Executive Perspective

Executive Perspective host Danny Vander Maten welcomed Mike Gaynor to discuss his work at Carolina Handling. The discussion covered Gaynor’s career journey from Auburn University to leading sales and marketing at Carolina Handling, a company specializing in warehouse automation and material handling solutions. They delved into the impact of COVID-19 on business operations, the rise of AI and automation in the industry, and the company’s rapid growth and adaptation to the booming demand for warehousing in the Southeast. Gaynor also shared insights into Carolina Handling’s service model, the benefits of having Toyota as a parent company, and the company’s commitment to philanthropy and community engagement.

Executive Perspective is underwritten and presented by Cresa Atlanta. The show is produced by John Ray and the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX® inside Renasant Bank in Alpharetta.

Carolina Handling
Founded in 1966, Carolina Handling is one of the Southeast’s leading material handling solution providers and the exclusive Raymond Solutions and Support Center for North Carolina, South 
Carolina, Georgia, Alabama and Florida’s Central time zone territory. The company provides lift trucks and automation solutions for warehouses and distribution centers, as well as parts, racking, storage, lighting and dock and door equipment.

Headquartered in Charlotte, NC, Carolina Handling operates branch offices in Atlanta, GA, Birmingham, AL, Greensboro, NC, Raleigh, NC and Greenville, SC, and an Equipment Distribution Center in Piedmont, SC. The company has more than 780 associates.

Topics Discussed in this Interview

00:00 Welcome to Executive Perspective
00:52 Introducing Mike Gaynor from Carolina Handling
01:14 Mike Gaynor’s Journey: From Auburn to Carolina Handling
03:28 The Evolution of Carolina Handling
04:37 Adapting to Industry Booms and Challenges
13:04 The Impact of AI and Automation on the Industry
23:00 Carolina Handling’s Philanthropic Efforts
26:24 Personal Insights and Future Aspirations
28:43 Wrapping Up with Final Thoughts
30:09 Closing Remarks and Credits

In this episode of Executive Perspective, host Danny Vander Maten welcomed Larry Hipp, CEO of Brightwell. Brightwell is a payments company tied closely to the cruise industry and its employees; consequently, the company was heavily impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Larry shared his experience of navigating that unprecedented challenge, shifting the company’s strategy, and investing in R&D during the lull period to diversify the company’s offerings. He underscored the importance of team unity, radical transparency, and innovative thinking in overcoming a crisis and emerging stronger.

Executive Perspective is broadcast and produced by the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX® inside Renasant Bank in Alpharetta.

Brightwell
Brightwell is an Atlanta-based financial technology company that provides financial services, including cross-border remittance, P2P transfers and digital bank accounts, to more than 200K global workers from over 140 different countries. Brightwell’s mobile-first platform and suite of financial tools simplifies personal finances for a community that is traditionally underserved in the marketplace.

Brightwell has engineered a complete suite of global payment products to enable your company to generate revenue and create experiences your customers will love.

Your money. Your choices. That’s the Brightwell way.

