Into The Storm Leaders

Want to rethink your digital marketing?

Connect with Dave: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daveskorepa/

In this episode of the Into the Storm Leaders Podcast, host Ron Kaminski sits down with Dave Skorepa, Chief Creative Officer and COO at Aztek, a Cleveland-based digital marketing agency and proud strategic partner of The Herd.

Dave reflects on his 25-year journey with Aztek, from starting as a graphic designer with dreams of making comic books to leading an agency that helps B2B businesses embrace digital transformation. He shares how Aztek’s core values—helping others, taking ownership, and “getting stuff done”—have shaped their culture, and how practices like “Innovation Day” keep the team curious and adaptable.

The conversation dives deep into:

Learn more about EBS - https://www.ebsinvests.com/

In this episode of the Into The Storm Leaders Podcast, host Ron Kaminski sits down with Scott Lundy of Eubel Brady & Suttman (EBS) Investment & Wealth Management, and a proud strategic partner in the CultureShoc Herd.

Scott shares how EBS’s core values guide everything from portfolio management to succession planning. You’ll also hear how EBS weathered a pivotal storm by shifting their business model toward direct relationships with business owners, and the emotions, challenges, and breakthroughs that came with it.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

📚 Resources mentioned:

If you’re a business owner preparing for transition—or simply a leader facing your own storm—you’ll walk away with practical wisdom and a courageous mindset to face the future.

Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as investment, legal, or tax advice. The views expressed are those of the participants as of the date of the recording and may not reflect current market developments. Past performance is not indicative of future results, and all investing involves risk, including the potential loss of principal. Eubel Brady & Suttman is an SEC-registered investment adviser. Registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training. Listeners should not rely solely on the information presented and should consult with a qualified professional before making any investment decisions.  As a strategic partner of CultureShoc. EBS provides cash compensation (a flat, annual fee) to help support the Herd’s operations. In consideration of that support, EBS receives certain benefits, which include co-branded marketing initiatives, event participation, and introductions to CultureShoc’s clients. This creates a conflict of interest as CultureShoc has a financial incentive to promote EBS’s services. CultureShoc is not an advisory client of EBS.

🎯 Want to rethink your approach to IT?

Connect with Grant: https://www.linkedin.com/in/grant-menard-14411b113/

What does it mean to own it when it matters most—and why do so many companies get it wrong when it comes to IT? In this episode, Ron Kaminski sits down with Grant Manard, Head of Growth at LaserPoint, a strategic partner in the CultureShoc Herd, to explore how courageous leadership and proactive ownership are reshaping how businesses think about technology.

From firefighting client outages to building rock-solid systems, Grant shares real-world stories of charging into chaos—and why LaserPoint thrives in the storm rather than avoiding it. You’ll hear how their EOS-driven culture, core values like “Get Better” and “Passion to Serve,” and a mindset of help first have built them into a trusted IT partner for businesses across Northeast Ohio and beyond.

Whether you’re a visionary, integrator, or emerging leader, this episode will challenge your assumptions about IT—and offer clarity on how to make technology a strategic advantage, not a black box.

Advocating for oneself in the workplace is crucial for success, satisfaction, and can even lead to a better workplace culture, especially for individuals with ADHD or other invisible disabilities. In this episode we meet with friend, client, and ADHD coach, Ryan Mayer, who highlights the importance of neurodiversity and empathy in professional settings.

As an ADHD coach, Ryan brings a wealth of strategies and personal insights that speak to anyone aiming to enhance their personal and professional life, regardless of an ADHD diagnosis. We touch on the idea of "walk and talk" meetings, Total Unconditional Acceptance (T.U.A.), and more. Whether you have an invisible disability you're challenged with or have never even heard the term until now, this episode if guaranteed to give you some perspective, some practical tips, and plenty of motivation to take better care of yourself in order to better care for others.

Our guest caps this one of with a heartfelt message: "your worth is not measured by your work performance, and you're never alone on your journey to personal growth and fulfillment."

Links & Resources:

• https://ryanmayercoaching.com/  https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanmayerpeopleconnector/  https://www.instagram.com/adhd_coach_ryanmayer/

Quoteworthy Moments:

• 00:02:29 - "We're exactly where we are meant to be."

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Navigating the complex journey of leadership and corporate culture is no easy feat, but with Kevin McDougal, a Vistage Chair with a storied career, we unlock the doors to a treasure trove of wisdom. From the early days at Airgas to the strategic maneuvers during economic downturns, Kevin's insights span the gamut of professional transitions, prioritization, and the art of building a resilient sales force.

As we converse with Kevin, a narrative unfolds that spotlights the nuances of mentorship, trust, and the personal touch that can transform a workplace. The significance of one-to-one interactions comes to the fore, illustrating how leaders can foster a culture of continuous improvement. He also delves into the challenges of personnel management, sharing the delicate balance between swift action with underperforming employees and the compassionate communication that acknowledges the impact of tough decisions on teams and individuals alike.

From discussing the EOS in aligning team efforts to the nuances of nurturing passion in potential hires, this episode speaks to leaders seeking to refine their approach and foster environments where innovation and satisfaction thrive. 

