BLTNT Podcast

Josh Britton became CEO of imageOne without ever planning to. He'd spent years telling his wife, telling anyone who'd listen that he was a great number two and wanted to stay that way.But Rob and Joel asked him anyway.Rob Dubay showed up at a peer forum to talk about mindful leadership and walk a room full of executives through a meditation. Josh was on the list of companies he'd been researching. A year of mentorship later, the opportunity materialized on its own.What we covered:→ Why imageOne eliminated the two-week notice and how they actually execute it→ Two second lean: where it came from, how they run it daily, and what a good lean actually looks like→ Open book finance: how a near-loss year in 2013 cracked the company open→ Building a ten-year vision with the whole company without collapsing into consensus→ Running an automation startup inside a 35-year-old managed print companyJosh, thank you for being so open about everything! The imposter syndrome, the ripcord experiments, the lonely startup years before any of this.Chapters00:00 - Intro01:00 - Who Josh Britton is and how he ended up at imageOne03:25 - Mindful transitions: why they got rid of two weeks notice08:07 - imageOne's origin story: sold, bought back, and the decision to build something different11:19 - Small Giants, Tugboat Institute, and what it means to want to be great instead of big14:52 - Josh's path: consulting, the education nonprofit, and finding imageOne22:03 - Running a process automation startup inside a 35-year-old print company25:06 - The CEO who didn't want the job: imposter syndrome and the long handoff27:15 - How they build a ten-year vision with the whole company38:32 - Two second lean: what it is, how they run it every morning, and a real example54:00 - Why none of this is impulsive: experiments, ripcords, and getting buy-in59:22 - Open book finance: how a near-loss year changed everything01:04:42 - Family, kids, and what actually keeps him grounded ~~~Connect with Matthttps://www.linkedin.com/in/mattloria/https://www.facebook.com/mattloriahttps://www.instagram.com/loriamatt/Prefer to Listen?https://pod.link/1742631726This episode is powered by Auxiom.Finally ready to outsmart your IT chaos?https://auxiom.com/https://www.linkedin.com/company/auxiom-llc

Father Tim McCabe grew up blue collar in Detroit, worked construction, ran refugee programs, and spent years with people at the bottom before he ever put on a collar.He was assigned to a day center for the homeless in 2015. But after five people died of fentanyl overdoses within a couple of days, his team sat together and someone said it doesn't have to be this way.So he started building and he raised nearly $40 million without a donor database.The Pope Francis Center now has a bridge housing facility designed around trauma, with wide hallways, natural light, on-site medical and psychiatric care, a full curriculum, and people graduating to housing.Here's everything we covered:→ Why trauma-informed care is the only approach that works for chronic homelessness→ How he raised $13 million from a family in California who found him on a Google search→ Why Housing First doesn't fix "habitual homelessness”→ The moment he knew the building was going to happen→ Where the work goes next: housing, trades, and ending the cycle for goodFather Tim didn't wait for permission, a budget, or proof it would work. He just started moving and kept going until the resources caught up.Chapters0:00 Intro1:00 How We Met: A Hospital, a Saturday, and a Stranger Who Stayed9:03 The Pope Francis Center and What It Was Before14:54 Five Deaths in a Week: Why He Decided to Build16:08 The Consulting Firm Said He'd Never Raise $3 Million19:25 The Google Search That Led to $13 Million23:36 What Trauma-Informed Actually Means in a Building35:34 Father Tim's Life Before the Priesthood41:23 Why Government Money Makes the Problem Worse50:53 A Day in the Life Running a 37-Person Operation55:37 What Comes Next: Housing, Trades, and Finishing the Bridge~~~Connect with Matthttps://www.linkedin.com/in/mattloria/https://www.facebook.com/mattloriahttps://www.instagram.com/loriamatt/Prefer to Watch?https://youtu.be/FPfT5vDdwRoThis episode is powered by Auxiom.Finally ready to outsmart your IT chaos?https://auxiom.com/https://www.linkedin.com/company/auxiom-llc

Michigan has about 14,000 kids in the foster care system on any given day.Joe wasn't a nonprofit guy. He was a marketing professional in a cubicle, being laid off for the sixth time in nine years, miserable by his own admission. He'd started Love for a Child as a one-week-a-summer passion project.Then his wife looked at him and said: go full time with Love for a Child.He spent the next six months without a paycheck, newly married with a child on the way, and poured everything he had into making it work. It did.Joe's story is what happens when you stop treating your purpose like a part-time commitment.We covered:→ Why Michigan is one of the five worst states in the country for foster care development, and what that actually means for the 14,000 kids in the system→ How Love for a Child specifically targets children who are statistically 95% likely to never be adopted before 18→ A story about a nine-year-old girl chained in a basement three blocks from a suburban Michigan high school, and how she ended up in the Love for a Child program→ What Joe is doing behind the scenes to investigate CPS neglect and fight for children the system has written offJoe said there's a difference between your work and your job: your work is the 9-to-5. Your job is the people you help.Joe, thank you for trusting me with these stories. The weight of what you carry for these kids came through in every answer, and I'm grateful you're doing it.Chapters0:00 - Welcome & Intro1:48 - Meet Joe Savalle and Love for a Child3:53 - The Reality of Foster Care in Michigan8:16 - Who Love for a Child Actually Serves (and Why)11:14 - How the Camp Program Works16:13 - How Kids Get Selected and What Camp Day One Looks Like22:51 - Little Joey Goes to Camp: The Book Behind the Character26:02 - How Joe and the Host Met (and the Vista Connection)29:21 - Why Most Nonprofits Fail in Year One32:49 - How a Failed Music Career Led to Foster Care38:38 - Faith, Mission, and the Heart of the Organization44:20 - Fighting CPS Neglect Behind the Scenes55:04 - What "Purpose Over Paycheck" Actually Looks Like1:01:08 - Plans to Scale Love for a Child Nationally1:06:29 - The Basement Story: Foster Care Right in Our Backyards1:13:58 - How to Get Involved, Donate, or Partner~~~This episode is powered by Auxiom.Finally ready to outsmart your IT chaos?https://auxiom.com/

