Generous Business Owner

Rusty Bland: Geeking Out About How Your Leaders Lead

Episode Summary

What do you want to be known for? How can you create real experiences to build that? In this episode, Jeff and Rusty discuss: How God works on us in all areas of our lives. Allowing all of your experiences to work for you in any role. Owners and donors in your foundation. Embedding servant leadership into your culture. Key Takeaways: God’s kingdom can and will come through your work, no matter what it is you are doing. Help your employees understand their work matters in a higher-calling way and are always connected to a higher purpose. You have more to give than just writing a check. Pay attention to how you serve. But if you do it right, everyone wins. It’s an explosion of goodness. Pray for a clear vision, then enlist help. "Pay attention to how you serve. But if you do it right, everyone wins. It’s an explosion of goodness." —  Rusty Bland Episode References: Generous Business Owner Podcast - Brandon Barnholt: The Hand of God In Your Life and Business About Rusty Bland: Rusty Bland is currently the President of the KeHE Cares Foundation for KeHE Distributors, a $9B+ food distribution company based in Naperville, IL. Prior to this role, he served as the Executive Vice President, Culture at KeHE, serving on the senior team and co-leading HR.  As one of KeHE’s longest tenured leaders, Rusty has led KeHE’s effort to institutionalize and perpetuate its unique culture and embed the Company’s mission/vision/values into all aspects of the employee experience at KeHE. Rusty has been with KeHE since November 2004.  As a certified B-corporation, KeHE considers its business operations to be a platform for doing good in the world.  One of the most unique ways this “goodness” is manifested is through the KeHE Cares Foundation, to which KeHE donates 10% of its profits in order to fund as much impact as possible.  The stewardship of these funds is organized and deployed through the Foundation in 3 primary ways/pillars:  1) Serving and Giving; 2) Impact investing; and 3) the KeHE Leadership Academy.  Prior to working at KeHE, Rusty was Vice President/COO at Lemstone Christian Stores, a 75-store franchise chain. He and his wife, Allison, have been married for 35 years and reside in Shoreview, MN.  They have 3 adult children, two sons-in-law, and an amazing granddaughter whom they are endlessly doting on. Connect with Rusty Bland: Website: https://www.kehecares.org/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rustybland Connect with Jeff Thomas: Website: https://www.arkosglobal.com/ Podcast: https://www.generousbusinessowner.com/ Book: https://www.arkosglobal.com/trading-up Email: jeff.thomas@arkosglobal.com Twitter: https://twitter.com/ArkosGlobalAdv Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/arkosglobal/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/arkosglobaladvisors Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arkosglobaladvisors/ YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLUYpPwkHH7JrP6PrbHeBxw

Episode Notes

What do you want to be known for? How can you create real experiences to build that?

In this episode, Jeff and Rusty discuss: 

• How God works on us in all areas of our lives.
• Allowing all of your experiences to work for you in any role.
• Owners and donors in your foundation.
• Embedding servant leadership into your culture.

Key Takeaways: 

• God’s kingdom can and will come through your work, no matter what it is you are doing.
• Help your employees understand their work matters in a higher-calling way and are always connected to a higher purpose.
• You have more to give than just writing a check.
• Pay attention to how you serve. But if you do it right, everyone wins. It’s an explosion of goodness.
• Pray for a clear vision, then enlist help.

"Pay attention to how you serve. But if you do it right, everyone wins. It’s an explosion of goodness." —  Rusty Bland

Episode References: 

• Generous Business Owner Podcast - Brandon Barnholt: The Hand of God In Your Life and Business

About Rusty Bland: Rusty Bland is currently the President of the KeHE Cares Foundation for KeHE Distributors, a $9B+ food distribution company based in Naperville, IL. Prior to this role, he served as the Executive Vice President, Culture at KeHE, serving on the senior team and co-leading HR.  As one of KeHE’s longest tenured leaders, Rusty has led KeHE’s effort to institutionalize and perpetuate its unique culture and embed the Company’s mission/vision/values into all aspects of the employee experience at KeHE. Rusty has been with KeHE since November 2004.  

As a certified B-corporation, KeHE considers its business operations to be a platform for doing good in the world.  One of the most unique ways this “goodness” is manifested is through the KeHE Cares Foundation, to which KeHE donates 10% of its profits in order to fund as much impact as possible.  The stewardship of these funds is organized and deployed through the Foundation in 3 primary ways/pillars:  1) Serving and Giving; 2) Impact investing; and 3) the KeHE Leadership Academy.  

Prior to working at KeHE, Rusty was Vice President/COO at Lemstone Christian Stores, a 75-store franchise chain.

He and his wife, Allison, have been married for 35 years and reside in Shoreview, MN.  They have 3 adult children, two sons-in-law, and an amazing granddaughter whom they are endlessly doting on. 

Connect with Rusty Bland:

Website: https://www.kehecares.org/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rustybland

Connect with Jeff Thomas: 

Website: https://www.arkosglobal.com/

Podcast: https://www.generousbusinessowner.com/

Book: https://www.arkosglobal.com/trading-up

Email: jeff.thomas@arkosglobal.com

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ArkosGlobalAdv

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/arkosglobal/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/arkosglobaladvisors

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/arkosglobaladvisors/

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCLUYpPwkHH7JrP6PrbHeBxw