The Corporate Couch: Work Stories I Only Tell My Friends

There are so many leadership lessons from Fred Stipkovits in this episode (see his bio below) from his first job leading a Coast Guard Homeland Security unit (with colleagues who had been in the Coast Guard longer than he had been alive) pre and post-9/11 (including ramming a boat head-on at 50 MPH to track down a suspected terrorist), his struggles transitioning from his military career (including working a job at Home Depot), being selected as president of a company where two years earlier he was not hired as the business development manager, leading an incredible company turnaround (e.g., replacing 50% of the staff with 0 terminations in his first 10 months and increasing employee retention to 98%), the hardship of undergoing a divorce, his mission to revolutionize the culture of American manufacturing, and why he wants to change the future of work. You will love Fred's great story so please enjoy this episode! Today's episode is brought to you by ExecHQ (Website), a C-suite fractional firm providing elite executives for your business. If you’re having challenges taking your business to the next level, want to augment your leadership team, or prepare your company for increased growth, profitability, and an eventual successful exit, ExecHQ has seasoned executives from every C-suite position, ensuring a perfect fit for your needs and industry dynamics. To learn more about ExecHQ, email Jeff Pelaccio at jeff.pelaccio@exechq.com.    Fred's bio: ​Fred Stipkovits (LinkedIn) hails from a blue-collar steel mill family on the East Coast, where he was deeply influenced by both Italian and Hungarian heritage. Raised with an indomitable work ethic instilled by his upbringing, Fred's journey has been marked by resilience and determination. Following his high school years, Fred made the pivotal decision to join the military, embarking on a decade-long service journey that encompassed both enlisted and officer roles. As the first in his family to graduate from a four-year university with a bachelor's degree, Fred achieved a significant milestone, breaking new ground as he transitioned from enlisted to commissioned officer status.​ Post-military life presented its challenges, as Fred searched for a sense of purpose. However, his trajectory shifted when he assumed leadership at Ultra-Tech, where he saw the opportunity to enact meaningful change, foster high-performing teams, and elevate individuals to reach their fullest potential, prioritizing the welfare of others above himself. Fred's personal life has also been a journey of growth and transformation. From marriage to divorce and remarriage, he found solace and fulfillment in starting a family later in life. The experience of parenthood later in life has tempered his once-hard-hitting mentality, infusing his leadership approach with empathy and understanding.​ Drawing from his upbringing and his father's reflections on management, Fred is driven by a steadfast ambition to revolutionize the culture of American manufacturing. Through his leadership at Ultra-Tech and beyond, Fred Stipkovits is dedicated to shaping a future where work is not merely a means to an end but a path to fulfillment and prosperity for all.  

You will learn many things by listening to Dr. Frumi Barr's (see her bio below) professional journey. Frumi talks about starting her career as a physical therapist and then pivoting into the business world where she led/founded fourteen different companies, her experience being a female C-Suite executive starting in 1980, how her persistence led her to meet Simon Sinek (he wrote the forward for her book), why growth companies need to understand the "Valley of Death", the benefits of a portfolio career, and why every entrepreneur will fail at some point. You will enjoy Frumi's great career and the many stories of success and failure.   Today's episode is brought to you by ExecHQ (Website), a C-suite fractional firm providing elite executives for your business. If you’re having challenges taking your business to the next level, want to augment your leadership team, or prepare your company for increased growth, profitability, and an eventual successful exit, ExecHQ has seasoned executives from every C-suite position, ensuring a perfect fit for your needs and industry dynamics. To learn more about ExecHQ, email Jeff Pelaccio at jeff.pelaccio@exechq.com.      Frumi's bio: As the founder of the Barr Business School, Dr. Frumi Rachel Barr​ (LinkedIn), is an expert in scaling businesses. She leads CEOs through growth, with a focus on communication, alignment, and accountability. Her 20+ years of experience blend practical leadership with academic knowledge, helping leaders make smart, profitable choices.​ Dr. Frumi is instrumental in developing the next generation of business leaders. She is also the celebrated author of "A CEO’s Secret Weapon," a top-ranked business book with a foreword by Simon Sinek.

