Elevate Ep 58: Leading with a Scout's Honor - John Cary, CEO of Crossroads of America Council

What does it take to lead an organization built on volunteers, community, and a mission bigger than yourself? In this episode of the Elevate Podcast Powered by Braden, Jason sits down with John Cary, CEO of the Crossroads of America Council, Scouting America, for a conversation about leadership, career growth, community impact, technology, and the experiences that shape great leaders. John’s path to leadership was anything but predictable. From growing up in Louisville and becoming the first person in his family to attend college, to serving as student body president at the University of Louisville, John eventually found his calling in Scouting despite never having been a Scout himself. His career has taken him from Louisville to Portland, Maine, Baltimore, South Bend, and ultimately Central Indiana, building experience in fundraising, operations, financial management, volunteer leadership, and organizational growth along the way. Today, John leads the Crossroads of America Council, serving approximately 10,000 Scouts across 26 Central Indiana counties with the support of thousands of adult volunteers. Episode Chapters: 00:00 Introduction 00:56 Meet John Cary, CEO of Crossroads of America Council 01:55 Growing Up in Louisville and Finding His Path 02:57 An Accidental Double Major and Student Leadership 04:38 Early Career Plans and Internships 06:07 The Unexpected Opportunity That Led to Scouting 07:08 Starting a Career in Scouting 08:35 The Business Behind Scouting 10:59 Leaving Scouting and Finding His Way Back 12:31 Taking a Leap of Faith to Portland, Maine 14:27 Growing as a Leader in Baltimore 17:04 Becoming a CEO in South Bend 17:40 Leading Through COVID and a Challenging Era for Scouting 18:30 How Scouting Has Evolved 19:10 Welcoming Young Women Into Scouting 21:25 Scouting, Family, and John’s Daughter’s Journey 23:30 How Adults and Volunteers Can Get Involved 25:26 Faith, Leadership, and Life Lessons 26:43 Ways to Support Scouting in Indiana 27:02 The Governor’s Event and Fundraising 28:39 Technology’s Role in Modern Scouting 29:54 STEM and the Innovation Center at Camp Belzer 31:48 Using Technology as a Tool for Learning 32:09 What Community Really Means 32:54 “Make the Table Bigger” 34:54 Life Outside of Work 36:25 Closing About The Elevate Podcast Elevate Powered by Braden brings you conversations with influential leaders who are shaping organizations and communities across Indiana and beyond. Each episode explores the experiences behind the title, the lessons learned along the way, and what leadership looks like when it creates meaningful impact. Subscribe to Elevate for more conversations with business, nonprofit, and community leaders. The Elevate Podcast is powered by Braden Business Systems, hosted by Jason Ulm, and produced by Lauren Knauer. Keywords: John Cary, John Cary Scouting America, Crossroads of America Council, Scouting America, Boy Scouts of America, Central Indiana Scouting, Indiana nonprofit leadership, nonprofit leadership, nonprofit CEO, leadership podcast, Indiana leadership podcast, Elevate Podcast, Elevate Powered by Braden, Braden Business Systems, Jason Elevate Podcast, community leadership, youth leadership, volunteer leadership, fundraising leadership, nonprofit management, leadership development, Central Indiana nonprofits, Indianapolis nonprofit leaders, Camp Belzer, STEM education Indiana, youth development, Eagle Scout, Scouting leadership, community impact, Indiana business leaders #ElevatePodcast #Leadership #JohnCary #ScoutingAmerica #CrossroadsOfAmericaCouncil #NonprofitLeadership #CommunityLeadership #IndianaLeaders #YouthDevelopment #BradenBusinessSystems