Believe In Your Office

Believe In Your Office

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Believe In Your Office episodes

  • Real Estate Reality Check with Joe Bettag

    HOST 
    Josh Smargiassi — Host, Boomerang Office Furniture / Common Sense Office Furniture  

    GUEST
    Joe Bettag — Veteran Real Estate Investor & Distressed Asset Specialist

    WHAT WE COVER
    • From the S&L Crisis to Today — lessons learned from navigating over 40 years of real estate market crashes and distressed asset cycles
    • Building wealth in downturns — how experienced investors position themselves to find opportunity when "there's blood on the street"
    • The true value of company culture & mentorship — why young professionals miss out on crucial growth and guidance when working fully remote
    • Remote work vs. office accountability — balancing flexibility with structured goals, office presence, and management
    • Mortgage meltdown reflections — how past financial crises shaped modern workplace dynamics and interpersonal connections

    KEY QUOTES
    "Serious money can be made when there's blood on the street, if you know what you're doing and how to position yourself." — Joe Bettag
    "Without a mentor, you have to learn a lot of hard lessons. Finding a good mentor is crucial." — Joe Bettag
    "If you're going to do work from home, you better have specific goals and keep people accountable." — Joe Bettag

    WHERE TO LISTEN & WATCH
    • Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all major podcast platforms
    • Subscribe, rate, and review to stay updated on future episodes

    SPONSORED BY
    Boomerang Office Furniture — boomerangofficefurniture.com  
    Common Sense Office Furniture — commonsenseof.com

    25 min
  • The $2 Billion Secret Behind What Hotel Guests Actually Want with Stephen Nalley

    HOST 
    Joshua Smargiassi — Host, Boomerang Office Furniture / Common Sense Office Furniture  

    GUEST
    Stephen Nalley — Founder & CEO, Black Briar Advisors

    WHAT WE COVER
    • Evolution of hotel design — tracking the shift from identical, "box" hotel rooms to distinct, boutique, and commercial-inspired spaces
    • Brand layering & soft brands — how major chains like Marriott and Hilton utilize soft brands to target specific traveler demographics
    • Hotel furniture vs. commercial furniture — how modern hospitality design is adopting commercial durability, style, and residential comfort
    • High Point, NC: Ground zero for furniture — Stephen’s early experience turning a 300-room hotel into a year-round interactive showroom
    • Technology integration & functional space — why today's lobbies, nightstands, and workspaces must prioritize accessibility to power and connectivity
    • Budget reallocation in hotel projects — leveraging smart furniture sourcing to free up funds for critical operational and lighting upgrades

    KEY QUOTES
    "Hotel furniture does not look like hotel furniture anymore... hotel furniture looks like commercial furniture now, and to me, I love it because the whole concept of a hotel is making you feel like you're at home." — Stephen Nalley
    "You go back to the 80s when I grew up—no cell phones, no computers, no MacBooks, no iPads. Now, everybody you would possibly see anywhere has at least two of those." — Stephen Nalley
    "A lobby is a functional space now. There's no such thing as a lobby anymore just to pass through." — Stephen Nalley

    WHERE TO LISTEN & WATCH
    • Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all major podcast platforms
    • Subscribe, rate, and review to stay updated on future episodes

    SPONSORED BY
    Boomerang Office Furniture — boomerangofficefurniture.com  
    Common Sense Office Furniture — commonsenseof.com

    33 min
  • Mastering Process Improvement in the Legal Space

    The Legal Lean Sigma Approach

    Kathryn explains that her organization focuses exclusively on law departments, firms, and legal aid. They offer consulting services that help build the infrastructure necessary for process improvement projects. Their approach emphasizes a sequence of people, process, and platform, ensuring that human factors are prioritized in any improvement initiative.

    "Process improvement sits at the intersection of employee experience, client experience, and brand experience."

    The Importance of Process in Organizations

    A key takeaway from our chat is the necessity of establishing standardized processes within organizations. Kathryn pointed out that many employees might reach the same goal, but without a uniform approach, inconsistencies can arise. Establishing clear processes not only reduces mistakes but enhances efficiency and ultimately leads to better customer service.

