In this episode, Nathan sits down with Seth Gunning, Founder of Sunpath Solar, Georgia’s only B Corp-certified solar installation company.

 

Seth shares his 20-year journey from community organizing and fighting coal initiatives to leading a business that specializes in making clean energy accessible to low-to-moderate-income homeowners and nonprofits. They discuss the "solar coaster" of shifting tax credits, the importance of "encoding values" into operations, and how Sunpath is using innovative financing models like "Solar Energy Procurement Agreements" to bypass the high upfront costs that often keep clean energy out of reach for those who need it most.

 

Listen in to discover how Seth is proving that business can be a powerful tool for environmental justice and learn why 'encoding' values into your standard operating procedures is the key to surviving any industry’s volatility.

 

RESOURCES RELATED TO THIS EPISODE
Visit Sunpath Solar at https://sunpath.solar/
Follow Sunpath Solar on social media at:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/sunpath-solar/ 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61551612671287 
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sunpath.solar
And get in touch with Sunpath Solar at https://sunpath.solar/contact/

 

CREDITS
Theme Music🎵ZakharValaha from Pixabay
Produced by ChatWithLeadersMedia.com

In this episode, Nathan sits down with Seth Gunning, Founder of Sunpath Solar, Georgia&rsquo;s only B Corp-certified solar installation company.
&nbsp;
Seth shares his 20-year journey from community organizing and fighting coal initiatives to leading a business that specializes in making clean energy accessible to low-to-moderate-income homeowners and nonprofits. They discuss the "solar coaster" of shifting tax credits, the importance of "encoding values" into operations, and how Sunpath is using innovative financing models like "Solar Energy Procurement Agreements" to bypass the high upfront costs that often keep clean energy out of reach for those who need it most.
&nbsp;
Listen in to discover how Seth is proving that business can be a powerful tool for environmental justice and learn why 'encoding' values into your standard operating procedures is the key to surviving any industry&rsquo;s volatility.
&nbsp;
RESOURCES RELATED TO THIS EPISODE
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Visit Sunpath Solar at <a href="https://sunpath.solar/">https://sunpath.solar/</a></li>
<li aria-level="1">Follow Sunpath Solar on social media at:</li>
<ul>
<li aria-level="2">LinkedIn: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/sunpath-solar/">https://www.linkedin.com/company/sunpath-solar/</a>&nbsp;</li>
<li aria-level="2">Facebook: <a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61551612671287">https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61551612671287</a>&nbsp;</li>
<li aria-level="2">Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/sunpath.solar">https://www.instagram.com/sunpath.solar</a></li>
</ul>
<li aria-level="1">And get in touch with Sunpath Solar at https://sunpath.solar/contact/</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
CREDITS
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Theme Music🎵<a href="https://pixabay.com/users/zakharvalaha-22836301/?tab=audio&amp;utm_source=link-attribution&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=audio&amp;utm_content=9968">ZakharValaha</a> from <a href="https://pixabay.com/?utm_source=link-attribution&amp;utm_medium=referral&amp;utm_campaign=music&amp;utm_content=9968">Pixabay</a></li>
<li>Produced by <a href="https://chatwithleaders.com">ChatWithLeadersMedia.com</a></li>
</ul>

Join our host Nathan Stuck, Chair of B Local Georgia, as he guides us in these short and impactful conversations with some of the most purposeful, inspiring leaders in the Peach State. These featured guests are proving that a stakeholder-driven economic system that cares about their people, communities, customers, and the environment is not only the right way towards a sustainable future, but that it's also great for business! We're excited to have you join us as we learn together how to use our influence as a #ForceForGood.

Produced by Chat With Leaders Media. Visit https://chatwithleaders.com to learn how you can leverage strategic content and event experiences to grow your business. 