Amy Peterson had the idea for Rebel Nell while hearing story after story from the women in a shelter near the Lion’s stadium.Rebel Nell has been helping women transition out of shelter living, as a self-sustaining social enterprise that sells jewelry and corporate experiences to companies like Ally Bank and the Atlanta Braves.It hasn’t been easy for Amy: her non profit has survived a year when it nearly collapsed under the weight of crises it wasn't built to carry.We covered a lot in this episode:→ Why Amy spent two years convincing herself she didn't need to make the leap→ The 2016 crisis that almost folded Rebel Nell→ How the triple bottom line model actually works (and why it's so hard)→ What she looks for in a hire that she learned from restaurant workers→ The comparison culture trap→ How gratitude helped her stop doing the math on what she gave upThe people who build things worth building almost never had a clean story on the way there… and that’s what makes Amy’s story so powerful. She's still in it, still fighting for it, still believes the world needs to see that you can run a business where people and profit sit at the same table.Thank you Amy for being so open about the hard parts. Your passion will stay with me for a very long time.Chapters0:00 - Introduction: Meet Amy Peterson1:40 - Serial Entrepreneur, Four Ventures, One City4:02 - The Dream: First Female MLB General Manager8:50 - Working for Free: Three Rejection Letters From the Tigers11:00 - Why She Stayed in Sports Instead of Going All In on Rebel Nell13:30 - Letting Go of the Ego16:00 - The Leap: Going All In at a Fraction of the Salary24:10 - What Rebel Nell Is and How It Works29:00 - The 2016 Crisis That Almost Killed the Business33:00 - Corporate Gifts, Murals, and the Triple Bottom Line40:00 - Boston Edison, The Congregation, and Building Hyper-Local49:50 - Mentors Who Changed the Trajectory52:30 - Entrepreneurship, Family, and Letting Go of "Balance"1:01:00 - Comparison Culture and the Abundance Mindset1:08:50 - Advice for the Next Generation of Social Entrepreneurs~~~This episode is powered by Auxiom.Finally ready to outsmart your IT chaos?https://auxiom.com/

Brendan Walsh can trace everything in his life back to one moment: an 8-year-old saying yes to church choir.That decision set off a chain nobody could have predicted. It led him to DePaul's voice performance program, to a fraternity conference in Rosemont where he met his wife, to a decade in Washington DC booking keynote speakers, and eventually to the phone call he never expected to take from his dad about joining the family insurance business.We covered:→ Why the insurance industry is high need, low demand→ What external accountability actually looks like in practice→ How he thinks about the MDRT organization→ How AI tools are changing the workflow of the Sandler sales philosophy→ What a health framework from Dan Miller changed about how he eats, sleeps, and exercisesThank you Brendan for coming on the show! You bring a real warmth to conversations. Appreciate you!Chapters0:00 - Intro1:42 - Welcome Brendan Walsh5:12 - Catalyst Solutions Group and Family Background6:28 - How Music Changed Everything at Age 89:30 - Improv, Second City, and Life as a Yes-And Practice16:08 - 12 Years in DC: Fraternity Work and Washington Speakers Bureau21:26 - Joining the Family Business and the Move Back to Detroit26:16 - Succession Planning and Buying His Father Out32:08 - External Accountability and Why He Can't Go It Alone43:05 - What the Million-Dollar Round Table Actually Is48:01 - High Need, Low Demand: Insurance and Cybersecurity Compared56:34 - Sandler Sales Training and AI in the Workflow1:04:16 - Faith, Community, and Outreach at Christ Church1:07:05 - Dan Miller, Sleep, Health, and the Sauna in the Bonus Room1:12:00 - Wrap Up~~~This episode is powered by Auxiom.Finally ready to outsmart your IT chaos?https://auxiom.com/

Most people selling AI tools promise you a shortcut…Curtis Hays has spent 25 years watching what happens when you chase shortcuts without a foundation.He started in banking and IT, building help desks and deploying enterprise systems before most people had email on their phones. Over time, that systems mindset followed him into digital marketing, and eventually into AI. But instead of finding a magic solution in AI, it was just the same old problem wearing a new hat: businesses pouring money into tools before they understand why things aren't working.We talked through a lot:→ Why AI is a "false prophet" for businesses that haven't fixed their foundations→ The difference between mirror marketing and actually speaking your customer's language→ What the Sandler method looks like when you build it into an AI agent→ Why the next two years will be harder for software companies than for the businesses using themThe biggest takeaway: figure out the system first, then feed the system into AI.Curtis, thanks for bringing your full brain into our conversation. Talking to you is always a blast!Chapters0:00 - Introduction & The Cowboy Hat Story4:16 - Curtis's Background: From Banking to IT to Marketing8:10 - The "False Prophet" of AI: Why Most Tools Disappoint11:00 - Context Windows, File Creep, and AI Memory Problems14:14 - What Business Owners Get Wrong About AI16:04 - Building a Brand Guardian With AI17:05 - Mirror Marketing vs. Window Marketing26:27 - How to Slow Down CEOs Who Are AI-Obsessed28:29 - Diagnosing Before Delivering: The IT Mindset Applied to Marketing38:02 - The Real Story Behind Doubling a Client's Close Rate43:15 - When Curtis Finally Understood What Marketing Actually Is46:51 - Using Transcripts and Markdown Files to Ground Your AI51:57 - The Danger of Asking AI Questions Without Context53:36 - Should You Wait or Build Now?57:45 - AI, Human Connection, and Where Curtis Thinks This Goes~~~This episode is powered by Auxiom.Finally ready to outsmart your IT chaos?https://auxiom.com/