    Engaging Employees for Better Outcomes
    Kathryn emphasizes the importance of involving employees in the redesign of processes. She believes that engaging those closest to the work can uncover valuable insights that lead to significant improvements.

    "You’ve got to engage people along the way to learn how it is they’re doing it now."

    This sentiment resonates with my own experiences as a leader. Often, the best insights come from those who are on the ground doing the work every day.

    Continuous Improvement Culture
    In discussing the future of work, both Kathryn and I acknowledge the rapid changes driven by technology and the need for organizations to remain adaptable. Implementing methodologies like the 5S approach can create a culture of continuous improvement by making processes easier and more efficient over time.

    The 5S Methodology: Key Elements

    1. **Sort**: Remove unnecessary items from the workspace.

    2. **Set in Order**: Create designated places for everything.

    3. **Shine**: Keep the workspace clean and inspect regularly.

    4. **Standardize**: Establish rules and procedures.

    5. **Sustain**: Make the new practices a habitual part of the work culture.

    Reflection
    Our conversation with Kathryn has illuminated the vital role of process in creating not just efficiency, but a more engaged and satisfied workforce. As organizations continue to evolve, focusing on these foundational elements can lead to lasting improvements.

    For a more in-depth exploration of these topics, tune into the full episode!

    44 min
  • Leadership Lessons from 40+ Years in Operations with Iris Schmidt

    HOST
    Johnathan — Host, Boomerang Office Furniture / Common Sense Office Furniture  GUEST
    Iris Schmidt — Vice President of Operations & Finance, Boomerang Office Furniture

    WHAT WE COVER
    • 150 MPH New York pace vs. Philadelphia speed — how regional energy and work culture influence operational drive and efficiency
    • Pianos to computer keyboards — Iris’s journey from a New York performing arts major to over 40 years of office furniture operations
    • The evolution of the workstation — tracking the physical shift from 64-inch high panel cubicles to low-profile collaborative systems and sit-stand desks
    • Post-COVID workplace balance — navigating hybrid expectations, the limitations of Zoom ideation, and why physical presence drives cross-departmental collaboration
    • Culture starts at the top — eliminating executive hierarchy, fostering an open-door environment, and why no task is "beneath" leadership
    • Work ethic across generations — exploring how personal upbringing and accountability impact team-centric attitudes more than generational labels
    • Designing with intent — utilizing privacy phone booths, sit-stand solutions, and involving employees early when moving or redecorating workspaces  

    KEY QUOTES
    "New York never rests... Philadelphia may be a big city, we are not New York. The speed down here may not be Des Moines, Iowa, but it is definitely not New York City. But I feel like I've brought my energy and 'let's get things done' to the neighborhood." — Iris Schmidt
    "Culture here starts from the top... doors always open, and none of us are any better than anyone else." — Iris Schmidt
    "Every employee, regardless of what level they're at, needs to do what they're hired to do plus. You can't just show up... you must go above and beyond." — Iris Schmidt  

    SPONSORED BY
    Boomerang Office Furniture — boomerangofficefurniture.com
    Common Sense Office Furniture — commonsenseof.com

    25 min
  • The Secret to Workplace Culture Isn’t What You Think

    Believe in Your Office | The Secret to Workplace Culture Isn’t What You Think 

    HOST 

    Johnathan Grzybowski — Co-Founder at Penji 

    GUEST

    Ryan Gordon — Sales Leader & Commercial Furniture Specialist 

     

    WHAT WE COVER 

    • From team captain to commercial sales — how early leadership experiences shaped Ryan’s human-centric approach to sales 

    • The evolution of cold outreach — why traditional cold calling is shifting toward building authentic, in-person B2B relationships 

    • Furniture as a culture catalyst — how physical workspace aesthetics and office design set the tone for employee experience 

    • Helping vs. selling — why B2B sales is less about pushing products and more about helping clients fulfill their vision 

    • Staying relevant without being pushy — navigating long sales cycles while maintaining meaningful, value-first client touchpoints 

    • Retail vs. B2B dynamics — why one-off transactional selling fails in commercial furniture and complex account management 

     

    KEY QUOTES 

    "Sales isn't about pushing a product; it's about coming alongside a client to help them bring their vision to life." — Ryan Gordon 

    "Your office design isn't just about chairs and desks—it's the physical footprint of your company culture." — Johnathan Grzybowski 

     

    PRODUCTS & REFERENCES MENTIONED 

    Modern B2B Cold Outreach Frameworks — strategies for shifting from transactional pitches to relationship-based selling 

    Commercial Furniture & Spatial Design Solutions — creating high-impact physical workspaces that reflect brand identity 

     

    SPONSORED BY 

    Boomerang Office Furniture — boomerangofficefurniture.com 

    Common Sense Office Furniture — commonsenseoff.com

    24 min
  • Beyond the Desk: Designing Spaces People Actually Want to Use (Part 2)

    Believe in Your Office | Reclaiming the Workplace (Part 2: Tech Overload & the Lost Art of Connection) 

    HOSTS 

    Josh Smargiassi — Host, Boomerang Office Furniture / Common Sense Office Furniture 

    John Sorrell — Co-Host & Office Furniture Industry Veteran 

     

    WHAT WE COVER 

    Sports stadiums & full houses — why post-COVID crowds are flocking back to Braves and Phillies games just to feel a sense of community The "doomscroll" trap — how phone addiction, screen fatigue, and dopamine drips are pulling us away from the real world 

    AI-written emails — why "Top of the Morning" robotic outreach feels insulting and how to spot synthetic messaging in your inbox Outlook's new 'Like' button — are quick digital reactions replacing actual workplace conversation? 

    The "Show Me, Don't Tell Me" phenomenon — why we talk ourselves into thinking we've accomplished something just by watching YouTube or Reels 

    Nostalgia on the landline — remembering the awkwardness of asking a girl's father out on a date and $900 flip-phone texting bills 

    Anxiety and human interaction — why taking real-world social risks builds essential communication skills 

     

    KEY QUOTES 

    "You can believe you're doing something by talking about the thing that you're going to do. If I talk about something long enough, you can convince yourself that you've done it... I'm convinced people watch cooking videos who don't cook. They watch the video, get the satisfaction, and then order DoorDash." — John Sorrell 

    "When someone sends you an AI email, you're like, 'Wait a minute, bro... you never spoke like that before!' It's kind of insulting because you couldn't take the time to really think about it." — Josh Smargiassi 

     

    PRODUCTS & REFERENCES MENTIONED 

    The Modern Outlook "Like" Button — digital reaction features changing workplace communication 

    High-Density Texting & Landline Nostalgic Relics — 10-cent text messages and wall-mounted landlines 

     

    SPONSORED BY 

    Boomerang Office Furniture — boomerangofficefurniture.com 

    Common Sense Office Furniture — commonsenseoff.com 

     

    📲 Missed Part 1? Go back and check out Part 1, where we break down modern office design, natural light, and whether breakout spaces are actually getting used!

    24 min
  • Beyond the Desk: Designing Spaces People Actually Want to Use (Part 1)

    HOSTS

    1. Josh Smargiassi — Host, Boomerang Office Furniture / Common Sense Office Furniture
    2. John Sorrell — Co-Host & Office Furniture Industry Veteran

      3.  

      WHAT WE COVER

      • Florida heat vs. Pennsylvania weather — why oppressive summers and freezing winters drive everyone inside (and what tomato harvests have to do with it)
      • Designing for 3:00 PM — how to build an office space that makes employees actually want to stay past mid-afternoon
      • Touches of home — why casual, comfortable touches are essential for bringing people back into the office post-COVID
      • Natural light as a productivity driver — how daylight impacts energy levels, mood, and office positive vibes
      • Breakout areas vs. private offices — are collaborative lounge spaces actually getting used, or are they just a trend?
      • The post-COVID square footage shift — why hybrid schedules mean you need fewer fixed desks and more flexible shared zones
      • Extinct office relics — looking back at high-density rolling file rooms on floor tracks and structural engineering nightmares

        •  

        KEY QUOTES

        "I think you have to make sure the space is somewhere where you want to go... design it so there are touches of home, so at 2:30 or 3:00 in the afternoon, people actually want to be there." — Josh Smargiassi

