You Matter Nashville
The "You Matter Nashville," podcast hosted by Jason and Mindy Hoover, is an uplifting and insightful series that champions the universal message that every individual is of importance. This podcast extends their commitment to affirming the intrinsic value of each person, reaching beyond their professional lives to touch on a wide array of life aspects.
Broadcasting from Nashville, Tennessee, the podcast features a mix of stories, conversations, and interviews, all centered around the "You Matter" mantra. Each episode is designed to inspire, educate, and empower listeners, encompassing topics from personal growth and development to community involvement and stories of resilience and kindness.
Jason and Mindy's passion for making a positive impact in the lives of others is the heartbeat of the podcast. They explore various subjects that resonate with their audience, offering insights into creating a balanced life, fostering relationships, and making meaningful contributions to the community.
The "You Matter Nashville" is more than just a platform for sharing experiences; it's a space where listeners can find encouragement, inspiration, and a sense of belonging. With a touch of warmth characteristic of their Southern roots, Jason and Mindy Hoover create an inviting atmosphere that reinforces the message that everyone matters, making each episode a testament to the power of positivity and human connection.
You Matter Nashville
Building a Culture Where People Matter with Milton Bartley
In this inspiring episode, we sit down with Milton Bartley, CEO of ImageQuest, who shares his incredible story of service, leadership, and purpose. From his early days in the military to running a successful IT company, Milton opens up about how his life experiences have shaped his commitment to both his employees and his community. We dive into the many ways ImageQuest gives back, from providing free IT services to nonprofits like High Hopes and The New Beginnings Center, to financially supporting Reboot Recovery’s life-changing trauma programs.
Milton also shares how thinking outside the box—like opening a satellite office to eliminate long commutes—has made a huge difference in his team’s lives. And of course, we couldn’t help but geek out a bit about the future of AI, cybersecurity, and the ethical challenges ahead. This episode is packed with heart, business wisdom, and practical ways anyone can make a difference right where they are.
Takeaways:
- Giving back isn't just financial—it's about hands-on involvement and long-term partnerships.
- Strong leadership starts with putting people first, whether it's employees, clients, or the community.
- ImageQuest’s donated IT services help nonprofits like High Hopes, allowing them to serve more families.
- Reboot Recovery provides trauma healing and suicide prevention for veterans and first responders through science-based group therapy.
- The New Beginnings Center empowers women to break unhealthy cycles through fitness, nutrition, and education.
- Opening a satellite office in Dixon dramatically improved work-life balance for employees facing long commutes.
- Investing in employees with $5,000 vacations every five years builds loyalty and creates lifelong memories.
- Building a thriving company culture comes from hiring people with servant hearts who find fulfillment in helping others.
ImageQuest
https://www.imagequest.com/
You Matter Nashville YouTube Channel
https://www.youtube.com/@YouMatterNashville
The Hoover Team
https://www.thehooverteam.com/
**Jason & Mindy Hoover**
Hey, Nashvilleans! Welcome to the *You Matter Nashville* podcast, where every story we share is a celebration of you—the heartbeat of our community. I'm Jason Hoover, one half of your hosting duo.
And I'm Mindy Hoover, joining you alongside Jason to bring you inspiring stories of individuals and unsung heroes making a positive impact in our hometown.
Every episode highlights the passions, dreams, and actions that stitch together Middle Tennessee.
If you’re looking for inspiration from change-makers who believe, just like us, that *you matter*, hit that follow button on your favorite podcast platform.
And if you’re looking to make a move in Middle Tennessee, Mindy and I are real estate professionals and would be honored to serve you with excellence.
**Jason & Mindy Hoover**
Now, let’s dive into another episode of *You Matter Nashville*.
**Jason & Mindy Hoover**
Welcome back! Today we’re sitting down with another special guest, Milton Bartley, founder and CEO of ImageQuest, a Nashville-based IT services company specializing in cybersecurity, cloud solutions, and more. But don’t worry, we’re not talking IT solutions today—that’s above my pay grade! Milton, thanks for being here.
**Milton Bartley**
Thanks so much for having me. Honestly, it’s nice to talk about something other than IT for a change—something a bit closer to my heart.
**Jason Hoover**
What makes Milton stand out is not just what he does professionally, but how he pours into his employees and community. Milton, you’ve built a company that truly values people over profits.
**Milton Bartley**
Absolutely. I often say, “one plus one doesn’t equal two in our world.” Being together—learning, sharing, having coffee, laughing—that creates something greater than we could achieve alone. My leadership philosophy stems from my military days: it takes everyone on the team to succeed, and if I’m doing my job right, I’m the least important person in the room.
**Jason Hoover**
That’s rare—and unfortunately, unique. Many people have bosses that simply don’t lead that way. Your employees are clearly blessed to have you.