Maria Flynn (see her bio below) is just such a fascinating person from her roots growing up on a Kansas wheat farm to her journey as a CEO/founder to helping entrepreneurs in the early stages of their journey to succeed. Maria and I discuss the lessons she learned from her parents (e.g., if you can see it, you can be it), being an intrapreneur, why mindset is so important, why in times of stress you need to rally yourself first and then your team, why sh*t is always going to happen and what to do about it, and how she helps entrepreneurs be successful. Please enjoy my conversation with Maria!   Today's episode is brought to you by ExecHQ (Website), a C-suite fractional firm providing elite executives for your business. If you’re having challenges taking your business to the next level, want to augment your leadership team, or prepare your company for increased growth, profitability, and an eventual successful exit, ExecHQ has seasoned executives from every C-suite position, ensuring a perfect fit for your needs and industry dynamics. To learn more about ExecHQ, email Jeff Pelaccio at jeff.pelaccio@exechq.com.        Maria's Bio: Maria Flynn (LinkedIn) is the Founder and CEO of Ambiologix (Website), a consulting and training company that helps entrepreneurs advance their innovation, grow their potential, and build their businesses. Maria has worked with founders from over 40 companies, helping them Make Opportunity Happen, which is the title of her book​ (Amazon), keynote, and workshops. As CEO of Orbis Biosciences, Maria built a technology company that improved pharmaceutical manufacturing, won awards for its novel innovation, and was acquired by Adare Pharmaceuticals. As Managing Director of Techstars Kansas City, Maria invested in and coached companies across health tech, biotech, fintech, deep tech, and consumer tech.

A fun and insightful conversation with the lifelong entrepreneur Glenn Fisher (see his bio below). Glenn and I chat about how he started a business for a business owner after a conversation at a bar, his rule of 3 in times of stress, having lunch with Zig Ziglar and Lee Iacocca as a customer (as well as David Spade sleeping on his couch), graduating #1 in his Marine Basic training boot camp, and his entrepreneur lessons from launching over a dozen companies. You will enjoy my conversation with Glenn!   Today's episode is brought to you by ExecHQ (Website), a C-suite fractional firm providing elite executives for your business. If you’re having challenges taking your business to the next level, want to augment your leadership team, or prepare your company for increased growth, profitability, and an eventual successful exit, ExecHQ has seasoned executives from every C-suite position, ensuring a perfect fit for your needs and industry dynamics. To learn more about ExecHQ, email Jeff Pelaccio at jeff.pelaccio@exechq.com.        ​Glenn's Bio: Glenn Fisher (LinkedIn) is the CEO of the healthcare analytics and solutions company NavMD (NavMD.com). Creating businesses that deliver solutions for over 35 years, Glenn has built a reputation as a problem-solver and forward-thinker, pioneering solutions in industries including waste management, alternative lending, technology, business process management, third-party logistics, healthcare, and employee benefits. He is passionate about making a difference in the world and is committed to driving impactful change through technology and innovation. He built one of the largest servicing platforms in the fintech space processing a transaction every three-tenths of a second with annual revenues of more than $2 billion.  ​after investing in the emerging alternative lending market, he seized an opportunity to disrupt the technology-driven benefit analytics space.    Challenged by the frustration of buying employee benefits, he acquired NavMD. His mission is to partner with the most innovative people in America to fix employee benefits one plan at a time.

If you grew up wanting to be a professional athlete, but never achieved your dream my conversation with John Hall will inspire you (see bio below). We discuss how a devasting knee injury shaped his career journey, his first professional job which was in the fashion industry (including revealing if he dated any models), being the youngest boxing promoter in the world, working for the NFL, Sacramento Kings, and NY Rangers (including his insights on working with Wayne Gretzky), and his decision to walk away from a glamourous sports executive position to focus on being a better dad. John is a walking billboard for achieving your dreams using intellect, energy, and a positive attitude. You will enjoy my conversation with him!   Today's episode is brought to you by ExecHQ (Website), a C-suite fractional firm providing elite executives for your business. If you’re having challenges taking your business to the next level, want to augment your leadership team, or prepare your company for increased growth, profitability, and an eventual successful exit, ExecHQ has seasoned executives from every C-suite position, ensuring a perfect fit for your needs and industry dynamics. To learn more about ExecHQ, email Jeff Pelaccio at jeff.pelaccio@exechq.com.      ​John's bio: John Hall ​(LinkedIn) is a former VP/GM with Madison Square Garden (MSG) and a former senior executive with the National Football League (NFL), the National Basketball Association (NBA) and the National Hockey League (NHL). Hall has helped companies ranging from Fortune 500 organizations to small local businesses in creating strategies that enhance personal and professional enrichment. John is the recipient of six Colorado Press Awards and has sat on numerous boards and committees throughout his career.​ John serves as the Vice President of Marketing for ZoomGrants, a leading online application software company and listed in the Top 200 Companies in Colorado. He is also the Founder and CEO of GetRecruited24/7 (GR24/7). GR24/7 is a next-generation high school student-athlete recruiting service helping athletes secure college scholarships.​Currently, he is the Chief Sales Officer at Crux Accelerate (Website).