Join our host <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathanastuck/">Nathan Stuck</a>, Chair of <a href="https://blocalgeorgia.com/">B Local Georgia</a>, <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/nathanastuck/"></a>as he guides us in these short and impactful conversations with some of the most purposeful, inspiring leaders in the Peach State. These featured guests are proving that a stakeholder-driven economic system&nbsp;that cares about their people, communities, customers, and the environment is not only the right way towards a sustainable future, but that it's also great for business! We're excited to have you join us as we learn together how to use our influence as a #ForceForGood.
Produced by Chat With Leaders Media. Visit https://chatwithleaders.com to learn how you can leverage strategic content and event experiences to grow your business.&nbsp;

Making a profit and making a difference ​aren’t mutually exclusive. Hear how some of the most purpose-driven leaders in the Southeast are proving that for profit businesses can be used as a force for good while being successful financially.

B The Change Georgia with Nathan Stuck

The Steward Chair is a podcast that explores business leadership as stewardship – the responsibility of guiding organizations, people, and industries with integrity, long-term thinking, and a commitment to doing good while doing well.

Through deep, candid conversations with CEOs, Presidents and Founders that have stood the test of time, we unpack the challenges, decisions, and strategies that define values-driven leadership. This is a space for leaders who recognize that success is about more than personal achievement – it’s about leaving a lasting, positive impact on their organizations and communities.

Each episode provides real-world insights on how to navigate key business decisions while maintaining ethical integrity, long-term sustainability, and a legacy-driven mindset.

This show is produced in collaboration between Chat With Leaders Media and End of the Line Productions. 

The Steward Chair is a podcast that explores business leadership as stewardship &ndash; the responsibility of guiding organizations, people, and industries with integrity, long-term thinking, and a commitment to doing good while doing well.
Through deep, candid conversations with CEOs, Presidents and Founders that have stood the test of time, we unpack the challenges, decisions, and strategies that define values-driven leadership. This is a space for leaders who recognize that success is about more than personal achievement &ndash; it&rsquo;s&nbsp;about leaving a lasting, positive impact on their organizations and communities.
Each episode provides real-world insights on how to navigate key business decisions while maintaining ethical integrity, long-term sustainability, and a legacy-driven mindset.
This show is produced in collaboration between <a href="https://chatwithleaders.com/">Chat With Leaders Media</a> and <a href="https://www.eotlproductions.com/">End of the Line Productions</a>.&nbsp;

The Steward Chair is a podcast that explores leadership as stewardship—the responsibility of guiding organizations, people, and industries with integrity, long-term thinking, and a commitment to doing good while doing well.

The Steward Chair

In a world defined by disconnection, human connection is your most powerful asset in building companies that last. At Chat With Leaders Media, we're dedicated to helping you unlock that power by delivering actionable insights from leaders who are leveraging business as a force for good.

Through our podcasts – The Steward Chair, The People Experience Pulse, and B The Change Georgia – we cut through the noise to bring you candid, real-world strategies for building a better business. We explore what it takes to elevate people, grow your business with integrity, and build a legacy that goes beyond the bottom line.

This isn't just about inspiration; it's about giving you the tools to elevate your influence and make a tangible impact on your organization and the world.

In a world defined by disconnection, human connection is your most powerful asset in building companies that last. At Chat With Leaders Media, we're dedicated to helping you unlock that power by delivering actionable insights from leaders who are leveraging business as a force for good.
Through our podcasts &ndash; The Steward Chair, The People Experience Pulse, and B The Change Georgia &ndash; we cut through the noise to bring you candid, real-world strategies for building a better business. We explore what it takes to elevate people, grow your business with integrity, and build a legacy that goes beyond the bottom line.
This isn't just about inspiration; it's about giving you the tools to elevate your influence and make a tangible impact on your organization and the world.

Chat With Leaders Media

Energy Justice: Why Seth Gunning is Democratizing Georgia’s Solar Landscape

In this episode of The Steward Chair, Brad Herrmann and Hai Nguyen, Co-founders of Text-Em-All, share their journey of rewriting the SaaS success script by prioritizing greatness over growth and people over profit. They explore how an audacious 100-year vision and the transition to an employee ownership trust drive meaningful, long-term success.

