Deborah Price – Giving What You Need, Elevating Others, and Figuring It Out

In this episode of Most People Don’t… But YOU Do, I sit down with Deborah Price, an entrepreneur, giver, and connector who has built multiple businesses, including Cozy Faux and Merch Madness Group. We dive into her journey from Cleveland to Los Angeles, where she transitioned from makeup artistry to running a company with 50 employees, all while mastering the art of "figuring things out."

Deborah shares powerful insights on the importance of giving what you need to receive, the value of confidence over credentials, and how thoughtful giving creates lasting impact. She also discusses her philanthropic efforts in the wake of the recent LA wildfires, where she has helped provide comfort through her Cozy Faux blankets.

Tune in for an inspiring conversation on elevating others, making people feel seen, and embracing life's unexpected turns with resilience and generosity.

🔹 Key Takeaways:

• Confidence is key—say yes and figure it out along the way.
• Make people feel seen—a small compliment can have a huge impact.
• Give what you wish you had— kindness and generosity come full circle.
• Talk to people—everyone has a story, and connections create opportunities.
• Thoughtful gifts matter—it’s not about the item, but the feeling it inspires.
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🎧 Listen now and discover why most people don’t… but YOU do!

Support her and others here:

https://cozyfaux.com

https://merchmadnessgroup.com

Fundraiser for LA Fire Relief:

Fundraiser by Deborah Price : Support LA Fire Relief with Cozy Faux Comfort Relief FundMore podcasts here:

https://bartaberkey.com/podcast

Summary:

In this engaging and forward-thinking conversation, Bart Berkey sits down with Adam Mogelonsky, a hospitality consultant specializing in luxury hotels. Adam shares his deep knowledge on future trends, wellness, and how hotels must evolve to meet the demands of new generations. They discuss how hotels can offer more than just premium service—they must anticipate trends, integrate holistic wellness, and rethink traditional offerings to stay ahead of the curve.

Adam also reveals how demographic shifts, changing consumer expectations, and longevity science will reshape luxury hospitality. The conversation touches on everything from intermittent fasting and biohacking to regenerative tourism and how hotels can create "constellations of trends" rather than linear improvements.

1. All Organizations Must Think 5-10 Years Ahead

   • Most luxury hotels already know service and hospitality inside out. What they need is future-proofing—insights into trends that will shape guest preferences in the next decade.
   • Younger generations prioritize health, sustainability, and personalization, which will push hotels to evolve beyond traditional offerings like extravagant breakfasts and standard wellness amenities.

2. Wellness is More Than Just Yoga Mats & Filtered Water

   • True wellness experiences go beyond token gestures like yoga mats and infused water. They need scientific backing, innovation, and personalization.
   • Future wellness offerings may include biometric tracking, AI-driven fitness guidance, structured water, longevity-focused cuisine, and in-room recovery technology.

3. The Future is Experience-Driven & Science-Backed

   • Travelers are looking for transformative experiences, not just a place to stay. Hotels that integrate holistic health, regenerative tourism, and personalized well-being solutions will lead the industry.
   • A great example is Babylonstoren in South Africa, a resort that offers immersive culinary farming, regenerative wellness, and hands-on guest experiences—a model for the future of hospitality.

Adam challenges us to think critically: Are we designing hotels (and our own lives) for today, or for the future? The answer will determine which brands, experiences, and people thrive in the years ahead.

SPONSORSHIP:

Thank you to our sponsor: Wellevate Experiences

https:https://kellybishopwellevateexperience.com

The overall goal of Wellevate Experiences is to bring a sense of wellness and positive mental well-being to the events, hospitality, and travel industry and provide an understanding of the emotion and impact to Pick Positive and practice Self-Love.

How do you achieve over 33K LinkedIn connections organically? You post authentic messages of personal journeys especially during the opening of Resorts World Las Vegas.

How do you volunteer your time, participate in boards, and do your job exceptionally well? Listen to Shannon's advice and strategies on how to lead and balance in her industry.

In this episode of Bart Berkey's podcast, "Most People Don't... But You Do!", Bart sits down with Shannon McCallum, Vice President of Hotel Operations, Resorts World Las Vegas.

Shannon is celebrated for her exceptional strengths, including her strategic vision, unwavering dedication, and ability to inspire those around her.

Her reputation as a transformative leader precedes her, with colleagues and industry peers alike recognizing her as a beacon of innovation and excellence.

