Joe Conley is the CEO of Royce Security Services and Metro Safety and Security, and founder of American Standard Holding. He got into the security business in 1995 with no law enforcement background, no military experience, and no industry contacts. He needed a job that kept him home with his two young kids. What followed was 30 years of building a regional security operation that competes on quality instead of price, in an industry where the lowest bid almost always wins and almost always fails.



In this episode we discuss:

Why Joe stopped bidding against competitors entirely, and how holding his price while others raced to the bottom became his actual sales strategy, not a liability
The difference between a customer and a partner, and why Joe says the best contracts are often the ones he walked away from
What supervision really means in a labor-intensive service business: why Royce puts more money into field supervision than most companies their size, and why that single investment changes everything about client perception
The work ethic problem no training program can fix, and what Joe looks for instead when the labor market is thin and resumes are padded with AI-written cover letters



If you run a service business, manage a field team, or are trying to figure out how to compete on quality when clients keep asking for the lowest price, this one is worth your time.

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Connect with Joe Conley:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joe-conley-82488910/

Website: https://roycesecurityguards.net/

💬 Join the Conversation If this episode inspired new ideas, comment below and share your biggest takeaway. Your insights help the entire community learn and grow together.

✅ Subscribe to the channel for more real conversations on business, growth, and navigating complex industries.

🔔 Turn on notifications to never miss a new episode.

Business Journey Unlocked is a podcast hosted by Kevin Anderson that shares the journeys of business founders and entrepreneurs, exploring their challenges, struggles, and growth opportunities, and how AI, automation, and technology are shaping their industries. Kevin Anderson is the founder of TitanTech, helping businesses implement intelligent solutions that drive efficiency, scalability, and innovation.

Mohammed Shehzad is the Managing Director of Atriod, a physical and electronic security consulting firm he founded in 2006. Over 20 years, he has built a practice that serves airports, pharmaceutical plants, government facilities, corporate headquarters, and financial institutions, doing the opposite of what most security firms do: no vendor relationships, no product commissions, no cookie-cutter assessments. Just independent consulting that starts with the client's actual risk and works outward from there. Several of his client engagements are now well into their second decade.

In this episode we discuss:

Why the biggest security risk most organizations face has nothing to do with threats or technology — it is the financial gap between what security directors know they need and what they can actually get funded, and why that comes down to a language problem in the boardroom
How Mohammed moved from design work to consulting not by pivoting, but by following where client problems actually led, and why that distinction matters for any service business trying to evolve

The blind spot Mohammed keeps seeing across every sector he works in: organizations invest heavily in security systems with no real plan for lifecycle management, and nobody in the industry has solved it yet

Why physical security stays invisible until something goes wrong, and how new data intelligence tools are giving security practitioners a chance to finally show value in the language leadership actually understands

If you are a security director trying to make the case for funding, a consultant trying to build recurring revenue without losing your edge, or a service business owner figuring out when to evolve your offer, this one delivers.

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Connect with Mohammed Shehzad:

Website: https://atriade.com/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/atriade// https://www.linkedin.com/in/atriade/

💬 Join the Conversation If this episode inspired new ideas, comment below and share your biggest takeaway. Your insights help the entire community learn and grow together.

✅ Subscribe to the channel for more real conversations on business, growth, and navigating complex industries.

🔔 Turn on notifications to never miss a new episode.

Business Journey Unlocked is a podcast hosted by Kevin Anderson that shares the journeys of business founders and entrepreneurs, exploring their challenges, struggles, and growth opportunities, and how AI, automation, and technology are shaping their industries. Kevin Anderson is the founder of TitanTech, helping businesses implement intelligent solutions that drive efficiency, scalability, and innovation

Brad Burns is the founder of Burns Holdings, a portfolio of six ventures spanning commercial contracting, branding, pools and outdoors, seafood distribution, and franchise development. Starting with Wynn Contracting in 2014 after the 2008 real estate collapse ended his finance career before it started, Brad has built each company from scratch using a shared services model one consolidated back office supporting every entity and has scaled VizX from $2.4 million in 2023 to $9.5 million in 2024, while growing his seafood company from zero to over $5 million in roughly a year and a half.

