by Mary Kathryn Charlton | Mar 31, 2016 | News Slider
The Escape Game is a well-known Nashville business. What may be less known is that one of its co-founders, James Murrell, is a Lipscomb University graduate. A marketing major who graduated in 2011, Murrell and his brother Johnny are two of the four co-founders of the Escape Game. In addition to their current business, Murrell and his brother have run other businesses such as a real estate business and also a dorm food company, which eventually became Candy Galaxy. In 2014, the brothers opened the Escape Game with their business partners Mark and Malinda Flint. Currently, the Escape Game has five locations — two in Nashville (including its original location in Berry Hill, which is approximately 10 minutes from campus) and one in Pigeon Forge, Orlando and Austin. While its number of competitors is growing, Murrell said he believes that the Escape Game will continue to differentiate itself through its culture of continual improvement and its all-inclusive game environments. Murrell said that he didn’t go in to college thinking he would ever have such a business, but his success is a testament to taking advantage of open doors. “I know that if I worked hard, then I would have opportunities,” he said. “I think God’s given me opportunities and I just wanted to take those.” As a Lipscomb graduate, Murrell has the following advice for students and recent graduates who are on the job hunt: “Realize that it takes quite a bit of failure — usually,” he said. “We probably failed three or four times. If you’re going to be in a job, the most important thing in the world...
by Mary Kathryn Charlton | Jan 29, 2016 | News Slider
Ben Baker, a 1987 graduate, was a computer science major who spent over 15 years working for General Electric. Baker is now an entrepreneur in the healthcare industry. In 2004, he and his business partner started CareHere, a business that brings healthcare services to employees by placing medical facilities in convenient locations for the employees. The services which CareHere provides to the employees are provided free of charge to the patients. Employers hire CareHere to provide these services, and, thus, employers are able to save on insurance expenses. He met his business partner, Ernie Clevenger, when Baker began attending Harpeth Hills Church of Christ. Since that time, Clevenger and Baker have started and grown CareHere into the company it is now. “You know, it was a big shift for me to move from corporate world to the entrepreneurial space, but it was pretty exciting,” Baker said. Clevenger, the experienced entrepreneur, and Baker, the seasoned corporate veteran, combined their efforts. While Baker has enjoyed being an entrepreneur, he said it does come with “trade-offs.” “You have to wear every hat that there is conceivable,” Baker said. But in return, he said this new path is rewarding. “We feel like what we do makes a difference,” Baker said. “People can get access to care.” Baker said he also enjoys the freedom being an entrepreneur offers. “That’s another freedom that you have — the ability to steer it and direct it, and guide it in ways that you feel God is leading you do that,” Baker said. Twelve years after its start, CareHere has grown into a company with over 1000 employees and with clinics...
by Mary Kathryn Charlton | Oct 28, 2015 | Arts and Entertainment, News Slider
Randy Goodman (Class of 1977), now Chairman and CEO of Sony Music Nashville, entered David Lipscomb College for reasons not unlike some current Lipscomb students: he wanted to be in music, and his dad wanted him to go there. After becoming an active member of the college’s community and culture, Goodman decided to stay. Fortunately, too, were the benefits which going to college in Music City provided. Even as a teenager and as a college student, Goodman knew he wanted a career in music. Starting at Radio Corporation of America (RCA), Goodman has worked for various music businesses over his career. After years in the industry, Goodman landed his dream job as the chief executive at one of the most well-known labels in the music industry. While this is his dream job, the music industry as a whole is facing remarkable challenges. As the music industry faces the continual shift to streaming music, the responsibility falls on record companies and their leaders, like Goodman, to navigate the morphing environment successfully. Goodman said it is a challenging environment, and there is need of a marriage between business and art in his responsibilities at Sony. Not all of his responsibilities are as full of challenges, however. As a part of his job, he seeks out new talent. One of the favorite parts of his job is an unquestioned ability to listen to music all day in his office. Goodman said to be on the lookout for up-and-coming artists Cam and Old Dominion. In addition, he mentioned two new music groups which were just recently signed by Sony, Maren Morris and Lanco....
