People, Process, Progress: Leadership from Critical Care to the Boardroom

This Foundation Friday builds on the concept of the space between reaction and response and brings it into real life.Through a simple but relatable moment at home, Kevin walks through how quickly reaction can take over and how a brief pause can completely change the outcome.He connects this to leadership, meetings, and high-pressure situations where tone, control, and clarity matter most.You’ll learn how to recognize that space, how to use it, and a simple breathing tool to help you stay composed when it counts.This is about building the reps to respond with intention, at home, at work, and everywhere in between.

Stop reacting and start responding. In the premiere of the rebranded Own. Move. Anchor., Kevin Pannell explores the life-changing power of "The Space Between"—the split-second where you reclaim control, even when circumstances feel overwhelming.Drawing on the profound survival insights of psychiatrist Viktor Frankl, this episode breaks down why we default to "automatic" reactions and how that cycle shapes our leadership, relationships, and results. You don’t rise to your plan when pressure builds; you fall back to the systems you’ve built.In this episode, you’ll learn:The Frankl Framework: Why "The Space Between" is a survival tool, not just a philosophy.Reaction vs. Response: How to identify the "fast" triggers in your day—from high-stakes meetings to traffic—that cause you to drift.Training for Mental Control: Why physical stress (BJJ, hard workouts) is essential for teaching your mind to "stay" when things get difficult.The Micro-Ownership Practice: A simple, one-breath habit to pause and choose a better response today.Own your mind. Move your body. Anchor your spirit. Resources:Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl

Most teams plan to 100% capacity and call it efficiency. In reality, that’s where things start to break.In this episode, I walk through a better way to think about capacity, not as a percentage on a heatmap, but as a balance between people, workload, and real-world unpredictability.You’ll hear how experienced and developing project managers handle workload differently, why not all work should be treated as a project, and how shifting repeatable work back to operational teams can free up meaningful capacity.I also break down the difference between planning for what you know, like PTO, training, and admin work, versus creating space for what you don’t know, like escalations and unexpected priorities that derail even the best plans.This isn’t about tools or systems. It’s about awareness, leadership, and better conversations.If you’re leading projects, programs, or teams, this episode will help you move from tracking utilization to actually improving performance.

Many projects struggle not because of poor execution, but because alignment was never built at the start. In this episode, Kevin Pannell shares practical leadership lessons on why the first 30 days of a project matter most.Drawing from experience in healthcare IT, emergency management, and cross-organizational initiatives, he explains how clear intent, open communication, and shared expectations set the tone for successful work. If you lead projects, teams, or initiatives, these early conversations can determine whether your work moves forward smoothly or spends months correcting avoidable problems.

A lot of young people feel like they are already late. Late to choose the right major, late to land the right job, late to make real money, late to figure life out. In this episode, I share the long arc of my own path, from joining the Navy at 19 to working IT support at 25, going back to college at 29, graduating at 32 with a newborn at home, serving in public health and emergency management through my late 30s, becoming an EMS Captain at 41, and eventually leading an enterprise IT PMO. Along the way, I also built strength in my 40s, earned my Brazilian Jiu Jitsu blue belt, and continued to grow in faith and discipline. This conversation is a reminder that your twenties are not a deadline; they are a runway. You are not behind, you are building.

In this episode of People, Process, Progress, From the GWOT to Giving Back: How Clay Surratt Builds Others Through Martial Arts, host Kevin Pannell sits down with Clay Surratt, the founder of Guerrilla ATX. Together, they explore the transition from military service to civilian life and how the "mission" doesn't end when the uniform comes off—it just changes shape.Clay opens up about his journey from joining the Army in the wake of 9/11 to finding a new calling in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ). He shares how he uses martial arts as a restorative practice to build men up physically, mentally, and spiritually, creating a community where veterans and civilians alike can sharpen one another.Resources mentioned:Connect with Clay Surratt:Website: Guerrilla ATXInstagram: @conscious.claySupport the Mission:Curtis Bartlett Fitness: Learn MoreVeteran Bushido Brotherhood: Support Veterans

This week’s episode, When the Bagpipes Play: Owning the Moment, Moving through the Weight, Anchoring What Comes Next, is about the weight of losing brothers and sisters in public safety, the responsibility of planning line of duty death services, and how to move through grief in a healthier way.I break it down using a simple framework:Own where you are.Move through the weight together.Anchor what comes next with connection and support.This one is for those who have carried the flag, stood watch, or covered a shift so others could grieve.Godspeed y'all,Kevin

In this Faith in Action Friday episod, Own. Move. Anchor. Lessons from The Burg Box, I follow up on my recent conversation with Jennifer Prevette, founder of The Burg Box, and reflect on what Own. Move. Anchor. really means in everyday life. I share how owning your mind is about learning to handle stress and regulate emotions, how moving your body is simple but powerful medicine for mental and physical health, and how anchoring your spirit helps keep the weight of decisions and expectations from becoming overwhelming. Jennifer’s approach to business, family, mental health, movement, and faith is a practical example of how these ideas can show up together without extremes or hype, just steady practices that support clarity, consistency, and perspective.

