ROI’s Into the Corner Office Podcast: Powerhouse Middle Market CEOs Telling it Real—Unexpected Career Conversations

At the time of this recording, Buzz Bradley as CEO of Zpacks Corporation. He is now the CEO of True Access. A natural at sales, marketing, and helping clients maximize product and service offerings, Buzz Bradley has an extensive career helping grow and lead middle market manufacturing organizations. From Account Manager to Sales leadership roles and up through the executive suite, Buzz's strong customer service focus, eye for details, and innovative, entrepreneurial spirit have allowed him to adroitly manage production, people, and profits. Buzz has been the CEO of Zpacks Corporation, an industry-leading manufacturer of ultralight backpacking equipment since 2015. Buzz lives in Gilbert, Arizona with his family and is passionately invRe-olved in charitable service.

Bob Knakal also known as "BK" has been a broker in NYC since 1984. Over that time, he has brokered the sale of over 2,348  buildings having a market value of approximately $22 billion.  For 26 years of those years (1988-2014), he owned and ran Massey Knakal Realty Services, which sold more than 3x the number of properties as the #2 firm in NYC from 2001-2014. Running the firm with a Servant Leadership management style, focusing on empowering everyone on the team, intensely training them, and building their self-esteem, led to this overwhelmingly dominant platform. The firm was sold to Cushman & Wakefield in 2014 for $100 million.  The Massey Knakal Legacy is illustrated by the fact that today in the New York City investment sales market, there are 30 companies, or divisions of companies, that are either owned by, or run by, folks who learned the business at Massey Knakal.    Bob is a prominent thought leader in the commercial real estate business, frequently writing about the market, lecturing on the market, and appearing on podcasts and national television shows on networks like Fox, CNBC and MSNBC.  He is also the Chairman & CEO of BK Real Estate Advisors.

At the time of this recording, Chris Ford was the Managing Partner and CEO for the Canadian region at Capco.   Chris has been focused on strategy and implementation of technology transformation services in the Canadian market for almost 20 years. He is a senior professional with experience leading architecture, business delivery, development, functional and non-functional and infrastructure work streams.  Chris' engagement experience spans customer-facing online channels, business process management (BPM), content management, payments and paper-based item processing for financial services. He is a software engineer by training and is a published author on Performance and Availability for enterprise financial services platforms. He also speaks regularly on technology and innovation in financial services. Chris Ford is now the CEO and Managing Partner at Electric Mind. 

Herb Cogliano leads his own advisory practice, Aspire Growth Advisors, leveraging the Scaling Up Performance Platform, described in Verne Harnish's award-winning book, Mastering the Rockefeller Habits-Scaling Up. As an International Business Coach, experienced CEO Scaling Up Practitioner, and Professor of the Scaling Up Masters Business Course, he has learned firsthand what it takes to overcome many business challenges. Herb is pursuing his passion of working with leaders of growth companies to achieve more freedom by helping them create industry leading strategies, a culture of accountability, flawless execution along with a healthy cash flow within their organizations. Herb was formerly CEO of Sullivan and Cogliano Designers, a 53-year privately held family owned, Technology Staffing and Workforce Solutions firm and in 1993, he also founded the Sullivan and Cogliano education business. Sullivan and Cogliano joined a select group of companies that have appeared on the Inc. 5000 Fastest Growing Company list multiple times. The Inc. 5000 is ranked according to percentage revenue growth over a four-year period. This achievement puts us in a unique position, especially if you consider that over 27 million businesses are registered in the USA. His firm was a Multiyear recipient of Boston and South Florida Business Journal Best Places to Work Award. This honor recognizes Sullivan and Cogliano achievements for changing the business landscape, in creating a positive work environment that attracts and retains employees through a combination of employee satisfaction, working conditions and company culture. Herb Cogliano serves on the Carroll School of Management Board of Advisors at Boston College. He has served as a Board of Director of the American Staffing Association. He is past president of the Massachusetts Association of Staffing Services, and previously served on the boards of Employment Resources, Inc. and Junior Achievement. He received his BSBA from Boston College in 1987 and his MBA from University of Massachusetts (International Honor Society Beta Gamma Sigma) in 2016.

Brad Wolansky is the Chief Executive Officer at Dover Saddlery, the largest multichannel retailer of equestrian products in the United States.  Brad brings a wealth of leadership and experience to the business. His strengths in operational excellence, omnichannel marketing, product development, and over 30 years in retail both in the private and public sectors, coupled with his passion and drive to put the customer first, establishes Brad as a strong leader and mentor for growing brands.   In addition to Brad's current position as Dover Saddlery CEO, he spent time as Chief Digital Officer at Performance Sports Group via Boston's B2C Partners, President, Consumer Direct, and President, Fundraising as well as Chief Marketing Officer for Yankee Candle, part of Newell Brands. Prior to joining Yankee Candle, Brad was CEO of The Golf Warehouse for Redcats USA and spent over 10 years with The Orvis Company, managing catalog, and product development and most recently VP of Global E-Commerce. Brad was also Director of E-Commerce Merchandising for Wilson's Leather, spent time at L.L. Bean, has engineered two start-ups, and for ten years ran a family-owned group of luggage and gift stores. Dover Saddlery® brand riding apparel, equestrian wear, bridles, saddles and other tack is developed by riders, for riders. Leveraging nearly a half-century of equestrian expertise and world-wide contacts in the equestrian industry, product development teams at Dover Saddlery are able to offer just the right choices for you and your horse. Whether you compete at the international level, your local circuit, lesson weekly or simply enjoy leisurely rides, you can count on the Dover Saddlery brand for a full selection of products to outfit your horse and yourself in complete comfort and classic style. Every item is 100% satisfaction guaranteed.

As President and CEO of Arctic Wolf, Nick Schneider brings more than 15 years of experience in building global, high-growth technology companies spanning both emerging and established markets. As a veteran in the security industry, Nick has developed expertise in creating best-of-breed technology platforms and world-class sales organizations, which have been the driving force behind Arctic Wolf's explosive growth and leadership position in the security operations market.

Norman J. Radow is the founder and CEO of RADCO, established in 1994 out of his passion for improving people's lives and revitalizing neighborhoods. RADCO's first major project involved the redevelopment of a distressed 53-story hotel, office, and condominium tower in Atlanta, which later became the Four Seasons Hotel. This transformative project helped put RADCO on the map. Since then, the company has completed over 150 successful real estate projects, establishing itself as a fearless and flexible leader in the industry, most notably in the multifamily sector. During and after the COVID-19 pandemic, RADCO expanded into hospitality, acquiring twelve hotels. The company manages its owned multifamily assets and offers a thriving third-party management service. For seven consecutive years, RADCO has been named one of the "Best Places to Work in Multifamily," based on anonymous feedback from its employees. RADCO is known for its people-first culture, valuing team member feedback and continuously striving for improvement. Norman has a long history of service and philanthropy, largely focused on the importance of public education. He served as Vice Chair and then Chairman of the Kennesaw State University (KSU) Foundation Board of Trustees for five years. In recognition of his significant contributions, KSU named the Norman J. Radow College of Humanities and Social Sciences. Norman and his wife, Lindy Radow, are dedicated supporters of education and social equity, which is exemplified through the creation of The Radow Institute for Social Equity (RISE) at KSU. Their commitment extends to the Lindy Radow Scholarship, the Paul & Beverly Radow Lecture Series on Jewish Life, and “The Bev,” a dedicated social gathering and study area in the Social Sciences building lobby. Norman remains involved with New York Law School where he serves on the board and the Radow Lecture Hall is named in honor of his dedication and service to the school. In addition to his work in real estate, Norman is a dynamic speaker and respected industry expert. He shares his insights on real estate and life in his long-running and popular blog, “Coffee with Norm.” Norman holds a Juris Doctor from New York Law School (1981) and a Bachelor of Arts from SUNY Plattsburgh. Norman was awarded an honorary doctorate in Humane Letters by the Georgia Board of Regents in December 2023.