Charlie Mann’s dad started Hunter Creek Club in 1958, when Charlie was a small boy. By the age of 26, Charlie owned it… He's the first to admit he had no business being the owner of a company that size at that age. But still, he figured it out. Until everything changed.2008 hit and 85% of his business was automotive. General Motors banned corporate entertainment. Print media dried up.And the story of how he bounced back is incredible.In our episode, we covered:→ Why the shortage of volunteers in hunter safety classes is a big threat to the future of hunting→ What it means to be the caretaker of something, not just the owner→ How pharmaceutical reps accidentally saved the club during a Detroit crisis→ The difference between managing a team and keeping their mojo intact→ What Charlie learned from The General (his dad) about pessimistic optimismCharlie, thank you for letting me come out to Hunter Creek and for being as generous with your stories as you were with your time!Chapters0:00 - Welcome to The Enthusiastic Life2:19 - Introducing Charlie Mann and Hunter Creek Club3:17 - Hunter Safety Courses: How They Work and Why They Matter8:01 - The Shortage of Instructors and the Future of Hunting10:46 - A Million Deer Hunters Down to 380,00014:24 - The Caretaker Mindset: Leading Without the Ego20:34 - Charlie's Origin Story: Buying the Club at 2625:22 - The 2008 Recession and Surviving a Business Crisis30:05 - How Statin Drugs Accidentally Saved the Club36:19 - AI, Technology, and What's Coming Next44:30 - A Day in the Life at Hunter Creek Club51:18 - Networking the Charlie Mann Way55:15 - Famous Faces at Hunter Creek: General Yeager and Kirk Gibson58:37 - Closing Thoughts and Thank You~~~This episode is powered by Auxiom.Finally ready to outsmart your IT chaos?https://auxiom.com/

What does it actually mean to be a high performer?Aaron Salko grew up washing dishes at seven, then afterwards played D1 baseball at Seton Hall. His background in psychology, biology, and sales forced him to study why some people perform and why others don't.He and his business partner turned ten years of sales strategy sessions into a book, then a framework, and then a platform.... The result?The Ninth Stratum: a five-category, 45-skill operating system for human performance.In our episode we covered:→ The five categories of high performance, and the one everyone skips→ How toxic performers aren't broken, but just deficient in specific skills→ What alcohol is actually doing to your recovery→ The "threshold" technique Aaron uses to transition between roles and why it worksAaron, thanks for making the trip to Michigan and for sharing a framework you've spent decades building! It’s going to provide massive help to everyone listening.Chapters0:00 - Introduction & Teaser: What Is High Performance?1:06 - Meet Aaron Salko: From the Lake House to the Studio2:26 - The Book: The Ninth Stratum3:27 - Aaron's Career Path: Sports Medicine to Global Sales6:09 - Growing Up Inside Stephen Gould12:08 - Are "Innate" Skills Real? The Nature vs. Nurture Debate20:49 - The Origin of the Ninth Stratum Framework24:33 - The Five Categories of Human Performance27:03 - Breaking Down All 45 Performance Skills29:06 - The Nine Stratums Explained: From Unaware to Teaching37:09 - Sleep as a Performance Activity43:26 - Personal Appearance and Showing Up to the World46:03 - The Threshold Technique: Transitioning Between Roles59:11 - Taking the Framework Into Organizations1:02:03 - AI, Human Performance, and What McKinsey Found1:05:17 - The Interview Tool: Hiring for Performance-Based Skills1:10:05 - How to Connect with Aaron & Wrap-Up~~~This episode is brought to you by AuxiomFind out more: https://auxiom.com/

Andy Appleby sent his resume to EVERY major league team; the Detroit Pistons were the ones who said yes.He was a kid from New England with no real connections, so he did the only thing he could - worked harder than everyone else... He spent 12 years with Palace Sports during the Bad Boys era, learning everything he could.Then he went out and built his own path.In our episode, we talked about:→ Why Andy sees working three times harder than everyone else is a real strategy for success→ What it actually looks like to build a winning culture→ How the sports business has changed since the pandemic→ What he looks for in players beyond raw talent→ The charitable work happening off the field (70,000 kids in their reading program each year)Andy, I really appreciate you taking the time to make a meaningful conversation with me!Chapters0:00 - Introduction0:41 - Andy's Background and the Pistons Years1:59 - How the USPBL Came to Be4:34 - What the Ballpark Offers Beyond Baseball8:26 - General Sports: The Sports Agency Side11:20 - How Andy Manages Multiple Businesses12:37 - Lessons From a Career Built on Outworking Everyone16:17 - Mentors Who Shaped Andy's Path18:35 - Technology and AI in the Sports World20:00 - Helping Players Get Noticed and Signed24:05 - What Character Really Means in This League27:09 - Independent vs. Affiliated Baseball Explained30:41 - Player Psychology and Mental Health in Sports34:26 - New Office Build and What's Coming Next35:34 - The Future of Live Sports and In-Person Experiences38:00 - Personal Side: What Most People Don't Know About Andy~~~This episode is brought to you by AuxiomFind out more: https://auxiom.com/

Todd Loiselle is a CIO and author, who was told in first grade he wouldn't make it through high school.Todd has ADHD and dyslexia. In grade school, letters scrambled when he looked at them. He couldn't keep up and started acting out. While sitting across from his parents, his principal told them their son had a ceiling.He took that as a challenge and now has risen to Chief Information Officer, written a book called Learning Your Way, and built a free AI tool for students.We covered:→ Why ADHD and dyslexia are strengths, not deficiencies→ What a true CIO actually looks at when walking into a new organization→ How AI agents are about to change which jobs exist→ The book structure Todd built specifically for kids who don't like readingTodd, thank you for sharing your story so openly. I don't think I'll ever forget it!Chapters0:00 - Introduction & Teaser2:29 - Todd's Origin Story: First Grade and the Diagnosis5:15 - The IQ Test and What Todd's Mom Fought For8:24 - Miss McClive: The Teacher Who Said "I Am You"11:04 - Learning Through the Senses: The Orange Lesson17:04 - Building a Personal Learning System20:26 - Family, Marriage, and Raising Kids with ADHD29:40 - Career Path: Arthur Andersen to CIO41:31 - How Todd Thinks About a Business When He Walks In43:11 - National Food Group: What They Do and How They Operate47:00 - The Cloud Argument (and Why Doubters Are Behind)53:44 - AI's Impact on Jobs and the Future of Work1:03:09 - The Book: Learning Your Way1:08:04 - The Free AI Tool and Todd's Goal to Help a Million Students1:12:32 - Closing and Where to Find Todd~~~This episode is brought to you by AuxiomFind out more: https://auxiom.com/