In this episode of People, Process, Progress of the New River Valley, I sit down with Jennifer Prevette, founder of The Burg Box, a locally rooted gift box company built around community, craftsmanship, and care.Jennifer shares her journey from studying architecture at Virginia Tech to working in marketing, to becoming a full-time mom, and eventually building a business that connects people through thoughtfully curated boxes featuring local makers. We talk about faith, intention, and what it really looks like to build something meaningful and sustainable, one box at a time.Connect with Jennifer and The Burg Box:Start with the website to explore current boxes and local makers: https://www.theburgbox.com/Follow on Instagram for new releases and behind-the-scenes updates: https://www.instagram.com/the_burg_box/?hl=enConnect on Facebook for community updates and gifting ideas: https://www.facebook.com/theburgbox/More conversations highlighting the people, process, and progress shaping the New River Valley at https://peopleprocessprogress.com

This short bridge episode, Why DRiVE Still Matters in Leadership, revisits key leadership lessons from Drive by Daniel Pink. The focus is on why autonomy, mastery, and purpose continue to shape motivation, engagement, and performance in modern organizations, especially in complex and remote environments. This episode also connects recent reflections with an upcoming conversation with Jennifer Prevette, Founder and Owner of The Burg Box.Episode Highlights:Autonomy without trust leads to isolationMastery stalls when growth paths are unclearPurpose fades when communication declinesRemote work amplifies existing leadership gapsMotivation often declines before performance does

In this episode, I share seven books I read, or returned to, in 2025 that helped me stay disciplined, grounded, and clear-headed heading into 2026.These aren’t trend-driven recommendations. They’re books focused on hardship, meaning, faith, resilience, and personal responsibility. Some pushed me physically, others reshaped how I think about suffering and connection. All of them helped me show up better in my life and leadership.Books Discussed in This EpisodeThe Stability EquationDiscipline Equals Freedom Field ManualThe Wim Hof MethodWhat Doesn’t Kill UsMan’s Search for MeaningLost ConnectionsThe Amplified BibleRead the full post and resources:https://peopleprocessprogress.com/2026/01/01/7-books-to-start-2026-strong/Own your mind.Move your body.Anchor your spirit.

As of the end of 2025, What 2025 Taught Me and How I’m Setting Up 2026, People, Process, Progress has reached listeners and viewers around the world.The audio podcast has generated approximately 78,000 total listens across 324 episodes and has been heard in 138 countries. Across the full catalog, the show maintains an average episode engagement of over 80%, meaning most listeners who start an episode stay with it. That matters because it signals relevance and trust, not just reach.On YouTube, content across the channel has generated over 848,000 total views, reaching viewers in 128 countries.The data reinforces a clear direction moving forward. Episodes built around clear problems, practical frameworks, and lived experience consistently resonate more deeply than generic motivation or surface-level commentary.In 2026, the show will move into a steady rotation, alternating between short, structured solo episodes and conversations with leaders and business owners from the New River Valley who are quietly building, serving, and leading in their communities.Same values. Clearer focus. More grounded conversations.Godspeed y'all.

In this Faith in Action Friday episode, Faith Lived Through Discipline, Structure, and Service, I reflect on my recent conversation with Adam, a police officer, jiu jitsu black belt, and gym owner. His story highlights how faith is often lived out through consistent action, structure, and service, not loud words or perfect belief.Faith doesn’t always show up as certainty or comfort. Sometimes it shows up as discipline, restraint, and choosing to do the right thing when it would be easier to shut down.We explore Psalm 34:19 and what it really means to walk through hardship without becoming hardened by it. This episode is about resilience, accountability, and faith expressed through daily choices.Key Themes:Faith lived through action, not slogansDiscipline as a form of faithPsalm 34:19 and realistic resilienceStructure, service, and consistency Call to Action: Listen to the full interview with Adam and share this episode with someone who needs structure more than motivation.

In this episode of People, Process, Progress, I talk with Adam, a police officer, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt, gym owner, and MBA graduate, about leadership shaped by real-life experience.Adam shares how growing up with instability and the impact of a compassionate police officer early in life set him on a path into law enforcement. We discuss his journey from the jails to patrol and SWAT, the weight of critical incidents, and responding to the death of a close friend.We also explore how Brazilian Jiu Jitsu became a foundation for discipline, humility, and resilience, ultimately leading Adam to open Blue Gorilla BJJ and build a community rooted in accountability and respect.This episode launches the People, Process, Progress of the New River Valley series, focused on the people doing meaningful work in our region.Watch the full video interview on the People, Process, Progress YouTube channel, or listen on your favorite podcast platform.For more interviews and insights, visit peopleprocessprogress.com.People first, process aligned, progress together.

