The Change Maker is hosted by Deke Copenhaver. When Deke took over as mayor of his hometown of Augusta, Georgia, the city’s politics were broken and riven along racial lines. No group trusted any other group, so nothing got done.
From 2005 through 2014 Deke was a catalyst in helping to transform Augusta, attracting businesses to spur economic development, implementing social programs that impacted the lives of Augustans on a daily basis. He focused effort on communities that had been neglected for years.
No serving as the Principal of Copenhaver Consulting, Deke remains committed to being a Change Maker while helping others realize their potential to impact their communities for the better. For his work, he’s been recognized on multiple occasions by Georgia Trend Magazine as one of the 100 Most Influential Georgians.
Deke currently authors a monthly column on leadership published by the Georgia Municipal Association. Deke earned a BA in Political Science from Augusta College and is a graduate of Leadership Georgia and the Mayors’ Institute on City Design.
A passionate athlete, Deke has completed five Ironman 70.3s and several half marathons. He and his wife, Malisa, reside in Augusta with their dogs Sarah Bet, Buddy, and Johnny.
In this inspiring episode of The Change Maker Podcast, host Deke Copenhaver sits down with his dear friend and newly elected Commissioner for Augusta’s District 6, Tamika Bean. Together, they explore the parallel lines between their political journeys, proving that a positive, inclusive, and grassroots-driven campaign rooted in deep faith can still resonate—and win big—two decades apart.
Tamika shares how her upbringing in a military family and 30-year background in cosmetology, youth mentoring, and community leadership shaped her commitment to a servant's heart. The two unpack their hands-on work with the Greater Augusta Long-Term Recovery Team, detailing how shifting from a "scarcity mindset" driven by fear to an "abundance mindset" driven by faith has allowed them to rapidly restore homes and hope in the wake of Hurricane Helene. Tune in to discover the ultimate blueprint for change-making leadership: putting faith first, modeling compassion for the next generation, and breaking the traditional political mold to unify a community.
16 Mar 2026
Sculpting Through Grief with Eduardo Gomez
Welcome to today's episode of the Change Maker Podcast. Join Deke as he talks with his guest, Eduardo Gomez.
Eduardo was born in Colombia and moved to the USA as a young man. Eduardo graduated with a BA in Economics, and an MSW from the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee where he started sculpting. Later, he completed his art major in sculpture at the University of Arkansas, Little Rock and received a post-baccalaureate degree in sculpture.
ln 2009 a book was published about his work titled “Eduardo Gomez : Silent Messages”. This work is available in an e-book format at amazon.com.
Eduardo has exhibited in various Museums and international juried art shows. His work is collected internationally. For the last 9 years, Eduardo has taught at the Lighthouse Art Center School in Tequesta, Florida. His sculpture studio is located in Jensen Beach, Florida where he also teaches privately.
Eduardo has completed multiple private and public commissions. Two of his public commissions can be appreciated locally at the Distinguished Service Memorial Park in Stuart Florida.
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#ChangemakerPodcast #CareerGrowth #Leadership #FlexibleWork #EduardoGomez #DekeCopenhaver
5 Jan 2026
Local Relief with Heather Hackett
Welcome to today's episode of the Change Maker Podcast. Join Deke as he talks with his guest, Heather Hackett. Heather is the founder and Executive Director of the Local Relief, a Florida-based 501(c)(3) and social platform build specifically for severe-weather disaster and recovery.
🎧 Listen & Subscribe:
Don’t miss this inspiring conversation! Subscribe to The Changemaker Podcast on your favorite podcast platforms.
If you enjoyed this episode, give it a thumbs up, leave a comment, and share it with your community!
#ChangemakerPodcast #CareerGrowth #Leadership #FlexibleWork #HeatherHackett #DekeCopenhaver
Who has been a guest on The Change Maker
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Dov Baron
Oscar Trimboli
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Dr Craig Albert
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Apple Podcasts (US)
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6 ratings
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1 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 20 / 100
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YouTube
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Engagement
68
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