The Growth Fire

Scott Mordell is the Founder and CEO of The Forrader Group, a company providing strategic counsel and support to leaders and their organizations. He was the longest-serving CEO in the seventy-year history of Young Presidents' Organization (YPO), a global leadership development community of more than 30,000 chief executives in 142 countries. Scott's experience in various industries, geographies, organizations, and business disciplines has helped him develop influential leadership lessons and collaborative skills for success.

Are you struggling as a leader? How can you elevate your leadership journey to become a better leader and person?

According to Scott Mordell, being a better leader can be challenging. He recommends joining a leadership development community like the YPO. It helps supercharge your goals and passions, challenges your status quo, and encourages you to make better decisions to keep your business, the people you lead, your family, and your life on track.

Join host Marc Reifenrath in this episode of the Growth Fire Podcast as he sits down with Scott Mordell, the Founder and CEO of the Forrader Group, to discuss his leadership journey with YPO. Scott talks about the evolution of his leadership style, the five leadership principles he recommends, and the leadership decisions that drove YPO's growth.

Mary Harris is the Vice President of Marketing at SRS Real Estate Partners, a firm building upon its retail foundation to provide commercial real estate solutions to tenants, owners, and investors. Mary is a results-oriented marketing executive skilled in client and business development, quantitative analysis, negotiations, strategic planning, and branding. Before her years in the commercial real estate industry, Mary served as head of marketing at BankUnited, responsible for the bank's corporate communications, advertising, and public relations.

Are you in a leadership position? What can you do to lead your team better?

Throughout her career and entrepreneurial journey, Mary Harris has had the privilege of holding different leadership positions. She's discovered that to thrive as a leader she needs to prioritize the people she leads. She has also learned leaders need to surround themselves with mentors who have more experience and ask for guidance when necessary.

In this episode of the Growth Fire podcast, Kevin Hourigan sits down with Mary Harris, Vice President of Marketing at SRS Real Estate Partners, to discuss her leadership journey. Mary shares her career and entrepreneurial background, the importance of networking, her career transition from banking to real estate, and her experience as the Vice President of Marketing at SRS Real Estate Partners.

Kevin Hourigan is the President of Spinutech, a full-service website design and digital marketing agency dedicated to developing customized and data-driven digital marketing solutions. Before merging his business with his current business partner, Kevin founded Bayshore Solutions, which he operated for over two decades. When Kevin is not leading his digital agency, he spends his time boating, skiing, golfing, and enjoying other outdoor activities.

As the adage goes, find something you love to do, and you'll never work a day in your life. Many people struggle to realize their passions, let alone convert them into a career, but Kevin Hourigan is one of the fortunate ones. What is his passion, and how did he turn it into a successful career?

For Kevin, it was building websites in the early 1990s when websites were something of a novelty. Since then, websites have evolved into a phenomenon and just about everyone has their own, from aspiring artists to global organizations. Websites can be utilized for multiple purposes. Using a data-driven approach, Spinutech was founded to craft measurable results — taking your business to the next level.

In this episode of the Growth Fire Podcast, Chad Franzen of Rise25 flips the script and interviews Kevin in this Thought Leadership episode to discuss the early days of web design and digital marketing, how Spinutech sets itself apart from the competition, and why Kevin decided to start a podcast.

Matthew (Matt) Brown is the President and CEO of ThumbStopper, a technology solution created for brands to boost content traction on social media and search networks at the local level. A serial entrepreneur since the mid-1990s, Matt remains active in digital media markets and SaaS companies. His 20-plus years as an entrepreneur have sharpened his skills in team development, B2B integration, business management, and mergers and acquisitions. Matt is also the President of Trucks.com, which has the vision to help revolutionize how enthusiasts find the perfect truck, SUV, or van.

As an entrepreneur, are you struggling to grow your business? Have you considered leveraging social media marketing to increase organic reach and connect with customers?

According to Matt Brown, many businesses are struggling to scale. Having been an entrepreneur since the mid-1990s, he has discovered simple and actionable ways brands can utilize technology for their benefit. Using this information and his passion for helping others succeed, he founded ThumbStopper to enable brands to optimize and amplify their existing content by distributing it to their retailers' social and search presence.

In this episode of the Growth Fire podcast, Kevin Hourigan sits down with Matt Brown, President and CEO of ThumbStopper, to discuss how brands can leverage social media marketing. Matt talks about the purpose of ThumbStopper, social media tactics that increase customer engagement, how to measure your organic reach from social media marketing, and Matt's go-to-market approach for acquiring new customers.

Ed Buckley is the CEO of FitOn, formerly known as Peerfit, the largest health and wellness platform on a mission to empower individuals to live healthy lifestyles by providing instant access to a variety of workout programs taught by top-of-the-line fitness professionals and celebrities. Noticing gaps in health and wellness, Ed's passion for problem-solving allowed him opportunities to work with talented teams in the industry. His experience leveraging advanced data methods, identifying new market solutions, and building and launching effective solutions will add value to any team.

Are you wanting to venture into the health and wellness industry as an entrepreneur? What do you need to know to succeed in this space?

Upon graduating college, Ed Buckley found his passion as an entrepreneur in the health and wellness industry. His experience scaling a business and leading teams has earned him a wealth of knowledge in his field. After merging Peerfit with FitOn, he shares his success in leading the team and company to greater heights.

In this episode of the Growth Fire podcast, Kevin Hourigan sits down with Ed Buckley, CEO of FitOn, to discuss what it takes to thrive in the health and wellness industry. Ed shares how he became an entrepreneur, the idea behind Peerfit, how to raise capital, the merger between FitOn and Peerfit, and the secret behind its rapid growth.

