The Steward Chair

In this episode of The Steward Chair, Michael Whelchel, Founder & CEO of Big Path Capital, shares his journey of transitioning from traditional private equity to impact investing, exploring how values-driven capitalism and purpose-led business drive meaningful, long-term success.

We discuss the launch of Big Path Capital on the precipice of the 2007 financial crisis, building a high-trust virtual culture, and how the Smarter Money framework and strategic convening create powerful ripple effects for both business and society. This conversation provides actionable takeaways for leaders committed to stewardship, integrity, and impact.

Key Takeaways

• The Smarter Money framework for impact and returns: Aligning capital with values does not require sacrificing financial performance; maximizing both financial and social/environmental returns creates a structurally superior way to deploy wealth.
• Building a remote, purpose-led culture: Operating a successful virtual organization relies on a foundation of high trust, personal flexibility, and direct, candid communication rather than rigid oversight.
• The role of convening and community in leadership: Bringing purpose-driven leaders together through initiatives like the MO Summit fosters mutual resilience and sparks transformative partnerships that extend far beyond individual transactions.

Resources Mentioned

• Visit https://www.bigpathcapital.com/
• Follow Michael on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelwhelchel/
• Follow Big Path Capital on social media at:
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/big-path-capital/

Join the Conversation
The Steward Chair is about equipping and inspiring business leaders to build organizations that stand the test of time. If this episode resonated with you, share your biggest takeaway and tag us on LinkedIn:

Chat With Leaders Media https://www.linkedin.com/company/chatwithleaders/ and End of the Line Productions https://www.linkedin.com/company/end-of-the-line-productions/. 

Elevate your podcast, company meeting, or industry event strategies to better engage stakeholders and drive meaningful growth! Visit ChatWithLeaders.com to learn more about how we can help.

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In this episode of The Steward Chair, Rick Plympton, Corporate Fellow and Former CEO at Optimax Systems, Inc, shares their journey of transitioning to an employee ownership trust and empowering a local workforce, exploring how shared prosperity drives meaningful, long-term success. 

Rick and Jeff discuss open-book financial management, the math behind profit-sharing models, and creating a perpetual purpose trust that makes a business unsellable, providing actionable takeaways for leaders committed to stewardship, integrity, and impact.

Key Takeaways

• Empowering the Whole Team: Shifting away from a command-and-control hierarchy allows a company to scale at the sphere of influence of the entire workforce rather than just a few top executives, which unlocked a sustainable 20% year-over-year organic growth rate for OptiMax.
• Radical Equity and Shared Wealth: Distributing 25% of company profits equally among core team members—regardless of whether they are the CEO or the custodian—fosters a unified workspace culture where every individual values absolute precision and quality.
• Hardcoding Legacy with EOTs: Moving to an Employee Ownership Trust (or Perpetual Purpose Trust) establishes permanent corporate governance that blocks predatory corporate buyouts, protects local families, and caps executive compensation at a healthy 7x ratio to the lowest earner.

Resources Mentioned

• Visit Optimax’s website at www.Optimaxsi.com 

Join the Conversation
The Steward Chair is about equipping and inspiring business leaders to build organizations that stand the test of time. If this episode resonated with you, share your biggest takeaway and tag us on LinkedIn:

Chat With Leaders Media https://www.linkedin.com/company/chatwithleaders/ and End of the Line Productions https://www.linkedin.com/company/end-of-the-line-productions/. 

Elevate your podcast, company meeting, or industry event strategies to better engage stakeholders and drive meaningful growth! Visit ChatWithLeaders.com to learn more about how we can help.

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In this episode of The Steward Chair, host Jeff Bond sits down with Jackie Cardello, President of GRF CPAs & Advisors, to discuss how values, independence, and community impact drive sustainable success. Jackie shares how her background in English, philosophy, and psychology fuels human-centered leadership in a technical industry.

We explore GRF's courageous pivot from an "eat what you kill" compensation model to a goals-based system that rewards collective stewardship and leadership behaviors. Jackie also shares the strategic advantages of remaining fiercely independent and managing difficult partner conversations with vulnerability.

Key Takeaways

• The Humanities Edge: A background in philosophy and psychology builds the empathy and communication skills required to lead people and navigate tough organizational shifts.
• Incentivizing Stewardship: Swapping out individual profit models for goals-based compensation allows a firm to intentionally reward mentorship and collaboration over short-term revenue.
• Independence as a Magnet: Staying independent preserves a firm's core values, allowing for client-first decision-making and an authentic culture that naturally attracts and retains top talent.

