Where We Landed

WWL welcomes Northview Elementary Principal, Amanda Varner to the show. Listen in as we learn how she landed here. Born and raised in Grant county, her calling to servant leadership has kept her rooted in her hometown, along with family and a supportive community. Amanda shares her joys of ‘adventures’ and pursuit to remove the assumption she wants sauce on her sandwich!

Scott and Iris have been left in charge and we have Abel Garcia, owner/operator of Tacos No Mas. Listen in as we learn how Abel made his way to Grant County, how he loves to serve people, and the definition of family is food. He dreams of being able to give back in a grander way… and maybe No Mas Karaoke?

Get Suited & Booted for this interview with Ambra Parker, owner/operator of Parker’s Seafood! Listen in as Iris, Alicia and Kylie learn about how Ambra made her way back home. Ambra shares how the vision of her husband wanting to bring seafood to Marion came to life, what it's like to return to your hometown as an adult, and the differences in raising kids in urban vs rural environment.

Scott, Alicia, and Kylie sit down this week with a Gas City native Mark Atkinson. He boomeranged from Gas City to Macon, GA and back. He is a retired pastor from Eastview Wesleyan Church, father of 4 plus a bonus. Dedicated to cheering everyone on to live their best life, he has built some crazy connections. Learn what is next on the book and bucket list.

On the show today, Alicia, Iris and Scott welcome Brittany Howey, Branch Manager for Star Bank. Brittany shares with us what it was like growing up in Grant County and why she chooses to commute for her job. The group answers some hard questions and Brittany encourages us each to “Be a Scott Miller” when you approach creating new relationships.

Today the group welcomes Michelle Peterson, Chief Marketing Officer of Via Credit Union. Listen in as we learn how Michelle is the luckiest person and loves an Ivanhoe’s strawberry shortcake. She shares how she made it to Grant County, loves how organizations work well together, and does not like escargot.

Continuing our theme of educators in Grant County, Scott, Alicia and Iris welcome retired teacher, Sandi Chapman. Listen in as our favorite science teacher talks about all things - from learning to love Marion through basketball, using fruit flies to understand DNA, and her most favorite part of teaching will always be the students.

Our visits with local educators continues this week as Scott, Alicia, and Kylie chat with Mississinewa High School Principal Rachel Roesch.  Listen in as we hear how Rachel and her family found Grant County, what she loves about her work, and what it's like raising three kids in Gas City!

We continue with our teacher theme as we approach the start of another school year! Kylie, Alicia, and Iris welcome one of their former teachers, Mr. Terry Lakes - and yes, we still call him Mr. Lakes because some habits are hard to break. Listen in as we learn how he discovered that teaching and coaching was for him, as early as an 8th grade student. We learn how he made his way to Marion, coached and taught for 41 years, and the importance of paying it forward.

As we head towards the start of the school year, we are kicking off a series with local teachers!  Today we welcome Eastbrook High School engineering teacher, John Ragan. The team dives in to learn all about this Eastbrook and Taylor University grad that decided to give back to his alma mater and begin a state-of-the-art engineering program. Listen as we learn how he moved around, finally calling Grant County home and teaching future entrepreneurial engineers of the future.