Make My People Better

Episode 21: Tom Morales, Owner, and Seth Morales, President, Morales Group

Seth Morales (@smorales84), graduated college when his dad was thinking about starting the staffing agency Morales Group back in 2003. Now the president of the company, he remembers challenging his father, owner Tom Morales to take that leap of faith. “What are you so afraid of?” he asked his parents. The company was born and the rest is history.

Listen to this episode of Make My People Better to hear how serving others and giving back is at the front and center of the company. Hear how this highlights their mission of building better futures one story at a time - whether that’s for the company’s internal staff or external associates who are seeking jobs.

If you’re looking to take your company’s mission beyond paychecks and profits, check out this episode on faith, family, and legacy.

Episode 20: Terri Pascarelli, CEO, AIT Bioscience

As the leader of a company filled with scientists, Terri Pascarelli, CEO of AIT Bioscience, knows how important learning and growing is for their company DNA.

AIT Bioscience is a contract research laboratory that offers science and technology for quality bioanalytical data. Throughout the years, Terri has focused on bringing intentionality - the determination to act in a certain way -  into the company’s culture. Intention in the workplace is centered around creating change and building a framework for how people show up every day.

On this episode, you’ll hear how she has experimented with different tools and programs along the journey. Whether its poster presentations, monthly staff meetings or employee recognition, listen in as Terri explains how she helped to create an open and explorative environment, fostered by trust.

If you’re seeking wisdom on how to offer a range of experiences for your employees, this episode is for you.

Episode 19: Nick Smarrelli, CEO of GadellNet Technology Solutions

When Nick Smarrelli (@smarrellin) started working at GadellNet in 2010, he was the third employee hired. Now, he leads a team of 80 people as the company’s CEO.

GadellNet provides businesses with IT support and solutions, and has a client retention rate of 99.2% over the last 10 years. The company’s core values may be contributing to this impressive retention rate.

Listen in as Nick explains GadellNet’s three core values; chosen because they were broad enough to encompass different views in the organization, but detailed enough to recruit the right people.

From snacks in the breakroom to the company’s review process, Nick makes it a priority to “hear” his employees - that’s right, he doesn’t just listen, he makes sure his employees are heard.

If you’re seeking growth - personally, professionally, or for your employees - this episode is a must-listen. Listen in as Nick explains his strategy of crafting a spirit of growth.

Episode 18: Mike Kenney & Angie Hubbell | CEO & General Manager, The Kenney Corporation

Mike Kenney and Angie Hubbell encourage employees to invest in themselves and develop individually at The Kenney Corporation, which eventually led to the intention behind putting together specific goal plans.

The family-operated company provides employees with a Portable Plan, which are similar to quarterly or annual reviews, but these plans aren’t just on a business level - they focus on personal goals too.

“We want our employees to know that we value them as people.” says Mike.

Mike and Angie share the company’s core values as early on as the interview process, which leads to choosing candidates who will fit into their culture - and weeding out ones who won’t.

It’s not just The Kenney Corporation’s ping pong tables and stocked fridge that makes it a fun work environment, it’s the ideals of unifying the company as one. (Hint: They don’t use words like “divisions” or “branches”).

Listen in as the duo discusses how they started shaping the company’s culture around just one word that - [plot twist!] - changes each year, on this week’s Make My People Better podcast.

Episode 17: Mendy Werne, CEO, BLASTMedia & Lindsey Groepper, President, BLASTMedia

What’s the number one priority at your company? If you answered revenue, Mendy Werne(@werne) and Lindsey Groepper (@LindseyGroepper) of BLASTMedia, believe you’re wrong. For this duo, the most important thing is people.

In this day and age, you have to switch your mindset to how your employees stay motivated, and how they feel connected to your company, in order to stick around for the long haul.

As the only B2B SaaS-specialized PR agency in the country, BLASTmedia understands the unique challenges associated with scaling a SaaS business and uses PR to impact four primary pillars: investors, employees, partners and customers.

