Make My People Better

Taja Graham is the Market President at Emmis Communications, a founding company in the radio industry. To make this even more notable, she is the first African-American woman to hold this position.  Taja has a lot of experience being “the only” in her circles, but she has never let that stop her from climbing the ladder to success with fierce determination. In this episode, Taja discusses the importance of not fearing the unknown and being okay with not having all of the answers. Listen to how her willingness to seek answers from others to educate herself pushed her far in her career.

Shen Macheel is the VP and Director of Government Programs at LER TechForce and their affiliate company, LHP Engineering Solutions. She arrived in the United States at the age of sixteen as an accidental concert pianist and later transitioned to business.  In her life and career, Shen has had to observe, adapt, and grow. In this episode listen as she shares her story of fearlessness, curiosity, and how positivity is the key to breaching D&I issues. 

Dr. Lynn Shaw is an Associate Professor at the University of Indianapolis in the Department of Social Work. She is a certified social worker and a certified laughter yoga leader who has spent the last 25 years understanding how laughter can be a coping mechanism for stress.  In this episode, Dr. Lynn shares her perspective on playfulness as a tool for productivity and highlights the distinct relationship between laughter and connectedness. Listen in to find out how to incorporate the principles of laughter therapy into your daily routine.

Jimmy Rayford stepped into his role as the CEO of Dealers Wholesale during the COVID season. Transitioning to a new job has enough challenges without a pandemic, but Jimmy made sure to lean into his leadership style of empathy and clear communication to ease the shift for himself and his new employees.  In this episode Jimmy shares resources he keeps in his “toolkit” to help cultivate leadership development and growth, and be a leader of people versus an organization.  Book Recommendations:  You’re in Charge, Now What? by Thomas J. Neff and James M. Citrin Mindset by Carol Dweck Chase the Lion by Martin Batterson

LaJuana Warren is the Owner and Founder of the consulting firm Tapestry Solutions for Inclusion. In this episode, LaJuana shares her mission to help others incorporate diversity and inclusion into their organizations and point them towards the true importance of pursuing DEI efforts.

John Elliott is the President and CEO of Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana, where they seek to provide food for communities in need of assistance.  Like many other organizations, Gleaners had to shift their operations during the pandemic, but their problem was unique. Their volunteer force dropped by 40% while the needs of the community and the work doubled. Listen to this episode as John shares how leaning on partnerships helped them continue to serve the community. Book Recommendations: Win the Day by Mark Batterson

Erica Ballard is a healthy living expert and coach with her own business, Erica Ballard Health.  Erica was on a mission to have the “perfect body”, but once she achieved her weight goals, she realized that optimal health is much more than weight loss and what you eat. It includes stress management, purpose, community, and spirituality as well.  In this episode, Erica breaks down what it looks like to have a healthy-living workplace and offers advice for making the change in your organization. To hear more from Erica, check out her podcast The Lies We’ve Been Fed. Book Recommendations: Beyond the Pill by Jolene Brighten Podcast Recommendations: The Doctor’s Farmacy  Earn Your Happy Redefining Wealth

Perhaps no one exemplifies the mission of trueU more than JoDee Curtis, Founder of Purple Ink, an HR consulting firm. After spending many years in accounting, JoDee discovered her true passion for helping people bring out the best in themselves. Today, she and her team work with companies to find creative solutions to HR problems with one goal in mind: creating a JoyPowered workplace. What’s the key to making work joyful? For JoDee, it’s about discovering your strengths and leaning into them every day. On Make My People Better, JoDee talks to Kyle DeFur and Gretchen Schott about the importance of engagement and retention and why you should work into your strengths.

Entrepreneurship often manifests at a young age, and for Bob Kort, President of Kort Builders, the entrepreneurial bug bit him as a young boy watching his father run a pizza business. Today, Bob owns several businesses in central Indiana from restaurants like The District Tap to construction companies like Kort Builders.  How do you succeed as an entrepreneur? For Bob, it comes down to two words: Trust and Loyalty. On Make My People Better, Bob talks to Kyle DeFur and Gretchen Schott about the importance of building a better culture, and the integrity that comes with following through on your word.

