The TomCast

David Moses, founder of XpresspaX, Inc and Express Business Forms & Systems joins Tom on this episode. David shares his story of helping Iron Mountain with their first mass produced and printed barcodes for their emerging records storage business. He then shares how a conversation with a VP led to massive innovation for the Iron Mountain media vault business that dramatically changed the game for the company.  Out of these stories, David then shares the secrets underlying innovation and the creative process. This show provides some great insights into three elements of innovation, the distinction between product and process, and the critical importance of a transparent relationship to ensure innovation and success.
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David Moses
Innovator & Advisor
https://davidmoses.solutions/

On this episode Tom chats with Cory Layes of Bins4Shredding based in Barrie, Ontario. As a long-time vendor in the industry, Cory removes his sales hat and shares his deep knowledge about all things collection containers.
Cory discusses the mistakes he sees a lot of shredding companies make with buying bins not using Just-in-Time programs, bin selection and client container placement programs. He provides advice on collection container diversity and recommendations for an ongoing awareness of what's currently available to support a full range of client collection options. He also explores container maintenance and emerging innovations in the space. There's something in this show for every operator.

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Cory Layes, General Manager
Bins4Shredding
https://bins4shredding.com/ 

The Entrepreneurial Operating System - or EOS for short - is the hottest business operating system in the world today, especially for service companies. Developed by Gino Wickman and fully outlined in his book, Traction: Get A Grip on Your Business, EOS is a complete set of simple concepts and practical tools that has helped thousands of entrepreneurs around the world get what they want from their businesses.

In this solo episode, Tom Adams review the elements of EOS, as well as some of the history of other operating systems that preceded it. From there, Tom outlines the basic components of EOS, as well as lessons learned in assisting companies with it over the years and some recommendations about implementation depending on the size and scope of your shredding business.

Renee Keener, the Founder and CEO of American Document Securities - the company she sold at the end of 2021 - based in Carrolton, Georgia shares her incredible story of starting the business, growing the business and eventually exiting the business. She describes the critical changes she needed to make upon the win of a huge State contract, as well as the lessons gained through the massive growth that accompanied it. She shares insights learned through the sale of her business and then looks back on her big secrets of success. Learn what “Riding the Day” means and how it could help you in your business.
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Renee Keener
Retired & Loving It

On this episode Tom chats with Stacey Lombardo of Infoshred based in East Windsor, Connecticut.

Stacey shares her entrepreneurial story of buying the shredding business 25 years ago and her amazing journey till now. Stacey was one of the earliest NAID members when it was first established. She shares her philosophy of “rising the tide” in the company and how that influences their perpetual focus on people and profit. You’ll hear how she manages by wandering around and using heart-based leadership to lift everyone on her team, self-described as the team's Momma Bear. Stacey discusses some tactics she’s used recently, including her Open Forum and ones she’s employed for a long time, turkey’s for everyone on the team at Thanksgiving.
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Stacey Lombardo
President and Founder

You can find Infoshred here: https://infoshred.com/

Muff London, the Founder and President of Document Shredding & Storage (DSS) based in Amarillo, Texas joins Tom on this episode. Muff shares the early story of starting the shredding business in a most unusual way, leveraging other people's empty trucks and warehouse space before graduating to a F-250 and a trailer. She also shares two of her favorite "subtle" marketing tactics that created a lot of positive momentum and name recognition for DSS. Don't miss her deep dive explanation on how she trusts her instincts and how she handles difficult people.   There are so many great insights in this episode.
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Muff London
Co-Founder & President

On this episode Tom chats with Jay Burns of Crown Information Management based in Winter Haven, Florida.

Jay shares how his own personal growth and development as well as the evolution of the business has been deeply impacted by an external coach. Jay talks about the early benefits and the evolving evidence of the impact of his coach on him personally, especially as it relates to his emotional intelligence. Pay special attention to the discussion about the focus groups Jay wanted to implement with his team and how his coach really changed the outcome because she led it and not Jay. If you've considered hiring a coach, Jay shares his experience and some recommendations for you in this episode.
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Jay Burns
Owner
You can find Crown Information Management here: https://www.crownshredding.com/

Jill Fasken, the former owner of Colorado Document Security located in Grand Junction, Colorado joins Tom on this episode. Jill describes how she and her husband Scott started the company in 2003, and the growth and development of it over the years. But, the focus of the conversation is how Jill responded and dealt with Scott's unexpected death in 2019, and the immediate and ongoing actions she took to lead the business forward. Learn how she transitioned from her administrative and financial roles in the business to fully running it despite the profound emotional loss she was experiencing. Jill also shares some of the lessons learned and insights gained from the last few years now that she's fully exited the business.
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Jill Fasken
Superhero

On this week's episode, Tom meets with Jim Beran, Director of Sales at Gilmore based in Pensacola, FL.  Jim is a long time sales leader in the shredding industry. He discusses the history of selling in the industry and some of the differences he sees between the early selling and today. Jim also shares some of his phone needs assessment process which can be really helpful to company positioning. The big takeaway in this episode is the way they sell hard drive destruction to existing clients with small numbers of hard drives to shred in a targeted city or area.
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Jim Beran
Director of Sales
Gilmore

You can find Gilmore here: GilmoreServices.com

Liz Metts, Senior Director of Business Operations at Secure Shred & Opportunity Enterprises located in Valparaiso, Indiana joins Tom on this episode. Liz describes how they employ individuals with disabilities in the shredding and recycling operation. She shares the benefits the individual employees gain as result of their employment, but also the incredible business benefits that come from hiring them. She discusses the important training and business structures that ensure optimal success for the team and how a shredding company like yours could hire someone with a disability to be an incredible part of your team.
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Liz Metts
Senior Director of Business Operations
Opportunity Enterprises & Secure Shred

You can find Opportunity Enterprises here: OppEnt.org
You can find Secure Shred here: SecureShred.org