We discuss the intentional process of leaders defining "enough," the creation of an employee-driven culture code, and how shared ownership acts as a "silo buster" for political friction. This conversation provides actionable takeaways for leaders committed to stewardship, integrity, and building an organization that remains a joy to do business with.

Key Takeaways
Defining "Enough" as a Leadership Prerequisite: Transitioning to an employee ownership trust requires founders to confront personal concepts of security and scarcity to determine what financial outcome is "enough" to safeguard the company's future.
Institutionalizing Culture Through Documentation: Moving beyond oral legend to a written "Culture Code" allows a company to hire, coach, and even fire based on shared values like authenticity, compassion, and shared excellence.
Shared Ownership as a Unifying Factor: Employee ownership aligns the entire team around the company's ultimate bottom line, ensuring that business decisions and product development are driven by the best ideas rather than internal politics .

Resources Mentioned
Visit Text-Em-All: https://www.text-em-all.com/
Follow Brad Herrmann on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bradherrmann/
Follow Hai Nguyen on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hainguyen/
Follow Text-Em-All on social media:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/textemall/
Twitter / X: https://x.com/textemall
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/textemall/

Join the Conversation
The Steward Chair is about equipping and inspiring business leaders to build organizations that stand the test of time. If this episode resonated with you, share your biggest takeaway and tag us on LinkedIn:

Chat With Leaders Media https://www.linkedin.com/company/chatwithleaders/ and End of the Line Productions https://www.linkedin.com/company/end-of-the-line-productions/. 

Elevate your podcast, company meeting, or industry event strategies to better engage stakeholders and drive meaningful growth! Visit ChatWithLeaders.com to learn more about how we can help.

In this episode of The Steward Chair, Brad Herrmann and Hai Nguyen, Co-founders of Text-Em-All, share their journey of rewriting the SaaS success script by prioritizing greatness over growth and people over profit. They explore how an audacious 100-year vision and the transition to an employee ownership trust drive meaningful, long-term success.
We discuss the intentional process of leaders defining "enough," the creation of an employee-driven culture code, and how shared ownership acts as a "silo buster" for political friction. This conversation provides actionable takeaways for leaders committed to stewardship, integrity, and building an organization that remains a joy to do business with.
Key Takeaways
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Defining "Enough" as a Leadership Prerequisite: Transitioning to an employee ownership trust requires founders to confront personal concepts of security and scarcity to determine what financial outcome is "enough" to safeguard the company's future.</li>
<li aria-level="1">Institutionalizing Culture Through Documentation: Moving beyond oral legend to a written "Culture Code" allows a company to hire, coach, and even fire based on shared values like authenticity, compassion, and shared excellence.</li>
<li aria-level="1">Shared Ownership as a Unifying Factor: Employee ownership aligns the entire team around the company's ultimate bottom line, ensuring that business decisions and product development are driven by the best ideas rather than internal politics .</li>
</ul>
Resources Mentioned
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Visit Text-Em-All:<a href="https://www.text-em-all.com/"> https://www.text-em-all.com/</a></li>
<li aria-level="1">Follow Brad Herrmann on LinkedIn:<a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/bradherrmann/"> https://www.linkedin.com/in/bradherrmann/</a></li>
<li aria-level="1">Follow Hai Nguyen on LinkedIn:<a href="https://www.google.com/search?q=https://www.linkedin.com/in/hainguyen/"> https://www.linkedin.com/in/hainguyen/</a></li>
<li aria-level="1">Follow Text-Em-All on social media:</li>
<ul>
<li aria-level="2">LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/textemall/</li>
<li aria-level="2">Twitter / X:<a href="https://x.com/textemall"> https://x.com/textemall</a></li>
<li aria-level="2">Instagram:<a href="https://www.instagram.com/textemall/"> https://www.instagram.com/textemall/</a></li>
</ul>
</ul>
Join the Conversation The Steward Chair is about equipping and inspiring business leaders to build organizations that stand the test of time. If this episode resonated with you, share your biggest takeaway and tag us on LinkedIn:
Chat With Leaders Media <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/chatwithleaders/">https://www.linkedin.com/company/chatwithleaders/</a> and End of the Line Productions <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/end-of-the-line-productions/">https://www.linkedin.com/company/end-of-the-line-productions/</a>.&nbsp;
Elevate your podcast, company meeting, or industry event strategies to better engage stakeholders and drive meaningful growth! Visit <a href="https://chatwithleaders.com">ChatWithLeaders.com</a> to learn more about how we can help.