Ken has been the President and CEO of America's Thrift Stores since November of 2013 when he stepped off of the board to assume this role. He spent his first 4 years building the team (21 of ATS's Top 25 leaders came from outside) putting in scalable systems and processes (Net Suite, Dundas BI tool, Day Force HCMS, Speed Rail Processing system), improving operations and cleaning up the balance sheet. All to prepare for accelerating growth.  Today, America's Thrift Stores (ATS) is America's premier thrift retailer in the Southeast, with 24 stores on track to deliver over $80 million in revenue and $10 million of sustaining EBIDTA in 2021 at a 66% gross margin and $12 million EBITDA run rate.  In the last 24 months, during the pandemic, ATS has added 7 new stores to its base of 17. Prior to the onset of the pandemic in March 2020, ATS's business was already incredibly healthy, growing total topline sales for 12 straight quarters and same-store sales for 11 straight quarters.  Reopening in June 2020, ATS emerged equally strong, with 4 back-to-back quarters of comp store sales growth, including a historic Q1 where both comp-store sales and Total Sales hit record-breaking levels. Sustaining EBITDA is expected to be over $14 million in 2022 and will more than double over the next 5 years as the company continues to grow comp store sales, opens 3-5 new stores annually, and enters the rapidly accelerating online thrift space.  Prior to joining America's Thrift Stores, Ken was a mentor, advisor, and coach to small and mid-size company CEOs as an Operating Partner with Alpine Investors LLC stretching across industries from Online Education to Online Retail Lighting & Design to Retail Furniture to Used Cars to Retail Thrift.  In this role, he coached CEOs and their leadership teams on helping them build and drive their growth strategies and sales & marketing execution. He also stepped into interim leadership roles and helped with sourcing and due diligence on potential new acquisition candidates.  Ken Sobaski has been a visionary, strategic President & CEO with a history of significantly accelerating growth and inspiring teamwork on businesses across multiple different industries: consumer food, online e-commerce, recreational products, and giftware. He has over 30 years of experience at blue chip marketing-driven companies like Kraft, General Mills, Pillsbury, Polaris, and Capella Education Company, where he grew brands like Orville Redenbacher, Green Giant, Wheaties, Kraft Macaroni & Cheese, and Polaris.  Ken's distinction is his ability to lead his teams to achieve significant levels of growth not reached before. Here are a few examples: At Pillsbury, he took a $600mm refrigerated baked goods business that was flat or declining for 5 years and added $120mm in revenue in year 1, and built a pipeline of new products that grew $270mm of incremental revenue over 3 years At Green Giant he successfully launched Create-a-Meal, a $150mm new frozen vegetable meal starter business, achieving record shares in frozen vegetables, moving to #1 position in the category in 12 months On Orville Redenbacher, he reversed 49-months of declines with 12 months of double-digit volume gains. At Polaris, he grew revenue +34% in just over 3 years by focusing/improving marketing execution and upgrading the dealer network At Capella Education Company (an online consumer education company) he took growth from +15% per year to +25% per year, adding $120mm in revenue in under 3 years Ken has served on the boards of The Minnesota Diabetes Association, The Twin Cities United Way, and The Council on Aging – Orange County.  Ken holds a BA in Economics & Urban Studies from St. Olaf College and an MBA in Marketing & Strategy from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University 

Tim Murphy is the CEO of APX Operating Company LLC, dba Boomers Parks, owned by Cerberus Private Equity ($60B AUM). Boomers Parks operates six family entertainment centers and two water parks in California, Florida, and New Jersey. Since becoming CEO in 2020, Tim led Boomers Parks from bankruptcy to profitability within a year, amidst a global pandemic. Initially operating at a $10 million loss, he revamped the customer experience and introduced new revenue streams, resulting in a 180% revenue increase in 2021 and continued growth through today. Tim began his 35+ year career at Walt Disney World and has worked with over 150 entertainment, restaurant, and food & beverage brands at more than 10,000 locations in senior roles. He is also a Board Director at Coney Park & Happy City, part of The Carlyle Group ($426B AUM), which operates 100+ family entertainment centers in Latin America. Tim's expertise includes top brands like Disney, Darden Restaurants, Jimmy John's, Applebee's, and Sonny's. He has managed over 35 transactions involving 1,200+ locations, negotiating deals from $11 million to $350 million+. He is a member of IAAPA, CAPA, FAA, AAMA, NRA, CRA, WWA, ICSC, and IFA, and is a licensed commercial real estate broker in Florida. Tim holds a BS/BA in Accounting from the University of Central Florida and an MBA in Finance from Orlando College. Connect with Tim at Tim@BoomersParks.com and on LinkedIn at TimMurphyCEO.  

At age 26, Andy Hilliard had a quarter-life crisis that changed the trajectory of his life. In an effort to find himself, Andy joined the Peace Corps in 1988. On assignment in Costa Rica, he fell in love with the culture—and the woman who became his wife. The experience led Andy to dedicate himself to enriching businesses and individuals through valuable cultural exchange.  As CEO of Accelerance, Andy helps companies find the talent they need to scale high performing, globally distributed software engineering and product development teams.  Andy and Accelerance travel the world, assessing and certifying development partners with a proprietary matching system, so clients can connect with confidence to the top 1% of outsourcing partners worldwide. The Accelerance team also helps clients optimize their outsourcing partner relationships through mutual understanding, communication, and effective management.  Previously, Andy founded the groundbreaking nearshore software development services company, Isthmus Costa Rica. He began his global software services career as a Division Manager at Cognizant Technology Solutions during its formative years.  Currently living in Kenwood, California, Andy has visited more than 60 countries. He holds an MBA in International Business, Finance, and Marketing from the Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern. 

Brian Will is a Serial Entrepreneur, a Two-time Wall Street Journal Best Selling Author, and an industry-leading Business and Sales Management Consultant. Brian has created or co-created seven successful companies in four different industries during his career. These companies were worth over half a billion dollars at their peak. He has also done multiple turnaround projects for companies from startups to Fortune 500, and helped those organizations drive billions of dollars in sales. His multifaceted background allows him to understand and teach agile processes and principles and articulate their implications from multiple perspectives, from the development team to the executive board. Today, Brian Will owns a growing chain of restaurants in the Atlanta area and a residential and commercial Real Estate business in Georgia and Florida. He also serves on the city council in his hometown of Alpharetta, Georgia.  

Thomas Rivera is the Executive Director for Xcel Mentoring Network in Florida. Xcel furthers the ability to educate youth holistically through hands-on career training & certifications, mentoring, apprenticeship, and job placement. Tom began mentoring in early 1990 by helping the poor, the afflicted, and the abused. He reached out to gang members and those who seemed to have no hope with a message of hope and grace. He later began serving as an Associate Pastor in one of the largest Hispanic churches in the Chicago metropolitan area. He worked in the inner city bringing a message of restoration and hope. Tom also traveled to Latin and South America on several missions to help and bring hope to the hopeless. Tom moved to South Florida and continued his mentoring and spiritual counseling through his work in recovery centers as well as mentoring those he coached in fitness centers. Six years ago, Tom joined Xcel Strategies Inc. as a Regional Director and expanded its operations to South Florida. In 2023, Tom incorporated Xcel as Florida Mentoring Network, DBA Xcel Mentoring Network (an affiliate of Xcel Strategies Inc.) and is now serving as the Executive Director. Tom has an extensive counseling education. He attended the Florida Theological Seminary and received a master's degree in theology. Tom also hosted the radio program, Second Chance, which aired in 2012, delivering a message of hope to the hopeless, deliverance to the oppressed, and love to the rejected. Key Messages: I believe that every kid should have the opportunity to pursue secondary education. It is my mission to educate youth on the multiple career path options and provide them with the opportunities and resources to obtain such.

