Executive Leaders Radio

On another episode of Executive Leaders Radio, we meet four leaders who discovered early that leadership is about understanding people, working as a team, and making a difference. Christina W., CEO and President of East West Label Company, grew up immersed in her family business. Starting as a teen answering phones and helping customers, she learned the value of experience, responsibility, and building relationships, lessons she carries today while leading her 35-person team. Al Schuster, President of Polaris Brand Promotions, developed an entrepreneurial mindset at a young age through landscaping, showing apartments, and participating in school activities. Inspired by his parents and early work experiences, he learned to engage with people, understand their needs, and tell authentic stories—skills that shape his leadership today. Craig Shelley, CFRE, CEO of Schultz & Williams, has spent 35 years helping non-profits grow and succeed. Growing up with divorced parents and early chaos, he found purpose in service, baseball, and Boy Scouts, learning teamwork, confidence, and the drive to make a difference in the world. Chris Caba, CEO of The Party Center, leads a construction and party rental business. As the youngest of three, he grew up in the family business, through sports, learning to work with others, and stepping into leadership during difficult times, like the tragic death of his father. Four paths, one lesson: leadership is shaped by early experiences, teamwork, and a focus on making a positive impact. Thank you to cohosts Mathieu Shapiro, James Wilson, Chuck Zwicker, Harrison Wolf, Julia Langan, John Lee, and Ethan Millrood for guiding this conversation. #Leadership #Teamwork #Entrepreneurship #CommunityImpact #ProfessionalGrowth #ExecutiveLeaders #Mentorship #CareerDevelopment #BusinessLeadership #MakingADifference

On Executive Leaders Radio, four leaders shared how early lessons, tough environments, and persistent curiosity shaped the way they lead today. Jim Haefele, President and Managing Partner of Haefele Flanagan, talked about growing up as an only child surrounded by half-siblings he got to know later in life. Navigating shifting family dynamics, supporting his mom after divorce, and holding his own as the youngest taught him grit and self-reliance. Those instincts now drive how he builds an accounting firm that depends on accountability, trust, and a leadership team that learns by doing. Jessica Grayson, Chief Growth Officer of Stradley Ronan, reflected on being the oldest of four in a busy, often chaotic home. Reading, coaching, and managing teams gave her a sense of identity and a quiet confidence she carried into adulthood. Developing emotional intelligence early helped her learn to read a room, stay steady in high-pressure moments, and lead a 220-attorney corporate firm with empathy and clarity. Thom Starke, President and COO of JDog Brands, described a path rooted in discipline and service. Wrestling, Boy Scouts, and early work taught him resilience. The military taught him loyalty, purpose, and the way trust forms when people face pressure together. Those experiences now guide how he shapes culture and unity across 110 veteran-owned JDog locations nationwide. Brad Goldoor, Co-Founder of Phenom, shared stories of entrepreneurship from childhood, from neighborhood games to creative ventures like black tie sealers and candy-topped ice cream. That curiosity, willingness to try things, and instinct to organize people eventually shaped a global HR tech company built around innovation, motivation, and a clear sense of purpose. Thank you to our cohosts Ethan Millrood, NATE GREENBERG, Christopher Keith, Meredith Ruble, and Ilyne Deliquina for guiding the conversation. These conversations showed that leadership often forms in the earliest chapters of life. It grows from the responsibilities you take on, the challenges you push through, and the instincts you sharpen long before entering the business world. 🎙 Catch the full episode on Executive Leaders Radio. #ExecutiveLeadersRadio #LeadershipJourney #CareerDevelopment #BusinessLeadership #GrowthMindset #InspiringLeaders #ProfessionalGrowth #LeadershipDevelopment #Resilience #CareerStories