In this episode we discuss:

• The shared services model that makes running six companies actually work: one team handling accounting, operations, and marketing across every entity, billed down by usage and why this is the only reason he can launch new companies without rebuilding overhead from scratch each time
  
• Why Brad's pitch to every early partner was "I've already screwed up a hundred times, so you don't have to" and how learning the pitfalls in years one through four became his actual competitive advantage
  
• The delegation mindset he had from day one that most founders take years to develop: his goal was never to do everything, it was to figure out as fast as possible what he should stop doing
  
• What Brad looks for when making a bet on a new opportunity with incomplete data — and why the answer always comes back to the people on both sides of the table, not the numbers
  

  If you are a business owner trying to scale past one company, figure out when to delegate, or build something without a mentor or a roadmap, this one delivers.
  
  ----------------------------------------
  
  Connect with Brad Burns:
  
  Website: http://theburnscos.com
  
  LinkedIn: Brad Burns
  
  💬 Join the Conversation If this episode inspired new ideas, comment below and share your biggest takeaway. Your insights help the entire community learn and grow together.
  
  ✅ Subscribe to the channel for more real conversations on business, growth, and navigating complex industries.
  
  🔔 Turn on notifications to never miss a new episode.
  
  Business Journey Unlocked is a podcast hosted by Kevin Anderson that shares the journeys of business founders and entrepreneurs, exploring their challenges, struggles, and growth opportunities, and how AI, automation, and technology are shaping their industries. Kevin Anderson is the founder of TitanTech Consulting, helping businesses implement intelligent solutions that drive efficiency, scalability, and innovation.

Derek Tolley is the owner of Safe Haven Avian Group and Wildlife Removal, the largest nationwide wildlife removal company in the United States. Starting in 2013 from a residential operation, Derek identified a gap that the entire pest control industry had failed to solve for 75 years — humanely removing birds from inside commercial facilities — and built a proprietary methodology, proven across over 100 case studies, that now serves Fortune 500 companies, food processing plants, airports, Amazon fulfillment centers, and government buildings nationwide.

In this episode we discuss:

• How Derek engineered a bird capture system from scratch — nets, poles, carabiners, and pulley systems — and built a repeatable methodology that removes birds from any facility averaging 3.1 hours, regardless of whether it is 15,000 square feet or 2 million
• Why Derek hired the boss who fired him, made him COO, and why that single decision changed the trajectory of the entire company
• The counterintuitive pay model that built Safe Haven's team: pay technicians over $100,000 upfront, remove money as a stressor, and watch them care about the company the way owners do — including a technician who went from homeless with four kids to building her first home
• What facility managers are dangerously underestimating right now when it comes to avian risk, compliance exposure, and the three collaborating factors — structural, operational, and sanitation — that are letting birds in and creating liability

If you are a facility manager navigating compliance risk, a business owner trying to scale a niche operation nationally, or an entrepreneur building something the industry said couldn't be done, this one delivers.

⚠️ Disclaimer: The content of this episode is for informational and educational purposes only. Nothing discussed constitutes legal, compliance, or professional pest management advice. Facility-specific wildlife and compliance risks vary by industry, location, and regulatory environment. Always consult a licensed professional for your specific situation.

Connect with Derek Tolley:

Website: safehavenaviangroup.com

Email: sales.safehaven.gmail.com

💬 Join the Conversation If this episode inspired new ideas, comment below and share your biggest takeaway. Your insights help the entire community learn and grow together.

✅ Subscribe to the channel for more real conversations on business, growth, and navigating complex industries.

🔔 Turn on notifications to never miss a new episode.

Business Journey Unlocked is a podcast hosted by Kevin Anderson that shares the journeys of business founders and entrepreneurs, exploring their challenges, struggles, and growth opportunities, and how AI, automation, and technology are shaping their industries. Kevin Anderson is the founder of TitanTech Consulting, helping businesses implement intelligent solutions that drive efficiency, scalability, and innovation.

Joe Messinger is the founder and CEO of Capstone College Partners, co-founder of College Aid Pro, and partner and director of college planning at Capstone Wealth Partners. Over 16 years, he has built three interconnected businesses around one of the most emotionally charged and financially consequential decisions families face — how to fund college without destroying retirement or saddling graduates with debt that follows them for decades.

In this episode we discuss:

• Why the sticker price of college is essentially meaningless — and how the real game is understanding where you will actually get discounted, because the average private school is discounting tuition by over 56%
• The advisor blind spot that Joe has been calling out for over a decade: most financial advisors will help you save for college but have no idea how to help you pay for it — and why that disqualifies them from calling themselves fiduciaries
• The three bad wolves of the student loan crisis — higher education, the federal government, and Wall Street — and why loan forgiveness is never coming because student loans are the largest asset on the United States balance sheet
• Why Joe stepped out of the CEO role at College Aid Pro after five and a half years, handed it to professional leadership, and why that decision led to 25% growth — and what that taught him about working on a business instead of in it

If you are a parent navigating college funding, a financial advisor who has been avoiding this conversation, or a business owner trying to figure out when to let go of control, this one delivers.

