Growing Up B2B

In this episode of Growing Up B2B, your host Ed Delia welcomes Mike Michalowicz, bestselling author of Profit First and Clockwork.

Mike shares candid lessons from his entrepreneurial journey, including losing a fortune after selling his first company. He discusses his "Profit First" philosophy, the importance of hiring A-players, and building businesses that don't depend on their owners. The conversation also covers personal money habits, family business succession, and why human creativity and empathy remain irreplaceable despite AI advancements. Mike's mission: eradicate the "lottery mentality" and help entrepreneurs build sustainable, profitable businesses.

Check out Mike's work HERE.

Connect with Mike on LinkedIn HERE.

Check out Mike's books HERE.

Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE.

In this episode of Growing Up B2B, your host Ed Delia interviews Charles D. Hatley, CEO of Melone Hatley P.C., a multi-state family law and estate planning firm co-led with his wife, Rebecca.

Charles shares their journey from solo practice to Inc. 5000-recognized firm, discussing the challenges of working as a married business team, aligning on growth vision, and building a values-driven culture inspired by the Ritz-Carlton. He also offers critical advice for business owners on protecting assets through proper legal agreements, emphasizing that proactive planning is essential when family and business intersect.

Check out Charles's work HERE.

Connect with Charles on LinkedIn HERE.

Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE.

In this episode of Growing Up B2B, your host Ed Delia speaks with Jessica Walker, Founder & CEO of J.Walker Salon Group, about her nearly 30-year entrepreneurial journey.

Starting her first salon at 19 with just four employees, Jessica shares how family influence, resilience, and a strong values-driven culture helped her build a multi-location beauty and wellness enterprise. She discusses navigating motherhood, working with family, surviving COVID-19, embracing technology like CRM and AI, and developing talent. Jessica also reflects on the importance of mentorship, smart delegation, and turning setbacks into opportunities throughout her inspiring career.

Check out Jessica's work HERE.

Connect with Jessica on LinkedIn HERE.

Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE.

In this episode of Growing Up B2B, your host Ed Delia interviews Suhaiba Neill, Vice President of John Neill Painting & Decorating.

Suhaiba shares her journey from working with the Philadelphia 76ers to joining her father's painting company in 2005. She discusses navigating leadership transitions, building systems in a founder-led business, and collaborating with her brother David. Suhaiba also highlights challenges in the trades industry, including workforce shortages, and reflects on leading in male-dominated spaces. As author of Like a Girl: 22 Leadership Lessons for Women on the Rise, she encourages women to embrace authentic leadership and confidently own their voice.

Check out Suhaiba's work HERE.

Connect with Suhaiba on LinkedIn HERE.

Check out Suhaiba's book, Like a Girl: 22 Leadership Lessons for Women on the Rise, HERE.

Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE.

In this episode of Growing Up B2B, your host Ed Delia welcomes Joseph Alam III, second-generation Managing Director of Mid-States Advisors, Inc. Joseph shares how he expanded his father's debt placement firm into a full-service advisory practice offering M&A and fractional CFO services for lower middle market businesses.

The conversation covers key topics including preparing businesses for sale, recognizing financial warning signs, navigating family dynamics in transactions, and finding financing outside traditional banking. Joseph emphasizes the importance of early preparation, strong management teams, clean financials, and maintaining lender relationships, even during difficult times.

Check out Joseph's work HERE.

Connect with Joseph on LinkedIn HERE.

Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE.

In this episode of Growing Up B2B, your host Ed Delia interviews Chad Bruce, President of GluDown, Inc., a family business founded in Dallas in 1981.

Chad shares how he unexpectedly joined the company after his mother's illness and navigated a challenging leadership transition with his father, who resisted his push toward construction markets. Chad eventually bought his father out, sold most of the original business, and rebuilt GluDown from the ground up. He reflects on lessons learned around succession, family dynamics, innovation, and culture, and how separating business from personal relationships ultimately strengthened both the company and his bond with his father.

Check out Chad's work HERE.

Connect with Chad on LinkedIn HERE.

Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE.

In this episode of Growing Up B2B, your host Ed Delia speaks with Del Ornelas III, owner of I Am Trucking, an oilfield logistics company.

Del shares his entrepreneurial journey, shaped by contrasting family influences between risk aversion and bold entrepreneurship. He discusses leaving a secure corporate career at H-E-B to join his family's business, only to face painful partnership disputes and financial losses—twice. Through resilience, Del rebuilt as sole owner, now focusing on professionalizing operations, embracing AI-driven technology, developing future leaders, and mentoring his daughter as a potential successor, while redefining success to balance business sustainability with family presence.

Check out Del's work HERE.

Connect with Del on LinkedIn HERE.

Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE.

In this episode of Growing Up B2B, host Ed Delia speaks with Pedro and Jesse Quiroga of EAFab Corporation, a family-owned engineering and fabrication company serving the global steel industry.

Pedro and his wife Claudia founded EAFab in 2006, designing equipment for electric arc furnace steel production. Jesse, their daughter, took a non-linear path, studying psychology and exploring various career, before joining as marketing and HR manager. Together, they discuss generational dynamics, company values, talent development, and dispelling misconceptions about the steel industry being outdated, emphasizing innovation, diversity, and a culture built on honesty and integrity.

Check out Pedro and Jesse's work HERE.

Connect with Pedro on LinkedIn HERE.

Connect with Jesse on LinkedIn HERE.

Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE.

In this episode of Growing Up B2B, host Ed Delia speaks with Caryn Kopp, founder of Kopp Consulting and self-described "Chief Door Opener."

Caryn shares her expertise in helping companies secure meetings with top executives at major corporations. The conversation covers why getting in the door is the hardest part of sales, the importance of having the right sales DNA, precise targeting, and quality leads. They also explore the critical role of tailored sales messaging, handling objections, and responsible AI use in prospecting. Caryn emphasizes that human outreach, preparation, and leadership discipline are essential to building a predictable, high-quality sales pipeline.

Check out Caryn's work HERE.

Connect with Caryn on LinkedIn HERE.

Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE.

In this episode of Growing Up B2B, your host Ed Delia speaks with Dr. Lauri Union about family entrepreneurship, leadership succession, and organizational transformation.

Dr. Lauri shares her remarkable journey of becoming CEO of her family's struggling corrugated steel business at 27, growing it twelvefold over 14 years. She distinguishes family entrepreneurship from traditional family business, emphasizing leveraging broader family assets across generations. Dr. Lauri also introduces her Healthy Family Healthy Business Method, rooted in neuroscience, designed to help families thrive both relationally and professionally. Key themes include open curiosity, empowering others, and balancing tradition with innovation.

Check out Dr. Lauri Union's work HERE.

Connect with Dr. Lauri Union on LinkedIn HERE.

Think you'd be a great guest on the show? Apply HERE.