Resources Mentioned

• Visit https://www.grfcpa.com/ Follow Shane on LinkedIn at 
• Follow GRF CPAs & Advisors (GRF) on social media at:
  • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grf-cpas-and-advisors
  • Twitter / X: https://twitter.com/grfcpas
  • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/grfcpas/
• Follow Jackie on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jackie-cardello-grf/

Join the Conversation
The Steward Chair is about equipping and inspiring business leaders to build organizations that stand the test of time. If this episode resonated with you, share your biggest takeaway and tag us on LinkedIn:

Chat With Leaders Media https://www.linkedin.com/company/chatwithleaders/ and End of the Line Productions https://www.linkedin.com/company/end-of-the-line-productions/. 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of The Steward Chair, Kevin Clegg, CEO of Clegg Auto, shares his journey of transitioning his family's auto shops into the first employee ownership trust holding company in the U.S., exploring how the care factor drives meaningful, long-term success.

We discuss transitioning an exit strategy into a daily operating model, guiding employees to own their own lives before owning a company, and replacing traditional management with a 200% accountability culture, providing actionable takeaways for leaders committed to stewardship, integrity, and impact.

Key Takeaways

• Transitioning to an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT) protects an organization’s mission in perpetuity, ensuring the business remains evergreen and cannot be sold again. 
• True company ownership requires employees to first own their lives and careers by identifying what they care about most and aligning their vocational track with those values. 
• Traditional management can be replaced by a 200% accountability model where team members are 100% committed to their roles and 100% committed to keeping their peers accountable through peer coaching.

Resources Mentioned

• Visit Clegg Auto at https://cleggauto.com/ 
• Follow Kevin on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-clegg-59655a/ 

Join the Conversation
The Steward Chair is about equipping and inspiring business leaders to build organizations that stand the test of time. If this episode resonated with you, share your biggest takeaway and tag us on LinkedIn:

Chat With Leaders Media https://www.linkedin.com/company/chatwithleaders/ and End of the Line Productions https://www.linkedin.com/company/end-of-the-line-productions/. 

Elevate your podcast, company meeting, or industry event strategies to better engage stakeholders and drive meaningful growth! Visit ChatWithLeaders.com to learn more about how we can help.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of The Steward Chair, host Jeff Bond sits down with Steve Kruger, the fourth-generation leader of L.E. Schwartz & Son—a commercial roofing legacy that has anchored the Georgia landscape since 1910. Steve shares the raw reality of earning respect on hot roofs rather than leaning on a bloodline, and how a 116-year-old firm successfully navigates crises by choosing long-term integrity over the "quick fix" challenge.

Later in the episode, the conversation shifts to the future of the company as Steve is joined by his son, Michael Kruger. Representing the fifth generation, Michael talks about the unique synergy of working alongside his father and grandfather, balancing historic family traditions with modern technology, and leading a century-old mission with "pull instead of push".

Key Takeaways

• Earning Leadership Through Shared Labor: True stewardship in a hands-on trade isn't handed down through a bloodline; it is validated by serving on the front lines to gain deep empathy and mutual respect for the people doing the daily work .
• The "Golden Rule" in Crisis Management: Preserving a century-old reputation means choosing long-term success over short-term gains, proving that there is no right way to do the wrong thing when navigating business challenges with clients and employees .
• Deepening Impact through Local Convening: True community stewardship moves beyond stilted, transactional relationships by giving back, celebrating shared history, and intentionally gathering diverse groups to build a lasting local bond .

Resources Mentioned

• Visit L.E. Schwartz & Son: http://www.leschwartz.com/
• Follow Steve Kruger on LinkedIn: Steve Kruger
• Follow L.E. Schwartz & Son on social media:
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/l-e-schwartz-&-son-inc-/

Join the Conversation
The Steward Chair is about equipping and inspiring business leaders to build organizations that stand the test of time. If this episode resonated with you, share your biggest takeaway and tag us on LinkedIn:

Chat With Leaders Media https://www.linkedin.com/company/chatwithleaders/ and End of the Line Productions https://www.linkedin.com/company/end-of-the-line-productions/. 