Entrepreneurship and leadership often go hand-in-hand, for Andy Medley Co-founder and CEO of PERQ, it’s this connection that spurs his passion for creating a great place for people to work.    This past year, PERQ was voted as best place to work and the best tech startup in the 2020 B2B Innovator Awards. How does Andy help foster this award-winning culture? In a word: transparency.    On Make My People Better, Andy talks with Gretchen Schott and Kyle DeFur about the importance of sharing how each team member’s role impacts the overall business objectives, and how you can transfer his lessons learned into your business.    Book Recommendations   Hard Thing About Hard Things by Ben Horowitz   High Output Management by Andy Grove The Effective Executive by Peter Drucker

We’ve all heard the phrase “honesty is the best policy”, but how important is it to move a company forward? Darice Rene, VP of Strategy at Valve+Meter Performance Marketing, attributes a lot of her success, as well as her traits of openness and transparency, to her family. Early in her career, Darice noticed she was often one of few brown people in the room, and sometimes she was the only one. In this episode, she shares how being honest helped her break down barriers and how she has carried this characteristic into organizations.

Have you ever thought of your office space as a tool for reaching your company goals?  Cara Weber, Co-founder and Partner at DELV Design, and Eric Anderson, Principal at DELV,  are firm believers in design thinking and the power architecture has to influence people’s behavior. In this episode you’ll hear them discuss how constructing a building can solve seemingly unrelated problems. Offices can be unique, but they should also be steeped in meaning and intention.

Liesel Mertes is the Founder of Handle with Care Consulting, where she also works as a workplace empathy consultant. When going through grad school, Liesel experienced the death of her third child only eight days after she was born. Her personal story fuels her passion for empathy and also pushes her to share its importance with leaders and organizations. In this podcast Liesel discusses the impact empathy has on the bottom line of an organization and shares ways to show empathy to your employees and peers. Want to hear more from Liesel? Follow her podcast Handle with Care, Empathy at Work or visit her website at lieselmertes.com.

As this year comes to a close, we want to reshare the most-downloaded episodes of 2020. In this episode, we’re revisiting the conversation with Shane Pilarski. Have you heard this phrase before, “leaders are readers?” In this episode, we’ll hear from Shane Pilarski, President and CEO of Alliance Bank. One of the initiatives she started was a book club leaning into the organizational values of helping grow and develop their people to be their best selves.  Interested in the books they read? You’ll have to take a listen. And if you do,  you’ll also learn other ways Shane leads her team to embrace new challenges, titles, and life opportunities. Shane’s story is an inspiring one. While she’s now CEO, she started at Alliance at an entry-level position and grew into the leader she is today.

As this year comes to a close, we want to reshare the most-downloaded episodes of 2020. In this episode, we’re revisiting the conversation with Demetrius Warren. Having difficult conversations doesn’t always come naturally. For Demetrius Warren, Branch Manager at Star Bank, this uncomfortability is something he’s learned to embrace. Throughout his career, sage advice from his dad has allowed him to maintain a learner’s mentality. The advice? Listen.  In the conversation with Demetruis, he identifies others who have made an impact on his life while reflecting on what challenges he faced as a Black leader in a predominantly white work culture.

As this year comes to a close, we want to reshare the most-downloaded episodes of 2020. In this episode, we’re revisiting the conversation with Chad Peterman. Why are you a leader? Is it because it was the next career move? Or because you really want to make an impact on people? For Chad Peterman, President of Peterman Heating Cooling and Plumbing, the answer was clear. He is passionate about growing people and helping them chase their dreams, and he joins the Make My People Better Podcast to share how his company is working to create an environment where growth is unstoppable.

As we reflect on 2020, we know this year has been a challenge for many, but it’s taught us the importance of listening to each other. In this final episode of 2020, Gretchen and Kyle recap the interview highlights from this year and share the lessons they’ve learned from the conversations.

