Listen "Finding Faith & Purpose in Prison: Mark Whitacre's Transformation Story"
Episode Synopsis
In the fifth part of the Purpose Summit series on Stories From the River, host Charlie Malouf interviews Mark Whitacre live from the NASCAR Hall of Fame Museum gear shop. Mark Whitacre, who is notable for his involvement in a high-profile FBI price-fixing case that later inspired the movie "The Informant!" starring Matt Damon, shares his journey of wearing a wire for the FBI for three years to expose corporate malfeasance at his former company. Whitacre details the impact of his wife Ginger, whose faith and insistence on turning himself in to the FBI played a pivotal role in his decision to cooperate. Despite the initial promise of a six-month plea deal, Whitacre ended up serving eight and a half years in federal prison due to his own prideful actions and refusal to sign the agreement initially. Whitacre's story evolves into one of redemption and faith, highlighting his transformation during his time in prison, where he was significantly influenced by Chuck Colson and Ian Howes. After being released, Whitacre rebuilt his career and currently serves as Vice President of Culture and Care at Coca Cola Consolidated, a company he had stolen from 35 years ago. He now champions a faith-driven corporate culture, overseeing chaplain programs, prayer groups, and bible studies in the company's numerous plant sites. The episode underscores themes of forgiveness, purpose, salvation, transformation, and redemption, as Whitacre shares his journey from corporate executive and FBI informant to a leader fostering workplace culture and care. Episode links and resources: Coca-Cola Consolidated Website - www.cokeconsolidated.com Christian Business Men's Connection Website: Christian Business Men's Connection - www.cbmc.com The Movie: "The Informant" - https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1130080/ Book 1: Mark Whitacre Against All Odds: How ''The Informant'' and his Family Turned Defeat into Triumph - https://www.amazon.com/Mark-Whitacre-Against-All-Odds/dp/1441541322 Book 2: Surprised by Faith: A Scientist Shares His Personal, Life-Changing Discoveries About God, The Bible and Personal Fulfillment by Dr. Don Bierle - https://www.amazon.com/Surprised-Faith-Life-Changing-Discoveries-Fulfillment/dp/0913367907 Book 3:The Case for Christ: A Journalist's Personal Investigation of the Evidence for Jesus - https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/0310345863 This episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/f-kmDfRTJhE Visit https://www.storiesfromtheriver.com for more episodes. This show is brought to you by Broad River Retail. Visit https://BroadRiverRetail.com Follow us on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/broad-river-retail
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