⚠️ Disclaimer: The content of this episode is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, or legal advice. Nothing discussed should be taken as a recommendation regarding specific financial products or institutions. College funding decisions vary significantly based on individual family circumstances. Always conduct your own due diligence and consult a licensed financial advisor or college planning professional before making any decisions.

Connect with Joe Messinger:

Website: capstonewealthpartners.com

Speaking & Training: joethemessenger.com

LinkedIn: Joe Messinger

💬 Join the Conversation If this episode inspired new ideas, comment below and share your biggest takeaway. Your insights help the entire community learn and grow together.

✅ Subscribe to the channel for more real conversations on business, growth, and navigating complex industries.

🔔 Turn on notifications to never miss a new episode.

Business Journey Unlocked is a podcast hosted by Kevin Anderson that shares the journeys of business founders and entrepreneurs, exploring their challenges, struggles, and growth opportunities, and how AI, automation, and technology are shaping their industries. Kevin Anderson is the founder of TitanTech Consulting, helping businesses implement intelligent solutions that drive efficiency, scalability, and innovation.

Christine Healey is the founder of Healy Pre-IPO, a concierge brokerage helping high-net-worth individuals, family offices, and funds access private tech stocks before they go public. She has closed over $600 million in pre-IPO transactions across companies including SpaceX, OpenAI, Stripe, and xAI — and walked away from a senior role at a much larger firm to build it her way, boutique and intentional.

In this episode we discuss:

• Why the pre-IPO market is more accessible than ever — and simultaneously harder to navigate, with unlicensed actors, analysis paralysis, and deals that look great on the surface but fall apart in the details
• The contrarian case for staying small: how Christine deliberately avoided VC funding, hyper growth, and the management overhead that would pull her away from the actual deal work she does best
• What most investors get wrong when they chase the shiny object — and why conviction about a company matters far more than following the hype cycle
• The underrated edge in high-ticket sales right now: why a human on the phone, real integrity, and boring thoroughness is beating the tech-driven platforms in a market where $100K-plus is on the line

If you are navigating high-stakes investment decisions or building a boutique service business in a noisy market, this one delivers.

⚠️ Disclaimer: The content of this episode is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute financial, investment, or legal advice. Nothing discussed should be taken as a recommendation to buy or sell any security. Pre-IPO investments are high-risk, illiquid, and may not be suitable for all investors. Always conduct your own due diligence and consult a licensed financial advisor before making any investment decisions.

Connect with Christine Healey:

LinkedIn: Christine Healey

Website: healeypreipo.com

Mailing list: Available via healeypreipo.com

💬 Join the Conversation If this episode inspired new ideas, comment below and share your biggest takeaway. Your insights help the entire community learn and grow together.

✅ Subscribe to the channel for more real conversations on business, growth, and navigating complex industries.

🔔 Turn on notifications to never miss a new episode.

Business Journey Unlocked is a podcast hosted by Kevin Anderson that shares the journeys of business founders and entrepreneurs, exploring their challenges, struggles, and growth opportunities, and how AI, automation, and technology are shaping their industries. Kevin Anderson is the founder of TitanTech Consulting, helping businesses implement intelligent solutions that drive efficiency, scalability, and innovation.

Eliyahu Rosenblum is Founder of FR Conversions and CEO of Omnesoft, an ERP platform designed to eliminate real-time friction in manufacturing. After starting in EMS as a medic and launching a commercial ambulance service, Eliyahu built FR Conversions into an industry leader in automotive manufacturing (wheelchair vans and ambulances), scaling from 1,200 square feet to hundreds of thousands of square feet with a global footprint. During that journey, he deployed two different ERP systems over six years—both insufficient for complex manufacturing needs. After a substantial PE exit from FR Conversions, he co-founded Omnisoft with his best friend of 30 years, a software architect, to build the ERP he wished existed. In this episode, we discuss why he gets up at 3 AM every day and works 18-hour days, why AI is a force multiplier for senior engineers but slows down junior devs, and why he asks LinkedIn connections to start messages with their favorite dessert. If you're navigating manufacturing operations, ERP selection, or building B2B software, this one delivers.

Connect with Eliyahu:
Email: [email protected]
LinkedIn: Eliyahu Rosenblum
Website: https://omnesoft.com/

💬 Join the Conversation
If this episode inspired new ideas, comment below and share your biggest takeaway. Your insights help the entire community learn and grow together.

