Transformative Coaching with David Miller

A WORD FROM DAVID

I had the privilege of investing 34 years of my life in the medical equipment industry, the last 20 years with The MED Group, where I served as president and CEO. The company had been headquartered in a Chicago suburb but when I became president in 1986, we moved the company to my hometown of Lubbock, Texas. We saw MED grow from 27 locations to over 800 in those two decades.

Sometime during the winter of 1999, I was bearing the significant  weight of a serious business problem. Early one morning, during a time of quiet reflection with God I cried out “what am I supposed to do?” Almost instantly an inner voice, which I fully believe to be His voice, said to me “just walk away and I’ll take care of you.”

Walk away? Me? No way! I’m no quitter! And walk away from what? The company? The problem? The person causing the problem? Well, it didn’t take long to realize what God wanted of me. He wanted me to leave the career I loved…the position and all its trappings of success…the team that I had built. We were making a nice living. I was able to travel in style with my wife. I had a retirement plan and insurance benefits and a dependable vehicle. Most importantly to me, The MED Group had a ministry. We were touching the lives of physically challenged people all over the United States. But, despite all of this, the voice would not go away…”Just Walk away and I’ll take care of you.”

As you will read in my book, The Four Cornerstones and the Capstone, the decision that I ultimately made transformed my life…for the better. Fortunately, as you can see from the few details below, my life was already very blessed.

Raised on the South Plains of West Texas, I graduated from Texas Tech University with a business degree (even though I majored in fraternity life and minored in intramural sports). I was married to Jayne Ann Williston of Austin for 40+ years before losing her to cancer. I’m now delighted to be married to the former Katherine McKelvy and we reside in Horseshoe Bay, Texas. Together we have four children…Tim, Matt, Beth, and Summer…and nine grandchildren.

In 2005, I co-founded Spirit Ranch with James Cutrera. The ranch was a leadership and team development retreat property in Lubbock, Texas. We employed a high ropes challenge course, equine assisted learning with our horses, the beauty of a hidden canyon with a stream running through it, fishing, archery, a bunkhouse for our overnight visitors, and time-tested, relationship-centered principles to guide people into changing their perspectives on leadership and team building.

Our vision was to bring others closer to their Creator. The mission was to build believers, leaders, and teams. The Spirit Ranch team helped develop over 30,000 guests/clients in our ten-year pursuit of that vision and mission.  Now it is so rewarding to witness the amazing transformation in people’s lives and, therefore, their organizations and families.

Please don’t think I’m being egotistical by listing below the positions of leadership that I’ve been fortunate to serve in during my career. Instead, my point in listing them is to encourage you to lead no matter what your title or tenure or talent. If you are influencing people, especially for their benefit, then you are leading regardless of the position. Don’t ever tell yourself you’re too young, too old, not experienced enough, or don’t have the “right” authority. You should feel free to lead by serving others whenever and wherever you find yourself.

Here is how I’ve served (led) in a variety of organizations. As you will see it doesn’t matter whether your mayor of a city or coach in little league, you can lead! My desire in this “4th quarter” of my life is to pay forward time-tested tenants of leadership by offering personal coaching, group facilitation, and inspirational public speaking through this company, Cornerstone Executives. I hope I have the opportunity to get to know you and work with you.

CAREER

David Miller, LLC dba Cornerstone Executives
• Executive Coach, Speaker, Author 2016-Present

Spirit Ranch – Lubbock, Texas
• Founder, Executive Coach, Speaker 2005-2016

City of Lubbock – Lubbock, Texas
• Mayor 2006-2008

The MED Group – Lubbock, Texas
• Chairman of the Board 2004-2006
• Chairman and CEO 2001-2004
• President and CEO 1986-2001

AMCO Medical Service – Lubbock, Dallas, Houston, Texas
• President 1977-1985
• Manager 1974-1977
• Staff member 1970-1974

Lubbock National Bank/Commerce National Bancshares – Texas
• Director 1980-2014

MEDICAL EQUIPMENT INDUSTRY LEADERSHIP

Accreditation Council on Home Medical Services – Chairman

American Association of Homecare – Director

Health Industry Distributors Association Educational Foundation – Director

National Association of Medical Equipment Services Rehab Council – Chairman

National Association of Medical Equipment Services Project Blueprint – Chairman

National Registry of Rehabilitation Technology Suppliers – Founding Director and Treasurer

Project Foresight – A Planning Initiative for the Rehabilitation Technology Industry – Chairman

Texas Association of Medical Equipment Dealers –Founding Member, President

COMMUNITY LEADERSHIP

American Cancer Society-Lubbock Chapter – Vice-president

Community Planning Council – Chairman

Lubbock Chamber of Commerce – Chairman

Southwest Lubbock Rotary Club – Member, President, Honorary Member

United Way – Member of Executive Committee, Director

University Medical Center – Member of Board of Managers

Values and Ethics Business Seminar – Chairman, Moderator

West Texas Coalition for the George W. Bush Presidential Library – Chairman

EDUCATIONAL LEADERSHIP

Lubbock Independent School District Long Range Strategic Planning Team – Facilitator

Mortar Board, Texas Tech University Forum – Honorary Member

Phi Delta Theta Alumni Assn.-Texas Tech Chapter – President

Phi Delta Theta Advisory Board – Texas Tech Chapter – Member

Red Raider Club, Texas Tech University – Director, Member

Texas Tech Alumni Association – National Board Member

Texas Tech University Health Science Center Institutional Advancement Committee – Chairman

YOUTH LEADERSHIP

Dixie Little and Senior League Baseball – President, Coach

Lubbock Girls’ Basketball – Coach

Monterey High School Athletic Booster Club – President

Monterey Optimist Basketball League – Director, Coach

Pony-Colt Baseball League – Director, Coach