Brad Herrmann and Hai Nguyen

In this episode of The Steward Chair, Jason Dressel, CEO at History Factory , shares his journey of helping iconic brands mine their heritage to drive future performance, exploring how preserving corporate memory drives meaningful, long-term success.

We discuss the $1 trillion cost of corporate amnesia , the launch of the AI platform Chronicle , and why a leader’s most profound obligation is to be the ultimate steward of their organization’s story, providing actionable takeaways for leaders committed to stewardship, integrity, and impact.

Key Takeaways
The risks of corporate amnesia and strategic drift: Losing institutional knowledge during leadership transitions and rapid growth costs enterprises an estimated $1 trillion in wasted productivity.
How successful companies balance heritage and innovation: Long-term resilience requires leaders to stay tethered to their organization's unique "superpower" while remaining agile enough to navigate modern technological disruption.
The role of AI in preserving institutional knowledge: Specialized AI acts as a "truth engine" by grounding data in verified, handcrafted sources to eliminate hallucinations and provide a clear trail back to original historical evidence.

Resources Mentioned
Visit: https://www.historyfactory.com/staff/jason-dressel/
Follow Shane on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/jason-dressel-1634484/
Follow History Factor on social media at:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/history-factory/
Twitter / X: https://x.com/historyfactory
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thehistoryfactory/?hl=en

Join the Conversation
The Steward Chair is about equipping and inspiring business leaders to build organizations that stand the test of time. If this episode resonated with you, share your biggest takeaway and tag us on LinkedIn:

Chat With Leaders Media https://www.linkedin.com/company/chatwithleaders/ and End of the Line Productions https://www.linkedin.com/company/end-of-the-line-productions/. 

Elevate your podcast, company meeting, or industry event strategies to better engage stakeholders and drive meaningful growth! Visit ChatWithLeaders.com to learn more about how we can help.

In this episode of The Steward Chair, Jason Dressel, CEO at History Factory , shares his journey of helping iconic brands mine their heritage to drive future performance, exploring how preserving corporate memory drives meaningful, long-term success.
We discuss the $1 trillion cost of corporate amnesia , the launch of the AI platform Chronicle , and why a leader&rsquo;s most profound obligation is to be the ultimate steward of their organization&rsquo;s story, providing actionable takeaways for leaders committed to stewardship, integrity, and impact.
Key Takeaways
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">The risks of corporate amnesia and strategic drift: Losing institutional knowledge during leadership transitions and rapid growth costs enterprises an estimated $1 trillion in wasted productivity.</li>
<li aria-level="1">How successful companies balance heritage and innovation: Long-term resilience requires leaders to stay tethered to their organization's unique "superpower" while remaining agile enough to navigate modern technological disruption.</li>
<li aria-level="1">The role of AI in preserving institutional knowledge: Specialized AI acts as a "truth engine" by grounding data in verified, handcrafted sources to eliminate hallucinations and provide a clear trail back to original historical evidence.</li>
</ul>
Resources Mentioned
<ul>
<li aria-level="1">Visit: <a href="https://www.historyfactory.com/staff/jason-dressel/">https://www.historyfactory.com/staff/jason-dressel/</a></li>
<li aria-level="1">Follow Shane on LinkedIn at <a href="http://linkedin.com/in/jason-dressel-1634484/">linkedin.com/in/jason-dressel-1634484/</a></li>
<li aria-level="1">Follow History Factor on social media at:</li>
<ul>
<li aria-level="2">LinkedIn: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/history-factory/">https://www.linkedin.com/company/history-factory/</a></li>
<li aria-level="2">Twitter / X: <a href="https://x.com/historyfactory">https://x.com/historyfactory</a></li>
<li aria-level="2">Instagram: <a href="https://www.instagram.com/thehistoryfactory/?hl=en">https://www.instagram.com/thehistoryfactory/?hl=en</a></li>
</ul>
</ul>
Join the Conversation The Steward Chair is about equipping and inspiring business leaders to build organizations that stand the test of time. If this episode resonated with you, share your biggest takeaway and tag us on LinkedIn:
Chat With Leaders Media <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/chatwithleaders/">https://www.linkedin.com/company/chatwithleaders/</a> and End of the Line Productions <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/end-of-the-line-productions/">https://www.linkedin.com/company/end-of-the-line-productions/</a>.&nbsp;
Elevate your podcast, company meeting, or industry event strategies to better engage stakeholders and drive meaningful growth! Visit <a href="https://chatwithleaders.com">ChatWithLeaders.com</a> to learn more about how we can help.

Jason Dressel

In this episode of The Steward Chair, John Newland, CEO at JOMA Construction, shares his journey of transitioning from a small home-flipping operation to a 100% employee-owned firm, exploring how the Greek concept of eudaimoniadrives meaningful, long-term success.

We discuss the philosophy of"getting better before getting bigger," the rigorous process of empower every team member, the establishment of the ESOP, and how true legacy is built by elevating others to lead the organization forward.

 

Key Takeaways
The Power of Eudaimonia: Integrating a guiding principle of "human flourishing" and contentment into the daily operations and client interactions of a construction business.
Democratizing Ownership: Why JOMA chose a 100% ESOP model to ensure all stakeholders benefit from the company's success without taking on individual financial risk.
Leadership as Presence: Utilizing daily affirmations and personal poise to remain grounded and "fully present" within the inherent chaos of the business world.

 

Resources Mentioned


Visit https://jomaconstruction.com/


Follow John Newland on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnnewland/


Follow JOMA Construction on social media:


Linkedin: linkedin.com/company/jomaconstruction


Facebook: facebook.com/jomaconstruction


YouTube: youtube.com/jomaconstruction


Instagram: instagram.com/jomaconstruction


Subscribe to JOMA’s mailing list at http://jomaconstruction.com/learn/jomail-archive

 

Join the Conversation
The Steward Chair is about equipping and inspiring business leaders to build organizations that stand the test of time. If this episode resonated with you, share your biggest takeaway and tag us on LinkedIn:

Chat With Leaders Media https://www.linkedin.com/company/chatwithleaders/ and End of the Line Productions https://www.linkedin.com/company/end-of-the-line-productions/. 

Elevate your podcast, company meeting, or industry event strategies to better engage stakeholders and drive meaningful growth! Visit ChatWithLeaders.com to learn more about how we can help.