Join the trueU community, along with Truth At Work, in this special, live podcast event with New York Times best-selling author Bob Goff (@bobgoff).  Bob is driven by a desire to help others unlock their potential to love and be loved greater.  His books - Love Does and Everybody, Always - have inspired millions of people to be action-oriented in living out a richer life of service to others, while having fun doing it. Listen in as Bob discusses how faith, love and being present tie into meaningful relationships. As Bob says, there is huge power in being present and available to those around you.  If you want to feel inspired - and laugh along the way - this episode is for you. 

During these difficult times it’s important to reflect on what we are thankful for. For this episode, Gretchen and Kyle invite leadership members of the community to take a moment to reflect on what they’ve learned from these challenges and how they are moving forward. You’ll get to hear from Christia Hicks, VP of Human Resources at Eskenazi Health, Bob Kort, CEO at Kort Builders, Jeff McDermott, CEO of the Center for Performing Arts, Cynthia Pizzaro, President at C-Spring, Steve Long, CEO at Hancock Regional Health, and Greg Streamlaw, CEO with Indy Eleven. Each guest has a different experience with the  impact of COVID. Tune in as they share not only what they are thankful for, but also how they are giving back.

Jason Barnaby is the Founder, President, and Chief Fire Starter at Fire Starters Inc., where his mission is inspiring  people to connect to their purpose.  In this episode Jason shares how  igniting passion within yourself will  propel you towards a more fulfilling life.  To learn more about Jason and Fire Starters Inc., email him at email@jasonatfirestarterstribe.com or go to firestarterstribe.com.

Kerry Jones is the Service Projects Manager at freije engineered solutions company where he specializes in design, build, and installation work. As a child, Kerry learned to do everything with excellence. This mindset has carried him throughout his career. In this episode, Kerry discusses the importance of vouching for others and encouraging them to succeed. He also addresses the difficulties minority businesses face and the hopes he has for improving their experiences.

In this episode, Gretchen and Kyle sit down with two leaders who keep servant leadership at the heart of all they do. Allen Southerland is the Chief Partnership and Leadership Pipeline Officer at Shepherd Community Center, and Derrin Slack is the Founder and Chief Program Officer at ProAct Indy. While they have different missions, both organizations focus on better serving those in the community. In this conversation, Derrin and Allen break down what servant leadership means to them and dive into the best ways to effectively serve.

Maxine Thomas is a SNAP Outreach Specialist at Gleaners Food Bank of Indiana where she takes joy in seeing how she impacts the lives of others. She is continually driven to find new ways to serve, and she spends her free time volunteering at her church, homeless shelters, and elsewhere in her community.  In this episode, you will hear how Maxine was humbled by the faith others put in her as a leader, and how it inspired her to intentionally build other leaders. Listen in to hear her story. 

Ashley Scruggs, an HR Training and Development Specialist at Elements Financial, knows the importance of valuing others’ experiences and creating a safe space for employees to be heard. Being “the only” in many settings, Ashley has recognized what she values in a workplace environment and strives to replicate those aspects in her company. In this episode you will hear how Ashley endeavors to lead by example and support others, even if it’s through a simple email or passing conversation.

Why are you a leader? Is it because it was the next career move? Or because you really want to make an impact on people? For Chad Peterman, President of Peterman Heating Cooling and Plumbing, the answer was clear. He is passionate about growing people and helping them chase their dreams, and he joins the Make My People Better Podcast to share how his company is working to create an environment where growth is unstoppable.

As a leader, building relationships isn’t always a top priority. For Jarrad Rankin, Vice President of Operations at Rehab Medical, taking the time to purposefully establish relationships outside of the work environment has had a tremendous impact on him and his approach to leadership.  In the conversation, Jarrad recalls memories of his grandfather and the impact he had on the community through the relationships he built. As a growing leader, Jarrad realized this also holds the key to improving inclusion and diversity in the workplace. What led him to this revelation? Listen in.

As a leader having difficult conversations doesn’t always come naturally. For Demetrius Warren, Branch Manager at Star Bank, this uncomfortability is something he’s learned to embrace. Throughout his career, sage advice from his dad has allowed him to maintain a learner’s mentality. The advice? Listen.  In the conversation with Demetrius, he identifies others who have made an impact on his life while reflecting on what challenges he faced as a Black leader in a predominantly white work culture.