✅ Subscribe to the channel for more real conversations on business, growth, and navigating complex industries.
🔔 Turn on notifications to never miss a new episode.

Business Journey Unlocked is a podcast hosted by Kevin Anderson that shares the journeys of business founders and entrepreneurs, exploring their challenges, struggles, and growth opportunities, and how AI, automation, and technology are shaping their industries. Kevin Anderson is the founder of TitanTech Consulting, helping businesses implement intelligent solutions that drive efficiency, scalability, and innovation.

Caroline Ramsey-Hamilton is CEO of Risk & Security LLC, working with hospitals, federal agencies, schools, and critical infrastructure to prevent active shooter attacks and workplace violence. After starting in IT security and realizing physical security gaps made IT protections useless, Caroline has spent decades conducting security risk assessments, working with federal agencies like NSA, Coast Guard, and Pentagon Force Protection Agency. She's published over 2,180 risk alerts documenting workplace violence incidents across 30 countries. In this episode, we discuss why the Cleveland Clinic found 140 guns in two months after installing weapons detection, the Montana school that couldn't afford to fill bullet holes in classroom walls, and why mandatory annual risk assessments with teeth finally force organizations to address security gaps. If you're navigating healthcare security, threat assessment, or physical security in high-risk environments, this one delivers.

Connect with Caroline:
Website: https://riskandsecurityllc.com
Email: [email protected]
LinkedIn: Caroline Ramsey-Hamilton
Risk Alerts: Subscribe at [email protected]

Business Journey Unlocked is a podcast hosted by Kevin Anderson that shares the journeys of business founders and entrepreneurs, exploring their challenges, struggles, and growth opportunities, and how AI, automation, and technology are shaping their industries. Kevin Anderson is the founder of TitanTech Consulting, helping businesses implement intelligent solutions that drive efficiency, scalability, and innovation.

Stephanie Furgang Adwar at Adwar Ivko, an entertainment and intellectual property law firm launched in 2024. After practicing entertainment and IP law for 33 years alongside her father, Philip Furgang, Stephanie partnered with Polina Ivko to build a boutique firm representing artists, brands, and creative businesses navigating copyright, trademark, and IP protection. She's been named a Super Lawyer, serves on the governing committee of the American Bar Association Forum on Entertainment and Sports Law, and sits as associate village justice in Suffern, NY. In this episode, we discuss why she chose a partner she could "be married to" over big law offers, how joining the ABA Forum on Entertainment Law changed her career trajectory, and why deep fake celebrity endorsements are creating urgent IP protection gaps that federal legislation needs to address. If you're navigating entertainment law, building a boutique firm, or considering a late-career partnership, this one delivers.

Connect with Stephanie:
Website: https://adwarivko.com
LinkedIn: Stephanie Furgang Adwar

Business Journey Unlocked is a podcast hosted by Kevin Anderson that shares the journeys of business founders and entrepreneurs, exploring their challenges, struggles, and growth opportunities, and how AI, automation, and technology are shaping their industries. Kevin Anderson is the founder of TitanTech Consulting, helping businesses implement intelligent solutions that drive efficiency, scalability, and innovation.

Stephanie Furgang Adwar at Adwar Ivko is an entertainment and intellectual property law firm launched in 2024. After practicing entertainment and IP law for 33 years alongside her father, Philip Furgang, Stephanie partnered with Polina Ivko to build a boutique firm representing artists, brands, and creative businesses navigating copyright, trademark, and IP protection. She's been named a Super Lawyer, serves on the governing committee of the American Bar Association Forum on Entertainment and Sports Law, and sits as associate village justice in Suffern, NY.

In this episode, we discuss why she chose a partner she could "be married to" over big law offers, how joining the ABA Forum on Entertainment Law changed her career trajectory, and why deep fake celebrity endorsements are creating urgent IP protection gaps that federal legislation needs to address. If you're navigating entertainment law, building a boutique firm, or considering a late-career partnership, this one delivers.

Connect with Stephanie:
Website: https://adwarivko.com
LinkedIn: Stephanie Furgang Adwar

Business Journey Unlocked is a podcast hosted by Kevin Anderson that shares the journeys of business founders and entrepreneurs, exploring their challenges, struggles, and growth opportunities, and how AI, automation, and technology are shaping their industries. Kevin Anderson is the founder of TitanTech Consulting, helping businesses implement intelligent solutions that drive efficiency, scalability, and innovation.