Topics in this Interview:
00:00 Introduction to Executive Perspective Podcast

00:51 Guest Introduction: Larry Hipp, CEO of Brightwell Payments

01:02 Larry’s Professional Journey and Background

04:12 Understanding Brightwell Payments and Its Role in the Cruise Industry

08:01 The Challenges of Cross Border Payments

12:32 Brightwell’s Response to the COVID-19 Pandemic

17:16 Larry’s Transition to CEO During the Pandemic

21:07 The Impact of COVID-19 on the Cruise Industry

21:50 Adapting to a New Business Model

22:34 Changing Customer Relationships and Demands

23:59 The Turning Point During COVID-19

24:17 The Uncertainty and Chaos of the First Six Months

25:05 The Realization and Adaptation to the Long-term Impact of COVID-19

26:10 The Rebound of the Cruise Industry

26:36 The Transformation of Brightwell Pre and Post COVID-19

27:02 Innovation and Growth During COVID-19

32:27 The Return of the Base Business and New Developments

35:14 Reflections on the Journey Through COVID-19

38:39 The Importance of Transparency and Trust

41:52 Closing Remarks and Contact Information

Jim Dinkins, CEO of Honey Baked Ham Company, joined host Danny Vander Maten on this episode of Executive Perspective. They discussed the brand’s commitment to fostering relationships with customers, their focus on making every day special, and ensuring top-notch customer service, especially around the holiday season. Jim highlighted how the company manages approximately 450 stores across 41 states, and the employment surge during the holiday season. He described his career journey, from working at Procter & Gamble to Coca-Cola North America and eventually being drawn out of retirement to become the CEO of Honey Baked Ham.

Jim and Danny also covered the company’s innovative strategies, such as ‘buy online, pick up in-store’ that enhance customer experience, and their upcoming retail app. Jim emphasized the enormous value Honey Baked Ham places on customer satisfaction, and his personal love for interacting with customers in-store.

Executive Perspective is broadcast and produced by the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX® inside Renasant Bank in Alpharetta.

HoneyBaked Ham Company

For more than 65 years, The HoneyBaked Ham Company has provided customers and their families with delightful food to enjoy for all of life’s special moments.

HoneyBaked’s origins began when founder Harry J. Hoenselaar patented a spiral-slicing ham machine, making way for the first HoneyBaked Store in Detroit, Michigan.

Since that momentous opening in 1957, the family-owned company has grown to more than 400 locations nationwide, serving its signature spiral-sliced Honey Baked Ham with sweet and crunchy glaze, premium turkey breast, heat & serve sides, desserts, sandwiches, and most recently, delicious take & bake sliders and biscuits.

Offering convenient meals using the best ingredients, HoneyBaked will make every occasion a little more memorable, whether you’re dining in store, picking up, or ordering online.

Topics in This Interview:
01:09 Introducing the Guest: Jim Dinkins, CEO of Honey Baked Ham

01:21 Understanding the Honey Baked Ham Brand

02:34 The Business Model of Honey Baked Ham

03:25 Growth and Expansion

04:35 Jim Dinkins’ Career Journey

06:42 Comparing Coca-Cola and Honey Baked Ham

08:34 The Busy Holiday Season

09:35 Jim Dinkins’ Personal Experience in Stores

18:58 The Impact of Honey Baked Ham on Customers

21:11 Jim Dinkins’ Personal Reflections and Future Aspirations

26:08 Conclusion and Contact Information

John Sewell, CEO of CKS Packaging, a successful and longstanding family business, joined host Danny Vander Maten on this edition of Executive Perspective. They discussed CKS Packaging’s history, their success as a family-owned business, their commitment to relationships, their second chance program for employees, and their philanthropic efforts, Maximum Impact Love. John told several stories highlighting the success he owed to the family’s unwavering faith and dedication to Christian values.

Executive Perspective is broadcast and produced by the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX® inside Renasant Bank in Alpharetta.

CKS Packaging
CKS Packaging is a privately owned manufacturer and supplier of rigid plastic packaging with 24 locations in the United States, headquartered in Atlanta.

CKS Packaging’s business is the marketing, sales, and manufacturing of quality plastic containers utilizing environmentally friendly raw materials, maintaining high ethical standards honoring the covenant to support Christian-based ministries from the profits generated through the business.

CKS provides containers for a variety of consumer goods and industrial products including: Food Beverage Health and Beauty Personal Care Automotive Medical Chemicals and Solutions With over 50 years of experience in the plastics manufacturing business, CKS Packaging has acquired the product design and technical expertise that has made us the industry leader for innovative and cost-effective solutions for most any packaging and branding solutions.

They have been chosen to provide products for: Beverage Companies, Food Packaging Companies, Dairies, Fast Food Chains, Food Service Industry, Grocery Stores, Home Improvement Stores, Automotive Supply Stores, and Cosmetics Companies.