Links & Resources: 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-mcdougal/

https://www.vistage.com/

www.cultureshoc.com 

Quoteworthy Moments: 

00:06:44-00:06:55 - "Could you imagine an account that uses nitrogen to freeze the things and they get a liquid argon instead? That was the kind of stuff that I ran into when I, when I took this position. Yikes."

00:17:45-00:17:55 - "Isn't it crazy how the relationship, the trust level with one human can play such a huge factor when you know there's that mutual respect, that belief, that mentorship."

00:29:08-00:29:19 - "The biggest thing for me was execution, if you don't have somebody in the right seat, that's the most important thing and you move on it."

00:43:51-00:44:01 - "Culture is one of the biggest things from a retention standpoint."

00:45:44-00:45:54 - "It was almost frustrating for me to see how elegantly packaged these simple things were that I inherently knew but still struggled with sometimes in articulating them to others or getting everyone else on the same page aligned."

00:50:19-00:50:29 - "A lot of people don't understand if somebody has a really good friend at work, that's a big thing that companies don't even think about."

01:01:42-01:01:52 - "Do things you believe in, right? If you're going to do something, put in the work. show that you want it, that you're hungry, it gets recognized."

01:10:34-01:10:44 - "That sidestep mentioned about 2% customer retention can equate to a 10% reduction in cost."

01:12:45-01:12:55 - "My first question when I sit down at a table is what is the most important thing we need to talk about today?"

When resilience meets the structure of the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS), businesses can navigate any storm. Tune in for a transformative exploration of leadership and corporate culture with Ron Welty, the visionary founder of IntelliShop. Our conversation uncovers Ron's entrepreneurial odyssey, unveiling how IntelliShop revolutionizes customer experience for top-tier companies, while simultaneously fostering employee motivation and fulfillment.

Exploring team dynamics and leadership evolution, we uncover the pivotal role of the right EOS implementer in steering a company toward stability amidst chaos. From embracing partial ESOP to declining acquisition offers for the greater good, this episode shares strategic leadership insights. We also reflect on balancing entrepreneurial drive with family life, highlighting how EOS serves as a compass for harmony and success. Whether at the helm of a startup or steering an established enterprise, this episode serves as an invaluable compass, guiding not only toward business success but also personal fulfillment and happiness.

Links & Resources: 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ron-welty-38a4a711/

https://intelli-shop.com/

www.cultureshoc.com 

Quoteworthy Moments: 

00:02:47 - "If you just take care of your customers, a lot of other things can fall into place and it just always feels like the right thing to do."

00:06:40 - “It doesn't have to be a budget buster. It can be something very simple, including just a pat on the back and just a verbal recognition because sometimes kids these days that are on the front lines don't get that anywhere.”

00:09:30 - "We give them a lot of good feedback and it's constructive. It's not subjective. It's very objective.”

 00:18:02 -  "I'm the integrator and you're the visionary. So you just get to go play and have fun while I stay here and make the trains run on time."

00:21:43 - "I took us from zero to this. I don't think I'm the guy to go from this number to wherever we want to go."

00:26:04 - "The two most difficult decisions a team's ever had to make is when we have a people issue on the leadership team, i.e. integrator. And two, the sunk cost pivot, when we put so much time and energy into something."

00:33:53 - "We're now one of the few companies in the world, um, that can serve Fortune 1000 companies and look them in the eye and say, we can take care of you at a high level and actually do that."

00:43:33 - "I'm trying to find that sweet spot where I can do what I want, do what I love, and be most effective for the company without stepping on toes and sort of taking stuff away from people that they might love doing."

00:46:48 - "I'm going to work myself into a life and stop working myself to death."

00:57:15 - "You can have the EOS life, a very successful personal life, and a successful business at the same time. You can really do it. 

What if the secret to your business growth was rooted in strategic processes and systems? Discover the power of workflows and the crucial role they play in scaling a business as we engage in a thought-provoking conversation with Darby Walsh from Delta Business Strategies. Darby's journey from college dropout to Marine Corps member, machine gun instructor, and ultimately a construction inspector unveils the resilience and determination that earmarks his success, serving as a rich source of inspiration. 

We navigate the challenging terrains of teamwork, resilience, and emotional intelligence, underlining how they interplay in the leadership arena. Our guest, a former marine, shares valuable insights about separating emotions from logic and the significant impacts of emotional intelligence in leadership. Laced with nuggets of wisdom, his approach to dealing with overthinking and the importance of self-awareness and self-regulation is sure to resonate with many. This episode is a wellspring of practical and insightful leadership strategies, so grab a notebook and prepare to take your leadership skills to a whole new level!

Links & Resources:

www.linkedin.com/in/darby-walsh-4b795353/

www.deltabusinessstrategies.com

www.cultureshoc.com

Quoteworthy Moments:

00:01:36 - "Quite contrary, there is some excitement that comes with a really well-formed process."

00:05:08 - "I don't mind being in front of people at all talking and presenting and getting people excited about it."