        "Collaborative areas get the wrong rap. You think it's just whiteboards and bean bag chairs... but it's really about giving people a reason to work together again after being so isolated." — Josh Smargiassi

         

        PRODUCTS & REFERENCES MENTIONED

        Breakout Lounge Seating — flexible, casual seating designed for informal team brainstorming and Zoom calls

        High-Density Mobile Shelving — classic mechanical-assist rolling file systems on floor tracks

         

        SPONSORED BY

        Boomerang Office Furniture — boomerangofficefurniture.com

        Common Sense Office Furniture — commonsenseoff.com

         

        📲 Stay Tuned: Catch Part 2 next week, where we tackle phone addiction, spot-checking AI emails, and the lost art of real-life conversations!

         

        CONNECT WITH US

        Youtube: @BelieveInYourOffice

        Spotify: Believe In Your Office

        13 min
      • The Office Is Changing — And It's More Interesting Than You Think (Round 2)

        HOSTS

        Josh Smargiassi — Host, Boomerang Office Furniture / Common Sense Office Furniture

        John Sorrell — Co-Host & Office Furniture Industry Veteran

        WHAT WE COVER

        • DoorDash, a machete, and a very confused delivery driver — the intro that has nothing to do with furniture and everything to do with how we live now
        • The case for paying cash and living below your means — a surprisingly real conversation about financial discipline
        • Extinct office rooms: the file room on rolling tracks, the 40-person boardroom, the CRT corner insert workstation
        • Why less square footage doesn't mean fewer people — it means smarter use of space
        • The open office plan isn't new — Frank Lloyd Wright was doing it. And it keeps coming back around
        • Why private spaces are coming back: when everything's open, you can't have a candid conversation without the whole floor hearing it
        • Lighting evolution: from humming fluorescent tubes to app-controlled zone lighting that adjusts by section
        • The felt cubicle ceiling — what it is, how it works acoustically, and why it's better than it sounds
        • The tax and permitting advantages of building with furniture instead of walls — most business owners have no idea
        • Sprinkler codes, HVAC, lighting clearance — why office furniture can replace construction in many applications
        • Phone fatigue: why a whole patio of people sat outside at a bar with live music and nobody looked at their phone
        • Hacky sacks are back — and Boomerang should put their logo on one

          • KEY QUOTES

          "You don't need a 40-person boardroom. We did them — they were incredible — but now half the room zooms in anyway."

          "The reason people do cubicles instead of walls: full write-off in year one vs. 1/39th depreciation for forty years. Most people never knew that."

          "We can build out an entire office without doing any construction. That's the thing people never knew about Boomerang and Common Sense."

          "Everything that was old is new again. The kids are hacky sacking now and nobody's on their phones. There's something happening."

          PRODUCTS & REFERENCES MENTIONED

          Artifex — acoustic felt cubicle ceiling panels (creates privacy without full enclosure)

          Boomerang's showroom, South Jersey — features app-controlled zone lighting and a live example of the felt cubicle ceiling installation

          The furniture-as-construction argument: full Section 179 write-off vs. 39-year straight-line depreciation for construction

          SPONSORED BY

          Boomerang Office Furniture — boomerangofficefurniture.com

          Common Sense Office Furniture — commonsenseoff.com

          23 min
        • The Office Is Changing — And It's More Interesting Than You Think (Part 1)

          HOSTS

          Josh Smargiassi — Host, Boomerang Office Furniture / Common Sense Office Furniture

          John Sorrell — Co-Host & Office Furniture Industry Veteran

          WHAT WE COVER

          • DoorDash, a machete, and a very confused delivery driver — the intro that has nothing to do with furniture and everything to do with how we live now
          • The case for paying cash and living below your means — a surprisingly real conversation about financial discipline
          • Extinct office rooms: the file room on rolling tracks, the 40-person boardroom, the CRT corner insert workstation
          • Why less square footage doesn't mean fewer people — it means smarter use of space
          • The open office plan isn't new — Frank Lloyd Wright was doing it. And it keeps coming back around
          • Why private spaces are coming back: when everything's open, you can't have a candid conversation without the whole floor hearing it
          • Lighting evolution: from humming fluorescent tubes to app-controlled zone lighting that adjusts by section
          • The felt cubicle ceiling — what it is, how it works acoustically, and why it's better than it sounds
          • The tax and permitting advantages of building with furniture instead of walls — most business owners have no idea
          • Sprinkler codes, HVAC, lighting clearance — why office furniture can replace construction in many applications
          • Phone fatigue: why a whole patio of people sat outside at a bar with live music and nobody looked at their phone
          • Hacky sacks are back — and Boomerang should put their logo on one

            • KEY QUOTES

            "You don't need a 40-person boardroom. We did them — they were incredible — but now half the room zooms in anyway."

