored. Becca helps leaders clarify their mission and align it with strategic execution. Her company, On Mission Advisors, equips faith-driven business and nonprofit leaders to build purpose-driven organizations that advance the Kingdom. Connect with Becca on LinkedIn Becca is the author of Lead On Mission: How Christian Business Leaders Advance Faith at Work and Leave a Legacy of Eternal Impact in a World of Mission Drift (www.LeadOnMissionBook.com). She also co-authored the Mission True Workbook with the authors of Mission Drift. She served as a research fellow at Seattle Pacific University’s Center for Faithful Business, where she researched faith cultivation and drift in Christian-led businesses. She writes and speaks on how companies can define and align their firms around faith and avoid drift. Key Episode Quote “Mission Management means making sure people don’t just know the mission—they’re equipped and encouraged to live it. HR isn’t just about compliance—it’s about calling.” — Becca Spradlin Concerned about your organization’s as-is HR programs? The benefits of having a trusted partner guide you and your team to excellence are invaluable. Contact us today. You and your employees will be glad you did. Rise with us by implementing our high-performance remote human-resource programs to help find great people! E-mail us here. Mark A. Griffin is president and founder of IHN HR. Connect with him on LinkedIn and Twitter.