The Path Less Traveled Podcast

Dustin Holland, President and CEO of Better World Books, leads one of the world’s largest online booksellers with a mission to keep books in circulation and out of landfills.

What began as college book drives at University of Notre Dame has grown into a global operation processing hundreds of thousands of books each week and partnering with thousands of libraries around the world.

In this episode, Dustin shares the leadership lessons behind building a mission-driven company—making hard decisions in real time, investing in relationships, and staying focused on long-term sustainability.

This conversation highlights how purpose, perseverance, and hands-on leadership can turn a simple idea into global impact.

Kory Lantz, founder of Transformation Ministries, builds change slowly and intentionally.

What began 17 years ago as a choice to live in a neighborhood and be present has grown into a nonprofit serving hundreds of South Bend kids and families. Kory's approach centers on depth over scale, offering education, mentoring, job training, spiritual guidance, and family support to children from infancy through young adulthood.

In this episode, Kory shares how the organization expanded through small, faithful steps—developing after-school programs, youth-run microbusinesses, alumni support, and early learning initiatives—creating generational impact.

He reflects on long-term leadership: naming seasons, grieving losses, protecting clarity, and developing others. His leadership blends grit, faith, coaching, and the courage to take the next right step.

This conversation highlights leadership that values presence over shortcuts, proving transformation is built one relationship at a time.

Craig Brummell, COO of ABRO Industries, is stepping into leadership with a long-term mindset.

Just weeks into the role, Craig reflects on joining a 75+ year, globally respected company headquartered in South Bend, operating in 150 countries with a small but mighty team. His focus isn’t fixing what’s broken. It’s strengthening alignment, supporting people, and helping shape the next 45 years of generational leadership.

In this episode, Craig shares how a non-linear career, deep self-reflection, and daily anchoring practices have shaped his leadership philosophy: do the inner work, seek discomfort, and lead from the inside out.

His message is clear: stay curious, invest in people, and show up present — at work and at home.

Gene Crusie, CEO of Surf Internet, measures success by impact, not just growth.

From repairing printers in the 90s to leading a 400-person fiber company across the Midwest, Gene shares how faith, resilience, and a defining wrestling moment shaped his mindset: stop playing not to lose — start playing to win.

In this episode, he reflects on bold pivots, investing in people, and the daily reminder he keeps on his desk — a jar of marbles representing the finite days of life.

His message is simple: do hard things, lead with intention, and use your day well.

Todd Yeoman, CEO of American Technology Components, doesn’t talk about growth in terms of revenue first, he talks about people.

Raised by educators and shaped by coaching, faith, and service, Todd shares how presence, humility, and intentional leadership have guided ATC’s evolution from its roots to a thriving, people-first organization. From designing a workplace that honors associates to leading through listening, continuous improvement, and unity, Todd makes a compelling case that culture isn’t a buzzword—it’s a daily decision.

Dave Rafinski, Principal at JPR, breaks down why sustainable growth comes from people, not titles or org charts. With over two decades at the firm, he shares how intentional hiring, ownership mentality, and trust-driven leadership helped scale JPR while staying rooted in culture and community.

This episode is a must-listen for leaders navigating growth, generational change, and the challenge of building teams that thrive long-term.

Dave Lerman, Chairman of the Board of Lerman Enterprises, shares why great leadership isn’t about short-term wins or financial exits, but about stewardship, resilience, and building a business that can endure hard seasons. Drawing from decades in a multi-generation family enterprise, Dave reflects on the responsibility of preserving culture, investing in people, and making decisions with the long view in mind.

This episode challenges founders, CEOs, and executives to rethink success beyond growth metrics and valuations. From navigating adversity and taking calculated risks on innovation to leading with faith, competitive grit, and humility, Dave offers timeless lessons on staying in the game. His story is a powerful reminder that lasting impact is created through values-driven leadership, commitment to people, and the discipline to build something worth passing on.

Charlton Keultjes, EOS Implementer and Executive Coach, shares why great leadership isn’t about complexity or control, but about clarity, relationships, and the discipline to do simple things consistently. Drawing from his experience as a CEO and coach, he explains how trust, honest conversations, and alignment at the leadership level create momentum across an organization and why many leaders stay stuck simply because they’ve never slowed down to define what they truly want.

This episode challenges founders, CEOs, and executives to cut through noise, stop quitting when things get hard, and think bigger about what’s possible. From implementing EOS to building accountable, high-trust teams, Charlton offers a powerful reminder: sustainable growth starts with clear vision, intentional leadership, and believing in people ... including yourself.

Regina Emberton, CEO of Choice Light, shares how collaboration, not control has powered her leadership journey and helped shape Northern Indiana’s economic momentum. From building regional partnerships to leading critical digital infrastructure, Regina reveals why believing in people, investing in connectivity, and embracing continuous learning are essential for leaders navigating growth and complexity.

This episode is a must-listen for CEOs who want to lead with clarity, build high-trust teams, and position their organizations and communities for what’s next.

Few leaders step into the CEO role with a clear roadmap. Amy Hill, CEO of the YWCA of North Central Indiana, shares how unexpected moments, hard decisions, and trusted mentors shaped her leadership journey.

In this conversation, Amy breaks down why effective leaders don’t need all the answers just the discipline to listen, adapt, and ask for help. She reflects on leading through uncertainty, building trust with teams, and using servant leadership, tenacity, and emotional intelligence to move organizations forward.

This episode isn’t just for nonprofit leaders. It’s a practical, honest conversation for business leaders navigating growth, pressure, and change and looking to lead with clarity, confidence, and lasting impact.