Shannon's leadership style is characterized by her servant leadership approach, where she prioritizes the growth and well-being of her team members.

She believes in leading by example, fostering a culture of trust, and empowering her team to achieve their fullest potential. Her numerous board memberships reflect her commitment to giving back to the community and driving positive change across various sectors.

As a C-level executive, Shannon has successfully navigated the complexities of the hospitality industry, steering Resorts World Las Vegas to new heights with her forward-thinking strategies and customer-centric mindset.

Join Bart and Shannon as they delve into her inspiring career, the pivotal decisions that shaped her path, and the lessons she has learned along the way.Connect with her on LinkedIn:https://www.linkedin.com/in/shannon-mccallum-09ba7a8/

More about Resorts World Las Vegas:

https://www.rwlasvegas.com/

Listen to more episodes of the podcast here:

https://bartaberkey.com/podcast

Thank you to our Sponsor: Merch Madness Group

https://merchmadnessgroup.espwebsite.com/

Most of us have been tourists on vacation standing in front of a monument or a place of interest for a brief second to capture a photo to document that "we were here or there".

Imagine instead, taking the time, not to just take the photo, but to be present.

Deliberately focused to actually see and experience & take it all in.

This is exactly what these three friends have been doing for years all across the globe.

In this podcast episode, Bart introduces three friends, Mark Ascher, Phil Becker, and Mike Burnstein, who share their adventurous stories about motorcycle trips and mountaineering.

Their adventures emphasize the importance of community, curiosity, and personal growth.

They have undertaken various challenges together, from riding dirt bikes in the trails of West Virginia to trekking in Nepal and climbing Mount Kilimanjaro.

They take pride in pushing their physical and mental limits.

Their adventures emphasize the importance of community, curiosity, and personal growth.

More Most People Don't but YOU DO! episodes here:

⁠https://bartaberkey.com/podcast

Who knew that a job delivering papers as a young boy would lead to an entrepreneurial career in the world of sales, revenue, and hospitality?

Today's podcast guest is Jeff Michael, the Chief Revenue Officer of Quorum Hotels and Resorts.

The discussion traces Jeff's career journey, starting from his fascination with hotels as a child to his impressive rise in the hospitality industry.

Jeff shares stories of his early experiences in planning family trips and delivering newspapers, which instilled a strong work ethic and an early interest in business. He highlights the importance of being authentic, building relationships, and embracing challenges.

He also discusses the significance of mentors, being humble in leadership, and leveraging AI to create efficiencies. Now, as a key leader at Quorum Hotels, Jeff continues to apply these principles to drive success and growth.

Key takeaways include the value of authenticity, the role of mentorship, and the power of being proactive and tenacious. Connect with Jeff Michael here: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffmichaelcha/

More about Quorum Hospitality here:

https://www.quorumhospitality.com/

Visit our sponsor here:

https://merchmadnessgroup.espwebsite.com/

More about "Most People Don't" here:

https://bartaberkey.com

Friends for over 20 years. Business partners for almost as long. Using music, performance, and the expressive arts to heal not only themselves but over 450 families per week.

Kim Tapper and Tom Sweitzer have created a non-profit https://aplacetobeva.org based in Northern, VA "where everyone is accepted for their humanity, not defined solely by their challenges. "

My son and I attended their holiday show last month. Imagine seeing a young client, using her feet to strum a guitar to contribute to a song, while many of her other limbs wouldn't function as well. Imagine the pride of parents and locals, seeing a child "twirl" on stage to receive loads of applause. Not necessarily about the skill, but rather from the effort.

This is what I learned from them, from their heartfelt efforts, and from their contributions to helping others

FIND AWE:

1. Power of Empathy in Arts: Both Kim and Tom emphasized the transformative power of the arts, used empathetically. They highlighted how artistic expression can provide therapeutic benefits, not just entertainment, stressing the importance of humanity and compassion in creative fields.

2. Collaborative Impact: Their story of meeting and forming a powerful professional partnership due to shared life philosophies and empathetic approaches is a testament to the impact of collaboration. This underscores the value of finding like-minded individuals who share your vision and values to create meaningful projects.

3. Resilience and Personal Challenges: Both speakers shared deeply personal stories of overcoming adversity and using their experiences to fuel their work. This teaches the value of resilience and using one’s personal journey as a catalyst for helping others, highlighting that personal struggles can lead to profound professional and philanthropic contributions.

