Mark Arnold

Founder & Principal

When you speak with Mark Arnold, you quickly understand that his life revolves around his wife and family, his faith, his love of golf and his work. He is a man of discipline - be it in his reading, his diet or his intentional approach to friendships. All these characteristics shape the way he approaches the key elements of his company, his business partner and his clients.

Mark grew up in Roanoke, Virginia, as the son of a pastor and the oldest of four boys. After graduating from high school, he was awarded a basketball scholarship at Gordon College. He transferred to Covenant College in Chattanooga, also to play basketball, but quickly found himself immersed in a host of scholastic interests beyond athletics. Mark’s academic journey culminated in a PhD in Social Science from Omega Graduate School (Oxford Graduate School), after earning his BA from Covenant College and a Master of Theological Studies degree from Chesapeake Seminary. 

Tricia Grimes, his high school sweetheart, has accompanied Mark on every step of his educational and professional sojourns. They have a married son, two married daughters and two handfuls of young grandkids who remain a major focus in their lives. As a couple, they have traveled extensively and Mark delights in checking destinations off of Tricia’s “bucket list.”

Playing competitive basketball, golf and tennis helped Mark refine the disciplines of focus, preparation, teamwork, attention to detail, and the relentless pursuit of excellence. These have become the hallmark of his approach to Charter Resource Group which he founded in 1994.  

Along with Mark’s business and academic success come some interesting facts. His father played basketball at UCLA under the legendary coach, John Wooden. Coach Wooden stayed at their home in Virginia and Mark was invited into Mr. Wooden’s home for leisurely visits on multiple occasions. Mark enjoys a breakfast that often features a sandwich of whole blueberries and extra crunchy peanut butter on sourdough bread, and hardboiled eggs dipped in avocado mash. Lonesome Dove is by far his favorite mini-series, he rides a Spotted Saddle Horse named “Stent,” and as a low handicap golfer, he believes his best golf is still ahead. While not active on social media, Mark has 4,501 personal contacts in his phone. So don’t expect to see him on Facebook - he is going to give you a personal call. 

Quiet wisdom and a personal connection: these are what you will experience when you have your first cup of coffee with Charter Resource Group’s founder, Mark Arnold. 

Price Carney

Principal

When you meet Price Carney, you immediately get the sense he knows how to streamline and prioritize complicated matters. This goes for his personal life and his business as well. He will tell you, “I don’t have any hobbies except golf and fitness. I’m a traditional Southerner - give me meat and potatoes, whole milk and real sugar. Don’t forget dessert. I’d rather be on a beach than anywhere else. And I don’t have a yearning to go out and about just to be socially superficial.”

Price is one of the few true Nashville natives. He graduated from Hillwood High School, attended Auburn University briefly, then graduated from the University of Tennessee with a degree in Psychology. He married his wife Barbara in 1981 and they have two accomplished daughters. Both graduated from Alabama, both have post-graduate degrees from Belmont, and both work in the healthcare industry. Price bought Alabama football season tickets while his daughters were students there and he still attends games every year.

After graduating from Tennessee, Price worked in the insurance industry where he started as a claims adjuster and ultimately bought into a life and health insurance advisory firm in the late 80’s. It was just about this time that things started to get interesting. He met his future business partner Mark Arnold at the Franklin Fellowship bible study group. The pivotal moment came a few years later when Mark asked Price and a few friends to advise him on his future business plans. In a moment of clarity, Mark announced he knew his next move, which involved re-launching his company with Price as his partner. 

Through the years, Price has identified a clear business philosophy: “None of us reach our potential by ourselves, and businesses are never optimized unless their employees are individually optimized. We work with owners and CEOs to inspire their employees, build cultures where people thrive and flourish, and develop strategy that is well-intended, resourced, communicated and accountable. And we do this for the complete business cycle - from start-up to exit.”

Price is a low single-digit handicap golfer because he has played three times a week for years. And he lifts weights three days a week, as he has done since 1976. So when you sit down for a cup of coffee with Price, you know what to expect. He knows his business, understands how to simplify your complex business issues, and he will be in the trenches with you for the duration.