Gratitude Through Hard Times

Food and sales are the principal components of businesses and our lives.

Mark Eggerding intertwines both of them in his life and career to spark learning, excellence, confidence, positivity, enthusiasm, creativity, and love.

Mark is Vice President of Brand Activation at US Foods and the author of Mastering the Sales Recipe: Creating Memorable Customer Experiences and Sales Success.

His love for selling and cooking began at a young age when his school teacher gave him the confidence to reach for his dreams, and when his grandmother taught him about the pots on the stove. Mark now uses his skills to help others find success in the food and sales industry.

Mark was gracious enough to share his insights on selling, cooking, and success.

Listen to this episode and learn about:

- Mark giving credit to his Elementary school teacher, Mr. Kurt Gremel, for his encouragement, support, and guidance in helping Mark to participate in a speaking contest (2:53)
- The origination of Mark's interests in speaking, selling, and cooking (5:06)
- The equivocation of sales with soup (6:55)
- What inspired Mark to take on a new career (8:56)
- How brand and storytelling is a part of sales and cooking success (12:11)
- The link between sales and cooking is crucial for curiosity and growth (14:02)
- Catarina Domenici's story (15:59)
- The value of connecting your community together in sales (19:34)
- Enthusiasm as one of the most powerful engines of success (21:40)
- The seven ingredients of mastering sales (24:37)

Links:

- Connect with Mark on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/mark-eggerding-485808142/

- US Foods - https://www.usfoods.com/

Everyone has unique qualities and characteristics. It's what makes our wonderful world so diverse and exciting. But understanding how to harness your unique attributes and use them to propel you forward is what determines our success.

Chris Adams is an expert at utilizing uniqueness to create a strong and diverse company culture.

Chris is the President and Chief Executive Officer of Park Place Technologies, building one of the country's fastest-growing companies, with over 1,200 employees. He is also a Volunteer Teacher with Junior Achievement, and he sits on the board for United Way for Greater Cleveland and Friends of Breakthrough Schools.

He forged his path to success by using his ADHD diagnosis as a tool for growth and connection. Diagnosed at a young age with what could have been viewed as a hindrance, he turned into a strength. Chris uses his unique capabilities to excel in his career and teaches others how to do the same.

Chris took some time to share his life journey with us and how he transforms weaknesses into strengths.

Listen to this episode and learn about:

- Chris giving credit and thanks to his assistant, Stacy (3:07)
- How Chris effectively manages busy days (7:22)
- Chris' journey with ADHD (9:19)
- The balance between happiness and weaknesses when creating company culture (14:42)
- The importance of volunteer work (19:34)
- How Chris sees himself growing (25:38)

Links:

- Connect with Chris on Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/christopher-adams-a73b31/

- Park Place Technologies - https://www.parkplacetechnologies.com/

Failure - It's something we all face and struggle with. How we overcome our failures define who we become.

Jeremy Harbour took his failure and turned it into humility. He learned that when you fail, you realize the rope was only inches off the ground.

Jeremy is a serial investor and expert in Mergers & Acquisitions. He is also the founder of Unity Group, on which he’s advised on more than 300 acquisitions of both distressed and solvent businesses.

He grew up driven to make an impact. Leaving school at the age of 15 to start his own business, which later failed and spurred his ambition to help small to medium-sized business entrepreneurs.

Jeremy was kind enough to share with us his life story and the wisdom he has learned along the way.

Listen to this episode and learn about:

- Jeremy giving credit and thanks to his career guidance counselor at school (2:29)
- What ignited Jeremy's drive (4:25)
- How Jeremy overcame a failed business (8:50)
- The importance of having humility when connecting and negotiating (12:44)
- Jeremy's "why" behind his mission (16:48)
- What the Harbour Club is all about (21:29)
- Information about Jeremy's new book, Go Do Deals (25:20)

Links:

- Connect with Jeremy on Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeremyharbour/?originalSubdomain=sg
- Jeremy Harbour's Website - https://www.jeremyharbour.com/

- Go Do Deals - https://www.jeremyharbour.com/go_do_deals/

We all go through difficult times when growing up, but how we react to those times determine how we show up as adults.

Narine Galstian took her childhood challenges and grew into a driven, curious, and open minded leader.

Narine is one of the most promising CMO's in the technology sector, at the helm of the 14x - Inc. 500 Company, SADA. SADA was named Google Cloud Reseller Partner of the Year for 2018 and 2019. SADA was also named the Google Cloud Global Partner of the Year Award for 2018.

Coming to the United States from Armenia at eight years old knowing zero English, she was able to find her voice and the confidence to use it through her love of learning. She now uses her voice to empower others and to lead with openness and curiosity.

Narine was kind enough to share her childhood story and how it has shaped her into a driven and successful leader.

Listen to this episode and learn about:

- Narine giving credit to her ESL teacher, Ms. Abbott, for her inclusiveness, reassurance, and expressiveness (3:28)
- Explanation of how she learned the confidence to speak up (5:42)
- Creativity comes when you surround yourself with people who are different than you (10:53)
- The company culture needed to quickly pivot and grow (12:56)
- Narine's change in leadership perspective (16:45)
- How to hold on to the past while charging ahead into the future (19:05)
- The drive and impact Narine has that is never going to end (23:29)

Links:

- Connect with Narine on Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ngalstian
- SADA - https://sada.com/about/leadership-team/leadership-biographies/#narine-galstian

Representation has always been important, especially in this day and age. Many people see the world in black and white, but there is more to life than that. There has been a constant need for a role model that sees in between the lines and is able to use their privilege (and burden) for good.