Dale Wills is the owner and founder of Centra Companies, a group of land development, real estate, and construction companies based out of the Twin Cities. Since 2011, he has overseen the completion of more than $500 million in new construction across 50+ projects spanning 28 Twin Cities suburbs, ranging from new home construction to apartment rehab and commercial building. With more than 35 years of experience in property redevelopment, Dale Wills has taken Centra Companies to new heights opening several divisions, including Centra Homes and Centra Capital Partners, under his leadership.   About Centra: We Build Homes and Communities We take pride in building the places where memories will be made Centra Homes is one of the largest residential property developers in Minnesota.  We've built dozens of communities throughout the North Metro, giving thousands of people a beautiful place to call home. We are focused on creating thriving communities that offer all the best amenities in prime locations. Enjoy a place to work and play in the house you've always wanted.  

As the Founder and CEO of a pioneering fractional legal team, I specialize in delivering tailored legal solutions that drive growth, reduce risk, protect intellectual property, and navigate complex regulations in the fast-paced worlds of SaaS, Ecommerce, and emerging technologies. With a background that spans engineering, business, and law, I bring a multifaceted perspective to the table. I began my legal career as a patent attorney, where I honed my skills in protecting groundbreaking inventions and guiding companies through the intricacies of intellectual property law. Today, I combine that experience with a deep understanding of business strategy to lead a dynamic team of attorneys who operate cohesively and collaboratively as a FRACTIONAL LEGAL TEAM that integrate seamlessly with our clients' operations. We effectively operate as a fully-staffed in-house legal team, although on a fractional budget, that scales with our clients' needs and circumstances. My approach is simple: I build legal teams that function as an extension of your business. We're not just advisors; we're partners in your success, committed to delivering the legal support you need to innovate and grow. Whether it's navigating the complexities of corporate governance, safeguarding your data privacy, identifying and protecting your IP, negotiating technology licenses, or helping you resolve disputes, we have the expertise to help you move forward with confidence. At the core of our practice is a deep understanding of the unique challenges that startups and scaling companies face. We tailor our services to meet your specific needs, offering the flexibility and strategic insight that traditional law firms often can't provide. Our goal is to empower you to focus on what you do best—building your business—while we handle the legal complexities. Let's connect if you're looking for a legal partner who understands the demands of scaling a business and is ready to help you achieve your vision.

About Jonas Bordo Jonas Bordo is the CEO and Co-Founder of Dwellsy, the free residential rental marketplace that makes it easy to find hard-to-find rentals. Prior to co-founding Dwellsy, Jonas was a senior executive at several leading real estate firms including Essex Property Trust and Bentall GreenOak and was with the Boston Consulting Group after graduating with his MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business.  Jonas has had the good fortune to build, re-build and lead amazing teams across the multifamily and commercial real estate operational and strategic spectrum, manage large P&Ls, deliver big profit increases, orchestrate the sale of several businesses, develop a strategic plan for one of the world's leading symphony orchestras, implement a Toyota production system and create more than 40 brands. He is husband to Rosalind and father to Bailey, Zach and Thea, an avid hiker, a lifelong learner and a maker of things, sometimes out of wood. About Dwellsy Dwellsy is a comprehensive residential home rentals marketplace based on the radical concept that true, organic search in a free eco-system creates more value than the pay-to-play model embraced by all of the current rental listing services. Indeed, while barely more than a year old, Dwellsy has more residential rental listings than any of the major listing sites—as well as the most diverse set of listings—including both affordable and higher-end properties. Dwellsy's entirely different approach to residential rental listings focuses on presenting houses and apartments based on features renters need and want — not based on how much landlords pay to show their listings. Dwellsy investors include Blackhorn Ventures, Anne Wojcicki, Stanford Professors, and a number of residential real estate industry insiders. Jonas and the Dwellsy team have also recently launched their own podcast, Rent Matters, available wherever you listen to podcasts!

Craig Barber is the past CEO of Restaurant Growth Services, with several years of experience as a C-level executive for a multi-concept franchisor along with owning a franchise while serving as board chair for the franchisee association provides unique insight into the opportunities (and challenges) of franchise relationships. Have served on the boards of a public company, private equity-owned companies and the franchisee association of a large (1,500+ unit) mid-scale restaurant concept.

Cameron Gunter is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of PEG Companies, a full-service commercial real estate investment firm known for its unique approach to creating value. A bold leader, Cameron has a widespread reputation for successfully guiding his teams through challenging endeavors that many others in the commercial real estate space have shied away from.  Cameron's farm-raised work ethic, outside-the-box thinking, commitment to absolute transparency, and past professional experience have helped him to lead PEG to where it is today. A CPA by training with over eight years mastering the entitlement process in city management, Cameron brings a perspective that helps PEG offer compelling investment opportunities through innovative and cost-effective solutions to the complexities of real estate markets today. As one of the youngest finance directors in Utah's city government history, Cameron structured the largest tax incentive project in the western United States at the time for the city of Lehi, Utah with Micron Technology, Inc. and continues to make headlines as PEG grows throughout the United States and Canada.  With dozens of projects completed and many others under way, Cameron is proud of the market-leading position PEG has secured in its nearly 20 years of operation. Whether it is becoming the first developer ever to finish an AC Hotel by Marriott on time and under budget, building one of the only four-story branded hotel buildings in downtown Jackson Hole, developing a major student housing hub for Utah's largest university, or breaking ground on the first Qualified Opportunity Zone projects in multiple states, Cameron Gunter rises to every challenge and finds great fulfillment in spurring economic growth for communities everywhere.  Cameron received his BA in Business Administration from Idaho State University.  

Jorge Titinger is a seasoned executive and board member with over 35 years of experience in the high-tech industry, focusing on strategy, corporate transformations, and leadership development. As the founder and CEO of Titinger Consulting, Jorge provides strategic advisory services, guiding companies through complex M&A processes, digital transformations, and cultural alignment initiatives. His expertise is sought after by organizations ranging from multi-billion-dollar corporations to innovative startups. Jorge has an impressive track record of board service across public, private, and non-profit sectors. He currently serves as the Chairman of the Board at Axcelis (NASDAQ: ACLS), where he also chairs the Compensation Committee and was a member of the Audit Committee. In addition, he is an independent board member at FormFactor (NASDAQ: FORM) and Ichor Systems (NASDAQ: ICHR), leading key committees including Nominating & Governance, Compensation, and Cyber Security & AI. He has been recognized for his Board service as one of the NACD 100 in 2023 and 2024. His past board experience includes roles at CalAmp, COHU, HTGC, Xcerra, SGI, Verigy, Electroglas, and Thermawave, where he has played pivotal roles in governance, strategic planning, and corporate oversight. Jorge's contributions to board governance are well-recognized, particularly his leadership in Compensation/Human Capital, Nominating and Governance, and Cyber Security committees. Jorge's board involvement extends beyond the corporate realm into the non-profit sector, where he has served on the boards of the Hispanic Foundation of Silicon Valley, the Stanford Children's Hospital, Innovate Public Schools, Nashville Entrepreneur Center, and Valor Academy. His commitment to community service is further reflected in his role as Chairman of the Board at the Hispanic Foundation of Silicon Valley, where he led initiatives to improve the lives of the Hispanic community in Silicon Valley. Jorge's executive leadership experience includes his tenure as President, CEO, and Director of Silicon Graphics (SGI) and Verigy Inc., where he successfully led turnarounds that culminated in high-value acquisitions. His strategic leadership has been instrumental in driving operational excellence, fostering innovation, and building high-performing teams. An award-winning author, Jorge co-wrote "Differences that Make a Difference" with Pedro Espinoza, capturing insights from over 100 top executives on the positive impact of diversity and inclusion on business success. His expertise in DEI, innovation, and corporate strategy makes him a sought-after speaker and thought leader in these areas. Jorge holds a B.S. and M.S. in Electrical Engineering and an M.S. in Engineering Management and Business, all from Stanford University. A former accomplished athlete, Jorge captained both the Stanford Varsity soccer team and the USA national indoor soccer team. He remains passionate about education, leadership, and contributing to the success of businesses and communities.