Chris Bommarito runs Castor Engineering, a manufacturing automation company he built from scratch.He started the whole operation from the ground up after being suddenly laid off from a job he deeply cared about. It was a huge shock at the time, but it pushed him to build something of his own. Seven years later he has 20 employees, a growing AI practice inside his company, and an investment in an airline.What we covered:→ Why new entrepreneurs should stop trying to replace their previous income→ How Chris thinks about AI's impact on manufacturing and entry-level jobs→ The decision-making framework from the book How We Decide and when to trust your gut→ What it means to own "a piece of the machine" in an AI-driven economy→ His investment in Avelo Airlines and why he believes the frequent flyer loyalty game is a trapChris, thank you for showing up as yourself and sharing your story!Chapters0:00 - Introduction & How They Met1:13 - Meet Chris Bommarito3:38 - The Enigma Code and Alan Turing6:15 - AI, Black Mirror, and Reanimating the Dead8:00 - Entrepreneurship Is in the DNA13:03 - Family First: "My Wealth Is in My Family"15:10 - What Castor Engineering Actually Does19:36 - Chris's Career: From Intern to Founder28:38 - Getting Fired and the Toyota Call33:06 - The Fear of Replacing Your Income37:23 - On Mentorship and Why Chris Does It43:13 - Chris's AI Journey and Where It's Headed49:06 - The Innovator's Dilemma and AI Investment Risk58:38 - Who Really Controls AI? The Pyramid Theory1:06:04 - Investing in Avelo Airlines1:11:10 - Book Recommendation: How We Decide1:24:45 - Parenting Advice for New Dads1:28:25 - Outro~~~This episode is brought to you by AuxiomFind out more: https://auxiom.com/

Monsignor Charles Kosanke has been called Mr. Fix It for most of his priesthood.When a parish is bleeding money or a seminary is on the verge of losing its accreditation, Chuck gets the call. He shows up and stabilizes the operation; then he gets assigned elsewhere. The St. Anne's project is a different story... After he hit a wall in fundraising and out of options, he went to the chapel, and prayed. Days later, the name of a Catholic foundation director came to mind; a meeting that eventually produced a deal where the Basilica of St. Anne's was purchased for a dollar, restored for $40 million, and secured with a $20 million endowment. And he'll tell you plainly... God was the one who fixed it.We covered:→ How he turned around failing parishes, schools, and a seminary with only a background in accounting and a willingness to make unpopular decisions→ Why endowments matter more than annual giving→ The restructuring happening inside the Archdiocese of Detroit→ What it means to be named Monsignor→ Why he believes a framework of surrender shared with high school seniors may save a life somedayThere's something about a person who gives up choosing for themselves and just keeps saying yes to the next hard thing. Most of us are trying to control the plan.Chuck, thank you for giving me your time and for walking through so much of your story. Chapters0:00 - Introduction & the Turnaround Reputation1:03 - Welcoming Monsignor Charles Kosanke1:46 - De La Salle Honoree & Background on the Dinner4:35 - Chuck's Story Begins at De La Salle10:54 - Choosing the Seminary Over Western Michigan12:00 - First Assignment at Shrine of the Little Flower13:17 - Uncovering Embezzlement: Accounting Meets Ministry15:20 - Earning a Doctorate in Rome (And Nearly Not Making It)21:16 - Juggling the Seminary and Failing Parishes25:07 - The Turnaround Pattern: A 40-Year Career of Fix-It Assignments30:14 - Restructuring the Archdiocese of Detroit39:34 - Pope Leo XIV and What His Election Means for the Church45:36 - Diocese Priests vs. Religious Orders Explained51:04 - Why He Became a Priest (The Real Answer)55:26 - The Free Medical Clinic in Corktown57:30 - $20 Million Raised and the Case for Endowments1:10:46 - What Alumni Should Know About Giving to Catholic Schools1:26:01 - When Chuck's Plan Became God's Plan1:33:02 - The St. Anne's Miracle: A $40 Million Restoration for $11:40:04 - What He Told High School Seniors About Surrender1:19:40 - Parting Words: Time, Talent, and Treasure~~~This episode is brought to you by AuxiomFind out more: https://auxiom.com/

Dr. Klint Pleasant has spent his career doing things that don't fit neatly into one box:Head Coach. Senior Vice President. Doctor of Education. Father. Son of a Legend. He grew up literally living in the dormitories of a college his grandfather built, watching his dad coach, pastor, teach, and lead all at the same time. Basketball was the world he knew. It's also the world he eventually had to outgrow.We covered:→ How post-traumatic growth differs from post-traumatic stress, and why the distinction matters→ What 28 years of coaching taught him about servant leadership and trust→ Why he turned down a major coaching opportunity→ The role mentors (like Don Meyer) played in shaping who he became→ His take on AI in higher education and why he still won't let a machine write for himKlint has an incredible depth of character that I’ve only seen come from going through hard things.Thank you Klint for being so open about Rachel, the fear and the growth that came from it. Thank you for sharing such an incredible story.Chapters0:00 - Introduction & Teaser1:20 - Meet Dr. Klint Pleasant2:40 - Appointed President of Southwestern Michigan College5:36 - On Nervousness, Change & Denzel's Quote6:20 - Career Origins & Family Roots at RCU9:11 - Playing Football in Texas & Leaving Home10:42 - Learning Under Don Meyer at Lipscomb12:05 - Kent State's Cinderella Run & the Elite Eight14:39 - Mentorship: The Common Thread18:08 - Servant Leadership & Ego23:09 - Rachel's Brain Crisis: The Night Everything Changed29:36 - Post-Traumatic Growth: Pain as a Teacher43:15 - Why He Said Yes to the Presidency56:53 - Faith in a Public Institution57:15 - AI, Human Intelligence & the Pilot Analogy1:06:34 - What Success Looks Like at SMC1:11:39 - Enrollment, Culture & Building Trust~~~This episode is brought to you by AuxiomFind out more: https://auxiom.com/

