Want to rethink your digital marketing? Connect with Dave Skorepa and the Aztek team for a Help First Micro Assessment to uncover quick wins and identify where your marketing strategy may be holding you back. – https://www.aztekweb.com/

Connect with Dave: https://www.linkedin.com/in/daveskorepa/

In this episode of the Into the Storm Leaders Podcast, host Ron Kaminski sits down with Dave Skorepa, Chief Creative Officer and COO at Aztek, a Cleveland-based digital marketing agency and proud strategic partner of The Herd.

Dave reflects on his 25-year journey with Aztek, from starting as a graphic designer with dreams of making comic books to leading an agency that helps B2B businesses embrace digital transformation. He shares how Aztek’s core values—helping others, taking ownership, and “getting stuff done”—have shaped their culture, and how practices like “Innovation Day” keep the team curious and adaptable.

The conversation dives deep into: - Navigating the constant storms of technological change—from the early days of web design to the rise of AI. - How AI is both a powerful tool and a potential risk—and why businesses must start with real problems, not just shiny technology. - Lessons from helping clients untangle digital marketing chaos, from lost logins to leaky funnels. - Why accessibility, empathy, and human creativity remain non-negotiable in a fast-changing digital landscape.

Learn more about EBS - https://www.ebsinvests.com/

In this episode of the Into The Storm Leaders Podcast, host Ron Kaminski sits down with Scott Lundy of Eubel Brady & Suttman (EBS) Investment & Wealth Management, and a proud strategic partner in the CultureShoc Herd.

Scott shares how EBS’s core values guide everything from portfolio management to succession planning. You’ll also hear how EBS weathered a pivotal storm by shifting their business model toward direct relationships with business owners, and the emotions, challenges, and breakthroughs that came with it.

In this episode, you’ll learn: - How EBS strives to build trust and peace of mind for high-net-worth families and business owners. - Why “zeros don’t compound too well” and how margin of safety can help reduce the risk of a permanent loss of capital. - What entrepreneurs should expect before, during, and after selling their business. - Why succession planning, risk management, and estate planning are essential long before a transaction. - A special Help First offer from EBS: a 90-minute complimentary session for portfolio and succession planning considerations.

📚 Resources mentioned: Entrusted: Building a Legacy That Lasts - https://a.co/d/biiL1Yo Strength to Strength by Arthur Brooks - https://a.co/d/aaxx1vO

If you’re a business owner preparing for transition—or simply a leader facing your own storm—you’ll walk away with practical wisdom and a courageous mindset to face the future.

Disclaimer: This podcast is for informational purposes only and should not be construed as investment, legal, or tax advice. The views expressed are those of the participants as of the date of the recording and may not reflect current market developments. Past performance is not indicative of future results, and all investing involves risk, including the potential loss of principal. Eubel Brady & Suttman is an SEC-registered investment adviser. Registration does not imply a certain level of skill or training. Listeners should not rely solely on the information presented and should consult with a qualified professional before making any investment decisions. As a strategic partner of CultureShoc. EBS provides cash compensation (a flat, annual fee) to help support the Herd’s operations. In consideration of that support, EBS receives certain benefits, which include co-branded marketing initiatives, event participation, and introductions to CultureShoc’s clients. This creates a conflict of interest as CultureShoc has a financial incentive to promote EBS’s services. CultureShoc is not an advisory client of EBS.

🎯 Want to rethink your approach to IT? Connect with Grant Manard and the LaserPoint team for a Help First Think Session to identify where your tech strategy may be holding you back. - https://www.lazorpoint.com/

Connect with Grant: https://www.linkedin.com/in/grant-menard-14411b113/

What does it mean to own it when it matters most—and why do so many companies get it wrong when it comes to IT? In this episode, Ron Kaminski sits down with Grant Manard, Head of Growth at LaserPoint, a strategic partner in the CultureShoc Herd, to explore how courageous leadership and proactive ownership are reshaping how businesses think about technology.

From firefighting client outages to building rock-solid systems, Grant shares real-world stories of charging into chaos—and why LaserPoint thrives in the storm rather than avoiding it. You’ll hear how their EOS-driven culture, core values like “Get Better” and “Passion to Serve,” and a mindset of help first have built them into a trusted IT partner for businesses across Northeast Ohio and beyond.

Whether you’re a visionary, integrator, or emerging leader, this episode will challenge your assumptions about IT—and offer clarity on how to make technology a strategic advantage, not a black box.

Advocating for oneself in the workplace is crucial for success, satisfaction, and can even lead to a better workplace culture, especially for individuals with ADHD or other invisible disabilities. In this episode we meet with friend, client, and ADHD coach, Ryan Mayer, who highlights the importance of neurodiversity and empathy in professional settings.