Elevate your podcast, company meeting, or industry event strategies to better engage stakeholders and drive meaningful growth! Visit ChatWithLeaders.com to learn more about how we can help.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of The Steward Chair, Garry Ridge, Culture Coach and Former Chairman and CEO of WD-40 Company, shares their journey of transitioning from a "command and control" leader to a servant leader, exploring how "the will of the people" drives meaningful, long-term success.

We discuss the specific algorithm Garry used to grow WD-40's market cap from $300M to $3.5B, the defining moments of cultural safety during global crises, and why a leader's number one responsibility is to be a learner and a teacher. This conversation provides actionable takeaways for leaders committed to stewardship, integrity, and impact.  

Key Takeaways

• The Algorithm for Culture: Sustainable success is built through the formula of Values + Behavior x Consistency. Consistency is the "magic word" that prevents cultural toxins from eroding the organization.
• Profit as Applause: Shift the focus from the bottom line to the people; profit is the natural "applause" that follows when employees feel safe, seen, and empowered to do their best work.
• Leading Like a "Donkey": Effective stewardship requires the humility and reliability of a donkey—carrying the load and helping others reach their destination rather than seeking the spotlight.

Resources Mentioned

• Visit https://thelearningmoment.net/ 
• Follow The Learning Moment on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-learning-moment/ 
• Visit https://www.wd40.com/ 
• Follow WD-40 on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/wd-40-company/ 
• Follow Garry Ridge on LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/in/garryridge/ 

Join the Conversation
The Steward Chair is about equipping and inspiring business leaders to build organizations that stand the test of time. If this episode resonated with you, share your biggest takeaway and tag us on LinkedIn:

Chat With Leaders Media https://www.linkedin.com/company/chatwithleaders/ and End of the Line Productions https://www.linkedin.com/company/end-of-the-line-productions/. 

Elevate your podcast, company meeting, or industry event strategies to better engage stakeholders and drive meaningful growth! Visit ChatWithLeaders.com to learn more about how we can help.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of The Steward Chair, Brad Herrmann and Hai Nguyen, Co-founders of Text-Em-All, share their journey of rewriting the SaaS success script by prioritizing greatness over growth and people over profit. They explore how an audacious 100-year vision and the transition to an employee ownership trust drive meaningful, long-term success.

We discuss the intentional process of leaders defining "enough," the creation of an employee-driven culture code, and how shared ownership acts as a "silo buster" for political friction. This conversation provides actionable takeaways for leaders committed to stewardship, integrity, and building an organization that remains a joy to do business with.

Key Takeaways

• Defining "Enough" as a Leadership Prerequisite: Transitioning to an employee ownership trust requires founders to confront personal concepts of security and scarcity to determine what financial outcome is "enough" to safeguard the company's future.
• Institutionalizing Culture Through Documentation: Moving beyond oral legend to a written "Culture Code" allows a company to hire, coach, and even fire based on shared values like authenticity, compassion, and shared excellence.
• Shared Ownership as a Unifying Factor: Employee ownership aligns the entire team around the company's ultimate bottom line, ensuring that business decisions and product development are driven by the best ideas rather than internal politics .

Resources Mentioned

• Visit Text-Em-All: https://www.text-em-all.com/
• Follow Brad Herrmann on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bradherrmann/
• Follow Hai Nguyen on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hainguyen/
• Follow Text-Em-All on social media:
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/textemall/
• Twitter / X: https://x.com/textemall
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/textemall/

Join the Conversation
The Steward Chair is about equipping and inspiring business leaders to build organizations that stand the test of time. If this episode resonated with you, share your biggest takeaway and tag us on LinkedIn:

Chat With Leaders Media https://www.linkedin.com/company/chatwithleaders/ and End of the Line Productions https://www.linkedin.com/company/end-of-the-line-productions/. 

Elevate your podcast, company meeting, or industry event strategies to better engage stakeholders and drive meaningful growth! Visit ChatWithLeaders.com to learn more about how we can help.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of The Steward Chair, Jason Dressel, CEO at History Factory , shares his journey of helping iconic brands mine their heritage to drive future performance, exploring how preserving corporate memory drives meaningful, long-term success.

We discuss the $1 trillion cost of corporate amnesia , the launch of the AI platform Chronicle , and why a leader’s most profound obligation is to be the ultimate steward of their organization’s story, providing actionable takeaways for leaders committed to stewardship, integrity, and impact.