Todd has spent 27 years proving that hiring is much, much more than finding the right resume.Todd Hohauser is the CEO of Harvey Hohauser & Associates, a boutique and relationship driven retained executive search firm. He grew up watching his dad build the business while talking about culture and fit before Todd really understood their implications. When it was time to take over, he inherited his dad's philosophy.In this episode we talk about:→ Why 90% of executives are firstborn children... and what that explains about leadership→ The ONE interview question that reveals a candidate's values better than any assessment→ How retained executive search works and why the best hires take three months to get right→ Why most succession plans fail in family owned businesses→ And so much more!What struck me is that you don't need more information to become a better leader... You just need clearly defined values and someone who asks the right questions.Thanks so much Todd for coming into the studio to share your story and expertise!~~~This episode is brought to you by AuxiomFind out more: https://auxiom.com/

1) The “Oh Crap” Call (Incident Response) A Detroit-area manufacturer came to us during a cyber incident. We helped respond to the issue, and then stayed with them to improve security and support their CMMC compliance work. Translation: We help you stabilize the emergency and reduce the odds it happens again. 2) “I’m Frustrated With My MSP” Leaders come to us overwhelmed — too much confusion, too much waiting, too stressful. We assess what’s broken, build a strategy and budget, clean up the noise, and create a better path forward as a true partner. Translation: If IT feels like chaos, we help you get back to clarity and control. 3) Summer School (Network Upgrade) A school needed a major network upgrade. We designed and implemented the right infrastructure so staff and students had a more reliable day-to-day experience. No more: “The Wi‑Fi is out… again… in the cafeteria.” Translation: If your environment depends on connectivity, it has to be rock-solid. 4) “Build My Network… and Run It” A business in Ohio needed a network built the right way — and then needed someone to run and support it. We helped with both and continue to manage that network and advise on other projects. Translation: We can help you build it, then keep it healthy. 5) Locations Coming and Going (Multi-Site Support) A property management company with locations across the country needed an auxiliary team to help stand up and take down locations. We act as an extension of their team to keep it smooth. Translation: When you’re scaling, you need execution horsepower — without burning out your internal team. Bonus Wisdom Don’t assume people know. Don’t assume clarity. Create it… and confirm it. Because it’s not enough to say it — you’ve got to make sure it landed. Wrap-Up So now that there’s a higher likelihood you know what Auxiom does… I’ll say it again — because I’m not assuming anymore: Auxiom helps leaders manage IT, secure their systems, and make better technology decisions. We’re here whether you’re in the middle of a problem, or trying to improve what’s next. We serve middle-market organizations across a wide range of industries, nationwide. Question to leave you with: What are you assuming people already know about you or your business… or that they understood what you just told them? So long for now. Excelsior!

Jan Griffiths grew up on a farm in Wales and was supposed to stay there. Instead, she left at 23 with no real plan and spent the next three decades building a career in automotive, working her way from a temp role on a factory floor to VP of Global Supply Chain Management. She's held leadership positions at companies like BorgWarner, Bosch, GKN, and Inteva Products. She was named one of the top 100 leading women in the automotive industry. But through all of it, she watched the same fear-driven, command-and-control culture hold the industry back.In her early 50s, she walked away from the C-suite to start Gravitas Detroit, where she now coaches leadership teams, speaks on stages across the country, and hosts the Automotive Leaders Podcast. She's the author of AutoCulture 2.0 and one of the loudest voices pushing the auto industry to rethink how it leads, makes decisions, and treats the people inside it.In this episode of The BLTnT Podcast we cover:→ Why fear-based leadership is the biggest threat to the auto industry's future→ How Jan lost almost all stability in two years but came back stronger→ Why "China speed" is outpacing Detroit and what cultural shifts need to happen right now→ The accountability framework that turns ownership into real results→ What it actually takes to lead with honestyThe biggest transformations in business happen when a leader finally decides that how they've been told to lead isn't how they want to lead; when they choose honesty over fear.Jan, thank you for being so open about the lows and the losses. Your energy is contagious and your story is proof that reinvention can happen the moment a leader gets brutally honest with themselves. ~~~This episode is brought to you by AuxiomFind out more: https://auxiom.com/

Katie Bigelow, a former Black Hawk pilot, launched Mettle Ops in the summer of 2013 — the same season she was diagnosed with melanoma while facing significant personal challenges.By early fall, life had intensified in ways that required her to step away from the business for about a year. But she started again.Today, Mettle Ops builds reactive armor tiles for Army combat vehicles, manufactures U.S.-made drone motors, and employs 65 people across Michigan and Huntsville, Alabama.Katie talks about:the moment a million-dollar invoice made it feel realwhy paying vendors on time accidentally saved her company during COVIDhow checklists and after-action reviews became the backbone of a culture that refuses to cut corners on the people carrying their equipment into combat.Thank you, Katie, for coming into the studio and sharing your heart behind all you do!~~~This episode is brought to you by AuxiomFind out more: https://auxiom.com/

From an early age, Mark Panciera's dream was to become a funeral director just like his dad. He became exactly that. Also...￫ He 5x'd the family business. ￫ He was covered in the Wall Street Journal. ￫ He had private equity firms calling.But it all it nearly destroyed his relationship with his father.Mark spent years on the wrong side of ego, choosing to be right instead of staying in the relationship. That tension led him to The Pacific Institute, a global performance organization built on a simple but research-backed premise: you can physically change your brain. Now as CEO Emeritus of The Pacific Institute and a TEDx speaker with over 1.5 million views, Mark teaches leaders how to uncover blind spots, recast limiting beliefs, and drive real behavior change at the belief level. In our episode, we get into family business tension, grief and transcendence, the formula I × V^E = R, coping mechanisms that mask deeper pain, and why the best leaders debrief even after a win.Thanks Mark for your time and energy in coming to the studio and chatting!~~~This episode is brought to you by AuxiomFind out more: https://auxiom.com/