CKS Packaging, Inc. is a family-owned plastic container manufacturing company with its home office headquartered in Atlanta Georgia. CKS stands for Charles K. Sewell, who has become a legend in the plastic container blow-molding arena. He began in the plastic business in the mid-1960s. He was honored to be named the first recipient of the Society of Plastic Engineers Lifetime Achievement Award. is an industry leader in custom bottle design.

CKS Packaging introduced the Second Chance Program in 2016 with the goal of hiring people who otherwise might struggle to find employment. Specifically, the program focuses on hiring previously incarcerated people, homeless individuals, and people recovering from drug addictions. To recruit candidates to this program, CKS Packaging partners with community organizations for referrals. Since the inception of the program, hundreds of people have been hired successfully. Employees have moved up in the company or found better positions elsewhere. CKS now employs almost 10 % of their workforce as Second Chance employees.

Additionally, many Second Chance employees have escaped the cycles of poverty, crime, and addiction. CKS Packaging has also been positively impacted since they now have a loyal, hard-working group of employees who otherwise would not have been found. Since people who previously were incarcerated or relied on social support programs now have employment and some financial independence, taxpayers also end up paying less to help these individuals.

Angela Alea, President and Chief Revenue Officer at LASSO, joined Danny Vander Maten to talk sales, leadership, and business. Angela discussed how she’s spent her career in sales despite her initial wariness of the field, how LASSO serves event companies, the impact of the pandemic on their industry, how LASSO survived and deepened client relationships during that difficult period, how she practices servant-leadership, and much more.

Executive Perspective is broadcast and produced by the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX® inside Renasant Bank in Alpharetta.

LASSO
LASSO is the all-in-one platform where event companies work.

They provide project management, inventory, logistics, proposals, and workforce management software that helps event companies:

⇢ Grow revenue ⇢ Streamline operations ⇢ Control costs ⇢ Minimize risk ⇢ Get real-time insights ⇢ Attract AV talent ⇢ Produce successful events.

Their mission is to inspire change for forward-thinking companies in the event and entertainment industry by bringing transformative solutions to the people that make exceptional performances happen.

Chris Lindenau, CEO of Fusus, was the guest on this episode of Executive Perspective. Named as Inc 5000’s Fastest Growing Company in Georgia, Fusus has a mission of creating an open system for use by law enforcement and public safety personnel. Chris discussed their Real Time Crime Center, their new office in London, the role of AI in the realm of safety, reflections on running a business, his service in the Navy, and much more.

Executive Perspective is broadcast and produced by the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX® inside Renasant Bank in Alpharetta.

Fusus

Fusus keeps Law Enforcement Officers, Security Personnel and the Communities they protect safer.

They enable public safety personnel to function more efficiently and with improved operational intelligence, by creating a common operating picture that emphasizes officer, citizen, and community safety.

The Fusus Unified Intelligence Platform is an open ecosystem that integrates and enhances all public safety and investigations assets for law enforcement and public safety personnel. Their real-time crime center platform creates a common operating picture and delivers better situational awareness, enabling agencies to operate more efficiently, with improved operational intelligence, and with a proactive emphasis on officer and community safety.

Chris Schueler, CEO of Simeio, joined host Danny Vander Maten for an in-depth conversation about leadership, integrity, taking responsibility, and the impact of those values on the success of a company. Chris talked about taking the helm during the pandemic, “failing fast,” his perspectives on leadership, getting beyond vendor status to a deeper relationship with clients, and much more.

Executive Perspective is broadcast from the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX® inside Renasant Bank in Alpharetta.

Simeio
Your digital transformation requires a deep commitment to identity transformation.

Simeio’s managed identity and access management services engage securely with anyone, any device, anywhere, anytime, with an unparalleled “service first” philosophy.

They thus help businesses reinvent how they engage with customers, how and where their employees work, and how they partner with others, securely and efficiently.