00:17:40 - "It's the challenge that I think every leader, every human probably has is finding balance in all things."

00:35:13 - "You have 100 customers a month, you have 12 months out of the year. How much time is now being wasted where you can put it into something more productive?"

00:37:45 - "The camaraderie aspect, not wanting to let somebody else down, being more willing to change because it's in service to others."

00:46:32 - "If you're going to stop trying to beat your competition, you might as well just throw the towel in now."

00:57:17 - "Even as it pertains to time management, and if you're trying to delegate, we talk with groups all the time about a way to give a positive no when something is delegated to you is by simply saying, would you be open to looking at or helping me find out where this fits in terms of priority, because here's the other things that I have working right now."

01:04:24 - "If you put your focus and effort into trust, it's a dividend."

01:07:52 - "Being the leader is probably the hardest job that there is."

01:10:37 - "Do the hard thing now, knowing it'll free us up to have time to spend on the right things, or just continue to suffer through the same thing with this one day."

01:14:13 - "Sometimes it's addition by subtraction."

01:15:23 - "It's a whole slew of things that will help you sleep better at night and feel less pain during the day, make you remember why you started that company, that enjoyment."

01:24:43 - "And it had a huge impact on me becoming and doing what I'm doing now because I quit worrying about the things that I'm not."

01:33:40 - "You have to sometimes put your head down into the storm and you got to get after it."

01:34:44 - "Get off your ass and go get it done."

01:37:31 - "If we pique the curiosity of somebody or something that we discussed today resonated and they're like, ah, shit, maybe now is the time."

01:40:37 - "And so it is an investment, but it's an investment that will pay off as your foundation, as you strengthen the foundation of your company."

01:43:51 - "We're all about help first."

01:49:58 - "A quarter mile at a time."

01:52:37 - "Charge into the storm."

In this episode of Into the Storm Leaders, Joe Jurec is joined by Toria Marquardt Schultz, the CEO of OxyGo. OxyGo is a medical device company that specializes in oxygen concentrators. Toria shares the history of OxyGo, which started as a family of companies focused on home healthcare and compressed gas equipment.

She talks about her journey within the company, starting as the first employee at the age of 11 and eventually taking on the role of CEO in 2018. Toria also discusses the unique dynamic of working with her husband, who serves as the COO and integrator in the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) model. She emphasizes the importance of finding the right integrator and the value of having a strong partnership in leadership.

The conversation delves into OxyGo's core values, including "get to do this," "answer the call," "don't know the answer yet," and "yes, and." Toria explains how these values were developed through collaboration with the leadership team and how they are integrated into the company's culture and performance reviews. Throughout the episode, Toria emphasizes the importance of authenticity in leadership and creating an environment where team members can show up as their true selves. She shares her experiences and insights on being empathetic, self-aware, and mindful of how she shows up as a leader.

Overall, this episode provides valuable insights into the growth and leadership journey of OxyGo, highlighting the importance of core values, authenticity, and creating a supportive and inclusive work environment.

Links & Resources:

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/victoria-marquard/

Quoteworthy Moments:

• 00:08:14 - "I'm like, well, I'm the kite and he's the string. If we're missing either piece, we don't go anywhere, right?"

In Episode 14 of Into The Storm Leaders, we're joined by Miami University's Chairman of the Entrepreneurship School Advisory Board and Founding Partner of Evolution Capital Partners, Jeff Kadlic.

This episode offers a different perspective than we've seen in others, informing some of the advantages of exploring private equity to scale a business, while directly addressing those of which it may not be best for. Kadlic explains that when he started Evolution almost 20 years ago, he noticed that smaller companies were often overlooked by the professional investment community. Larger private equity funds focused on companies with revenue over $35 million, leaving a gap in the market for smaller businesses. This realization led Kadlec to establish Evolution with a mission to invest in what he referred to as the "capital gap."

Links & Resources:

• https://evolutioncapitalpartners.com/about-us/our-team/jeffrey-kadlic/

Quoteworthy Moments:

• 00:17:19 - "Taking away somebody's vision of themselves, not taking away, but trying to really help them self-reflect on who they are and really what their potential is, is tough business."

In this episode of Into The Storm Leaders we connect with Harrison O'Connor, an incredibly interesting human being who happens to also be the successful business owner and the leader of Legacy Tree Company in Albuquerque, NM. After spending time at a 350-year-old Rinzai Zen Buddhist Monastery in Japan, Harrison followed a passion for botany by starting a tree care business. He shares his perspective on leadership, importance of a healthy network, and how disciplines around mindfulness have enabled him to ditch the 9-5 job that so many of us feel stuck in . Despite the unique origins, Harrison's wisdom and focus on people-first leadership are applicable to all. Tune in to gain valuable insights and strengthen your own leadership skills. Who knows, you might even pick up some helpful meditation practices or insights on men's spirituality and rites of passage.

Links & Resources

• https://legacytreecompany.com/

Quoteworthy Moments:

• 00:08:19 - "I realized that I love to learn, and I think that's something that all entrepreneurs they have a craving or an addiction or they just want stimulation and learning and discovery."