CEO Growth Talks

In this episode of CEO Growth Talks, host Pete Hayes sits down with Ben Bertram, Owner of Fiberglass Solutions, to explore his bold leap into business ownership—without a safety net.

Ben shares how he and his wife acquired a gritty, industrial business and scaled it rapidly through operational excellence, customer responsiveness, and eventually, strategic marketing support from Chief Outsiders.

From building cheese brine tanks to overcoming a growth plateau, this is a candid look at entrepreneurial grit, risk-taking, and building the foundation for scalable success.

Mike Clarke, CEO of Hanto + Clarke General Contractors, LLC, turned a family startup into a fast-growing enterprise by combining EOS discipline with data-driven, fractional marketing expertise.

Join us for our next CEO Growth Talks episode where Mike joins host Pete Hayes to unpack the strategy behind his company's explosive scaling journey.

In this crucial episode of CEO Growth Talks, host Pete Hayes sits down with Loretta Stagnitto, founder of Stagnitto Leadership Associates, to discuss the critical importance of intentionally developing your organization's next layer of leaders. They explore why the "how" of leadership—not just the "what"—is the key skill gap and how a targeted coaching methodology can transform your management team.

What You'll Learn:

✅ The Mid-Level Burnout: Why the intermediary layer between the C-suite and individual contributors is the most common place for failure and burnout.

✅ The "How" is the Gap: The danger of promoting great engineers or managers without training them in the soft skills necessary for senior leadership (e.g., managing stakeholders, giving feedback, and delegation).

✅ The I Know System (Assess, Act, Achieve): Loretta's proven methodology for building self-awareness, identifying blind spots, and creating an intentional plan for development.

✅ The Power of Systemic Coaching: How to improve organizational effectiveness by helping peers and cross-functional teams communicate better and manage their collective capacity.

✅ Avoiding the Wait-and-See Trap: Why many leaders wait too long before investing in coaching, often missing the opportunity to course-correct before a talented individual fails.

This conversation provides actionable insights for any CEO or C-Suite executive looking to build a strong succession plan and a resilient organization that can move fast by leading better.

In this episode of CEO Growth Talks, we sit down with Nate Olds, CEO of StormTrap LLC, a national leader in controlling stormwater runoff. Nate shares the strategic journey of scaling his business, how a consultative sales model ensures engineering excellence, and the pivotal role of leveraging fractional executive expertise to unlock a new, high-growth market segment. For CEOs looking to scale a specialized B2B business and execute smart market diversification, this is a must-watch conversation.

What You'll Learn:

✅ The Power of Partnership: How Storm Trap doubled its national network to 40+ precast partners in less than five years, strategically placing manufacturing within 100 miles of any municipality for efficient expansion.

✅ Consultative Sales in Engineering: Nate details their approach to educating engineers and clients, focusing on long-term value, durability, and cost-effective design for critical stormwater management systems.

✅ Strategic Market Diversification: The evaluation process and decision to partner with Chief Outsiders to enter a new market without cannibalizing existing sales channels, resulting in clear ROI in under a month.

✅ The CEO’s Accountability: Leadership advice on the importance of transparency, empowering your team, and knowing when to admit you need external, specialized expertise to accelerate growth initiatives.

In this episode of CEO Growth Talks, host Pete Hayes speaks with Ed Trevis, President, CEO, and Co-founder of Corvalent Corporation. Ed shares the remarkable 32-year journey of his company from its Silicon Valley roots to becoming a key player in Texas’ growing tech and manufacturing ecosystem. Driven by a culture of consistency, Ed built Corvalent to deliver rugged, industrial-grade computing systems designed for long-term reliability and mission-critical environments.

As the company evolved, Ed embraced innovation through IoT and AI, developing full turnkey solutions for monitoring, tracking, and control across smart cities, energy, and defense sectors. His commitment to long-life production cycles not only enhances data integrity but also supports sectors that demand long-term system stability. Now, as a member of the Texas Spaceport Commission, Ed is helping shape the future of space tech and economic development in Central Texas.

Join us for our next episode of CEO Growth Talks, where host Pete Hayes talks with Warb Lee, Founder and CEO of Alen Corp, the U.S.-based leader in intelligent air purification. Warb shares how a 20-year commitment to health, innovation, and operational excellence positioned Alen to meet the challenges of COVID-era demand — from outfitting over 100,000 classrooms to mastering end-to-end supply chain efficiency.

