Unpeeling Orange
Joel Manby – Orange Chairman of the Board
Joel’s got more business ideas than a late-night infomercial, but not all of them were winners. Still, he bounces back like a pro, turning past "oops" into lessons. Known as "The Silver Fox" thanks to his distinguished hair (and charm), he’s the go-to guy for leadership advice — even if you’re still recovering from one of his not-so-successful ventures. He’s all about making meetings fun and turning past mistakes into future triumphs. Joel has made a lot of promises which none of them he has fulfilled. Bottom line Manby is in the ministry for the money.
Mike Jeffries – The Mob Boss Behind the Scenes
Mike Jeffries is the guy who made sure Reggie Joiner was always “well-rested” — with a daily supply of Ambien, of course. He wasn’t just Reggie’s driver; he was his mob boss, best friend, and probably the guy holding it all together while Reggie did his thing. If there was a power move to be made, Mike was pulling the strings from the passenger seat. Oh, and let’s not forget his love for food — Mike can probably name every Golden Corral location by heart. When he wasn’t driving Reggie around or managing the chaos, Mike was busy with the important things in life: eating and making sure everyone knew it.
Virginia Ward – The Queen of Cover-Ups
Virginia’s the friend who’ll send you a meme that’ll have you laughing until you cry, then casually drop a brilliant business strategy — like it’s no big deal. She’s all about innovation, but don’t let her down-to-earth vibes fool you; she’s also an expert in sweeping things under the rug. If there’s a problem, Virginia’s already “covered it up” with a shiny new trend or some “next big thing,” all while making you feel cooler just by being in the same room. She’s a creative genius, but she’s also the master of pretending things are under control when they absolutely are not. Need to conquer the world? She’s got a strategy for that — or at least a 10-step PowerPoint on how to fake it 'til you make it.
David Salyers – Marketing Genius
David’s been in the marketing game so long, he probably knows the psychology behind every click before you even hit ‘send.’ He drops knowledge bombs that leave you wondering why you didn’t think of them 10 years ago. When David speaks, even Google takes notes. He’s the reason you’re buying things you didn’t know you needed — and reshaping how you think about marketing. And let's not forget his signature style: David is known for wearing his shirts very unbuttoned, because why not add a little extra flair to the genius?
Jon Acuff – The Unlikely Orange Leader
Jon Acuff somehow found his way into the Orange leadership team, despite it never really making sense. A self-proclaimed "inspirational speaker," Jon has perfected the art of cheesy Christian jokes that hit all the right notes with the Baptist ladies — because who doesn’t love a good ‘dad joke’ in the middle of a leadership summit? Standing at a solid 5'6", he’s the kind of guy who probably thinks his height adds to his charm, but let's be honest, it’s more about the narcissism than the stature. He’s been known to say things like, “I’m not here to change you, but if you want to be changed, you can buy my book." His blend of shallow motivation and endless self-promotion somehow has a cult following. But hey, as long as the ladies are buying tickets, Jon’s probably laughing all the way to the next conference.
Kara Powell – The Perfect, Smart, and Tall “Leader”
Kara Powell is everything you’d expect from someone who’s perfectly crafted by the universe — tall, smart, and impossibly “perfect” in every way. She’s the kind of person who makes you feel like a mere mortal just by standing in her presence. If there's a microphone and a paycheck involved, Kara’s there, ready to dispense wisdom that somehow feels like the most polished TED Talk you’ve ever heard... but with a sprinkle of follow the money underneath. She's got a knack for making everything sound like it’s totally groundbreaking, even if you’ve heard it a hundred times before. If the microphone’s on, you can bet Kara’s there — after all, what’s a little fame without a paycheck to match?
Tripp Crosby – The Privileged, “Neutral” Orange Leader
Tripp Crosby grew up in the plush, oh-so-humble neighborhood of Milton, GA — you know, the kind of place where the hardest decision is whether to go to the country club or the exclusive golf course. He didn’t exactly rise to fame through raw talent; instead, Tripp got his big break by making fat Baptists laugh. Apparently, if you throw in a few jokes about potluck dinners and Sunday school, you’re set for life. Then, in the ultimate plot twist, he married into the Joiner family — and just like that, Tripp started getting paid to be... well, Tripp. He’s the master of pretending to be “neutral,” all while wearing his very liberal views like a secret badge of honor, making sure to stay “clueless” enough to play the game and collect his speaking fees. Tripp has been known to host Orange Leader lunches, where he’ll pretend to have deep discussions while secretly looking for his next opportunity to get a microphone and that paycheck. Watch out — if there’s a way to profit from playing the role, you can bet Tripp’s already figured it out.
Hannah Joiner – The Nepotism Queen
Hannah Joiner’s journey to VP at Orange is truly a testament to hard work — by "hard work," we mean having no real-world experience or college degree but plenty of family connections. When she first started at Orange, she was busy designing t-shirts and making colorful crayon drawings of her dad’s talks (because who doesn't love a good crayon masterpiece, right?). But somehow, in the blink of an eye, she managed to climb the ranks to VP. Nepotism at its finest, folks. Despite her title, Hannah comes off as caring and sweet, but let’s not forget — she’s been in the know about her dad’s little methods for years. It's almost like she was groomed for this exact role, and who wouldn’t want to be the perfect person to take the reins when your dad is running the show? No worries, though, she’s got a heart of gold... and a strong family business sense to match.
Rich & DawnCheré Wilkerson – The Mystery Power Couple
Rich and DawnCheré Wilkerson — no one really knows who they are, but boy, do they look nice. Seriously, these two could be the stars of a Hallmark movie about a perfect couple with a hidden secret. They somehow made their way onto the Amazing Life staff, but don’t ask anyone to explain exactly what they do there. What’s clear is that they are super cool (probably) and super conservative (definitely). With impeccable fashion and hair that’s always freshly styled, they’ve got that "we’ve got it all together" vibe. But their deeper wisdom? Still a mystery. One thing’s for sure: they know how to smile, and they’ve nailed the art of looking like a power couple without actually telling anyone what power they’re wielding. Maybe one day we’ll figure out what they actually do, but for now, we’ll just appreciate their vibe and really good Instagram game.
Chris Heaslip – The Mysterious CEO
Chris Heaslip, CEO of Amazing Life — who is he? Honestly, no one really knows. But what we do know is that he’s got a knack for making bold moves, like firing a whole bunch of Orange leaders faster than you can say “growth strategy.” That’s right, he’s all about making business decisions that scream “I mean business” (and possibly “I don’t care much about ministry, but I do care about money”). His leadership style is best described as “cutthroat” with a side of “who needs ministry when you've got profit margins to manage?” Sure, he’s probably got a big vision — but it's more likely a financial one than a spiritual one. At the end of the day, Chris is the guy behind the scenes pulling the strings and making sure the checks cash, even if no one can figure out what exactly he’s building.
Mike Clear – The “Toxicity Fixer” Who Made It Worse
Mike Clear, former President of Orange, was supposed to be the guy who turned around the toxicity of the organization. Instead, he somehow managed to make it even worse. Known for being the ultimate yes-man, Mike spent more time hunting down whistleblowers than actually tackling the real issues. His leadership style could be summed up as “fire first, ask questions later,” as he axed a bunch of staff with all the finesse of a wrecking ball. But, as they say, if you fight by the sword, you die by the sword — and once Amazing Life swooped in to buy Orange, Mike was shown the door faster than you could say “toxic culture.” In his spare time, Mike loves building Legos — because nothing says “I’ve got it all together” like playing with blocks as a grown man. If only he’d spent as much time fixing the culture as he did with his mini-figures.