As an ADHD coach, Ryan brings a wealth of strategies and personal insights that speak to anyone aiming to enhance their personal and professional life, regardless of an ADHD diagnosis. We touch on the idea of "walk and talk" meetings, Total Unconditional Acceptance (T.U.A.), and more. Whether you have an invisible disability you're challenged with or have never even heard the term until now, this episode if guaranteed to give you some perspective, some practical tips, and plenty of motivation to take better care of yourself in order to better care for others.

Our guest caps this one of with a heartfelt message: "your worth is not measured by your work performance, and you're never alone on your journey to personal growth and fulfillment."

Links & Resources:

• https://ryanmayercoaching.com/ https://www.linkedin.com/in/ryanmayerpeopleconnector/ https://www.instagram.com/adhd_coach_ryanmayer/
• https://www.tiktok.com/@adhd_coach_ryan?lang=en
• www.cultureshoc.com

Quoteworthy Moments:

• 00:02:29 - "We're exactly where we are meant to be."
• 00:04:17 - "I say to navigate the storms caused in their life by in this case, ADHD."
• 00:08:21 - "Say it in a way of setting expectations. Not that I'm asking for anything different, but that as you put it all the time, I can advocate for myself."
• 00:14:48-00:14:59 - "ADHD should be treated with the same respect and accommodations as someone with a physical disability."
• 00:21:11 - "I like to say little hinges swing big doors. So once I was able to be turned around and I had noise-canceling headphones, it was way easier for me to concentrate."
• 00:25:48 - "If I can do my job better by making the slight adjustment, why would we not do that?"
• 00:28:36 - "Which often could be just better use of your superpower, of your ideal working environment that you can now commit to this level of performance because you're helping me create that space and opportunity for me to be my best."
• 00:39:47-00:39:58 - "I try too hard. I, I'm too committed. I give 110% all that. Yeah. And that extra 10%, you know, it's hard, but I make it happen."
• 00:42:32-00:42:42 - "I'll help you identify and set you up for success, give you opportunities to help you advocate. I feel like that's something that isn't necessarily talked about enough as the critical role of a leader."
• 00:48:06-00:48:16 - "If you can make things better in the workplace, that's going to spread to every other aspect of the person's life." 00:53:25 - "I am a firm believer that you're supposed to be doing this because you're helping people."
• 00:55:16 - "ADHD isn't an excuse, but it is a fact that it's real." 00:57:37 - 00:57:48 "What if we just had what I call T-U-A, total unconditional acceptance of like, This is just how we are?"
• 01:00:39-01:00:49 - "I want to become the help that I needed, but couldn't find."
• 01:02:47-01:02:57 - "One of my favorite quotes is money is an echo of value."
• 01:06:27-01:06:37 - "If you're watching this and you're currently in a dark place, I want to let you know, you're not alone. You're not broken."

Subscribe & turn on notifications for other inspiring stories and tips to grow your leadership skills and your business faster.

Navigating the complex journey of leadership and corporate culture is no easy feat, but with Kevin McDougal, a Vistage Chair with a storied career, we unlock the doors to a treasure trove of wisdom. From the early days at Airgas to the strategic maneuvers during economic downturns, Kevin's insights span the gamut of professional transitions, prioritization, and the art of building a resilient sales force.

As we converse with Kevin, a narrative unfolds that spotlights the nuances of mentorship, trust, and the personal touch that can transform a workplace. The significance of one-to-one interactions comes to the fore, illustrating how leaders can foster a culture of continuous improvement. He also delves into the challenges of personnel management, sharing the delicate balance between swift action with underperforming employees and the compassionate communication that acknowledges the impact of tough decisions on teams and individuals alike.

From discussing the EOS in aligning team efforts to the nuances of nurturing passion in potential hires, this episode speaks to leaders seeking to refine their approach and foster environments where innovation and satisfaction thrive.

Links & Resources:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevin-mcdougal/

https://www.vistage.com/

www.cultureshoc.com

Quoteworthy Moments:

00:06:44-00:06:55 - "Could you imagine an account that uses nitrogen to freeze the things and they get a liquid argon instead? That was the kind of stuff that I ran into when I, when I took this position. Yikes."

00:17:45-00:17:55 - "Isn't it crazy how the relationship, the trust level with one human can play such a huge factor when you know there's that mutual respect, that belief, that mentorship."

00:29:08-00:29:19 - "The biggest thing for me was execution, if you don't have somebody in the right seat, that's the most important thing and you move on it."