Whether you're scaling a startup or steering an enterprise, Warb’s practical wisdom on aligning mission, product, and leadership will resonate with CEOs across industries. 

Join us on our next CEO Growth Talks with our guest David Bull, CEO of Ark Financial, for a powerful discussion designed for CEOs and entrepreneurs navigating today's complex business landscape. Discover why many leaders remain trapped in "escaping the past" rather than building toward purpose, and learn the critical three-step framework for moving from survival-mode to purpose-driven leadership. This session goes beyond typical leadership advice to address the deeper challenges CEOs face: finding meaning beyond success and creating true alignment with those around you. You'll gain innovative approaches to leverage emerging technologies like AI to scale your leadership impact without sacrificing quality. Whether you're a seasoned CEO or a growing entrepreneur, this webinar offers actionable insights to transform your approach and create a leadership legacy that transcends financial success.

Join host Pete Hayes as he interviews Scott Wozniak, CEO of Swoz Consulting, on the secrets to building legendary customer loyalty. Scott shares the proven strategies behind Chick-fil-A’s devoted fan base and how B2B companies can apply the same principles to turn customers into passionate advocates. Learn how to create a customer experience so remarkable that it sets you apart from the competition—and keeps clients coming back. Plus, discover how AI can enhance, not replace, the human touch in customer interactions, making your brand even more unforgettable. If you’re not intentionally designing your customer journey, you’re leaving loyalty to chance. Start building a brand that people love.

In this episode of CEO Growth Talks, host Pete Hayes sits down with Art Saxby, CEO of Chief Outsiders, to discuss the company’s journey since the 2009 recession. Art reflects on how Chief Outsiders evolved from providing fractional CMOs to adapting to the dynamic needs of mid-sized businesses. He introduces “Team Outsiders,” a new service designed to provide comprehensive support, and “GrowthGears OS,” an AI-driven platform designed to streamline operations and drive growth. Art dives into how these innovations help businesses manage risk while fostering growth in a rapidly changing market. 

“Combining Team Outsiders and GrowthGears OS, we have a process acceleration tool that our Team Outsiders are trained to work with. That’s why it really is such a fabulous package—it speeds things up, aids in communication, and offers a complete solution that’s both technology-based and people-based.” - Art Saxby

Key Takeaways:

• The introduction of “Team Outsiders” marks a new chapter for Chief Outsiders, enhancing the company’s ability to deliver executive leadership and tactical implementation.
• Chief Outsiders has acquired a software development firm to create an AI-based process acceleration platform, “GrowthGears OS”, significantly enhancing client engagement speed and execution.
• Midsize companies often face challenges hiring full-time executive talent; fractional CMOs provide an efficient, cost-effective solution.
• Changes in buyer behavior, especially post-COVID, necessitate more sophisticated sales and marketing strategies.
• Executive experience and structured processes are critical competitive advantages Chief Outsiders offers, setting them apart in the crowded fractional executive marketplace.

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In this episode of CEO Growth Talks, Pete Hayes interviews Phillip Edwards, CEO of MultiTracks.com, to discuss his journey from worship leader to tech entrepreneur. Phillip reveals how he transformed worship services with professional-quality multitracks, tackled licensing challenges, and expanded globally. He highlights the importance of a customer-centric approach, innovation, and building a dynamic company culture. By focusing on strategic growth and sustainable innovation, MultiTracks.com continues to revolutionize worship tech, ensuring every customer’s needs are met while paving the way for exciting future developments.

“I stayed focused on what our customers needed because I understood it—I was one of them. We reached a point where we started investing in software, building an ecosystem, and working to tie everything together. The goal was that if you came to us, all your needs would be met.” - Phillip Edwards

Key Takeaways:

• MultiTracks.com has been a pioneer in the worship music space since 2006, offering technology-driven solutions to enhance worship services worldwide.
• The company is actively expanding its global footprint, working to localize its offerings across different languages and territories.
• A company’s growth is heavily informed by customer feedback and needs, fostering an environment driven by innovation and excellence.
• Building a company culture based on trust, healthy conflict resolution, and teamwork is essential for sustained growth and innovation.
• Addressing licensing complexities head-on, MultiTracks.com provides comprehensive solutions that simplify the process for churches and encourage broader adoption.

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