Greg Ward stands as the entrepreneurial force behind Ward Law Group, a Miami-based personal injury firm distinguished by its empathetic engagement with the community, client-centric values, and a progressive strategy that has fueled its swift expansion. His journey began in 2012 when he, alongside his partner and wife, Jany, laid the foundation for Ward Law Group. Starting in a modest office with nothing but a folding table and a laptop, they quickly expanded their team and set their sights on serving the Hispanic communities in South Florida, focusing on car accident victims. Under Greg's leadership, the firm has evolved from a humble two-person operation into a prominent legal entity in South Florida, now boasting over 120 dedicated team members. This growth trajectory is a testament to Ward's entrepreneurial spirit and his commitment to providing Spanish-speaking clients with unparalleled legal representation. Ward's legal prowess, backed by a juris doctorate from the University of Baltimore School of Law and over two decades of experience, has been instrumental in securing more than $250 million in compensation for clients in Miami/South Florida and New York. His strategic vision has propelled the Ward Law Group to achieve an impressive annual growth rate of over 40% in the last eight years, alongside securing 22 settlements of over $1 million each. A standout achievement includes a landmark settlement exceeding $100 million, marking one of the nation's largest of its kind. Greg's entrepreneurial journey is decorated with numerous accolades recognizing his innovative business practices and legal expertise. He has been honored by the National Trial Lawyers, the South Florida Legal Guide, Florida Trend Magazine, Super Lawyers, and Best Lawyers in America, among others. Beyond the courtroom, Ward is an influential voice in the entrepreneurial community, frequently sharing his insights on news programs, conferences, and podcasts nationwide. His discussions span a range of topics, from business growth strategies and systemization to personal development and faith-based entrepreneurship, showcasing his multifaceted approach to leadership and success in the legal sector.

As CEO and Co-Founder of Mercatus, I grew a dining-room-table idea into the largest private market investment platform, managing $1.5 trillion in assets across real estate, infrastructure, and energy sectors. Following its acquisition by State Street, I successfully guided the integration while doubling revenue and maintaining less than 2% employee turnover. Before Mercatus, I spent 25 years in the semiconductor industry, driving growth and innovation at market-leading companies like Texas Instruments, Fujitsu, PMC-Sierra Agilent Technologies and WJ Communications. These global head of sales and marketing roles honed my expertise in navigating complex markets, scaling teams, and delivering operational excellence. Advisory and Board Expertise in Fintech AI, SaaS Platforms, and Semiconductor technologies, with experience in: -Strategic growth and scaling: Proven ability to align people, processes, and priorities to create exponential growth. -M&A and integration: Hands-on expertise in acquisitions, ensuring seamless transitions while maintaining momentum. -Corporate governance: Seasoned in board-level decision-making, stakeholder engagement, and fostering accountability and transparency. -Culture and talent development: Building high-performing teams and creating cultures that drive innovation and execution. What Others Say About Me "Haresh has an exceptional ability to foresee trends, identify opportunities, and navigate challenges with confidence and precision." "A revenue-driven leader who harmonizes all aspects of a business to deliver aggressive, sustainable growth." "His focus on culture, transparency, and integrity sets him apart as a board member and trusted advisor." Let's Connect I'm passionate about leveraging my experience to help early and mid-stage organizations achieve their full potential. Whether as a board member, advisor, or consultant, I'm eager to work with leadership teams and investors to drive growth, help execute a critical pivot, and achieve product market fit. and solve challenges.

Summer Craig, the President & CEO of Craig Group, is a seasoned digital marketer with a background driving ROI-focused strategies for multi-million dollar companies. From starting her career at Austin-based ad agency GSD&M working on Mastercard, Walmart, and Southwest Airlines to navigating the corporate communications complexities of mergers and buyouts in the telecom industry at SBCGlobal-Cingular-AT&T, Summer rapidly rose through the ranks and her analytical prowess became a hallmark of her career. This skillset, combined with her expertise in media buying and selling, positioned her as a standout in the early advertising landscape. Charging into the digital realm, Summer played a pivotal role at AOL, contributing to the adoption of innovative Martech and pioneering programmatic advertising. That experience was a stepping stone to Summer's tenure at HomeAway.com (later VRBO), where the company completed a successful IPO and delved into the world of venture capital, and her entrepreneurial flame was lit. She moved back to Houston and soon became a regional client rep with New York-based Publicis ZenithOptimedia overseeing Gulf States Toyota, where she learned the intricacies of operating one of the world's largest privately held businesses under a major brand. Summer transitioned into an in-house leadership role where she was responsible for showing marketing effectiveness to the board, dealer council, and executive stakeholder groups. In 2019, Summer founded Craig Group, a company rooted in data-first sales and marketing, leveraging her extensive wisdom and expertise built over the course of 20 years to create impactful results for clients. Beyond building a large team across four states, Summer's most impressive personal accomplishments include summiting Mount Kilimanjaro and Mount Rainier as a proud mom of three. Her out-of-the-office passions — ranging from mountain climbing and camping to competitive sports and giving time to causes she believes in — reveal an authentic commitment to pushing boundaries and pursuing hard goals. For decision-makers at private equity-backed businesses and independent family-owned companies, Summer Craig is a valuable and dynamic partner, combining a wealth of experience with a relentless focus on delivering tangible value.

Dave Powers serves as President & CEO of Deckers Brands, a global footwear and apparel company based in Santa Barbara, Calif. His current role includes prioritizing strategic initiatives and investments to expand the global distribution footprint of Deckers Brands, while also ensuring consumers have a seamless experience when engaging directly with each channel or brand. He focuses on long-term growth and Omni Channel strategies for the company's five high-performing brands: UGG®, Teva®, Sanuk®, HOKA One One® and Koolaburra®. Since 2012, Dave has served in various roles at Deckers Brands, including spearheading growth initiatives for the company's brand portfolio as President of Brands and leading direct-to-consumer strategies as President of Direct-to-Consumer. Dave is passionate about consumer-led insight and innovation as well as doing great in business and doing good for people and the planet. His passion for innovation as well as improvement led by consumer insight has resulted in gains in operating margin and revenue. Dave also remains committed to sustainability as well as making a positive societal impact and leading a strong company culture. Under his leadership as President & CEO since 2016, Deckers Brands has received accolades for stellar financial performance and sustainability efforts. In 2019, Deckers was selected by Investor's Business Daily® as one of the 50 Best ESG Companies: A List of Today's Top Stocks For Environmental, Social and Governance Values. The company was also recognized by Footwear News as 2020 Company of the Year for its financial performance and commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion as well as significant charitable giving for COVID-19 relief.  In 2020, Dave was named a 2020 Businessperson of the Year by Fortune, ranking number 13 on their list of top executives. Dave has over twenty years of experience in merchandising, concept development and leadership of global retail operations at some of the industry's top brands. Prior to joining Deckers Brands, he held executive leadership roles at Converse, including four years as Vice President of Global Direct-to-Consumer where he successfully guided the expansion of the brand globally, and Timberland, where he led worldwide retail merchandising, marketing, visual and store design as well as the creation of a sustainable line of footwear and apparel. A native of New Hampshire, Dave graduated Cum Laude from Northeastern University with a bachelor's degree in marketing. Now residing in Santa Barbara, Calif., he enjoys spending time outdoors with his wife and two sons.