In this second episode of our new series, Invitations to Listen, we’re using our monthly Leadership Series event as an opportunity to check in with leaders from the trueU community.  This series focuses on exploring leadership to understand the journeys people take to become their best selves. Our goal in this series is to connect businesses that are working towards diversity, racial equality, and inclusion with leaders who have experienced bias, discrimination, and injustice. Today we’ve asked three members of the trueU community to share their stories and experiences with us. Ashley Scruggs, HR Training & Employee Development Specialist at Elements Financial, Carlonda Davis, HR manager & VP at Community First Bank of Indiana, Phil Edwards, Chief Volunteer Engagement Officer at Shepherd Community Center. Listen in as they vulnerably share how recent events have impacted their professional and personal lives.

What does it mean to have a better digital workplace? In today’s rapidly evolving environment it can often feel like leaders are mental health first responders. Neil Miller joins Gretchen Schott and Kyle DeFur in the trueU studio to share what he calls the five levels of a digital workforce.  In the conversation, Neil also sheds light on how communication and technology play a key role in creating a thriving culture no matter where your employees are located.  Resources Mentioned:  The Digital Workplace Podcast

This episode introduces our new series, Invitations to Listen. This series focuses on exploring leadership to understand the journeys people take to become their best selves. Our goal in this series is to connect businesses that are working towards diversity, racial equality, and inclusion with leaders who have experienced bias, discrimination, and injustice.  We feel that these conversations are needed. They are stories of leaders, and it is how as a community, we all become better. In our first episode, we are featuring Tony Sanders.  As a young professional at the time, Tony Sanders quickly learned how impactful failure is in developing as a leader. Looking back on lessons learned from running his own business and playing a pivotal role at Medxcel, Tony shares how important it is for leaders to gain the perspectives of their employees.  When it comes to being a minority in the workplace, Tony highlights his journey and what our listeners can think about differently to create a more inclusive environment.

As restrictions concerning COVID-19 begin to ease, implementing a re-entry strategy for the workplace is a high priority. Jacob Houk of Hays+Sons and Dan Morris of Officeworks join Gretchen and Kyle to discuss the challenges facing businesses as team members return to their offices. In this episode, Jacob and Dan provide specifics on how you can navigate the policies and procedures that will protect your people and help alleviate their health concerns about returning to the office. Their expertise and professionalism shine through in this episode of Make My People Better. Quick Links: Connect with Dan: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danmorrisowi/ Connect with Jacob: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jacob-houk-057a766/ Learn more about OfficeWorks: https://officeworks.net/ Learn more about Hays+Sons: https://haysandsons.com/ Connect with Kyle: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kyledefur/ Get engaged with trueU: https://trueu.com/ or missyshopshire@trueu.com

When it comes to navigating the return to work, there’s no one better to have in your corner than Karen Seketa and Drew Smith. As VP of Talent at Element Three, Karen knows the challenges and concerns facing her team members as they contemplate returning to the office. As President of American Specialty Insurance, Drew knows the perils of returning to the workplace in a post-pandemic world, both for the business and the individual. In this episode, Karen and Drew provide tactical insights on returning to work in this new environment and how you can navigate the personnel and policy issues you’re likely to face. Their expertise, empathy, and professionalism shine through in this episode of Make My People Better.  Quick Links: Connect with Karen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karenseketa/ Connect with Drew: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drew-smith-39006026/ Learn more about Element Three: https://elementthree.com/ Learn more about American Specialty Insurance: https://americanspecialty.com/ Connect with Kyle: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kyledefur/ Get engaged with trueU: https://trueu.com/ or missyshopshire@trueu.com

When it comes to marrying passion with purpose there is no who embodies this more than Mark Caswell. As the CEO of KSM Consulting, Mark focuses on helping organizations achieve goals and deliver results no matter how complex the challenge may seem.  In this episode, he provides tactical insights into how he leads his organization while helping to solve problems for his clients. His humility, storytelling, and stewardship shine through in this episode of Make My People Better.  Quick Links: Connect with Mark: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markocaswell/ Learn more about KSM Consulting: https://www.ksmconsulting.com/ Connect with Kyle: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kyledefur/ Get engaged with trueU: https://trueu.com/

