In this episode of Stories from the River, we sit down with three inspiring Broad River Retail General Managers at the end of an impactful day from the Fort Mill, SC, campus where Broad River held its "Pioneering the Path - a Purpose 8:28 Experience" full learning and development day for all of its retail leaders on August 28, 2025. We sit down with Sonya De La Cruz of Hickory; Brett Cary of Asheville; and Seth Logue of Gastonia to explore what makes the company’s culture so unique and impactful. Through their personal stories and leadership experiences, they reveal how Broad River’s servant-minded leadership approach and people-first values have shaped their careers and their teams.

The conversation highlights the power of choosing positivity and leading with purpose, while also emphasizing how vision, planning, and intentional action help drive success. Each retail leader shares how Broad River’s senior leadership sets the tone by genuinely investing in every Memory Maker, knowing them by name, supporting their growth, and practicing the culture rather than simply talking about it. Their insights reinforce that success at Broad River is not solely measured by numbers or KPIs, but by elevating people, fostering belief, and building meaningful relationships.

This episode is a reminder that the culture at Broad River Retail is alive in daily actions, not slogans on a wall. It paints a vivid picture of a company that dreams boldly, plans thoughtfully, moves with purpose, and grows together as one team. For anyone who values personal development, servant leadership, and the joy of helping others win, this is an inspiring conversation you won’t want to miss.

Watch the video on YouTube: https://youtu.be/WxeWQ_beD4E

Visit https://www.storiesfromtheriver.com for more episodes.

Broad River Retail brought this show to you. Visit https://BroadRiverRetail.com

Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/broad-river-retail

Welcome to part two of our conversation with Kristen Hadeed on Stories from the River.

Host Charlie Malouf continues his conversation with Kristen Hadeed, author of Permission to Screw Up, diving into resilience, ownership, and courageous leadership. Kristen shares why it’s okay to have a short “pity party” after setbacks—but emphasizes the importance of moving forward and learning from mistakes. She introduces practical tools like the “resilience resume,” where human-centered leaders reflect on lessons learned from their own screw-ups in weekly meetings, creating a safe space for experimentation, growth, and risk-taking.

The conversation explores how leaders can foster ownership and identity capital while helping team members find their “sweet spot” at work. Kristen highlights the value of embracing both rock star (deep specialist) and superstar (fast-growth, versatile) mindsets as careers evolve. She also explains the “1:3:1” method for collaborative problem-solving, where individuals present a challenge, three potential solutions, and their preferred option—boosting both idea quality and personal accountability.

Kristen underscores the power of courageous conversations and shares her 24-hour rule for addressing tough issues, all designed to build trust, authenticity, and stronger teams. She closes with an invitation to her Human Leadership Program, a pay-what-you-can initiative that helps leaders grow through intentionality, self-compassion, and creating lasting impact.

Additional Resources:

Kristen's Leadership Development Company Website - https://www.kristenhadeed.com

The Human Leadership Program by Kristen Hadeed - https://www.kristenhadeed.com/humanleadershipprogram

Permission to Screw Up by Kristen Hadeed - https://www.amazon.com/Permission-Screw-Up-Learned-Everything/dp/1591848296

Chief Joy Officer: How Great Leaders Elevate Human Energy and Eliminate Fear by Richard Sheridan - https://www.amazon.com/Chief-Joy-Officer-Leaders-Eliminate/dp/0735218226

The Defining Decade by Meg Jay - https://www.amazon.com/Defining-Decade-Your-Twenties-Matter/dp/0446561754

Radical Candor: Be a Kick-Ass Boss Without Losing Your Humanity by Kim Scott - https://www.amazon.com/Radical-Candor-Kick-Ass-Without-Humanity/dp/1250103509

What Got You Here Won’t Get You There by Marshall Goldsmith - https://www.amazon.com/What-Got-Here-Wont-There/dp/1401301304

Everybody Matters by Bob Chapman & Raj Sisodia - https://www.barrywehmiller.com/bobchapman/book

Watch the video on YouTube: https://youtu.be/ozBEpYK1V1o

Visit https://www.storiesfromtheriver.com for more episodes.