Peter Dickstein is a 35-year business leader (Founder, CEO, CFO, and strategy advisor). He is Founder of ShadyPower Technologies, developer of a proprietary, patent-pending IOT technology platform for climate-sustainable, enhanced comfort outdoor work and living. He is Co-Founder of TAPS, a machine-learning consultancy focused on sales lead optimization and churn prevention. He is Chairman (Emeritus) and Co-Founder of Solful (www.solful.com), a California-based branded destination cannabis dispensary company and a guest lecturer at universities including the Haas School of Business at UC Berkeley. He has served in CEO, Chairman, and other C-Suite roles for IOT, SAAS, cleantech, and travel insurance companies. In 1999 Peter founded and served as CEO of eProsper, Inc. (ultimately acquired by Morgan Stanley in 2018 for $900MM) whose patented, SAAS capitalization management system (“CapMx”) became the industry gold standard in the early 2000s and is used today by more than 6,000 venture-funded companies and their corporate law firms. Peter served as CFO for several medical device and technology companies including TruMed Systems, Inc., EndoTex Interventional Systems (acquired by Boston Scientific) and Atrionix (acquired by Johnson & Johnson). He was an EIR at Los Alamos National Laboratory where he identified and helped commercialize technology including Acoustic Cytometry Systems (acquired by Thermo Fisher Scientific) and architected the Los Alamos Venture Acceleration Fund. In the early 90s Peter negotiated a $500MM vendor financing facility for Pyxis Corporation (ultimately acquired by Becton Dickinson for $12BB) with GE Capital that rapidly accelerated Pyxis' market penetration and provided non-dilutive growth capital in lieu of equity. In addition to his general management roles, Peter has initiated, organized, negotiated, and completed numerous equity, debt, and M&A transactions with angel, institutional and strategic investors, and lenders. He has managed functional areas including product development and engineering, sales, service, finance and administration, and external relationships with investors, contract manufacturers, investment bankers, banks, attorneys, and auditors. Peter has served on the boards of Friends of the Urban Forest, the San Francisco Day School, and multiple companies. He is a dual citizen of the United States and Germany. He holds a B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania and a M.B.A. from The Wharton School.

Andrew serves as Hyperscience's CEO. He brings a wealth of experience and proven track record that advances the company's overall strategy and growth initiatives—at a time in which Hyperscience is experiencing rapidly expanding demand. Prior to Hyperscience, Andrew was CEO of InMoment, a recognized leader in the customer experience (CX) software industry, where he oversaw significant growth and expansion. He has also held strategic executive positions at several other successful technology companies, including HP Software, where he was responsible for driving key innovation, product development, and revenue growth. Before that, he led the high-growth business unit within HP Autonomy, a $1.1 billion market leader in unstructured data applications and solutions, focusing on customer experience and marketing technology. In 2006, his firm Singlecast Technologies was acquired and brought into Autonomy via ZANTAZ.

Mark Budzinski is the CEO of Clean Data and a seasoned business leader with deep expertise in data analytics. As the former CEO of WhereScape, Mark led the company to over $30M in annual revenue before executing a successful eight-figure exit. Now, he advises clients on cutting through AI hype to achieve real business growth from their analytics investments. Mark is also the author of "Peer-To-Peer Culture: What It Takes For Small Businesses To Grow Up," where he explores the vital role of organizational behavior in driving business success.

As CEO of Hyde Engineering + Consulting, Inc., Kerren Bergman leads a global engineering organization of more than 250 employees. Kerren began her career with Hyde in 1998 as the Document Control Specialist, advancing with the company in various roles of increasing responsibility. Her experience in nearly every aspect of the business including Operations, Business Development, Human Resources, Quality, Safety, and IT has been essential to understanding all of the moving parts of organizational oversight. As a servant leader, Kerren guides Hyde by cultivating an ‘attitude of gratitude.' She is driven, collaborative, passionate about people, and committed to the evolution of Hyde from a Founder-led to a 100% employee-owned organization. Kerren holds a Bachelor of Arts and Master's in Education from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). Having raised two daughters as a single mother, Kerren is proud to support her team members who are navigating parenthood while growing their careers.

Marc Mlyn is the President and CEO of RaySearch Americas, a wholly owned subsidiary of RaySearch Laboratories AB in Stockholm, Sweden.  Marc began work in medical physics doing research as an undergraduate in the late 1980's, and went on to become a certified medical dosimetrist (https://www.medicaldosimetry.org/about/medical-dosimetrist/). He worked in Radiation Therapy hospitals until 1997, when he went to work as a customer service specialist for ADAC, which was soon acquired by Philips Medical System in 2000. He worked as a senior service manager, traveling the world and working with distributors, sales staff and customers all over the globe.  In 2007 Marc went to CIVCO and became the vice president of Marketing, developing software and hardware systems for radiation therapy. When RaySearch Laboratories released a new software platform in 2011, he was asked to start up the Americas organization to provide sales, support and training.  RaySearch Americas grew from three people to fifty people over the next few years, and has built a successful organization with offices in New York City and Santa Clara California. Marc has an MBA from the New York Institute of Technology, and an MS in Cybersecurity from the Georgia Institute of Technology.

Dale Wills is the owner and founder of Centra Companies, a group of land development, real estate, and construction companies based out of the Twin Cities. Since 2011, he has overseen the completion of more than $500 million in new construction across 50+ projects spanning 28 Twin Cities suburbs, ranging from new home construction to apartment rehab and commercial building. With more than 35 years of experience in property redevelopment, Dale has taken Centra Companies to new heights opening several divisions, including Centra Homes and Centra Capital Partners, under his leadership.

Dr. Tianyi Jiang (TJ) co-founded AvePoint in 2001 and has served as the organization's Chief Executive Officer since 2005. A recipient of Ernst & Young's Entrepreneur of the Year award in New Jersey in 2010, TJ received both B.S. and Masters in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Cornell University, and a Master of Philosophy and Ph.D. in Data Mining from the Department of Information Systems, Operations Management, and Statistics, Stern School of Business, New York University. About AvePoint A five-time winner of the Microsoft Partner of the Year award, AvePoint offers the only full suite of SaaS solutions to migrate, manage and protect data in Microsoft 365. More than 8 million cloud users rely on our solutions to make organizations more productive, compliant and secure. Our SaaS solutions are also available to managed service providers, so they can better support and manage their small and mid-sized business customers. Our multi-tenant solutions are available from over a dozen distributors in more than 100 cloud marketplaces worldwide. In 2001, our founders were busy preparing to bring our first product to market — a backup solution for Microsoft's email service, Exchange. Shortly after, their focus quickly turned to providing a backup solution for a new Microsoft product that offered site-based collaboration: SharePoint 2001. Today, our full suite of data management solutions for Microsoft 365 is hosted across 13 global datacenters for unmatched scalability, and to support data sovereignty requirements. Our cloud platform is certified against leading security accreditations and boasts one of the largest SaaS userbases in the Microsoft 365 ecosystem. We have pushed the boundaries of enterprise digital collaboration with first-to-market technologies for two decades. More than half of our workforce – including our senior leadership team – are technologists.

Jeff Helfgott loves scaling businesses by focusing on what makes them special – their people. Jeff is currently the CEO of Boardroom Styling Lounge, an upscale men's grooming franchise that spans 46 locations across 8 states. Previously Jeff was the CEO of Empower Aesthetics (a rapid growth medspa platform backed by Shore Capital), which scaled 3x through M&A and de novo growth, COO of Excel Fitness (a Planet Fitness franchisee which grew from 17 to 92 locations) and Chief of Staff of Alamo Drafthouse. Jeff is a proud US Army veteran. About Boardroom Styling Lounge:  We've created a connected space in a relaxing environment where you can grab a beer, sit back and let our expert stylists help you express your personal style or create an entire new one that goes beyond your expectations. Style can be transformative and it isn't reserved for a select few, it's available to every single one of us, every single day. And we believe that everyone who walks through our doors should leave feeling as great as they look. That's why we are proud to offer The Boardroom Experience across 8 states and over 45 locations and counting.   

