Podcast Summary

Called (with Fr. Mike Schmitz)

Episode: Called to Use Your Gifts for Good w/ Fr. Mike Schmitz and Chris Green
Date: September 26, 2025
Host: Fr. Mike Schmitz (Ascension)
Guest: Chris Green, President of Humanitarian Hotels

Episode Overview

This episode explores how individuals can discover, embrace, and use their unique gifts to serve others with purpose and integrity. Fr. Mike Schmitz hosts Chris Green, a veteran hotel executive, now leading Humanitarian Hotels—a company that gives 100% of its profits to charity. Together, they delve into themes of vocation, leadership, workplace culture, generosity, and living faith through service.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Discovering and Owning Your Gifts (02:24, 27:46)

• Chris’s Background: Raised in a welcoming, service-oriented household, Chris learned early the value of hospitality, even when resources were scarce.

• Early jobs in the hospitality industry started as "just a job," but transformed into a sense of mission over 35 years.

• Core Insight: Turning a paycheck into a purposeful mission is possible for everyone, and using one's God-given talents can be a daily act of service.

  “When we use the gifts that we've been given, they can become ministry, they can become a faith-driven outcome. And what I want people to know is, for me, over 35 years, it has enriched my life. To change it from a paycheck to an opportunity—it just changes the way you work. It's no longer a job. You get up every day on mission.” – Chris (03:29)

2. Creating Transformative Workplace Cultures (05:26, 08:43)

• Chris explains the hospitality industry’s tension between profit-driven motives and people-focused service.

• He emphasizes that everyone, regardless of their role, needs to feel "seen" and valued.

• Culture is built on trust and mutual respect, not just on wages or benefits.

• Celebrating the team’s impact—such as letting frontline staff present charity donations—connects their work to a larger mission.

  “People need to know the story they're involved in. We're all part of a massive story, and they need to know their role in that story...You are literally providing sustenance for a person today. They might have just been here for a funeral, they might have been here for getting married...But you are giving them a small respite.” – Chris (05:26)

  “They are drawn to something that they can't quite put their finger on. But it’s something different. It’s where people are really part of a team...” – Chris (09:32)

3. Leadership as Authentic Service (19:06, 20:02)

• Fr. Mike explores the challenge of workplace resentment, where frontline staff may feel left behind while “the boss” profits.

• Chris reflects on the importance of authentic, present, and humble leadership—modeling service, transparency, and vulnerability.

• A formative story: Chris was rebuked by a housekeeper for not truly caring, which changed his management style to one of deeper attention and people-first presence.

  “I always used to tell people at our conferences, I would say, 'Listen, I'm a big guy, and there's only one reason I have those shoulders. It's because I have to stand beneath all of you and hold you up. And that's my goal.' And if you think like that as a leader and believe it, don't just think it, live it. People recognize that.” – Chris (19:28)

  “I realized right then and there that I had been walking over people for process instead of purpose…She said to me...‘Do you even care?’...I made a conscious effort for the rest of my career to spend time to know people.” – Chris (21:28)

4. Mission of Humanitarian Hotels: Profits for Purpose (23:11, 24:22)

• Humanitarian Hotels operates three properties (Detroit, Mackinac Island, Laramie, WY), donating all net profits to charitable causes.

• Associates at all levels are part of this mission, and the charitable vision infuses all company activities.

• The foundation also supports Catholic community-building through initiatives like The Catholic Initiative.

  “Our main focus is generating profits and returns at excellent hotels to give them all away, 100% of our profits, all of it goes to charity.” – Chris (00:03, 23:11)

  “I feel really blessed when I tell people what my new job is....I don't know any places that give all the money away. And it is. And it's really powerful.” – Chris (23:14)

5. Advice for Listeners: How to Begin Living Out God’s Call (27:46, 29:55)

• Chris encourages authenticity: stepping fully into who God made you to be and owning your gifts.

• Sometimes it means making a change, but often it is about showing up differently—bringing light into current environments rather than waiting for the “perfect” place.

• Example: Helping his own son embrace leadership in a tough workplace by being authentically himself.

  “You need to fully step into who God made you to be. He gave you certain gifts and talents, and you need to own them and you need to go out in the world and use them…Go out and use what you were called to do to bring light to dark places. Right. Because we shouldn't let things happen to us. We should happen to our environment.” – Chris (27:46)

  “Sometimes it's not doing something different, it's just doing it in a different way.” – Fr. Mike (30:10)

6. A Challenge to All Leaders and Business Owners (31:11)

• Chris’s parting invitation: You don’t have to give all profits away—start by offering dignified employment to everyone.

  “Why don't you just start with dignified employment for all your associates? Why don't you start with that and see how the business results come? And then I'll challenge you that if you see a big boost in profits, give some of it away.” – Chris (31:11)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “From paycheck to purpose.” (04:28) – Metaphor taken up by both host and guest as a summary of vocational transformation.
• Chris’s story about the housekeeper who challenged his lack of attention (21:28)—a pivotal moment of leadership change.
• “Hotels are people. Hospitality is people.” – Chris (18:10)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Chris’s upbringing and early hospitality lesson – 02:24
• Transformation from job to mission – 03:29
• Building authentic workplace culture & trust – 05:26, 08:43
• How to inspire teams beyond the paycheck – 09:32, 11:26
• The reality of leadership tensions – 18:55, 19:06
• The game-changing story: “Do you even care?” – 21:28
• What is Humanitarian Hotels? 100% profits to charity – 00:03, 23:11
• Catholic Initiative and broader charitable work – 24:22, 25:03
• Advice for beginning a journey of service – 27:46, 29:55
• Encouragement for all employers – 31:11

Episode Tone & Takeaways

Friendly, reflective, and optimistic, this episode encourages listeners to view service not as obligation, but as an active invitation from God. Chris offers practical wisdom for both workplace leaders and individuals at any stage of their journey: Authentic leadership, dignified work, and generosity are not just possible, but transformative for individuals and organizations alike. The invitation is to live with intention, using gifts for the good of others—right where you are.