My conversation with John Minnis (see bio below) should be published the day after Father's Day. We talk about the lessons he learns from his dad (he is in 6 Hall of Fames), quitting a successful job to be a better spouse and father, how your career is a series of chapters that you do not realize until the chapter is completed, his job interview with a CEO that happened in a bar wearing shorts, a tank top, and a baseball cap, why he wrote in "Journey to Leadership" book, how reading "Never Eat Alone" changed his career, and his workout routine. We even chat about the movie "Tommy Boy" :-)   Please enjoy my conversation with John!   ​Today's episode is brought to you by ExecHQ (Website), a C-suite fractional firm providing elite executives for your business. If you’re having challenges taking your business to the next level, want to augment your leadership team, or prepare your company for increased growth, profitability, and an eventual successful exit, ExecHQ has seasoned executives from every C-suite position, ensuring a perfect fit for your needs and industry dynamics. To learn more about ExecHQ, email Jeff Pelaccio at jeff.pelaccio@exechq.com.    ​John's Bio: As CEO of Kompass Funding (Website),  John Minnis (LinkedIn) provides leadership and strategic direction to meet the vision of the company. His leadership spans all aspects of the company to include business development, underwriting, client relationships, finance, and marketing. Mr. Minnis comes from a strong business background which includes both Fortune 500 and privately held companies. His diversified experience included business development, sales management general management, finance, and banking. Over his career, he has experience in the industries of manufacturing, retail, service, legal, insurance as well as finance and banking. Growing up in St. Joseph, MO, and currently residing in the Kansas City metro area, ​John has held numerous board and leadership positions throughout the community, including Catholic Charities, Catholic Education Foundation, and Bishop Ward Mentoring program, Reach Out and Read Kansas City, Healthy KC, St. Benedict’s Abbey, Ascension Finance Council, the Knights of Columbus, and coaches multiple youth football and baseball teams. Mr. Minnis was selected as a NextGen Leader by the Kansas City Business Journal, and is a graduate of the Centurion Leadership Program through the Greater Kansas City Chamber of Commerce. He is also the author of Journey to Leadership, Timeless Lessons for Today’s Leaders published in 2015. Mr. Minnis is also the Co-Founder of J. Patrick and Co. redefining men’s accessories, crafted to last a lifetime. ​John attended Benedictine College and is a graduate of Missouri Western University with a degree in business administration with an emphasis in marketing. Mr. Minnis lives in Overland Park with his wife Angie and their four children: Jack, Drew, Maggie, and Michael.

This week's guest is the fantastic Dr. Risa Stein the founder/CEO of SeeInMe and author of "Best Damn Life Workbook" (see her bio below). Risa and I discussed her desire at age 7 to become a psychologist, going from a college psychology professor to a CEO. the changes she has seen in students in the last 26+ years teaching undergraduate psychology at Rockhurst University, how a near-death experience changed her life, going back to school in her 50s for her masters in organizational leadership, being in a motorcycle "gang" in high school, and her thoughts on how to lead Generation Z team members in the workplace. Please enjoy my conversation with Risa!   Today's episode is brought to you by ExecHQ (Website), a C-suite fractional firm providing elite executives for your business. If you’re having challenges taking your business to the next level, want to augment your leadership team, or prepare your company for increased growth, profitability, and an eventual successful exit, ExecHQ has seasoned executives from every C-suite position, ensuring a perfect fit for your needs and industry dynamics. To learn more about ExecHQ, email Jeff Pelaccio at jeff.pelaccio@exechq.com.          Risa's Bio: Risa Stein possesses a unique set of credentials and skills including a PhD in clinical child and health psychology and an MA in Organizational Leadership. She has an extensive behavioral medicine research and publication record as well as 25+ years dedicated to teaching undergraduate students. Over the past decade, Risa has consulted with universities, nonprofits, large corporations, and think tanks on design thinking and innovation. After a near-death experience that prompted a midlife crisis, Risa wrote a well-received personal development self-guided therapy workbook called the Best Damn Life Workbook. Risa’s most recent entrepreneurial endeavor, SeeInMe, grew from her professional and personal experiences. While it may be a lofty goal, Risa intends for SeeInMe to become the standard-bearer for collaborative care fueled by data-driven insights and a relentless focus on the uniqueness of every individual. Risa is also a wife and a mom to two humans and two dogs.   Risa’s LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/risa-stein123 SeeInMe website: https://seeinme.com Best Damn Life Workbook: https://www.amazon.com/Best-Damn-Life-Workbook-Personally/dp/0985677937

