Ep. 118 - Servant Leader Alison Ibarra Shares Wisdom

The Main Thing Podcast

Welcome to the Main Thing Podcast, where every episode brings you a concise, high-impact wisdom lesson from one of the wisest people I know. Studying their wisdom and learning together, we all get a little better at this thing called life.

Courage & Community-Building are Par for the Course with Alison

Stepping onto a golf course is a serene escape for some, but for Allison Ibarra, it was the beginning of a journey that led her from competitive golf to transforming a near-derelict bowling alley into Pinhead's Family Fun Center—a community gem in Oak Hill, West Virginia. Join me as I chat with Allison, a driven entrepreneur and resilient military spouse, who shares how she turned personal challenges into opportunities for community growth and family happiness. Her story is a testament to the power of determination and adaptability. Through Allison's stories and wisdom lessons, we explore the essence of friendship, community service, and the unique resilience required in the face of life's challenges.

In today’s conversation with this courageous, servant leader, you will discover Alison’s Main Thing and also learn:

1. How an incredibly productive entrepreneur manages it all;
2. How a military spouse and her husband coped with long deployments and many months apart; and
3. How the strongest leaders gain tremendous respect by being peace makers, rather than conflict initiators.

More About Our Guest

Alison is a native West Virginian, born and raised in Oak Hill. She’s a former golfer, who played competitively and worked as a PGA teaching professional.

As a military spouse, married to a counter intelligence agent, Alison Ibarra has lived in many places across America. After many years away from the Mountain State, Alison and her family returned to her home region.

Today, she owns and operates a bowling alley, as Chief Pinhead at Pinheads Family Fun Center of the New River Gorge. Alison also serves as the Director of Economic Development for the City of Oak Hill. This respected community leader is also the mother of two teenage daughters.

Alison and I spoke at her home in Fayetteville, West Virginia.

Resources

Pinheads Bowling Alley & Fun Center website

Connect with Alison on LinkedIn

Movie “Shallow Hal” on IMDB

Credits

Editor + Technical Advisor Bob Hotchkiss

Brand + Strategy Advisor Andy Malinoski

PR + Partnerships Advisor Rachel Bell

Marketing, Social Media and Graphic Design Chloe Lineberg

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Episode Chapters

[0:03:25] - Golf and bowling; the vision and strategy behind Pinheads

[0:06:00] - How Skip and Alison are connected - Holly Fussell

[0:06:55] - Life as a military spouse; setting a precedent; flexible domestic roles

[0:11:15] - Time management; avoiding feeling overwhelmed; out-sourcing

[0:12:45] - Alison shares her Main Thing wisdom nugget; inspiration from “Shallow Hal”

[0:15:11] - Wisdom for the golf course

[0:17:16] - Priorities and choices

[0:18:56] - Thoughts on peacemakers; how we react under stress

[0:20:24] - Alison shares views on servant leadership and building community

Keywords

Wisdom, Leadership, Military Spouse, Entrepreneurship, Service, Community, Golf, Bowling, Legacy, West Virginia, Adaptability, Resilience, Life Balance, Personal Growth, Timeless Activities, Inclusivity, Role Changes, Parenting, Family Unity, Prioritizing, Strengths, Weaknesses, Decision-making, Women