Ambassador Ken Hackett was nominated by President Barack Obama on June 14, 2013 to serve as the U.S. Ambassador to the Holy See. The United States Senate confirmed Ambassador Hackett on August 1, 2013, and he was sworn in on August 20, 2013. Prior to his appointment, Mr. Hackett was President of Catholic Relief Services (CRS), an international humanitarian agency supported by the U.S. Catholic community, from 1993 to 2012. As President, Mr. Hackett led 5,000 CRS employees in over 100 countries. He joined CRS in 1972, starting his career in Sierra Leone. Mr. Hackett also held CRS assignments overseas in the Philippines and Kenya. As regional director for Africa, he led CRS's response to the Ethiopian famine (1984-1985) and supervised CRS's operations during the crisis in Somalia in the early 1990s. It was under his leadership that CRS responded to recovery efforts such as those following the Rwanda genocide, the Bosnian and Kosovo emergencies, the Asian tsunami, and the Haiti earthquake. Equally notable was CRS's work during his tenure as President on behalf of people living with HIV/AIDS. After a 40-year career with CRS, Mr. Hackett joined the University of Notre Dame's Institution for Global Development in 2012 where he served as an advisor. Prior to joining CRS, Mr. Hackett served as a Peace Corps Volunteer in Ghana. Mr. Hackett served on the Board of Directors of the Millennium Challenge Corporation (2004-2010), a U.S. foreign aid agency dedicated to fighting global poverty. He was also a member of the Global Poverty Task Force led by the White House Office of Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships. From 1996-2004, Mr. Hackett was Vice President of Caritas Internationalis, the confederation of Catholic humanitarian organizations. He has also served as a Member of the Pontifical Council Cor Unum – the Vatican body that coordinates the Church's charitable work – and on the Boards of the Africa Society and Jesuit Refugee Services. Mr. Hackett holds many distinguished honors. In 2004, he was named a Knight Commander of the Equestrian Order of St. Gregory the Great, one of the highest papal honors. He holds 16 honorary doctorate degrees from various U.S. universities and was the 2012 recipient of the Laetare Award from the University of Notre Dame, the oldest and most prestigious award for American Catholics. Mr. Hackett has received recognition for his humanitarian work from foreign governments, including the National Order from the Republic of Benin (2008) and the National Medal of Honor from Sierra Leone (1998). Mr. Hackett, originally of West Roxbury, Massachusetts, earned his undergraduate degree from Boston College.

Mark Bischoff is the President and CEO of Starnet Worldwide Commercial Flooring Partnership, the leading marketing network of independent commercial flooring contractors in Canada and the United States. His career in building products and construction services spans 32 years overall and 29 years in the commercial market. After a start at Sears in flooring retail, he spent most of his career at Johnsonite and Tarkett where he was part of the team driving Tarkett to industry-leading organic growth.  While at Tarkett, Mark served in various roles such as Business Manager, Product Manager, Director of Strategic Partnerships, and Vice President of Sales. He went to the Mohawk Group for a brief period as Senior Vice President of the Healthcare and Senior Living end user-focused segment. Due to his long history as a trusted vendor contact to the Starnet cooperative, he was recruited by the Board of Directors to provide the organization with a successful staff transition and leadership succession in 2018. In 2019 Mark became President and CEO of Starnet. Mark Bischoff and his staff have dramatically expanded the visibility and thought leadership impact of Starnet in the construction industry. Starnet members now generate more than $4 Billion in product and installation sales.  His team has also led the member-owned marketing cooperative to record returns for the shareholders and record purchasing levels for their supporting vendors.   

With over

Stephen Strome retired as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Handleman Company, a New York Stock Exchange-listed corporation, in November 2007.  Mr. Strome served as Chief Executive Officer for 17 years following his election in 1991. He was elected Chairman of the Board in 2001.  He became a member of the Handleman Company Board of Directors in 1988. Handleman Company was one of world's largest distributors of music CDs with operations in the United States, Canada, and the United Kingdom with annual sales of $1.3 Billion. Before being named President in 1990, Mr. Strome served as the company's Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer for two years.  Before being appointed COO, he was Executive Vice President and President of the company's video and home computer software division.  In 1985, he pioneered the home video “sell-through” business to the mass marketplace.  The home entertainment industry recognized Mr. Strome for this accomplishment by electing him to the Video Hall of Fame. From 1974 to 1978, Mr. Strome was employed as a Regional Manager of Labor Relations for Fruehauf Corporation.  He began his career with Kmart Corporation in 1968, holding positions of increasing responsibility until 1974. Mr. Strome was elected to serve on the Board of Directors of AmerUs, a NYSE-listed life insurance and annuity company with over $26 billion in assets, from 2003 through 2007, when the company was sold.  He served as Vice Chair of the Corporate Governance and Nominating Committee and a member of the AmerUs Compensation Committee. After retiring, Mr. Strome was appointed Executive in Residence at the Mike Ilitch School of Business at Wayne State University. In that position, he worked with the Career Planning and Placement Office perusing additional firms to recruit at the business school. He also mentored students to help them achieve their career goals. Mr. Strome also consulted for a small growing internet distribution company seeking to grow its online business. Mr. Strome was and remains an active board member for several tax-exempt organizations. Currently, he a board member and serves as treasurer as well as chair of the finance and audit committee for the Federation of Greater Naples. Mr. Strome also serves as past chair on the board of the Holocaust Museum of Naples.  Previously, he served as the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of Detroit Public Television and remains an emeritus board member.  He also served as the former Chairman, and is an emeritus board member of the Board of Visitors of Wayne State University's Ilitch School of Business Administration. He is also an emeritus board member of the Wayne State University Foundation. Mr. Strome served as a Vice Chair of the Michigan Roundtable for Diversity and Inclusion (formerly the NCCJ) and was a board member of the Child Abuse and Neglect Council of Oakland County. Mr. Strome earned his Masters of Business Administration from Wayne State University and a Bachelor of Arts degree from Hillsdale College.

John Munsell is the co-founder and CEO of Bizzuka, a Inc 5,000 company and a clear force in the world of AI strategy. Through his proven methods, John has helped over 600 business leaders in the past year alone! His frameworks - AI Strategy Canvas™ and Scalable Prompt Engineering™, are transforming AI implementation across businesses and has become a mandatory part of LSU's AI curriculum. John is dedicated to not just making AI accessible and profitable for all but also making employees more effective and valuable, allowing companies to retain their workforce and thrive in the AI revolution.

Jim Eickhoff is the President and CEO of Creative Dining Services based in Zeeland, MI. Jim joined Creative Dining in 2015 after 35 years of Senior Executive leadership experience from his time at Fortune 200 companies across the U.S., including the University of Phoenix/Apollo Education Group, Sallie Mae, HOSTS Learning, and The ServiceMaster Company. Under Jim's leadership, Creative Dining has experienced 50% growth and leaped to the 24th largest food service management company in America.  He is the first non-founder serving as President & CEO and is focused on excellent client experiences: providing outstanding dining programs with the highest level of customer service and integrity. Jim is committed to upholding a company culture of family while coaching employees to leverage their unique strengths to reach their highest potential. Jim Eickhoff received his B.A. in English and Secondary Education from Hope College in Holland, Michigan.  Jim and his wife, Lynn, reside in Holland, Michigan.

Tim Murphy is the CEO of APX Operating Company LLC, dba Boomers Parks, owned by Cerberus private equity ($60B AUM). Boomers Parks operates six family entertainment centers and two water parks in California, Florida, and New Jersey. Since becoming CEO in 2020, Tim led Boomers Parks from bankruptcy to profitability within a year, amidst a global pandemic. Initially operating at a $10 million loss, he revamped the customer experience and introduced new revenue streams, resulting in a 180% revenue increase in 2021 and continued growth through today. Tim began his 35+ year career at Walt Disney World and has worked with over 150 entertainment, restaurant, and food & beverage brands at more than 10,000 locations in senior roles. He is also a Board Director at Coney Park & Happy City, part of The Carlyle Group ($426B AUM), which operates 100+ family entertainment centers in Latin America. Tim's expertise includes top brands like Disney, Darden Restaurants, Jimmy John's, Applebee's, and Sonny's. He has managed over 35 transactions involving 1,200+ locations, negotiating deals from $11 million to $350 million+. He is a member of IAAPA, CAPA, FAA, AAMA, NRA, CRA, WWA, ICSC, and IFA, and is a licensed commercial real estate broker in Florida. Tim holds a BS/BA in Accounting from the University of Central Florida and an MBA in Finance from Orlando College. Connect with Tim at Tim@BoomersParks.com and on LinkedIn at TimMurphyCEO.