Growth can’t be rushed.In this Faith in Action Friday episode, Kevin reflects on a lesson drawn from farming and from life experience: you can do the right work and still harm the outcome if you try to force progress.Using Psalm 126:5–6, this episode explores the difference between sowing well and harvesting too early, and what patience, consistency, and faith look like in 2025.

Life in the New River Valley has shaped me in ways I never expected. In this Season 9 opener, I share how the move, the mountains, the community, and the challenges along the way changed my approach to family, leadership, health, and resilience. This season, I will be talking with people across the region and sharing my own reflections as we explore the real stories and steady progress happening here.

In a world accelerated by AI, leadership still comes down to human judgment. Today’s episode looks at how President Kennedy used quiet moments during the Cuban Missile Crisis to think clearly and choose restraint, and how we can do the same.This week’s tool from The Stability Equation is The Mental Stop Sign a simple way to slow down, breathe, and make decisions from calm rather than pressure.Takeaways • A pause can shift an entire day • The Mental Stop Sign settles your mind fast • Prayer and mindfulness strengthen leadership • AI can inform us, but wisdom guides usOne pause, one breath, one clear decision.

AI is no longer just an operational tool. It’s becoming one of the most important strategic lenses healthcare leaders can use. In this episode, Kevin explains how AI can sharpen decision-making, strengthen business cases, highlight opportunities you can’t see from the boardroom, and help leaders measure progress with smarter, predictive metrics.You’ll hear how executives can use AI to guide portfolio decisions, forecast ROI, identify gaps across the system, and build KPIs that actually show future impact. Kevin also shares how governance and a focused analytics team can turn AI into a leadership advantage rather than a scattered set of tech projects.If you want to bring more clarity to complex decisions and lead with greater purpose, this episode is for you.

Pressure shows up without warning. Some days you shake it off, other days it sits heavy. This episode is about what you do next.Today I’m talking about what it means to step up when life hits you harder than you planned for. I’ll share a moment where I felt worn down, what helped me regroup, and the simple steps you can take to steady your mind and move forward. We’ll look at this through people, process, and purpose so you can respond with clarity instead of frustration. By the end, you’ll have one action you can use today to get back on track.

Most teams think “done” means the same thing until a deadline hits. Then you find out it doesn’t.In this episode I break down why “done” falls apart on teams and how you can fix it with clear expectations and steady communication. I’ll share a moment where my own project drifted because I assumed everyone shared the same definition. We’ll walk through how to line people up, how to simplify the process, and how to follow through without micromanaging. This is a practical episode you can put to work today.

When life shakes you, trusting the right people can be the difference between staying stuck and stepping forward.This is an episode about leaning on the people who show up when it matters. I share a personal moment when I needed support and how one steady voice made all the difference. Through the lens of people, process, and purpose, we’ll talk about how to recognize who’s truly in your corner, how to let them help, and how faith plays a part in keeping you grounded.

You can have the best plan in the world, but if the wrong people are in the room, nothing moves.Today we dig into why progress slows when the right people aren’t part of the conversation. I’ll share a moment where a project stalled because the wrong voices were leading, and what happened when we finally aligned the room. You’ll learn how to choose the right stakeholders, how to guide tough conversations, and how to move teams from confusion to action.

Some lessons hit you years after you read them. Frankl’s did that for me.In this episode I reflect on a lesson from Viktor Frankl that changed the way I view faith, purpose, and suffering. I’ll share how it helped me during a tough season and how it can help you hold steady when life feels heavy. We’ll talk about meaning, resilience, and the inner posture that keeps you from getting swept away by the moment.

A project can be saved. The team can’t always be—unless you lead it the right way.Today we dig into how to pull a project back from the edge without burning out the people doing the work. I’ll share a moment where tension was high, trust was low, and what it took to turn things around. You’ll learn how to reset intent, create calm, and give your team a path forward that feels doable and honest.

Sometimes leadership lessons show up in unexpected moments. This episode breaks down what made that night work, how big personalities stayed aligned, and what leaders today can take from it. We talk vision, humility, coordination, and how to rally people toward something bigger than themselves.

You can’t move toward progress if the wrong people are sitting in the front seat. In this episode I talk about why choosing the right people matters more than choosing the direction. I share a moment when I learned this the hard way and how it changed the way I build and lead teams. We look at trust, readiness, talent, and the quiet signals that tell you whether someone is the right fit.