Marcus Hall is the President and Partner at California Closets – a custom furniture and storage firm located throughout Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky, and Ohio.  Marcus has a fascinating leadership journey from the world of professional sports through technology, and he has a passion for building brands and aligning teams. Listen in as he shares the leadership lessons he’s learned along the way and how he connects his purpose with the work he does. Quick Links: Connect with Marcus Learn more about California Closets Connect with Gretchen Connect with Kyle  Get engaged with trueU

At trueU we believe in continuous improvement and evolvement to better equip our leaders and members. In these interesting and challenging times, evolvement is constant. We want to give back to our members by addressing the obstacles we’re all facing head-on in a candid conversation between Gretchen and Kyle. In the second of this two-part series, the conversation turns to the ways leaders can become more human in the midst of the current crisis. Why is extreme humanization important for a leader in this new virtual world? Listen in as Kyle and Gretchen break it down. Takeaways: Leaders don’t need to have all the answers. When we are isolated, virtual meetings + connections are vital.  Trust is built through shared experience–communicate what you’re experiencing Quick Links: Patrick Lencioni–The Table Group: https://www.tablegroup.com/ Bob Kort – Kort Builders, Inc: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-kort-47981a3 Jeff McDermott - President/CEO at the Center for the Performing Arts: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffrey-mcdermott-8126b616/ Connect with Gretchen Connect with Kyle  Get engaged with trueU

At trueU we believe in continuous improvement and evolvement to better equip our leaders and members. In these interesting and challenging times, evolvement is constant. We want to give back to our members by addressing the obstacles we’re all facing head-on in a candid conversation between Gretchen and Kyle. In the first of this two-part series, the conversation covers the issues CEOs and business leaders are facing during this crisis. They also examine ways to grow in the midst of the situation, and what really matters.  Listen to part one now.  Takeaways: Send a “thinking of you” note. People will remember how you showed up during times of trial. Do the harder right thing over the easier wrong thing. Quick Links: Patrick Lencioni–The Table Group: https://www.tablegroup.com/ Al Wurster–Wurster Construction: https://wursterconstruction.com/team-showcase/al-wurster-2 Karen Gregerson–The Farmers Bank: https://www.thefarmersbank.com Seth Morales–The Morales Group: https://moralesgroup.net Connect with Gretchen Connect with Kyle  Get engaged with trueU

Today’s episode was recorded Live at trueU’s Leadership Series event with Nick Smarrelli of GadellNet and Shelley Hunter from College Mentors for Kids.   Nick and Shelley are experts in mentoring and mentorship programs, and Nick takes the stage first to deliver the keynote. Before he discussed some key themes of mentorship, such as culture or ineffective matchmaking, he asked a ground-zero question: “What do you need to have before you do anything else?”  After Nick’s keynote, Shelley joins Nick on the stage for a panel discussion led by Gretchen. They address key questions such as when you know you’re ready to be mentored and take questions from the audience. Listen in to hear the answers. Connect with Nick: https://www.linkedin.com/in/smarrelli Connect with Shelley: https://www.linkedin.com/in/shelleyhunter1 Connect with Gretchen: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gretchenschott Connect with Kyle: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kyledefur Get engaged with trueU: https://trueu.com

At trueU we believe in continuous improvement and evolvement to better equip our leaders and members. This belief is why we are excited to announce a new series, The Employee Experience.  In this series, you will hear from a couple of leaders from the same organization on how they have been impacted by one another’s influence. What our CEOs don’t know is that they’ll get to hear how they've impacted their organization's leader. Its an opportunity for us to give back to our purpose-driven leaders, showcasing how important their diligence truly is.  Tune in next week to hear our fist of the series.  Connect with Gretchen Connect with Kyle  Get engaged with trueU

CJ McClanahan is a dynamic speaker, leader, author, and, in his own words, a recovering overachiever. He brings more than 25 years of executive leadership experience helping organizations achieve record sales and profits. In our community, many of us strive to be grateful. It takes intentionality to build it into your life and business. This episode CJ shares his newest venture inspiring leaders to give. Hear how this project came to be and why it’s pivotal for leaders today.   Connect with CJ Learn more about Project Two Rule Connect with Gretchen Connect with Kyle  Get engaged with trueU