Christine spent eight years at Northern Trust managing billion-dollar philanthropic portfolios. Adam helped steward 400-year-old legacy brands in the music industry. But when COVID hit, something shifted. They needed a change. They both cashed out their 401ks, sold their house, and bought a 50-year-old ski shop in Northern Michigan. My conversation with Christine Donovan and Adam Weems covers their leap from corporate comfort to business ownership and what it means to steward a legacy brand. Key takeaways: → The power of having a partner who says "I got you" → Why worst-case-scenario thinking actually reduces fear → The question "how much is enough" is a powerful question 0:00 Intro 2:00 The 50-Year Legacy of Bahnhof Ski Shop 3:45 Christine's Journey: From Flutist to Finance 8:17 Adam's Path: Grocery Stores to Zildjian Drums 16:08 Purpose-Driven Work and the Question of "Enough" 25:10 The Leap: Why Fine Careers Weren't Enough 29:04 "You're Not Fun Anymore" 36:35 Finding the Listing on New Year's Day 44:04 Cashing Out Everything for Retirement 46:42 What "I Got You" Really Means 55:02 Building Kindness Into a Specialty Shop 1:00:03 Keeping a Legacy Brand Alive 1:06:56 What Surprised Them Most About Running a Ski Shop 1:12:32 The Moment the Switch Flipped 1:21:02 You Belong Here ~~~ This episode is brought to you by Auxiom Find out more: https://auxiom.com/

From ICU rooms to the boardroom, Lori Lancaster’s story is one of reinvention, resilience, and fearless leadership.Lori Lancaster Vice Chair at Dakkota Integrated Systems joins Matt Loria, CEO of Auxiom, to share how she went from critical care nursing to leading multi-million dollar manufacturing and mobility companies, including her latest bold move with Emotiv Mobility, set to debut at CES 2026.In this episode, you’ll hear about: - Her unconventional career path through healthcare and tech - Scaling operations and pivoting through supply chain crises - Launching new tech in mobility — from smart transformers to flying vehicles - Building culture through compassion and high performance - And why she believes change is always worth the riskThis one is packed with lessons for entrepreneurs, operators, and future-focused leaders.Let’s dig in!!#Leadership #MobilityTech #WomenInBusiness #Manufacturing #AutomotiveIndustry #SmartTech #FemaleFounders #Innovation #BusinessPodcast #CareerReinvention #BLTnTPodcast

In this episode of the BLTnT Podcast, Matt Loria, CEO of Auxiom, sits down with Jay Hawreluk, founder of AcuMax, a cutting-edge assessment platform that helps organizations hire better, lead smarter, and build teams that functions.With decades of experience helping private companies — from startups to multi-million-dollar enterprises — Jay shares how understanding a person’s natural wiring can completely shift how leaders build trust, reduce friction, and drive performance.Matt and Jay dig into:· Why most assessments fall short — and how AcuMax is changing the game· What “natural wiring” really means, and how it affects leadership, hiring, and culture· Real stories from the field: marriages saved, bad hires avoided, and trust rebuilt· How to scale a company without losing your people in the processWhether you’re a founder, a team leader, or just someone who wants to lead with more clarity — this conversation will change the way you think about trust and performance.Let’s dig in!!

Bite-sized insights across BLTnT—built for leaders, learners, & curious minds who want faster takeaways that stick & ignite something explosive 🧨

Bite-sized insights across BLTnT—built for leaders, learners, & curious minds who want faster takeaways that stick & ignite something explosive 🧨

On this episode of the BLTnT Podcast, Matt Loria, CEO of Auxiom, sits down with Guy Gordon — a legendary Detroit broadcaster, journalist, and radio host who’s spent four decades helping people make sense of the world around them.Guy’s voice is iconic — but his perspective is even more powerful.Now stepping into the next chapter of life and leadership, Guy reflects on the state of the media, the evolution of trust, and the responsibility that comes with having a microphone. Episode Highlights:Media in Crisis – Why shrinking newsrooms, political echo chambers, and economic pressures are eroding public trust—and what we can do about it. The Power of Principled Voices – Guy opens up about the importance of listening across divides and why he believes centrist thinking is a dying but vital skill. A Life in Service, Not Spotlight – From breaking news to political interviews, Guy shares what he’s proud of—and what he wishes he did differently.If you care about journalism, leadership, or simply what it means to leave things better than you found them — this conversation is for you.Let’s dig in.#BLTnTPodcast #GuyGordon #MediaMatters #LeadershipLegacy #DetroitVoices #Journalism #BusinessPodcast

Bite-sized insights across BLTnT—built for leaders, learners, & curious minds who want faster takeaways that stick & ignite something explosive 🧨

Bite-sized insights across BLTnT—built for leaders, learners, & curious minds who want faster takeaways that stick & ignite something explosive 🧨Use a Reverse Bucket List: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vGBVf1wwAj0&t=2s

On this episode of the BLTnT Podcast, Matt Loria talks with Corinne Hancock Scott—globally recognized leadership consultant, former CEO, TEDx speaker… and current Peace Corps volunteer living in rural Namibia.No car. No electricity. No WiFi. But what she’s learning about human performance, trust, and leading through real chaos? It’s priceless. In this conversation:· The mindset shift of stepping out of the comfort zone· How to lead teams when you're not in control· Why the best leaders are systems thinkers, even in survival mode· What burning the boats actually looks like in practiceIf you're rethinking what success really means, this is a must-listen.Let’s dig in!!#BLTnTPodcast #LeadershipDevelopment #MindsetShift #PeaceCorps #BusinessWithPurpose #CorinneHancock #Transformation

This is Five Bites—The BLTnT Podcast’s weekly serving of bite-sized insights for leaders, learners, and curious minds who want takeaways that stick and just might ignite something explosive. 🧨

This is Five Bites—The BLTnT Podcast’s weekly serving of bite-sized insights for leaders, learners, and curious minds who want takeaways that stick and just might ignite something explosive. 🧨

On this episode of the BLTnT Podcast, Matt Loria, CEO of Auxiom, sits down with Chuck Edwards — founder of Solutions to Live By.Chuck has spent years walking with people through addiction, burnout, and grief — including CEOs and high performers who look great on paper… but are quietly breaking inside. His message is raw, redemptive, and deeply relevant for anyone leading in today’s high-pressure world. Episode Highlights:You Can’t Outperform Your Wounds – Chuck explains why unresolved pain will always catch up with leaders — and how healing becomes the key to growth.A Story of Radical Return – From addiction and academic dismissal to founding a thriving practice built on grace, Chuck shares the honest path to real transformation.Business Built on Trust – No contracts, no ads, just word of mouth. Learn how Chuck built a powerful coaching model through human connection — not traditional metrics. This conversation will challenge how you think about performance, identity, and leadership — and it might just be the one you needed to hear.Let’s dig in!!#BLTnTPodcast #Leadership #EmotionalIntelligence #HealingInBusiness #ChuckEdwards #MentalHealthAtWork #LifeAndTransformation

This is Five Bites—The BLTnT Podcast’s weekly serving of bite-sized insights for leaders, learners, and curious minds who want takeaways that stick and just might ignite something explosive. 🧨

This is Five Bites—The BLTnT Podcast’s weekly serving of bite-sized insights for leaders, learners, and curious minds who want takeaways that stick and just might ignite something explosive. 🧨

This is Five Bites—The BLTnT Podcast’s weekly serving of bite-sized insights for leaders, learners, and curious minds who want takeaways that stick and just might ignite something explosive. 🧨

This week on the BLTnT Podcast, Matt Loria sits down with Doug Mans, 4th-generation CEO of Mans Lumber and Millwork, a 125-year-old, family-run, highly successful business that's still growing strong — and still growing smarter. From duck blinds to boardrooms, Doug brings a down-to-earth, deeply personal perspective on leadership, legacy, and the kind of growth that doesn't forget where it came from. In this episode they cover: - The power of family-first culture in business- Why AI isn't just for tech firms anymore - Stewardship, succession, and building something that lasts If you lead a team, run a business, or just believe work can still have soul — this one’s for you. Let’s dig in!! #FamilyBusiness #LegacyLeadership #BLTnTPodcast #BusinessTransformation #DougMans

Welcome to Five Bites — a weekly serving of bite-sized insights built for leaders, learners, and curious minds who want faster takeaways that stick and ignite something explosive. 🧨

In this powerful and emotional episode, host Matt Loria sits down with:Senator John Damoose, Michigan’s 37th district Israel Hernandez, former Deputy Assistant to President George W. Bush Lt. Col. Robert Darling (Ret.), U.S. Marine and White House Military Officer on 9/11Together, they share firsthand stories from the White House, the Pentagon, and Ground Zero—offering rare insight into the chaos, courage, and clarity that defined September 11th, 2001.From near misses to critical national decisions, these stories aren't just history—they're reminders of unity, sacrifice, and the importance of never forgetting.Watch or listen now and take time to reflect, remember, and recommit to what truly matters.Let’s dig in!!#NeverForget #September11 #911Anniversary #BLTNT #Leadership #Honor #Unity #AmericanHeroes #Podcast

We all know The Little Engine That Could—“I think I can, I think I can.” But what about when we don’t think we can? That’s where the voices around us matter most. We need someone to say “I think you can”…and we need to trust their trust just enough to make the first move. That one move can change the entire trajectory of a life.As Zig Ziglar put it: “A lot of people have gone further than they thought they could because someone else thought they could.” And here’s the truth: when someone else has faith in me, I don’t want to let them down. Their belief pushes me to rise.

On this episode of the BLTnT Podcast, Matt Loria, CEO of Auxiom sits down with Paul Glantz, co-founder and chairman of Emagine Entertainment—a visionary who transformed a borrowed $125,000 into a luxury cinema empire. Quietly, bravely, and always evolving, his story defines what success looks like. Episode Highlights:Guest Experience First – Discover how customized seating, brick‑oven pizza, craft bars, and personalized interactions turned moviegoing into an unforgettable experience.Leadership Through Calm Resolve – From managing dual careers to guaranteeing $55M in debt during COVID, Paul led with steadiness and faith in the industry’s rebound.Culture and Incentives – Aligning compensation, empowering general managers, and personally thanking long-time team members showcase his values-driven leadership. It’s the kind of story that reminds you: success isn’t always flashy — sometimes, it’s just unstoppable. Let’s dig in!! #CinemaIndustry #MovieTheaters #EmagineEntertainment #LuxuryCinema #TheaterExperience #EntertainmentBusiness #FilmIndustry

Who’s On Your Theme? That’s not a typo. You probably thought I was about to ask, "Who's on your team?" But this week, I'm leveling up. Let’s talk about the Theme behind the team—the throughline, the backdrop, the compass.   [INTERUPPTION: you know I like side bars…so a quick thank you to my buddy Scott Schoeneberger for teaching me about “throughlines”…if I over use the term, blame him…I never knew what it meant until recently…just kidding, I love you buddy, thanks for always teaching me something new.]

Old MacDonald had a farm… and today’s executives have an AI farm. But not every “animal” is the same. Most leaders are working with Generative AI (GenAI) — powerful but limited. Emerging quickly is Agentic AI — systems that can take initiative. And still further out is General AI (AGI) — the wildcard of AI’s future. We are going to rock our first 5 Bytes edition (tech = bytes instead of bites…pretty clever!). Coming off of Auxiom’s first-ever Auxiom Community Appreciation Event (ACA), I’m feeling technologically inspired. Those of you who attended heard from amazing speakers like Scott Schonenberger of Bluewater Tech, Mykolas Rambus of Hush AI, our own Marcus Rebelo (CISO & Head of AI at Auxiom), and Lt. Col. USMC (ret.) Robert Darling! This edition breaks down the three levels of AI, the costs they bring, and the leadership role only you can play.

What happens when you stop building a business around yourself—and start building one that can run without you? On this episode of the BLTnT Podcast, Matt Loria, CEO of Auxiom talks with John Glon, Owner of Great Lakes Essential Power, Bloom Growth Coach, and host of the Roll Call podcast. In this episode they talk about: ✅ The mindset change that changed everything ✅ How coaching sharpened his leadership focus ✅ The hard truth about ego in entrepreneurship If you're in the thick of building something bigger than yourself—or thinking it's time to stop being the bottleneck—this episode will challenge and inspire you. John doesn’t just talk systems and scale… he lives it.  Let's dig in!! #EntrepreneurLife #LeadershipDevelopment #BLTnTPodcast #SystemsThinking #Entrepreneurship

As you know I’m reading the book by Michael Erath, the 5 obsessions of elite organizations and I’m loving it…in it he reminds us that Nick Saban once said: “Mediocre people don’t like high achievers, and high achievers don’t like mediocre people.” It’s blunt, but boy is it true. Excellence has a way of exposing the gap between those willing to push and those who settle. That gap always creates tension. It’s a reminder of something we explored in our issue 00005 “Know thyself” when I referred to a book my buddy, James Hall, recommended called Beyond High Performance by Jason Jaggard. High performers and achievers think, act, and live differently — and not everyone around them is comfortable with that. But here’s the thing: if you want to pursue excellence, you have to accept the friction that comes with it. Jesus even pointed to this reality when He said, “I did not come to bring peace, but a sword.” (Matthew 10:34)* *I learned about this one recently…and it initially was very unsettling…more about this later… Choosing a higher standard often divides — because you can’t cling to mediocrity while also stepping into excellence. You have to “leave and cleave” to a new path. – be sure to read the entirety of this in the footnote…and tell me if you think he was OK with tension!

Welcome to 5 Bites — bite-sized insights across BLTnT, built for leaders, learners, and curious minds who want faster takeaways that stick & ignite something explosive 🧨

Part 2 is here!!In this week’s episode of the BLTnT Podcast, Matt Loria, CEO of Auxiom continues his conversation with Dan Weingartz, President of W&P Management and third-generation leader in one of Michigan’s most respected family businesses.If you lead a team, a family, or a legacy — this one will speak to you.#BLTnTPodcast #FamilyBusiness #PurposeDrivenLeadership #BusinessTransformation #DanWeingartz

A weekly serving of bite-sized insights built for leaders, learners, and curious minds who want faster takeaways that stick and ignite something explosive. 🧨

This week on the BLTnT Podcast, Matt Loria sits down with Dan Weingartz, President of Weingartz for a 2-part podcast episode!From navigating decades of growth in the power equipment industry to walking alongside families living in global garbage dump communities, Dan’s story is a masterclass in faithful leadership—and what it means to lead with your values in every season of life.In this episode, they discuss:✅ Why being “unqualified” can be a leadership superpower ✅ Faith as a compass through business decisions ✅ Learning to work from your strengths, not your stress ✅ Finding purpose in the “second half” of life ✅ Real stories from International Samaritan—and what hope looks like in the world’s hardest placesWhether you’re running a company, leading a family, or simply wrestling with what your next chapter should look like, this episode is packed with perspective.Let’s dig in. PART 2 COMING OUT NEXT WEDNESDAY#FamilyBusiness #FaithDrivenLeadership #SecondHalfSuccess #BLTnTPodcast #HopeInAction #PurposeOverPressure

I’ve been loving a book that was recently recommended to me called The Five Obsessions of Elite Organizations by Michael Erath, and it’s hitting hard. His emphasis on structure, clarity, and people as the lifeblood of great companies has me thinking deeply about what we’re building—and why it works (or doesn’t). It's resonating because much of what Erath teaches goes along with something you hear me say often: “You are uniquely qualified to be exactly where you are [doing what you are doing] today.” This carries both responsibility and reassurance. It also means that if things aren’t working—personally, professionally, spiritually—maybe the system’s delivering exactly what it’s designed to. This week’s bites challenge us to build better…on purpose.

Welcome to 5 Bites - a weekly serving of bite-sized insights across Business, Life, Technology, and Transformations—built for leaders, learners, and curious minds who want faster takeaways that stick and ignite something explosive 🧨

This week on the BLTnT Podcast, Matt Loria talks with Mykolas Rambus, Co-Founder and CEO of Hush, a company rewriting the rules of online privacy and security. He explains how Hush was born from a simple but urgent question: “What’s online about me that shouldn’t be?” And how AI is both a threat and a tool in the fight for privacy. Together they dig into:· What CEOs Are Getting Wrong About Risk Why digital traceability is becoming a top-tier business risk—and how most leaders are still overlooking it.· Building a Culture of Safety at Hush Mykolas describes how his company blends AI with human service to protect high-risk individuals—from judges and journalists to everyday families.· Inside Equifax During the Breach Mykolas shares what it was like leading through one of the biggest data breaches in U.S. history—and what it taught him about transparency and resilience. BONUS!! Want to hear more from Mykolas? … You can hear him live at the upcoming Auxiom Community Appreciation Event! When: Thursday, August 14th | 8:00–11:30 AM Where: Great Oaks Country Club – Rochester, MIEmail [email protected] for more information! Let’s dig in! #DigitalLeadership #CyberSecurity #AIethics #DataPrivacy #BLTnTPodcast #AuxiomEvent #LeadershipMatters #MykolasRambus #OnlineSecurity #ExecutiveLeadership

Welcome to 5 Bites - a weekly serving of bite-sized insights across Business, Life, Technology, and Transformations—built for leaders, learners, and curious minds who want faster takeaways that stick and ignite something explosive 🧨