If you want adoption and stable progress, go where people already are.This episode focuses on designing processes and solutions that match the natural flow of how people work. I share a moment where following human patterns, not idealized ones, turned a project around. You will learn how to observe behavior, simplify decisions, and build systems that actually stick.

A small reset can change the direction of your entire day.Here I walk through a few grounded tools that help you reset your intent when things feel off. These are practices I use in my own life when the week gets noisy or I start drifting. We talk grounding, clarity, and momentum, and you will leave with one small shift you can use today.

A strong strategy can fall apart fast if the intent behind it is unclear.This episode walks through how to recognize the intent gap, how to close it, and why it derails even good teams. I share a moment where strategy was not the issue at all and what happened once the intent was reset. You will learn how to bring people back to the why before you ask them to execute the how.

Resilience is built long before the stress shows up.This episode shares lessons from healthcare, emergency management, and personal experience on how to build resilience into your daily routines and team culture. We talk preparation, mindset, and the habits that make you harder to knock down.

Most problems get harder the longer you wait.This episode focuses on leading early before tension or confusion take hold. I walk through the cues that tell you when to step in and how early action prevents bigger issues later. You will get a clear practice you can use to stay ahead instead of catching up.

Pressure rises from every direction when you lead portfolio work.In this episode we talk about how to stay calm, create clarity, and set a tone of confidence when expectations stack up. I share lessons from healthcare IT, emergency response, and large scale programs that help you guide teams with steadiness and purpose.

Grief shows up uninvited, and it doesn’t leave on our timeline. But we can own how we respond.In this Reset Friday episode, Owning Your Response to Grief, of People, Process, Progress, I share tools that helped me face grief and keep moving forward: journaling, routines, connection, and honoring those we’ve lost.

In this Reset Friday road edition, Kevin reflects on the importance of sharing what we know instead of keeping it bottled up. Too often, knowledge, skills, and experience leave with us when we move on from a job, a team, or even life itself. Mentorship—formal or informal—is how we make sure others don’t have to start from scratch.Kevin shares examples from the workplace, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, and fitness to illustrate how anyone can be a mentor, whether by giving pointers, offering structure, or simply encouraging someone to start. Whether you’re brand new or seasoned, you have something to offer. The challenge is simple: How are YOU mentoring others today????? Learn more in Kevin’s books:The Stability Equation: 7 Pillars for a More Balanced Life → https://a.co/d/fyLPR0QThe People, Process, & Progress of Project Management → https://a.co/d/bJTqTNG???? Own your mind, move your body, anchor your spirit.

We live in a time where more information does not always mean more clarity. In this episode of People, Process, Progress, I share how leaders, project managers, and parents can filter the flood of information and focus on what matters. We will cover why people need direction not noise, how to set critical information requirements for work and home, and how progress is made by responding with purpose instead of reacting to every ping.The Stability Equation: 7 Pillars for a More Balanced Life → https://a.co/d/fyLPR0QThe People, Process, and Progress of Project Management → https://a.co/d/bJTqTNGYouTube Channel → https://www.youtube.com/@peopleprocessprogressBlog and resources → https://peopleprocessprogress.com

In this Reset Friday, Kevin Pannell shares how one jack rabbit can spook a herd of sheep and how the same happens to us when fear, rumors, or groupthink take over. Drawing from Deuteronomy 32:30 and Joyce Meyer’s 15 Minutes in the Word, Kevin shows how this plays out at work, in politics, in church, and at home, then offers three ways to stay steady: mindfulness, ownership, and connection.

Season 7, Episode 5 of People, Process, Progress, Why People, Process, Progress Matters Now, looks at how this week’s tragedies, a young man’s murder, another school shooting, and police officers killed in the line of duty, mirror the same disconnect we see in our workplaces. I share how the 7 Project Pillars can guide us not just in projects, but in our lives and communities, helping us re-engage with each other and move progress forward together. These lessons are about more than management; they are about rebuilding trust where it matters most.

Saying yes to everything is one of the fastest ways to end up burned out and unfocused. In this short Reset Friday: Boundaries Before Burnout, I share a practical way to protect your energy and set boundaries that actually stick. Learn how to use one simple reset phrase to stay aligned with your priorities and show up better for the people who matter most.

Most team problems come from unclear direction, not a lack of effort. In this episode,Three Critical Elements to Align Any Team | S7 Ep3, I share three practical tools: Leader’s Intent, a clear Definition of Done, and SMART objectives that bring clarity and speed to any project. You will hear a real example of how alignment turned a drifting team into one that delivered with confidence.For more tools and "How to" get The People, Process, & Progress of Project Management on Amazon at https://a.co/d/4zpt5pz and visit the peopleprocessprogress.com website.