Have you heard this phrase before, “leaders are readers?” In this episode, we’ll hear from Shane Pilarski, President and CEO of Alliance Bank. One of the initiatives she started was a book club leaning into the organizational values of helping grow and develop their people to be their best selves.  Interested in the book they read? You’ll have to take a listen. And if you do,  you’ll also learn other ways Shane leads her team to embrace new challenges, titles, and life opportunities.  Shane’s story is an inspiring one. While she’s now CEO, she started at Alliance at an entry-level position and grew into the leader she is today.  Hear her story and learn how you too can be a better leader.

Throughout the year, we have had some amazing guests on the Make My People Better podcast. From members of our trueU community to former Colts player Joe Reitz to author and thought leader Bob Goff, we hope that our listeners have truly benefited from these leadership lessons our guests have shared with us.  Although every episode in 2019 was packed full of conversations on developing culture, attracting talent, and fostering leaders, we wanted to share a few highlights to celebrate the end of the year. In this episode, you’ll hear leaders from some of our most popular episodes including Matt Rolfsen, President of Renovia, Jacob Houk, President of Hays and Sons, and Marcia Barnes, CEO of Valve+Meter.  Listen in as trueU hosts Kyle DeFur and Gretchen Schott guide us through some of their favorite moments from 2019!

In this special bonus episode from our trueU Learning Summit, Nick Smarrelli (@smarrellin), CEO of GadellNet, shares the exclusive and innovative programs that have powered the rise of the six-time Inc. 5000 fastest-growing company. You’ll want to hear Nick’s advice on employee retention. Listen in. About the trueU Learning Summit: The trueU Learning Summit was held in September 2019, and focused on personal development. Visit trueu.com for more information.  Use the hashtag #trueUsummit on social media and tell us why you loved this episode! 

In this special bonus episode from our trueU Learning Summit, Tiffany Sauder, CEO of marketing agency Element Three, dives into an honest look at what broke as her company scaled.  Listen in as Tiffany shares lessons from the front lines of a growing business, and why she believes success is the result of many little failures. About the trueU Learning Summit: The trueU Learning Summit was held in September 2019, and focused on personal development. Visit trueu.com for more information.  Use the hashtag #trueUsummit on social media and tell us why you loved this episode!

In this special bonus episode from our 2019 trueU Learning Summit, Cynthia Pizarro (@cynthiapizarro), President of CSpring, discusses how you can engage your teams and why, as leaders, it’s your responsibility.  What steps can you take to inspire engagement and collaboration across your teams? Find out on Make My People Better. About the trueU Learning Summit: The trueU Learning Summit was held in September 2019, and focused on personal development. Visit trueu.com for more information.  Use the hashtag #trueUsummit on social media and tell us why you loved this episode!

Episode 46: Daniel Benefiel, Regional Operations Manager, Morales Group How can you inspire your people and innovate your workplace? For Daniel Benefiel, Regional Operations Manager at Morales Group, it comes down to pushing yourself out of your comfort zone.  Daniel is a trueU Leader in Training (LIT) graduate and his willingness to learn, grow, and share is something he continually pours into his employees.  In this episode, you’ll hear why giving your employees an invitation for feedback and truly listening to their ideas can increase employee engagement in the workplace.  “If your employees get deflated, they won’t give you another idea, they won’t even think of another idea,” Daniel says.  You’ll want to hear Daniel’s advice when it comes to performing at your highest level for your people because he believes that in the end, you report to them! Listen in. 

Episode 45: Santiago Jaramillo, Co-Founder/CEO, Emplify Santiago Jaramillo (@santiagojara) is on a mission to help everyone be their best selves at work.  As the CEO and Co-Founder of Emplify, an employee engagement measurement software company, and author of Agile Engagement, Santiago stresses the importance of knowing the difference between employee satisfaction vs. employee engagement. When your employees are truly engaged, they are meeting and exceeding goals and driving your business. On the other hand, when employees are satisfied, they’re simply comfortable. Are you measuring the right things at your workplace? In this episode, you’ll hear Santiago explain why the reasons people work has fundamentally shifted from what it used to be 30 years ago. Now, it’s all about cultural values, belief in the organization, growth, and passion. However, many organizations, in general, have been slow to adapt. Why? Plus, what are the top two data points that matter to your people when it comes to employee engagement? And what does a Betty Crocker cake mix have to do with employee engagement? Santiago’s answers may surprise you. Listen in.