On today's episode of Executive Leaders Radio, we sat down with four guests who learned early that leadership is grounded in listening, integrity, and elevating the people around you. Norman Goldschmidt, President of Genesis AEC, grew up as a STEAM kid who found his voice in music. Singing in choirs taught him that great work only happens when people blend their strengths instead of competing for the solo. From his parents’ real estate business to his first job in a drugstore, he learned to talk to anyone, value every perspective, and lead like a conductor who guides the team while staying tuned in to each person’s contribution. Michael Spivak, CEO of All American Home Care, came to the US from Ukraine and navigated a new culture before he even mastered the language. Sports, family expectations, and a teacher who told him he had a talent for helping others all shaped how he leads today. His work in hospice care is rooted in respect, compassion, and an immigrant work ethic he now passes on to his kids and his 3,600-person team. Laura Manion, MPA, President and CEO of the Chester County Chamber of Business & Industry, grew up on sports fields, in diners, and at summer camps. Those places taught her resilience, adaptability, and how to bring people together. Encouraged by parents who believed in her leadership, she carried those lessons into journalism, local politics, and now the chamber where she champions business, community, and strong coalitions. Rory O'Hara, CFP®, CRPC®, Founder and Managing Partner of Ausperity, started working young and saved every dollar in a hand-me-down wallet from his grandfather. Conversations about fairness, frugality, and opportunity shaped his approach to wealth management. Do the right thing, help people make intentional choices, and give back whenever you can. Whether he is advising clients or volunteering with his kids, he leads with purpose and integrity. Four different paths with one message: leadership grows from early lessons in teamwork, trust, and doing what is right for others. Thank you to cohosts Anna Day, CIC, Mathieu Shapiro, James Wilson, Chuck Zwicker, Julia Langan, and Adrienne Straccione, CPA, CCIFP for guiding the conversation.

On Executive Leaders Radio, we sat down with leaders who prove that adaptability, work ethic, and purpose remain at the heart of success. Gary Hill, CEO of DVL Group, reflected on moving from New York to Missouri at 13 and learning to adapt, connect, and lead. Those lessons now shape his servant-leadership approach in an employee-owned company. Craig Durand, LSRP, CHMM, CEO of TTI Environmental, shared how early side hustles and a creative family taught him to think independently and organize people toward a shared vision. Ron Bauguess, President of Tri-M Group, spoke about the discipline and integrity passed down from his father, emphasizing the belief that doing things right the first time builds lasting trust and success. Marty Tuzman, former CEO of Jenkintown Building, described how growing up in a family of Holocaust survivors inspired him to be self-reliant and driven by purpose, both in business and in serving the community. Special thanks to our cohosts Ethan Millrood, James Wilson, Jane Sobieski, Zachary Stroz, and Joe Perpiglia for guiding conversations that revealed these powerful insights. Across each story, one theme stood out: leadership takes shape in the moments that test your resilience and define what you stand for. 🎙Tune in to Executive Leaders Radio to hear their full stories. #ExecutiveLeadersRadio #LeadershipJourney #ResilientLeadership #BusinessGrowth #CareerDevelopment #LeadershipInsights #WorkEthic #PurposeDriven #InspiringLeaders #ProfessionalGrowth

It’s another week with Executive Leaders Radio, featuring conversations that remind us how early experiences and relationships shape today’s leaders: Chris Annas CEO of Meridian Bank, shared how his first job washing dishes at 13 taught him to take pride in every task and the value of surrounding himself with people driving local growth. Joel Frank, Owner, Chairman, and Managing Partner of Lamb McErlane, reflected on how decades of martial arts have built the discipline and balance that guide his leadership in law. Frank Hennessey, AIF®, ChFC®, Founding Partner of Premier Planning Group, spoke about his father’s lasting example of guidance and responsibility, lessons he carries into his work with multi-generational family businesses. Michael Stephano, Managing Partner of Stephano Slack, highlighted how early jobs and his father’s influence built a deep appreciation for hard work, consistency, and professional pride. Special thanks to our cohosts Ethan Millrood, Adrienne Straccione, CPA, CCIFP, Jason Rocker, and Ilyne Deliquina for leading thoughtful conversations that brought out these stories. Everything came back to relationships. Each guest reflected on the people who shaped them, reminding us that even the giants we admire started as ordinary individuals who simply stayed true to what mattered most. 🎙Tune in to Executive Leaders Radio to hear their full stories. #ExecutiveLeadersRadio #LeadershipJourney #EarlyLessons #BusinessGrowth #LeadershipStories #CareerDevelopment #RelationshipBuilding #ProfessionalGrowth #InspiringLeaders

