• Ep. 5 - Emily Niespodziany, VP & Chief Development Officer Erlanger Health
    May 7 2025

    The rise to the top is full of twists and turns. Listen as Emily Niespodziany, Vice President and Chief Development Officer for Erlanger Health and the Erlanger Foundation shares her journey and wisdom. Erlanger Health is a nationally-acclaimed, multi-hospital health system anchored by a leading academic medical center. It is also home to Children’s Hospital at Erlanger, the region’s only Level 1 Trauma Center, LifeForce Air Ambulance, and the Erlanger Southeast Regional Stroke Center.

    Emily recently accepted the role of Vice President and Chief Development Officer at Erlanger Health. Prior to this, she dedicated 16 years to the American Heart Association, where she served as the Executive Director for the Chattanooga and Georgia communities. During her ime with American Heart, Emily and her team successfully raised over $22 million to fund essential research, education, and community-based initiatives.

    While her career has been centered around operational management and fundraising, Emily's true passion lies in leadership, strategy, staff development and public health. In her current position, she aims to enhance the philanthropic efforts of the Erlanger Foundation, furthering the health system’s mission of providing compassionate patient care.

    Emily's achievements have been recognized with multiple awards from the American Heart Association, including the Long Distance Runner award, Outstanding Fundraising Performance award, and the State Advocacy Collaboration award. She has also contributed to her community as a past board member of Catholic Charities of East Tennessee, a participant in the Chattanooga Women’s Leadership Institute, and the development committee for St. Peter and Paul Parish. Additionally, she served on the advisory board for UTC’s Master of Public Health program and was honored as one of the “30 under 30” in CityScope magazine and featured on the cover of HealthScope Magazine. Outside of work, Emily enjoys outdoor activities and traveling with her husband and three children.

    You may follow Emily’s work at www.erlangerfoundation.org

    Facebook: Erlanger and Erlanger Foundation

    Instagram: @ErlangerFoundation

    The Empowered Career Woman is presented by Medicare Misty. www.medicaremisty.com.

    Email: empoweredcareerwoman@gmail.com

    Facebook and Instagram: @emp.career.woman

    Produced by: Whitfield Media Group, Chattanooga, TN

    Editing: Tyler Owens

    About your host: Lisa McCluskey, MBA is a retired Vice President of Marketing, Communications, and Physician Sales at CHI Memorial, Chattanooga. She is founder and host of the Silver Divorce Podcast and Empowered Career Woman podcast. Follow the Empowered Career Woman on Facebook and Instagram @emp.career.woman.

    This podcast is for informational and entertainment purposes and is not intended as legal advice.

    Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2A6hDaxHqND2wI2fWsWB9w

    Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-empowered-career-woman-podcast/id1800040014
    #womeninbusiness #femaleleaders #womenentrepreneurs #femaleentrepreneurs #chattanooga #empoweredcareerwomanpodcast #magicfeetinsoles #womensupportingwomen #inspiringwomen

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    58 mins
  • Ep. 4 - Doris Collier, President/CEO Magic Feet LLC & Actor
    Apr 16 2025

    The rise to the top is full of twists and turns. Listen as Doris Collier, an actor and President/CEO of Magic Feet LLC, shares the secrets to her success with seven films and one TV series to her credit, Founder of an international brand, and Chair of the board for Raising Dreamers.

    Doris is married to an Emergency Room physician. In 2005, he related a story of how many people he cared for were suffering from back pain due to standing on concrete during their work shift. That simple conversation sparked an idea for Doris to find a solution that would ease the pain of these workers. Doris went on to found Magic Feet LLC, and the brand is now sold in the United States, Canada, Mexico, and Puerto Rico.

    Even though Doris was a busy executive, she felt the pull of Hollywood and has acted in The Colors of Emily, The Borrowed Christmas, College Bound: Window of Hope, Certificate of Completion, Saving Faith, One by One, Real Love, the Dream Motel, and more.

    Doris is a woman of deep faith and is chairing the board of Raising Dreamers Ministries, traveling the country to give opportunities for women to deepen their faith and experience spiritual growth in all areas of their lives.

    Visit www.magicfeetinsoles.com or https://raisingdreamersministries.org to learn more about Doris’ work.

    The Empowered Career Woman is presented by Medicare Misty. www.medicaremisty.com.

    Email: empoweredcareerwoman@gmail.com

    Facebook and Instagram: @emp.career.woman

    Produced by: Whitfield Media Group, Chattanooga, TN

    Editing: Tyler Owens

    About your host: Lisa McCluskey, MBA is a retired Vice President of Marketing, Communications, and Physician Sales at CHI Memorial, Chattanooga. She is founder and host of the Silver Divorce Podcast and Empowered Career Woman podcast. Follow the Empowered Career Woman on Facebook and Instagram @emp.career.woman.

    This podcast is for informational and entertainment purposes and is not intended as legal advice.


    #womeninbusiness #femaleleaders #womenentrepreneurs #femaleentrepreneurs #chattanooga #empoweredcareerwomanpodcast #magicfeetinsoles #womensupportingwomen #inspiringwomen


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    55 mins
  • Ep. 3 - Cheri Hale, SVP, Corporate Responsibility, CommonSpirit Health
    Apr 2 2025

    The rise to the top is full of twists and turns. Listen as Cheri Hale, Senior Vice President of Corporate Responsibility for CommonSpirit Health shares her rise to the top from her role as an auditor for Ernst & Young working on the CHI Memorial account to a Senior Vice President of a healthcare corporation with 2,200 care sites in 24 states. Cheri was born and raised in Chattanooga, TN and is a graduate of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Her story is a testament to being intentional in making the right moves to advance your career.

