PNC C-Speak

On this episode of PNC C-Speak, hosts Josh Schimmels and Dan Timmons sit down with Stephen Lease, co-founder and CEO of goodr, the irreverent eyewear brand that began with a mission to make running fun - and turned into a global phenomenon. Stephen shares his compelling journey through entrepreneurial setbacks, creative branding, and the bold choices that shaped goodr into a standout player in the eyewear industry. From his belief in the power of naming and the importance of company culture, to building teams that thrive and adapt to explosive growth, Stephen’s candid reflections offer practical insights for entrepreneurs and anyone passionate about building distinctive brands. This episode promises inspiration and actionable advice for navigating risk, scaling a business, and making work as fun as the product you sell.

On PNC C-Speak, hosts Josh Schimmels, Publisher and CEO of the Los Angeles Business Journal, and Todd Wilson, PNC Bank Regional President for Greater Los Angeles, speak with Jeffrey A. Hirsch, President and CEO of Starz. The conversation explores Starz’s bold path to independence, strategies for driving audience growth, and leading through industry disruption. Hirsch also shares perspectives on building high-performing teams, simplifying operations , strengthening a specialty brand, and unlocking new opportunities within Los Angeles’ constantly ever-evolving entertainment landscape.

With this episode we conclude the PNC C-Speak Family Business Series. Our three-part mini-series has highlighted the stories, insights, and bold moves of family-run businesses like Bobrick Washroom Equipment, led by Chairman and CEO Mark Louchheim. Hosts Josh Schimmels,

Publisher and CEO of the Los Angeles Business Journal, and Todd Wilson, PNC Bank Regional President for Greater Los Angeles, talk with Mark about his 45-year leadership journey from project manager to CEO, revealing the strategies behind scaling a global manufacturing powerhouse while remaining family-owned in Los Angeles. He offers candid insights on the innovative strategies he has used to smooth the company’s succession to the next generation of leadership. Expect a masterclass on navigating economic headwinds, building winning teams, and driving growth as an entrepreneur in the ever-evolving LA business landscape.

On this encore episode, part of PNC C-Speak's Family Business Series, hosts Josh Schimmels and Todd Wilson sit down with Henry Hernandez, President and CEO of Inter-Con Security, to hear how he scaled his family’s security business into a billion-dollar global powerhouse. 

As a third-generation leader, Henry built on the legacy his father and grandfather started by betting on himself and driving bold growth. He shares lessons on scaling globally, fostering a culture where employees thrive, and the power of keeping your word as a leader. Henry also offers insights on succession planning, philanthropy, and leadership rooted in Los Angeles, with candid stories of resilience and what it takes to lead at the intersection of security and technology. 

PNC C-Speak introduces the Family Business Series, a three-part miniseries highlighting the stories, insights, and bold moves behind successful family-run businesses.

Hosted by Josh Schimmels, publisher and CEO of the Los Angeles Business Journal, and Todd Wilson, PNC Bank regional president for Greater Los Angeles, the series kicks off with an inspiring conversation featuring Janice Bryant Howroyd – or “JBH,” as she’s known.

JBH is the trailblazing founder and CEO of ActOne Group and the first African American woman to build and own a billion-dollar company. She shares her remarkable journey from humble beginnings in North Carolina to leading a global workforce solutions firm headquartered in Los Angeles.

Listeners will gain compelling insights on:

• Prioritizing resourcefulness over resources
• Building a strong, values-driven company culture
• Empowering teams to lead and grow
• Embracing technological change
• Sustaining entrepreneurial persistence

The episode also delivers actionable strategies for creating a lasting business – and a meaningful family legacy.

PNC C-Speak introduces the Family Business Series, a three-part miniseries highlighting the stories, insights, and bold moves behind successful family-run businesses. Hosted by Josh Schimmels, publisher and CEO of the Los Angeles Business Journal, and Todd Wilson, PNC Bank regional president for Greater Los Angeles, the series kicks off with an inspiring conversation featuring Janice Bryant Howroyd – or “JBH,” as she’s known. JBH is the trailblazing founder and CEO of ActOne Group and the first African American woman to build and own a billion-dollar company. She shares her remarkable journey from humble beginnings in North Carolina to leading a global workforce solutions firm headquartered in Los Angeles.

On this episode of PNC C-Speak, hosts Josh Schimmels, Publisher and CEO of the Los Angeles Business Journal, and Todd Wilson,

Regional President of PNC Bank for Greater Los Angeles, learn about Loren Castle’s remarkable journey from cancer survivor to entrepreneur, building America’s #1 natural cookie dough brand. The CEO of Sweet Loren’s reveals lessons learned in resilience, consumer insight, and scaling a purpose-driven brand to 35,000 stores nationwide. Discover how she built a profitable, PE-free company by listening to customers, outsmarting industry giants, and staying focused. If you’re interested in business leadership, entrepreneurial grit, and how LA-based companies are shaping the food industry, join Todd and Josh for Loren’s candid insights and inspiration.

On this episode of PNC C-Speak, hosts Josh Schimmels, Publisher and CEO of the Los Angeles Business Journal, and Todd Wilson, PNC Bank Regional President for Greater Los Angeles, welcome Nate Patena, Co-Founder and CEO of DrinkPak. From launching breakthrough beverage brands to building one of the world’s fastest-growing canned-drink manufacturers, Nate shares lessons in bold leadership, smart risk-taking, and scaling through innovation. His “California cowboy” mindset - blending speed, curiosity, and sustainable practices - offers inspiration for anyone leading a team, growing a business, or investing in the future of manufacturing. 

On this episode of PNC C-Speak, hosts Josh Schimmels, Publisher and CEO of the Los Angeles Business Journal, and Todd Wilson, PNC Bank Regional President for Greater Los Angeles, talk with Jamie Siminoff, inventor and founder of Ring. Jamie shares his journey from tinkering in his garage to creating a product that transformed home security. Today, as he helps drive the future of smart, connected devices at Amazon, Jamie and his team maintain their startup spirit, using AI to advance their mission of making neighborhoods safer. From being turned down on Shark Tank to embracing customer feedback that continually enhances their products, Jamie reflects on the perseverance, innovation, and leadership it takes to guide a company with millions of devices protecting homes around the world.

PNC C-Speak hosts Josh Schimmels and Todd Wilson sit down with Henry Hernandez, President and CEO of Inter-Con Security, to hear how he scaled his family’s security business into a billion-dollar global powerhouse.

As a third-generation leader, Henry built on the legacy his father and grandfather started by betting on himself and driving bold growth. He shares lessons on scaling globally, fostering a culture where employees thrive, and the power of keeping your word as a leader. Henry also offers insights on succession planning, philanthropy, and leadership rooted in Los Angeles, with candid stories of resilience and

what it takes to lead at the intersection of security and technology.