Ken Clinton is the President of Intrepid Powerboats, the leading boatbuilder focusing on innovative designs, superior performance, and safety. Ken began his career in the marine industry immediately after graduating high school, working as a machinist manufacturing submarines for the U.S. Navy. In 1991, he was hired by Intrepid to work on the assembly line and continued to move up the ranks.

Driven by his passion for the marine industry, Ken's hands-on management style has been described as truly unique for his position in the marine industry.

Ken received his degree in business administration and management from the University of Tampa. When time allows, he spends his free time pursuing his passion for Harley Davidson motorcycles, sports cars, and travel.

Do you find fulfillment in enjoying sunny days on a boat floating in open water? Where can you purchase a boat that reflects your unique personality and provides the commodities you desire?

According to Ken Clinton, Intrepid Powerboats has continued to pioneer the boatbuilding industry since 1983. As a boatbuilder, he is fortunate to be part of the Intrepid team designing and building powerboats equipped with the latest features and technologies to deliver unmatched speed, fuel efficiency, and performance. His passion for the marine industry and dedication to leadership sets him apart from other experts in his field.

In this episode of the Growth Fire podcast, Kevin Hourigan sits down with Ken Clinton, President of Intrepid Powerboats, to discuss how he's come to thrive in the boatbuilding industry. Ken shares his journey to becoming the president of Intrepid, provides leadership tips, advises leaders on how to motivate their team, and the benefits of social media marketing.

South African native Sean Magennis is the CEO of Mutual Capital Alliance, a financial services firm that assists private companies to establish shareholder value and liquidity through its exit advisory and management services. Before moving to MCA, Sean served as the Global President and COO at YPO, a global community of chief executives spanning more than 30,000 members across 138 countries.

Sean credits his skills in team building, psychology, and sociology to his time in the military, which later evolved into his entrepreneurial strengths. Sean has cultivated over 14 years as a lucrative business owner and is an active member of the Entrepreneurs' Organization.

Think about what you seek in an employer or company you desire to work for. Aside from livable compensation, work-life balance, and autonomy, working for an organization with integrity, great leadership, and support are desirable traits in a company. Did you know that chief executives also desire these same standards when searching to lead an organization?

YPO, formerly known as the Young Presidents Organization, aims to give chief executives working in the C-suite the tools and support to lead with integrity and compassion. The members of YPO believe that in order to lead with compassion, they must first experience compassion. After all, senior leaders also experience hardships. Additionally, the YPO community firmly believes that it's important to treat people the way they want to be treated. So what else does YPO offer, and why is it such a desirable community?

Join host Marc Reifenrath in this episode of the Growth Fire Podcast, as he sits with the CEO of Mutual Capital Alliance, Sean Magennis, to discuss YPO. Together, they talk about the positive effects of YPO's personal connection and support, the organization's culture and core values, characteristics of strong leadership, and more.

Melissa Massa is the Vice President of Sales at Lenovo, a multinational technology company specializing in designing, manufacturing, and marketing consumer electronics, personal computers, software, business solutions, and related services. She is an experienced sales executive with ten years of leading global and US sales teams in IT hardware, software, and services. Melissa is a trusted voice in the industry due to her in-depth knowledge of cloud providers and business transformation. She was nominated for the Women in IT Award in Silicon Valley, given the Hero Award by her CEO at Lenovo, and was a finalist for the Top 50 Most Powerful Women in Technology in 2021.

As an IT company, how can you increase your revenue? Have you considered hiring a sales and marketing expert to help?

For companies to thrive in any industry, they need sales professionals who understand the product and the market to help them make more sales. Having been a leader and sales executive in the IT space, Melissa Massa has gained knowledge and experience from helping companies succeed. She now shares how other firms can flourish by hiring a sales professional to help sales teams meet their goals.

In this episode of the Growth Fire podcast, Kevin Hourigan sits down with Melissa Massa, Vice President of Sales at Lenovo, to discuss how she helps Lenovo's Cloud Service Provider thrive as the VP of sales. Melissa talks about Lenovo and her role in the company, her go-to-market strategy, and Lenovo's approach to hiring, motivating, and retaining sales team employees.

Bob Murphy is the Chief Revenue Officer at Patra Corporation, the leading provider of technology-enabled services for the insurance industry. Patra powers insurance processes by optimizing the application of people and technology, supporting insurance organizations as they sell, deliver, and manage policies and customers through the PatraOne platform.

Bob leads all sales, marketing, and strategic initiatives to help scale Patra's business, develop new technologies, and continue to provide top-level service to Patra's customers. Prior to Patra, Bob served as the CRO for Cloud Lending Solutions and held numerous positions in the financial and technical services industry. In total, Bob has 40-plus years of professional experience in the sales and marketing industry.

As an insurance company, it's essential to have the technology and automation that allows you to provide quality service to your clients. In the insurance landscape, it's imperative to combine your services with the right technologies to compete. What technology is available to help your company thrive and grow?

Implementing simple, effective processes and a strategic marketing plan can take your company to the next level. Patra Corporation combines insurance processes and technology to drive profitability and new customer acquisition, assisting insurance companies to scale their businesses. With the insurance climate in transition, you want to be prepared with resources that are going to drive your business ahead of the competition.

In this episode of The Growth Fire Podcast, Kevin Hourigan sits down with Bob Murphy, Chief Revenue Officer at Patra Corporation, to discuss his insights on growing a profitable business and what he's learned along the way. Bob talks about his role at Patra, his competitive strategy, and the lasting effects of the pandemic.