Interview – Kyle Stark with Stark Contrast

Kyle and I met in Florida at the recent OMC (Original Manatee County) “briefing” down in Bradenton, FL at Kings Station. Kyle did a masterful job facilitating the meetings over the course of several days.

The briefings touched various aspects of the body of Christ sharing what God is doing in the region. There was a great diversity of generations and towns, with representatives from ministry, government, education, church, transportation, tech, security, legal, administration, intelligence, maritime and small business were present.

Kyle shares his testimony of coming out of a career in baseball equipped with a bachelors in Sports Management, MBA, and a law degree as an MLB executive with the Pittsburgh Pirates organization into a new adventure with God, starting his own consulting company – Stark Contrast.

Interestingly, Kyle was with the Pirates during “Million Dollar Arm” a diamonds-in-the rough story of Rinku Singh and Dinesh Patel, Indian cricket “bowlers” who were discovered by sports agent J.B. Bernstein through a reality TV talent competition, bringing them back to the US for an MLB tryout.

The Pirates signed them both and Bernstein discovered the value of people and family over financial gain and success (interestingly part of the NBB biblical reforms)…

Here is Kyle together with fellow Brandentonian and business partner Steve Shenbaum, with Game On Nation talking about building team chemistry (video here) (we interviewed Steve on the New Breed of Business (click here) in 2021).

We discuss how Stark Contrast honors God in its business dealings by helping people become better leaders and more effective in the craft using biblical principles and truths.

Kyle has taken a keen interest in the Storehouse Vision, catching the heart of God in it right away (which is unusual – most get hung up on “but how does it make money?”). We discuss its potential to help build and network relational businesses for good.

Bio

Kyle Stark helps leaders drive great cultures – alignment, selection, development, execution – in sport, business, and military environments. Coach, leader, consultant.  Student and practitioner of leadership.  He has spent over 20 years coaching and leading with 15+ at the highest level of professional baseball.  Fortunate to be a part of some world class teams, he has participated in success everywhere he has been – often without maximum resources so culture had to drive it.  This includes helping the Pittsburgh Pirates turn their franchise around going from averaging 95 losses per year before his arrival to being in the top 10 in wins over the last nine years there – while having the third-lowest payroll, breaking a 20-season losing streak, and earning Baseball America’s Organization of the Year.  Before that, he helped Cleveland in their turn-around, resulting in being one game away from the World Series, and had previously helped St. Bonaventure University win its only conference championship in school history.  Prior to engaging on his professional journey, he earned his MBA and JD.  More importantly, Kyle is a follower of Christ, a husband to Heather, and father to Chance (25) and Cooper (18).