The TomCast

In this episode, we delve into the complex world of employee law in shredding companies with attorney James Reid, who shares his expertise on navigating unconscious bias, employee relations, and legal pitfalls he's observed in small businesses.

We discuss the importance of understanding protected classes, documenting performance issues, and having clear and transparent policies in place to minimize liability and maintain a positive work culture. Additionally, we explore the common mistakes related to exempt and non-exempt employees and the legal implications this can have on your business.

We delve into the importance of treating all employees equally and having clear, transparent policies in place to avoid perceptions of favoritism or discrimination. We also discuss the importance of consulting with external advisors when making decisions about employee structure and policies.

Join us as we unpack these challenging issues and provide valuable insights and advice on building a strong legal foundation for your business.

James M. Reid, IV
Partner
HONIGMAN LLP
https://www.honigman.com/professionals-james-m-reid

In this episode, I interview Bob Johnson, the former CEO of NAID and i-SIGMA about his journey in the information destruction industry. As a pioneer in the field and founder of the National Association for Information Destruction (NAID), Bob shares his story which began with his grandfather's insulation business, to working as a security guard and then the founding of Certified Document Destruction in Toledo. Bob talks about why he made the transition from being a shredding operator to founding NAID as an industry association and how it helped professionalize information disposition and certification. He also talks about the reality of consolidation the marketplace and his recent decision to transition from managing i-SIGMA to launching his new consulting firm. Throughout the interview, Bob emphasizes how certification has become increasingly important as it is imposed by large government entities as well as other national and international players becoming certified through this process. You'll hear Bob acknowledge that starting a new consulting practice comes with risks especially since he is close to retirement but he explains that he is in the best shape of his life since his retirement in preparation for launching his new business. Enjoy this interview I have with the shredding industry long-time leader, Bob Johnson.
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Bob Johnson, CSDS
Principal Advocate
Privata Vox, LLC
https://privatavox.com/

In this episode I'm joined by Patrick DeVries, Owner & Founder of DeVries, Inc based in Spokane, Washington. He describes how he started with a records storage service and then grew steadily with the addition of courier and delivery services, then shredding services, and then the warehouse services have grown his business over the years.

Our conversation focuses on the lessons Patrick learned along the way and he touches on topics including pricing, courage, confidence, salespeople, and equipment. Patrick discloses one of the most helpful insights for owners related to selling services and pricing. That alone is worth the listen.Patrick discloses the importance of the deep relationships and connections he's made in the industry through NAID, PRISM and now iSIGMA where he recently served as Board President. He also shares his love for skiing and mountain biking and how it has helped him as a CEO and leader.
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Patrick DeVries
DeVries, Inc
https://www.devriesinc.com/

On this episode Tom chats with Brinn Johnston, the Manager of Client Success and Fulfillment with All Points Shredding & Medical Waste, based in Stuart FL. In this episode, Brinn talks about inside sales for shredding, the different sales tactics for winning more deals, and specific ways she's found to improve the process. We spend some time discussing how sales and operations work together instead of adversarially to create better results. This is a highly practical episode and should be required listening for any shredding operator and their inside sales or customer service teams.
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Brinn Johnston
CEO
Manager of Client Success and Fulfillment
https://allpointsprotects.com/

In this episode of the Shred Coach podcast, veteran shred truck drivers Jesus Rivera of UltraShred Technologies in Jacksonville FL and Pat Lashley of Crown Shredding of Orlando, FL share the secrets to their success. They discuss the challenges of driving shredding trucks, such as navigating tight spaces and dealing with customer requests, as well lessons learned, such as listening to customers, taking extra materials when requested, and driving safely. We focus on the importance of safety checks and security, as well as advice for rookie drivers, including the importance of reading tickets, always saying yes to customers, and following the rules.
We also discuss how owners and managers should treat their drivers in a way that ensures they stay as long as Jesus and Pat. Enjoy this driver conversation mashup.
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Jesus Rivera
UltraShred Technologies
https://ultrashredtechnologies.com/
&
Pat Lashley
Crown Shredding
https://www.crownshredding.com/

Join us as we sit down with Johnie Williams, a seasoned shred truck driver with 17 years of experience at Time Shred in New York City. Johnie's journey began in 2006 when he was asked to drive Time Moving's first shred truck, a challenge as the truck was much larger than the straight trucks he was used to.
In this episode, we delve into the critical aspects of Johnie's job, such as punctuality, dependability, and diligence. Johnie shares his secret to success - having a strong spiritual foundation and a drive to go the extra mile. He also sheds light on the significance of driver training and shares insights on how shredding businesses can motivate their drivers.
So if you're interested in learning from a rockstar shred truck driver, this episode is for you! Tune in to hear Johnie's experiences and advice on the unique and essential role of shred truck drivers.
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Senior Driver
Time Shred
https://www.timeshred.com 

On this episode Tom chats with Angie Singer Keating, CEO and co-founder of Reclamere, a cyber security and data destruction company. Angie outlines the distinctions and alignment between the various data security service offerings they provide as well as how those services evolved. She shares how she thinks about marketing and the role of being a subject matter expert. She also discusses how vendors in the data and information security industries need to be ready for data security requirements we will all be required to face very soon. Finally, Angie discusses the impact of a horse on her role as a CEO.
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Angie Singer Keating
CEO
Reclamere
https://reclamere.com/

On this initial episode of 2023, Tom chats with Nate Campbell, i-SIGMA's CEO about current happenings and directions in the association. Nate became CEO of the association in August of 2022. He shares the story of his early start in the information management industry, and the road from then till present. In the conversation, Nate tells about his entry into the role of CEO and then explores some of the changes that are happening in the day-today and future of the organization, with a particular focus on the upcoming conference in the spring in Las Vegas. Along with an Exclusive Executives-Only Luncheon, you'll learn more about the TopGolf event held during the conference. You'll also get a chance to learn more about more personal things about Nate and his life.
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Nathan Campbell
Chief Executive Officer
I-SIGMA

On this episode Tom chats with Jeff Beaudoin, Operations Manager at Ameri-Shred, Corp. Jeff is an Engineer by training, but has been involved in manufacturing, sales, design and layout of shredding plants for shred operators for many years. Jeff provides valuable insight about the thinking and planning required for a new, plant-based operation. He also weighs in on how existing operators should think about optimizing and ensuring the long-term success of the machinery they have. If you’re thinking about building a plant-based shredding system, or already have one, this 30 minute episode is for you.
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Jeff Beaudoin
Operations Manager
Ameri-Shred, Corp
https://ameri-shred.com/

Guy Wakutz, President of Alpine Shredders, a shed truck manufacturer based in Kitchener, Ontario joins Tom on this episode. Guy shares the current state of the shred truck industry as it relates to supply chain issues, costs and implications. He also recommends how business owners need to think about acquiring a new truck in the current market. He discloses an interesting statistic about how many trucks are being made that are for Non-CDL vs CDL drivers. Tom and Guy also discuss the differences between being a new shred operator versus a seasoned shredding business owner as it relates to their truck buying needs. Finally, Guy shares the biggest challenges he sees once companies have their trucks.
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Guy Wakutz
President
Alpine Shredders