Their goal is to help your business run your IAM program in the most effective way to maximize your investment in your digital transformation journey.

Richard Ross, CEO of Quinn Residences, joined Executive Perspective host Danny Vader Maten for a fascinating conversation about the emerging industry of purpose-built communities from Quinn Residences. Richard covered how the single-family residence rental market has evolved and where their communities fit in the big picture as the market changes. He and Danny discussed how their rental homes are meeting the needs of affordable housing, the amenities they offer, and much more.

Executive Perspective is broadcast from the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX® inside Renasant Bank in Alpharetta.

Quinn Residences
Quinn Residences makes living easier, safer, and more accessible. They develop more than just homes – they build communities that serve and enrich the lives of all its residents.

They believe that access to reasonably priced, highly amenitized, impeccably maintained housing is essential in today’s environment.

Inspired by the modern lifestyle, their passion lies in building thriving communities in the best neighborhoods. They welcome families and individuals from every walk of life who share one thing in common — the love of home.

Quinn develops exceptional neighborhoods of single-family homes exclusively for rent. They believe that better living starts with a great neighborhood, fantastic amenities, and a no-maintenance way of life. Their inviting communities lay the foundation for residents to flourish and enjoy life to the fullest. This means more time to focus on what matters most: creating unforgettable memories at home.

Harry Maugans, CEO of Privacy Bee, joined host Danny Vander Maten to explain the ways that hackers can exploit publicly available information, and how, in turn, Privacy Bee works to protect businesses and consumers. They discussed data privacy, the lack of regulation of information, Privacy Bee’s efforts to enact positive change, and how their product works. Harry also talked about starting companies, finding talent, effective marketing, exit strategies, and much more.

Executive Perspective is broadcast from the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX® inside Renasant Bank in Alpharetta.

Privacy Bee
Privacy Bee is an External Data Privacy suite that monitors and removes exposed personal information from the internet.  Cybersecurity is not enough, as most companies that experience data breaches already have cybersecurity and employee training investments, so Privacy Bee is a novel way of further de-risking a business.

By scrubbing employee exposures from the surface web, Privacy Bee makes it harder for hackers, spear phishers, and social engineers to craft highly effective PII-infused attacks, which trick employees into divulging sensitive information.  Spear phishing is today’s biggest risk to a business, and Privacy Bee is the only company in the world that effectively decreases the risk proactively, complementary to cybersecurity, through effective management of a businesses’ external privacy exposures.

Privacy Bee’s high-impact solution is also leveraged as Poach Defense (making it harder for recruiters to access and solicit your top talent), productivity boost (blocking overly aggressive sales people), proactive identity theft defense (making it harder for thieves to fill out fraudulent credit apps), and employee or executive protection (perfectly complementing any physical safety efforts).

Privacy Bee is the fastest growing privacy-centric company in the world, offering both business and consumer solutions.

Ryan Northington, CEO of Simplus, sat down with Executive Perspective host Danny Vander Maten to talk about the origins and the work of Simplus, his role as a new CEO, the experience of establishing an office in the Philippines, his thoughts on resilience, and more.

Executive Perspective is broadcast from the North Fulton studio of Business RadioX® inside Renasant Bank in Alpharetta.

Simplus
Simplus uses leading cloud solutions to help companies achieve a strategic vision, improve performance, and increase value to your enterprise. Their Innovate and Modernize offerings will help you understand your opportunities, solve your pain points, and successfully achieve digital transformation.

Simplus drives results that matter for modern organizations by accelerating strategic, industry-focused digital transformation in the Salesforce ecosystem, helping them become resilient, live enterprises. Their services include customer experience and program strategy, platform implementation, organizational change management, data and systems integration, business platforms and accelerators, and managed services.

As a global team, they help customers reimagine and simplify their Salesforce journeys with innovative, end-to-end industry solutions to drive a seamless customer experience, operational efficiency, and profitable growth.