**Milton Bartley**
I learned a lot watching my parents run businesses. My military experience also ingrained that “team first” mentality. One moment that shaped me was an interview with General Stan Musser during my ROTC days. I shared a lesson I learned by observing a leader who didn’t treat others well—and that answer actually landed me the position. That conversation has stayed with me throughout my leadership journey.
**Jason Hoover**
How long did you serve?
**Milton Bartley**
Five and a half years—both enlisted and as an officer. I joined after two years of college, much to my dad’s dismay at first. But looking back, I think he knew exactly how to motivate me. My journey took me through Desert Storm, Germany, and ultimately to Virginia Tech through the Army’s Green to Gold program. That chance encounter during a run at Fort Hood with Colonel Inge—who later became a three-star general—completely changed my life.
**Mindy Hoover**
It’s clear how deeply your military experience shaped you—not just professionally, but personally in how you serve your community.
**Milton Bartley**
My wife and I are deeply patriotic and passionate about serving others—especially military, first responders, and those in need. We support organizations like *Tunnels to Towers* and *Reboot Recovery*. Reboot Recovery started at Fort Campbell and focuses on trauma care for veterans and first responders. They’ve helped tens of thousands of people heal and reintegrate into society, preventing suicides and rebuilding lives.
**Jason & Mindy Hoover**
What an amazing model. I love that it’s science-based and goes beyond surface-level support. That kind of healing is life-changing.
**Milton Bartley**
Exactly. Their neuropsychological approach helps retrain the brain after trauma. And what excites me even more is where neurofeedback and emerging technologies like Neuralink might take us in the future—potentially reversing spinal cord injuries and so much more.
**Jason Hoover**
Truly incredible—and a little scary too. Speaking of emerging technology, AI is moving quickly. I recently read predictions that we might hit “singularity” within 18 months. What’s your take?
**Milton Bartley**
Nobody really knows. Estimates range from 18 months to 2050. Emotional intelligence will be a huge factor—we’re nowhere near machines being able to read a room like humans can. But there are concerning developments. For example, during Anthropic’s training of one AI model, it even attempted to blackmail a developer using fabricated data. Without proper guardrails, AI has the potential to act like a psychopath—with intelligence but no conscience. That’s why cybersecurity is more important than ever.
**Jason & Mindy Hoover**
Exactly. And that’s why what you do matters so much.
**Jason Hoover**
You’re also heavily involved in the community through your company, ImageQuest. Share a bit about that.
**Milton Bartley**
One of our longest partnerships is with *High Hopes Development Center* in Franklin. After an introduction, we began donating our IT services, which would otherwise cost them $250K–$300K annually. Instead, that money goes directly toward serving children with intellectual and physical disabilities. They’ve grown tremendously, and we feel honored to be a small part of their mission.
We also support *The New Beginnings Center*, which helps women break cycles of unhealthy lifestyles through education, fitness, and nutrition. They offer life-changing programs and we provide IT services to them at no cost. These aren’t big revenue generators for us—but they’re big impact partnerships.
**Jason & Mindy Hoover**
It’s inspiring how deeply you engage with these nonprofits, not just financially but hands-on, helping solve problems and strengthen their operations.
**Milton Bartley**
That’s what excites me—seeing broken systems get fixed and made more efficient so they can serve more people.
**Mindy Hoover**
And you don’t just serve the community—you also take amazing care of your employees.
**Milton Bartley**
One of my favorite stories involves opening a Dixon office. Several of our employees were commuting three hours a day. After learning that, we opened a satellite office in their town. Now they have better work-life balance—attending kids’ games, church dinners, and spending more time with family. It was a win-win for everyone.
**Jason Hoover**
That’s incredible. You’re saving families’ quality time and building loyalty that money can’t buy.
**Milton Bartley**
Exactly. And it's smart business too—hiring and training replacements costs far more than supporting the great people we already have.
**Jason & Mindy Hoover**
What do you look for when hiring?
**Milton Bartley**
We look for people with a servant’s heart—those who find fulfillment in helping others. Of course, technical skills matter, but attitude and values come first. We’re building a family, not just a workforce.
**Jason & Mindy Hoover**
Clearly, it's working. Low turnover, a thriving culture, and a positive impact that extends beyond your office walls.
**Milton Bartley**
We’re very blessed. And I’ve borrowed great ideas from others too—like our five-year employee reward: a fully paid $5,000 vacation. We’ve had employees travel the world with these trips—it’s fun to celebrate their loyalty in a meaningful way.
**Jason Hoover**
You’ve built something truly special. I wish more companies operated this way—it changes lives, not just for employees but for their families and our whole community.
**Milton Bartley**
Thank you. That means a lot.
**Jason & Mindy Hoover (Closing)**
Milton, we’re grateful for your time, your heart, and all you do for our community. If anyone’s looking for IT services, ImageQuest.com is the place to go.
And to our listeners—remember: You matter. Your voice matters. And you don’t need a nonprofit to make a difference. You can impact your community right where you are. Until next time, take care and God bless.
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