Sideways Rain

4. From Rolling Cables to CEO – J.R.'s Journey with The 180 Group


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In this episode of Sideways Rain, J.R. is flying solo to share his journey from rolling cables on show sites to becoming the CEO of The 180 Group.


It wasn’t a straight path—there were pivots, challenges, and a whole lot of sideways rain along the way. He’ll take you behind the scenes of:

  • How J.R. started in high school working for his dad, doing the grunt work of live event production.
  • The transition from producer to CEO, and the massive learning curve of managing people, systems, and finances.
  • The growth of The 180 Group—from a small family business to scaling up, adjusting to industry shifts, and focusing on the pharma, medical device, and healthcare sectors.
  • The constant professional development that shaped me—Vistage, books, HBS courses, and countless strategy sessions with my team.


If you’re a business owner, leader, or just someone navigating career growth, this episode is for you. Tune in for an honest look at what it takes to build something, adapt, and keep learning along the way.

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Sideways RainBy J.R. Spiess and Kris McNeil