Chelsea Jubilee is the co-founder, CEO, visionary, and driving force behind the company Energized Health, which is dedicated to helping Americans optimize their health at the cellular level. With over twenty years of experience in operating businesses, the Southern California native, along with her Co-founder husband John Jubilee, is pioneering cellular health awareness. Energized Health utilizes a protocol to reduce the need for medication, prevent disease, and reverse ailments. Chelsea Jubilee aims to develop a company to help people get healthy in body, mind, and spirit.

Dr. Matt Lucas has served in Christian non-profits for 20 years. Presently, he is serving as the CEO/President of Our Daily Bread Ministries, a global Bible engagement ministry with a staff of 700 serving in 32 offices to distribute hundreds of millions print and digital resources in 58 languages in more than 150 countries. Prior to ODBM, he served in Christian higher education as Provost at Corban University and Chancellor at Indiana Wesleyan University. He writes for ODBM, speaks regularly, and works with churches around the world. In his spare time, he loves to hike with his wife, Tammy, and spend time with his six daughters and three grandchildren.

Thomas Ryan, CEO and founder of Bigly Sales, is a visionary leader transforming business communications with innovative AI solutions. With a background in staffing and executive experience at Workbeast LLC, Thomas identified the need for more efficient processes and founded Bigly Sales in 2020. Under his leadership, Bigly Sales is revolutionizing the industry by replacing traditional call centers with advanced AI technology. This approach offers 24/7 multilingual support in English and Spanish, significantly reduces operational costs by up to 90%, and boosts conversion rates, all while ensuring full compliance with TCPA and HIPAA standards for data protection. Thomas's dedication to efficiency and client satisfaction positions Bigly Sales as a trailblazer in the tech industry, committed to enhancing business communications through the power of artificial intelligence.

John Rohde is CEO of RES Americas. He has more than 30 years of experience working in the energy market. He was Chief Executive Officer of the Renewable Energy Systems business in the United States and Canada, overseeing development, construction, operations & maintenance, and asset management for wind, solar, energy storage projects.  Prior to this role John was Chief Operating Officer of ENGIE Services North American, overseeing operations in energy services, construction, and facilities management, as well as M&A and managing the integration of the acquisitions. John started his career with Siemens Energy moving to Mitsubishi International and he was also General Manager of Worley's North American Power Engineering business. John has a wealth of knowledge regarding the Americas energy markets; he is passionate about health & safety, diversity and inclusion and is committed to working to decarbonize the energy sector as part of driving the energy transition. In addition, he has an MBA and a B.S. Mechanical Engineering degree. John is married and in his spare time likes to travel and spend time with friends and his two rescue dogs.

Josh McCall serves as Chairman Emeritus for the global brand experience agency, Jack Morton where he focuses on growth and consulting on key client relationships. In 2022, he stepped down as CEO  and Chairman after being an integral part of the agency since 1984 and holding a variety of roles ranging from Account Executive to Chief Operating Officer. Under his leadership, the agency expanded its reach across the US, Europe, Australia, and Asia and was recognized for its creativity, winning awards at the Effies, Cannes Lions, D&AD, Clios, Ex, PRO, and Webby  Awards. Josh was instrumental in transforming the agency into an ideas-focused culture that creates extraordinary work for brands and he kept the agency at the forefront of the Experience  Economy. Josh McCall earned a bachelor's degree from the University of Pennsylvania, completed business and management training at the Amos Tuck School at Dartmouth College and The  Kenan-Flagler School at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, and holds an honorary Doctor of Commercial Science degree from Suffolk University in Boston. Josh also serves on the board of The Vineyard Trust, the owner of historic island landmarks.

Ken Reali has gained significant and varied experience in his 33-year MedTech career. He has individually contributed and then led areas including product development, global marketing, business development, commercialization, and sales of medical devices. He has a strong background in ethics and compliance, market analysis, reimbursement strategy, regulatory and clinical affairs, new product development, sales force optimization and domestic and international product commercialization. Ken has also been successful in utilizing M&A to diversify and broaden companies and has successfully led financing at both private and public companies.   As a CEO for 13 years, Reali has gained experience driving strategies to build shareholder value. He has worked with and led initiatives with medical societies, patient advocacy groups, governmental agencies, public and private insurance companies, investor relations, capital funding, strategic planning, and quality and lean production. He has led companies through sales processes to new ownership and into public markets through  IPO.   Reali started his career at two large multi-national companies, Biomet and Stryker where he held positions of increasing responsibility. Ken then gained general management experience at Smith & Nephew starting in 2006 prior to taking on his first CEO role in 2010  at TranS1 driving a turnaround strategy. Reali then led Clinical Innovations, a women's healthcare company through successful exit after five years while doubling the business size and value. In 2020 he led Bioventus through an IPO while increasing the size of the business by 80% through strategic M&A.   Reali serves on the board of directors of a broad group of companies in MedTech from orthopedics to women's healthcare. Reali also donates his time serving on the board of directors of AdvaMed, the National Italian American Foundation, and Valparaiso University  College of Business. Ken lives in Walla Walla, Washington with his wife Kristin where they started a vineyard several years ago.

Since 2015, twin brothers Keith and Kyle Rossin have grown each mangrove by hand for all of MANG's Florida planting projects. As MANG keeps growing, we're not only planting mangrove forests throughout Florida, we're also planting internationally in an effort to affect positive change in countries and coastlines affected by deforestation and pollution across the globe. As the CEO of MANG Gear, Kyle Rossin is leading the way with his mission to preserve and restore coastal ecosystems around the world. MANG started its Buy One. Plant One. initiative by growing mangroves in Florida in 2015 and has continued to cultivate a culture for restoration one mangrove at a time. Through education, restoration, and apparel, MANG is committed to preserving mother nature for the next generation, so that we all can enjoy our natural resources.

Joshua Gould is CEO of thebigword, one of the largest language service providers globally. With over 20 years of experience in the language, defense and contingent workforce industries, Joshua is passionate about connecting people and businesses across borders and cultures. As the Group Chief Executive Officer at thebigword, he leads a global team of over 400 employees and 15,000 linguists, delivering translation, interpretation, and localization solutions to clients in over 250 languages and dialects. Joshua is also an Export Champion for the Department for International Trade and the Northern Powerhouse in the UK, where he advises and support companies on how to leverage international trade opportunities and expand their markets. His expertise in business growth, corporate strategy, and M&A preparation has been recognized by multiple awards, including the Stevie Award, the Business Insider 40 Under 40, and the European CEO of the Year Awards. He is always looking for new challenges and ways to make a positive impact in the world through innovation and enterprise.