This special edition episode features Teresa Carey (see bio below) as we discuss the lessons she learned from her 30 years of owning her own business and coaching leaders. Teresa talks about the major changes in business, leaders, and technology since she started her company in 1994 (and the things that have remained constant). As a bonus, she reflects on the advice her current self would give the 31-year-old Teresa. Please enjoy my conversation with Teresa!   Teresa's Bio: Teresa Carey has more than 30 years of experience as a professional leadership coach and facilitator. Prior to launching PerformancePointe, Inc. (Website), she held positions for the world’s second-largest document technology company in sales, professional development, and sales leadership. She was also instrumental in helping take two other companies from start-up to rapid growth prior to exiting.​ As a coach and strategist, Teresa has led individual and organizational change in diverse sectors including healthcare, manufacturing and distribution, financial, legal, and technology. Over the span of her career, Teresa has assisted over 50,000 professionals in improved performance.​ Teresa is active in the community as a volunteer including being a mentor in the KC Fellows Program and a member of Stateline Service League. Teresa is a mom, wife, triathlete, and author of the book, The Attractive Trap™. She enjoys adventure, travel, and cooking. ​

Join me for this mini-masterclass in start-ups, leadership, the importance of lifelong learning, and long-term strategy with the serial entrepreneur Tucker Graves (bio below). We talk about "long game" thinking, creating a business idea at 22 years old with friends (it involved a hot tub and some alcohol :-), interviewing for his first job with the CEO of a major restaurant chain, business lessons from his dad, creating a business at a bar with a cocktail napkin, and his start-up advice including why dollars are votes, the importance of having an attorney, and how to budget/forecast your revenue/expenses.   Today's episode is brought to you by ExecHQ (Website), a C-suite fractional firm providing elite executives for your business. If you’re having challenges taking your business to the next level, want to augment your leadership team, or prepare your company for increased growth, profitability, and an eventual successful exit, ExecHQ has seasoned executives from every C-suite position, ensuring a perfect fit for your needs and industry dynamics. To learn more about ExecHQ, email Jeff Pelaccio at jeff.pelaccio@exechq.com.        ​Tucker Graves' Bio: Tucker Graves ( linkedin.com/in/tucker-graves-322a792b ), born into a lineage of entrepreneurs in Missouri with a strong foothold in the food service industry, has established five companies, each a testament to his innate entrepreneurial spirit. His latest venture is fueled by a core mission: to democratize education, particularly for the "deskless workforce," also known as frontline staff. With a diverse background encompassing marketing, management, technology, strategy, legal supply chain, retail, manufacturing, and now education, Tucker's leadership is multifaceted. His drive stems from a profound desire to positively impact as many lives as possible, constantly seeking new avenues to serve others. As CEO and Co-Founder of Pineapple Academy, (Website), he strives to collaborate with organizations, advocating for a culture of person-centered learning. Embracing the philosophy of being a lifelong learner, Tucker remains committed to expanding his horizons and fostering innovation.

There are many great insights from my conversation with Kevin McGinnis (see his bio below). We discuss what he learned from working with Silicon Valley companies in the "boom" years (2007-2013), how to leverage AI, working with Gen Zers, how he became a successful intrapreneur, his lessons from Peter Diamandis' Singularity University, not being afraid to fail, what he learned from being an inside sales rep right after college, why culture matters (especially in a start-up), and the importance of having a lifelong learner mindset. Please enjoy my conversation with Kevin! Today's episode is brought to you by ExecHQ (Website), a C-suite fractional firm providing elite executives for your business. If you’re having challenges taking your business to the next level, want to augment your leadership team, or prepare your company for increased growth, profitability, and an eventual successful exit, ExecHQ has seasoned executives from every C-suite position, ensuring a perfect fit for your needs and industry dynamics. To learn more about ExecHQ, email Jeff Pelaccio at jeff.pelaccio@exechq.com.       Kevin McGinnis bio: Kevin McGinnis (linkedin.com/in/kevinmcginnis ) currently serves as the President & CEO of the Keystone Community Corporation (https://www.keystonedistrict.org/), a non-profit organization tasked with the planning, development, and operations of a thriving and diverse​ innovation community in downtown Kansas City, Missouri. When McGinnis noticed the region lacked a destination that enabled the region’s innovators, educators, entrepreneurs, industry leaders, and community members to collaborate and solve our most pressing problems at scale, his strong belief in Kansas City and its institutions drove him to act. Today, McGinnis leans into his track record as a lifelong learner to focus on new areas like urban development, placemaking, and inclusive community engagement and is convening civic, corporate, and community stakeholders on both sides of the state line to bring the Keystone Innovation District vision to life. As part of the Keystone initiative, Kevin is also the founder and president of Keystone Labs, a cross-industry innovation collaborative driving corporate engagement and collaboration across the regional​ ecosystem. Keystone Labs was launched in October 2020 with 15 founding corporate members representing a diverse set of industries and is powered by the human-centered design expertise of global design leader, VMLY&R. After years of championing the role of industry in creating a more vibrant innovation ecosystem, McGinnis was instrumental in the design of the studio programming, recruiting the founding members and developing the relationships to launch the inaugural pilot programs with LaunchKC and VMLY&R.