Lori Cornmesser is the perfect example that embodies all these traits.

Lori is a successful biracial woman who is also an accomplished Global Channel and Commercial Management Executive with more than 20 years of in-depth experience in managed services, computer networking, testing/measurement, and so much more.

She didn't grow up with a silver spoon but she was able to learn valuable lessons from her parents that allowed her to be the successful businesswoman she is today.

Lori was nice enough to discuss with us the people who have impacted her life, the social injustices of the world that she was privileged enough to not have to experience, and the burden of those injustices that she had to endure.

Listen to this episode and learn about:

- Lori giving credit to her mother for her strength, gratitude, and fearlessness (3:04)
- What she learned in terms of success while growing up in a biracial family (4:49)
- Why growing up biracial is both a privilege and a burden (7:17)
- The burden and anxiety of being biracial (10:38)
- Why she agreed to join a group of diverse people to share their missions (15:31)
- The list of her warriors: people who have impacted and influenced her career (18:21)

Links:

- Infoblox - https://www.infoblox.com/
- Connect with Lori on Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/loricornmesser/

The American Dream is the belief that anyone, regardless of where they were born or what class they were born into, can attain their own version of success.

Stephen Hightower is the perfect representation of the American Dream.

Stephen is an experienced Chief Operating Officer with a demonstrated history of working in the oil & energy industry.

He grew up with humble beginnings but through persistence, drive, and determination, he was able to transform Hightowers Petroleum into the fast-growing, high achieving company that it is now.

Don't be fooled because he didn't do it all by himself. Stephen was gracious enough to discuss with us the person that inspired him to be the successful entrepreneur he is today and how he's going to help change the world during the "new normal."

Listen to this episode and learn about:
- Giving his grandmother, Big Mama, credit for the company's success (2:03)
- Stephen's childhood and Big Mamas' sacrifices (6:15)
- How his grandparents were able to move into a segregated neighborhood (8:56)
- Junior Achievement program in Middletown, Ohio (12:28)
- How Stephen manages to connect with individuals who don't have the same beliefs (16:58)
- How he wants to help rebuild the world after COVID (21:44)

Links:
- Hightowers Petroleum Co. - https://www.hightowerspetroleum.com/
- Connect with Stephen on Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/sthightower/

Everyone wants to be the change they want to see in the world. To do that, you have to be a catalyst for your own growth, as well as for the people around you.

Don't know where to start?

Ozzie Nelson has the answers you need.

Ozzie is an accomplished Chief Executive Officer and chairman of Nelson who has applied entrepreneurial skills to the design, architecture, and planning industry.

Even though he is the second generation to have leadership within Nelson, he was the catalyst they needed to become the well-known, premier design firms that the world has ever known. Since he's been with the company, they have witnessed unprecedented growth, ascending to the third-largest provider of design and design-related services to corporate America.

Ozzie was kind enough to discuss with us his thoughts on authenticity, vulnerability, and being the guide, not the hero. He also stresses the importance of being a catalyst for others' growth.

Listen to this episode and learn about:
- Giving credit to his wife, Shannon, for being with him through his whole journey (3:14)
- How the American Dream has evolved in the past years (7:34)
- "The only thing we really can control is ourselves and the decisions that we make." (10:18)
- Silence is the best communication (12:13)
- How to inspire future catalysts (13:49)
- Weakness vs Vulnerability (17:12)
- Being more authentic makes you more approachable (23:43)
- The future of Nelson Worldwide (24:56)
- Ozzie talks about how his team is the secret sauce of their success (28:15)

Links:
- Nelson Worldwide - https://www.nelsonworldwide.com
- Connect with Ozzie on Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/ozzienelson/

Everyone wants to have someone they look up to, someone who inspires them to become the best versions of themselves despite difficult circumstances.

Jeff Bush is one of those people you can look up to.

Jeff is a highly motivated, goal-oriented Operations Executive with an established history of exceeding goals in many areas.

Despite growing up with his odds stacked against him, he was able to learn how to treat every moment like an opportunity which led him to become the current President of Parker's. What he lacked in resources, he gained in work ethic which is a value his father ingrained in him in his early years.

Jeff was gracious enough to discuss with us his tough upbringing and the opportunities he had that led him to secure a job at Parker's — even though he wasn't looking for one.

Listen to this episode and learn about:
- Jeff giving credit to his father for setting him on his path to success (2:09)
- Growing Up in Lewes, Delaware being the eldest of 7 brothers (3:02)
- Lessons from His Father (4:39)
- Being Headstrong but Open: Father vs Leader (8:17)
- Seizing Opportunities and Meeting Greg Parker (11:20)
- Inspiring Curiosity on an Organizational Level (18:10)
- Importance of Mentors (22:11)

Links:
- Parker's Kitchen - http://parkerskitchen.com/
- Connect with Jeff on Linkedin - https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeff-bush/

Claude Silver is VaynerMedia's Chief Heart Officer, the capstone of a career focused on guiding client relationships, global brand strategies, operations, and management. An abiding passion for creating spaces in which people can thrive defined her previous leadership positions at JWT London, Publicis London, SAYMedia, and Organic, among others.

Connect with and find out more about Claude at:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/casilver

Ryan is a three-time entrepreneur who’s previous technology companies were successfully acquired by USA TODAY and Groupon. Now as the founder and CEO of Electric, Ryan is leveraging data and automation to deliver enterprise-grade IT services to small and midsize companies all over the US. Since founding in 2016, Electric has raised $39M and employs a team of 150 full-time employees across four offices in the US and abroad.

Find out more about Ryan at:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryandenehy/