Leadership Through Loss, Resilience, and Reinventio

This group shares personal experiences about loss, gratitude, and the lasting impact parents and mentors leave behind. Rich Hipp, CEO of SLM Facilities discusses growing up as the oldest of four children in a single-parent household and how becoming “the man of the house” at a young age shaped his leadership style, work ethic, and entrepreneurial mindset. Robert Strong, President/CEO of Quaint Oak Bank shares lessons learned from working alongside adults early in life, the influence of his entrepreneurial grandfather, and how he helped grow a community bank into a publicly traded company with more than 200 employees. Gary Puddles, CEO of AnswerNet Communications reflects on overcoming a rare childhood disease, discovering music during recovery, and developing the communication and problem-solving skills that later fueled his entrepreneurial success. Ron Scheese, CEO of F.M. Brown’s Sons, Inc explains how leading a sixth-generation family business required evolving from a numbers-focused executive into a people-first leader dedicated to bridging generational gaps within both the company and family.