While both are important to the success of a company, what is it that differentiates a leader from a manager? Today, you’ll hear from Quatrefoil Consulting founder, veteran Marine, and MCFA’s newest team leader, Joey Fay, about some of the key distinctions between managing and leading a group of people. In 2018, Joey launched Quatrefoil, a service-disabled veteran-owned project leadership company that was acquired by and merged with MCFA in February of 2024, where he continues his career as President of Diversified Markets. Before 2008, Joey served as an officer in the United States Marine Corps and continues to serve in the Marine Corps Reserves. In this episode, you’ll learn about the synergy of values and cultures between Quatrefoil and MCFA and why the marriage of the two companies works so well. Joey also offers some insight into what led him to start Quatrefoil, his focus on leadership before skill, the importance of likability, what earned respect means to him, and much more. Be sure to tune in for this very special guest interview with MCFA’s President of Diversified Markets, Joey Fay!

Key Points From This Episode:

• The synergy between Quatrefoil and MCFA from Joey’s perspective.
• Why communication is key for successful change management.
• What this merger between the two companies says to the marketplace.
• How being a veteran and a reservist has reinforced Joey’s vision of leadership.
• An overview of Joey’s background and why he started Quatrefoil Consulting.
• Key differentiators between management and leadership.
• Insight into the mergers and acquisitions process for small business owners.
• Focusing on the future versus being stuck in the day-to-day.
• A look at the diverse portfolios of Quatrefoil and MCFA combined.
• The value of likability and its relationship to business success.
• Lessons on leadership, mentorship, and recruitment from the military.
• Positional respect versus earned respect and other takeaways from the merger.
• The challenge of leadership capacity and reasons to invest in great leaders.
• Why optimism is so powerful and Joey’s call to “be excited!”

Quotes:

“[Quatrefoil’s] mantra was don’t hire a project manager. Hire a project leader.” — @TheJoeyFay [0:12:42]

“[If you] look at the difference between management and leadership, management is important – There are a lot of things to manage. But at the tip of the spear, you want a leader; someone who is out ahead of managing problems, – looking forward at the future.” — @TheJoeyFay [0:12:52]

“Any good leader knows the difference between positional respect and earned respect.” — @TheJoeyFay [0:35:41]

“Be excited! This is exciting. I’m excited. We’re going to become a powerful company [and] we’re going to disrupt this market even more so than MCFA already has. I want you guys to be there with us!” — @TheJoeyFay [0:42:30]

Links Mentioned in Today’s Episode:

Joey Fay

Joey Fay on LinkedIn

Joey Fay on X

DoD to A/E/C: Leveraging the likeability factor with Joey Fay

The Likeability Factor

How to Win Friends and Influence People

Inspiring People & Places Podcast

MCFA

MCFA Careers

BJ Kraemer on LinkedIn