Podcast | Fearless to Courageous (with Chris Messer, Mike Jones, James Baxter, and Hunter Barton)

Representatives from Neighborhood Tire Pros in Atlanta discuss leadership, courage, and how a business that faced hard times was revived and now thrives.
Feb. 26, 2026

In this installment of the Endeavor to Discover series, Chris Messer and Mike Jones welcome president/founder James Baxter and store manager Hunter Barton of Neighborhood Tire Pros in Atlanta. By 2008, Neighborhood Tire Pros had grown to 14 locations before the nation’s economic downturn put a strain on the business that led to the sale of 10 stores.

Baxter and Barton discuss the climb back, putting a focus on the remaining four core stores with an emphasis on growth, people, financial transparency, and clear vision-setting to reach a level of profitability that is triple what Neighborhood Tire Pros achieved with 14 shops. The conversation underscores the difference between fearlessness and courage, as well as the power of intentional, people-centered leadership.

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About the Author

Chris Messer

Executive Vice President, Transportation

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