Episode 44: Bob Goff, New York Times Best-Selling Author  Join the trueU community, along with Truth At Work, in this special, live podcast event with New York Times best-selling author Bob Goff (@bobgoff).  Bob is driven by a desire to help others unlock their potential to love and be loved greater.  His books - Love Does and Everybody, Always - have inspired millions of people to be action-oriented in living out a richer life of service to others, while having fun doing it. Listen in as Bob discusses how faith, love and being present tie into meaningful relationships. As Bob says, there is huge power in being present and available to those around you.  If you want to feel inspired - and laugh along the way - this episode is for you. 

Episode 43: Scott Williams, Executive Vice President/General Manager, Ohio Valley Gas Corporation  How do you get really great at having honest conversations and giving feedback with care? Scott Williams knows it takes time, patience, and effort. Scott is the Executive Vice President and General Manager at Ohio Valley Gas Corporation, a company that delivers natural gas to homes, small businesses, and rural communities throughout Indiana. One-third of Ohio Valley Gas is new to the company over the past six years so Scott understands the challenging of leading through change.  In this episode, he discusses how he shifted the ‘this is how it’s always been done’ mentality and encouraged his people to understand the ‘why’ behind the work.  Throughout the years, Scott implemented intentional communication tactics from one-on-one meetings to encouraging feedback by challenging directly while also showing that you care personally.  If you’re struggling with discomfort when it comes to giving feedback to your people, you’ll want to hear Scott’s story on radical candor. Listen in. 

Episode 42: Kevin Gearheart, President, Rehab Medical As the leader of a rapidly growing company, Kevin Gearheart, President of Rehab Medical, understands that hiring the right people - and hiring them on a deadline - isn’t easy.  Three acquisitions have helped accelerate the growth of the company, which provides physical rehabilitation equipment to doctors, patients, and other clients. Since then, Rehab Medical has experienced double-digit growth and was named among Indianapolis Business Journal’s Fast 25.  In this episode, you’ll hear Kevin share why the company places a heavy emphasis on having the right structure - and hiring the right people.  How do Kevin and his team ensure they have the right people on the bus in the right seats? If you’re tired of settling when it comes to hiring decisions, you’ll want to listen in to Kevin’s advice on Make My People Better. 

Episode 41: Mike Kenney, CEO & Angie Hubbell, General Manager, Kenney Machinery and RPM Machinery Mergers and acquisitions can be challenging. Even the leaders at the highest level have unanswered questions throughout the process. As leaders, we know we have to think of others, but we also can’t help but think to ourselves, ‘What does all of this mean for me?’ Mike Kenney, CEO, and Angie Hubbell, General Manager, know first-hand the difficulty of maintaining trust while managing different positions as they brought the merger of Kenney Machinery and RPM Machinery to fruition.  Listen in as the duo discusses how they utilized Entrepreneurial Operating System® (EOS®) to foster transparency and engagement, identify issues, and provide solutions on the Make My People Better podcast. To learn more about EOS® implementation, you can contact Mike and Angie's Professional EOS® Implementer, Ken Bogard, at ken@knowhonesty.com. 

Episode 40: Max Yoder, CEO, Lessonly  Max Yoder (@maxyoder), is the CEO and Co-Founder of Lessonly, a team training software company. He’s also the author of Do Better Work, a foundational book for leaders that focuses on the whole human approach.  Do you ever find yourself getting buried in the ‘How can I make things better?’ mentality? What if instead, you started focusing on what’s going well and doing more of that? In this episode, you’ll hear Max’s thoughts on why it’s important to bring less fear, shame, and guilt into the workplace - and start bringing in more compassion. Listen in as Max shares how you can break down your walls and show your vulnerability, starting with the people you love and trust first.