00:43:51-00:44:01 - "Culture is one of the biggest things from a retention standpoint."

00:45:44-00:45:54 - "It was almost frustrating for me to see how elegantly packaged these simple things were that I inherently knew but still struggled with sometimes in articulating them to others or getting everyone else on the same page aligned."

00:50:19-00:50:29 - "A lot of people don't understand if somebody has a really good friend at work, that's a big thing that companies don't even think about."

01:01:42-01:01:52 - "Do things you believe in, right? If you're going to do something, put in the work. show that you want it, that you're hungry, it gets recognized."

01:10:34-01:10:44 - "That sidestep mentioned about 2% customer retention can equate to a 10% reduction in cost."

01:12:45-01:12:55 - "My first question when I sit down at a table is what is the most important thing we need to talk about today?"

When resilience meets the structure of the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS), businesses can navigate any storm. Tune in for a transformative exploration of leadership and corporate culture with Ron Welty, the visionary founder of IntelliShop. Our conversation uncovers Ron's entrepreneurial odyssey, unveiling how IntelliShop revolutionizes customer experience for top-tier companies, while simultaneously fostering employee motivation and fulfillment.

Exploring team dynamics and leadership evolution, we uncover the pivotal role of the right EOS implementer in steering a company toward stability amidst chaos. From embracing partial ESOP to declining acquisition offers for the greater good, this episode shares strategic leadership insights. We also reflect on balancing entrepreneurial drive with family life, highlighting how EOS serves as a compass for harmony and success. Whether at the helm of a startup or steering an established enterprise, this episode serves as an invaluable compass, guiding not only toward business success but also personal fulfillment and happiness.

Links & Resources:

https://www.linkedin.com/in/ron-welty-38a4a711/

https://intelli-shop.com/

www.cultureshoc.com

Quoteworthy Moments:

00:02:47 - "If you just take care of your customers, a lot of other things can fall into place and it just always feels like the right thing to do."

00:06:40 - “It doesn't have to be a budget buster. It can be something very simple, including just a pat on the back and just a verbal recognition because sometimes kids these days that are on the front lines don't get that anywhere.”

00:09:30 - "We give them a lot of good feedback and it's constructive. It's not subjective. It's very objective.”

00:18:02 - "I'm the integrator and you're the visionary. So you just get to go play and have fun while I stay here and make the trains run on time."

00:21:43 - "I took us from zero to this. I don't think I'm the guy to go from this number to wherever we want to go."

00:26:04 - "The two most difficult decisions a team's ever had to make is when we have a people issue on the leadership team, i.e. integrator. And two, the sunk cost pivot, when we put so much time and energy into something."

00:33:53 - "We're now one of the few companies in the world, um, that can serve Fortune 1000 companies and look them in the eye and say, we can take care of you at a high level and actually do that."

00:43:33 - "I'm trying to find that sweet spot where I can do what I want, do what I love, and be most effective for the company without stepping on toes and sort of taking stuff away from people that they might love doing."

00:46:48 - "I'm going to work myself into a life and stop working myself to death."

00:57:15 - "You can have the EOS life, a very successful personal life, and a successful business at the same time. You can really do it.

What if the secret to your business growth was rooted in strategic processes and systems? Discover the power of workflows and the crucial role they play in scaling a business as we engage in a thought-provoking conversation with Darby Walsh from Delta Business Strategies. Darby's journey from college dropout to Marine Corps member, machine gun instructor, and ultimately a construction inspector unveils the resilience and determination that earmarks his success, serving as a rich source of inspiration.

We navigate the challenging terrains of teamwork, resilience, and emotional intelligence, underlining how they interplay in the leadership arena. Our guest, a former marine, shares valuable insights about separating emotions from logic and the significant impacts of emotional intelligence in leadership. Laced with nuggets of wisdom, his approach to dealing with overthinking and the importance of self-awareness and self-regulation is sure to resonate with many. This episode is a wellspring of practical and insightful leadership strategies, so grab a notebook and prepare to take your leadership skills to a whole new level!

Links & Resources:

www.linkedin.com/in/darby-walsh-4b795353/

www.deltabusinessstrategies.com

www.cultureshoc.com

Quoteworthy Moments:

00:01:36 - "Quite contrary, there is some excitement that comes with a really well-formed process."

00:05:08 - "I don't mind being in front of people at all talking and presenting and getting people excited about it."

00:17:40 - "It's the challenge that I think every leader, every human probably has is finding balance in all things."

00:35:13 - "You have 100 customers a month, you have 12 months out of the year. How much time is now being wasted where you can put it into something more productive?"

