THE FORTIFIED LIFE PODCAST

Mike speaks and teaches business, growth, and sales development for sales professionals and orthodontic teams so they can develop, sell, and grow with purpose.

John Shackelford currently serves as the Executive Director of Eagle Ranch, succeeding
Eddie Staub, Eagle Ranch’s Founder, in July 2021. In his role, John is ultimately
responsible for leading the Staff in accomplishing the Ranch’s mission to restore and
renew children and families in relational crisis.

Originally from Orlando, Florida, John graduated from Wheaton College (Illinois) in
2011 with degrees in Business/Economics and Theological Studies. John also played
basketball at Wheaton and served as team captain his senior year.

Prior to Eagle Ranch, John and his wife and children lived in Atlanta as he worked for
10 years at Chick-fil-A Inc. in the corporate Marketing department. In his most recent
role, he led Chick-fil-A’s Brand Planning team, responsible for the communications
planning and marketing of new products, among other duties. He was previously Team
Leader for the Sponsorships and Events marketing team, leading national partnerships
with ESPN, the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl, and the Chick-fil-A College Football Hall of
Fame. Additionally, John helped start the national Chick-fil-A Leader Academy
program and Chick-fil-A’s fleet of food trucks.

John and his wife, Stephanie, have three children and live with a portion of Eagle
Ranch’s staff on the ministry’s almost 500-acre campus.

About Eagle Ranch

Eagle Ranch is a Christ-centered nonprofit organization that takes a whole family
approach to restoring and renewing relationships for children and families. Our aim is
to provide renewal through restored relationships, practical resources and hope for a
more flourishing future.
 
From humble beginnings as a residential children’s program, Eagle Ranch’s services
have expanded to include family assessments, a day school program, outpatient
counseling, parenting resources and other offerings to help families heal brokenness
and gain tools for long-term success.

For more information, visit EagleRanch.org.

Marcylle Combs is a seasoned leader whose journey through healthcare, real estate, and leadership development has been guided by faith, perseverance, and a heart for people. For more than 30 years, she has worked to grow organizations with integrity, compassion, and a commitment to excellence — always recognizing that every achievement is ultimately a gift from God.

Bio: Heather Trumpfheller serves as Chief Growth Officer at Switchboard, a nonprofit tech startup mobilizing Christians around the world. She lives in Austin, TX and is heavily involved in the faith and work space, sitting on boards such as Austin Women in Technology and Austin Bridge Builders Alliance.

The Fortified Life Podcast with Jason DavisEpisode 226 |
Guest: Steve Woodworth – Marketing, Management, and Organizational Development Expert
Show Theme: Developing a dependency on Jesus in the marketplace—because from the boardroom to the bathroom, God is with you!

Guest Introduction
Steve Woodworth brings over 40 years of expertise in advancing Christian organizations through marketing, management, and organizational development.
Former leader at World Vision, overseeing a decade of double-digit growth
Steve co-founded and leads Masterworks, serving hundreds of Christian organizations.
Board volunteer, industry convener, CEO advisor
Author of Lost in Transition: Lessons from the Most Disastrous and Successful Ministry Successions
Key Topics & Highlights
Steve’s Professional Journey
Radical conversion to Christianity led to a desire to engage in missionary work.
Early career at World Vision, rising from data analytics to senior leadership.
Steered World Vision through remarkable growth
Co-founded the Masterworks agency to help Christian organizations achieve their missions
Book Focus: Lost in Transition
Explores both successful and disastrous leadership transitions in ministries and nonprofits
Motivated by seeing many failed successions and the pain they caused leaders and organizations.
Principles in the book help prevent disasters and create healthy, honoring transitions.
Worst-Case Scenario in Succession
Leaders pushed out or dishonored, losing trust with donors and staff.
Lack of celebration and poor communication can cause sharp declines in donations and morale.
One example: A CEO with an eight-year plan was forced out early, leading to significant setbacks for the organization and its finances.
Best-Case Scenario in Succession
The outgoing leader is honored and included in succession planning.
Successor is a strong culture fit, and overlap provides continuity.
Example: World Vision’s transition from Rich Stearns to Edgar Sandoval, with collaboration, respect, and discernment
Example: Trueface’s founder mentoring and supporting his successor, then returning to serve new opportunities
Dangers of Founders Overstaying
Founders unwilling to let go can hinder organizational growth and succession, sometimes cycling through multiple potential successors.
Steve’s personal experience: Gradual transition and willingness to let the new CEO lead, maintaining a respectful, supportive relationship
So, what makes transitions work? Here are the key conditions for a successful handoff:
Friendship and an ongoing relationship between predecessor and successor help ease the transition.
Boards should include outgoing leaders and senior staff in the hiring process and bathe the process in prayer.
Hiring from within increases success rates; mentoring multiple candidates is wise.
Practical Takeaways for Organizations
Start succession planning years in advance.
Prioritize culture fit and internal candidates when possible.
Foster humility, respect, and communication among all parties
Boards must recognize their own limitations and seek input from those who know the organization best.
Prayerful discernment is critical at every stage.
Steve Woodworth’s Book
Lost in Transition: Lessons from the Most Disastrous and Successful Ministry Successions
Available from: Kingdom Life Publishers and Amazon (Kindle version)
Connect with Steve Woodworth
Masterworks Agency
Book details and contact via Kingdom Life Publishers
Additional Resources
Podcast Website: fortifiedlifepodcast.com
Host’s Book: Fortify: Being Rooted in God’s Plan for Work and Business by Jason Davis (Available on Amazon)
Closing Encouragement
Don’t compartmentalize your faith. From the boardroom to the bathroom, God is with you!
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