Find out how BLASTMedia puts their employees first, even before their clients, by fostering a team philosophy in this week’s Make My People Better podcast. (Hint: Hiring like-minded people helps).

If you’re struggling with employee engagement, this episode will peak your interest.

Episode 16: Lisa Schlehuber | CEO, Elements Financial

Lisa Schlehuber, CEO at Elements Financial, leads more than 170 employees, all of whom she encourages to “do right by doing well.”

“If we’re doing great, tell us. If we did something wrong, or something’s not right, tell us,” Lisa says.

The company, which is named one of the “Best Places to Work” by the Indiana Chamber, prides itself on encouraging its employees to be intentional about finding their voice.

For more than 10 years, Elements Financial has put around 15 employees per year through its Professional Development Program, where they receive one-on-one mentoring from a senior leader in the company.

Lisa quickly learned that not only were these employees growing, the mentors were too. In fact, some of the mentors and mentees retained their relationships long after the program was over.

If you’re searching for raw, honest feedback from employees at your company, listen in to Lisa’s ideas on creating trust through transparency.

Episode 15: Peter Dunn, Founder/Owner, Pete the Planner

Peter Dunn, or as you might know him, Pete the Planner (@PeteThePlanner), is an author, speaker, comedian and USA Today columnist. Pete offers financial wellness services in a variety of formats such as books, guides, podcast, speaking, radio/television content, and more.

The Indianapolis native has dug through the financial lives of more than 25,000 people, in all income brackets. He takes people who are underachieving and puts them on a path to becoming millionaires.

In this episode of Make My People Better, find out how Pete transitioned from a career in the financial services industry, to owning his own business - and how an overly chatty airplane passenger led him to write his first book.

If you’re asking yourself, “How do you engage someone who needs to be engaged but has no interest in being engaged?”, this episode can provide a “wealth” of insight.

Episode 14: Gary Everling | Vice President/Chief Strategy Officer, Hendricks Regional Health

How do you maintain a fast-paced environment but also have a strong culture?

Gary Everling wanted to find the answer. That’s where the Disney Institute, the professional development and business consulting division of Walt Disney Parks & Resorts, came in.

The Hendricks Regional Health Vice President/Chief Strategy Officer has worked in healthcare administration since 1998, and he embraced the Disney Institute with open arms. When Gary told the Hendricks Regional Health staff that the Disney Institute was coming in to implement strategy, the staff reaction was extremely positive, as you can imagine.

Find out how this massive “business behind the magic” initiative led to a culture of executing service in the Make My People Better podcast.

Episode 13: Randie Dial | Managing Principal of the Indiana Practice, CliftonLarsonAllen (CLA)

Randie Dial, Managing Principal of the Indiana Practice at CliftonLarsonAllen (CLA), has more than 20 years of experience in providing valuation, forensic accounting, and financial modeling services to a variety of publicly-traded and privately-held companies.

He is committed to creating an environment for his CLA employees to grow and develop, and follows what he calls a “One Office Culture.” Randie even mixed employees from different departments, creating a new seating chart aimed at achieving a cohesive team.

Listen in to hear more of Randie’s advice on leadership, listening, and how you can become a green apple in a world of reds.

Episode 12: Derek Block | President & CEO, Touchstone

Derek Block is the President and CEO of Touchstone Merchandise Group, a marketing company that works with clients like Progressive Insurance and Kroger to build their brands and tell stories through merchandise collections.

Derek started Touchstone as a fresh college graduate 21 years ago. As a young leader with no playbook, they experienced their fair share of growing pains. Namely, they were so lasered-in on attaining financial success that they neglected to build a strong foundational culture.

There came a point when Derek realized his company had lost its way. So with the help of some great mentors, he refocused his mission and pieced together a plan to build the high-performing culture Touchstone has today. Listen in to learn how to use Derek’s ideas to build an engaged culture in your own organization.