Looking back on another inspiring moment from our conversation with 🙌🏼Jennifer Bowhey, VP and Owner of Visiting Angels. For Jennifer, it all started with a special education teacher who led with patience and kindness; someone who showed her that leadership begins with how you treat people. That lesson has stayed with her ever since, shaping how she approaches both business and life. Thank you to our cohost, Mathieu Shapiro, for helping bring these meaningful stories to light. #ExecutiveLeadersRadio #Leadership #Empathy #BusinessGrowth #KindnessInLeadership #InspiringLeaders

On this week’s episode of Executive Leaders Radio, we meet four leaders who learned early that real leadership starts with connection. Trish McFarland, President of the Delaware County Chamber of Commerce, grew up with community involvement as a non-negotiable. From babysitting at 11 to becoming the Chamber’s first female president, she’s built her career on bringing people together. Louis J. Rizzo, Jr., Managing Partner at Reger Rizzo & Darnall LLP, learned business and empathy side-by-side in his family’s restaurant. Those early lessons in service and respect shaped how he now leads with a family-business feel. John Lee, Senior Managing Director of Griffin Financial Group, gained independence young: moving from small-town New Jersey to Hong Kong at ten. That experience taught him adaptability and confidence, skills he now uses to guide clients through complex business transitions. Kat K., Vice President of Jefferson Health Plans, discovered leadership as a teenager reporting local stories and organizing community drives. Inspired by her single mother’s resilience, she leads today with kindness, attentiveness, and purpose. Thank you to cohosts Ethan Millrood, Jeff Greenhouse, Nate Greenberg, Jane Sobieski, and Paul Markowich for another thoughtful conversation. Four stories, one theme: leadership is built on empathy, awareness, and a genuine investment in others.

It’s another full slate on Executive Leaders Radio, where we explore how early experiences shape the way today’s leaders think, lead, and serve. Bill Brown, President & CEO of Citadel Credit Union, shared how fairness learned on the street hockey rink fuels his mission to create financial systems that look out for the “little guy.” 🙌🏼Jennifer Bowhey, VP and Owner of Visiting Angels, reflected on empathy, integrity, and turning her own challenges with learning differences into a strength that guides her leadership in caregiving. Patrick Taylor, Co-Owner of Taylor Oil & Propane, talked about the teamwork and accountability rooted in his family’s 75-year business and the community that keeps it going. Bill Tierney, Senior Vice President of Brian Communications, described curiosity and service as the constants that connect his family’s legacy with his own path in digital marketing. Special thanks to our cohosts Mathieu Shapiro, Chuck Zwicker, Anna Day, CIC, Julia Langan, and Ellen Rohlfing for steering the thoughtful conversations that brought these stories to life. Each story reminds us: leadership grows out of the values we learn early, the challenges we face, and the people who teach us what matters most. 🎙 Tune in to hear their full journeys on Executive Leaders Radio.

Looking back on another inspiring episode featuring Michael H. Sharp, CPA, founder of Sharp Financial. When Michael Sharp's dream of going pro didn’t pan out, it could’ve been the end of the story. Instead, it became the beginning of his resiliency. He’s carried that mindset into business and coaching alike, finding success not just in wins, but in helping others rise too. A special thank you to our Co-hosts, including Tom Garrity, whose questions allow these conversations to happen. #Leadership #Resilience #CareerGrowth #Coaching #ExecutiveLeadersRadio #ResilientMindset #LeadershipDevelopment

Throwback to a great episode featuring Joe Crandall, CEO of Greencastle Consulting, and Paul Ricci, Chief Executive Officer of Best Egg! Before Paul Ricci led teams, he learned what it meant to be understood. His relationship with his dad shaped not just his perspective, but his capacity for vulnerability and empathy. #Leadership #AutheticLeadership #LeadershipJourney #LeadershipGrowth #Empathy #EmotionalIntelligence