Broad River Retail brought this show to you. Visit https://BroadRiverRetail.com

Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/broad-river-retail

Welcome back to Stories from the River! Host and CEO Charlie Malouf is on location in Columbia, South Carolina, celebrating the Grand Reopening and ribbon-cutting of the Columbia, SC Ashley Store on Harbison Blvd. Charlie sits down with Emily Boyle, Senior Visual Impact Manager, who oversees the visual presentation for three stores in the Midlands area. Emily reflects on her nearly four-year journey with Broad River Retail, sharing her excitement for collaborating with a dedicated group of Memory Makers during a major store remodel—the first of its scale for her. She details the extensive planning and teamwork that went into successfully managing the construction, highlighting the importance of constant communication among various departments, contractors, and retail leadership to keep the project running smoothly, despite the inevitable disruptions.

Emily takes great pride in the store’s transformation, noting its elevated status as one of the highest-rated locations for visual impact, thanks to the relentless effort of all the Memory Makers involved. She discusses the satisfaction of receiving both positive customer feedback and impressive results in sales numbers, attributing the success to the collaborative spirit within Broad River Retail. Emily also shares her personal inspiration from brands like Restoration Hardware and Ballard Designs and talks about her educational background in interior decorating. The episode closes with excitement about upcoming initiatives, such as the Ashley Luxe program, and Emily’s unwavering commitment to continuous improvement, culture, and bringing creative energy to the Columbia store—a true flagship for Broad River Retail.Watch the other three episodes in this series:

Bloodline's Rebirth: Troy Walker on Transforming Columbia and Leading with Purpose - https://youtu.be/GN_COcShtag

Inside Columbia’s Store Remodel: Teamwork, Transformation, and Retail Innovation - https://youtu.be/jQuDnH4mKPI

Don't Give Up Before the Miracle Happens: The Power of Connection w/ the Bloodline's Lance Cline - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZ9EP8Ve9Zw

Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/-noKbLAU5iA

Visit https://www.storiesfromtheriver.com for more episodes.

Broad River Retail brought this show to you. Visit https://BroadRiverRetail.com

Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/broad-river-retail

In this episode of Stories from the River, host and CEO, Charlie Malouf, continues the interviews from the Grand Reopening of the Columbia Bloodline store, which has undergone a major transformation into a stunning 7.0 Ashley prototype. Today, we hear from Lance Cline, Home Furnishings Expert, a committed Memory Maker with four years of service and success at Broad River Retail. Lance shares his excitement about the store’s new look—especially the expanded Sleep Gallery—and reflects on how his personal journey and focus on serving others has shaped both his life and success at work. He discusses shifting from a “top performer” mentality to one of service and connection, explaining that helping others is key to keeping what he’s gained, not only materially but mentally and spiritually.

The conversation delves deeper into Lance’s story, from overcoming addiction to celebrating seven years of sobriety and dedicating himself to supporting his community, especially those struggling with alcohol and drug addiction. He emphasizes the importance of connection—the core of his philosophy—and credits other Memory Makers for the store’s success, highlighting that retail truly is a team sport. Lance’s leadership and passion were recognized through the “Power of Connection” award at the January 2025 Annual Awards Gala, but he insists he prefers to work behind the scenes, driving big dreams for the store and his colleagues. The episode closes with Lance encouraging all Memory Makers facing challenges to “not give up before the miracle happens” and to focus on having fun, selling furniture, and helping others.

Watch the other episodes in this series:

Bloodline's Rebirth: Troy Walker on Transforming Columbia and Leading with Purpose - https://youtu.be/GN_COcShtag

Inside Columbia’s Store Remodel: Teamwork, Transformation, and Retail Innovation - https://youtu.be/jQuDnH4mKPI

Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/dZ9EP8Ve9Zw

Visit https://www.storiesfromtheriver.com for more episodes.

Broad River Retail brought this show to you. Visit https://BroadRiverRetail.com

Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/broad-river-retail

In this special Stories from the River episode, host Charlie Malouf sits down with Cameron Piersanti, Senior Manager in Merchandising, following the Grand Reopening and Ribbon Cutting Ceremony of Broad River Retail’s Columbia, South Carolina, location.