Key Takeaways

• The risks of corporate amnesia and strategic drift: Losing institutional knowledge during leadership transitions and rapid growth costs enterprises an estimated $1 trillion in wasted productivity.
• How successful companies balance heritage and innovation: Long-term resilience requires leaders to stay tethered to their organization's unique "superpower" while remaining agile enough to navigate modern technological disruption.
• The role of AI in preserving institutional knowledge: Specialized AI acts as a "truth engine" by grounding data in verified, handcrafted sources to eliminate hallucinations and provide a clear trail back to original historical evidence.

Resources Mentioned

• Visit: https://www.historyfactory.com/staff/jason-dressel/
• Follow Shane on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/jason-dressel-1634484/
• Follow History Factor on social media at:
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/history-factory/
• Twitter / X: https://x.com/historyfactory
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thehistoryfactory/?hl=en

Join the Conversation
The Steward Chair is about equipping and inspiring business leaders to build organizations that stand the test of time. If this episode resonated with you, share your biggest takeaway and tag us on LinkedIn:

Chat With Leaders Media https://www.linkedin.com/company/chatwithleaders/ and End of the Line Productions https://www.linkedin.com/company/end-of-the-line-productions/. 

Elevate your podcast, company meeting, or industry event strategies to better engage stakeholders and drive meaningful growth! Visit ChatWithLeaders.com to learn more about how we can help.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of The Steward Chair, John Newland, CEO at JOMA Construction, shares his journey of transitioning from a small home-flipping operation to a 100% employee-owned firm, exploring how the Greek concept of eudaimonia drives meaningful, long-term success.

We discuss the philosophy of "getting better before getting bigger," the rigorous process of empower every team member, the establishment of the ESOP, and how true legacy is built by elevating others to lead the organization forward.

 

Key Takeaways

• The Power of Eudaimonia: Integrating a guiding principle of "human flourishing" and contentment into the daily operations and client interactions of a construction business.
• Democratizing Ownership: Why JOMA chose a 100% ESOP model to ensure all stakeholders benefit from the company's success without taking on individual financial risk.
• Leadership as Presence: Utilizing daily affirmations and personal poise to remain grounded and "fully present" within the inherent chaos of the business world.

 

Resources Mentioned

• Visit https://jomaconstruction.com/

• Follow John Newland on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnnewland/

• Follow JOMA Construction on social media:

  • Linkedin: linkedin.com/company/jomaconstruction

  • Facebook: facebook.com/jomaconstruction

  • YouTube: youtube.com/jomaconstruction

  • Instagram: instagram.com/jomaconstruction

• Subscribe to JOMA’s mailing list at http://jomaconstruction.com/learn/jomail-archive

 

Join the Conversation
The Steward Chair is about equipping and inspiring business leaders to build organizations that stand the test of time. If this episode resonated with you, share your biggest takeaway and tag us on LinkedIn:

Chat With Leaders Media https://www.linkedin.com/company/chatwithleaders/ and End of the Line Productions https://www.linkedin.com/company/end-of-the-line-productions/. 

Elevate your podcast, company meeting, or industry event strategies to better engage stakeholders and drive meaningful growth! Visit ChatWithLeaders.com to learn more about how we can help.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this episode of The Steward Chair, Enrique Alvarez shares his journey as a business leader, exploring how embracing challenges, learning from mistakes, and empowering teams drives meaningful, long-term success.

We discuss how creating a culture of transparency, shared learning, and problem-solving helps organizations grow stronger—providing practical takeaways for leaders committed to stewardship, integrity, and impact.

Key Takeaways

• Facing challenges and making mistakes is part of the job—and growth comes from how we resolve problems.
• Openly sharing experiences and failures strengthens teams and accelerates learning.
• Continuous improvement is a collective effort built on trust, collaboration, and accountability.

Resources Mentioned

• Visit https://www.linkedin.com/company/vector-global-logistics/.
• Follow Enrique on LinkedIn at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/enrique-alvarez-64332a2/

Join the Conversation
The Steward Chair is about equipping and inspiring business leaders to build organizations that stand the test of time. If this episode resonated with you, share your biggest takeaway and tag us on LinkedIn:

Chat With Leaders Media https://www.linkedin.com/company/chatwithleaders/ and End of the Line Productions https://www.linkedin.com/company/end-of-the-line-productions/. 

Elevate your podcast, company meeting, or industry event strategies to better engage stakeholders and drive meaningful growth! Visit ChatWithLeaders.com to learn more about how we can help.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.