4. Community and Inclusion: The work at A Place to Be is a strong example of building community and fostering inclusion through the arts. They create a space where everyone, regardless of ability, can contribute and feel valued. This can inspire listeners to seek or create similar inclusive environments in their own communities.

5. Therapeutic Power of Self-Expression: The episode illustrates the healing power of self-expression through music, dance, and performance, encouraging listeners to explore these avenues for personal growth and healing. Whether it's through professional therapy or personal exploration, engaging in expressive arts can be a powerful tool for emotional well-being.

This episode is being sponsored by:

https://merchmadnessgroup.com

For corporate gifting ideas, please visit their website and support their efforts to create memorable moments through appreciation of thoughtful gifts.

For information on the availability for future podcast sponsorships, visit and submit inquiry form.

https://bartaberkey.com/podcast

To kick off 2025, our first podcast guest of the year is Hugh Roth. He is a fellow Pittsburgher and Penn Stater, who has accomplished so much in his personal and professional life.

He is currently, Senior Vice President at PepsiCo.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/hugh-roth-5037538/

We discuss his upbringing in Pittsburgh, his career trajectory through major companies like American Express and Coca-Cola, and his philosophy on leadership and kindness in the workplace.

Roth emphasizes the value of authenticity, team cohesion, and the importance of going the extra mile in both personal and professional contexts. He also reflects on the impact of family and mentors on his career.

Thank you to this episodes sponsor:

Merch Madness Group

They are a small business based in Southern California dedicated to providing CORPORATE GIFTING NEEDS with exceptional products, curated merch, and fulfillment services.

For those interesting in helping us to continue to provide zero cost content for you, sponsorship inquires can be submitted here: https://www.bartaberkey.com/sponsorship

Major learnings from today's podcast that you can apply: 1. The Importance of Grit and Resilience

Hugh shared his upbringing in a hardworking environment, his father's entrepreneurial spirit, and the impact of experiencing both wealth and bankruptcy. These experiences taught him the value of grit, agility, and learning from mistakes, shaping his approach to leadership and life.

2. Team-Oriented Leadership and Empathy

Hugh emphasized the significance of teamwork and helping people reach their potential. He highlighted the importance of understanding individuals’ goals and aspirations—both personally and professionally—to foster a culture of empathy and collaboration.

3. Adaptability in Career Choices

Hugh discussed his decision to transition from hospitality operations to supplier roles to prioritize work-life balance and family. This pivot demonstrates the need for adaptability and aligning career paths with personal values and priorities.

4. The Power of Going the Extra Mile

Hugh stressed that successful people and leaders consistently "go the extra mile," whether through making an additional sales call, writing a handwritten note, or showing unexpected kindness. This principle applies both personally and professionally.

5. Authenticity and Kindness in Leadership

Hugh believes in the value of being genuine and caring. He underscored the importance of authentic leadership that focuses on connecting with others, listening to their needs, and making decisions that positively impact them. He linked this approach to the evolving expectations in hospitality and sales, advocating for “real people serving real people.”

Today's guest is Mike Schugt, currently the President of Teneo Hospitality Group, who shares his career journey in the hospitality industry. Soon he will putting forth all of his efforts and energy toward his new venture, "Inn-Clusivity".

Their mission is to empower special needs adults and their families by opening doors to transformative opportunities and meaningful employment in the hotel industry. It is a brilliant idea to help others find purpose and passion within new opportunities.

Imagine empowering special needs adults to become UNSTOPPABLE! He is "seeing" the need to help so many that may be UNSEEN for job opportunities.

We learn very quickly of so many commonalities between the both of us; Pittsburghers and Penn Staters.

Mike discusses his early aspiration to be a hockey player, his shift to hospitality spurred by an affinity for the dynamic nature of the industry, and his ascent to leadership roles including his current presidency at Teneo.

We discuss:

-the importance of self-leadership, authenticity, competitiveness, relationship-building in sales and leadership, and the value of serving others.

-Mike's initiative, 'Inclusivity,' which aims to provide employment opportunities for special needs adults.

-Lessons from Mike's story emphasize resilience, hard work, self-care, and the transformative impact of kindness and inclusivity in both personal growth and business success. More about https://innclusivity.org/

Connect with Mike on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/mike-schugt/

More about: https://teneohg.com/