In this episode of The Steward Chair, John Newland, CEO at JOMA Construction, shares his journey of transitioning from a small home-flipping operation to a 100% employee-owned firm, exploring how the Greek concept of eudaimonia drives meaningful, long-term success.
We discuss the philosophy of "getting better before getting bigger," the rigorous process of empower every team member, the establishment of the ESOP, and how true legacy is built by elevating others to lead the organization forward.
&nbsp;
Key Takeaways
<ul>
<li data-prosemirror-content-type="node" data-prosemirror-node-name="paragraph" data-prosemirror-node-block="true">The Power of Eudaimonia: Integrating a guiding principle of "human flourishing" and contentment into the daily operations and client interactions of a construction business.</li>
<li data-prosemirror-content-type="node" data-prosemirror-node-name="paragraph" data-prosemirror-node-block="true">Democratizing Ownership: Why JOMA chose a 100% ESOP model to ensure all stakeholders benefit from the company's success without taking on individual financial risk.</li>
<li data-prosemirror-content-type="node" data-prosemirror-node-name="paragraph" data-prosemirror-node-block="true">Leadership as Presence: Utilizing daily affirmations and personal poise to remain grounded and "fully present" within the inherent chaos of the business world.</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
Resources Mentioned
<ul data-prosemirror-content-type="node" data-prosemirror-node-name="bulletList" data-prosemirror-node-block="true">
<li data-prosemirror-content-type="node" data-prosemirror-node-name="listItem" data-prosemirror-node-block="true">
Visit <a href="https://jomaconstruction.com/" data-prosemirror-content-type="mark" data-prosemirror-mark-name="link">https://jomaconstruction.com/</a>
</li>
<li data-prosemirror-content-type="node" data-prosemirror-node-name="listItem" data-prosemirror-node-block="true">
Follow John Newland on LinkedIn: <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnnewland/" data-prosemirror-content-type="mark" data-prosemirror-mark-name="link">https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnnewland/</a>
</li>
<li data-prosemirror-content-type="node" data-prosemirror-node-name="listItem" data-prosemirror-node-block="true">
Follow JOMA Construction on social media:
<ul data-prosemirror-content-type="node" data-prosemirror-node-name="bulletList" data-prosemirror-node-block="true">
<li data-prosemirror-content-type="node" data-prosemirror-node-name="listItem" data-prosemirror-node-block="true">
Linkedin: <a href="http://linkedin.com/company/jomaconstruction" data-prosemirror-content-type="mark" data-prosemirror-mark-name="link">linkedin.com/company/jomaconstruction</a>
</li>
<li data-prosemirror-content-type="node" data-prosemirror-node-name="listItem" data-prosemirror-node-block="true">
Facebook: <a href="http://facebook.com/jomaconstruction" data-prosemirror-content-type="mark" data-prosemirror-mark-name="link">facebook.com/jomaconstruction</a>
</li>
<li data-prosemirror-content-type="node" data-prosemirror-node-name="listItem" data-prosemirror-node-block="true">
YouTube: <a href="http://youtube.com/jomaconstruction" data-prosemirror-content-type="mark" data-prosemirror-mark-name="link">youtube.com/jomaconstruction</a>
</li>
<li data-prosemirror-content-type="node" data-prosemirror-node-name="listItem" data-prosemirror-node-block="true">
Instagram: <a href="http://instagram.com/jomaconstruction" data-prosemirror-content-type="mark" data-prosemirror-mark-name="link">instagram.com/jomaconstruction</a>
</li>
</ul>
</li>
<li data-prosemirror-content-type="node" data-prosemirror-node-name="listItem" data-prosemirror-node-block="true">
Subscribe to JOMA&rsquo;s mailing list at <a href="http://jomaconstruction.com/learn/jomail-archive" data-inline-card="" data-card-data="">http://jomaconstruction.com/learn/jomail-archive</a>
</li>
</ul>
&nbsp;
Join the Conversation The Steward Chair is about equipping and inspiring business leaders to build organizations that stand the test of time. If this episode resonated with you, share your biggest takeaway and tag us on LinkedIn:
Chat With Leaders Media <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/chatwithleaders/" data-prosemirror-content-type="mark" data-prosemirror-mark-name="link">https://www.linkedin.com/company/chatwithleaders/</a> and End of the Line Productions <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/end-of-the-line-productions/" data-prosemirror-content-type="mark" data-prosemirror-mark-name="link">https://www.linkedin.com/company/end-of-the-line-productions/</a>.&nbsp;
Elevate your podcast, company meeting, or industry event strategies to better engage stakeholders and drive meaningful growth! Visit <a href="https://chatwithleaders.com" data-prosemirror-content-type="mark" data-prosemirror-mark-name="link">ChatWithLeaders.com</a> to learn more about how we can help.

Energy Justice: Why Seth Gunning is Democratizing Georgia’s Solar Landscape

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