Cameron shares insights on the extensive remodel process, highlighting teamwork, strategic planning, and the challenges of transforming the store while staying open for business. They discuss the evolution from a dated layout—including a fountain and kids’ area—to a contemporary Ashley 7.0 format, with a dramatically expanded sleep shop and a “two-in-one” concept that blends outlet and showroom offerings.

Cameron details the logistics behind successful remodels, the importance of optimizing space, and the rising popularity of key product lines and programs. The episode wraps up with reflections on the camaraderie and motivation these grand reopenings inspire, showcasing Broad River’s commitment to excellence and adaptability in retail.

Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/GN_COcShtag

Visit https://www.storiesfromtheriver.com for more episodes.

Broad River Retail brought this show to you. Visit https://BroadRiverRetail.com

Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/broad-river-retail

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In this episode of Stories from the River, host and CEO Charlie Malouf sits down with Troy Walker, the General Manager of the newly renovated Columbia Bloodline location for Broad River Retail. The conversation marks the Grand Reopening of this legacy store, which had been in operation in its original form for nearly two decades.

Troy reflects on the transformation of the store, sharing details about its outdated appearance prior to the remodel—complete with old carpet, playground equipment, and a dated fountain. The episode dives deep into Troy’s journey, from joining Broad River as a co-GM in Augusta to being convinced, somewhat reluctantly, to accept the challenge of leading the Columbia store. He describes the atmosphere he inherited: a slow, low-energy environment jokingly referring to it as a “funeral home.” Together, with his fellow Memory Makers, especially Sales Manager Lance Cline, they began to reshape the culture, foster a strong sense of family, and ultimately form what they proudly call the “Bloodline.”

The remodel marked a pivotal new chapter, bringing modern design and fresh energy into the space. Troy discusses how the changes, such as the new sleep gallery and polished floors, have greatly improved both the guest and Memory Maker experience. The process was challenging, with months of dust, noise, and mental strain, but ultimately resulted in a beautiful, revitalized showroom. Throughout the episode, Troy emphasizes the importance of culture, camaraderie, and shared success—highlighting how Memory Makers compete but also support one another so everyone can thrive. With big dreams ahead, including aspirations to become the store of the year, Troy and his Bloodline Memory Makers are focused on driving performance, providing meaningful experiences, and becoming a flagship for both Broad River and the wider community.

Watch this episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/jQuDnH4mKPI

Visit https://www.storiesfromtheriver.com for more episodes.

Broad River Retail brought this show to you. Visit https://BroadRiverRetail.com

Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/broad-river-retail

In this fourth and final episode of the Stories from the River series on Broad River Retail’s 4th Annual Home Furnishings Expert Soirée, host and CEO Charlie Malouf and EVP of Retail Performance Stacey McCormick reflect on the significance of this special celebration honoring Broad River’s Memory Makers. The soirée is a cherished tradition that recognizes and celebrates Home Furnishings Experts—spotlighting the dedication, discipline, and humility it takes to achieve this distinguished status. Charlie highlights how these top Memory Makers not only excel at their craft but also mentor and uplift others, embodying the company’s values and fueling its continued growth. Gratitude also extends to valued partners like Synchrony, whose support helps make these accomplishments and celebrations possible.

Stacey brings heartfelt appreciation, recognizing not only the experts but also the supporting teams and loved ones who stand beside them. He emphasizes the importance of relationships, trust, and genuine care within Broad River, celebrating both first-time experts and those who have earned this honor multiple times. With deep respect and admiration, he applauds their passion, resilience, and impact.

This episode captures the closing moments of the soirée series, honoring the Memory Makers who drive Broad River’s success and make life’s best memories possible for their guests.

Watch the previous three episodes from this series:

Fresh Takes From the 4th Annual Home Furnishings Expert Soirée - https://youtu.be/h4ipi5QVtoc

Retail Experts: Generating Performance, Rewarding Excellence, and Driving Culture - https://youtu.be/KxBIKL25ESo

A Toast to Dedication, Teamwork, and Home Furnishings Experts - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gbMzV0sDrs8