    The Empowered Career Woman is presented by Medicare Misty. www.medicaremisty.com.

    Email: empoweredcareerwoman@gmail.com

    Facebook and Instagram: @emp.career.woman

    Produced by: Whitfield Media Group, Chattanooga, TN

    Editing: Tyler Owens

    About your host: Lisa McCluskey, MBA is a retired Vice President of Marketing, Communications, and Physician Sales at CHI Memorial, Chattanooga. She is founder and host of the Silver Divorce Podcast and Empowered Career Woman podcast. Follow the Empowered Career Woman on Facebook and Instagram @emp.career.woman.

    This podcast is for informational and entertainment purposes and is not intended as legal advice.

    #womeninbusiness #femaleleaders #womenentrepreneurs #femaleentrepreneurs #chattanooga #empoweredcareerwomanpodcast #chimemorial #commonspirithealth #corporateresponsibility


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    59 mins
  • Ep. 2 - Dr. Renee Gordon, Author, Entrepreneur, International Speaker
    Mar 19 2025

    The rise to the top is full of twists and turns. Listen as Dr. Renee Gordon, an international speaker and author of 11 books shares her journey to becoming a mastermind in relationships and entrepreneur of a thriving business. Dr. Renee relates the story of how she was engaged to be married nine times before finding her husband, Jim, whom she has been married to for 25 years. Her missteps in her own relationships is what drove her to pursue an education focused on human behavior and create a coaching program to help others. Her career included being a design consultant with Anne Klein, a model for Shiseido Cosmetics, a real estate broker, and a student of fine cuisine. She relates the true near-death experience that had a profound experience on her life. Dr. Renee is the true definition of someone who mastered the art of pivoting in her career and shares her wise advice to advance in the workplace.

    The Empowered Career Woman is presented by Medicare Misty. www.medicaremisty.com.

    Email: empoweredcareerwoman@gmail.com

    Facebook and Instagram: @emp.career.woman

    Produced by: Whitfield Media Group, Chattanooga, TN

    Editing: Tyler Owens

    About your guest: Dr. Renee Gordon is a world-class relationship expert with over 14 years of uplifting hearts and guiding souls to their ultimate connections. As an in-demand international speaker and prolific author - penning titles like “Finding Your Love at Last,” its sequel “Finding Your Love at Last Duets “ for couples, and her best seller, “Swipe for Mr.Right” - she has been the architect of countless love stories. Dr. Renee boasts a Doctorate in Philosophical Theology and Advanced Human Sexuality. She resides in Chattanooga, TN and may be contacted at www.reneelovecoach.com or renee@reneelovecoach.com..

    About your host: Lisa McCluskey, MBA is a retired Vice President of Marketing, Communications, and Physician Sales at CHI Memorial, Chattanooga. She is founder and host of the Silver Divorce Podcast and Empowered Career Woman podcast. Follow the Empowered Career Woman on Facebook and Instagram @emp.career.woman.

    This podcast is for informational and entertainment purposes and does not replace therapist or legal advice.

    #womeninbusiness #femaleleaders #womenentrepreneurs #femaleentrepreneurs #lovecoach #relationshipcoach #femaleauthors


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    1 hr and 1 min
  • PODCAST SWAP - An interview with Mike Costa, My Morning Cup
    Mar 11 2025

    This week, we are doing something different. A podcast swap featuring My Morning Cup with Mike Costa. Mike interviews leaders around the region as they discuss careers and life. I sat down with Mike to talk about my meandering career and how the Silver Divorce Podcast came to be. I hope you enjoy this departure from our norm.

    My Morning Cup is released on Mondays. If you like what you hear, head over to ⁠https://mymorningcup.podbean.com/


    The Empowered Career Woman is proudly presented by MedicareMisty. www.medicaremisty.com


    Facebook & Instagram: @emp.career.woman

    Email: empoweredcareerwoman@gmail.com

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    1 hr and 2 mins
  • Ep. 1 - Kim Chapman Whitfield, News Icon and Co-Founder of Miracle League
    Mar 4 2025

    Please follow and share this podcast with friends.

    The rise to the top is full of twists and turns. Listen as Kim Chapman Whitfield, an ABC and Fox affiliate anchor and co-founder of the Miracle League of Chattanooga, shares her journey in the news industry from its beginnings to becoming an icon in Chattanooga over the past 25 years. Kim relates the story of when she took a stand against discrimination. She shares the heartwarming tale of how the Miracle League of Chattanooga came to be from a simple Facebook post and a tremendous grassroots effort.

    The Empowered Career Woman is presented by Medicare Misty. www.medicaremisty.com.

    Email: empoweredcareerwoman@gmail.com

    Facebook and Instagram: @emp.career.woman

    Produced by: Whitfield Media Group, Chattanooga, TN

    Editing: Tyler Owens

    About your guest: Kim Chapman Whitfield attended The State University of West Georgia where she majored in mass communications and minored in psychology. Her work has been recognized by the Associated Press. Kim is a co-founder and board member of the Miracle League of Chattanooga. The Miracle League is a world-wide baseball league for children with special needs. She co-anchors the NewsChannel 9 ABC 6 and 11 evening newscasts as well as First at 10 on FOX, and hosts the popular “Pay it Forward” segment. Follow her on Facebook @KimChapmanNC9 or on Twitter @KimChapmanNC9.

    About your host: Lisa McCluskey, MBA is a retired Vice President of Marketing, Communications, and Physician Sales at CHI Memorial, Chattanooga. She is founder and host of the Silver Divorce Podcast and the Empowered Career Woman podcast. Follow the Empowered Career Woman on Facebook and Instagram @emp.career.woman.

    This podcast is for informational and entertainment purposes and does not provide legal advice.


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    55 mins