00:37:45 - "The camaraderie aspect, not wanting to let somebody else down, being more willing to change because it's in service to others."

00:46:32 - "If you're going to stop trying to beat your competition, you might as well just throw the towel in now."

00:57:17 - "Even as it pertains to time management, and if you're trying to delegate, we talk with groups all the time about a way to give a positive no when something is delegated to you is by simply saying, would you be open to looking at or helping me find out where this fits in terms of priority, because here's the other things that I have working right now."

01:04:24 - "If you put your focus and effort into trust, it's a dividend."

01:07:52 - "Being the leader is probably the hardest job that there is."

01:10:37 - "Do the hard thing now, knowing it'll free us up to have time to spend on the right things, or just continue to suffer through the same thing with this one day."

01:14:13 - "Sometimes it's addition by subtraction."

01:15:23 - "It's a whole slew of things that will help you sleep better at night and feel less pain during the day, make you remember why you started that company, that enjoyment."

01:24:43 - "And it had a huge impact on me becoming and doing what I'm doing now because I quit worrying about the things that I'm not."

01:33:40 - "You have to sometimes put your head down into the storm and you got to get after it."

01:34:44 - "Get off your ass and go get it done."

01:37:31 - "If we pique the curiosity of somebody or something that we discussed today resonated and they're like, ah, shit, maybe now is the time."

01:40:37 - "And so it is an investment, but it's an investment that will pay off as your foundation, as you strengthen the foundation of your company."

01:43:51 - "We're all about help first."

01:49:58 - "A quarter mile at a time."

01:52:37 - "Charge into the storm."

In this episode of Into the Storm Leaders, Joe Jurec is joined by Toria Marquardt Schultz, the CEO of OxyGo. OxyGo is a medical device company that specializes in oxygen concentrators. Toria shares the history of OxyGo, which started as a family of companies focused on home healthcare and compressed gas equipment.

She talks about her journey within the company, starting as the first employee at the age of 11 and eventually taking on the role of CEO in 2018. Toria also discusses the unique dynamic of working with her husband, who serves as the COO and integrator in the Entrepreneurial Operating System (EOS) model. She emphasizes the importance of finding the right integrator and the value of having a strong partnership in leadership.

The conversation delves into OxyGo's core values, including "get to do this," "answer the call," "don't know the answer yet," and "yes, and." Toria explains how these values were developed through collaboration with the leadership team and how they are integrated into the company's culture and performance reviews. Throughout the episode, Toria emphasizes the importance of authenticity in leadership and creating an environment where team members can show up as their true selves. She shares her experiences and insights on being empathetic, self-aware, and mindful of how she shows up as a leader.

Overall, this episode provides valuable insights into the growth and leadership journey of OxyGo, highlighting the importance of core values, authenticity, and creating a supportive and inclusive work environment.

Links & Resources:

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/victoria-marquard/
• https://oxygo.life/
• www.CultureShoc.com

Quoteworthy Moments:

• 00:08:14 - "I'm like, well, I'm the kite and he's the string. If we're missing either piece, we don't go anywhere, right?"
• 00:11:52 - "And rather, it pointed me towards the strength that comes with that."
• 00:13:36 - "I probably should not be 'shoulding' all over myself, you know?"
• 00:17:25 - "If we did the right thing then our customers would come back and choose to purchase from us."
• 00:22:12 - "One of our core values is "get to do this"."
• 00:24:12 - "Everybody's got the same core values and that doesn't really work."
• 00:27:43 - "I think the key thing is being able to say, I don't know that, but I'm going to figure it out."
• 00:31:19 - "If all of a sudden, every member of your organization were cast into different parts of the globe and faced with these challenges and had to make decisions based on something, if they think back to the core values and use that as a compass."
• 00:34:06 - "So I found that when I, when I try to be myself, when I look at what works for me as opposed to what works for somebody else, then that's what really helps." 00:38:23 - "One of the things that I like to do and want in our company is that people to be able to show up as themselves."
• 00:45:29 - "I think so often people will kind of pull other people down to boost themselves up."
• 00:52:29 - "Let's find out together."
• 00:54:38 - "But when it kept coming up that it was super obvious that no one was happy, you know, like no one is happy here."
• 00:58:15 - "I went from 25 to 250 million in four years. And I attributed it to EOS."
• 01:05:22 - "I really believe that my purpose is to hire as many people as possible and try to affect positively as many people as possible."
• 01:06:56 - "someone said every day is like being punched in the face." Subscribe & turn on notifications for other inspiring stories and tips to grow your leadership skills and your business faster.