Jeff Weinstein grew up in the Detroit Metro area with a big extended family.  His earliest work experience started at 13, answering phones and doing clerical work during tax season for the accounting firm where his father was a partner.  He gained his first leadership experience as a founding member, chapter president and regional vice president of B'nai B'rith Youth Organization in Michigan. He has over 30 years of experience in the food and beverage business, beginning with full service restaurant and cafe work while he studied Philosophy at the University of Michigan.  His knowledge of the business comes from working on the job. Jeff spent 12 years with Peet's Coffee & Tea in the San Francisco Bay Area where he played every role they would allow him, from serving coffee, managing a store, running a district, building an operations services department and creating wholesale programs. After time with Dean & Deluca and Starbucks—both great learning opportunities—he joined Jamba Juice where he led operations services for over 800 domestic and international locations.  In 2015, Jamba sold most of their corporate units to franchisees.  Jeff led operations for Vitaligent—Jamba's largest franchisee with shops in Northern California and Washington—and eventually became CEO of the 96-unit restaurant group. In 2022, Vitaligent was successfully acquired by an even larger restaurant group called Sizzling Platter.  After supporting the transition, Jeff joined Wise Sons Jewish Delicatessen as CEO.  Wise Sons operates six delis in San Francisco and Oakland, in addition to a scratch bakery, commissary and wholesale business.   Following the recent college graduation of their daughter, Jeff and his wife of 30 years moved to the Sonoma Valley where they serve multiple non-profit organizations.  

Jordi Ferre is an accomplished C-suite business leader with a strong commercial and operations background in the food sector including B2C (business to consumer) as well as the value-added food ingredients and agritech sectors. He holds dual citizenship in the United States and Spain, having lived and worked in the U.S. for over two decades, as well as Europe (France, Germany, Norway) and Asia (Singapore, Malaysia).  Mr. Ferre was CEO at Alvinesa Natural Ingredients through 2023 based in Madrid. Prior to Alvinesa he was the CEO of Nasdaq-listed AgroFresh Solutions, the global leader of post-harvest solutions to extend the shelf life of fresh fruits and vegetables. Other positions include Chief Operating Officer at PureCircle, the leading producer, innovator and marketer of high-purity stevia ingredients, Vice President, Sales & Marketing SPLENDA® Sucralose at Tate & Lyle; as well as ovarious B2C positions at Wise Foods, Chupa Chups and Warner Lambert.  In 2023 he launched Launch CIBUSNET®, a selective network of multi-discipline professionals across the global food industry providing identification of potential investor/partners, new technology advisory, go-to-market strategy, due diligence, and board/advisory roles. Through Cibusnet he has assisted a number of companies in the ready-to-eat meals, ingredients and precision fermentation industries. Since October, he is the interim CEO of HTBA USA, a leading manufacturer of flavonoids used in the food and beverage industry.  Mr. Ferre holds a BBA-MBA degree from Esade Business School and completed the PMD program at IESE Business School both based in Barcelona, Spain as well as a number of leadership programs at MIT, Drexler and IMD business schools. 

Gregg R. Florentin is a 30-year visionary leader who has consistently driven innovation, operational excellence, and strategic collaborations in the healthcare industry.  Prior to TriCity Cardiology, Florentin served as the President and CEO of Ahart Healthcare Solutions International in Dubai UAE and Houston Texas for eight years. During his tenure, he forged strategic partnerships with notable institutions such as Inova, Children's National, and SEHA.  Under Florentin's leadership, AHART grew to over 500 employees where he was instrumental in holding various global interim executive leadership roles for 60 different specialties with mergers, acquisitions, joint ventures, private equity, and financial growth.  These experiences were innovative, leveraging Lean techniques, artificial intelligence, predictive analytics, and patient and employee satisfaction to enhance safety, quality, and cost. Florentin also held various executive leadership roles with Willamette Group, Group Health, Providence Medical Group, and Meritus Healthcare before his move to AHART. His illustrious career began at Community Tissue Services, one of the Nation's Premier Organ and Tissue Banks.  Florentin has many accolades including: Health Professional of the Year Award, Washington State Volunteers Society 3 Time Who's Who In Healthcare Executive Distinguished Leadership Award, Medford Oregon Community Executives  AHART Executive Award for outstanding leadership in business and education partnerships.  COO of the Year Providence CEO of the Year AHART Diamond Executive Award for Service Excellence, Dubai Healthcare  3 Time Lean Six Sigma Innovation Award   Florentin's leadership philosophy emphasizes transparency, rounding for authenticity, kindness, and collaboration. He firmly believes that prioritizing team members' overall happiness and satisfaction leads to positive outcomes for both the team and patients. In summary, Gregg R. Florentin exemplifies excellence and enjoys sharing his vision as an invited speaker at numerous national and international conferences in the past 8 years sharing his knowledge on innovative healthcare to improving the patient experience, employee engagement, and the future of healthcare.  

Robb Munger, founder of Exodus Place, champions transitional housing for homeless men. With a background in finance, where he established a leading financial company in manufactured housing, Munger's journey took a pivotal turn when he joined the board of Guiding Light Mission. There, he propelled a struggling rescue mission into prominence and transformed a former state corrections facility into Michigan's largest non-governmental transitional housing, offering new beginnings to those in need.  A former Army Officer, Munger's commitment to service shines through his philanthropic work and innovative solutions in community development. His collaboration with the Salvation Army and Goodwill in a small town within American City has showcased an innovative approach to addressing homelessness, demonstrating the impactful change that results from combining compassion with action. This initiative, with Munger at the helm, has become a testament to the power of collaborative community efforts in making a tangible difference in people's lives.

Jeff Bell is the past CEO of LegalShield, North America's largest legal subscription service for households and small business. Jeff grew this business from a $650m valuation in 2014 to over $2.4b in 2022 when he retired. Presently, Jeff serves as an Operating Partner on the MidOcean Partners Private Equity Investment Team. Prior to LegalShield, Jeff served as the Microsoft Corporate Vice President for Xbox. He is known for launching Halo 3, Gears of War, Rock Band and Netflix on Xbox Live. He spent 5 years at DaimlerChrysler as the Vice President and General Manager of Chrysler and Jeep Divisions. He is credited with development and launch of the the Jeep Rubicon and 4-door Wrangler, as well as the Chrysler 200, among others. Jeff served Ford Motor Company for 12 years, including as Managing Director of Ford Spain. He serves on the Board of his alma mater, Johns Hopkins-SAIS, and has served on the Kenyon College and National Multiple Sclerosis Board of Trustees.    https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeffbell801/

Cheryl Bachelder is a passionate, purpose-led business leader -- the former CEO of Popeyes® Louisiana Kitchen, Inc. Cheryl is known for her crisp strategic thinking, a franchisee-focused approach, and superior financial performance.  Guided by the servant leadership thinking of Robert Greenleaf, she believes highly caring, collaborative leaders with big ambitions for the enterprise, not themselves, generate the conditions for people to perform their best work. Cheryl Bachelder served as CEO of Popeyes® Louisiana Kitchen, Inc., a NASDAQ traded company with over 2,600 restaurants in 26 countries, from 2007 to 2017. The story of Popeyes success is chronicled in her book, Dare to Serve: How to drive superior results by serving others. During her tenure, Popeyes' stock price grew from $11 to $61, at which time the board sold the company to Restaurant Brands International Inc. for $1.8 billion dollars or $79 per share in March, 2017. Cheryl's earlier career included brand leadership roles at Yum Brands, Domino's Pizza, RJR Nabisco, The Gillette Company and Procter & Gamble.   Cheryl serves as a director on the boards of Pier 1 Imports, Inc. (PIR), US Foods Holding Corp. (USFD), and Chick-Fil-A, Inc. She sits on the advisory board of Procter & Gamble's franchising venture, Tide Dry Cleaners. She is a board member of CEO Forum, an organization that encourages and develops leadership capability in CEOs and senior executives. Cheryl holds a Bachelor's and Masters of Business Administration degree from the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University. She is married 38 years to Chris Bachelder and they have three grown daughters, two terrific son-in-laws, and four handsome grandsons. Cheryl and Chris reside in Atlanta, Georgia and attend Buckhead Church. They are avid learners, fans of the classical education movement, and can always be found reading a good book! Website: Serving Performs at www.cherylbachelder.com Former CEO, Popeyes® Louisiana Kitchen, Inc. Director at Pier 1 Imports, Inc. Director at US Foods Holding Corp. Director at Chick-Fil-A, Inc. Author, Dare to Serve: How to drive superior results by serving others