            "The reason people do cubicles instead of walls: full write-off in year one vs. 1/39th depreciation for forty years. Most people never knew that."

            "We can build out an entire office without doing any construction. That's the thing people never knew about Boomerang and Common Sense."

            "Everything that was old is new again. The kids are hacky sacking now and nobody's on their phones. There's something happening."

            PRODUCTS & REFERENCES MENTIONED

            Artifex — acoustic felt cubicle ceiling panels (creates privacy without full enclosure)

            Boomerang's showroom, South Jersey — features app-controlled zone lighting and a live example of the felt cubicle ceiling installation

            The furniture-as-construction argument: full Section 179 write-off vs. 39-year straight-line depreciation for construction

            SPONSORED BY

            Boomerang Office Furniture — boomerangofficefurniture.com

            Common Sense Office Furniture — commonsenseoff.com

            30 min
          • 25 Years, One Company, One Industry: What the Office Looked Like Then vs. Now with Adam Wayne

            GUEST

            Adam Wayne — 25-year veteran, Global Furniture Group, Northeast Region (PA, NJ, NY, DE)

            Website: globalfurnituregroup.com

            WHAT WE COVER

            • Global Furniture Group's origin story: Saul Feldberg starting in his garage, now a billion-dollar manufacturer celebrating its 60th anniversary
            • How Global maintained culture from a family garage to 3,500+ employees across North America
            • Adam's 25 years at one company — what loyalty and culture actually look like from the inside
            • The Grand Getaway: Global's legendary annual customer appreciation trip and what attention to detail looks like at the highest level (branded toothpicks, napkins, mirrors — all of it)
            • What changed most in the office furniture industry from 2001 to 2026: filing cabinets, CRT corner inserts, height-adjustable desks, built-in power
            • Why height-adjustable tables went from luxury to standard — and the Bluetooth app that tracks your standing habits
            • NeoCon 2026 in Chicago: the trade show, the Merchandise Mart, and Global's exciting new Fulton Market showroom opening
            • The 'live in it for a while' philosophy — why Boomerang and Global both tell clients not to rush into changes
            • AI pop-ups during a podcast recording and what they say about where technology is headed
            • The felt-topped cubicle ceiling: the acoustic solution that looks open but functions like a private office
            • Tax advantages of furniture over construction — why building with furniture instead of walls is smarter than most people know

              • KEY QUOTES

              "You almost have to get a height-adjustable table now to attract people. And it's so inexpensive not to."

              "From a toothpick with a Global symbol to the sticker on the toilet paper — that's what tells you what the main focus of a business is."

              "We can build out an entire office without doing any construction. Most people have no idea that's even possible."

              MENTIONED IN THIS EPISODE

              NeoCon — the annual international contract furnishings trade show, held every June at the Merchandise Mart in Chicago

              Fulton Market, Chicago — where Global is opening its new showroom for 2026

              Global's Free Fit height-adjustable table series — includes a Bluetooth app that tracks sit/stand patterns

              Artifex — acoustic felt cubicle ceiling panels referenced in the John & Josh segment

              CONNECT WITH GLOBAL FURNITURE GROUP

              globalfurnituregroup.com

              SPONSORED BY

              Boomerang Office Furniture — boomerangofficefurniture.com

              Common Sense Office Furniture — commonsenseoff.com

              28 min

            About Believe In Your Office

            From the publisher's feed

            Believe In Your Office is a podcast dedicated to exploring the evolving world of office culture, teamwork, and leadership. Whether you’re leading a team, navigating workplace challenges, or trying to…